Safe Travels in Ireland - Dwarf Jar, Beshoff's Restaurant, and Suso Gelateria

Dwarf Jar

(Link goes to their Tripadvisor page. If a website surfaces, let us know and we can update the link!)

Kayleigh here. We stopped in here for a quick breakfast/lunch/afternoon snack (long story) upon seeing a sign in the window advertising gluten free muffins and cakes. At 2:00 in the afternoon, they still had two chocolate muffins that were gluten free, along with a decent selection of cake slices and energy bars. The muffins were sweet and moist, and while we did not try the desserts, they looked fantastic. And the location was great for sipping a coffee and watching all the people walk by on their way downtown.

Jason here. This was a pleasant find for us on our walk in downtown Dublin. When I learned Ireland had the highest rate of celiac disease in the world, I figured there would be plenty of places we could spontaneously stop in at. The reality is, I found no more or less than back home. I ordered a pretty simple chocolate chocolate chip muffin that were separately packaged and looked almost store bought. However, there were other fresh looking gluten free items available that I opted not to get. The chocolate muffin was simply too enticing to pass up after skipping breakfast.

Beshoff Restaurant

Kayleigh here. While I was looking forward to sampling all sorts of fresh fish and chips during our stay, Jason was hardly expecting to have the opportunity. We came across this place after a full day of walking through Dublin with feet sore and minds weary, so we opted to look up a place near the city center instead of poking into pubs and quizzing wait staff.

When we arrived, Beshoff's informed us that any of the fish could be fried with gluten free batter, and would be placed in the chips-only fried to avoid cross contamination. Despite being a fast food joint, they took efforts to keep his food separate during preparation, which was nice to see. Gluten free fried haddock and chips- who would have expected that?

Jason here. Beshoff’s may be my favorite restaurant we visited while in Ireland. They have an impeccable gluten free menu, and take great care not to cross contaminate anything. I seriously never expected to find any gluten free fried foods by this point in the trip. Kayleigh had been raving about fish and chips since way before we visited Ireland, so this was finally my chance to see what all the fuss was about. I ordered the haddock fish and chips after asking Kayleigh for a recommendation.

The French fries were pretty good, but I actually really enjoyed the deep fried fish. It was thickly battered, and I love that deep fried batter taste. I wish I could find this back home.

Suso Gelateria

Kayleigh here. Once we finished up our meal at Beshoff's, we decided to pop into the Gelateria next door and ask about their selections. They pointed out which flavors had cookies or other gluten-containing items in them, and told us we would be safe to order any other flavors in a cup. Make sure they do not add the wafer garnish to the cup at the end, though.

Jason here. Suso had plenty of options to choose from, although I admit I found it a bit daunting trying to figure out which ones were gluten free. Staff was plenty friendly, so if you’re not sure about anything feel free to ask.

Safe Travels in Ireland - Gus O'Connor's Pub and Fitz's Pub and Eatery

Gus O'Connor's Pub

Kayleigh here. This pub was recommended to us as our number one spot by our B&B hostess, as it had lively music every night and gluten free labels right on the menu. We were also advised that the place fills up quickly in the evenings, so plan on arriving at least two hours before the music if you want to get a good seat.

There were signs all around telling us how ordering worked- find a seat, then tell your order and table number to the bartender, who rings you out right there. It can get pretty crazy during the busy hours, so make sure to leave something in your seat as you stand in line at the bar. We walked in at 7:30 and the only available table was in a corner room, so we had to move to standing at the bar later in the evening to hear the music.

The menu had a few options for the gluten free diner, although we did notice the Guinness beef stew was labeled gluten free...we opted not to question that. As a nice surprise, the specials board had gluten free labels as well. The food looked safe when it arrived at our table, so I would say to just double check things with the bartender when you decide on your order.

Jason here. Definitely remember to check the special’s menu, as I got both the crab claws and some gluten free chocolate and peanut butter pie. The crab claws, while delicious, were a bit messy and still left me hungry so I ordered a salad special as well. The chocolate and peanut butter pie made for a nice final bite to eat as we settled in for our first live music experience of the night. As Kayleigh mentioned, be sure to get there very early if you want a seat anywhere close to the live music. This was true for all the bars and pubs we went to.

Fitz's Pub and Eatery

Kayleigh here. Fitz's Pub (also known as Fitzpatrick's Traditional Bar) was the second stop on our pub tour across Doolin, by virtue of being the second closest to our B&B. We arrived at 7:00, and despite a fair crowd we were still able to get seats next to the live music area. Not only that, but we found out that there was a guitarist playing at 7:30, on top of the scheduled act at 9:00. And the musicians here were fantastic- I am kicking myself for having only one of their names written down (Tara Howley on the Uilleann Pipes).

Sorry, that did not have much to do with being gluten free, did it? The menu had no labels here, but the waitress went back and asked the chef what entrees were safe so she could tell Jason what his options were. The menu was mostly up scaled versions of bar and comfort food, but even so the majority of the entrees were gluten free without any alterations. The atmosphere was slightly more upscale than the average pub, too, but still managed to be friendly and comfortable to spend a few hours in.

Jason here. I was suffering some drowsy side effects of the sea sickness medication I took earlier that day before going on the ferry. The music was my favorite out of all the nights, but I still remember very little of it. As Kayleigh mentioned we managed a booth right next to the musicians, but also still secluded somewhat from the crowd. My meal was a fairly standard affair of beef with potatoes, some squash and greens.

Safe Travels in Ireland - The River Restaurant and Doolin Chocolatier

The River Restaurant at the Limerick Strand Hotel

Kayleigh here. This was definitely a situation where planning ahead is wise for a gluten free traveler. We knew when we booked our stay in the Strand hotel that the restaurant downstairs would be a backup option for food, although we wanted to try wandering around and finding a restaurant downtown first. We ended up starting too late and taking too long being lost tourists, so we headed back to the hotel for a late but assuredly safe meal.

The restaurant had recently completed renovations combining two smaller restaurants into one dinner service, so I would not be surprised if the menus change significantly in the future. At the time we went there, the evening menu had clear gluten free labels on each section, but the waiter was also very attentive and willing to ask the kitchen questions and double check things for us. It was quite a nice experience overall, with a pleasant view of the city from our table.

Jason here. It was really strange having all the restaurants close so early forcing us to go back to the hotel. It was nice having so clearly labeled gluten free options, but the options are a bit limited and it felt strange not dining out at a local pub. In Ireland we did have some trouble finding dessert places to try, but the River Restaurant served some delicious gluten free brownies with ice cream. It was with this dish that I learned what redcurrants were. They were used a sort of garnish on the plate due to their bright color. I really wish I could find these in the states. They are some of the juiciest sweet and sour fruits I have ever had. Like a combination of kumquats and blackberries.

Doolin Chocolatier
Kayleigh here. After getting our bearings in Doolin and wandering around the pier for a few hours, we headed back towards the main street and bravely ventured into the chocolate shop with a glimmer of hope for gluten free chocolate. With little hope for an independent shop being safe, we were delighted to discover that nearly all of their goods were gluten free, with the exception of bars, slices, and fudges that contained biscuits or certain candies. If you are like us and not very familiar with Irish or British cookies and candies, just ask the clerk which ones to avoid.

Jason here. Woo hoo for some delicious chocolate! I picked up 3 types of fudge and the rocky road bars. Rocky road was definitely my favorite, but the triple chocolate fudge gave it a run for the money. The rocky road candy bars in particular make for a wonderful snack to enjoy while sitting cliff side and watching the waves rolls in. Just be sure to put on some sunscreen.