Naturally Nourished settling in well at North Point

 Naturally Nourished settling in well at North Point

Called out to North Point on the Mallow Road for lunch last week. This is the third outlet for Naturally Nourished who are already well-established in Mahon at City Gate and also in Penrose Dock. They were open for about a week when I dropped in and there was a steady stream of customers coming and going. Aside from sit-down meals, they also offer a takeout service and I managed to draw from both before the day was out.

Like their other premises, this one is bright and airy (after a ten-day revamp), lots of white paint used inside, to complement the light already coming through the existing "walls" of glass here. The menu boards (also white) are large and easily seen above the counters though the menu is not (yet) as expansive as that in Penrose Dock. If you know the place, you'll know that Lemon Pepper were the most recent occupiers and that Perry Street were also based here.

A blackboard on the ground just inside the door was dedicated to the specials and the main feature was a Katsu Curry; free-range breaded chicken, house Katsu Sauce, white basmati rice, Spring onion, sesame seeds, pickled onion, pickled Carrot (veggie option also available). The Soup of the Day was Leek and Potato with their own (excellent) stout bread.

Naturally Nourished are noted for their Warm Bowls and they were also tempting but we went for two dishes from the salad selection, each at €10.50. CL had missed out on their Goats Cheese in Penrose recently so she made up for it here with slightly "flamed" Chevre, mixed leaves, chopped beetroot, chopped dates, pink lady apple, lemon and bulgar wheat, roasted hazelnuts, honey and balsamic dressing. It was top-class!

My pick in North Point was the Buffalo Chicken Salad. This is made with free-range crispy breaded chicken, cos lettuce, spiced chickpeas, red onion, hot sauce and Cashel Blue cheese ranch. Another superb salad, every element playing a tasty part and I loved every bit from the crispy lettuce to the delicious chicken, not to mention the hot bits! I'm not surprised that it is the most popular salad on the menu! See more (a short in-house video) on it here.

Depending on your branch, you may get slightly different versions of a particular dish. Besides, since variety is the spice of life, they regularly make little or big changes.

I was looking at the display of sandwiches as we made our way out and said to myself that one would come in handy later in the day! I must have been inspired as it was one of the best sandwiches ever. My baguette (well, a half) was rammed with amazing spiced beef, mature cheddar, a delicious crunchy coleslaw, fresh leaves and a marvellous mustard mayo. What a flavoursome feed for €7.50 approximately (can't remember the exact price!).

The North Point café is open Monday to Friday 8am-3:30pm, serving breakfast till 11am and lunch till 2.30pm. Free on-site parking. Service here is excellent, friendly and helpful, just as we found it in Penrose a few weeks back.

Good Food and Superb Service at Naturally Nourished Lunch. And they open in North Point in March!

Good Food and Superb Service 

at Naturally Nourished Lunch.

And they open in North Point in March!*

The first thing we noticed when we walked in the front door of Naturally Nourished in Penrose Dock was the queue. They come for lunch early here. It was noon. But no worries. The line moves quickly. There are menu boards, one black (standing on the floor as you enter), and the others (over the counter) are white.  Quite a few of the customers know exactly what they want and order accordingly. You pay, get a numbered block (small) and find a table.

We had chosen a few dishes from the online offering but what we didn't realise until we visited last week was that some (the Goats Cheese Salad, the Buffalo Chicken Salad, and the Beef Fillet Stiryfry, for example) would not be available until 12.30. Regulars will of course know that! So we gave in our (rethought) order and paid the cheerful person at the til.

We were hardly seated when our food arrived. Thanks to a whole lot of preparation and an efficient system and staff, there is no delay worth talking about and so that line you see on arrival moves along quickly. It is a spacious restaurant, bright and airy, comfortable too and well worth a visit. They also have an outlet in City Gate at Mahon and a third is due to open in March*.

There is quite a choice here including soups, salad bowls, curries, specials and sandwiches. Grab a sandwich if you are in a rush or maybe a bag of crisps and a bottle of Kombucha from their mini-deli. Cutlery is already on the table, and if you want water, just get yourself a jug from a central stand.

One of us decided to go for the Roast Root Vegetable soup but needed help from the other - a second spoon was called for and arrived in no time at all. It was a generous serving (€5.00) and came with a slice of toothsome brown bread.

In addition to the salads already mentioned, you can pick from Asian Noodle, Budda Bowl and Protein Punch Salad. Sandwich choices include Reuben Spiced Baguette, Chicken Tikka Baguette, Ham, Slaw and Cheese, and a Chimichurri Ciabatta.

Curries, salads and sandwiches can all vary a little from day to day (email for details). My main dish was the Satay Bowl of warm roast chicken, roast broccoli, the peanut Satay sauce, and spinach, a top-quality dish and excellent value at €10.50.

Satay

CL also went Asian and enjoyed her Mild Indian Curry with onion, chickpeas and basmati rice served with warm marinated chicken (also €10.50). Soon two very contented customers headed out, well fed on a cold day!

There are also some very tempting dishes on the breakfast menu. For more info, be sure to check their website here. Reservations are taken for tables over 6 only;  for smaller tables, it is walk-in only and as the tables turn quickly you should have no problem getting a seat. To make a reservation please call Penrose Dock 0214551173 or City Gate, Mahon 0858564641.

Could do better? Dishes are not designated as vegetarian or vegan or gluten-free - I know some are self-evident. Also, there is no fish/seafood option.

You'll find Naturally Nourished here from March. Perry Street operated here for quite a while and, more recently, Lemon Pepper were the occupants

* Their third restaurant will be in the North Point Business Park, just off the Commons Road. They made the announcement on social media last Saturday: "It features the brightest airiest interior and we can joyfully say the biggest kitchen we've had to date 🥹🤩 🙌 so expect a lot more exciting new warm bowls, different special hot sandwich options daily and salads that are absolutely bussin'!! 😏 See you March 11th North Side!"