Where to Dine - Dublin - page 84

6 Upper O'Connell St., Dublin 1. & 01/872-4400. All items € 3- € 7 ($3.60-$8.45).
No credit cards. Mon-Sat 10am-9pm; Sun noon-9pm. DART: Tara St. Bus: Any city-
center bus.

Epicurean Food Hall GOURMET FOOD COURT This
wonderful food hall houses a wide variety of artisan produce, delicious
local Irish delicacies, and regional specialties. Favorites include: Cav-
iston's, Dublin's premier deli, for smoked salmon and seafood;
Itsabagel, for its delicious bagels, imported from H&H Bagels in New
York City; Crème de la Crème, for its French-style pastries and cakes;
Missy and Mandy's, for its American-style ice cream; Nectar, for its
plethora of healthy juice drinks; and Aroma Bistro for Italian paninis.
There is limited seating but this place gets uncomfortably jammed
during lunchtime midweek, so go midmorning or afternoon.
Middle Abbey St., Dublin 1. No phone. All items € 2- € 12 ($2.40-$14). No credit

cards. Mon-Sat 10am-6pm. Bus: 70 or 80.

Soup Dragon SOUPS Soup has become the healthy, hip
alternative to stodgy sandwiches and fast food, and the Soup
Dragon leads the way for cheap and cheerful chow-downs in
Dublin. It's a tiny place, with less than a dozen stools alongside a
bar, but big on drama. Think blue walls, black and red mirrors,
orange slices and spice sticks flowing out of giant jugs, and huge
flower-filled vases. The menu changes daily but usually features a
few traditional choices (potato and leek, carrot and coriander) as
well as the more exotic (curried parsnip and sag aloo, a spicy Indian
spinach-and-potato concoction). It's also a good place for dessert.
Try the bread-and-butter pudding or the yummy banana bread.
168 Capel St., Dublin 1. & 01/872-3277. All items € 3- € 8 ($3.60-$9.60). MC, V.
Mon-Sat 8am-5:30pm; Sun 1-6pm. Bus: 70 or 80.

The Winding Stair HEALTH Retreat from the bustle of the
north side's busy quays into this darling bookshop's self-service cafe,
and indulge in a snack while browsing for secondhand gems. There
are three floors—one smoke-free, and each chock-full of used books
(from novels, plays, and poetry to history, art, music, and sports)
connected by a winding 18th-century staircase. (There's also an ele-
vator available.) Tall, wide windows provide expansive views of the
Ha'penny Bridge and River Liffey. The food is simple and healthy—
sandwiches made with additive-free meats or fruits (such as banana
and honey), organic salads, homemade soups, and natural juices.
Evening events include poetry readings and recitals.
40 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1. & 01/873-3292. All items € 2- € 8 ($2.40-$9.60).
AE, MC, V. Mon-Sat 9:30am-6pm; Sun 1-6pm. Bus: 70 or 80.