Dax Restaurant

You'll find this elegant French restaurant tucked onto a quiet stretch of Pembroke Street Upper, where the Georgian townhouse setting feels appropriately grand for what's inside. The dining room strikes that perfect balance between formal and comfortable - white tablecloths and proper service without the stuffiness that puts you off your dinner. The kitchen here takes French cooking seriously, with dishes that arrive looking like small works of art but actually taste as good as they look. Expect classic techniques done properly - think perfectly rendered duck, delicate fish preparations, and sauces that remind you why the French got so precious about their cuisine in the first place. At these prices (we're talking €80+ for the tasting menu), you'd want excellence, and thankfully that's what you get.