Sandwiched between a Creole BBQ joint and a Michelin starred restaurant, Dela more than holds its own in an area of the city that is home to many of Galway's best eating places.
In the premises formerly occupied by Cava (since relocated to the city centre), Dela is owned and run by local couple Joe and Margaret Bohan who gave it a makeover and turned it into a popular Scandi-style restaurant.
The Bohans are very hands-on in Dela, Margaret is nearly always present to greet the guests herself, while the herbs, salad leaves and gorgeous edible flowers used in the kitchen are Joe's domain. The recent addition of a polytunnel in nearby Moycullen means that, from spring onwards, Dela Farm can supply the restaurant with most of its vegetables, herbs and salad needs.
The dining room is bright with clean, simple lines and wooden tables dressed with pretty pots of herbs.
Dela do dinner of course, offering a combination of sharing plates and classic bistro dishes - there is a very good wine list with some classic reds and whites, divided into new and old world for ease of choice, and the best of Irish Craft brews such as Trouble, Dungarvan, Kinsale, Tom Crean, O'Haras and Stonewell - but it is for brunch that Dela is best known.
In the early days of opening, their weekend brunch had all old the favourites along with some more unusual items, like sourdough toast with cheddar and marmalade and affogatos, bellinis and bloody marys. Now that brunch is a week long event and they also do things like buttermilk pancakes topped with smoked streaky rashers and organic maple syrup, for something more savoury, you can have eggs benedict (poached eggs with hollandaise on sourdough or brown bread served with smoked salmon or bacon), or the vegetarian herb green falafel wrap salad, sundried tomato, and tahini yogurt spread,
For those who love a sambo or wrap, there's the indulgent braised beef cheek melt with celeriac and dill remoulade, Bellingham Blue cheese and rosemary jus served on sourdough bread, that will more than fill the void, or the brunch burrito with scrambled egg, home fries and coriander & lime salsa - not forgetting the jalapenos...
They like to turn it up a notch at the weekends, with inventive specials like boiled eggs with lamb belly soldiers. Even the fry is made extra special with eggs from the farm when their own hens are laying.
Dela restaurant and farm pursues a sustainable ideal that allows this restaurant to support the local economy and community. Dela is a solid performer with a loyal band of regulars. The brunch and dinner menus offer real value for money for such quality food. Over the last few years Dela has grown to be one of Galway's best loved restaurants and a great addition to the Westend's dining district.
Another great reason to make the journey across the river.
