Farmer Browns, founded in 2012 by Limerick sisters, Grace and Finnuala Caffrey, celebrates 10 successful years in business with new refurbishments boasting cosy eclectic interiors, outdoor terraces perfect for summer cocktails and delicious new menus filled with comforting options in it's Bath Avenue and Rathmines restaurants.
Farmer Browns first opened its doors on Bath Avenue in 2012, a new and upcoming Tech corner of the city. It was named after one of the many farmer’s markets where they sourced their staple menu items including the black and white pudding from Inch House Tipperary which features on their best-selling dish, The Starvin Marvin. Starting out as a small cafe serving moreish homemade cakes and goods, local coffee and pots of tea in a setting similar to Granny’s living room, Farmer Browns quickly became a local favourite with comfort food enthusiasts.
The Caffrey sisters gradually expanded their offering from the farmers-style market they first ran at the weekends selling goods from small producers and farmers including fresh vegetables and jam, later branching out and creating a new weekend menu using the local produce serving up hearty brunches featuring all the classics from eggs benedict stacked on Dublin’s Bretzel bread to fresh homemade scones with all the sweet accompaniments. Ten years later, this once little tea cafe is now a multi-location casual eatery for those looking for a satisfying breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Farmer Browns, Rathmines soon followed and opened it's doors on St.Patrick’s Day 2016. Flowing out onto the hustle and bustle of the trendy urban neighbourhood this was a larger restaurant space boasting a beautiful south-facing outdoor terrace. Rathmines quickly became a firm favourite among the local clientele serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner six days a week in an eclectic casual setting. Co-Founder Grace Caffrey reflects on the past 10 years, citing their epic menu of hearty comfort food as the foundation for the growth of the business in Dublin’s ever evolving casual dining scene, “When we first began serving food at Farmer Browns we set out with a view to making customers happy with friendly and casual service and delivering high standards without being too ‘stiff." “More importantly, with an ethos of farm-to-table, we wanted to create amazing food inspired by Irish-American-Mexican cuisine using ingredients sourced from small Irish suppliers around the country.
Customer favourites include The Farmer Burger and Po-Boy, created by my sister Finnuala. She has the magic touch when it comes to creating our delicious dishes. My Mum who is also a chef has it too! As front of house, I am always so proud to serve Finnuala’s food. It’s the best part - seeing and hearing how much people enjoy their meals and homemade cakes. This is how Farmer Browns went from a little tea cafe with just 6 tables to where we are today. We’re excited to see what the next 10 years will bring for Farmer Browns!”
Growing up in a Guest House in Limerick City, great food and hospitality is embedded in both Grace and Finnula’s DNA and has always been a big part of their family. Both sisters went on to study hospitality at Shannon College of Hotel Management and took the same career path with a dream to one day open their own family restaurant in Dublin. Their Mum, Dad and brother are all chefs whom they looked up to. Thanks to their help and experience in the industry, the sisters carved out successful careers as restaurant owners in the capital. Speaking about what sets Farmer Browns apart from it's competition, Finnuala Caffrey, Co-Founder of Farmer Browns said, “We are both very involved day-to-day, still working on the floor, in the kitchen and talking to our amazing, loyal customers. Over the years, while I was working on creating new signature dishes in the kitchen, Grace became the organised one - which we thought pigs would fly before that would ever happen! She played an integral part in putting the systems in place to deliver on our recipes, team training and logistics and procedures to expand the business.
So many of our team started as customers asking if they could work here - even lawyers have left the office to join our team! We have many of the same team now as when we first opened, many of our chefs and managers all started in Bath Avenue or Rathmines and have helped us grow our team across four locations in South Dublin.”
Farmer Browns now has four locations across South Dublin including; Bath Avenue, Rathmines, Clonskeagh and Kilternan and offer a daily catering service for offices, parties and events both on and off-site. Farmer Browns Bath Avenue: Open Monday - Sunday, 10.00am - 4.00pm Farmer Browns Rathmines: Open Monday - Saturday, 10.00am - 10.00pm Sunday 10.00am - 9.00pm. Order online: www.orderfarmerbrowns.com
For updates, keep an eye on Farmer Browns Instagram
Slán go fóill.