Opened in August 2021 in Ballsbridge, Mae Restaurant focusses on Modern Irish Cuisine and Considered Wines, owned and operated by multi-award winning chef Grainne O'Keefe. Mae has been included in the Michelin Guide since 2022. 

"This cosy first-floor restaurant is hidden above the French Paradox wine shop, which not only gives it an appealingly secretive feel but also makes opting for one of the interesting wine pairings a wise move. The tasting menu begins with delicate snacks and fine daily-made sourdough, before offering a choice of main course and dessert. In game season, you'd be foolish to miss the exquisitely cooked sika deer and the tarte Tatin is Chef-Owner Gráinne's crowd-pleasing signature. The chefs show not just skill but generosity, so you'll leave feeling full and satisfied." - Michelin, 2024

Mae was the name of my late grandmother. She was a wonderful cook, and a huge influence on my life. When I thought about opening my own restaurant, she was at the forefront of my list of inspirations, and I knew very quickly I wanted to name the space after her. 

The French Paradox was a perfect venue, because the influence on family is huge here too, the building has been passed down generations, and I am honoured that the space has been shared on to me. An added bonus to this, is mae has access to some of the most incredible wines, direct from vineyards across France with whom the team at The French Paradox has had special relationships with for decades. 

The menu has been designed with all the above in mind. We want to bring modern, seasonal cooking with superb wine pairings to match. We have an incredibly strong team of front of house, chefs, sommeliers, and suppliers behind us. As well as this, we have been working with so many hugely talented trades people, designers and creators from across Ireland; from ceramicists, embroiders, glass blowers, to some of the most skilled and inspiring knife makers in the country.

I wanted to highlight not only the food, wine and talent in the restaurant industry, but also the backbones of it. What makes a restaurant feel special, what makes the guest feel special in that restaurant.

Ireland has an abundance of remarkable producers all across the country, and I wanted to bring as many as I could into mae. I can't wait for you to experience the restaurant for yourselves, and am so looking forward to welcome you all over the coming weeks, months and years. 

Grainne