A good few years ago now, Cafe Bar Deli was everyones new best friend. I overdid it, got burned out and abandoned it in favour of the Dundrum Town Centre restaurants, easy to get to, parking, and just as nice. Fathers Day denoted a dinner out, but with the funds short, there was no fancy dining to be done. And with my week spent running around Dundrum preparing for our holidays, the last place I wanted to go for the evening was there.
So it was off to Ranelagh and Cafe Bar Deli.We arrived to a full restaurant and a couple of people being seated so the manager was busy, and then he committed the cardinal sin, he acted like a tutting parent when we answered in the negative to his "have you reserved?"... Oh COME ON! Its one of my top pet hates this snooty "oh you walked in off the street and expect us to feed you" attitude.
Yes that is what I expect to happen in a EATERIE. Especially one with the word Cafe in the title. Especially one described in a guidebook as "the starbucks of pizza and pasta"!! Then when we were being seated, I pointed to a booth and asked if we could have it, instead of the table so close to the chef I could have played chinese whispers with him. "Sorry madame" I got back, " That table is reserved", I couldn't have been bothered arguing, no restaurant I know takes reservations for particular tables as habit...
Anyhoo the food was alright, nothing surprised or impressed me. Not that I expected it to. I did notice though that the portions have gotten smaller, the family bowl (slightly burned pasta with aubergine) we got gave us four a small plate each and no seconds, and the pizza was enough for a child not a man.
They never have, and never will I would say, give you enough bread with their starter of dips and should you ask for more you will be charged for it.
The wine (Pinot Grigio Rose) was alright. The desserts were below par.
Even after all that I do like Cafe Bar Deli, it holds good memories for me, but I have to say I don't know if I'll rush back, the food is alright, nothing you couldn't rustle up in five minutes yourself and the standard seems to be declining which doesn't help. Cafe Bar Deli is what it is, a grand spot to get fed, or slightly underfed if going for a family bowl! But the bill was €94 and when you think what you can get in the "oh my god I'm licking my plate" L'Officina in Dundrum for that...?
I'm due a dinner out sans enfants soon, so I'll let you know...!
I had pate, followed by Lambs liver. The pate was lovely, although the tomato bread served with it was long toasted, cold and practically inedible. 
The lambs liver, served with black pudding, was divine. Bill and Mary had burgers, I tasted both and they were superb.
A perfect portion, just enough sauce and icecream along side. All of us were licking our lips and talking about the next visit - hoping they'd still have that on the menu.
As we continued and went to have our coffee I began to notice other huge faults, in my book - local artists work for sale on the walls of the cafe (I hate that because its nearly always rubbish), the floors were dirty and needed a sweep, in the courtyard where we sat for our coffee the tables were dirty and the ground was mucky. 
We ordered two breakfast dishes, I got the scrambled eggs and dear C got the fruit with yoghurt. Both came on plates and did not kill us. That is the most I can say. For the price, I would have expected a bit of embellishment, not even a sprig of parsley on my eggs and C's yoghurt had (I saw it being done as I paid) been poured straight from a carton into the bowl so it was just plop with fruit, which I thought was a bit sloppy. Compared with what you could get in Avoca for the price (
While I was waiting to pay, wondering where to put my purse down on a counter covered in spilt milk, I noticed the kitchen staff preparing a breakfast for another customer. The bagel was hurredly sliced, unevenly, and thrown into a toaster. Smoked salmon was plopped onto a plate and a thin lemon slice was thrown on. Then the slightly burned bagel was added and the waitress took it away. I got the impression that all of the goods had been bought in, nothing made on site, and that the staff had little enthusiasm for presentation.
Its such a lovely environment, so peaceful even when full to the brim... the decor is really different, hotchpotch of different tables and chairs, huge chandeliers hung with cutlery and ribbons, big wooden windows with views of the wood, lovely touches here and there... 
So this morning myself and Ingrid (recently in receipt of a new baby girl) headed off with our "under the armers" for some coffee and a bite, and the obligatory browse which usually ends with an "i never knew i needed it but i do" purchase!
It was a fine morning, after a nights raining, so the ferns and trees were wide awake and glistening and sitting by the huge windows was therapy indeed.
The food as always was beautifully presented, grandmother helpings, and very tasty! The service is laid back (sometimes slow but who cares) and friendly and the surroundings are unmatched... just the perfect way to spend a leisurely morning!
We spoke with the manager as we paid our bill and he told us he didn't think they'd last much longer... I have to agree, the interior is gorgeous, the restaurant very welcoming and the location handy for all but the standard of food has slipped big time. It seemed like they were just going through the paces, their location becoming more and more a drinking and dancing arena more than a place to hunt out a good restaurant. Temple bar used to be where you'd find gems no matter what you were looking for, food, clothes, music - it was where you'd go for the 'alternative'... now its rife with stag and hen parties and tourists looking for a pint of the black stuff in some sham Irish pub. 
