With its cheerful blue and red paintwork and wide windows, Rogue & Co is a welcoming presence on the main street of Roscommon Town.
It's owned by brothers Rikki and James O’Gara, who have a family background in the hospitality industry and knew that what they wanted was a unique café without that generic look. And what they have achieved is a cool and quirky place, where the décor wouldn’t feel out of place in London or New York. Lots of purple and grey, bookshelves, well-spaced bare topped wooden tables, jam jar flowers, Scandi chic crockery and silverware, paper napkins, music just right. It is now firmly established as a consistently good café on the main drag. And, with prompt and friendly service too, it's a place that puts a smile on people's faces.
Menus are brought and specials explained right away (good to know that local ingredients are used, although name checking suppliers would be even better) and there's a 'proper food' children’s menu too – with panko fish fingers and
The day begins early at Rogue and Co and it's a great spot for breakfast - the menu is very appealing and on trend with organic porridge, granola sundae, poached eggs and smashed avocado on sourdough offered, alongside the Full Irish and popular egg dishes like Eggs Benedict, pancakes and omelettes.
At lunch time a lively menu offers a variety of salads, soup and sandwiches; it's well described and the skill is in the ingredients chosen. Fish tacos might be paired with sriracha mayo, leaves, pickled slaw and toasted nuts - how good is that?
Delicious homemade soups are appealingly served in grey pottery bowls with sourdough bread on matching plates. Everything is cooked to order, be it Smokey Bean Goulash with Crumbled Feta or a Loin of Bacon and Blue Cheese Flatbread. There's a small, well-chosen wine list (moderately priced and also available by the glass), also beers and cider.
And the main USP of this bright and stylish restaurant is that it offers real casual dining - you eat and drink very well in a place that is welcoming and comforting and beautiful. It is worlds away from the disappointing provincial offerings that are still all too common. They like to bake. The Tunisian Orange Cake is highly-recommended. This, plus terrific service, an efficient in-out one-way system, daily specials and excellent value for money, make Rogue & Co a great daytime find for visitors to the area.
