Small but bright, Oxmantown is a simple little cafe located along the Luas tracks, with two big windows and a grey exterior.
There's no dizzying menu: just five sandwiches that are written directly on the white tiled wall, plus one special, one soup, one salad, and a pot pie sometimes. But what sandwiches they are! This is the kind of place that only does a few things, but they do them superbly.
Take their ham and cheese sandwich, for example. This is no ordinary ham and cheese: it's shredded ham hock with grilled Gruyere, bechamel, roast plum tomatoes and pickled onion on toasted sourdough and is a serious contender for the best ham and cheese sandwich in Dublin. Other options are a classic Reuben (called The Ruby here), a 12-hour pulled pork sandwich served on a blaa, roast chicken and stuffing, and a three-cheese grilled cheese sandwich.
Meanwhile, the daily special might be something like roasted lamb shoulder with hummus, honey ricotta, pomegranate and toasted almonds on a soft sourdough roll or Jack McCarthy's black pudding with caramelised apple, Cashel Blue cheese, wholegrain mustard aioli and rocket, which has something of a cult following.
Sweet treats are perfect little portions, like three different kinds of madeleines or a bite-sized square of hazelnut brownie for only 75c.
Sourcing is taken seriously, which is part of the outstanding attention to detail at this friendly place. The bread is from Arun Bakery, the coffee is from Cloud Picker and various meat suppliers get name checked too, such as Ed Hick and Jack McCarthy.
Located a stone's throw from the Four Courts along the Luas tracks, Oxmantown is popular with the local legal crowd. The only seating is a counter that runs along three of the walls with stools, so be prepared to be flexible and take your food to go. These are sandwiches worth going out of your way for.
Also at 13 Smithfield Terrace.
