Snacks

The heartbeat of that lively artery that is George’s street arcade (check the George’s Street Arcade article) Simon’s Place is a firm favourite of many Dubliners for more reasons than one.

Whether you enjoy scanning the walls lined with posters for upcoming events, laying into a hearty wholemeal sandwich, lingering over a coffee at communal wooden tables or simply watching the world go by on a window stool, Place de Simon is an endearingly unkempt, relaxingly welcoming spot that’s not short of personality.

It’s been around for as long as I can remember, and despite earning cult status for its starring role in Glen Hansard’s Oscar-winning movie Once, it has managed to keep its character. Prices are favourable, staff are lovely but lunchtimes are busy so I recommend mid-morning or late afternoon for savouring one of Simon’s famously scrumptious cinnamon rolls or slices of gooey carrot cake with a mug of coffee.

Should you find yourself extremely hungry and on a low budget in Dublin, Govinda’s is a great option. This is casual, vegetarian comfort food at its best, provided a soundtrack of Hare Krishna chanting doesn’t bother you too much.

A ‘small’ plate costs € 6.95 and makes for a substantial dinner, yet alone lunch. Friendly staff pile plates high with whatever assortment of India-meets-European dishes (subji, panir, moussaka, shepherd’s pie) takes your fancy. The relaxed canteen-style set up attracts a varied clientele, from business men to families to students.

Other options include buttery soup with slabs of home-made wholemeal bread, tasty samosas and a variety of fresh salads. On the sweeter side, Govinda’s do a wide range of milkshakes, juices, teas, sodas and speciality smoothie; lassi. Deserts are a mixed affair but for an unusual treat, try the laddhu.

There are other branches on Abbey Street and Merrion Row, see the website for details.

One of my favourite spots in Dublin to grab lunch or a quick snack, The Bakery is tucked away in the quieter, more sophisticated corner of Temple Bar, near Christchurch.

It seems to attract large numbers of Spanish, Italian and other visitors at lunch-times as it is a popular stop-off point with the local tour guides.

As you walk in, you can see the ever-friendly and efficient staff in the background baking the fresh loaves of bread and delicious array of cakes, pastries, quiches, vol-a-vents and sausage rolls on offer. Soups and sandwiches are also available.

Seating inside is very limited, but there is a nice seating area on the opposite side of the street if the weather permits.

One of my favourite pastimes is going to the cinema. Another is going for a relaxing drink in a bar with friends. Wouldn’t it be nice, therefore, if you could combine the two? Well, there are now plenty of places in Dublin where you can, but my favourite is the Odeon Movie Club on Thursday nights.

Considered the height of trendiness and sophistication about a decade ago, the Odeon is now having to innovate to survive in tougher times. Hence the movie club. A decent-sized screen has been installed at one end of the bar, and an area is sectioned off behind heavy red curtains. The programme features classic movies based around a different theme each month.

Big, comfortable chairs, tables and candlelight create a kind of supper club effect, with a full waiter service throughout. There is no cover charge, so the bar makes its money on the food and drinks.

Unfortunately, going to a bar and going to the cinema do not quite make a perfect marriage. The constant movement of floor staff bringing food and drinks, and the clanking of glasses in the background, is somewhat distracting. If the movie is sufficiently absorbing, however, you do manage to blank this out after a while, and the films featured here almost invariably are good.

Any time I’ve been to the movie club, most if not all of the tables have been occupied, so booking ahead is advisable. Check out the website below for details of upcoming films.

A curious feature of Dublin’s dining scene is the lack of decent seafood restaurants. It is after all located by the sea, on an island.

To find the best seafood restaurant in the city, one must head out to Caviston’s, in the genteel southside suburb of Sandycove.

Caviston’s is actually two businesses in one, with the restaurant and a food emporium next door to each other. The emporium stocks a whole range of wonderful goods, but the speciality is seafood. The fish are so gleamingly fresh they practically wink at you.

The small, simply furnished restaurant is the kind of place that could probably live off its reputation by now and still pack them in. It is to its credit that it maintains a consistently high standard of cooking, and excellent service. They keep things simple and let the freshness and flavours of the fish speak for themselves.

They have an outstanding lunchtime offer at the moment of a starter and main course for €12.95, or with a glass of wine for €15.95 – provided you order before 12.30. It is early, but it really is worth the effort. On one visit I had grilled fillet of mackerel followed by Claire Island organic salmon. I can honestly say it was the best value for money lunch I’ve ever had in Ireland.

Caviston’s is always full of the kind of southside ladies who lunch (eavesdropping on their conversations is part of the enjoyment for me – its a different world), so booking is essential.