2 Michelin Star Chefs: Damien Grey, chef owner, Liath

The Staff Canteen

Damien Grey is the chef and owner of Two-Michelin Starred Liath restaurant in Blackrock, Dublin

Damien Grey was born in Australia, where he trained under Stravous Stravous, a Greek chef in a restaurant called BJ’s for four years. 

Liath

 

Blackrock Market, 19a Main Street,
Blackrock, Co. Dublin

Website: https://www.liathrestaurant.com/

Tel: 01 212 3676

Email: [email protected]

Opening hours:

Dinner: 
Wednesday - Saturday, 5:30 - 8:30pm

Closed:
Sunday - Tuesday

Instagram: @liathrestaurant

Twitter: @LiathRestaurant

 

Biography

Damien originally wanted to study architecture at university but couldn't afford the course. Although he didn’t set out to be a chef, he has been involved in the food industry since he was ten years old, when he cleaned and made sausages and steakettes on Saturdays and Wednesdays.

Image Credit: Damien Grey/Liath Restaurant

When he was fourteen, Damien worked in a fruit and veg shop, later becoming a kitchen hand for a catering company. Whilst working as a kitchen hand, he found himself in awe of the chefs, who came from all over Europe.

Heron & Grey

Before opening Liath, Damien had another Michelin-starred restaurant in the same location. The Herron and Grey was a collaborative project between Damien and Andrew Herron, which opened in 2015 and was awarded a Michelin star in 2016. It closed in 2019, and in October of the same year, Damien opened Liath.

What the guides say

Michelin Guide

 

Restaurant Liath

Liath has only a limited number of tables, which allows Damien and his team to explain the dishes and interact with guests, the idea being to make for a more personal and memoral experience.

The restaurant received its first star in the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland 2022

During lockdown, Damien took time to reflect on the restaurant, and when it reopened, the chef made the decision to steer it in a new direction. 

The restaurant has been revamped with a more contemporary look that separates the cosy interior of the restaurant from the rustic market outside. 

The changes made to the restaurant were clearly successful, as in 2022, the restaurant received its second star in the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland 2022.

The food

Liath's dishes are bold and original, and the food offering has been continually reworked and perfected over the years. The dishes are centred around five tastes: salty, savoury sweet, bitter, and sour.

The food is what the restaurant calls an expression of new Irish cuisine,  showcasing the country's most special ingredients from both land and sea.

Sustainability

Since November 2021, Liath has been closing one weekend a month to allow the team a chance to relax and spend time with family and loved ones. This is done in order to help fix some of the work-life balance issues affecting vast swathes of the industry.

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The Staff Canteen

The Staff Canteen

Editor 4th March 2022

2 Michelin Star Chefs: Damien Grey, chef owner, Liath