A Brunchtime Feast

This weekend there was nothing for it but to bundle ourselves and my parents into the car and head towards the “It” place in Dún Laoghaire

For those unfamiliar, Dún Laoghaire has long been known for two reasons, the sea and Teddy’s ice cream. It’s a little town which has, in my book anyway, never really been considered a no. 1 eatery spot.

Enter Feast, a restaurant which, whilst significantly smaller, reminds me both in food and decor of this hot spot in London. We were greeted by friendly wait staff and after confirming our reservation, we were offered all the tables set for 4 to choose from as they were currently empty – this did not stay the case for long!

We opted for the lone nook, situated directly opposite the door, wonderful for privacy and for muffling the clatter created by a full house (not so great for lighting whilst taking food photography – but how’n’ever!!)

The first infinitely posh encounter was Mom’s green tea. Eagle eyed as she is, she clocked the barista artfully opening this cloth teabag and placing loose leaf tea inside before closing it up with a pretty knot (I didn’t know knots could be pretty!!) and dunking it into hot water to brew

Dad and I went for Americano’s which were just the way we like them (rocket fuel in a cup) and Himself went for apple juice (because he’s 5 years old)

Plush velvet, stripped wooden floors, dangly lights are brought to life by the vibrant green plants which are dotted artfully around the elongated space, they also act as polite privacy barriers between diners.

After perusing their petite menu, ordering, gaining our beverages and soaking up the atmosphere, it was time to tuck into the main event. Himself opted for their “Fried Chicken and buttermilk pancakes with chilli maple syrup” because – and I quote – “I like pancakes, I like chicken and it’s the weirdest thing on the menu so I have to try it!” – couldn’t agree more to be fair.

When he gets it right, he gets it right – look at this deliciousness! I clearly had a try and whoever came up with this combination is a very clever poppet indeed – truly scrumptious. The crunch of the breadcrumbs, the soft – melt in your mouth – pancakes, chicken cooked to perfection and the yummy – tastes like more – sauce, I mean, HELLOO FOOD ENVY!!

Mom also got pancakes – they were meant to be delivered in a very different way, but as she asked for “everything on the side”, this is how it arrived.

She ordered “Pancakes, dark chocolate chip, chocolate sauce, yoghurt, popping candy and fresh berries” and the verdict was that it was all very nice, but the popping candy didn’t pop and the pancakes were tiny (now people, my Mother is a teeny-tiny woman, so she was grand but in my humble opinion, if a grown man had ordered it he’d have been sorely disappointed with how small the potion was, especially when compared to Himself’s pancake dish!)

Dad and I opted for the “Ham hock eggs benedict. Homemade bread, ham hock poached eggs, hollandaise” and it was truly delicious. Whenever I order eggs bennie, I always ask for the sauce on the side (wonder where I got that from!?!). This was a truly triumphant dish with the ham hock most excellently cooked and not a morsel was left by the time I was done.

Are you ready for the money shot?

Let’s face it – If you don’t get a shot of poached egg runniness – did brunch really happen at all??

Feast is open Wednesday through Sunday (6pm-11pm) for dinner, Saturday (10am – 4pm) and Sunday (11am – 3pm) for brunch. You’d be crazy not to check it out, I’m especially interested in their dinner time offerings – as is Himself – so we’ll definitely be making the trip back for date night and you should too!