The Unicorn

3.9

19 Reviews

€31 to €50

Italian

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 18, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 8 times today

Good for special occasions
Good for business meals
Lively

The Unicorn is an old popular Italian restaurant in Dublin. After closing a few years ago it has recently re-opened in 2024 under new management. It is located on Merrion Square, just a 10 minute walk from St. Stephen's Green. The Unicorn has been a cornerstone of Dublin's dining scene for decades, and under Kristan Burness's leadership, It will once again shine. The much loved Terrace, famous for long leisurely lunches will bring Merrion Court back to life with vibrant al fresco dining offering guests an unforgettable dining experience in the heart of the city.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
€31 to €50
Cuisines
Italian, Comfort Food, Beer Garden
Hours of operation
Lunch Wed–Sat 12:00 pm–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Phone number
087 000 6604
Website
http://www.unicornrestaurant.com/
Payment options
Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Kristan Burness

Location
12b Merrion court, Merrion Row, Dublin, Co. Dublin D02 V962
Neighborhood
St Stephen's Green
Parking details
None
Additional
Beer, Corkage Fee, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wine

burrata di bufala
artisanal burrata, heritage tomato, basil cream
gamberoni piccante
sauteed king prawns, n duja butter & herbs, grilled focaccia
polpette di cinghiale
ballinwilliam wild boar meat ball, caramelised onion cream grilled focaccia
carpaccio
carpaccio of swordfish, hazelnut & lime avacado & fresh crab

main course

ragu bolognese di cerva
classic ragu of wicklow deer, fresh hand cut pappardelle
risotto con funghi ai tartufo
carnaroli risotto, seasonal mushroom's & fresh black truffle
pollo
breast & leg of free range chicken, cacciatorie style
nasello al vapore
hake fillet, spiced calamari croquetta, samphire & lobster sauce
bistecca di manzo
sirloin of irish dry aged beef, wild mushroom, shallot & pancetta ragu truffle mash
- ten euro supp€10.00

sides

sage double cooked fries€6.50
fagiolini, green beans, poor mans pesto€6.50
insalata di giorno€6.50
garlic & truffle mash€7.00

Dessert

crostata al limone
amalfi lemon tart, blackberry sorbet
unicorn tiramisu
hazelnut, disaranno & chocolate
torta di mele
warm apple tart, salted caramel ice cream
fondante cioccolato
valrhona chocolate fondant, pistachio & pistachio ice cream

What 19 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.9

3.9 based on recent ratings

4.3Food
3.9Service
3.7Ambience
3.8Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Dublin
Good for business meals
Dublin
Good for special occasions
Dublin 2
Good for business meals
Dublin 2
Great for outdoor dining
Dublin 2
Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Unicorn is back with a blend of "phenomenal" Italian cuisine and a "sensational" atmosphere. Diners rave about the "superb" scallops and risotto, complemented by a "reasonably priced" wine list. While some mention room for ambiance improvement, the "exceptional staff" ensures a delightful dining experience.

19 Reviews

J
Jennifer
Dublin
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Overall it was a lovely afternoon,food was great and the staff were fantastic & very attentive. Restaurant is newly opened & requires work to finish it off on the walls,toilets etc. I'll be back to try some of the other dishes my table had,everyone enjoyed the afternoon.
Is this helpful?
F
Fran
Dublin
5 reviews
1.0
5 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
Was really looking forward to going back to unicorn as we used to go for special occasions many years ago. Unfortunately it was not a great experience. Lighting was too bright and music was too mixed, ballads then club music. We tried to order a Bellini but were told it wasn’t available, 2 minutes later a different waitress asked had we ordered and we said we wanted the bellini but we were having Prosecco instead. She looked confused and then went and made us the Bellini!! Very slow to clear table after starters, bringing out next course before table was cleared. Had to ask twice for glasses to be cleared. It wasn’t very busy so cannot understand why things were not being done. We looked for a bottle of wine but were told they didn’t have any left , but later as we went into their piano bar next door I counted at least 15 bottles of the wine we wanted on the shelves. They didnt have port which people often order after dinner. Decor still not finished after the renovation, skirting boards missing, black on walls, painting unfinished. It just felt like it opened before it was ready as staff seemed inexperienced and not too bothered and atmosphere wasn’t great.
Is this helpful?
M
Mary
Norfolk/Suffolk
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 7, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Lovely meal and attentive staff. wine list approachable and well chosen. Decor a bit bland as before but pleasant enough. Great to see it open again, welcome back!
Is this helpful?
C
Charlie
Dublin
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on December 5, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Great food and ambience. Only concern was tip was requested in cash!!
Is this helpful?
A
Antonia
Leinster
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 5, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Lovely meal at the new Unicorn, food was outstanding especially the dry aged beef.
Is this helpful?
K
Kevin
Leinster
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 30, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Superb experience at The Unicorn today. Great to see it back. When the word spreads, I’m sure it will be as just busy as before. KC.
Is this helpful?
M
Merrins1
VIP
London
9 reviews
3.0
9 reviews
Dined on November 29, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 1
We were looking forward to going “back” to the Unicorn. On arrival we were met with a damp awful smell. Obvious building was not occupied for a long time. Service was good. Menu had limited choices. We had burrata and tomatoes . Tomatoes were tasteless. Bread was cold and dry. We asked to be toasted which it was, then it was nice. We had Risotto and prawn pasta. Risotto was lovely but would have liked more rice. Wine list limited but good quality. Toilets were not clean. Overall disappointing and won’t be going back
Is this helpful?
O
Oliver
New York City
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 29, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best scallops and beautiful main course. The standard of food was superb. Highly recommended.
Is this helpful?
C
Chris
Dublin
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 29, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Great performance from a great team …. A stripped down version of the original… but superb quality. I had Prawns to start good texture … great sauce remember to ask for bread followed by an amazing Hake… perfect! Well priced Italian Sauvignon blanc … great value all round!
Is this helpful?
S
Sinead
VIP
Dublin
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 27, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Loved it! Great food, service and fun! Shout out for the Risotto. Perfection.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Unicorn is rated 3.9 stars by 19 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 18, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 8 times today

12b Merrion court, Merrion Row, Dublin, Co. Dublin D02 V962

Additional information

Neighborhood
St Stephen's Green
Hours of operation
Lunch Wed–Sat 12:00 pm–2:30 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Price
€31 to €50
Cuisines
Italian, Comfort Food, Beer Garden
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
None
Payment options
Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Kristan Burness
Additional
Beer, Corkage Fee, Gluten-free Options, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wine

Website
http://www.unicornrestaurant.com/
Phone number
087 000 6604

The Unicorn

Make a reservation

Additional information

Menu

starters

burrata di bufala

gamberoni piccante

polpette di cinghiale

carpaccio

main course

ragu bolognese di cerva

risotto con funghi ai tartufo

pollo

nasello al vapore

bistecca di manzo

sides

sage double cooked fries€6.50

fagiolini, green beans, poor mans pesto€6.50

insalata di giorno€6.50

garlic & truffle mash€7.00

Dessert

crostata al limone

unicorn tiramisu

torta di mele

fondante cioccolato

What 19 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is The Unicorn restaurant rated?

Is The Unicorn currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information