Owned and operated by husband and wife team JP McMahon and Drigín Gaffey of the famed Aniar and Cava Bodega restaurants, Tartare is a terroir-based café and wine bar in Galway’s increasinglt fashionable Westend.
Though small, Drigín has a talent for design so the modern interior is ultra stylish, making a smart setting to showcase original artworks.
Drawing on a wealth of seasonal West of Ireland produce, seaweed, pickles and foraged ingredients abound on both the day and evening menus.
The daytime menu features sourdough sandwiches, in happy combinations such as corned beef & pickled cabbage or ham hock & smoked Gubbeen cheese. Among the other 'small plates', organic salads can include goat’s curd, radish & hazelnut and, while they do not have a full kitchen of their own, venison stews, interesting soup and other hearty dishes make their way across the road from the sister restaurant, Aniar.
The coffee is Bell Lane from Mullingar, Co Westmeath, and it pairs nicely with regular offerings of a chocolate & nori brownie, meadowsweet custard tart or a cheese scone with fermented butter.
Every Sunday an eclectic brunch menu is offered, featuring an unusual selection of food, drinks and snacks. There are traditional classics like poached eggs, granola and pancakes, but always with a twist, maybe paired with sheep’s yoghurt or seaweed hollandaise. Pork belly with rye, egg & watercress and fish fingers with scrambled eggs are joined by choices from the café's main range of signature dishes - oysters (Dooncastle, Kelly's and Flaggy Shore) and tartare dishes (including rose veal and tuna, as well as beef).
Drinks on offer also feature local and Irish producers, and include Dingle Gin & elderflower mojitos, Dingle Vodka with beetroot and cucumber, and Connemara Whiskey with apple and seaweed sour.
In the evening, the café transforms into a wine bar with a focus on organic, biodynamic and natural wine. The strong sense of provenance continues with sharing plates of oysters, cured meat and artisan cheese boards.
A nice spot for a bite to eat with a glass of wine in the increasingly fashionable area of Galway’s Westend, this is one of the top choices for casual dining in a city that's exceptionally well provided with quality informal restaurants and cafés.
