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    Cafe Sparks Smithfield

    4.3 (28 reviews)
    InexpensiveItalian, Bistros
    Closed 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Cafe Sparks Smithfield Photos

    CAFE SPARKS SMITHFIELD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Sparks Smithfield

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    Reviews With Photos

    Joe C.

    Being honest, ate here by default as everywhere else was packed due to the Flea Market, turned out to be a great choice! This is an excellent little addition to the already buzzing Smithfield market. Staff were polite and friendly and offered good recommendations. The menu itself is quite big with a wide choice of dishes. Pulled pork sambo/bap was amazing! And whatever you do, make sure to try the prawn starter, so so so good and great value fo the portion size. Will 100% be back to try out their dinner menu.

    Full Irish - piping hot and enough for two with a coffee each!
    Jenna G.

    Up front: No matter how good the food is at a place, it won't get 5 stars from me unless the service is excellent. That being said, I'd give this place 5.5 if I could! The owner is always around and has beckoned us over several times, but we only went for brunch for the first time recently. I was obviously very pleased! The same guy we always see when passing by seated us and gave us the menus, he was training one of the waiters so we had a quick moment of confusion when the waiter gave us the wrong one but quickly rectified. Ordered the Full Irish which, supplemented with a side of chips, was well large enough for the two of us to share. Fresh and delicious, eggs were perfectly done and both the white and black puddings tasted as though they weren't just from a frozen log as well (which is an issue with a lot of places, I find). We both ordered coffees and were DELIGHTED to find that when they came, they were massive AND had a really excellent depth and strength of flavor - much better even than some places I've gone to which pride themselves on their coffee! Hot and well-presented too. To touch on the service again: I could tell the owner was unobtrusively checking up on all the tables to see if they needed anything. He spent a lot of time just looking around the restaurant at various tables and would walk by, subtly and not interrupting, obviously open to being stopped to ask for anything. I found it delightful that he took such care not to intrude but also to make sure all his customers were happy. Last thing is that the place is just downright pleasant. The paintings on the walls are perfect and diner-y, there's lots of kitschy things which make you feel right at home, and the colors are nice and bright and happy without being obnoxious. I also love the cafe island in the middle which keeps lots of the staff around and involved without being overbearing - it's really homey and nice, perfect for breakfast, brunch or weekend lunch!

    Pancakes. Yum
    Orla L.

    Can't believe I have waited so long to come here. Pass it a lot but just never ventured in. Until today and boy I will be back. Coffee arrived. Looked like it was strong and over brewed but the taste was dilush. So many flavours and delightfully mild. I had the pancakes with maple syrup, banana, berries, cream and homemade compot. Devine is all I can say. Although the hubby had the full Irish which I have to say looked amazing. He was good enough to give me little tastes which I definitely would not have done if shoes and other foot etc. Can't wait to come back and have the full Irish all to myself and pop in for dinner some other time. Hope this place stays in Smithfield when it's a difficult thing to do it seems. Have come back numerous times since. Had the full Irish. The best around Dublin. Not these silly brunch places that are trying to be cool rather than good decent portions and freshly made. Have had dinner there too now and it's amazing. They cook everything fresh. The sauces too etc. So impressed with here. Love it.

    outdoor seating and front of restaurant
    Betsy B.

    We were staying nearby and ate there twice. The first time I had the lobster ravioli which was good but the second night had the spinach ravioli and it was really good. For dessert, I had the raspberry cheesecake that came with some whipped cream and fruit. It was delicious. there is indoor and outdoor seating-it's not a large restaurant. We sat outside-there were about 6 tables. While no-one there was smoking there were occasionally some nearby smokers but it wasn't really bothersome. The service was very good and it was a pleasant night.

    Roast salmon, potatoes, and prosciutto-wrapped asparagus with hollandaise sauce. Amazing!
    Shawn S.

    The best food and service we've had in Dublin, by far! The wait staff was attentive. A nice selection of wines available. My son had the lobster and crab ravioli, I had the roast salmon. They were both outstanding. My husband had the chicken curry- the best either of us have ever had. Our friends had the lamb chops and were served 4 large chops with a tasty sauce. The prices are reasonable for the high quality of the food and overall experience. Would definitely recommend.

    Eggs benedict
    Milo D.

    This is a nice looking place inside with good service but I wasn't all that impressed with the food. The eggs Benedict was served on a bun instead of an English muffin, which is common in Ireland, but the bacon was extra salty for some reason and the sauce was a bit cool. I'm sure we will go here again but I'll probably try something else next time.

    Great food, service and ambience! Our waiter from Argentina was friendly and cordial. Wonderful experience!

    Takeaway full irish x3
    Dan M.

    I've definitely become a regular here. The best and friendliest service you'll get anywhere! The breakfasts are like Michelin star, you can see the chef prepare and they seem very skilled and confident. This place is all about comfort and convenience, I prefer to eat in the restaurant but sometimes I have to run and they've never had a problem with putting my food in a box for me! Got three full Irish breakfasts for the lads yesterday and had it ready in ten minutes. Don't miss this place.

    Jose L.

    The service is friendly and attentive. Visited there for a Sunday Brunch. The food we ordered was really good, but the bun and the meat of my burger was definitely overcooked. I would probably return, but for dinner, they have a different menu for dinnes as well!

    Excellent pancakes, however from the description I had hoped for a little more banana to go with it.
    Heike K.

    Really nice place! It's funny that we haven't discovered this sooner living so close but now that we have we will definitely be back. There's not all that much choice on the menu so from the breakfast options I chose the pancakes which were very tasty - I had thought there would be a bit more fruit (it was really more decoration than anything else) but the syrup and compote was plenty. It was nice to still be able to go for breakfast even though it was already 12 but also good to know there's also a lunch option.

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    Cafe Sparks Smithfield Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Cafe Sparks Smithfield

    Ordered the Full Irish which, supplemented with a side of chips, was well large enough for the two of us to share.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    IL Vicoletto - Eggplant

    IL Vicoletto

    4.5(137 reviews)
    1.0 kmTemple Bar
    €€€

    I've been coming here for years. 10 years to be exact. I've tried so many Italian restaurants in…read morethe area. And I keep coming back to this. It has the genuine Italian taste and atmosphere. Service team remembers me and are very friendly. Everything they have, from appetizers, to pastas, to steak, to dessert! They are all fresh, high quality items and meals. This place gets packed everyday for dinner, so try to call or come early to book in advance if you are coming for dinner. I'm addicted to this place!! Like I said; I tried other places but this one tops them all.

    While out my friend and I were hoping to grab a meal and while looking up places noticed this…read morerestaurant. We walked over and you can see it was busy and a small restaurant but they luckily had availability and got us a table quickly. Once there we were given break, oil, and vinegar as well as water to enjoy as we looked over our menu. The server recommended a great wine my friend never had and we ordered an appetizer and meal. For the appetizer we ordered: Calamari in crosta and it was honestly one of the best if not best calamari I've had in a long time. It was light, crispy and not oily. Also loved that sauce they paired with it! For the main meal I ordered: Tagliatelle ai frurti de maré e bisque di gamigri Rossi. It was delicious and my friend ordered Tagliatelle al Ragu di cervo Irlandese and she said it was incredible and savored every bite. We didn't order dessert, but would absolutely pop back over when in town. The price was extremely reasonable as well! Lastly the restrooms were clean!

    Photos
    IL Vicoletto - Dining area

    Dining area

    IL Vicoletto - Seafood pasta

    Seafood pasta

    IL Vicoletto - Carbonara ravioli - 5 stars

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    Carbonara ravioli - 5 stars

    San Lorenzo's - SAN LORENZO'S BRUNCH TACOS - Jerk chicken w/ avocado salsa, fried chorizo, red pepper mayo, iceberg lettuce, coriander, chili and lime

    San Lorenzo's

    4.3(151 reviews)
    1.0 kmSouth Inner City
    €€

    This place shocked me!…read more I found San Lorenzo's via Yelp, so thank you Yelpers! It is one of the few places in Dublin that takes American Express cards. So you can leave home without it when you come here When we asked if they had a table they said only if you are up from the table in an hour. We were hungry so we agreed The environment is dark and tasteful and lively The wine list is not good, but the food and the staff make up for everything The avocado and caprese salad was awesome The shrimp in wine sauce was off the charts delicious The chicken breast wrapped in prosciutto was delicious and the polenta and creamed corn were spectacular The monk fish wrapped in crispy pancetta on a bed of pesto basil was amazing To top it off we had the Nutella cheesecake with Carmel sauce and gelato with biscotti crumbs on top- this was surreal!!! All this and we were done with all the food, a bottle of wine and cappuccinos in an hour and never felt rushed If you are in the mood for Italian food, come to San Lorenzo's

    The monthly special starter (Wild Mushroom Risotto) was amazing. Probably one of the best risottos…read moreI have ever had. We almost ordered another. After finishing the starter, it took a bit too long for the main dish to come out. Once it did come out, we were kind of full from the first dish. The wife for the Zucchini Primvera. The pasta seemed liked it could have been cooked a bit more. It probably needed another minute or so before it was Al Dente. Overall, the food was good and I would come back for sure.

    Photos
    San Lorenzo's - PULLED PORK BELLY HASH (C)
Slow roast gremolata rolled pork belly hash potatoes w/ spring onions, boston baked beans and 2 fried eggs

    PULLED PORK BELLY HASH (C) Slow roast gremolata rolled pork belly hash potatoes w/ spring onions, boston baked beans and 2 fried eggs

    San Lorenzo's - WHITE RUSSIAN - Vodka, Kahlua & fresh cream

    WHITE RUSSIAN - Vodka, Kahlua & fresh cream

    San Lorenzo's - EGGS ROYALE
2 poached eggs w/ Baeri imperial caviar - Astara Paris. Oak smoked salmon on toasted bagel, asparagus, hollandaise, home fries

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    EGGS ROYALE 2 poached eggs w/ Baeri imperial caviar - Astara Paris. Oak smoked salmon on toasted bagel, asparagus, hollandaise, home fries

    Sprezzatura

    Sprezzatura

    4.1(14 reviews)
    1.7 kmHarcourt

    I'm so confused how this place has good reviews. Service was nonexistent. It was not busy. It…read moreseemed takeout was the busiest part of the restaurant. The pasta was cold and dried out. The only thing worth having was the sample platter of the arancini balls. Even those were hard to distinguish which ones were which. Definitely try a different restaurant if you're looking for Italian.

    Why I'll go back: wide variety of sauces lets you satisfy any craving…read moreYou HAVE to order: the arancini (how's that for a curveball) Tony's Tip: Given the generous portion size and wide variety of sauces, if you can do a group of 4-6 you'll be able to sample a lot more of the menu. Things I liked about Sprezzatura: - whatever you're in the mood for (marinara, carbonara, bolognese...), it's probably on the menu that night - the sauces are rich/heavy. I like, but maybe not everyone will. - generous portions - super friendly service Things I wasn't crazy about: - the finish on the table left a stickiness that was annoying as we sat through our meal - the kitchen door kept slamming shut (loudly) with every staff pass-through and needs some sort of better hinge or soft close mechanism - each pasta dish was a bit overrun with sauce. I might have soaked it up with some bread, but the amount was unnecessary for the pasta alone. We ordered three pastas dishes. I actually liked the one I didn't order the most - an amatriciana-like red sauce with a little spice. My wife enjoyed the Fettucini, Nduja and Mascarpone. The Mafaldine Cashel Blue (cheese) and Roasted Walnuts, which also had caramelized onions in it, was actually not as sweet as I expected (or wanted) it to be. What we did agree on, though, was how delicious the arancini was (we went with spicy sausage). I would lead with that...but don't get carried away. The wine choices were limited, but solid. And the price was very reasonable. I'd go back again (if I actually lived in Ireland!), mostly when I have a fix for a certain flavor. There was a lot of delivery business taking place during our visit. I suspect these sauces don't travel well (no firsthand experience with that), so dine in seems like the better call to me.

    Photos
    Sprezzatura
    Sprezzatura - Butterscotch panna cotta

    Butterscotch panna cotta

    Sprezzatura

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    Cafe Sparks Smithfield - italian - Updated May 2026

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