Most of my reviews talk you through a dining experience from the starter working its way through to the end of the meal, but this time I wanted to flip things on their head and start with the coffee.
Coffee in restaurants is pretty shitty. Even in the super high-end award-winning restaurants. The reasons for this are down to simple economics, with restaurants unable to justify hiring a full-time barista or to put proper processes in place. The answer is usually whatever is quickest, easiest to fit into the restaurant and whatever has the best margin.
And the net result? You get way better coffee in corner speciality shops than you do in Michelin Star restaurants.
On the flip side, though, the good coffee shops usually only serve sandwiches and pastries – so getting great food alongside world-class coffee is like searching for a leprechaun riding a unicorn.
Luckily this week I found somewhere to buck that trend... Sister Sadie.
The good news now, though, is that both have started a supper club which runs from Wednesday to Saturday night, where they bring their unique style to the dinner market.
The focus is on Middle Eastern cooking and the menus are imaginative, exciting and bold in a way that very few places around town are these days. Better still, the fact that they're effectively cafes means that the vibe is laid-back and wine is on hand to help you relax even further into the evening after work.
I started with a seafood mezze which was nothing short of spectacular. Big bold flavours, lots of variety and although it was marked as "small" there was nothing small about it – a perfect starter for two people but, in fact, way too big for one.
Next up were the meatballs which came with goat's cheese and flatbreads for scooping up the deep rich tomato sauce. Every plate that they serve up in here are as pretty as a picture and you nearly worry about disturbing the food.
The portions are so big that one dish would be plenty and I ended up leaving half my meatballs not because they weren't delicious but because I was stuffed.
Not too stuffed not to try dessert though!
A delicious berry brownie was as good as any I have ever had in the city, and served with a lovely berry-whipped cream and crunch pieces it was the perfect dessert.
Let's go back to the coffee, though, which I ordered alongside my dessert..
As I said, the coffee is often so bad in Dublin restaurants that I've actually stopped ordering it at all. Here, though, my Americano was rich, deep in colour and big on flavour. I don't want to have some tasteless bitter dark shit in a cup that ruins my whole meal like most places serve.
Instead here I was walking down South Circular road with a wonderful meal in my belly and savage coffee flavours swirling around my tastebuds.
The supper club has only been going for a week so it was quiet enough – but make no mistake, this place will be packed to the rafters soon.
With a warm, friendly and hospitable glow and terrific food, all I can say is this: Do yourself a favour and get down there asap.
The sun was shining, the ribbon was cut, and the tarmac was freshly poured – all was ready to go when I queued up among plenty of eager visitors to be one of the first to try out Emerald Park’s two new roller coasters, Na Fianna Force and The Quest. The two rides are part […]
The problematic portal opened back up on North Earl this week, and although we’re glad to see at least one Dublin project come to fruition (unlike the ones below), it seems everyone is still scratching their heads trying to figure out why exactly we need it. Whether you’re a lover or a hater of the infamous […]
The sun was shining, the ribbon was cut, and the tarmac was freshly poured – all was ready to go when I queued up among plenty of eager visitors to be one of the first to try out Emerald Park’s two new roller coasters, Na Fianna Force and The Quest. The two rides are part […]
The problematic portal opened back up on North Earl this week, and although we’re glad to see at least one Dublin project come to fruition (unlike the ones below), it seems everyone is still scratching their heads trying to figure out why exactly we need it. Whether you’re a lover or a hater of the infamous […]
The sun was shining, the ribbon was cut, and the tarmac was freshly poured – all was ready to go when I queued up among plenty of eager visitors to be one of the first to try out Emerald Park’s two new roller coasters, Na Fianna Force and The Quest. The two rides are part […]
The problematic portal opened back up on North Earl this week, and although we’re glad to see at least one Dublin project come to fruition (unlike the ones below), it seems everyone is still scratching their heads trying to figure out why exactly we need it. Whether you’re a lover or a hater of the infamous […]
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Newly opened up the top of Ranelagh, this high-end bakery is a great addition to Dublin’s blooming bakery scene. Operating on a refreshing level of production and efficiency, we have no doubt that it will set the tone and up the stakes for others. Get prepared to get there early cos they sell out lippy-split […]
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