5 of The Best Places to Eat When You’re Sick of Sharing Small Plates
Words: Shamim de Brún
Images: Instagram & George Voronov
Tired of playing culinary Tetris with tiny dishes? Say goodbye to the small plate saga and hello to these spots where you can claim your own plate of deliciousness without sharing.
From steak to Middle Eastern delights, Dublin has got you covered when you’re craving some solo dining satisfaction.
Hawksmoor
What says Joey doesn’t share food faster than a plate of steak cooked to your own specifications? Literally nothing. The newest steak joint to oscail an doras in our fair city came with its very own earlybird and BYOB options. And thank the steak deities, because it’s not an objectively affordable place to eat. But what steak place is? Perfect for when you’re feeling the primal urge to gnash your teeth into some high quality cow carcass.
Shaku Maku
This is beautiful Palestinian food made according to old family recipes that goes far beyond mezze. You can get your own starters, mains, and desserts, with sharing being optional. Plus, if you’ve never tried it, you really should; the food is bomb AF. “Shaku Maku” literally translates to “What’s the story?” or “Cád é a seal” for Gaeilgeoirs among us. Walking into Shaku Maku is like taking a culinary journey to the heart of the Middle East. The ambience is enriched with vintage movie star posters from the 1940s and 50s, and traditional music sets the perfect backdrop for a lovely night of chowing down on a plate of your own.
La Maison
Classic French fare is great if you want a decently portioned bit of grub that still feels fancy. When doesn’t French food feel fancy, to be honest? This OG, next to Grogans, does a killer early bird and slings Parisian vibes like they invented them. This is the perfect spot to cosplay your main character, la vie en rose money, with your most dramatic friend while savouring some buttery French goodness that you 100% are not expected to share with anyone.
Dash Burger
Can’t beat a smash burg and some nuggs. Now that they have topped fries too, you can really get a decent feed all on a tray of your own. No sharing necessary. Double points if you go for the Allta Miso butter dairy cow special. It is something really special.
Fish Shop
Classic fish and chips but a bit posher with fancy wines. It’s a genuinely perfect spot to get a feed in that still feels intimate, if that’s the vibe you’re going for. Whoever said chippers are not romantic has clearly never been to Fish Shop. The counter, the soft lighting, the moody jazz, and the tucked-away-in-a-corner vibe are the literal definition of romance. Especially if you add a glass of Pet Nat with your fish and chips. Plus, if you each get a fish and chip, then there will be no expectation of sharing a few bits. You just get to have your meal in peace without doing the ‘have I had too much or just my share’ shame maths that comes from sharing small plates.
Elsewhere on Char: The Dublin 100
