Mackenzie’s Dublin – Your “Go-To” Spot

By: Sarah McCleary, February 28, 2022

Going out to eat and for drinks in Dublin is a grand way to catch up with friends, unwind after a busy week, or spend as a date night. Deciding on where to go, however, can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Dublin has so many restaurants, pubs, and cafes… there is an endless sea of places to choose from! Luckily, you’ve come to the right Irish food blog. After reading this blog post, you will have your new go-to-spot in Dublin: Mackenzie’s. Need a place to go when the mother-in-law visits? Mackenzie’s. How about when it’s girl’s night? Mackenzie’s. Needing somewhere to take your significant other for a night out? Mackenzie’s. You can put your notepad and pen away because after reading this, you will have no need to scour Google for ‘dining ideas Dublin’ or ‘where in Dublin to eat for…’

Before taking a deeper dive into my Mackenzie’s experience and why it is one of the best restaurants in Dublin for a nice meal, and perhaps a drink or two, let’s cover some housekeeping items first. Mackenzie’s is situated between the Grand Canal and the River Liffey, providing diners with a view of the Dublin docklands. They serve dinner daily from 4:30pm to 9pm (or 9:30pm on Fridays and Saturday). Making a reservation is a piece of cake, as you can do so through Mackenzie’s website. MAKE NOTE… charges of €20/guest may be charged if: your party doesn’t show up for the reservation, a cancellation is made less than three days in advance or a change in guest count is made less than 3 days in advance. Additionally, a service charge of 12.5% is applied to groups of 6 or more people. So before going, just ensure everyone in your party will 100% be attending and if going with a large group, be prepared for the service charge at the end! You can visit Mackenzie’s website using the following link: https://mackenziesdublin.ie/. It is worth noting that while this post will focus solely on Mackenzie’s as a dinner option, they also serve brunch, which features items such as French toast (with ice cream!), buttermilk pancakes, west coast lemon crab salad on a toasted muffin, and brunch would not be complete without mimosas. Sounds like an absolutely delicious way to start the day! Now, without further a-do, let’s dive into an evening at Mackenzie’s.

The Atmosphere

Mackenzie’s has soft, slightly dimmed lighting that works to create a relaxed, yet lively, welcoming, and casual mood. The wood on the walls and ceiling gives a cozy feeling but is also trendy in appearance. There are many large round booths throughout the restaurant, which are great for larger groups, and produce a social aura. Describing atmosphere is not really my forte, as you likely can tell, so I am going to let the pictures of Mackenzie’s speak for themselves.

The Food

Finally, the most important part… the FOOD! The following quote from Mackenzie’s website perfectly summarizes their menu, “our no-frills menu is big on taste and made with love.” While I can’t verify that each meal is made with love, I can most certainly attest to their menu being big on taste! The menu features a wide variety of options, from steak to burgers to pizza and pasta to salad, meaning that there is something for everyone. Perhaps the pickiest of eaters could get a simple pizza or a cheeseburger, whereas the more health conscious could enjoy the wood fire chicken breast or pan-fried salmon.

When I visited Mackenzie’s, I ordered the salmon. It was perfectly cooked, not overly fishy (for lack of a better term) and was moist. The fish was served on top of broccolini in a light garlic sauce, which was excellent to dip the salmon in, and a side of roasted, golden-brown potatoes were given in a separate bowl. Not only was the meal delicious, managing to far exceed my expectations, but I felt pleasantly full by the end of my meal. Two of the friends I went with ordered the gnocchi, which came with wild mushrooms, chestnuts, and spinach. It looked amazing and I received raving reviews from both people who ordered it. The two others each ordered a pizza. The pizzas have a plump crust but a fairly flat base. They came to the table cooked to perfection and looked like something even Gordon Ramsey would find mouth-watering.

Amazing was the word repeatedly used to describe the pizza! If there is anything about Mackenzie’s that manages to disappoint you (which I doubt is possible), it 1000% will not be the food!

The Drinks

Dinner and drinks in Dublin on a night out go together like peas and carrots (as Forest Gump would say). And you are in luck because Mackenzie’s offers a wide variety of alcoholic, as well as non-alcoholic drinks to wash down your meal. Fancy a cocktail? They are only €12, meaning your wallet will even fancy one too! The restaurant has a huge selection of spirits to choose from, as well as a pleasantly sized beer selection. In addition, any wine lover will be in heaven once they catch a glimpse of the wine list. Not only do they offer red, white, and rosé wines, but they also offer a selection of bubbly and a Japanese sake. I ordered a glass of their Chardonnay, and I am not sure whether it was the company I was with or just the excitement of finally going out for a nice meal, but it was the best Chardonnay I have ever had! However, no matter what your tastes are, there is something for everyone… even mocktails for the kiddos!

I know what you are probably thinking… “great, so Mackenzie’s seems to have it all, but at what price?” However, there is no need to worry about breaking the bank or making your wallet cry.

You certainly receive a good bang for your buck when dining at Mackenzie’s, as the meal portions are perfectly sized (for the average person). To give you an idea of the restaurant’s price range, a pizza ranges from €13.95 to €16.95, their burgers are €15.50, and the salmon dish is €22.95. While not the cheapest in the way of restaurants, you get a great value for what you pay. For a more comprehensive list of their prices, including drink prices, click the link posted previously above to visit Mackenzie’s website and click on their “Menus” section in the navigation bar.

Well, there you have it, your new go-to-spot… Mackenzie’s! Please let me know your thoughts on Mackenzie’s after visiting and if you love it as much as I do. Also, be sure to leave a comment on what topics you would like me to write about next for the Moodie Foodies Irish food blog. As always, any feedback is appreciated (good or bad)! If you are vegetarian/vegan and are looking for some dining ideas in Dublin, you should go check out my co-contributor’s new post! Bon Appetit and enjoy your next night out at Mackenzie’s.

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