The Black Lion in Dublin

13/07/2026: We visited Orwell Road for my boyfriend’s birthday and had an incredible experience from start to finish. We shared the sourdough to begin, and it may genuinely be the best sourdough I’ve ever had! My boyfriend had the scallops, while I chose the heirloom tomato salad. I’m usually hesitant about ordering a tomato-based salad, but I couldn’t believe how much flavour was packed into it. For our mains, I had the walnut ragù and my boyfriend had the pork belly, along with sides of potatoes and broccoli. We usually finish everything we order, but the portions were so generous that we simply couldn’t. Every dish was fantastic, and we couldn’t fault the food. We also really enjoyed the blood orange margaritas and espresso martini. I posted the margarita on Instagram and had so many people asking where it was from! Our waiter and bartender, Luke, was a real credit to the restaurant. He was extremely attentive, friendly and kind throughout our visit. We had asked for the bill as we needed to rush to Croke Park, but he still made time to bring out a small dessert with a candle for my boyfriend’s birthday, which was such a thoughtful touch. Thank you again for a wonderful experience. We will definitely be back!

11/07/2026: A truly wonderful evening with a fantastic and entertaining host. We would highly recommend booking a table. Our visit was a while ago, and several guests had cancelled due to illness, so we had the restaurant almost entirely to ourselves. The food was superb, the cocktails divine, and the service outstanding. It was hard not to try them all! :) We would love to come back again; it was a perfect end to a wonderful holiday in Ireland.