The Porterhouse, a Dublin pub

This well-worn leather bench flanked by cowhide stools is where our party dined on scampi and fish and shepherd's pie.

We also tried Oyster Stout, a tasty dark beer brewed especially for this pub.

There are other branches of the Porterhouse in Ireland, New York and London.

The pub ceiling, below, is wood, and not quite so white as the picture shows.