ORSO. Different. Deliciously so.
It’s bright and chatty, maybe
even witty. That’s the service style at ORSO, now into its eighth month on
Pembroke Street. No reservations here but turnover at lunchtime is relatively speedy,
not that they’ll put you under any pressure (on the contrary) and, if full, don’t
run off, they’ll help you get a seat soon enough.
As you pass the counter on
the way in, you may study the various salads, usually four of them. Pick one or
a bowl with all four. The salads are also used to accompany the main dishes on quite
a large menu that is influenced by the Southern Mediterranean and beyond.
Called in for lunch in
midweek and the first thing we ordered was one of their famous juices (changes daily). This, a mix of orange and carrot, was fantastic, giving
the waiter a chance to crack a joke about glowing in the dark. It is an informal
space, so sit back and relax between bites or swallows.
After studying the menu, CL
choose the Stuffed roast aubergine (with spiced roast vegetables, yoghurt and hazel
nuts) and her salad was the Roast squash and beetroot with smoked bacon, butter
beans, lentils and orange zest.
For me it was the Slow cooked
lamb and spice potato pie in flaky pastry and my salad was the Cous Cous with
coriander, apricots, almonds, roast saffron vegetables and hummus. Each of the
mains, including the salad, cost €8.90 and both were excellent.
Something sweet to finish with.
Some of the pastries had vanished, they are open from 8.30am, but the Mixed
Berry Crumble was still available and we each had one, along with a cup of their
special 5 bean blend coffee, roasted for ORSO by Greenbean. A very impressive
crumble – loved the oatmeal topping – and a smashing coffee.
Mon - Tue: 8:30
am - 6:00 pm
Wed - Sat: 8:30am
– late.
Phone: (021) 243 8000
