Michie Sushi in Dublin

Absolutely a hidden gem off the main thoroughfare of Ranelagh. I did not think this restaurant actually existed for almost a year due to the odd location down a relatively residential road. To my most pleasant surprise, I wandered down the road one afternoon and found myself in the coziest, friendliest atmosphere I could imagine. It felt like I had wandered into a friend's living room. There are maybe 12 seats in the dining area, so even if the room was full, it was never too loud, and never too crowded. The walls are lined with awards and japanese-style art, including calligraphy and watercolor paintings. The music is lofi-beats with japanese flutes, bells, string instruments, etc., and creates a calming atmosphere. Ana is the host of the restaurant: she is always nearby and ready to help. I never felt once pressured to stay or to go faster. At this point, I've been at least six times, and have brought multiple friends with me. We've all agreed so far that Michie Ranelagh is a overall wonderful little shop, with great prices and great food. My favorite dishes: - Chirashi: A filling meal with a taste of every fish the shop offers, including fishes not often seen in sushi restaurants in this city! I've yet to find a restaurant other than Michie that has /good/ ikura (salmon roe). I've gotten this meal several times and have never once had a fault to note. - Dengoku: A savory appetizer of lightly battered tempura aubergine and soft/silken tofu. I can never cook aubergine correctly, so I jump for joy when a restaurant does it well. - My friends have said lovely things about the Salmon Platter, the Tuna Handroll, and the Pumpkin hosomaki (small roll) My least favorite dishes: - Agedashi Tofu: While the dashi sauce was delicious and a mix of savoury and sweet, the tempura coating of the silken tofu wasn't fully cooked or cripsy enough to stand up to the stock, so it turned into a gummy, glutinous slurp that distracted from the soft tofu. Sadly I was not a fan of that texture.