The exterior of Roly's hasn't changed much in over twenty years but that's the kind of place it is, solidly good without gimmicks.
A while ago I said I was going to start mentioning more of the places I like to go to all the time, I began with The Woolshed and I'm following that up with Roly's Bistro in Ballsbridge. A meal in Roly's has a sense of occasion to it, we usually reserve it for a special treat. If funds are low we're always happy to visit the cafe below where both prices and options are reduced. There's a saying in Dublin that "you'll never get a bad meal in Roly's" I've tested this adage a number of times now and I can't disagree with it.
A very light and drinkable Cuvée from Langudoc.
We were greeted at the door with the warmest welcome I've experienced recently in a restaurant. We'd reserved a table for 8pm and it was just as well, the place was absolutely jammed. No sooner were we seated than we had water and a selection of breads to choose from. From the wine list we went for the red of the month, a Cuvée which was very nice but could have benefited from being served at a slightly lower temperature. (in fairness though, it was one of the hottest days of the year!)
Ardsallagh goats cheese with beetroot salad and brioche
To start M went for the goats cheese with warm beetroot salad and candied walnuts. The cheese had a super zingy taste which contrasted nicely with the earthiness of the beetroot. It was a really refreshing dish, perfect for a summers day.
Wild mushroom and Parma ham bruschetta.
I went for the mushroom and parma ham bruschetta. It was an interesting dish, not necessarily flavours I would have put together but they worked well. The hazelnut mayonnaise really pulled the dish together, I really wish there had been more of it! (Greg Wallace moment!) This dish was slightly on the heavy side and I was beginning to wish I hadn't eaten so much bread earlier!
Fillet of beef with ratatouille, flat cap mushroom and red wine jus.
For mains M had to have the steak, I've had it myself in the past and it's really good. It didn't disappoint this time, good rich flavor and nicely tender.
Saddle of lamb with herd crust, fondant potato, ratatouille and shallot and lamb jus.
My main of saddle of lamb was really superb. When I cut into it it had a perfect pink color that lamb should have. The herby crust had hints of mint which, of course, perfectly matched the juicy meat. The accompanying fondant potato was impeccably cooked, crisp on the outside but soft on the inside. The only thing amiss with this dish was the spoonful of ratatouille which I really don't think added anything to the dish but I'm not fond of ratatouille anyway. I would have preferred an extra serving of the lamb jus which was amazing (Another Greg Wallace moment!)
Raspberry and lemon tasting plate.
We decided to pig out and go for desserts, M's raspberry and lemon tasting plate consisted of pavlova, lemon and mango sorbet, raspberry cheese cake and a lemon curd pie. All were good but the cheesecake really shone in my opinion, creamy and tangy at the same time.
Wonderful cheese board.
A cheese board is my default dessert in a restaurant if it's available. This one was exceptional, it included Brie de Meaux, Oak Smoked Knockanore, Stilton and St Maure de Touraine. It came with a fig chutney which really wasn't to my liking, but I was more than content with my cheese offerings!
Some delicious nougat petit fours made in house.
A couple of espressos ended a really lovely meal, once again Roly's have shone! As well as the food the staff were exceptional, friendly but at the same time professional which is a balance hard to maintain and which a lot of "higher brow" restaurants in Dublin fail to achieve. I think the moniker of bistro belies what's really happening in this fantastic restaurant. It's not hard to see how they've managed to keep the buzz going for twenty one years.
Roly's Bistro
7 Ballsbridge Terrace
Dublin 4
01 668 2611
http://www.rolysbistro.ie/
