With its admirable food philosophy founded on collecting the best of ingredients in order to create delicious no nonsense food, this smartly presented Dublin restaurants located under the shadow of Dublin Castle, half way along Parliament Street, is indeed aptly named.
A large, inviting street window draws the eyes of passers-by to both the sparkling deli counter, where friendly staff are busy taking orders, and an impressive floor to ceiling display of wine, Illy coffee and San Pellegrino sparkling water.
Such early promise bodes well and, on entering, you will not be disappointed by the cosy, easy going bistro atmosphere, presented in an authentic setting of exposed brick walls, worn wooden floorboards, bentwood chairs and whispers of jazz music at just the right level.
Daytime at The Larder offers a lunch that is a deli lover's paradise of gourmet sandwiches jam-packed with quality produce and mains that might include beef scalopini with mash and mushroom sauce or Tiger prawn tempura with rice and plum tomato and shallot salsa. Evening brings starters that include Jambalaya balls and dirty gravy - a Louisiana dish with influences from Spain and France with crispy balls of Arborio rice mixed with pork, beef and vegetables in a good flavoured meaty gravy followed by a choice of about eight mains. Star of the show is the homemade lamb burger, here elevated to great heights with the addition of tzatziki, red onion compote and rocket salad and smoked Gubbeen cheese. Try an unusual side of sea asparagus, roasted peanuts and goat’s cheese.
Desserts range from the exotic - - the Ladies of Seville moist chocolate cake - to the more mundane but equally delicious bread-and-butter pudding so you would be well advised to leave some space.
The Larder is now the home of the Dublin Brewing Brewery with four craft beers so far. The Dublin Blonde and the Dublin Brewer Blonde are brewed with Kevin O’Hara of Independent Brewing in Connemara; Dublin Brewer Session and Dublin Brewer Lager were introduced in October 2015 with the help of Carrig Brewing in Drumshanbo. You’ll also find other Irish craft beers as well as a Spanish and a couple of Germans. Staff at the Larder are on hand to help with pairing a particular beer to your meal.
There’s a good wine list, very reasonably priced for a city centre location. Prices begin at €25 per bottle, €6.50 per glass; Prosecco comes at just €29 per bottle, €6 per glass. As you’d expect many are Italian – there’s an excellent Nero d’Avola from Sicily – but France is well represented, there’s a couple of Spanish Riojas and a few New World.
A great little find.
