Isabels

We visited on a weekday during lunch, so it was just a quick bite and run. I loved the interior. It’s downstairs in the basement, but doesn’t feel dark and gloomy, even during the day… instead, it adds to the cozy warmth of the place.
I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, which was the daily special. It was more bread than anything else, with the dense bun overtaking any chance the pork had of being noticed. One of our dining companions had ordered the same thing, and his experience was worse. Inside his bun, there was only 2 meagre pieces of meat. When we mentioned it to the server, she brought us a bowl with more pulled pork, but consistency here is obviously an issue.
While the service was friendly, it was a little clumsy. Nothing major, but little things like forgetting to bring a spoon with the soup, or bringing a glass of wine to the wrong person… but these are the little things that make a restaurant polished. All in all, lovely interior noted, it didn’t really deliver on enough levels for me to want to come back.

Update — Went back at lunchtime to check if the place was open.
Firmy closed and gutted so something is happening but NO NOTICE on the menu board or anywhere outside about what’s happening so it’s a case of STUFF the customer from Isabels or whoever’s going to replace them !

I was between 3 stars and 4 but had to give them 3 for a disappointing pulled pork samwich. It’s a cozy little wine bistro with plenty of natural light even though it’s underground. I had the beet starter which was so pretty I didn’t want to eat it! It was lovely and light and the prosecco we ordered complimented it perfectly. My sister got the goats cheese sandwich with soup which was lovely! Full of veggies and cheese although the bread was too doughy. I got the pork belly which was on the dry side and the lentils were just ok. Another person ordered the pulled pork sandwich and there was no pork in it! Just cabbage! I brought this to the attention of a server who brought us a bowl of pulled pork but the damage was done. I can’t believe the kitchen staff tried to pull one over us like that. I won’t be going back even though they had an extensive reasonably priced wine selection.

It is small, it is cosy with just the right amount of light to make it intimate. The waiting staff was lovely, polite, knowledgable without being snooty. I had the pork belly starter which was a bit on the small side but delicious and the special for a main which was gnocchi in an oxtail and beef stew. The gnocci were as light as air. For the quality of the food and the standard of the service, Isabel’s is reasonably priced in my opinion. After all, you get what you pay for. I will definitely be back!

I love everything about this spot! The cosiness of the room, the French staff, the ever changing mouth watering menu, the homemade butter! Isabel’s is my number one choice for a special night out! An excellent spot for those who like to explore their taste buds– it’s not a place for the picky eaters!

This place was recommended to me by a waitress at the the Pigs Ear when I couldn’t get a table there. Stopped at a nice pub on the way for a pint of Guinness — God is great — and marched onward. A cozy spot downstairs but a tight squeeze. Unless you get a table in one of the 4 corners you may feel exposed. Still happy at this point I drank a nice pale ale from California and ordered the slowed cooked shoulder of pork/​confit belly… disappointment struck almost immediately. Dry as a bone with a hint of corrugated cardboard I consumed as much as I could. A brittle piece of pork rind escaped untouched. If it hadn’t been for the chips — I don’t care how many times they are cooked they can’t suck the life out of them — I’d have starved. The chef slinked out half way thru my confinement. Perhaps he was a stand in. Nice bread.

Ate here for the first time the other night and was pleasantly surprised at how charming and cosy this little basement restaurant on Baggot St is. It’s quite close to the more illustrious L’Ecrivain but is in no way intimidated by it. Although it is small and can get quite toasty in there, the atmosphere is excellent and the waiters are attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. The wine list was superb and the food was very good (although my main of slowly braised beef cheek in a spelt risotto was exceptional — one of the best mains I’ve had in a long time…).

It’s not cheap or generously portioned (the plate or the room). The menu is sparse. About three options per course (less for dessert, unless you count cheese — I don’t). The staff are warm; a little stressed and overworked. But, and it’s an important but, the food really *is* excellent. I wasn’t hungry, but wanted to try all the starters and mains. Had to make do with scallop ceviche with wasabi fish roe, duck ham with confit leg rilette, perfect Pachal pink lamb fillet with stonking good slow shoulder and the cheffy tongue. Not to forget the best triple cooked chips ever. Already full, we couldn’t resist the two desserts. No regrets. Venue is perfect for a date night treat. I hope we come again.

The food in Isabel’s is hard to fault, if not impossible to fault. It’s a real foodie’s paradise. Service is also excellent, as good as i’ve seen anywhere in dublin infact.
I didn’t give it 5 stars though for a couple of reasons:
— Atmosphere is a bit flat
— Menu is v restrictive– the nite we went there was Lamb, Pork or Scallops. I happen to like all 3 but i’d be slow to go here with lots of my friends who wouldn’t be as adventurous as me.
— Portions are on the small side. You need side orders bringing each main over the € 30 mark. Probably not great value although i do appreciate that the ingredients are of a v high quality.
All of that said, i will definitely be back, one of the nicest lamb dishes i’ve ever had! Fantastic wine list also, they clearly know a lot about wine (as well as great ingredients!) We had a bottle of the Delta NZ Pinot Noir, absolute liquid heaven! Well done Isabel’s, i just hope the rest of dublin appreciate what you are trying to achieve, definitely a niche audience i’d imagine.

Firstly, look around.. a small space; heavily, darkly and intimately decorated with wine crates and wine boxes.. it is fantastic; immediately inviting and a joy to enter.
…after such an entrance it would be unfortunate if not unforgivable if you were to have anything but a great meal. Happily for all, the décor matched all culinary expectations and a great meal was in the offing. (now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d utter… «yes, the wallpaper matched the wine splendidly…»…ridiculous, stupid thing to say… but you get the point)
We are warmly greeted, divested of coats and led to our table… it is a small restaurant and it doesn’t take long to get settled into our seats and the first bottle of wine.
We start with a chablis, it matches the crab salad starter wonderfully well… after that I stop paying attention. We are served an excellent red with the mouthwatering slow roasted pork and end with a caramel parfait that finishes the meal perfectly.
Outside is a covered and heated smoking area, right beside the (small) toilets. after such a huge meal I could only just about squeeze in to have a pee (in the loo, not the smoking area).
Overall, a great experience and one definitely worth repeating.

Lovely restaurant on Baggot Street
Interesting wine list, lovely charcuterie, good cheese
Nice menu, very pleasant young staff, interested in introducing customers to new tastes.
Was only here briefly but will be back to sample more. Also a lovely spot for Lunch I have been told

Warm cosy rooms lovely lighting, welcoming staff, dropped in for a drink and stayed for hours, having spotted some food coming out we ordered some nibbles to graze on, plate was a work of art! considered not disturbing its beauty (for all of 3 seconds) … charcuterie and cheese board, the menu massively undersold it! smoked duck, boudin noir, softest melting ox tongue, well handled tasty cheeses all dotted dabbed and drizzled with chutneys, purrees and dressings… Nice wine list, some really nice wines, but a little limited on the wines by the glass unless you are a massive fan of sauv blanc! Bottled list impressive if a little limited on the lower end. but still nice list… OH and best of all there is a gorgeous heated terrace ! Menus are a clever mish mash of grazing and sharing dishes along with a limited more substantial offering, If i could give 4.5 I would! Food Fantastic, Rooms, location, terrace great, I was just a a teensy bit disappointed in wine offerings! but probably just being a little picky! However it is now added to one of my favourite night time hang outs (oh i hear the lunches are good too!)