Camden Street is one of my favourite places in Dublin.
Whether you’re having a casual night or going all out with the girls, you will find somewhere on Camden Street to visit. There are so many options to choose from and you never have to go far to move from dinner to drinks.
A new member of the Camden Street family has just opened and I was lucky enough to try it this week. Nestled between Hang Dai and Frank’s butchers is Cava, The Port House’s latest offering.
One of my favourite meals is tapas, so I was excited to try Cava and heard a lot about it from my friends. Here is how I got on.
The vibe
The minute you enter the restaurant, there is a relaxing buzz to the place. There was hardly a table free when we arrived at 7pm on a Tuesday – and that can only mean a good thing. The lighting is dimmed, but not too much and people are happily chatting in the background. It’s the perfect date night spot if you’re looking to go for dinner with your other half over the Christmas season.
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The decór
The decór is simple, yet rich and warm. The walls are exposed brick with red and navy detailing. L’Estrange Designs also created some bespoke paintings and wall hangings which really ties everything in together.
It’s kind of moody, which I love, and when the candles are lit, it’s very romantic.
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The Instagram spot
Literally just the food. Every dish looks absolutely delightful, so get snapping the minute it arrives.
The service
We were greeted by lovely staff straight away and they were very attentive. Everything was sent out promptly from the kitchen and empty glasses were never left too long – I can’t say a bad word.
The food
Everything was gorgeous; so much so, it has already reached the top of my list for restaurants in Dublin. As I said before, I’m a major tapas fan and it can be hard to find a really great tapas restaurant in Dublin. The Port House Cava did not disappoint and I’m already planning a second trip before Christmas.
As part of our deal, we got 5 dishes each so we went for:
Ahumaday Aceitunas (Bread with hummus, smoked mackerel pate and marinated olives)
Two rounds of Pepito Solomillo (flat iron steak served on toast with garlic butter)
Tosta de Salmón (Smoked salmon on a crispy toast with Greek yoghurt, truffle honey and freshly ground pepper)
Canelón Catalancon Cordero (Catalan style cannelloni with slow cooked lamb in red wine jus, topped with manchego cheese)
Frango Piri Piri (Chicken wings marinated in a garlic and piri piri seasoning)
Gulas con Gambas al ajillo (Pan fried Spanish baby eels cooked with prawns, garlic, chilli and olive oil, served with bread)
Two rounds of Brochetas de Gambas al Pil Pil (Pan fried skewered prawns served with garlic and chilli)
Vieira (Seared king scallop, cream sauce, topped with crispy jamón and breadcrumbs)
Yes, it was a lot of food – and yes, we ate every single bit of it. They also have an extensive wine list so if you’re into your vino, you will be very happy.
The win
Without a doubt, the seared king scallop was my favourite dish. The scallop was cooked perfectly – soft, sweet and buttery. The pieces of jabón added some texture while the creamy sauce over it was out of this world. I would eat a tub of it with a spoon.
I also have to give a shout out to the calamari because I’ve had so many shitty ones in Dublin and these were just delicious. They were crispy, yet not too chewy inside – just fab.
The fail
I tried to be different going for the eel dish, and while it was tasty, I just couldn’t eat it all. Some people might love it, but I’m not there yet. As Simon Cowell would say, it’s a no from me.
Final thoughts
The Port House’s Cava is one of the best restaurants I’ve been to in a while. It’s completely chilled out yet there’s a happy buzz about the place. Between the service, the food, the drink and the entire vibe, I will definitely be making a return.
Her was invited to try out The Port House’s Cava restaurant for a meal which included 5 dishes and 2 drinks for two people in exchange for a fair and honest review.
You can check out the restaurant here.
