The team of Kirsten Batt and Sebastian Masi, front of house and head chef respectively, has been on to a winner since the day they first opened the doors of their elegant Merrion Street brasserie. A decade, multiple awards and widespread critical acclaim later, Pearl continues to be one of the city’s brightest gems, and still one of the best places to enjoy a long lunch when you should be working.
Over one such lunch one might savour a succulent favourite of crispy Dublin Bay prawns with mango and black pepper dressing, perhaps followed by rare-breed pork belly with wholegrain mustard mousseline and balsamic apple, all for the keenest prices. While pricier than the set lunch and early bird, the à la carte menus offer some of the finest cooking around at that price range, and with it you can always expect pitch perfect service and atmosphere.
Happily, Kristen and Sebastian have also commandeered Locks on the Grand Canal (Portobello), where their outstanding brand of brasserie dining has lent an elegance to the trendy neighbourhood. Long may they last.
