The very first night in Dublin we asked our concierge where we should go for dinner and were directed to Temple Bar.

On the ground floor is a local pub, pub food and a nice pint. For our first night in the Ireland it felt perfect. We enjoyed to local, authentic feel along with some fish & chips.

Later in the week after several unmemorable dinners we returned early in the evening and were able to get a seat upstairs for another perfectly Irish meal. Lamb stew and smoked salmon wonderful and reasonably priced.

Several years later we stopped by again on a pub crawl for a pint with a local friend and it was still as enjoyable as our first visit. I recommend making a reservation for the tables upstairs for a good meal and stop at the pub down stairs in your locals style pub crawl along Temple Bar.

Great atmosphere -- you will go in for a bite to eat at lunchtime and come out at 2am in the morning. Locals frequent this place, which gives it a good ol' Irish feel.

Downstairs there is a pub with the same name; upstairs you'll find the restaurant. The dining room is nice and typical, it reminded me of a countryside inn with wooden beams and low ceiling. The waiter was quick and efficient. The portions were huge. The cakes were delicious (try the chocolate cheesecake!).