Aoife Healy's Ella is like a northside version of Dalkey's Nosh. It's a classy, deftly-styled, and reliable address, with a distinct feminine style, that has a dedicated local following for good, modern cooking, some of which shows nice ingenuity, such as scallops with parsnip puree, or crab mornay with Gruyere.

Bridgestone Guide 100 Best Restaurants in Dublin 2008

Aoife Healy’s chic little restaurant and wine bar is in the centre of Howth village, just across from the Baily Hotel, and it has a loyal following of local diners who enjoy the relaxed, intimate atmosphere, consistently good cooking and very obliging staff who always want to be sure that everyone is enjoying their meal to the full.

Although plenty of seafood is offered (and seafood cooking is accomplished) Ella offers a good range of other foods - perhaps more so than other restaurants in the area; Pork Fillet wrapped in Prosciutto, with Calvados jus is atypically tempting example.

Cooking is kept pleasingly simple and there’s an emphasis on fresh local foods, with suppliers credited on the menu of (fish and seafood from Wrights of Howth, Dorans & Nicky’s Plaice, and meats and poultry from Ray Collier butchers, just a couple of doors away).

Long opening hours make this a great neighbourhood restaurant, and an early dinner menu offers especially good value.

Georgina Campbells Best of Ireland Guide, 2008

Aoife Healy’s chic restaurant on the main street has earned a loyal following - clean-lined and warm-toned, with friendly, helpful staff and Juan Miguel Lopez’ accomplished cooking, it hits the spot. Compact menus offer balanced choices, the lunch menu is great value, especially as main courses are also priced separately. A la carte evening menus move up a gear and widen the choice slightly, but there is no need for a long menu in an intimate restaurant like Ella.

Georgina Campbell Jameson Guide 2005

This is an intimate,stylish restaurant/wine bar in the heart of Howth Village. The decor is warmly contemporary and the varied menu, which includes some excellent seafood specials, keeps drawing people back. Ella has a fantastic selection of wines, many available by the glass. Always a great buzz about this neighbourhood restaurant which does live music at weekends.

Ella has been embraced with great enthusiasm by many who like enjoyable food at down-to-earth prices.
(Winner of the Best Restaurant Award presented by Leading Restaurants Guide Ire)

Leadingrestaurants.com

Good cooking, good service, great wines - no wonder the good folk of Howth have taken Ella to their hearts and minds. This is logical, hip cooking and its popularity is deserved.

The Bridgestone Irish Food Guide