Queen of Tarts, Cow’s lane

MENU/DISHES:

There was no messing around on this day; Sean was starving after waiting for a certain someone to get going after a few too many the night before…. We both ended up ordering the same (shameful, I know)- -Pastrami , pickled onion & Monterey Jack cheese on focaccia with a side of the day’s soup.

PRICE POINT:

In & around what you’d expect in this location; approx €15 per head for lunch

ATMOSPHERE/DECOR:

I’ve literally been meaning to check this place out for yeeeeears, it’s a Dublin institution at this stage! I’ve often walked past & envisioned the inside to be a lot more cramped than it turned out to be… a pleasant surprise.

Its busting with an organised chaos vibe to it. Plenty of kitsch accessories adorn the counters & walls without the overall feel being too cluttered.

SERVICE:

The staff were perfect. Friendly, attentive & knowledgeable.

WHY I LIKED IT ENOUGH TO SHARE:

The food was divine! The options we went for were as basic as you could get but they were full of flavor; the foccicia was the nicest I have ever tasted. In fact, I’m usually not a fan of that bread, generally finding it too dense but this was unbelievably lightest & fresh. The filing was delicious & perfectly seasoned & the overall vibe of the cafe was really lovely.

PERFECT FOR:

Lunch with Mom on a busy day of Christmas shopping.