I must begin this review by explaining my previous relationship with Greggs…read more.... Way back in 2006 when I was a mere slip of a lad I set sail to Newcastle Upon Tyne (the home of Greggs) to attend University. Fresh faced and some what 'mothered' I'm not ashamed to admit I had little to no cooking experience. I could just about make a tuna pasta bake and I burnt many a pot trying to make beans on toast. But this is where Greggs stepped in and saved me from a life of eating burnt food. My salvation came in the shape of a steak slice and most of my yearly veg intake came from Greggs seasonal offering 'the festive bake'. So when I heard Greggs was coming to NI I rejoiced. Once again I could burn my tongue on a bacon and cheese turnover and once again the pound in my pocket would be enough to sicken myself on sausage rolls. Yesterday I made my pilgrimage to the new branch at the Boucher Road Retail Park, although this wasn't quite the corner shop bakery I had so fondly remembered. It almost looked too clean to be a Greggs! This store has outside seating and a comfortable cafe area to sit in, there were rows of baguettes and sandwiches, crispy creme style donuts and of course the holy grail of Greggs, the baked pastry section. I decided to purchase some sausage rolls but then, as if it were a sign from above, a delightful apron clad staff member appeared from the back of the store clutching steaming Bacon and Cheese turnovers. Before the turnovers were even in the shelf I ordered one. At £1.60 these were more expensive than I had remembered but I considered this a small pittance to pay for the taste of nostalgia. I also ordered a flat white, something that the hipsters conceived long after I had left Newcastle. Although it was machine made, it actually tasted good, not as bitter as a proper barista made blend but still drinkable. The queues moved quickly and the staff seemed to be well drilled. I imagine a team of Geordies came over and trained them, I'm sure the lad who served me whispered 'howay' under his breath. All in all it's as good as I remembered although I'm also happy to report that my life skills have improved considerably and I no longer need Greggs to survive. I will be back from time to time though for a wee treat.

As someone who grew up in Scotland with a Gregg's on almost every street corner and a serious…read morepastry habit I was made up when I heard that Gregg's were expanding to NI. I understand Gregg's get a lot of hate these days, it's a tough line between being an affordable brand with multiple locations and wanting to support local small bakeries but Gregg's have opened here in a location very handy to me, where there is no alternative to buy my flakey pastry goodies. On my most recent visit which was around 6pm I got chatting to one of the staff members. He politely asked if I minded if he just popped off to wash his hands before serving me(eerr, of course not!) before advising me which products had just come out of the oven, packing up my purchases well and secured my delicious donuts in a box - I do love a box for baked goods!! I'm also well chuffed that this branch opens at 6AM on weekdays. SIX AM!!!!

So at last a partial re opening here on Thursdays thru Saturdays for take - out from this small…read moreindependent and the same super service from folks who care about food. Now you don't have to be a vegan or a vegetarian to love really good fresh food with zing and flavour as well as vitamins. I mean that day fresh. I'm not a vegan nor a vegetarian but I will have vegan and vegetarian days. Or I use vegan and vegetarian food as sides with meat. So here expect none of the crap we are being fed metaphorically and physically, like the nonsense freshly frozen, or high-processed foods stuffed with sugar and cheap fat so capitalism can make even greater profits, or pre-made sandwiches from a factory that's 3/4 days old by the time you buy them with as much nutrition in the packaging. I mean how stupid do advertisers and capitalism think we are. Go here and it's mostly freshly fresh. What's not to like? I got great tasting organic coffee fair trade, shade grown, which is important for habitats and I'd say close to 5 green stars served in a biodegradable cup. Plant based milk is also optional. And if you want more information on Green Stars visit reviews by my wonderful Yelp friend James K. I got a chick pea based salad and a basil pesto one. Just delightful to eat and so darn fresh. This place is worth supporting.

By far my favourite place in Carlingford is McAteers The Food House. A gourmet deli and grocery…read moreshop up front with a beautiful cafe/ restaurant further inside. Given that we were a large party of sixteen people the service we received was exceptional on Saturday 12/08/2017. We pre-booked for an evening meal and opted for a set menu of two courses with a glass of either Prosecco, red or white wine. I had a refreshing glass of Pinot Grigio, a scrumptious bruschetta starter and a delicious spicy veggie burger with chunky chips. Superb quality, tasty food, an excellent menu with something for everyone and great value at €25 per head. The restaurant itself is relaxed, bright and spacious and I can't fault a single element of our evening there - a fantastic experience.

This fantastic little place is easy to pass by and not realise what a gem it is. At the front is a…read morefoodies dream with a selection of artisan and main stream confectionary and a beautiful deli. Tucked in a the back is an intimate and stylish eatery. I was there for a book launch featuring local artisan foods and otherwise might not have found it but wow am I glad I did!

Good food menu, lovely wine selections, and a small foodhall with an upmarket range that would put…read moremany a Dublin emporium to shame.

Well, Toasted turned out to be quite the little treat! With about a half hour to kill between the…read morepoint we had to drop our daughter off for school and then be back in time to see her play, we didn't have too many options, and as a result called in here. I've seen the sign out on the main road (which would be easy to miss) every day as it's on my commute to work and yet I've never been in. So this worked out well. What a great hidden gem, loved this place. If you're looking for it, it is opposite the attendant-less Maxol garage, down the side of the used car place. The décor has all the hallmarks of a trendy contemporary coffee shop/deli, nothing too original, but to their credit they have distilled the design to the best elements of it and then executed the layout very well, so it's a nice place to be. The staff were great too which I love as there is little to endear a place to me more quickly than nice people working there who are nice, not through customer training but because they are just good folks!! The food when was great, a wide range of mouth-watering choices are clearly displayed across the huge menu..... which is the entire back wall of the place. It has been painted in blackboard paint and the menu chalked up in big clear writing. The prices although on the higher end of average aren't extortionate by any means so I wouldn't call it cheap eats but you get top quality food and service for just north of average price. The coffee was great, which is an essential element for me and the last thing I ate was a scone..... as we were there so early, it was freshly backed and still warm from the oven......................... so so good!

Nice little find 5 mins from our vacation home. amazing baked goods, solid breakfast and proper…read morecoffee.

What is it with these shop names in Donaghadee? I nearly didn't add the category choices for this…read moreplace as I didn't want to insult your intelligence, but yes, just to verify...it is a deli / greengrocers. Most of the fruit and veg sits outside, which on this particularly wet and miserable day meant that my nectarines were ever so slightly wet (mmm, rain water) and miserable looking. Plus, the plastic bags, which already take an absolute age to open, took even longer due to their sogginess. Nice. The inside of The Deli and Greengrocer was much more sunshiny, least of all because the shop dude was super smiley and cheery. "Horrible say out there, isn't it?", says he, grinning like a Cheshire cat that quite possibly also just got that delicious bowlful of cream. "Awful, I replied", smiling purely because his geniality was *that* contagious. He didn't even mind when I handed him what seemed like an absolute ton of change. Lovely man. The layout of the shop meant that I wasn't fully able to explore the rest of it. The deli section is situated just in from the door, then there's a little slope to your right with a till, and the fruit and veg beyond that. Due to there being quite a long queue (ie. three people in front of me), I couldn't edge round them, so I just made do with my watery nectarines (don't worry, once cleaned up they tasted pretty good actually). Cheers to Mr Cheery greengrocer for making my afternoon much more exuberant.

I have recently had to do more local shopping which has opened my eyes to just what is on our own…read moredoorstep. I have walked passed this Deli and Greengrocer so many times without giving it a second glance , but as they say every cloud has a silver lining and due to being out of action for a while the local stores have come into their own. This is exactly what it's name implies - a deli and a greengrocer. The Deli counter has all kinds of cooked meat and delicious types of coleslaw and the greengrocer has all fruit and vegetables which where possible is locally sourced . Their prices are very competitive and home delivery is available. I certainly will be visiting this shop on a more regular basis as I was delighted with the cost and freshness of the initial delivery.

It's been far too long since we were here last, and we got a taste of what we've been missing…read more We only recognised one staff member, so it's all change, but he remembered us and he treated us extra special which was a class and decent touch. All the staff were charming. It's a fall-out of Wu flu that brought us here on a Christmas Eve - we met a niece and her young children in a way deemed socially distant to exchange Christmas presents. The kids menus (£6.5) are excellent, a kids drink, main and dessert with the food made on the premises. One little one opted for fish & chips and got a proper piece of freshly battered fish (in huge contrast to the rubbish I was served locally at Craft). The other little one had chicken nuggets and again it's clear these were also made on the premises, as they should be. All the adults opted for the all day brunch, which wasn't my first choice, but I went with the flow. It's essentially a breakfast fry up with chips added and a choice of tea/filter coffee £10. Everything was properly cooked and tasty. I wanted English mustard and to my horror they had none. I was offered - and declined - the oil based Dijon and its awful stuff. I had noted that they made their own sriracha hot so I opted for it and it was superb. In fact next time I go I'd choose it. The only other bummer was that the coffees were cold by the time the food was served. This place is a class act. I won't deduct points for mostly my foibles but Colman's English mustard is a necessity. Sure won't wait as long to go back.

A comprehensive menu but forget that and just order the Smokey Joe burger and if eyes are much…read morelarger than belly just double up for a burger topping over six inches in height complete with double patties, brisket, bacon and tobacco onions. Once finished you may need to remain seated fit at least 20 minutes! The kids enjoyed it too with a great choice of mains and deserts for little ones. Very reasonably priced for the quality of food.

AMAZING. This stuff was like crack, my good reviews are short and my bad reviews are long. Just…read morecome and eat this, location is kinda odd and out of the way (i even work in downtown)

Really excellent little tea/bakery/deli right on Ardee's main street! I had just missed a bus down…read moreto Drogheda so had an hour to kill and wandered into this place as it was the only sit-in place open at noon on the main street. Bright and airy and cute, large windows which allow lots of light in, and surprisingly quiet given the traffic outside. Perfect for quiet conversations or a bite for one. They have wifi if you wish but I got lost in the décor and feel of the place, not to mention the tantalizing menu descriptions! Prices are really reasonable (especially from someone living in Dublin) and I was well filled for lunch after a gourmet sandwich and a delightful Earl Grey + Blue Flower tea they offered. The staff were friendly and attentive without being overbearing, and the place is absolutely spotlessly clean but without an unpleasantly sterile feel - like your exceptionally clean mum's kitchen! Will definitely be back again if I'm able, excellent experience all around.

Okay, it's in a shopping centre but it's a great spot serving wholesome food. Always busy with…read morelocals which is a good sign. it's run by a bunch of friendly ladies providing excellent service. Trust me!

I have a bit of an issue, it would seem, of going into a shop and buying the most unlikely of…read morethings. Take Masseys, for example. A family run butchers, with a huge range of meat and meat dishes, plus a deli...and I buy some Toffee Squares. I think my whole life is generally an oxymoron... To be fair, there is a small bakery section, plus a few shelves full of chutneys, oils and sauces, so it wasn't all that strange. I think. Mr Butcher certainly appreciated this anyway, for the following conversation ensued: Jolly Butcher: Hello there! [Looks at my sister] Are you not buying something too? Me: Nope, I'm the one with the money I'm afraid. Jolly Butcher: Awk ok [Looks at the both us, back and forth, back and forth] Me: Yes, we're sisters! [Laughs and smiles at the realisation dawns on Jolly Butcher's face] Jolly Butcher: Ah yes, I thought so! I can definitely see it. Me: Really? No-one ever thinks we do. [Pays for Toffee Squares] Jolly Butcher: Awk, well you can carry those [looks at my sister, and hands her plastic bag, and then hands me my change and receipt]. Me: I like you! And we bid him farewell. Once we got home, my mum had noticed the receipt lying on the table. As soon as she picked it up, she loudly enquired as to why we had bought £20.83 worth of fillet and sirloin steak, when we had obviously purchased Toffee Squares. Laughter ensued as I guaranteed her we hadn't bought any meat whatsoever, and I had merely been given the wrong receipt. Ah, my life is a barrel of laughs...made all the funnier by certain escapades in Masseys. Excellent in every way.

Massey's for me a a place that has some really good things going for it and some not so good, but…read morethe positives tend to come out on top. Massey's is a very clean and well presented butchers. It has a wider range than most butchers as they have milk, a bread stand and they sell other home sauces and tinned goods, as well as a large stand of their pre prepared meals. That for me is the main excellent and simultaneously bad thing about this place. Their meals were a great idea, as the concept was food to go but of a better quality.Unfortunatel y they has taken things for granted and the quality of these products has slipped, which is hard to accept when they are so expensive. The whole butchers isn't cheap but it is good quality and delicious, with locally sourced meats in all the varieties you could ever want.