I’ve been described by a French colleague as a ‘gourmand’, a connoisseur of good food. I certainly cannot disagree with this characteristic. However, as much as I enjoy dining out in restaurants, enjoying good food, wine and company for a couple of hours, I am often just as happy to retreat to a nice café and gossip with friends over a hearty sandwich and café mocha (or cappuccino if unavailable!). There is as much variety of cafes and sandwich shops in Dublin as there are fully fledged restaurants, and they usually cater for hungry shoppers and tourists all day long.

During the summer months of my college years, I spent many hours exploring the side streets of the city, perusing the menus of hidden eating establishments. I discovered a very cosy café beside an Italian restaurant I used to frequent in Temple Bar. It’s hidden above a funky clothes shop opposite Luigi Malone’s, and is easily missed if it were not for the blackboard outside. Its customers range from college students to trendy youths, and all this with a style of their own. Strangely, I always feel dressed up in such a laid back place! Food is served all day, and during the usual lunch hour a seat is very hard to get, so I always arrange to meet a friend for a late lunch. The ten or so tables fill the rather small room which overlooks Fownes Street.

There are papers available to read and Internet Access in the corner. There are no smoking tables along one wall, which is headed with a blackboard listing the soup and specials of the day as well as desserts. The breakfast menu is offered all day - an increasing availability pretty much everywhere these days. The menu is huge (check out the website to make your taste buds blossom!) and the choice of sandwich so varied that I plan what I will have next time! Sandwiches come on a variety of breads – thick country white or brown, walnut and rye, tomato and fennel, ciabatta or bagel, and can be toasted for a little extra. Wraps and panninis also feature. You can mix fillings and breads, as I have done many times. Fillings include all the meats, cheeses, tuna, salads and combinations are vast including sun dried tomatoes, goats cheese, rocket leaves, tofu, chicken, black or green olive tapenade, hummus or artichoke (though I’m sure I’m missing plenty!).

You can add extras, and I always ask for some basil or creamy pesto (especially good with the chicken) or some tapenade on the side as the bread is so chunky, it needs plenty of dressing to moisten the sandwich. The soup is homemade, as are the desserts. A full range of coffees, herbal teas and smoothies complete the menu. On one occasion I had the vegan club (3.60) – three slices of extremely thick country brown filled with black olive tapenade, artichoke, sun dried tomatoes, lettuce and feta (requested as a substitute for avocado). Plus some extra tapenade! A light side salad with very tasty vinaigrette ensured I was kept busy for a good half hour! A cranberry and orange juice mix (1.25) washed this down, followed by a well made mocha (1.70). My English friend Tom had a wrap filled with fried tofu and sweet chilli sauce and salad (3.30) which he devoured. He finished with a mocha and banoffi pie (2.95) which was very tasty.

Prices range from 2.50 to 3.95, extra for toasting and ciabatta. Café Irie is a big hit with the young and trendy in Dublin, and I read all the rave reviews pinned to the wall of the toilet (also published on their web site). The staff never rush you, even though there is always someone waiting at the door for a seat. By far, a very cheap venue with great variety and tasty food, compared to others around. A firm favorite of mine.

http://www.cafeirie.web.com
cafeirie@hotmail.com