Although it’s one of the newer businesses in a town with plenty of good eating places to choose from, a policy of offering quality with value soon earned this modern café-restaurant a local following.
It’s a bit out of the way so visitors are unlikely to find it by chance but, with tables set up outside for fine weather and a welcoming display of goodies on the counter inside the door, it’s a nice little spot to find.
Inside, the restaurant has a pleasant smart-casual ambience, with black-topped tables promisingly sporting salt and pepper mills - and also a bottle of the house oil (sensibly tucked behind the coffee menu to protect it from light).
With long opening hours, it’s the kind of place where menus tend to evolve through the day and, while there will be more casual food on offer during the day, there’s some overlap onto the evening menus.
Soup of the day for example (a tasty carrot & orange, perhaps, served with good freshly baked bread and proper butter), and popular starters such as homemade chicken paté (served with mixed leaves, chutney and crusty French bread) and Donegal smoked salmon (with cucumber & dill crème fraiche) are great anytime dishes. Variations of favourites like steaks and fish & chips are also wisely included on both menus, although the daytime dish will be more casual than the dressier evening version.
Freshly homemade dishes are the norm, and it’s nice to see the traditional potato dish Leitrim boxty on the menu - it makes a good partner for smoked salmon, in the same way as blini. Vegetarians are well looked after and there’s an awareness of other dietary needs too, with everything on the menu either gluten free or replaceable with a gluten free alternative.
A sensibly organised (if not very informative) wine list is reasonably priced, and pleasant and helpful staff create a relaxed atmosphere.
tony beirne