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Nightjar

The Square

YOU know, when we get the weather there’s no place like home.

I walked into the Square on Thursday afternoon to a drumming exhibition from a local school who entertained shoppers and al fresco diners from nearby cafes. It really did have a (cliché alert) continental atmosphere about the place.

The Square is lovely on a warm, sunny day with benches to take in the sun and places to sit out and eat, whether it’s fast food from Hillbilly’s and Subway, or somewhere for a more leisurely lunch like Aine’s Cafe or Nightjar, where I decided to stop off.

I hadn’t eaten in Nightjar yet – although I’ve had lunch in its previous life as Ruairi’s some years ago – and was tempted by the daily specials.

I took my seat outside in the blazing sun alongside many other tables occupied by a clientele in their early 20s – coffees and pint bottles of Bulmers being their refreshments of choice.

I had to go inside to order – thus risking losing my precious seat – but emerged after ordering a ‘shredded duckling salad with potato fritters’ (€7.95) with my chair still vacant.

Other specials on the menu included ‘fillet steak and onion panini, salad and fries’, ‘king prawn penne pasta with garlic cream sauce’ and ‘cajun chicken ad cheese wrap with salad and fries’ to name but three.

They also have a selection of soups, salads and sandwiches on the regular menu.

The duck salad waddled into view within minutes and was very good with a nice salad and slightly spiced dressing to complement it. The only quibbles were the portion was a bit small and there was too much stringy fat on the duck.

A decent cappuccino washed it down and I went on my merry way replete with farmer’s tan after sitting out for too long in the sun.

The bill came to €10.35 and I’d go back again.

3.5/5