Provender & Family

Great ☕️. Excellent sausage rolls, the vegan one too (especially with relish). The flatbreads are tasty, if a bit small for lunch. The Peruvian chicken sandwich with the orange and fennel salad is delicious.

Went in for a coffee this morning and kind of horrified at my experience. Barista used a jug with milk still in it from previous customer, didn't rinse it, so mixed fresh cold milk with already steamed milk. I can understand doing that MAYBE when in a rush and under pressure but there were no customers after me so no excuse for using dirty equipment and old milk. This is considered really bad practice and depending on how bad the cleanliness standard of the jugs are, possibly against HACCP if they are routinely letting the same milk be reheated over and over. After I very reluctantly took a sip of my coffee it wasn't very warm and I turned around and went back in, apologised and explained that my coffee wasn't very hot. I normally wouldn't complain about something like that but I was kind of hoping for a fresh coffee that was made with new milk and a clean jug, Barista apologised and to my absolute horror, poured my coffee in its entirety back into the dirty jug and steamed the coffee. This is terrible practice and my coffee tasted disgusting, couldn't drink it and had to throw it away. I thought maybe I was being dramatic so I told a friend and they were also horrified at the lack of standards for cleanliness and product quality.

WOW. If you’re planning a “café crawl” around Dublin, this would be the crowning jewel. I visited Provender & Family sometime last week- the precise date escapes me, sadly- time is so very fickle. Regardless, I hopped into the café simply seeking the sweet nectar of the humble coffee cherry, but was blown away, first of all, by the wide array of comestibles, ranging from the mighty sandwich to the lowly yet companionable sausage roll. I opted for a tuna melt, and by the time it arrived at my plate (no time at all, mind you), I was near delirious from the aroma of capers, sweetcorn, and, of course, the distinct smell of the redoubtable tuna. I chuckled with delight at my first bite, for there were lemons in the melt- yes, LEMONS! My eyes watered, my brows relaxed, and my heart was filled with glee. It’s rare, of course, for the tangy lemon flavour to remain so fresh in a melt, but by God, it was there, and there to stay. The tuna melt vanished within a scant few minutes- so ravenous was I that I then ordered a slice of banana bread, which went down a treat. Then, the coffee. I ordered a cappuccino, which put the coffee houses of Turin and Florence to shame- it was nonpareil. It goes without saying that after years of working in advertising, I have a caffeine tolerance that would put the late David Lynch to shame. So, I ordered an iced latte, for the sun was beating down on me through the glazed windows. I’m happy to say that it rivalled the cappuccino for its smoothness, richness, and drinkability. It also goes without saying that I have the metabolism of a hummingbird, so I ordered a second tuna melt. It was even better than the previous one. It should also be mentioned that throughout my juncture in this commodious establishment, the lady behind the counter engaged me in polite conversation of no small amusement. We traded witticism for witticism, yet I was bested handily, and I commended my host for her deft wordplay. I think her name was Cara? There is music in the café, although the volume is kept at a reasonable and atmospheric level. There are also fascinating books on the shelves opposite the counter. It’s not often that one learns while imbibing the nectar of the coffee bean, but I did, and can now converse with acuity about the finer details of Jamaican cuisine, fast-food (done “gourmet style”), and vegetables. Fed, caffeinated, and somewhat enlightened, I wafted out of the café, sorry to leave. Immediately after leaving I fell over a Shih Tzu, and while the canine was unharmed, I had to hobble to the pharmacy (located nearby) where I repaired myself. All in all, this café is a gem on the diadem of Dublin’s coffee scene, and the next time I visit “Dublin’s Fair City”, I will be back.

OK the food is a bit expensive but I got a massive, delicious quesadilla - definitely worth the price. The staff are very friendly and there’s a few seats outside where people seem to like to chill out for a bit with their coffee. If you’re staying nearby I’d recommend coming here for breakfast before going into town or continuing on to the park.

Quaint shop offering reasonably-priced coffee. I wouldn't go for the food. They sell cook books as well that are cute gift ideas. They give you a 0.25€ discount if you get a reusable cup and will fill your water bottles on request. But yeah, breakfast and lunch prices seem steep for what you get.