Pause Cafe a piece of Italy in the Silicon Docks
Recently I have gotten into a mini health kick, and have been walking between 5 and 7k per day. It’s something worth doing when the weather is so nice and the views on my walk are stunning. I get some nice views of the Dublin Docklands including the Silicon Docks area. As I go on my walk, I pass by various restaurants, including Mackenzie’s, the first restaurant I ever reviewed on here. I also walk by two gastropubs and various coffee shops.
This week’s restaurant is?
Well, one of the restaurants I walk by is Pause Café, a nice little twelve year old Italian and another well-kept secret. It’s of the beaten track which is why I only spotted it recently. Another one of Dublin’s best kept secrets and I adore finding them. When I first spotted it, it reminded me of the small family run restaurants you find, in Italy, Portugal and Spain.
So a few days later I decided to pop in and have a margherita pizza.
The pizza was delicious and not too thick, but I felt it was a bit too cheesy for my liking.
However I would have it again as it did taste nice. After the pizza was eaten, I decided that other dishes on the menu had to be tried at another time. This meant that I would be returning to review the Pause Café. So a few weeks later William and I popped in for lunch. When we arrived it was pretty quiet and as it was a nice day we sat outside.
What did I order?
As much as I enjoyed the Pizza, the menu enticed with me other Italian culinary delights. One of my favourite Italian dishes Gnocchi Sorrentina, was on the menu, and that’s what I ordered. My fellow diner went with the meatball’s. We also both shared a carafe of house red wine which went down very well.
How was my meal?
The Gnocchi Sorrentina was served with Buffalo Mozzarella & Tomato Sauce, and as you can see, cooked to perfection.
The right amount of parmesan cheese was sprinkled on top, adding to the flavour. It tasted like a good Gnocchi Sorrentina should and the tomato sauce was divine. It was also cooked perfectly which helps.
My dining colleagues Meatballs in a Tomato Sauce with Parmesan was served with diced potatoes and rustic bread.
He said the meatballs tasted lovely as did the potatoes and if he had known rustic bread came with the meatballs, he would not have ordered garlic bread. We both had no deserts, but my fellow diner had two caffè lattes.
What did my meal cost?
My Gnocchi Sorrentina cost €14.00, and my glass of red wine cost €7.50. This brought my total bill to €21.50 before tip.
Pause Café is a wonderful restaurant and another Dublin hidden gem. The service was also great and the owner Alessandro Lopez will make sure that you will be well looked after. On one of my future walks, I will definitely be taking a break and popping in for another lunch. The opening times can vary but you can get breakfast and lunch here.
Pause Café, 1 The Waterfront, 5-7 Hanover Quay, Dublin.
See more reviews here.