The Greenery

With a cheery yellow awning and hedge enclosed terrace tables, The Greenery Café-Restaurant has brought smart all day casual dining to a tiny cul-de-sac just a few steps off the Donnybrook Road. Partners Joe Keegan and chef Albert Broderick aim for a friendly neighbourhood feel with all-day food and some of the best coffee in town.

Tasty cooked-to-order lunchtime choices like warm chicken salad with avocado, sun blushed tomatoes and pesto and clam linguine with garlic prawns and chilli attract the designer boutique shoppers, while a generous beef burger with crispy onions and skinny homemade fries is a universal winner. Paired with accomplished dessert options like apple tart tatin and rhubarb crumble, all pegged at around €4 or €5, prices compare favourably with local pubs.

The dinner menu is more substantial with choices that include a ten-ounce rib eye steak with Bearnaise and side dishes, or pan-seared hake with creamed potato, chorizo and stem broccoli. Starters may range from prawns pil-pil to seared scallops with cauliflower purée and chorizo butter or a stylish peach and goats cheese tart with honey dressing.

Weekday breakfasts that include eggs Benedict as well as the classic full Irish are served from 8.30 am 'til noon and all day at the weekend. Excellent coffees, along with fresh baked scones and pastries ensure a good buzz of local strollers, business people and shoppers throughout the day.

With the popularity of this pleasing D4 dining option having become well established almost from the outset, booking is advisable for evening and weekend tables.