The 5 Best Places to Eat Straight After Work When You’re Too Wrecked For a Late Night
Words: Shamim de Brún
Images: Instagram
Ya can’t knock getting home by 20:00. It’s genuinely quite nice, isn’t it? When it comes to dinner, the early bird usually catches a lot of flack. But fugg that noise.
We’re all about embracing the 17:00 reservation, whether you’re craving more Netflix time or realizing that four hours of sleep just ain’t cutting it anymore.
These spots have a great atmosphere, whatever time of day you visit, and are just sitting there, waiting for anyone who wants to dine like a boss before the rush hits.
Kinara Kitchen
Late-night dates are overrated—you’re tired, and you can barely even see what they look like. Thanks to the candlelight, you’ve wasted a whole evening. Kinara Kitchen’s early bird menu is like a shiny gem waiting to be discovered by the light of day. Forget gatekeeping, we’re spilling the beans here: it’s a steal! Where else can you feast on Pakistani delights like succulent lamb chops and buttery naan without breaking the bank? Available Wednesdays and Thursdays from 16:00 – 19:00, so book your spot online before the secret’s out. Kinara Kitchen is so charming it hurts, and the fact that you don’t have to wait until 20:00 to have a tender moment over a certifiable feast is even more swoon-worthy. And the cocktails are world-class!
Orwell Road
There’s no fear of tumbleweeds if you book at 17:00 here. This is where you go to stop a bad day from turning into a bad night without it costing you a fortune. At Orwell Road, they call it a ‘neighbourhood menu’ but we call it straight-up value. Serving up tasty treats like salted cod & nduja croquettes and baked hake, mussel, Goatsbridge trout roe, this place is winning hearts and stomachs. Available Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday from 17:00 – 18:00. And it’s so pretty that even your most technologically-challenged friend can get a good picture of you here.
Piglet
Piglet works best as a very late lunch or early dinner spot. Piglet is where wine dreams meet culinary bliss. These guys brought cacio et pepe to Dublin, and it’s so good they can’t take it off the menu without starting a riot. Enjoy their cosy space or chill on the alfresco terrace when the sun comes out while munching on their famous cacio e pepe with a glass of Grüner. Sometimes you’ve just got to give the people what they want, and they want Piglet.
Glás
It’s hard to pick a favourite out of all the things that come off of Glas’s early bird menu. It’s legit jam-packed with vegetarian food that doesn’t suck. Glas has got all bases covered. With dishes that are both Instagram-worthy and mouthwatering, this place is a veggie paradise. Plus, you don’t have to fight for a table – just make sure to book ahead for the early bird. It’s stiff competition these days.
Hawksmoor
Calling all carnivores! Hawksmoor’s early bird is a steak lover’s dream come true. We’re going to level with you, Hawksmoor is truly a great dinner option at any time of day. But the afternoon twilight brought by the return of the Grand Stretch does make the intimate cave-like booths and hidden-away back corners feel even more charming underneath the dome of glory. Sink your teeth into some prime beef without maxing out your credit card. It’s a bounty of meat we’d welcome morning, day, and night, but particularly when post-dinner plans involve being horizontal by 20:00.
