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Review: Union Square @ Mayfield

Photo: Union Square @Terenure road north, Facebook

 

I reviewed Mayfield Deli and Eatery in Terenure here a couple of years ago and was very impressed. Since it opened I’ve been a happy regular, and was really pleased to hear late last year they were expanding.

Union Square @ Mayfield opened a few months ago. They’ve been out the door ever since, and deservedly so. I’ve been three times since they’ve expanded and it’s been hopping every time. The extension runs into an old abbatoir that was on a lot next door to Mayfield deli, which was originally a butcher’s shop itself. With the extension Mayfield and Union Square now includes a much larger restaurant, a food hall, a haberdasherie, a spacious and pretty courtyard with outdoor seating and a classroom where all different sorts of courses will be running.

The menu is small but by no means limited, serving fresh homemade food. On recent visits I’ve had great salads, fantastic sandwiches and a really tasty fishcake. I was there for brunch the other day and my mum commented that the Eggs Benedict (€9.50) were the best she’d ever had. They’re doing dinner every Thursday, Friday and Saturday too with choices like charcuterie plate (€13.50), Cobb Salad (€12.50) and Confit Duck Leg w/green beans, baby potatoes and cress (€17).

I can’t wait to get in and try dinner but will be sure to book as I know they’re very busy. The coffee is top notch. Their desserts, cakes and scones are outstanding. The staff are lovely, polite and efficient. I know all of this may sound gushing but I genuinely can’t fault this place and am delighted the expansion and new venture is working so well.

4 Comments

  1. My experiences at Union Square were not nearly as pleasant as yours. I was there twice recently and I don’t think I’ll be returning. The first of these visits was only so/so. My companion ordered a wheat-free muffin which was to come with coulis. The waiter brought it to the table and said there’s no coulis. No apologies, no substitute offered, no discount.
    Next time I went it was freezing. We were so cold at the first table that we moved to a different one – and we were still freezing. It was just about noon when we arrived and we were given breakfast menus which were quickly withdrawn but I asked if it would be possible to order from the breakfast menu and was told I could. Some time later the waiter arrived and took our orders. He returned and said that they couldn’t give me eggs benedict from the breakfast menu and I would have to order lunch. The only thing I wanted to order from the lunch menu was not available. And still he did not think to allow me to have the breakfast eggs. I had some soup in the end.
    I might stress that the place wasn’t at all busy. Mayfield Eatery was fine but this expansion is a disaster, I won’t be back anytime soon. I’m happy to support small, local businesses but they need to remember that “he who pays the piper calls the tune”.

  2. That’s a shame you had such a negative experience of Union Square Caitriona, but I do think it’s unfair to call the recent expansion a “disaster”, the throngs of people waiting for tables on my last visit clearly think otherwise. I also get the impression that the owners and staff are always striving to improve and change, it’s still a new venture and an unusual one at that, so some minor mistakes can be expected. For me the most important thing is the great quality of the food, which I’d love to hear your thoughts on as you didn’t mention anything about this, because that’s what keeps me coming back.

  3. My first two menu selections were not available to me. There was no ‘special’ despite one being advertised. So I had to make do with fourth choice of tarragon chicken sandwich & soup. The sandwich was very tasty but the soup was a bit too thin.
    TBH I would have left only that when we moved seats I ended up sitting next to someone I knew from the past and I didn’t want to make a fuss in front of her. My dining companions on both occasions were’t overly impressed either. Dining out is not just about the food, it’s also about the hospitality, the ambiance and the service.

  4. Hi Caitriona . Just read you thoughts on union sq . We are sorry you had such a bad experance in union sq . Not one but twice . We are happy to deal with problems face to face or over the phone . If you wish you can contact us any time on 014926830 or by email mayfieldeatery@ gmail.com . Again sorry for you bad experance .
    Many thanks Kevin & Kevin