I take my lovely nana for lunch every fortnight and sometimes I let her pick a new place that isn't a 5 minute drive from home (usually I have to work around school pick up!) So on Tuesday she asked could we visit Johnstown Garden Centre, she is a wonderful gardener and had also heard that the cafe was nice. So off we drove in the direction of naas on a beautiful sunny day. As we passed Avoca and I dreamed longingly of my happy place in their food court, I looked forward to trying the competition. We arrived at the garden centre. It's huge!! Airy, well laid out, garden furniture to drool over, fabulous unusual plants, clean toilets (always a deal breaker for me) and we strolled through with a quick look on our way to the cafe as food was the priority first. First impression - airy, bright, bustling cafe. Gorgeous outdoor seating area which would have been perfect if it wasn't so so sunny as I'd not put my usual inch thick layer of factor 50 on. The menu read nicely, it was Carvery style. The sandwiches sounded promising but I was in need of comfort food. Nana went for quiche Lorraine, chips and some carrots, I went for the "steak" burger with "pepper" sauce, chips and a side of coleslaw. Do the "" give away my feelings on the food yet? €24 for 2 Carvery meals and 2 bottles of water. The burger in my opinion, was not good. It tasted like cheap mince beef and had a really bizarre texture. The chips were really awful. Overcooked, dried out and had that awful greasey taste I can't describe but maybe old oil? The "pepper" sauce. This is a real bug bear of mine. Do not call gravy with peppercorns in it a pepper sauce. It is not the same thing!! The coleslaw was lovely. Nana's quiche I can't comment on, I'm not a fan. She said it was "grand". This can be translated as "meh" Despite the fact the desserts looked yummy, we left quickly and I was so cross I couldn't even browse the shop properly then, I just got more and more irritated by the over priced items, €3.50 for a cake board I can get in tesco for €1.50! Now, to be fair, the homewares and BBQ sections etc all had great choice and some really lovely things but I wasn't in the humour then to browse or part with any more money. Oh, and 2 disabled spots by the door, really! Not enough, they were full, I parked in a mother and baby spot and put nana's pass in the window. My apologies to the mammy's that might have needed the spot, but there were 3 more of those empty. read more

This is one of the best Garden Centers in the Dublin area. A wide variety of indoor, outdoor plants along with seeds and any other gardening essential you can think of. Well laid our with sections for different plants for different areas as well as a large tree selection. They stock a variety of harder to find plants and lots of staff available to ask if you need help. The price point here is no greater than other garden centers and I'd rather go here than somewhere like B&Q. read more

I hate this place and only frequent it as my mother likes it. From the bitter overpriced coffee to the lack of choice menu for those with food allergies it is a chore I hate but do it for her. We even spent thousands purchasing a sun room from here. The furniture, clothing, pictures etc are extremely overpriced and the same generic stock you find everywhere as all are imported from Asia etc. There isnt an authentic bone to this body. Big disappointment. Sitting outside on a sunny day and the free parking a plus. The wifi that I cannot connect to is bad. Hurry up mother so we can leave. Please read more

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Pulled in here in the hope of finding a half decent meal for two hungry children in the centre's cafe, the 'Garden Café'. €7 seemed a reasonable price for a kids meal, including pasta, juice & a doughnut. However the pasta was completely overboiled to the point of being almost mushy- no sauce, only butter. Completely failed the taste test! Adult meals not much better. The only reason I gave 2 stars is the staff were very friendly, and I think a bit embarrassed at the quality of the fare. Drive on! read more

Johnstown Garden Centre - €7 kids meal- juice, overboiled mushy pasta with butter, doughnut - Nurseries & Gardening Near Me

Was there yesterday to pick up plant food for my shrubs and hoping they have more of a selection than my local Woodies or B&Q. It seems their gardening section has gotten smaller and they are opting for more homestore&more type products. Left a bit disappointed. The B&Q at Liffey valley had same stuff as them and more plus healthier looking flowers. So disappointed. read more

I brought my Mum to Johnstown Garden Centre yesterday. It was her first time to visit the centre and all I can say is that she has not stopped talking about it since!!! We worked our way through the indoor plants (the "air" plants being a very big hit!!), the outdoor plants/shrubs & then to the clothing section. This was another success .... Mam bought a lovely knit cardigan, of really high quality, which was very reasonably priced! Then we went into the restaurant and had a lovely lunch + coffees, which again were very reasonably priced & were served piping hot.. which was a bit hit with Mum!! We then watched the world going by for a little while, while we sipped our coffees! To quote my Mum "That was a really lovely day! I felt as if I was on a little holiday"!! We'll be back!!! read more