Dundrum Town Centre is a place that I often frequent and while I am usually disappointed by what's on offer food wise (see other review on the disastrous Frangos) this sleek café has proved to be a shining beacon.
Located at the rear of the centre, it is on the precipice of the Pembroke District, a wonderful setting on a warm summers evening. The cafe sits just beside the main entrance to the upmarket store and is nestled neatly beneath the HN restaurant, all encased in glass.
The cafè is surprisingly spacious, yet compact and stylish. The kitchen is visible, something I always favour and the dining area is not cramped but relatively comfortable. They've recently disposed of the meretricious multicoloured chairs and replaced them with sturdier and more comfortable seats, albeit they are a little clinical and insipid. Fortunately the same cannot be said about the food on offer.
The menu is fairly extensive ranging from soups and sandwiches to the more fulfilling burger or fish and chips, all with the midis HN touch. Personally, I'd recommend the club sandwich, though at €12.95 one may struggle to find justification in paying such an extortionate amount. Portion over extortion for me, as well as being mammoth in scale, it's fraught with excellent quality ingredients.
One of the most important things for me when dining in such a facility as this, is the quality of the coffee and once again it doesn't disappoint. The reason being that they use their own Harvey Nichols beans, subsequently sold in the shop above the cafè adjoining the restaurant, which are superb, even if a little weak for my taste.
The staff are wonderfully genial as is the atmosphere. The only thing that sullies this cafè is the price of the food. But remember, this is Harvey Nichols, what did you expect? So I shan't throw stones in this glass house, it's too damn good. read more