Shan - Dublin

My husband and I shared a late night meal of chicken curry with dal, special fried rice (egg and peas and spices , garlic naan, masala chai, and some popadum. (It was probably 12:30 in the morning. Everything was delicious. The chicken dish had large chunks of perfectly cooked white meat, tender yellow dal, and a tasty red sauce. The masala chai was the only weak point in the meal I'm used to intensely spicy, even spicy hot, chai in the states, and what we had here was pretty weak warm brown milk, essentially. Service was very nice, and for the late hour, I'd say the restaurant was still pretty hopping about 1/3 to 1/2 full at any point in our meal.

I couldn't believe my eyes when my friends dragged me inside Shan after closing-time at Pygmalion. Inside the Indian restaurant we were greeted by a friendly waiter, neatly decked tables, and most importantly, civilised guests sampling various dishes over a glass of wine. No pushing. No yelling. No fighting for the last chip in the frying pan. This was just heaven. Dinner for four (three mains+rice+naan bread) and a bottle of red set us back around €70, and I was more than happy to pay the bill. Winding down with quality food and able to chat about the evenings highlights was a brilliant ending to a great night.

My friends and I were looking for an Indian restaurant with good reviews for dinner when we decided to visit this place on a Thursday evening. To our surprise, the restaurant was completely empty. The menu featured a limited selection of vegetarian entrees, and it was quite unexpected to not find any paneer dishes, which are typically a staple in Indian cuisine. We ordered saag paneer, and after explaining to the waiter the type of paneer makhani we had in mind, he kindly offered us a small portion of paneer kadhai to try. However, the portion sizes of the entrees were disappointingly small; they wouldn't be enough to feed more than two people. Overall, I'm giving this restaurant 2.5 stars.

As I was leaving, I noticed the floor was dirty, and the door was covered in grime that looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in months, if not years. I suppose the dim lighting helps to disguise that. The only positive aspect of the biryani I ordered was the generous portion size. The rice was decent, but the chicken was tough and chewy. Overall, the restaurant was unclean, and the food was below average. I can’t recommend this place.

Open until 4 AM, Shan restaurant is a vibrant destination for late-night dining. Instead of settling for subpar takeout, consider visiting this charming eatery nestled on a quiet street in Temple Bar. I wholeheartedly recommend this spot, as the waitstaff are courteous and accommodating. The menu is quite similar to that of other Indian restaurants, but the prices are more budget-friendly. Before you place your order, the waiters will provide complimentary poppadoms (similar to spicy chips) along with four dipping sauces. A standout feature of this restaurant is a large bronze elephant statue that adds an eye-catching touch to the decor. If you're a friendly customer, the staff may even take a photo of you sitting on it.