Niall & Niamh Walsh’s smart two-storey deli and café near the harbour is known for its good wholesome fare and there are no short cuts taken – they bake their breads freshly every morning, using organic flour and a 3 day fermentation process.
Coarse wholemeal bread, spelt bread and white and granary sourdough loaves are available daily, and other specialities include their own sourdough panini, baps and rolls, and a granary sandwich loaf.
Cakes are all made from scratch on the premises and based on wholesome fresh ingredients and no corners are cut; Valrhona chocolate is used in chocolate cakes - a current favourite is Valrhona chocolate lava pudding.
They also make all their own stocks – soups and sauces are made from scratch (‘there is no bouillon in our kitchen’!), and they support local producers – using Rudd’s pork products, for example, which are from nearby Birr.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, they do their bit for the environment too – even using water from the coffee machine to water flowers and plants in summer to avoid waste.
The Walshes promise ‘breakfast, lunch, cakes & treats’, and this they do very well - an exceptionally tasty lasagne with well dressed fresh leaves is highly recommended, and you should try one of their delicious old-fashioned butterfly buns. Portions are generous and, with soup & sandwiches at around €7.50 and a steak sandwich for about €9.50, it’s good value too.
A good little place to break a journey and stock up with some nice bits and pieces if you’re on the way home.
Seats 40 (outdoors, 10). Open Mon-Sat from 8.30 (Mon & Tue to 5.30, Wed-Fri to 6, Sat to 5.30); lunch menu 12-5.30. House wine €4/19 glass/bottle. Children welcome (high chair); wheelchair accessible (toilets & public areas). Closed Sun, Bank Hols, Christmas week. No credit cards.
