The bakery and bistro founded by Bart Pawlukokjc and Nicole Server-Pawlukojc, known as Arán, located at 8 Barrack Street, Kilkenny, is currently thriving. After winning the Supreme Champion title at the Blas na hÉireann awards 2022, they continue to work hard, seemingly with relentless enjoyment. Their updated summer brunch and evening selections incorporate a wide range of cuisines from Polish and Spanish to Japanese, Filipino and many more. Arán also offers unlimited coffee during breakfast and ensures a pleasant environment for children and dogs.
Cafe Lógr, located on the Main Street in Adare, offers a delightful experience of weekend brunch. Owners David and Petra Hayes are rewarded by returning regulars, drawn back for the unique dishes like French toast with Amarena cherries and pistachios, Turkish eggs, and wild mushroom ragout served on sourdough toast with a poached egg. Arriving early means you can enjoy an outside table on those sunny days.
If you ever find yourself hankering for a burger, Dash Burger is your go-to place. Located on Kevin Street Lower and Capel Street in Dublin, this eatery is Barry Wallace’s brainchild. Having experienced a burger tour in New York, he took inspiration from US burger icon George Motz to produce thin, seared burgers rich in umami flavours. These mouth-watering burgers are served in soft potato buns, either double or triple, ensuring maximum satisfaction. The ongoing collaboration with Allta restaurant allows for an additional lavish touch – their signature shiitake miso butter.
Finally, we have Fish Box, situated on Upper Green Street in Dingle, known for its exceptional seafood offerings.
The Fish Box, a well-established eatery in Dingle has recently ramped up its appeal with an exhilarating facelift. The seafood procured for culinary delights here is directly sourced from a family-owned trawler, Cú Na Mara, from the Flannery household. Artisanal goods from local businesses are also featured prominently in the menu offerings. Amongst the popular choices, one can enjoy their iconic fish box, a cornucopia of freshly sliced chips, battered fish, and squid. They also cater to various dietary requirements with gluten-free options, and have expanded their alcohol selection at their newly established bar.
In the heart of Dublin, on Benburb Street, Fish Shop has long been a dining institution. This venue, comfortable in its minimalist elegance, offers perfected classic dishes like their delectable battered fish. Accompany these with a selection from their extensive wine catalogue, perhaps a sophisticated Jura white or kick things off with some sherry and starters. As the space only hosts 15 counter stools, it’s wise to secure your reservation well ahead.
If a culinary escapade takes you to Fethard on Sea, a pitstop at Grálinn is highly recommended. Their sea-bordering, quaint café now serves dinner, with a menu mostly comprising of vegetarian options. Daytime diners can revel in the wholesome brioche French toast, adorned with semi-dried blood orange wedges and pistachio mascarpone, or the sustaining, slow-cooked haricot beans in a basil and cavolo nero sauce. Promising the freshest ingredients, they source sourdough bread from Seagull Bakery, eggs from Tinnock Farm and produce from McNally Farm. Recently, they’ve added 18 outdoor seating options for Al fresco dining.
For Cork visitors, 14 Gorge’s Quay is home to the inviting Izz Cafe. You can place a reservation by contacting their listed phone number or through their website, izz.ie.
Eman and Izz Alkarajeh recently enlarged their well-loved Izz Cafe, acquiring extra room from a next-door ice cream shop. Nonetheless, securing a table may prove difficult, thanks to the high-quality Palestinian food which resonates with the local Cork community. Their offering includes fresh, soft bread – ideal for dollops of creamy, pickle-infused hummus – and topped flatbreads (manoosheh) with a choice of halloumi, labneh with honey, or spicy shredded chicken.
Roosting in Market Square, Baltinglass East, in County Wicklow, the Little Acorn Café buzzes with an emphasis on taste, nurtured under the direction of Alain and Michel Roux at the world-renowned Waterside Inn in Maidenhead. House specialities include stacked fish tacos filled with tempura haddock, the BLT served on Grá Arán sourdough with O’Neill’s bacon, and accompanied by homemade crisps, alongside plentiful, airy pancakes. They’ve recently commenced dinner service on Fridays and Saturdays.
Maison Gourmet on Henry Street in Kenmare is the daytime café of choice run by Emma and Patrick Puech. The menu includes French butter croissants, savoury sandwiches such as the Croque Madame prepared on pain de mie with ham, cheese, velvety béchamel, and topped with a fried egg, as well as exquisite pastries. The outdoor bistro seating is often in high demand.
Lastly, Nóinín takes centre stage at John’s Bridge in Kilkenny, providing gastronomic delights appreciated by locals and travellers alike.
Sinéad Moclair, with her years of experience at The Fumbally, as the culinary mind behind the Báidín pop-up in Connemara, and her recent venture Nóinín, co-opened with her sister Maeve, is known for crafting enticing two-course meals. Her meals, available to walk-ins on weekdays and reserved bookings on weekends, include inventive dishes like pollock tempura, lamb kofta tagine, and a unique Indonesian-inspired stir-fry.
In Limerick, at 30 Mallow Street, you’ll find the expanded cafe Rift, where Dalton Greene and Venezuelan chef Emily Vasquez delight with their combination of breakfast, lunch, and brunch offerings. A variety of dishes including eggs Benedict, French toast, and birria tacos, and distinct dishes like cornbread with chipotle butter and smoky bacon reflect Emily’s cooking influences. During the summer, Rift transforms into evening wine bar, featuring low-intervention wines, small plates, cheeses, and oysters.
Savoir Fare, located on Bridge Street in Westport, is sought-after French bistro by day and a lavish wine bar at night. Its proprietors, Alain Morice and Nuria Brisa serve an array of dishes, including pâte en croute, Galway snails, organic roast chicken, and bouillabaisse. They also offer an assorbment of fine wines, including some excellent burgundies, from wine expert Roisin Curley.
For a pleasing meal in the company of loved ones, or a brief respite during a journey, Strandfield in Dundalk, Co Louth, offers a charming setting. From breakfast prepared with straight-from-the-farm eggs, to a varied menu featuring flatbreads, salads, and wood-fired pizzas, it is an ideal spot for any occasion. This popular joint, part florist, bakery, cafe, and grocery store, also offers both indoor and outdoor dining. Before leaving, patrons are recommended to replenish their pantry with locally-sourced items including bread, eggs, fruits, cheese, and fresh flowers from their grocery.
Lastly, The Grain Store brings forth an exciting and enticing culinary adventure.
Situated just a stone’s throw away from Dublin city, Killruddery House & Gardens, located on Southern Cross Road, Bray, Co Wicklow, offers visitors an enchanting pocket universe to explore. The estate is teeming with activities, with a notable Saturday Farm market, but it’s their food options that truly make an impression. You can opt for swift and informal meals with wood-fired pizzas at the Pizza Shed or enjoy a formal dinner at the Grain Store, where chef Niall O’Sullivan uses local produce to create tantalising dishes. As evening falls, engage in their four-course seasonal supper club. Contact them at 01-2863405 or visit their website killruddery.com.
Another culinary gem is Tango Street Food, nestled on Muckross Road, Killarney, Co Kerry. Here, Facundo Rodulfo and Pamela Neumann, originally from Argentina, have set up shop, enriching the locale with their offerings. Rodulfo’s mastery in asador cooking comes to life on his timber-fired parrilla grill, serving gaucho-style choripan, short ribs, and skirt steak, with occasional specials like T-bone or traditionally stuffed flank steak. Additionally, Tango offers mouthwatering empanadas, award-winning sourdough pizzas, and Argentinian sweet delicacies. Contact them at 064-6636986 or pay a visit to tangostreetfood.com.