Lunch at Gruel

Half soup, half sandwich: €6.40 at Gruel
Half soup, half sandwich: €6.40 at Gruel

For over three years now, I’ve politely declined when people suggested eating in Gruel, on Dublin’s Dame St. I’d been put off by some shockingly bad service and vowed never to return.

But the word of mouth mill won’t stop going on about how great Gruel is, so I thought it was time to try again. Jean and I went for a working lunch there last week and it was excellent value.

Jean’s Cajun seafood stew (€7) was a big, hearty, and filling meal. I had the lunch special – a half sandwich and half bowl of soup for just €6.40. Gruel are famous for their lovely roasts in a roll, and my salt beef was as delicious as the reports said. The tomato soup was very good: chunky, fresh, and more like a stew. Gruel’s half and half offer is very substantial; despite being an absolute pig, I only needed a small dinner later.

Ah Gruel, welcome back to my life. Please don’t let me down.