A delightful new pastelaria opened in Dublin last week and we managed to get an amazing lunch for under €10.
Lisboa, located on St Andrew's Street, was a pleasant surprise, both in terms of taste, price and ambience. And in case you are wondering what exactly a "'pastelaria" is, it is a Portuguese pastry shop.
The new deli will remind you of a busy continental bistro. With its 3D view of Lisbon streets, the multilingual speech of the many hungry customers on their lunch breaks, the light smell of delicious meat-based dishes, you might feel like you are on a well-deserved trip abroad.
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If you are vegan, or if you have had a full Irish for breakfast like me and want to go for a lighter lunch, you can get a meal there for under a tenner. Meat-based dishes are slightly more expensive but still not too extravagant for a place in D2.
First we tried spiced pumpkin soup for €4 – it wasn’t too spicy but it was definitely richly flavoured, perfect for the colder months of the year. It came with what felt like the Portuguese version of the Waterford blaa and with Irish butter.
Next, we tried the delicious creamy pastéis de natas for €2.50. This is a favourite in the shop, according to owner Lee Sim. The famous Portuguese treat completely sold out on opening day.
This tasty desert was the perfect follow-up to the wholesome soup. Mildly sweet and not too heavy but still quite filling, they are sure to be a hit with pastry lovers.
We finished the meal with a smooth oat milk cappuccino for €3.20. Meat lovers will also enjoy Lisboa’s offerings – they have bacon and sausage rolls for €5 and char-grilled pork sandwiches for €5.50. The most expensive thing on the menu is a traditional Porto “hang-over cure” with steak, ham, sausage, chorizo, cheese, and a fried egg for €15.00.
Lisboa only does takeaways but at least you can soak up the atmosphere while you wait to collect your order. You can then enjoy your meal in the office, or the nearby parks Stephen’s Green or Merrion Square. There will also be a Deliveroo service available in a few weeks time.
Lisboa will be open from 8am until 9pm from this week onward, so you can also grab a quick breakfast on your way to work.
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