If you have the January Blues and are completely
broke after Christmas I have the feeling this review might just cheer you up.
Luncheonette is a true hidden gem of a
café, found on Thomas Street. Go to the National College of Art and Design,
enter the gate and turn right. Walk through one of the students’ communal area
and go down to the basement level. I know, sounds like you have to work a
little bit to find this place but it’s SO worth it.
Luncheonette offers a short menu of
homemade sweet treats, sandwiches, soups, small dishes and hot drinks. It changes
daily and everything is well under €5.
The café itself, as you’d expect in a
college of Art and Design is tastefully decorated in a minimalist style with
teacup lampshades and heavy wooden tables. Of course it’s mostly filled with
students, the artsy type.
I had a sourdough sandwich with baked ham,
dill pickled cucumber and homemade mayonnaise for €3.50. Simple fillings but the
bread was so good that it made it a great little sandwich.
It was so reasonably
priced that I had to try the flourless orange and rosemary poundcake, an
absolute delight which was very moist and nicely tangy.
My friend had a bowl of ribollita (Tuscan soup)
which was massive for only €3. I didn’t get to taste it but certainly felt a
little dish envy. She also went for the cheddar cheese version of my sandwich but having a substantial soup with it was too much.
This is an absolute bargain of a café if
you can get yourself to this area for lunch. The only thing to keep in mind is
that due to its location it’s open during college hours only and obviously
closed during their breaks. Other than that it’s the perfect little café for
some inexpensive tasty grub.
Luncheonette
National College of Art and Design
100 Thomas Street
Dublin 8
