Situated near St Patrick's Cathedral, Assassination Custard is probably Ireland's smallest restaurant.
Do not expect frills, this is good food in a very simple setting and the two owners, Ken Doherty and Gwen McGrath, are there all of the time, both cooking and serving. They know each dish intimately and enjoy explaining where the ingredients have been sourced, the story behind each supplier and how they came up with the idea for the recipe.
There is a clue to the owners' artistic leanings, and sense of mischief, in the naming of the café. Assassination Custard was the name given to a dessert created by Nora Barnacle and James Joyce for an ailing Samuel Beckett. They brought it to him in hospital when he had been shot by a Parisian pimp. The pair had attempted to bake a cake but it sunk so badly they called it an 'assassination' custard instead.
Broadly described as Italian and Middle Eastern, the menu at Assassination Custard is as eclectic and unusual as the setting. It is written on a brown paper bag at the beginning of each day and is made up of a selection of small plates. Each plate is delicious. Vegtables are the star of the show and are treated with care and skill. There is usually an offal dish served each day, dishes such as thinly sliced lambs heart or a pan seared kidney. In the Guide's experience these are always delicately cooked and accompanied with a well chosen flavouring.
This is a small and quirky place, so may not be for everyone. A short walk from St Patrick's Cathedral or the exquisite Marsh's Library, it is located on the bend of a busy road so parking is difficult - but its many fans firmly believe that the food and ambience are worth the effort.