River Lane Café

Day Time Café

In the heart of rural West Cork, something very lovely has occurred in the last twelve months. A certain lady of considerable cookery skills has made the transition from running a sell out stall in Bandon Farmer’s Market to opening her own small café. And she has made that huge leap with terrific culinary style.

Susan Fehily’s success is based on her talents in the kitchen, and her undivided attention to sourcing quality local produce. Long before River Lane Café opened, she was knocking ‘em dead in Bandon with an array of delicious quiches, health breads, salads, and dressings. Even before that, she was feeding a queue of local workers from a hot take away counter in the family shop – and if you didn’t place an order or turn up at 12.30pm there was usually little chance of finding anything left!    When she took the plunge to open the café last summer - it was the farmer’s market’s loss - but the village of Ballineen’s gain.

 River Lane Café is a find among finds – situated at the back of Fehily’s Food Store, which has been in the hands of Susan’s husband Tom’s family for many years. If you are making the journey out from the city to the West Cork coast via Bandon, on the Dunmanway road, this is the ideal stopping point to stretch the legs and feed the inner person. Bridge Street turns off the main road and leads down to a picturesque bridge over the Bandon river and Fehily’s is to be found on this little country village street – a pretty green fronted traditional shop with colourful window boxes teeming with flowers in summer. You can usually smell the Cofessa coffee from outside – and guaranteed at lunchtime there will be that queue of locals standing at the hot counter, which still exists in the shop – all eagerly waiting to grab lunch to take away. But those who have more time just make their way past this to the tiny and charming café behind. Take a table in the teal blue painted space, with its dainty flower patterned, oil-clothed tables decorated with fresh posies - and here begins a super local food experience.

In the mornings, many regulars take time out to pop in and enjoy a cuppa with one of Susan’s feathery light home baked scones, which come with preserves and cream. At lunch, her forte is her homemade quiches – Leek and Gubbeen Cheese – Garlic and Mushroom are just a couple from the extensive range of fillings, which nestle in buttery crisp homemade pastry. There’s a daily choice of four mains – always one of those famous quiches alongside a traditional carvery of Home Cooked Glazed Ham or Roast Beef from the local butcher’s shop in Ballineen village, whose meat is supplied from the family farm.   Other choices include tender local minced beef in hearty Cottage Pie, flavoursome Vegetable Lasagne, or Lamb and Apricot Casserole. Fish lovers will adore Susan’s creamy mashed potato topped fish pie irresistible – filling and substantial, packed with a selection of fresh Union Hall fish in velvety smooth parsley sauce. The dishes of the day really depend on what this instinctive cook finds fresh and appealing in the morning. Availability of ingredients dictates the menu daily. Main courses here are served with a selection of traditional hot vegetables and potatoes, or an array of salads like Cous Cous with roasted peppers, chunky Chickpea salad, organic leaves from nearby Dunmanway tossed in Susan’s gorgeous dressing, and her delightful fresh cucumber pickle. 

If you fancy something lighter, avail of a bowl of home made soup, and a doorstep sandwich filled with baked ham and salad, or a Rosscarberry Recipe BLT with rashers, free range chicken, lettuce and tomato. Enjoy a West Cork Cheese Ploughman’s with local pickles, or a Union Hall Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel here too.

For pudding, you’ll be hard pushed to choose. A dessert cabinet includes temptations like Chocolate Fudge Cake, Coffee Gateau, citrussy Lemon Tart, Strawberry Cheesecake or fresh Seasonal Fruit Meringue. In the afternoon, it’s hard not to take a fancy to the tiered bun stand full of home made cupcakes – some delicate iced in lemon, lilac and pink, and decorated with sparkly sprinkles, rich and sensuous chocolate ones with buttercream and chocolate curls, or the heady and fragrant coffee cupcakes with edible coffee beans on top. All these desserts are made here by Susan, and she also showcases pastries from Dunmanway Patisserie Richard Graham-Leigh.

An array of Cofessa coffees include Americano, Cappuccino, Latte, Macchiato, and Mocha, or take a cup of Cork’s Barry’s Tea or a herbal tea instead. Takeaway hot food available, and also salads and sandwiches too. A selection of delicatessen items also on sale, which include single estate olive oils, vinegars, Irish apple juice, French lemonades, and Irish jams, honeys, and biscuits. The cold shelves display an array of continental and Irish cheeses, local bacon, sausages, milk and free-range eggs and much more. A great place to stock up if you’re heading for self-catering accommodation on the West Cork coast.   

Contact Details

To Contact a Member Directly, please click on the email or website below

Bridge Street
Ballineen
Co Cork
+353 (0) 23 47173
Email: fehilyrobbins@eircom.net

 

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