Luna

I really really wanted to like this place having heard nothing but good reports. All the omens were good. Warm welcome from the maitre d, late of Chapter 1, friendly efficient service and a cosy yet buzzy room all bode well for a New Year’s Eve early dinner. The menu was prix fixé, presumably for the night that was in it. The appetiser was an excellent antipasto which we accompanied by a couple of glasses of a nice Albariño. In my view, the starter was less than stellar. I had a cauliflower concoction that was little more than a single spoonful, tasty but unsatisfactory. I went for the ribeye steak for main which was cooked to order but I felt the accompanying baby potatoes with spinach completely missed the mark. It was bland to the point of anonymity. My o.h. chose the wine, a forgettable red which we both declared a disappointment. She gamely suggested that we return on a more ‘normal’ occasion as NYE may not have been a fair representation. I’m not so sure but, if we do, I’ll be sure to update this.

Everything about Luna is indulgent. Prime cuts of meat by the kilo. Mouthwatering pasta dishes sitting provocatively between the starters and mains. A dessert trolley that wheels its way around the retro dining room, flaunting its wares. But everything about Luna is equally brilliant. If you have not been, then you are denying yourself one of the most wonderful culinary experiences this city has to offer.
It’s fair to say that Luna is not cheap. However, the food is so rich that you could only allow yourself to eat here once in a while. For this reason we’ll forgive the prices for now. The attention to detail is one thing that makes this restaurant so special. From the beautiful glassware and cutlery, through to the Louis Copeland-​dressed waiters. The service is excellent and we never feel rushed from the table, despite lengthy periods spent digesting our food.
Then, there is the food. A party of three, we decide to share the Culatello of Italian cured ham to start, served with a delicious blob of fresh burrata. The fennel infused salame is a highlight and our appetites are certainly whetted. Without wanting to make complete pigs of ourselves, but not wanting to miss out, we opt to share the customary Italian pasta course and it is more than enough to get a flavor of how the chef can elevate a relatively simple plate of food. The macaroni is served with ndjua (an Italian pork sausage), mozzarella and basil and the pasta is as fresh as you will find in the city.
The mains are split into sharing and individual plates across both the fish and meat, so, perhaps a careful selection of dinner guests is advisable here. Unable to agree on a choice to share, and being slightly put off by the price of the Bisteca Fiorentina (T-​Bone for 2), we all go for the lean steak option, which is the Hangar. It is served over a bed of spinach and caramelized onion and, despite its phallic appearance, looks extremely appetizing. Sides of baby new potatoes with Parmesan, cabbage in parsley sauce and corn on the cob ‘cacio e pepe’ accompany the steak. It really is perfectly tender and delightful. We take our time over numerous glasses of red wine to finish what is a very large plate of food. The dessert trolley eventually shows up and we can only muster up the appetite to share a large slice of the cheesecake, which is, thankfully, very light and enjoyable.
I find it hard to fault this fantastic restaurant. I loved the walls of red Campari bottles. The shared bathrooms are beautifully crafted, complete with hidden doors. The lounge set up takes you back to a bygone era, perhaps just missing the cigarette smoke. And the food, in my opinion, justifies the price tag. It all works magnificently. The atmosphere was lively for a Wednesday evening so one can assume the weekend is extremely busy. All in all, Luna is another big hit from the renowned John Farrell portfolio. Along with 777, Butcher Grill, Super Miss Sue and Dillingers, he truly is shaping the restaurant landscape of the city.

Pricey but well worth it. I love Super Miss Sue and I believe luna is part of the same ownership so when I was passing by with friends from out of town we thought we would try it out. We got there about 9:45 without a reservation and luckily we were able to be sat at a booth.
The atmosphere and the décor of the restaurant is awesome. You really feel like you are getting value for your money just by sitting down. It’s like a modern 60’s steakhouse from New York with a meat slicer and freshly cut cheese in the corner.
The menu is italian based but heavily weighted with fresh fish options and big steaks. Andrew was our server and I can honestly say I have never had a more knowledgeable server (unless he was making it all up). He knew about the best texture for the meats, the wines that complemented our dishes and made some great recommendations. He was also just a good guy who was extremely friendly and helpful.
I would say the price range is on average with other higher end restaurants in Dublin but the atmosphere sets it apart. One slight knock is that music could be a little lower– certain songs caused us to shout at one another from across the table. Highly recommend Luna.