Rate My Bistro

Whether you want a hearty breakfast or something lighter, then this is a nice cafe to come to. I think that the Brick Alley Cafe was formerly known as The Joy of Coffee and that is why the name on the outside differs to the one on the inside.

There are a couple of big tables and so communal dining is the theme here! There are also a  few window seats if you want to watch the world go by!

The food took a little longer than expected to arrive but it was all freshly cooked. The veggie breakfast of scrambled eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes and toast was just right. The toasted bagel was a poppy seed bagel served with butter and jam. It was nice that the waiter let us replace the bacon with ham on the bacon and egg bagel!

Even though we asked for tea for two people, there was enough tea for a lot more. If you wanted something a little more refreshing, then the freshly squeezed orange juice is a must!

Brick Alley Cafe, 25 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin

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Situated in the lively Temple Bar area is Frankie Dettori’s and Marco Pierre White’s restaurant. This Italian restaurant was a little dark when we entered but I think that we got accustomed to the lighting.

The waiter recommended a pineapple and coconut non-alcoholic cocktail and this did not disappoint. It was quite a rich drink but a great start to the meal!

The aubergine parmigiana was a few slices of aubergine baked with cheese and a tomato sauce. The aubergine was sliced lengthways which meant that it was quite a tasty substantial meal. A great side dish was the spinach with chilli and garlic. The spinach was cooked perfectly and it was not spicy, which is what I preferred.

We made sure that we had room for dessert! The New York cheesecake was very fresh and it was big enough to for two people. The biscuit base was quite thick which made the cheesecake even more yummy! The tiramisu was presented in a martini glass and you could taste the quality ingredients.

The walls are decorated with cartoon like pictures of various people! The staff were really friendly and when we asked if we could have a different table to the one we were originally seated at, they happily let us move. They also didn’t rush us when it was closing time for the restaurant. The service was efficient and the staff knew the menu well!

Frankie’s Bar and Grill, 42 Temple Bar Square, Dublin 2,

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