The best cafes and restaurants are about people and spaces and the way one accommodates the other. To that end, I love eateries and cafes that challenge convention and create nooks and crannies and allies them with open spaces in a juxtaposition of comfort and discretion. This is what has been achieved by the team behind Queen Street, just a stone's throw away from Eyre Square.
The result is that Galway has got itself a chic cafe by day and funky restaurant by night — Queen Street, located in the corner of Victoria Place, is the result of cutting edge design and architecture, located as it is between the Methodist church and the old city walls in an area of Galway where history and contemporary architecture greet one another.
Once you enter, you are welcomed by a mesmerising blast of design; with elements of art deco meeting modern industrial design, combined with a blast of colour, setting its stall as a beautifully well crafted venue.
It is ideal for dining with work friends, or for the more intimate occasions where discretion and privacy are required. It is a place to be seen and a place to lose yourself amid the grandeur and the fine food.
This is a venue that has to be seen to be believed; a treat for all the senses, it surrounds you with an ambience that is unlike anything else we have in the city at the moment. From the soaring mezzanine to the colourful bar bedecked with flowers, to the open kitchens and an amazing mural, more about which later.
We dined there one evening last week; and had a wonderful time. All the food is cooked using the best locally-sourced ingredients and you can tell. The wide-ranging menu for Queen Street is nicely compact, but with something for everyone's taste, and the fare is mouthwatering.
I opened with the duck spring roll, stuffed with carrot and scallion, while my dining partners kicked off with the quinoa salad with lentils, walnuts and cranberries, and the sticky chicken wings. Each went down a treat.
For mains, I had the pulled beef burger which came with goats cheese and delicious fries in a basket. The others had the seaweed and sesame-crusted seabass and the hungry teen had a margarita pizza.
The desserts were generous and gorgeous — I gave myself a treat with the Coconut and Chocolate Ganache tart, but I sampled the Creme Brûlée and selection of icecreams that came to the table.
I had only seen photographs of Queen Street before I came in, but the reality was even more rewarding. It takes on different shades by day or by night. By day, a remarkable place for those work lunches and discreet coffees, by night, a restaurant and venue with a neat chicness.
The signature cocktails are handcrafted, and the service is relaxed and excellent.
Queen Street emerged last year after a major renovation, and in the process, while removing a massive wall mirror, they discovered a beautiful mural from decades ago, the providence of which still remains a mystery. If any of you can shine a light on it, please let me know.
I'm looking forward to doing coffee here — With fresh baked treats daily, the café is the perfect place to rest your feet for a moment after an enjoyable day out in Galway City. The homemade scones and sourdough bread are the perfect accompaniment for a classic brew.
At the moment, Queen Street is a hidden gem, but don't expect that to remain a secret for long because when it's new neighbour around the corner in Bonham Quay opens in mid-summer, this will become one of the trendiest meeting places in town with beautiful offerings for elevenses, breakfast and brunch. This is a treat for the senses. I wish the proprietors well.
Queen Street at Victoria Place, Galway — Book direct on 091 567 433
