Sambos
I’m tempted to start calling this the weekend blog rather than the wysiwyg blog due to how often I post. I think I just prefer to wait until I’ve something really meaty to write about, like where to find good sandwiches in Dublin. 
I’ll preface this by saying that I have only been eating sandwiches for about a year and a half. In fact, judging by the reactions of most I meet, I should just be blogging about my eating habits but that’s for another day… I like my food plain so my list is not composed of where you can find exotic toppings and strange fillings! Quite the opposite. I’m interested in places where they won’t mess up a nice chicken sandwich on brown bread without butter. You would be amazed how difficult it is to get plain food in Dublin, but I digress as usual!
Since sandwiches are still a novelty with me, I thought I would share a few of my fave haunts. Perhaps you could give this newbie some even better ones?
- Gruel, Dame Street
- You will not get better value for €5.75 than the Gruel Roast in a Roll. There is a different roast each week day. For those as fussy as me, the list is as follows: Monday - Beef, Tuesday - Turkey, Wednesday - Ham, Thursday - Pork and Friday - Salted Beef. The portions are massive. Do NOT be tempted to have one of the yummy chocolate and walnut brownies as well. Your eyes will be bigger than your belly. I speak from experience!!!
- Bite of Life, Patrick Street (near St Patrick’s Cathedral and park)
- This place is a bit special. Those with far more ambitious tastes rave about it. The prices are great and everything is freshly prepared. They do a lovely chocolate finger cake and I’ve heard the salads and juices are lovely too. They also do a Christmas Special sandwich all year round
- D Cafe, Lord Edward Street (beside Dame Street, near Christchurch)
- They do lovely big sandwiches here at good prices and the staff are very friendly and efficient. The bread is nice - not the normal cheap thin catering pan stuff. The chicken is slivers of nice dry stuff so it’s not those cold wet bits you get in Spar etc. You can sit in if you like too.
- Bewley’s in Waterstones, Dawson Street
- A refuge from the horrors of the Grafton Street crowds on a Saturday afternoon. Friendly staff and lovely toasted sandwiches! and chocolate cake…
- The Bakery, Essex Street (off Parliament Street, around the corner from Cow’s Lane)
- Talking of cakes, you must visit the bakery in Temple Bar. There are so few proper bakeries these days that we need to support this endangered species! The cakes are to die for - apple pie, big chocolate muffins, cherry buns - yum, yum, yum! They do savoury meat pie things and sandwiches which seem to run out the door too but I stay at the other end of the counter.
- La Boulangerie, Camden Street
- Another place that does a grand sandwich I’m sure but absolutely out of this world cakes is this French bakery across the road from The Bleeding Horse pub. I used to work around the corner from it and it’s the only thing I miss
Whoops! This started out as a healthy eating list but I can never keep my mind off the sweet stuff for long
July 26th, 2005 at 2:42 pm
Now you have my hungry. My wife and I will be in Dublin in September and can’t wait to try out your recommendations.
Thanks,
July 26th, 2005 at 3:13 pm
I too am a fan of the plain sandwich. Mayo and excess of dressing is a real turn off.
July 27th, 2005 at 10:24 am
have a couple to add:
the fantastic sandwich symphony on dawson street - they do bagels, baguettes, brown, malted, white bread, ciabattas and more
the clarendon cafe just off peter’s pub at the top of clarendon street (opp the great outdoors-ish) great toadted baguettes
July 27th, 2005 at 7:39 pm
I was in Munchies recently (the one on the street that runs along the back of Powerscourt) and I think they gave me what was possibly the WORST sandwich I have ever eaten. Fillings were stingy and it didn’t taste of anything, there were holes in the bread from where they cut it with a big blunt knife.
Centra on Westland Row you can’t beat for value if you are down that neck of the woods, baguettes, wraps, bagels, brown bread, white bread, toasted, untoasted, brown rolls, wholegrain rolls, 2.99 for meat and three salads (butter/mayo/mustard/relish is not extra like in other places) and copious amounts of fillings.
Compared to chancers like Murphy’s News agent on Baggot Street (where they charge you extra for every filling as well as butter or mayo or relish) it is heaven. I have tried to venture away to other places at lunchtime, but keep ending up back there. It can’t be beaten.
July 28th, 2005 at 8:37 am
yes laura, i realised to my cost yesterday that all munchies are not the same!
i was in the one on wicklow/exchequer street yesterday (across from butler’s chocolate cafe) and i got charged €4.50 (1 dearer than lord edward street? ) for one of the worst sandwiches ever - horrible chicken and even more disgusting cheese and the girl wasn’t too friendly either.
July 31st, 2005 at 11:14 am
I live near most of the cafes mentioned above and theres a really quaint little place called Bagel Haven on Cow’s Lane which is fantastic for bagel sandwiches, everything is made fresh to order as the bagels are toasted. Friendly staff and lovely atmosphere. They make all their own soups, confectionery eg toblerone cookies etc - just to die for
Also, really like Gruel for their Roasted Meat Sandwiches and homemade horseradish sauce, it’s unique.
Bridgid, Winetavern St, D8
July 31st, 2005 at 11:19 am
hi bridgid,
thanks for the tip! have not been to Bagel Haven in a while. i’m not into bagels so i have only ever had cookies there and they were not made on the premises and i was not too impressed. I think I shall have to give them another go to try a toblerone one! My mouth is watering already
September 1st, 2005 at 10:52 pm
there’s a cute cafe in the Chester Beatty Library which is just behind Castle St and there’s lovely greek food and vegetarian also, very unusual.
I also really like Bagel Haven,its just off the beaten track but love all their low fat options, their genuine homebaking and scrummy toasted filled bagels only made to order!
L’Geueleton is fab on Georges St, they always get great reviews and well deserved, their main courses are second to none, I hope it stays this way!
Melissa L.
September 5th, 2005 at 10:43 pm
Bagel Haven is a real favourite especially when I’m in Temple Bar at weekends (Cow’s Lane Fashion Market) and I heard they also serve wine now for that extra bit of chilling! The Organic Market in Meeting House Sq on Saturdays if wonderful, its hard to believe you’re in the heart of Temple Bar. The Mermaid is quite nice and the Clarence Octagon Bar is doing something a little more traditional and a little different from the rest.