The Peacock Lucan Restaurant, Finnstown Country House Hotel - Lucan

Head up the tree-lined driveway, past the parading peacocks, to reach this glorious country house set amid 45 acres of parkland and grounds. A team of excellent staff – known affectionately as the 'Finnstown Family' – adds a special flavour and personable charm to proceedings here.

The splendid Peacock Lucan Restaurant, a Georgian-style dining room overlooks the grounds, the mood is relaxed, and a piano plays in the background. Satisfying modern food is the order of the day and the kitchen goes about its work confidently. You might kick off with steamed Bantry Bay mussels or confit of honey-glazed duck with caramelised oranges before medallions of fillet steak with a cep cream, red wine and basil jus or grilled fillets of sea bass with Mediterranean vegetables, white wine and Dublin Bay prawns. Finish with something simple like banoffi pie or poached pears in red wine and cinnamon sauce.