My Kitchen by Sham Hanifa

A reinvention of his former Synergy Café, this is a well thought out venture by well known Euro-Toques chef Sham Hanifa of The Cottage in nearby Jamestown and, more recently, Buffalo Boy Steakhouse in Carrick town centre. Easy to spot in an elevated corner of this small retail park, the sleek dark steel frontage with its prominent My Kitchen logo above the door is visible from the road.

The metallic look continues inside, softened by terrazzo-style flooring and a painted wooden-clad central island order-cum-display/dispense counter. More than a café, it's an all day restaurant with a retail element - always with provenance in mind. As well as plenty of welcoming seating and an Asian-influenced menu giving a super healthy twist with the odd nod to comfort food, there's a selection of take away homemade treats, their own bottled condiments, even the chance to grab a bottle of wine. 

At the door it's best to head for a free seat (although a welcome sign says wait to be seated), and the staff will give you the menu to check out the offerings. There's something for every time of day, from the very early shoppers all the way through to the evening. Morning choices include Burren Smoked Salmon with Hollandaise (as in a Benedict / Royal), the energy-packed Breakfast Bap with Bacon and/ or Cumberland sausages, all from the famed pork producer Andarl Farm, in nearby Co Mayo. And there's a big nod to a different kind of healthy eating in a Super Bowl that includes sweet potatoes, poached egg, avocado, hummus, walnut bread and chickpeas ... with this kind of breakfast / brunch option on board, it's sure to be a great day ahead...

Then there are lovely crusty sandwiches (one favourite is the shredded Honey Roasted Chicken), all made to order from noon - and the daily specials are listed on the board as you enter, too. Comfort soup, as in Leek and Potato, a daily curry (say Korma Chicken with Basmati rice) and the wok gets a good shake too with a Noodle stir-fry, Vegetarian or Poultry, given a kick with soy and sweet chillies.

Enough temptations on the board, but don't overlook the menu options like a Korean Bibimbap (a bowl of rice, vegetables and meat) or a Malaysian Chicken and coconut broth. A mountainous salad of Thornhill Duck from Co Cavan (about €13) served tepid with red cabbage, orange fillets, cashew nuts and pickled cucumber makes a very satisfying meal. The little ones are given a choice - goujons, toasties or a smaller bowl of the daily stir fry / curry - and there are plenty of high chairs for the smaller ones. There's also easy disabled access to all areas, and good information on allergies.  Everything is very good value too, especially given the authenticity of the cuisine. Sham could be overseeing the kitchen personally when you visit, but this is a well oiled machine and no one needs correcting.

After ordering and paying at the central counter a numbered marker is given for your table, helping staff to serve orders promptly. And don't forget to grab a bottle of their home made Chef Sham Sauces to try with the food. They're sold from the display racks, as are a selection of honeys, preserves and My Kitchen embossed accessories. Do take time when ordering to cast an eye over the sweet treats, to enjoy with a coffee (about €2.90). The stewed apple and fresh blueberry tartlette filled with a pastry cream is a winner (about €4, for example, and staff will let you have time to enjoy the main meal first, just give them a reminder when you're ready to continue.

A culinary journey through most of Asia, giving a nod to the various styles of cooking and with a few Irish comfort dishes too, My Kitchen is greater than the sum of its parts and a destination well worth knowing about when visiting the area - and the long opening hours make it the perfect pit stop when travelling.