Another review for the denizens and visitors of Dun Laoghaire. I’ve stumbled across a most excellent lunch spot: great food, quick service, and a very pleasant interior.
The Gourmet Food Parlour, a little cafe on Cumberland Street, has an appealing lunch selection. Beside me, a few young mums were enjoying antipasti plates of meats and cheese. The remainder of the menu consisted primarily of soups, salads, quiches, and delicious sandwiches, with a few hot options also thrown in.
My unimaginative lunch partner went for the chicken, stuffing, garlic mayonnaise, and spring onion sandwich (€7.45). I would have chosen one of the other, more unusual combinations, but his sandwich was delicious, and the quality of the ingredients stood out. I went for the tortilla, which contained small pieces of quality chorizo and potato, and was hugely enjoyable. Both were served with a generous pesto pasta salad and a very fresh and refreshing green salad.
We only had about 45 minutes for lunch. Luckily, the service was prompt and efficient and everybody seemed to be getting their food within 5-10 minutes, a must for the lunch crowd.
The Gourmet Food Parlour also serves coffees, teas, cakes, and a selection of specialty foods and wines to take home. They even have Snickers cake, a phenomenally fattening slab of sugar that should only be indulged in very rarely.
Students from the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Further Education were queuing up for a take-away sandwich; they’re substantially cheaper if you don’t eat in. The prices here are around average for lunch, but the quality of ingredients and the talent of the chefs stands out, making this a good value rather than a cheap option.
- UPDATE: The Gourmet Food Parlour has moved to Unit 3 Harbour Square, Crofton Road, Dun Laoghaire Co. Dublin
Tel: (01) 280 5670 - Opening Hours: Monday & Tuesday 7.30-6pm for breakfast & lunch
Wednesday-Friday 7.30am-late for breakfast, lunch & tapas
Saturday & Sunday 9am-late for all day brunch & tapas - Branches also in Swords and The Grange, Roganstown