As with any of Brambles' restaurants, this sit-in deli at the National Museum of Ireland is about style more than substance.
The cold cases at the counter are well stocked with good looking food -huge pies, massive rolls, deep dishes of salad and the pre-requisite piles of baked goods. But once it's out of the display and on a plate, there's a lot less to celebrate.
I've made it clear I'm not a fan of the trucked-in fare available at these cafes, or the huge mark up the shops charge for a main and two sides that would never cost more than €8 but seemingly require a Charm Tax of €4 just for the pleasure of eating-in.
Of course, when on a Family Day Out it makes sense to pay a few extra euro to stay within the venue, while letting the kids run wild in that massive drill yard in Collins Barracks. And of course, the fare could certainly be a lot worse. Maybe a heaped plate of commercial grub is the sort of unchallenging food that one needs on a day of cultural indulgence. read more