People-watching is a national past time, and something my dad and I love to do. It's quite interesting seeing how other people dress, carry themselves and behave in public. Apart from St. Stephen's Green, there is no better place to sit back and watch the world go by than in the very hub of Dublin, Temple Bar.

Last Friday night, I strolled along the cobbled streets with the various American tourists and English parties (out soaking up the 'Oirish' culture and availing of the multitude of watering holes, respectively!). A rendezvous at the ever popular Auld Dubliner gave a party of us a chance to have an aperitif before a birthday dinner at the Elephant and Castle across the road. I have always meant to try out this place, as it seems to be eternally packed to the gills. The god's shone down on the six of us, as our reserved table was located beside the window, providing me with a bird's eye view of the bustling street outside. Not to mention the bustling restaurant! A sufficient number of staff kept everything running like clockwork. It is busy and slightly noisy, but not in an obtrusive way. Still not the best place for an intimate dinner however.

Never one to go unnoticed, I opened my bag of birthday tricks, placed a colorful lei (a Hawaiian garland) around the birthday girl's neck, a 'sex kitten' badge on her pretty top, and a balloon in the sugar cellar (well it fit perfectly!). She opened her present of designer perfumes, an after many 'You shouldn't haves' and kisses, we ordered.

The 4 page menu offers appetizers, soups, meats, pastas, a wonderful choice of burgers, omlettes, as well as daily specials. Pretty much something for everyone, with taste of Irish and American cuisine with a touch of Mediterranean thrown in. Two of the girls are regular diners there so 3 baskets of their famous chicken wings with blue cheese dip were promptly ordered.
I sampled the messy but very tasty and spicy wings, but was more content with my crab cake on red cabbage. I was taken aback at the portion size, merely due to the price of 8.95. Our very efficient and pleasant waitress pointed out that the new management had made several changes including the menu prices, but made a trip to the kitchen, and on her return, assured me that my £9 was buying me pure crab meat. It certainly tasted as such, so I was happy. We washed this down with a bottle of French Muscadet and Australian Shiraz. The 2 page wine list offers a handful of well selected wines from every region, at a relatively modest markup.
Two omlettes were ordered, one Temple Bar special, and a spinach and cheddar version. A coronation chicken and bacon double decker sandwich was quite delightful, as I got to sample some. A plain burger and a stilton burger showed every sign of being home made and arrived on hug patters with freshly cut chips. American portions but Irish food!

My tagliatellie with spicy tomato sauce, olives, capers and goat's cheese was quite interesting. A huge bowl of pasta was topped with a good sauce and almost like a smooth slab of cheese (like cream cheese texture, spreadable rather than a block) on top. It was quite delicious and I thought the cheese would melt but it didn't! I could only manage half the pasta, but finished the sauce. I wonder if I could have had more sauce if requested.

The only reason a dessert menu was brought over was because we needed something, anything in which to place the candles I had discreetly given the waitress on arrival. There is plenty to choose from but apart from the cheesecake and carrot cake, it is ice-cream all the way. So a banana split arrived with blazing candles, and my friend sat in horror while most of the restaurant sang happy Birthday to her! I caught myself quickly stopping when I got the 'For she's a jolly good fellow' part, when I realized the outburst had subsided!
We all had a bit, but what can you say about a banana split really?! Alcohol was clearly on everyone's minds when coffee was declined (though what happened my hot water?) and a bill for £132 was split among 5 of us (the birthday girl was being treated!). This included a 10% service charge (placed on groups of 6 or more), so we left around £145 as the waitres had been extremely professional and obliging, but great fun and very thoughtful throughout the meal.

I sincerely enjoyed myself and am glad to have had the opportunity to have eaten there. I hope the new management keep up the great standards and do as well their predecessors. I cannot complain about the prices, especially as it has now dawned on me that Dublin is by far the most expensive city I have ever come across. Canada here I come!
And Orla, I hope you enjoyed yourself and I didn't cause you too much mortification-I mean, who ended up wearing the flowers most of the night!!