On a very productive Saturday, Mr FFID and I walked from Dublin city centre to Glasnevin.
We first stopped into the buzzing Honest 2 Goodness market and then joined a guided tour of Glasnevin cemetery. The tour was very interesting, it was an hour and a half long and we got to the burial sites and tombstones of many of Ireland's historical figures.
After that we headed of to the Washerwoman to reward ourselves after the long walk. The Washerwoman has been on my list of places to try ever since it opened. It's owned by Elaine Murphy whose Woollen Mills is one of my go-to places for lunch or cakes, she is also behind the Winding Stair.
The Washerwoman's dining room is quite small but beautifully decorated. There is a large vintage map of Ireland on the main wall, pinned with labels which indicate the location of their suppliers. We arrived in the middle of the afternoon with only few people around having brunch.
They have a breakfast menu from Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm with items like sausage patty in an English muffin, a meaty or vegetarian fry or homemade scones. Lunch is served from Monday to Friday with a menu of sandwiches, soups and 'diner classics' as they call them, while the dinner menu features steaks and dishes using Irish produce. At the weekend they serve brunch from 12noon to 4pm on Saturday and from 11am to 4pm on Sunday.
There were many tempting brunch dishes on the menu, the kind which don't sound light. Chicken wings, wild boar chilli nachos, burger with chips, the Washerwoman fry, waffles with bacon, steak n'eggs... Being famished after our long walk, the choice was tough...
Mr. FFID chose the the chilli dog (€18), a huge Pigs on the green frankfurter was served with Ballinwillin wild boar chilli and topped with long strings of grated cheese. The portion was substantial as the pimped hot dog came with a small side salad, fries and a delicious portion of pickled cabbage.
I reasonably went for a vegetarian option of poached eggs and a variety of dips served with flatbread (€14). There was a vibrant beetroot pate and goat cheese with toasted hazelnuts, a gorgeous pumpkin hummus (a nice change from the usual chickpea one). There was an aubergine dip, a red pesto and the most delicious white dip with a smoky flavour that I couldn't identify. I wasn't a fan of the poached eggs served in a bowl though, simply because once burst they were bathing in the yolk and the flat bread wasn't really adequate so soak it up.
We didn't need a dessert but I spotted the cakes on display (similar to the ones I love at the Woollen Mills) so we ordered a flourless blueberry almond cake topped with a mascarporne ganache and pistachios. It was beautifully moist and delectable, perfect to share between the two of us.
Brunch at the Washerwoman was very enjoyable even though the place was a little quiet (it was just before the end of the service though).
After brunch, we strolled around the Botanical Gardens, it was my first visit and I highly recommend it for a pre or post brunch stroll.
The Washerwoman
60 Glasnevin Hill
Dublin 9
The Washerwoman's website
This is an independent review, I paid for my meal.
