Three to try... Small plates

THE OLIVE TREE

No 8 The Mall, Waterford. Tel: (051) 585-555 olivetreewaterford.ie

Located In Waterford’s Viking Triangle, Trevor Prendergast’s Olive Tree is a tapas and wine bar, where chef Darren Collins has a passion for curing, pickling and fermentation, making all his own breads and sauces from scratch. Wines, many from Colm Carter’s Honest 2 Goodness wines, are carefully selected to complement the dishes.

Price: €4-€13.25 Try: Spiced monkfish with polenta, and an apple and date dressing, €8.95 Drinks: Wine, beer

BROWNES

The Square, Tuam, Co. Galway. Tel: (093) 60700 brownestuam.ie

Amanda and Stevie Lane’s incarnation of Brownes, an old family pub-cum-grocery, is getting ready to open its doors any day now. Stevie cheffed in L’Ecrivain, Mulberry Garden, and The Pig’s Ear, while Amanda worked in the Westbury Hotel. Have a drink in the revamped Grocery Bar, followed by some contemporary small plates in the restaurant.

Price: €4-€11 Try: Beef cheek with potato mousse and crispy marrow, €11 Drinks: Craft beer, wine, spirits

GREEN MAN WINES

3 Terenure Road North, Dublin 6. Tel: (01) 559-4234 greenmanwines.ie

David Gallagher and Claire O’Boyle Gallagher worked in the wine business before setting up their own wine store, with a chic wine bar to the rear. It’s quite blissful looking at all those wines from which you can choose a bottle and pay a modest corkage to drink, while you are enjoying top-notch small plates from spicy chorizo to smoked duck magret

Price: €4-€15 Try: Gambas served with lemon aioli, €13 Drinks: Artisan wines