I’ve been following Eire Cafe on Instagram for many months now. It was only a few days ago that they posted a picture of a pie and boasted how good it was. I just happened to be in the area today and thought I’d pop in and put them to the test.

Funnily enough, when it came to finding the name of the place, I kept on thinking this was the “Eerie Cafe” and was surprised there was no mention of it online. I then subsequently realised it was a cafe with a unique Gaelic name which means “Ireland”. The head chef and co-owner is Irish and hence the name.

Run by a friendly and down to earth husband and wife team, Eire Cafe has a small breakfast and lunch menu which changes seasonally based on available produce. Many of the food offerings seem fairly standard, although there is a Mediterranean influence on some of the lunch items, and I’m told that the savoury and sweet products behind the counter are classic Irish fare.

The decor is simple and well presented. Made up of a combination of normal seating and communal tables, this cafe seats 30 inside and further 10 outside. The space is well designed as it maximises the amount of natural light that flows through it’s wide frontage, giving this place a cosy and relaxed vibe.

For lunch, I ordered a Lamb and Rosemary Pie with a side of Chomp Potato. The dish arrived at my table 5 minutes after ordering and was beautifully presented with a serving of green salad and a small bowl of tomato sauce.

The pie filling contained succulent lean tender morsels of marinated lamb in a thick rich gravy. The pastry was light and airy with a flaky crumbly texture. This pie was incredibly tasty and one of the best I’ve had.

The Chomp Potato is basically mashed potato mixed with onion and bacon bits. I thought it complemented the pie well.

For a drink, I had the Hot Chocolate. It’s not the 70% cocoa solids you get at specialist dessert places but it was still well executed.

Everybody that worked here was so warm and welcoming. The staff actually looked like they enjoyed their jobs, while the owners were obviously passionate about what they do. The service was excellent. Drinks arrived promptly and plates were cleared as I finished, all with a friendly smile.

The atmosphere was relaxed, even with the busy lunchtime crowd. The cost of the pie was $6, which was fair considering the quality of the ingredients and the fact it was amazing. Everything else seems to be reasonably priced, although some of their larger meals approach the $20 mark, which is typical of cafe prices.

The great thing about this place is that all their food is freshly made using locally sourced ingredients and contain no additives or preservatives. Combined with wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and excellent customer service, it’s no wonder this place won an award last year. This place is simply a hidden gem in the suburbs and well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Eire Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch everyday, as well as Friday nights where they have a live band. They also do the odd wine tasting and cooking demonstration, which is rather unique for a cafe.

WHERE: 98 Springbank Rd, Clapham