Avoca Food Market & Salt Café

I only have three relevant words for this review: Rice Krispie squares. They are the bomb, and you are GENUINELY missing out on life if you don’t buy a box and eat them all at some stage in your life.

Went to Avoca recently for breakfast, and it was lovely, great atmosphere, very fast service and they make sure you are there priority when you come in. My whole family where very happy with what they got, I got the pancakes which were excellent, presented well, and was nice and sweet and also thick which I am huge fan of, compared to the skinny pancakes, would come back here for sure and would love to try the lunch here also in the future

Parking around here would drive you in circles which is exactly what it takes to get a space.
Not a bad avoca. You will find a restaurant Butchers cheesemonger and food hall but no clothing here.
Not bad but not great.

I’ve been there for lunch on a Saturday. Got a middle east inspired dish with hummus, butternut beignets, couscous, beetroot dip. Everything was very tasty and unusual. I buy bread there on a weekly basis and could eat their fruit & seeds Bread all day long. My only problem is the price — some items are vey expensive.

This little Irish gem could wreak havoc Atilla the Hun style if the corporation ever decided to expand beyond the emerald isle. Those of you familiar with Joan’s on 3^rd in LA will be shocked to read that if Avoca ever got within 3 miles of Joans, it would be the end of Joan’s. The selection, presentation, quality of everything is beyond exceptional. And this extends even to the yogurt and granola cup. I kind of laughed at the «Award winning» sticker on the side. But after one taste, I bought three more to have on hand, and more the next day. The rotisserie chicken sandwich is another killer item. Of ourse, I couldn’t taste everything in the store, but extrapolating from the two run of the mill items (yogurt and sandwich) I did purchase, I can say this is not your ordinary deli. I’ve never experienced anything this good in LA, New York, Vancouver, Boston, Chicago, MInneapolis, Denver, Copenhagen, Salzburg, Berlin or anywhere else I have traveled to. Expensive? Yeah. But you if you’re in Monkstown (they have other locations too), you gotta try it.

Salt is great! Gorgeous food, lovely bright décor and friendly staff. Only downside for me is I wish I lived closer and I always spend a small fortune in the food market afterwards, Avoca always hits the pocket hard so have to deduct a star. The Poulet Bonne Femme chickens are so incredibly delicious.

Christmas — not a time to dine out, but if you must, go for lunch; much better than the evening «pack em in, feed em up, throw en out» that most eateries practice at that time of year.
Avoca is crazy busy in the run up to Christmas, it is full of seasonal fare, all beautifully laid out and tempting — as a result the place gets mobbed, shuffling room only, you’d need the patience of a saint to actually buy anything.
It has been said many times that I am no saint, and it’s true; I took the Avoca test and failed. so, while wifey shopped, myself and junior set ourselves up in the Café.
We had sandwiches and chips, it was excellent, staff were up to 90 and frazzeled, but friendly and professional none the less.
We had coffees and left refreshed — would like to revisit during a less busy time of year, but I’ll probably forget all about it until Christmas week next year, whereupon we’ll do it all over again.

Although I am a great fan of avoca stores .I was amazed to be served meat in the new food hall in kilmacanogue by the butcher who picked up mince in his hand and popped it into a plastic bag .i would have thought he should have worn plastic gloves. The customer beside me was also not impressed and walked away. I should have done the same but I did not unfortunately.

Avoca is uhh-​mazing on every level! I love the cuisine here the food is well-​known and all the girls in my workplace love it here. Overall: Great service, great shop and an outstanding quality of food

I must say, I’ve always been a big fan of Avoca. They just do it right: Fresh, quality ingredients and great service to match.
I was surprised to read another Unilocaler slate the place due to bad service (this seems to be on account of one staff member in particular).
I’m all about service and bad service can ruin a great meal. I’m happy to report I’ve never had a bad experience here. On the contrary the service I have received at Salt sets the bar for how I think service should be. The staff are not just well trained, they have a genuine enthusiasm you can’t fake.
As far as the menu goes, it’s short and sweet. It also appears seasonal which is note worthy as it never gets boring. I’d much rather a choice of 8 mains done right than 20 mains that are thrown together in a scramble to keep up. The seafood platter is fantastic and the rotisserie chicken is spot on. You’ll be hard pushed to find something you don’t like and don’t get me started on the desserts. If you’re going for food trust me, share a dessert as the portions are massive.
Salt is attached to a food market, with fresh fruit & vegetables, deli, butchers, bakery and a rotisserie. So it really is a one stop shop.
Popped in for lunch today and got a ham & cheese sandwich take away. For € 5.55 you get fresh bread (cut from a large loaf), ham (as in proper ham and not the cheap sliced ham you get in Spar) and a wedge of cheese (cut from a block as opposed to the usual sliced rubbish) so even the take out is a class leader.
If you haven’t been you’re truly missing out. It may not be cheap but it’s incredible value. Go, go, go!

As a part time inhabitant of England half of the year, this is always my first stop when I arrive home.
It’s perfect for a big lunch that is fresh and delicious. The elderflower cordial is a must for everyone it beats any soft drink on the planet. I always go for the confit duck but everything that comes out of that kitchen looks AMAZING. Even the chips and mash are well above your average chips and mash, Finishing it off with a delicious coffee. Guaranteed an epic meal here. Hence why it’s my first food stop upon arriving home.

Came here for a quick shop for veg and meat and was somewhat surprised. I was expecting to pay over the odds give my eh type of shop it is but was not the case.
Staff are very friendly and helpful. I couldn’t find any ricotta and the guy went back and got some for me.
Apart from this there is a full butchers with good quality meat. Glass panels let you see the meat hanging and staff preparing it which I liked. There is also a range if sauces available to suit and dietary requirements.
Salad bar, poulet bone femme and salt café make up the rest.
Only downside is the size of the place. Everything is a little cramped so going with 4 stars!

Great for tea and a chat. Great atmosphere and great homemade good quality food. Mixed Berry scones… keyyyyyy
Service good and love ther mint and cucumber water, very refreshing

So slow — the front of house person Liam is a red faced sweaty mess. I saw him laugh at customers who had any enquiry: avoid until they can sort out their customer service.
It’s a real pity because the food is usually good.

Wanted to do something different for a Saturday Lunch, so made my way to Monkstown with a friend. We got here around 12.15 pm (us Germans are very strict about our lunchtime!) and were seated right away. The place is beautifully decorated, with tables and chairs that have this Vintage «Shabby Chic» Feel.
We sat at a table that was surrounded by shelves that were filled to the brim with delicious foods — from chocolates, teas to Chutneys; I have to admit I was slightly distracted from eating because I kept looking at all the amazing things one could buy!
I opted for the Courgette & Fivemiletown goats’ cheese fritters with hummus, tabbouleh, red pepper salsa, beetroot tzatziki & pita — and oh dear Lord, was it delicious! The portion was very generous and I easily could have shared this one. The fritters were very tasty, with just the right amount of goats’ cheese without overpowering the rest of the dish, and the different dips complemented the food very well. The only thing I slightly disliked was the fact that the fritters could’ve used a little less oil, but I guess that’s to be expected of the fritters (hence the word).
While I was stuffed and didn’t even finish my meal, I could not resist a sneaky dessert — thankfully, they offer Bite-​sizes of their desserts, so I went for the White Chocolate Raspberry Crème Bruleé — and how happy I was I chose it! It was the creamiest, most delicious Crème Brulée I’ve ever tasted; not too sweet and not too heavy. Just — perfect. I definitely want to come back here just so I can have this dessert!
Tip: If you plan on coming for lunch on a weekend, be here before 1 pm as otherwise, it gets crazy busy and you might not get a table.

You enter through the food market, but that doesn’t mean its not a real restaurant. The décor is country kitchen mixed with vintage glamour and the service is friendly and professional.
Its not cheap and its yummy mummy central, but the food is really good. I went for the 16 hr cooked lamb meze plate and it was delicious. I think of it as more of a restaurant than a café on the basis that you can get wine there… which is perhaps not the technical distinction!

such a nice place, bring friends there for excursions :) as its my local Avoca. Deserts are fab in Salt café, interier similar like being in Chelsea… really fab :)

This is another place which is a danger to my waist line. The fantastic potato salad alone is enough to make me never want to don a bathing suit again. It is so delightfully creamy and deceptively light I tend to eat more than I should. And as I sit there plumply full with a smile on my face speaking the words «Ugh, next time I am not going to eat so much» my inside voice giggles and says «ok sure… whatever gets you through the day»
Then there are the pastries. Now, normally I am much more of a savory girl, however, their chocolate dipped rice crispy treats are enough to make me think I am in fact more or a sweetheart. They somehow, and I have yet to figure it out, have managed to create the perfect chocolate dip that is satisfying if you are are in either a dark or milk chocolate mood. What mad stoke of brilliance is this. Even the boyfriend type person who far prefers vanilla based goodies to chocolate ones will happily devour these as if his life depended on consuming all of them.
I haven’t eaten at the restaurant yet, but I have heard nothing but good things about it and am looking forward to tasting what ever delicacies they have.
I am just thankful I have to turn in the opposite direction from the DART station to get home or there is no way I would maintain any semblance of willpower.

The brother’s birthday. Had heard loads about SALT, all of it positive so we barelled out to Monkstown, 4 adults and 3 teenagers on a very busy Sunday afternoon. Foodwise, it was up to the usual Avoca standard, ie excellent and plenty of it. The fish pie stood out in particular with generous helpings of smoked fish adding a great and wholesome flavour to a dish that can be very bland. The adventurous among us went for a very tasty lamb kofta which was also good. The pâté/​terrine starters, enjoyed by several of the party, were excellent if oddly presented in what I can only describe as Heinz baby food jars. The desserts were also excellent as were the bottle of White Rueda and a very acceptable Chianti.
Service, however, was another matter. There seemed to be oodles of servers but no evidence of organisation. At least 5 different people took orders, served drinks and refills, brought dishes and the bill. Perhaps not surprisingly, therefore, one main wasn’t delivered at all. In the confusion, of course, no-​one noticed until we brought to a passing server after 5 minutes of waiting. Further confusion ensued until the missing dish arrived just as everyone else finished theirs. No apology and no sign of a manager at any point of the 2+ hours we were there to whom we could complain. At a smidge over € 300 for 7, it certainly wasn’t cheap so there was no excuse for shoddy service. Not good enough, folks. Food gets 5, service 1. 3 stars overall.

It’s all James Whelans fault. The butcher. We had gotten a groupon deal a while ago for a selection of his meats, kobe beef in Ireland, all of it was divine. Then a magnificent Christmas hamper from his website, we still have food to get through on it. Then the girlfriend reads «Oh James Whelan is opening a place in Monkstown, we should check it out!»
We moved just to the Dun Laoghaire/​Monkstown border 6 months ago and have been ignoring the Monkstown side of things. A 15 minute stroll down and we find the Crescent, and in it Avoca’s fab new food market. This is the place for a foodie!!! As well as the Avoca deli counter and salad bar there’s a little cheese shop on the left corner as you enter and a poultry place on the right. At the bottom is James Whelans’ butcher. All looks yummy.
After a relaxed peruse of the market we quickly decide on a dish for the night; I’m going to attempt to make a deep dish Chicago pizza pie. So we get the bits and pieces we need; we pop into the cheese place; a lovely lady recommends the cheese we should use and cuts us some lovely chorizo which she gives us a slice each to taste.
After our purchases I’ve been told by my girlfriend that I mentioned we should try the café adjacent to the market, Salt, at least 4 times since we entered the market. At this stage we’re both kind of hungry and feel we should compliment ourselves on a job well done finding this place by having some lunch.
The lunches, between lunch and dinner and dinner menus vary. The interior is beautiful, rustic with a stone back wall, and the place is buzzing with life, chatty post Christmas families and friends enjoying what’s left of the holidays while they have it, all venturing out of their houses again after the Christmas feast.
The waiting staff are all very friendly, relaxed and down to earth. We order to share the croque monsieur; Avoca baked ham & Glebe Brethan on sourdough with organic leaves and the anti-​pasta platter. Both are delicious. Every element on both dishes are there for a reason. The platter has meats, cheese, pickles, a beautiful spinach salad with an amazing salad dressing. To top it off we get dessert (we’re pushing it at this stage aren’t we!) a raspberry posset with shortbreads. A lovely little cup of Raspberry mouse arrives with the most wonderful shortbread. Including 2 coffees and a coke it came in under € 50.
We definitely be back, the meat alone from James Whelan is worth it, and you never know, dinner might be on the cards!

Avoca come to Monkstown! Excellent range of food and cakes and I noticed a great selection of fruit and veg which was top quality. There is a coffee shop and restaurant at the back. Chickens can be purchased ready cooked (they also sell from Peoples Park in Dun Laoghaire on a Sunday and I was delighted to find them here as I am a fan and I dont have to wait until Sunday to buy great chicken.
When you go in have a look by the till as they sell half priced cakes when they are close to the sell buy date — if you are looking for a bargain.
The only downside is that parking is a nightmare.