You Need To Check Out This Unassuming Middle-Eastern Inspired Brunch Spot In Lahinch

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We didn’t think it was even possible at this stage – but it appears that Ireland’s coolest place, Lahinch, County Clare, has gotten even more deadly.

Adding another whopper eatery to its ranks, we got the scoop on the newest café to hit the Western seaboard.

Enter, DODI

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Not too shabby, right?

Fronted by Ennis woman, Doria Orfali, and her boyfriend, Peter – DODI is adding yet another bow to the County Clare hotspot’s fiddle by providing some really delicious Middle-Eastern inspired grub in a beautiful quaint setting.

Doria chatted to Lovin Dublin about setting up shop out west:

”It had been a clichéd dream of mine to open a cafe since I was a teenager. Last May I decided to quit my permanent recruitment job and give it a go before turning 30. I went to Ballymaloe for 3 months, did a stage in Ottolenghi in London for two weeks and worked as a chef in Galway for 8 months. When the cafe premise became available I jumped at it, I love Lahinch it’s close to my home town and the space was the perfect size for a first venture.

With the help of my boyfriend Peter, DODI opened its doors this summer on the second week of June.”

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Doria went on to explain the that, at DODI, the focus is on quality fresh ingredients and coffee.

”My late father was Lebanese and as children we visited the Middle East regularly, where I grew to love the food. Naturally, this has influenced the the menu at Dodi – with all meals made from scratch, and ingredients sourced locally.”

We are very lucky in Co. Clare to have great producers such as the Burren Smokehouse and St. Tola’s Cheese to name a few.”

One of the very few haunts to serve up Roasted Brown Coffee out west – DODI separates itself from the rest from the get-go.

Hand-made lemonade, free range eggs and leaves fresh from the garden – this place boasts more family-run charisma than your average coffee shop.

And oh, the cheese…

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Doria went on to mention the glorious reaction both she and DODI have received in the seaside town:

”We feel already that we have created something special in Lahinch and it has helped that we have had such an overwhelming reception from the town. We have already established a number of regulars who come in daily for their coffee. Indeed the response from visitors to the town has been equally as positive, with one person recently arguing that they wished ‘every town could have a cafe like this’. Lahinch is a seasonal town and we currently open Tues-Sunday 9-5.30, we are hoping to stay open all year round, and I am already excited for the winter menu.”

And for those of you wondering about the name? It was Doria’s nickname growing up. Can you cope?

DODI is located on Main Street, Lahinch (in between Pearl Garden and Daybreak) County Clare.