Oliver Dunne and his team have given the food and drink concept at Cleaver East a complete overhaul by introducing a new Eastern-influenced offering. The Temple Bar restaurant has retained its bold and playful approach to food and cocktails, while the new menu offers a wide mix of creative and adventurous Eastern-inspired dishes.
Oliver said, “Cleaver East opened in 2013 with one of the first tasting plate menus in Ireland. It was a new and innovative concept at the time that gradually evolved. Six years later and we wanted to refresh. I believe that if a venue is not evolving ahead of trends then it will be left behind. The Irish food scene has changed so dramatically over the last number of years, we wanted to take steps forward in creating innovative dishes and concepts that excited both our customers and our team, like we had before.
We wanted to shake things up a bit. After extensive research and looking to the countries to the East, we found a whole new world of amazing flavours and ingredients that work well with our predominantly Irish produce to produce some stand out dishes. Asia is a really interesting continent with incredible ingredients, and we wanted to develop new dishes and create a new concept which has revitalised the entire restaurant and the team”
The Eastern-inspired starter options include General Tso’s Cauliflower, Buddha’s Hand (Chinese citrus plant), Mint and Chilli Dip at €8.50, and Steamed Duck Gyoza with Shitake and XO Broth, Pickled Shimeji (mushroom native to eastern Asia) and Artichoke Crisps at €9.50.
Mains include dishes of Miso Marinated Organic Salmon on the Bone at €20; Slow Roasted 1/2 Barbary Duckling, Spiced Organic Maple, Manuka Honey and Soy at €24; and Slow Cooked Beef Short Rib, White Miso and Pomegranate Molasses Glaze at €22.
Cleaver East gets creative with its sides, which have the Eastern influence throughout, featuring Roast Butternut Squash with Soy Caramel and Black Sesame; Broccoli, Ginger and Chilli Oil, Smoked Almonds; and Spiced Sweet Potato Fries, Crushed Cashew, Honey and Seaweed Aioli to name but a few. Sides are each priced at €4.25 or three for €10.50.
As always, Cleaver East cocktails are taken just as seriously as the food, and the inhouse mixologists have created a host of new showstoppers to compliment the food offering. Signature cocktails include Ruby Tang containing Opihr Gin, Pomegranate Juice, Lime Juice, Rose Syrup, Raspberry Liqueur; Tequila Thai made with Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Lychee Purée, Lime Juice, Fresh Coriander, Chili; and an Eastern Old Fashioned made with Bulleit Rye, Ginger Syrup, Lemon Juice, Angostura Bitters.
The new evening menu is available at Cleaver East from 5:30pm to 10:30pm seven days a week.
Bookings can be made online at www.cleavereast.ie, by email at [email protected], or by phoning (01) 531 3500. Cleaver East is located at 6-8 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.
