Dublin City has always been short on authentic Mexican food - not Tex-Mex joints, but real south-of-the-border, traditional rustic Mexican cooking. 777 is a welcome exception, taking the best from this vast cuisine, and replicating it with real attention to detail and contemporary flair.
The low-key black facade seems uninviting and easy to miss, yet step inside and you find a lively restaurant and bar, that’s part Mexican cantina, part New York cool. Smooth cream tiles, large mirrors and distressed ceiling tiles sit happily with an orange bar, low lighting, upbeat tunes and brightly monickered Formica tables in booths. Unusually, a trip to the toilets practically passes through the kitchen, where diners are afforded a close up view of the kitchen crew at work.
The few parking spaces located at the back of the restaurant have been turned into a covered and heated outdoors dining area that more than double the capacity of the restaurant. In typical John Farrell style, Afuera, or Outside in English, is a transformed space, airy but atmospheric and with the unique 777 touch carried all the way through the shiny new Airstream and the style of the art and the general look, feel and sound of the place.
Reservations are only taken for groups of six plus, so you may have to perch on a stool and dine at the bar at peak times. This is no hardship as you’ll have a bird’s eye view of staff fixing margaritas and tequilas, serving coffees and engaging with customers in this very chilled out place. (COVID restrictions permitting.)
Plastic baskets containing fiery chilli sauces and paper napkins dress each table, lending an authentic cantina touch, and allowing you to raise the heat if you feel the need. (COVID restrictions may apply). The menu is dynamic and well established. You have Margaritas Mondays, Taco Tuesdays and the 777 all day “brunch” where every single dish and drink on that menu costs €7.77 – the dishes change from Sunday to Sunday.
This Dublin restaurants starters range from tostados – crisp tortillas filled with the likes of yellow fin tuna sashimi, slow stewed chicken, or lump crabmeat – to taquitos (mini tacos), excellent ceviche (citrus-marinated fish) and traditional soups like spicy pasilla broth with chicken. Many of these dishes are ideal for sharing and a great introduction to real Mexican food.
A wood-burning grill is put to good use for the main courses, which include tasty dishes like BBQ Pork (Iberico Secreto, charred Padron Peppers, burnt figs and chimichurri), Carne Asada (Grilled 24 oz ribeye on the bone, black beans, pico di gallo and guacamole), and Mariscada (charred gambas, clams, chorizo, mussel, orzo, guajillo bouillabaisse and green salsa).
Consider the thoughtful side dishes too, like their famous elotes, the street-style corn on the cob and their papas fritas, the fried cubed potatoes served with garlic and manchego. Desserts are novel and authentic too, with sorbets a house speciality.
Drink is a big part of the 777 concept, with a special menu offering over 80 kinds of tequila and mescal. The shorter cocktail menu offers several Mexican-inspired drinks and there’s a short wine list, including two Mexican beers and fresh juices although, surprisingly, they only serve filter coffee. Their Margaritas became so popular, they are now bottled and sold to go and can be couriered countrywide.
777 is not cheap and it would be easy to run up a significant bill here - but it's worth it, both for the food and the overall experience.
Savvy owner John Farrell's stable of fashionable and fun restaurants also includes nearby Amy Austin as well as Dillingers and Butcher Grill in Ranelagh. Before opening 777 he made a reconnaissance trip to Mexico with his head chef to unearth the very best of this Central American cuisine - and ensure that this exciting place would be bang on Peso.
