1 | Sarah

August 14th, 2009 at 4:51 pm

Has anyone ever tried sitting downstairs in Gruel? It smells like the inside of a fake leg.

2 | Rosemary

August 14th, 2009 at 5:33 pm

How would one know what the inside of a… oh never mind. I went to Gruel once. Delicious food, terrible service. So utterly terrible. Ugh. Still, nice food but I didn’t tip.

3 | Peter

August 14th, 2009 at 7:39 pm

Ah yes, I should have added that I was upstairs, and ordered from the counter – so I didn’t encounter the service this time. Wonder if it has improved?

4 | Martin

August 15th, 2009 at 11:10 am

I’ve been eating in Gruel regularly for the past three years and have never encountered this mythical bad service. At lunch you can only order from the counter and your food is brought out to you. I don’t really see where there is much of an opportunity for bad service with this arrangement. Dinner is different of course.

Anyway, the fact is that the food is consistently excellent in Gruel and if the atmosphere suits you, it is a very deserving addition to your lunch repertoire. Don’t forget to try the excellent sticky cinnamon buns and the Illy espressos are among the best I’ve had in Dublin.

5 | claire

August 17th, 2009 at 9:22 am

Sarah has just revealed herself as really being Paul McCartney!

Gruel make the best brownies in the world; slightly bitter with walnuts, just how I like em.

Is Gruel still associated with the Mermaid Cafe? If so that may explain the bad service. I have eaten in the Mermaid Cafe twice and both time have only paid for the wine as the service was that bad!

6 | Maria

September 6th, 2009 at 3:28 pm

Love the food in Gruel too, but the bad service completely put me off – found the staff among the rudest I’ve ever encountered, was so incensed after one incident that I went back in and complained, apparently they hadn’t realised they were being rude. This was a couple of years ago tho, so might have to give it another go!.

7 | Esther

October 21st, 2009 at 2:59 pm

Just had the “half & half” lunch deal in Gruel and it was great! I used to eat there regularly but the rude staff & the compulsory service charge put me off. I am stuffed to the point of sickness with a yummy spinachy soup & a mustardy gammon roast in a roll. The staff have had an attitude makeover too. Delighted I can now put Gruel back on my list of eating options!

8 | Noel Harvey

September 23rd, 2010 at 3:38 pm

[deleted for trolling]