KC Peaches Cafe Nassau Street — Restaurant in Dublin

I've heard over the years that KC Peaches are really good for gluten free snacks and food. As I use a library close to their Dawson Street Café I tend to be in there for my breaks. I have to tell you, I didn't believe they were great with the gluten free snacks because I never saw anything in there to indicate it. Then I started talking to them.

Apparently because the kitchen isn't completely gluten free they can't label anything as gluten free. I do have a problem with this, but I also see the reasons why. There is a risk of cross contamination from the kitchen but they use a different prep area with separate utensils.

While researching I talked to them on Facebook. No harm in asking a few questions, right? So they confirmed that they do have gluten free snacks and meals but they can't label them as such because of the kitchen. They told me about the separate prep areas and utensils in the kitchen. Anyone who asks in store is always told about this. Two out of three times I went in to get the treats for the pictures below I was told. Granted the one time I wasn't told was because the girl that serves me every single day served me. She probably thought I knew already from being in there so much! The feedback is that the majority don't mind the kitchen situation because they are careful enough to have the precautions in place.

I have the habit of being embarrassed in restaurants and shops. It's like telling people something personal when you really aren't ready. This is very apparent when I frequent KC Peaches. It's normally because I take breaks at regular times. Therefore, at say, eleven there is a queue for everyone taking their break. It's a little annoying for people to be holding up the queue. Therefore, I don't do it. Also, I use the 'I'm eating healthily' way of thinking to deter myself from asking for the sweet stuff!

Lunches: There is always someone at the deli counter to ask and they are all trained to know which fillings are gluten free. Most of the soups are gluten free, but not always so its best to ask. There is also gluten free bread at the deli counter.

Pastries. Ok we all love pastries. Well, I love pastries. I spent a month in Paris and came home very sick. I miss pastries. We can have the almond financier, a chocolate & hazelnut brownie, coconut macaroon, and meringue. I really should have asked about this before now! I do have a little issue with there being no labeling and the fact that they are among all the other pastries in the displays. If there is such a big deal made about separate prep areas then bunging them among the other pastries makes the cross contamination precautions a little redundant.

One thing about KC Peaches is that the premises are very full of gluten. I can see why they stress that they can't guarantee that products made without gluten are completely gluten free. All it takes is a flick of flour somewhere, be it the kitchen or the counter. I'm not going to be deterred too much though. As a gluten free dieter we run the risk of this in every restaurant we eat in, unless they have no gluten what so ever on the premises, which is hard to do. In fact, I only know of one, which is that delightful bakery on Kevin St.

Update:

Since the publication of this review I noticed a little signage in KC Peaches...

There has quite obviously been zero training on how to assist those with mobility issues in accessing the premises, specifically the loos which are down a steep set of stairs. I use a walking stick, and have a fairly trustworthy body when it comes to stairs but with how unsteady I was today, and how steep the stairs were, I knew I'd as much of a chance of falling as I had in walking down. I looked around the entrance, and couldn't see a sign for a lift or what to do if you needed assistance in getting downstairs. I asked a couple waiting in line, but they were new customers, the baristas were very busy so tried to find something on my own. I walked down to the back but there was a staff only sign on the door back there, and again, no signs to indicate what I was to do. I asked a waiter, who didn't know, who asked a barista, who wasn't really certain. I was on my way to find a different café when the aforementioned couple made it to the head of the queue and kindly asked their barista, who also wasn't sure. Luckily who I presume to be the manger happened to walk by and she did know that there was a service lift. I'd like to note here that the only people who seemed to think that I was anything but a confusing gnat that they didn't know what to with was the kind couple and the manager. I say this not in recrimination of the individuals but as evidence of the complete lack of training, or even just advice, that they received from their employers on how to help customers like myself. The lift got me down, but I don't think it would fit both the employee needed to operate it and a wheelchair or mobility scooter user. A kitchen porter had to wait for me as I went about my business, as the lift didn't operate as a passenger lift would. There may have been a disabled toilet, but I couldn't see it and felt under an artificial time crunch so used the ladies. The stalls are so narrow and the door swings so close to the toilet that even slight, steady people likely struggle with getting in and out. There also isn't a lot of room to park a mobility aid outside of your stall. All in all, a company can't be blamed for the structure of an old building that they likely don't own, or the fact that the lift is not something that can be used without assistance from staff. What they do have responsibility for is how they train their staff and whether or not they employ anyone who'd go to the dreadful bother of typing a line or two on Word, printing it off, and sellotaping it somewhere that customers can see it. What happened today was dehumanising, discouraging, and it would embarress most anybody to be treated in such a dismissive manner. The food and interior design are pretty good, but not mind blowing, definitely not exceptional enough that I'd bother with all that hassle again. So unless you've no choice in the matter, there are plenty of comparable places in the area to patronise instead if you aren't blessed with a...

A very nice experience we had yesterday when we stopped in you coffee shop on Nassau street after we saw your window showing very tempting cakes with the mention that were home made pastries. With my husband we went in to enjoy a lemon cake, a coffee and a tea with oat milk. They were very delicious and we had a very pleasant time sitting there exchanging with one of the customers there. It was our last day in your beautiful city and before leaving and settling the bill a nice young lady told us that the bill was already paid by, she said, the lady who owns the restaurant and first came to us to take our order in English/French. We were very surprised by such a generosity from someone we did not know. We had just exchanged a few words in French and that is all we know from her gesture. We did not have any records of the place we were then, yesterday afternoon but we looked online hoping that this kind lady will see my note and it is the right place I am addressing my comment to here today. We are back home today and will definitely come back next time we visit your beautiful city, and have a full meal. The lemon cake was indeed delicious and thank you again for your generosity.

All the best to you...