The two-star Michelin restaurant were planning to open online reservations ahead of the restrictions on indoor dining easing in July

The Greenhouse’s head chef Mickael Viljanen has left the two-star Michelin restaurant with immediate effect. Restaurant owner Eamonn O’Reilly wrote on Instagram that the move “has come as a complete surprise and shock after a very long and successful relationship”.

Viljanen took charge of the Dawson Street kitchen in 2012, helping to earn it a Michelin star in 2016 and a second in 2020.

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“I wish Mickael the very best for the future. He is without question one of the most gifted chefs in Ireland and Great Britain. I will now take some time to decide how the Greenhouse moves forward,” O’Reilly added.

At the time of writing, Viljanen had not issued a statement on his departure, however, the Irish Times is reporting that he plans to stay in Ireland.

On May 14, the restaurant said that they couldn’t “wait to welcome everyone back to The Greenhouse as soon as possible and hopefully in July,” they added, “reservations will be open online on our website thegreenhouserestaurant.ie as soon as the Irish government give us a July date for the reopening of indoor dining.”

The Greenhouse is one of only three Irish restaurants to hold two Michelin star, amongst their number is Aimsir, in Co Kildare and Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, on Upper Merrion Street.

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