Mao
is situated on Dun Laoighre Pier in Dublin. The location is certainly scenic. As I drove up to the car park, the sun was setting over the water and the orange sky set the boats bobbing gently up and down into stark relief. Car parking is a slight problem. The plethora of yacht clubs in the immediate area means spaces are infrequent. Eventually having found a spot, we went in for our dinner.
The décor is a little too colorful for my liking; it reminds me of McDonald's. The tables are bright primary colors and the chairs are as hard as school chairs. Having said that, the food was unsurpassed. Portions were large and the starter of seared tuna had a lovely sour cream dipping sauce.
My friend had nasi ngoreng for main and I had sole tempura. The sole was lovely and tender and the tempura crispy to the bite. It was a mammoth amount and I had difficulty finishing it. Service was good although a little impersonal. Personally, I prefer a less open plan restaurant, which, is cosier and allows the customer to interact more with the staff.
Deserts were no let down. My coconut sorbet was creamy and sweet. We finished off with two coffees.
Mao is an excellent restaurant that is let down by its hyper modernistic décor. I wonder what Mao himself would have made of the eatery that bears his name.
