[COMMENT JULY 2014]
A strange thing is going on at present. New restaurants are opening almost every day here in Dublin but the more established restaurants are disappearing at an increasing pace. One of the reasons for this may be that the old restaurants are stuck with having to pay very high rents [set in the boom times] while the new establishments are paying “Pop-Up” rents. For me the down-side is that I don’t really like many of the new restaurants and those that I do like do not open at times that suit me.
“The Purple Ocean Restaurant is located in Dun Laoghaire overlooking Saint Michaels Pier. It offers diners stunning views of Dun Laoghaire Harbour and the Ocean. The Purple Ocean Restaurant is a member of the Feile Bia program which pledges to supply details of the quality and origin of the food used by their chefs and commit to source its chicken, meat and eggs from Quality Assured suppliers”
I used to visit this restaurant at least every four or five weeks but for various reasons I have been unable to visit since last Christmas. Last Monday I visited Dun Laoghaire and I was planning to meet a friend and have lunch at the Purple Ocean [I had forgotten that they do not open on Mondays]. When we arrived at the restaurant it was closed but unfortunately it had the appearance of somewhere that had ceased trading. I checked the review sites and the most recent review was 24th. June and there was no indication that they were no longer in business. I checked their website and it is down and their phone appears to have been disconnected. I finally checked their Facebook page and there is no sign of activity other than a few comments indicating that potential customers cannot make a booking.
