[dropcap]F[/dropcap]inding a restaurant to suit everyone in the family is usually quite a challenge, and finding a restaurant that caters for everyone at an affordable price is twice the battle. Luigi Malones ticks these two boxes and despite it being around for some time, I only got the pleasure to stumble upon it recently.
Luigi Malones Temple Bar is located in the heart of Dublin but without the hefty price tag expected to comes along with this. Located just behind the Central bank, you couldn’t be any closer to the hustle and bustle of Dublin’s vibrant Temple Bar giving Luigi Malones the most ideal location.
Upon entering on a Thursday afternoon, expecting the restaurant to be quiet enough, I found it was absolutely packed. Immediately I knew this was a good sign. The interior is bright and modern, lined with wooden tables against a sea blue backdrop. The restaurant is open and airy with plenty of natural lighting and large windows for the all-important people watching.
The menu is vast and caters for all including vegetarians, coeliacs, kids and picky eaters. It is primarily an Italian restaurant with pastas and pizzas being the stand out choice. Pizzas range from your classic margarita to wing sauce and pulled pork pizzas. Apart from that standard Italian food, Luigi Malones offers tastes from around the globe, supplying a wide selection of burgers, steaks, chicken dishes and fish. The buffalo chicken wings are perfect as a shared started as the portion sizes are quite generous. I ordered the chicken fajitas for my main and they certainly didn’t disappoint. The portion sizes were again huge for the main courses. There are also a varied selection of desserts including the traditions cheesecake, pavlova and apple crumble.
We ordered off the early bird menu which is on offer Monday to Friday from 12pm to 7pm. This menu is ideal as it offers two courses for €20 per person or three courses for €25. The pricing is excellent considering the quantity of food you actually get and the quality and flavour of the food. I was quite surprised by how affordable it was considering we were in the heart of Temple Bar.
The service was great and we were looked after from the moment we stepped in the door. Our wine and water were constantly kept topped up and we were checked up on regularly by the very friendly staff. Despite how busy it was on a Thursday afternoon, we felt like we could make ourselves at home and didn’t feel one bit obliged to rush.
The atmosphere was lively and there was a nice mix of families, younger people and kids which gave the whole place a really diverse vibe. Luigi Malones is a laid-back restaurant perfect for either lunch or evening time dining. Being in the middle of Temple bar also helped the atmosphere as we looked out the windows at Dublin’s capital for tourists and the vibrant bars, restaurants and shops on offer.
Ratings
FOOD: 9/10
LOCATION: 10/10
SERVICE: 8/10
VALUE FOR MONEY: 9/10
OVERALL: 9/10
Colleen Brady
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