Art of Coffee

Where? Art of Coffee, Unit 1, Alto Vetro, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin 4
Ordered? Ham, broccoli and courgette quiche

  No word of a lie, this is the third time I've been here in the last 6 weeks. For a place that's well known for stylish coffees (yeah, they ain't bad), I would come for the quiche alone. Each time I've ordered the same quiche, and for good reason.
  A thick layer of crumbled ham and a tightly packed veggie filling, it's well balanced, tasty and the pastry is just the right texture.
  As well as the food and coffee, the outdoor seating area along the canal provides a quiet serene setting. However, if there's a hint of wind, one would be wise to get a seat inside as you might find the best part of a salad will easily become wind-borne.
  It's a popular spot with the surrounding office flock so get in early at lunch to secure a table as they are limited.
  Worth the stroll and great value for money; another little gem in the Grand Canal crown.

http://www.theartofcoffee.info

Pieman

 

Where? Pieman, 14a Crown Alley, Temple Bar
Ordered? 7.95 Meal Deal: chicken, mushroom and Jameson pie, gravy, mushy peas and a soft drink.

  The first thing I noticed while looking at the menu board was there was no steak and kidney pie. That's weird, right? Or is it just me!?

  Anyway, the pie was nice, the pastry was nice, the peas were, well, peas... It was all very nice. That's about it. I got my money's worth and a little laugh out of the sticker on their tip jar: "every time you tip, Chuck Norris gives Justin Bieber a roundhouse".

  I tipped.

The Pieman Cafe : Facebook Page

 

Herbstreet

Where? Herbstreet, Hanover Quay, Dublin 4
Ordered? Herbstreet Combo: half quiche of the day (smoked chicken, cherry tomato and cheddar), quinoa salad, sweet chilli relish and cup of soup of the day (spiced roast pepper and black bean).
Seasonal Fruits: strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, pineapple, melon, kiwi, passionfruit, Cornish clotted cream and toasted hazelnuts. (The menu also stated organic honey in the dish but it wasn't in there as far as I could tell).

  I arrived at the tail end of the lunch service and was pleasantly surprised to be seated almost immediately. I was lead to a table outside looking over the dock which was nice (brownie points for location!).  The waiter was pleasant and attentive a nice gent. 

  My first course arrived without much delay, and I couldn't help notice the plate seemed a bit crowded; I found it a bit awkward to cut into the quiche without fear of it flying onto someone else's plate! However, the food was tasty, I think the quinoa salad was the highlight, simple and full of flavour and texture, especially with a splash of the sweet chilli dip thrown in. The quiche had just the right amount of everything; chicken, tomatoes and cheese. The soup, though, I felt was lacking something. It was chunky and filling but I admit I had to add some salt to balance it out a bit, it just seemed to lack seasoning. 

  When ordering a dessert I was disappointed to find that the chocolate fudge brownie was unavailable (a sign from beyond that I should be sticking to my diet no doubt), so I opted for the Seasonal Fruits which was also delivered promptly. I must admit I "mmmm"'ed out loud after the first spoonful. It was perfect! The fruit was room temperature, the cream was thick and rich and the toasted hazelnuts added a welcome little crunch to each bite. The organic honey, however, seemed to be absent, unless it was a very sparse drizzle altogether.

All in all I was satisfied, and the lot rang it at a reasonable €16.50. The service was excellent, there's no doubt, and the location was beautiful on such a nice day as today. A delightful spot for lunch with a friend or just to nip in and do a bit of people watching. 

http://www.herbstreet.ie/