Parnell Street is mostly known for its Asian restaurants and shops, not the place you’d expect to find an independent café. Owned by chef Barry Stephens, this New York-inspired sandwich bar draws a crowd thanks to its range of gutsy, flavour-packed sandwiches and great coffee by Illy.
The long narrow room is modern and funky, with colourful chairs, high stools and banquettes. The walls hang with black and white photographs from a local artist. Staff and clientèle are young and the atmosphere casual, with electro music pumping quietly in the background.
With a choice of nine sandwiches and one special that changes weekly, the selection is more diverse than many other places in the capital. Stand-outs include barbecued pork, the cheese steak and the reuben, all excellent versions of these classics, bursting with freshness and flavour and served on quality Arun Bakery bread. Food is served on simple plastic trays, with plastic cutlery and paper napkins.
Prices range from €5 for a bacon and sausage buttie (well suited for breakfast) to €7.50 for the meatball sub. It isn’t all about sandwiches with weekly-changing salads boxes also available as a lighter alternative, maybe rare beef, quinoa, asparagus, roasted sweet potatoes with garlic and a tarragon and lemon dressing.
Doughnut fans will love it here - 147 Deli is one of the few cafés in Dublin selling doughnuts from the Dublin Doughnut Co. on selected days of the week.
Slightly off the beaten track, the queues at lunchtime speak for themselves.
