Catching up with friends over dinner is my favourite thing to do. My friend Katie just started a new job, and I wanted to hear all about it over the good stuff; food and wine. I booked a table at One Pico; which Katie herself suggested, and my sister got in on the plan. So we three amigas had a pre-theatre menu to look forward to, to kick off the weekend. Katie has raved about One Pico before but I had never been, and was excited to try this highly praised spot, tucked away on Schoolhouse Lane. I say ‘tucked away’ because it’s in a quiet spot in an otherwise bustling area of town, but you can’t miss it – One Pico illuminates the laneway, which is also home to a car park; handy if you’re the designated driver and a bonus if your company are wearing sky high heels.
Arriving just before 6pm, we were warmly greeted. Staff took our coats and ushered us to sit in the elegant reception area for a few minutes until our table was ready. This anteroom was sleek with beautiful lighting overhead. It’s quite a small space but would fit four people comfortably.
The dining room is absolutely beautiful; I was blown away the second we walked inside. Everything from the table settings to the booths right up to the bathrooms were flawless. One Pico is fine dining at its best, without being pretentious. The staff were faultless and completely on the ball the whole evening, anticipating what we needed before we were about to ask – I would imagine a lot of the restaurant’s reviews stem from the excellent service just as much as the food.
Ordering from the pre-theatre menu, you can choose two courses for €29. The menu is available Monday – Friday, 5.30pm – 6.45pm. The menu at One Pico is quite different in its dishes; main course options include ray wing, guinea fowl and pork neck. My sister had the foie gras parfait with rhubarb jam and toasted brioche. Katie and I decided to have a main and dessert.
Guinea fowl with cavalo nero, boudin noir and carrot purée.
Braised pork neck with celeriac and burnt apple.
Ray wing with cauliflower, grenobloise and brown shrimp. This was my first time having ray of any kind. While One Pico certainly serve a beautiful dish, I wasn’t mad on the texture or the look of the inside of the wing. I’m glad I tried it as I haven’t tried something new in a while but it’s not for me!
On to dessert! Katie had the chocolate cremeux with blood orange parfait and pistachio ice cream.
I had the cheeseboard of French and Irish cheese, with a generous supply of crackers. I couldn’t finish it all but the portion was just the right amount and I washed down what I could manage with a glass of port. By the time we were finishing up, the tables were filled with couples and after work dinners among colleagues. One Pico is a beautiful restaurant and perfect for special occasions. Take your parents, they’ll love it.
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