Two Dublin restaurants have been added to the UK and Ireland edition of the Michelin Guide, both of which have only been open since earlier this year.
Lottie's in Rathmines and La Gordita on Montague Street are the newest additions by the guide, which also awards the coveted Michelin stars each year. Coincidentally, they both also only opened in February 2023, and have clearly made their mark on the Dublin food scene in those few months.
The guide is published online and updates every month, and is a curated selection of what Michelin deems as some of the best restaurants across the UK and Ireland.
Earlier this year the guide added five new restaurants, spread out across the Republic and in Northern Ireland.
Opened by the Hermanas Lola family behind the celebrated Las Tapas de Lola, La Gordita - which means "our fat little one" in Spanish - arrived on the scene 10 years after its sister restaurant. It specialises in bodega-style dishes and top quality wines.
The Michelin inspectors highlighted the "simple, cosy quality" to La Gordita, which features a narrow dining room with a wooden floor, brown leather furnishings and soft, atmospheric lighting. It also noted its lively dining room, which works well with the sharing plates. They recommend trying the anchoas de Santoña, which they call "a real stand-out dish".
Also expect generous cuts of meat made to be passed around the table, pica-picas or nibbles, and plenty of sharing plates.
The "buzz" was also what caught their eye about Lottie's, which is headed up by Domini Kemp and Brian Montague. This bistro-style restaurant took over from Lenehan's, a beloved neighbourhood spot, and has charmed with its focus on Irish produce.
Inspecters praised the "unfussy cooking", "hearty, flavour-packed dishes like Andarl Farm pork chop with cabbage & violet mustard, parsnip and a cider jus" and the affordability of the menu.
The inclusions will ignite more speculation around which Irish restaurants may be awarded stars when the guide is published next year.
