A Pandora’s Box for the oenophiles exists in Co. Kildare in the shape of Ely Wine Store, Maynooth. As seasoned lovers of the indulgent offerings of Ely Winebar we were only too happy when Ely Wine Store in Maynooth opened its doors in 2019. The vibe here is very chilled and welcoming from the time you step through the door.
A beautiful stone faced building is home to a two storey dining and shop space. We booked a table for 1pm on a Bank Holiday Monday. Booking is highly recommend as when we entered, downstairs was already at full capacity. We were led up an open wooden staircase to a very cosy dining area and seated in a little stove side bench table. Cosiness personified.
A small window to my right gave us a birds eye view of the calm kitchen, working away like clockwork. It was not long before we had company upstairs as couples and families took their seats for an afternoon of wining and dining.
With a concise and contemporary All Day, Brunch and Dessert menu on offer as well as some seriously great wine by the glass, we had well and truly found our happy place.
Opting for the Thai Yellow Curry €13.00 (With Chicken Breast €3.00) and Prawn Linguini €15.00, a side of hand cut chips €4.50.
A vibrant dish of Thai Yellow Curry topped with a deliciously tender chicken breast had us eating with our eyes as much as our mouths. Generous chunks of butternut squash and courgette with thinly sliced fresh red chilli enhanced by the golden goodness of the unique flavour that turmeric brings to a dish like this made for blissful eating. Paired with a glass (I may have had 2 actually) of Mount Horrocks Riesling 2018, €10.00. If only all lunches were this long and indulgent!
In juxtaposition to the rich saucy goodness of the Thai Yellow Curry, the Prawn Linguini had that fresh, clean eating appearance that makes you feel almost angelic about your order. Succulent prawns and perfectly cooked linguini combined with garlic, fresh chilli and lemon oil made this a lunchtime dish that was flavourful and super satisfying. Those aforementioned chips that we ordered took slightly from the clean eating element of this dish but boy were they worth it, crispy, salted, deep fried goodness. The designated driver had a lovely alcohol free Rose, Leitz Pinot Noir Rosé ‘Eins Zwei Zero’ Described as Rosé, but not as you know it! Made from 100% Pinot Noir, this light, delicate and fruity wine tastes like fresh strawberries and cherries. It was good but the take home bottle of Mount Horrocks was even better.
We spent a little time browsing the wonderful selection of wines after lunch which saw us taking home some nice bottles. If you love finding new wines, you will love the selection here with knowledgeable staff on hand to guide you towards some supreme sipping.
Ely Winebar on Ely Place celebrated 20 years in business in 2019. After our first visit to Ely Wine Store in Maynooth, we were delighted to see that the same ethos for beautiful wine offerings, seasonal dishes, all presented by strikingly benevolent staff is insitu. We hope this remains the case for many years to come and we highly recommend you pay a visit.
Ely Wine Store
Convent Lane,
Maynooth,
Co. Kildare
Review By: Olivia Byrne
