Review
The Spencer Hotel lives up to the hype upon arrival. Wandering through the front doors to escape the hustle and bustle of Dublin’s iconic quayside, we sit down in a venue reminiscent of a gem found hidden in New York City; perfect for a girly evening of catch-up’s, or a frankly idyllic romantic date night with that very special someone.
Me, I was ready for a night with my best friend, to catch up on untold tales and submerge myself in cocktails and good grub. The cocktail menu seemed the place to start and I was soon the owner of a goblet of raspberry “Lychee Julep”, with chilli infused vodka, made by someone with an eye for presentation.
Our waiter informed us of the excellent cocktail classes that take place within the establishment, and I was thinking they’d be a must have for a company get-together or staff night out.
East Restaurant is a celebration of Pan Asian cuisine, showcasing flavours from Vietnam, Indonesian, Malaysia and Japan. It’s a broad church, but well curated and so not overwhelming. My starter was the perfect follow on from such a delicious cocktail, and an ideal introduction to such a diverse menu. I opted for the Spiced Chilli Calamari, with the perfect amount of spice to make you come back for more. The Asian house dressing is something I will probably strive to recreate for the rest of my cookery days - never have I enjoyed a salad so perfectly spiced!
The main, however, was the clear winner for me. I firmly believe Pad Thai is a dish that many restaurants struggle to recreate in their own way and do it well, but this restaurant favourite sent me to an entirely different world of taste. The portions are not for the faint hearted, however that’s a bonus for me and my ravenous appetite.
The staff are more than happy to offer tasters and testers, each equipped with an obvious knowledge of the menu - on hand to give advice and inform individuals of what may or may not suit their taste buds.
We finished such a grand feast off by tucking into a Death by Chocolate sundae; and boy, was it just that. We lingered over coffee and then stepped out into a still sunny city and enjoyed a walk along the quay.
A taste of the East is always welcome, and East hit the spot perfectly.
