Owned by brothers Peter and Connor Sweeney, DeSelby's is a casual restaurant located in a stunning Georgian building in the heart of Camden Street. With its red facade, beautiful stained glassed windows and Art Deco feel the place is something of a hybrid between a cafe and little bistro, with streetside seating providing a prime people-watching spot.
The daytime offering is available over lunchtime, when an imaginative selection of open sandwiches (perhaps ham hock and manchego cheese on brioche bread or Toulouse sausage with caramelised onion on brioche bread) is served on earthenware plates. Coffee from Roasted Brown and leaf teas from Wall and Keogh provide quality beverages.
Brunch at the weekend is divided between sweet plates (how about Peanut-butter-jelly French toast or buttermilk pancakes with bacon and maple syrup…) or savoury plates like baked eggs with chick peas, chorizo and chervil yoghurt or hearty steak and eggs.
In the evening DeSelby's becomes a relaxed bistro with a neighbourhood vibe. The menu switches to a simple format offering a choice of just 3 starters, 3 mains, 3 desserts and a cheese board. A specials board extends the menu but these dishes can sell out quickly.
Rustic offerings might include a lemony potted mackerel with brown butter or ham hock terrine, pan-fried seabass or rump steak, maybe rounded off with a strawberry and elderflower jelly with mascarpone.
DeSelby’s wine list is well compiled, though light on helpful information, and the house wine is well priced.
Staff are welcoming and helpful in this atmospheric new addition to Camden Street and, while the menu is somewhat limited and presentation is not a priority, the food is good and it delivers honest flavours and good value in a pleasing setting.
