Located above M. O’Brien’s pub on Leeson Street Bridge you’ll find a little bistro called The Sussex. From the moment you walk in you’ll want to stay, before you’ve even seen the menu. You can quote me on that if you like, friends. The atmosphere is great and the décor understated – plenty of brass fixtures and dark wood tables. The Sussex is owned and run by chef Dave Coffey and manager Damien Quinn, who have created a great spot that serves top quality Irish food using the best local ingredients.
Our server was very friendly and attentive and let us know we were still in time for the early bird. Then he brought me my wine. This guy can do no wrong. The Sussex offer a varied lunch, dinner and early bird menu (2 Courses for €21.95, 3 Courses for €26.95) You can pair your food with Irish craft beers and cider and the wine list is varied and well priced. They offer a really good cocktail selection too which I wasn’t expecting. Saying you had a Side Car at The Sussex has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?
My lovely dining partner and I decided to forgo the early bird menu, because we’re totally worth it. It took us a while to make a choice, the menu makes for a good read – burgers, steak, pasta, chicken, fish…super salads. A whole load of tasty unpretentious food. We started with a hearty bowl of seafood chowder and chilli and salt calamari for me. The calamari were perfect and surprisingly filling. Which both delighted and worried me. I had more food coming! I would easily have drank that lime and coriander dressing, if it were socially acceptable.
We both had the chorizo burger (cooked medium) Gubbeen chorizo, buffalo mozzarella, sun dried tomato pesto and salad verde with a side of chips.
Even though we were incredibly full, we finished with a macchiato and sticky toffee apple pudding. It was served warm, with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and butterscotch sauce.
Our meal came to just over €60, which included all the above and a glass of wine. Zomato very kindly provided me with a voucher for The Sussex but as always, views are my own.
Click here for The Sussex website, and here for the menu selection. Be sure to look out for M. O’Briens pub as The Sussex itself isn’t the easiest to spot!
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