Christmas may feel like it’s only just over, but believe it or not, Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Whether you’re a die hard romantic or a ‘Hallmark holiday’ cynic, declaring your love can be an expensive business.
Option one: Break up until it’s over and then beg for forgiveness two weeks later. A cunning plan maybe, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be taken back.
Option two: Stay in with a movie, a bottle of wine from Lidl and a dozen tea lights to get you in the mood. Sure it’s cheap, but this is no longer represents the same dizzying heights of romance as it did in your student days.
Option three: Get dolled up and treat your beloved to a slap up meal on the town. That’s more like it – but how to afford such luxury? We’ve done the hard work for you and found some great places to eat for under a tenner. Nothing says ‘I love you’ like change for the cab home.
- Green Nineteen, Camden Street, Dublin 2 – Hearty seasonal food like venison and winter root pie is just one of the €10 main courses on offer. www.green19.com
- Tenors Grill Room in Donnybrook, Dublin 4 and Naas Village, Co. Kildare –Large portions and family favourites where main courses are only €10! www.tenorsgrillroom.ie
- Odessa Restaurant, 14 Dame Court, Dublin 2. They are doing €5 plates, with portion sizes pitched between tapas and main meal proportions. A trendy option, as long as you’re not that hungry. www.odessa.ie
- Shebeen Chic, restaurant and bar, South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2 –Homely Irish fare in an entirely recycled interior. Many of their mains come in at under €10 and they sometimes have live music and even livelier clientele later in the evening. www.shebeenchic.ie
- Seagrass Restaurant, Portobello Bridge, Dublin 8 – This gorgeous restaurant has creative promotions to give you a range of price options designed to never compromise on quality. BYOB nights (‘bring your own beer’ for the uninitiated…), special menus and larger group discounts all offer great value. They offer a tapas/rustic menu with dishes for as low as €5. Delicious. www.seagrassdublin.com.
Of course, there are so many special offers at the moment that often it’s best to check out sandwich boards or early bird signs in your local area, and many restaurants do offer a Valentine’s Day set menu, which can also offer good value. Another option is to choose a more upscale restaurant and wine and dine over a long lunch instead of dinner – just as impressive but lighter on the pocket. Happy dining, lovebirds!
By Rebecca McNamee
