With its cheerful daffodil yellow paintwork and wide windows, Rogue & Co is a welcoming presence on the main street of Roscommon Town.
It's owned by brothers Rikki and James O’Gara, who have a family background in the hospitality industry and knew that what they wanted was a unique café without that generic look. And what they have achieved is a cool and quirky place, where the décor wouldn’t feel out of place in London or New York. Lots of dark blue, bookshelves, well spaced bare topped wooden tables, jam jar flowers, Scandi chic crockery and silverware, paper napkins, music just right. And, with prompt and friendly service too, it's a place that puts a smile on people's faces.
Menus are brought and specials explained right away (good to know that local ingredients are used, although namechecking suppliers would be even better) and there's a 'proper food' children’s menu too - in fact families are taken care of especially well here, with high chairs, colouring sheets and crayons brought to the table straight away and buggies wheeled away, making everyone feel comfortable from the start.
The day begins early at Rogue and Co and it's a great spot for breakfast - the menu is very appealing and on trend with organic porridge, granola sundae, poached eggs and smashed avocado on sourdough offered, alongside the Full Irish and popular egg dishes like Eggs Benedict, pancakes and omelettes.
At lunch time a lively menu offers a variety of salads, soup and sandwiches; it's well described and the skill is in the ingredients chosen. A beef pastrami on toasted focaccia, for example, is paired with blue cheese mayo, mixed leaves, caramelised onion and tomato relish - how good is that.
Delicious homemade soups are appealingly served in grey pottery bowls with sourdough bread on matching plates. Everything is cooked to order, be it a grilled halloumi burger with toasted brioche bun, pesto mayo, caramelised onion, sweet chilli drizzle, french fries and cajun dip - or a hot honey roast bacon sandwich with tomato, red onion, mixed leaves and wholegrain mustard mayo on brown bloomer bread....There's a small, well chosen wine list (in the mid €20 region, also available by the glass), also beers and cider.
And the main USP of this bright and stylish restaurant is that it offers real casual dining - you eat and drink very well in a place that is welcoming and comforting and beautiful. It is worlds away from the disappointing provincial offerings that are still all too common. Servings are generous and, even if you can't finish everything on the plates, you'll be delighted with how good it all is. This, plus terrific service and excellent value for money, make Rogue & Co a great daytime find for visitiors to the area.
