Long time I didn’t have time to write on the blog, due to many reasons, but the most important is to continue writing and try to keep with the purpose of this blog. I’ve been in many places since the last article, but I decided that I would dedicate my return to a newly opened place, the pub Dubliner.
I can already imagine some comments. Yes, this is again about a pub, yes it is Irish, and it seems that beyond all the places I’ve been, the so called “British” pubs are still the most reliable ones when it comes to drink and eat.
Located at Suur-Karja 8, it is relatively easy to find the place as it is just next Vabaduse Väljak, on the way to the old town, even if from distance you might not see any big flashy panel showing the entrance. This is in my opinion still a mystery in Tallinn, but let’s go straight to the point.
Dubliner IS a nice place. The inside is not without remembering some places like Scotland Yard with its dark wooden furniture and empty tables during the week or outside drinking hours (is there a real hour for this ?), but the common points stop there. Even if when you enter the place it doesn’t look like the most appealing place, even if the waiters and waitresses will look at you at first like if you were obviously disturbing them (or maybe is it just me), once you come to order your drinks or food, everything becomes more interesting.
I’ve been in this place now enough times to be positively realistic about the food and the service (the drinks I’m not so picky, I just need some Guinness). First, at least two waitresses are able to recognize me, and smile ! Yes, I saw it for sure, it was not just an illusion or because I gave a very generous tip, it was a normal smile, the one you expect to see when you’re polite and not yelling all over completely drunk. Some might say that we, latin people are always waiting for too much stuff from the service. But I’ve been working as a waiter in France and in England, too different cultures, but I always tried my best to smile at customers. Not because I was happy, but more because you don’t make people come back with a “I don’t care about you” glance, which is really often an issue in many places here.
But I must admit that Dubliner surprised me this time. A bit like Drink Bar, you don’t feel like disturbing them if you stay courteous and give a smile from time to time. The fact that most of them understand English in a good way is definitely helping. But more than this, It is not only about service. Very positive point for me, they always have good music, which is to say good rock or some pop rock classics. I’m sitting right now there, listening to some Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication, after hearing “Light My Fire”, what can I ask more?
Now about the food.
I have no real negative points. I tried lots of snacks, from Chicken wings to French Fries, as well as meals and even hamburgers or Päevapraed, and never I’ve been disappointed or badly surprised same with the prices, more than reasonable: 35eek for a soup, 59eek for the hamburger, and between 40 and 50eek for a pint of beer. Plates are big, and filled with vegetables, potatoes or French fries if you ask before. Service is fast if the pub is not too crowded, and they serve food until late.
I didn’t really feel the need to specify it as it sounds logical, but of course there is free Wifi and some plugs to load your laptops’ batteries. In the evenings, you might see a lot more people than during the day, but you can still hear the people around you speaking, which is not the case everywhere. All together, a very nice place to eat, drink alone (sounds like I’m alcoholic, but I don’t care 
) or with your friends. I will give a 7/10 for Dubliner, and the probabilities to see me there are quite high also.