Pic taken from Ard Bia website
We had the most joyous of nights in Galway last Saturday for the 2010 Irish Blog Awards. Happily, Niall came away with the Best Music Blog award, leading to much merriment and supping and chatting and spontaneous singing and even a bit of rapping. And that was just me.
Big congrats to all the winners, especially my foodie buddies at The Good Mood Food Blog (Best Food Blog) and 9 Bean Row (Best Newcomer).
Feeling well rested and fresh *ahem* on Sunday morning we made our way to Ard Bia at Nimmo’s near the Spanish Arch at the end of Shop Street.
I lived in Galway for a brief spell about 6 years ago, and had brekkie or lunch in Ard Bia at the end of Shop Street a number of time, loving the way the lady of the house called everyone darling and that she gave everyone little pots of honey instead of crappy plastic boxes.
Nimmo’s was a seafood restaurant near the Spanish Arch which my Mum brought me to for a special treat one weekend she visited me. It was the first time I had ever tasted oysters and it was a really memorable experience.
I had discovered the day of this year’s Blog Awards that my two favourite eateries in Galway had morphed into one since my last visit (which was aaaaages ago). I knew it was going to be good. And by golly, it was.
Ard Bia inside – we were the very first customers but the place was pretty much full by the time we left nearly two hours later. I want to live in this cafe.
Ard Bia at Nimmo’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. How thrilling!
I can only vouch for the brekkie, but I can tell you, it was so lovely and the atmosphere of the place so soothing, that I was seriously contemplating just sticking around until I was hungry enough to eat lunch there as well. And guess what? The lady who calls everyone Darling is still there!
I had a Mini Breakfast (€4.50) of poached egg, toast and bacon. The only thing missing was a bit of Marmite.
Niall went for the Veggie Breakfast (€8.50) which featured poached eggs, portobello mushroom, grilled tomatoes, spinach and (somewhat oddly) green beans.
On the recommendation from our absolutely lovely waiter, we went for the Ricotta Cheesecake. YUM.
We had four lattes, as well as a freshly squeezed carrot and ginger juice, and the whole lot came to €27.00. A steal.
Check it out the next time you’re in Galway. Let me know if you go there for dinner – send pics!
Categories: Blog Trips, Breakfast Tags: Ard Bia Galway
March 30, 2010 at 9:29 pm
food loks great….but that bike, I wants it….
March 30, 2010 at 11:21 pm
We went there too for breakfast! We were evidently much slacker than you, loping in around 2pm with very heavy heads. I cannot believe you were first there!
Mr 9BR had the most amazing lamb there. Though I am not a lamb eater, it looked divine. I had a goat cheese tart and a beetroot soup, which I am busily trying to replicate. Honestly the food is really phenomenal.
Lovely post!
March 30, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Why oh why was I on a train at 11am last Sunday instead of having breakfast in this lovely place? Bad planning doesn’t even begin to describe it! This place sounds like it would be well worth getting back on a train just to go eat there. Duly noted for when next I have any notions about heading west (or any notions about just eating nice grub, for that matter!)…
March 31, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Hey Manuel – it’s a cute bike all right!
Hi ‘Neen – that’s gas that you went as well! So glad to hear that the lunch was yummy too, I was checking out the lunch menu straight after brekkie let me tell you! Looked yum. And fyi the only reason we were up so early is we were turfed out of our hostel
Hi Spud – definitely check it out next time you’re in Galway!
April 13, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Glad you enjoyed it!
April 14, 2010 at 5:32 pm
It was lovely – can’t wait to come back for more next time we’re in Galway!