Liberty Grill kitchen offers US and Euro food styles. Excellent menu in the well-loved Washington Street venue

Liberty Grill kitchen offers US and Euro food styles.

Upside down Apple cake with Maple Butter

 Excellent menu in the well-loved Washington Street venue.

In 2011, I met a couple of US food bloggers at The Farm Gate. One of them, Chris from San Francisco, asked if there was any American food influence in the city restaurant. The only one I could think of was the Liberty Grill on Washington Street. Chris was relieved that there was at least one!

Peach JohnnyCakes

Back then at Liberty, you could enjoy dishes such as Marinated Yellow Fin Tuna (Louisiana Style) or a Tennessee Flambé. Generally though the influences came, still come, from America’s East Coast. It is their USP.

In 2010, we asked co-owner Denis O’Mullane how did the concept come about. His answer: “After seeing the room with its large windows and dark furniture, we knew we were going to do an American East Coast Neighbourhood restaurant, where grilled foods make a rather large part of the menu.”

Chicken Salad

And the name? “It is actually a shortened version of our first shot which was ‘Liberty Belle Cafe and Grill’. And the Liberty Grill is as popular as ever as we experienced at lunch there last week where Denis himself was serving as faultlessly as ever! The New England influence is still vital but you’ll see quite a few Irish and European dishes as well, all based on the freshest ingredients, locally-sourced, with seasonal highlights.

The American influences in our lunch came mainly in our desserts, eat h of which was delicious and somewhat different. Mine was the Peach JohnnyCakes, with warm peaches and ice-cream. While CL’s equally delicious pudding was their Upside Down Apple Cake with Maple Butter and cream. Each cost a very reasonable €6.50. Indeed, reasonable and very reasonable would cover all the prices here.

The Johnny Cakes are cornmeal pancakes and also appear on the Brunch menu (runs all day) where the New Eng­land clas­sic made using non gluten and plant based ingre­di­ents can be served with your choice of maple syrup  or warm maple but­ter; also possible to add maple fried banana,  wild blue­ber­ries com­pote, or Caher­beg smoked bacon. Very versatile indeed!

Steak Salad

The mains were also very satisfying here. A seared beef salad (vodka and chilli marinated fillet strips, chargrilled on leaves with balsamic onions, rustic potatoes, red peppers and toasted pecans) was outstanding, a highlight being the palate pleasing combination of the meat and balsamic onions. A terrific dish for €15.50. Last week, I mentioned a head to head between Steak sandwiches from Market Lane and the Oliver Plunkett; this Liberty Grill dish would make another worthy contestant.

CL also hit the jackpot with her Open Chicken Sandwich (grilled chicken with tomato salsa, mango chutney plus lime and coriander mayo on the side and fries also (11.90)). No bother polishing that one off.

No alcohol on the day. I had meant tortry the Posh Belvoir cordial, soda water, mint & lime. It has a couple of different flavours but I forgot! Next time.

Liberty Grill are open to serve Break­fast, Brunch & Lunch, Mon­day to Sat­ur­day, 9am to 3.30pm.

Updates on Facebook here.  Book­ings are pri­mar­ily made by ring­ing 0214271049 and they have online options here.