The Commons Restaurant

The Commons Restaurant
Map
Restaurant information
Established1989
Closed2003
Food typeIrish & French
Street addressSt. Stephen's Green
CityDublin
CountryIreland

The Commons Restaurant was a restaurant located in the historic Newman House (now location of the Museum of Literature) on St. Stephen's Green in Dublin, Ireland.[1] It was owned by Michael Fitzgerald.[2]

It was a fine dining restaurant that was awarded one Michelin star in each year in the period 1994–1997. The Michelin star was again awarded in 2002, but lost in 2003 due to the chef leaving.[3][4] The restaurant later reopened on a more modest level.

Head chef of The Commons Restaurant during the last "Michelin period" was Aiden Byrne. The headchefs Gerry Kirwan (1994), Michael Bolster (1995) and Leslie Malone (1996 & 1997) took care of the first period. Last chef in this period was Sébastien Masi, but he, just aged 22, could not retain the star.[5]

Shortly after losing the star the restaurant ran into financial difficulties and closed down.[6] Dylan McGrath worked under Aiden Byrne as souschef.[7]

  1. ^ Overview restaurants in Dublin Archived 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Irish classics
  3. ^ "Lack of star quality leaves food for thought". The Irish Times. 17 January 2004. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  4. ^ Michelin Online Republic of Ireland
  5. ^ The emergence, development and influence of French Haute Cuisine on public dining in Dublin restaurants 1900-2000: an oral history. Thesis DIT by Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire, 2009. 3 downloadable volumes. Part 2, p. 390-391
  6. ^ O'Brien, Carl (11 April 2003). "Commons Restaurant on the Green to close immediately". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  7. ^ The emergence, development and influence of French Haute Cuisine on public dining in Dublin restaurants 1900-2000: an oral history. Thesis DIT by Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire, 2009. 3 downloadable volumes. Part 2, p. 391