Camden Kitchen – Smart bistro

I first reviewed Camden Kitchen for this website after stumbling on it by chance one day shortly after it opened. I was impressed by the place then, and I am glad to say subsequent visits have confirmed its status as my new favourite restaurant in Dublin.

The decor is simple and unfussy, with an open kitchen down the back, and the food is of the upmarket-bistro variety. Most of the main courses come in at under € 20.00, and when quality is measured against price, this really represents good value for money. The owner-chef, Padraic Hayden, has worked in some of Dublin’s most exclusive restaurants, including the Michelin-starred L’Ecrivain – and it shows. On my last visit I had rabbit with pancetta and black pudding as a main course, and I felt like I was getting a Michelin-star experience on the cheap. The dark chocolate fondant with ice cream for dessert was equally good.

They are not doing anything ground-breaking here – the mid-price bistro format has been all the rage in Dublin since a restaurant called L’Gueleton became an overnight sensation back in the early Noughties. But it is done very well, and with considerable charm.

One thing that has changed since my original review is that the word is well and truly out on Camden Kitchen at this stage, so booking ahead is essential.