Melissa Nazareth enjoyed a delightful dining experience, tucking into rustic Irish staples and pub classics at JJ’s Irish Restaurant.

JJ’s recently relocated into Block 338 and they’re bigger and, might we say, better. While they continue to be the haunt for sundown socialisers, they’re now also focusing more on the food and dining experiences.

Spread across two floors, there is a separate sports lounge, game room to shoot some pool and, of course, the bar and entertainment area where you have the live band playing and karaoke nights. Each of the spaces has a distinct décor and feel. Additionally, they will soon have an outdoor space ready, in time for winter. It’s worth mentioning that there are screens throughout the restaurant, so you can catch your favourite team playing no matter where you sit. Let’s take a minute to talk about the well-thought-out decor.

While many of the items have been newly sourced, some of the displays are from the old restaurant, such as paintings and sports jerseys in the sports lounge. There’s been some upcycling too; the barrels from the previous JJ’s have been converted into tables. The venue has an Irish personality, with wood detail, green wallpaper and stained-glass windows. There are other catchy installations such as framed vintage ads, modern prints by Irish artists, a huge antique wall clock…

The food is a combination of traditional Irish dishes and JJ’s creations, as well as pub grub. Though we went for lunch, we simply had to try the Irish Breakfast platter, featuring eggs, sausages, bacon, black and white pudding, hashbrowns, mushrooms and a whole grilled tomato, as well as a side of beans. I was excited for the puddings as this was my first time trying them. The black variety, surprisingly, didn’t have a metallic taste as I expected. It was meaty, minty and fragrant. The white one was savoury and mealy. My favourite, however, were the sausages, springy and salty, with a crispy casing.

Next, we tried the potato and leek soup. It’s one of the most traditional dishes you will ever eat and tasted like a warm hug. The potatoes lent it a viscosity and the leeks, a mild oniony flavour. I absolutely loved the crispy potato slivers used as garnish. It was served with JJ’s soda bread, freshly baked in-house. The bread was airy and light with a sturdy crust, perfect to dunk into the soup or even tasty enough to enjoy by itself.

After that, the smoked salmon salad arrived, which was refreshing. A canvas of coral salmon, red cherry tomatoes and different hues of green. There was a crunch from the lettuce and the avocado cubes and black olives added further texture. The umami flavours from the salmon stood out and were complemented by a strawberry vinaigrette dressing, which didn’t overpower the ingredients and had a subtle aftertaste.

You must try the Reuben sandwich, a new item on the menu which is currently being revamped. It’s made with JJ’s corned beef, a delicious cut that’s brined for 10 days and then slow cooked. Enveloped by two slices of toasted soda bread packed with tangy pickles, it was tender and juicy, served with a side salad and pungent horseradish sauce, which elevated the meaty flavours.

We switched to some pub grub, starting with a pair of moreish beef sliders, which were juicy and the ideal portion size for one. They were followed by the classic cod and chips. The hot, crispy batter against the moist, soft cod fillet offered contrasting textures that tantalised. Served with soft, thick cut fries, piquant tartar sauce and creamy and sweet mushy peas, this is a dish for which JJ’s is rightly famed.

The mustard baked chicken was another homely dish served with a side of mash and gravy. Immaculately plated, the chicken was well-cooked, juicy and lightly flavoured. We also tried the beef and ale pie, which looked as rustic as it tasted. The buttery puff pastry on top was flaky but when doused with the robust beefy stew it concealed, it melted in my mouth.

The lamb stew was light, with a bite from the barley, a common ingredient in Irish cooking. JJ’s freshly prepares its stocks inhouse – the secret behind their flavourful stews. The vegetable cobbler was a tomato-based gravy with vegetables, topped with the cobbler that is made using milk, flour and cheese. Almost like a Southern style American biscuit, the cobbler was airy and spongy, soaking in the rich flavours of the gravy.

About this time, we had just enough room left for dessert, a marbled chocolate mousse cake. It had a richness from the chocolate mousse, balanced by the cream, and just the right amount of sweetness. The berries on top made it look pretty while also cutting through the decadent chocolatiness.

Full to the brim, I can safely say that whether you’re a sports buff, a karaoke and music junkie or simply looking for a lovely dining experience, JJ’s offers it all. ✤

GO: CALL 3384 3005 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A RESERVATION.