The Pantry

It certainly isn’t glamorous but if it’s a hearty breakfast in a warm atmosphere you’re after, The Pantry ticks all the boxes. I’d missed a train so I had an hour to kill at around 9.30 on a Tuesday morning. This was less than ten minutes’ walk from Connolly, so I picked up a newspaper and opted for the jumbo breakfast. The lady who took the order was professional and helpful — when I said I didn’t want a hash brown *shudder* she insisted I opt for a substitute. My tea arrived within 2 minutes of my taking my seat, and my full order arrived just a few minutes later. Everything was excellent but I think that what I enjoyed most was being served by friendly professional staff.

Not going to lie. This was probably one of the worst breakfasts I’ve ever had. ‘Worst’ in the sense it almost certainly shortened my life by several decades. On the other hand, the € 7.95 ‘jumbo’ breakfast was exactly what was needed before a 2 hour train journey where the only alternative is Irish Rail coffee. Only negative was that the spacious and airy restaurant was on the cold side so even though I had plenty of time before my train, I headed over earlier than I’d planned to the relative warmth but charmlessness of Connolly Station. Lest there be no misunderstanding, the Pantry is a greasy spoon kind of joint I.e. exactly what I needed. Will be a regular indulgence if and when I return to the neighbourhood. Now, where’s my Stairmaster?

So after a bit of a rough night out I woke up with a hangover and was looking for a nice long day in bed. Until it hit me, shoot I’m supposed to meet my friend midday. Ugh what was I thinking? My friend lives out in North Dublin and I live the other way, so we’d agreed to meet somewhere halfway between. The only place I could think of was the Kylemore and that was not really where I wanted to be with a hangover! After a bit of research I discovered there was a nice greasy spoon on Talbot Street.
The food was perfect and the fry up soaked up the booze left in my stomach and a nice warm cup of coffee quickly brightened my head. Definitely worth it, though like Dani pointed out it’s not convenient to most people stuck at home in their beds nursing a hangover!

If there is one thing I can always eat it’s a full Irish, well ok and carrot cake and any other type of cake. I’d heard that the Pantry on Talbot Street was a good place for a fry-​up so I decided to give it a shot so I could report back to you.
The pantry looks very light and modern, a bit like a French bistro. The staff are friendly and know how to make a good cup of coffee and well, the fry-​up is indeed very good. Nice and greasy– exactly the way it should be. The rashers were nice and crispy and the toast nearly perfect. So why am I only giving 3 stars? Well, I know where I can get the same just a wee bit cheaper and closer to home. Having said that, the Pantry is worth checking out if you’re in the IFSC or near Connolly station.