Review: The Port House restaurant, Dundrum

The port house tapas bar in Dundrum has had its doors open for no more than two years and since then it has been booming with business, unlike our economy. The restaurants success can be attributed mainly to its diverse menu. As Dundrum’s first tapas menu it is likely to attract the odd curious few, this it seems to be the bulk of their business. Situated in the lower Pembroke district in the Town Centre you’re spoiled for choice with a healthy selection of bistros and “burger joints” to keep your stomach satisfied. 

The staff are friendly and courteous, always smiling and pushing their abundant wine menu under your nose. The cute and rustic appeal of the place is complimented hugely by a somewhat Venetian style outdoor heated area providing an appealing area for what is essentially a tiny restaurant. Service for food and drink is at the industry standard of around fifteen minutes. Everyone is good looking in the place, the lights are so dim Sinead O’Connor could come in and look bald and thirty again!

The menu is excruciatingly appealing to all. With choices from mini burgers to philly steaks, duck with lemon zest, lobster, salmon, pike, meatballs, paella, risotto, patatas may, salted asparagus and more, you’re spoiled for choice. There is something for everyone, and don’t forget this is tapas, small portions means you can try three to four dishes depending on your belt orientation. The food itself is at a mixed standard. I like to call it the “luck of the draw”, you could get an amazing dish like their salted asparagus, with a great flavour and soft centre it makes for a great eat or the patatas with four different toppings, it is a must as a side dish. At the other end of the scale there’s the seafood paella, with its undercooked rice and chewy fresh from the freezer fish, it makes for one disastrous piece of work. The meatballs again keep a disappointing trend up. With a sauce as bland as paper and the meat itself of a low quality, a relatively simple dish to prepare ruined.

I find myself that the failing areas are due to a size issue. A menu that vast would be nearly impossible to perfect. It is no wonder that some dishes are, to be honest brilliant and some to the same standard of the mc Donald’s euro saver menu. With a lottery for a good dish, a cosy country style and good staff, filled with beautiful people it makes for a good dining experience. It is for these reasons I would award The Port House in Dundrum three stars.