Queen of Tarts Dublin: Dessert Royalty
A Dublin dessert tradition with true American roots, Queen of Tarts Dublin is the local favourite for decadent desserts, delicious coffee and long afternoons spent with friends. Regardless of pubs visited, tours taken or souvenirs bought, Queen of Tarts Dublin offers one of Dublin’s warmest welcomes and is must-taste destination on any visitor’s list.
In the Celtic Tiger’s cub years, Irish sisters Regina and Yvonne Fallon traveled to New York City to train as pastry chefs, intending one day to bring their lessons learned to feed hungry crowds at home. The exercise was a clear success: more than 10 years later, the Fallons’ joint venture remains Dublin’s stand-out team room, as famous for its cakes as for its relaxed atmosphere.
The sisters’ commitment to the highest quality ingredients is apparent from the first bite of Queen’s deeply luscious fudge cake – thickly iced and generously garnished with toasted almonds. Rich Belgian chocolate is the base of all the bakery’s chocolate desserts and can be found coating biscuits, drizzled over a rich Baileys cheesecake, tucked inside muffins and more.
Fresh fruits also play a major role – from the restaurant’s signature Bramley apple tart to toothsome plum pastries, fruit scones, cream-smothered trifles and more. The menu revolves around the best pick of any season, and alongside menu staples including that creamy, American-style Baileys cheesecake, make for an indulgent city break any time of year.
The tiny, cozy original location on Cork street – just across from the imposing bulk of Dublin’s City Hall and Dublin Castle compound – wafts old-world charm along with deeply delicious smells of baked goods. The small space bursts with color, soft chatter and softer music. Mismatched but comfortable café chairs scoot across a worn wooden floor, everything pressing for space against a packed pastry case and counter, itself groaning under the weight of desserts on display.
The tea room menu’s diverse menu of savory tarts, sandwiches and soups, while tasty in their own right, are a minor diversion from the Queen’s sweet treats, the real star of any visit.
Given the tight space in the Cork street location and the inherent tendency of visitors to linger over their tea, free sets are hard to come by. Recently, a second location was opened just a block away in the revived artist’s haven Cow’s Lane. Boasting an extra opening hour on Sundays, the space has become as popular as its foremother, and is packed to capacity most weekends regardless of season or weather.
HelloDublin Tip: Neither location accepts bookings. However, a quick call ahead can gauge one’s wait for a seat (or to prepare the staff for larger parties intending to drop by), a pot of tea and a slice of chocolately heaven.
Posted on Mar 28, 2011 by Bridget Reilly
