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Hours
Sun
11:00 - 17:00
Mon
8:30 - 17:00
Tue
8:30 - 17:00
Wed
8:30 - 17:00
Thu
8:30 - 17:00
Fri
8:30 - 17:00
Sat
9:00 - 17:00
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Irish, Cafe, European, Healthy, Vegetarian friendly
Is this restaurant wheelchair accessible?
Details
About
A small quaint cafe serving locally sourced fresh produce with a smile. A mix of healthy lite bites, organic produce, great coffees and home made desserts are all to be had in this character laden building which was part of the bastion of the castle.
PRICE RANGE
€0.00 – €10.00
CUISINES
Irish, Cafe, European, Healthy
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
FEATURES
Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Free Wifi, Table Service, Gift Cards Available
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4.5
263 reviews
Excellent
210
Very good
39
Average
7
Poor
3
Terrible
4
rebeccabkn
Galway72 contributions
Mar 2020 • family
I've eaten here a few times but felt I had to review after my visit today, absolutely gorgeous food. Went with my parents and boyfriend and we had some pita breads (falafel, pulled pork, chicken) which were all were really tasty and a "Spanish chickpea potato stew" which was to die for. We got coffees/tea and some flapjacks, carrot cake, and a gluten free brownie. The dirty chai latte is the best chai latte I've ever had and served in a lovely big mug. Very reasonably priced and leaves hunger satisfied but not sickly full either. All the staff are so pleasant too. My parents were so impressed and are already looking forward to coming back!
Written 1 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claire W
1 contribution
Oct 2021 • none
I can't recommend this lovely cafe enough. They obviously put great time and consideration into the menu and the quality of the food is top notch. Great veggie options too. The staff were really helpful in arranging a large order of wraps and salads for takeaway for a group of us and everyone was raving about the food afterwards. Definitely pop in if you're in Athlone!
Written 28 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristine B
Orlando272 contributions
Mar 2020 • solo
This little cafe was just across the street from my B&B and was the perfect place for breakfast. They have gluten free bread, which fantastic for me (being celiac). I had a cappuccino and the poached eggs on gluten free bread with pesto. The meal comes with a salad on the plate as well, which makes the plate look beautiful but I could only manage a few bites of it. The eggs were perfectly poached (I judge restaurants harshly on whether they can properly poach an egg) and the egg-bread-pesto combination was delightful. I enjoyed my breakfast so much that I went back the next morning and got the exact same thing again. Service was efficient and pleasant and I would definitely return.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D_M
Bern4 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
Bastion Kitchen used to be a very attractive option when it came to eating out in Athlone. For around 2 years, I had been eating here a few times per month. However, I have stopped coming here as the customer service and food quality have both been consistently declining. This is a shame, as I used to hold this place in very high regard.
This is the summary of my last visit (Spring 2020):
I came here to eat lunch with my partner on a Saturday afternoon. The cafe was quiet and there were 3 members of staff visible. I ordered the 'Falafel and Beetroot Hummus Salad', which costs €11.00 - quite expensive, but I used to happily pay for the quality. When the food was brought over to our table, the server forgot the peppers, beetroot, hummus and pitta from my order. These items are all part of the salad, as standard. I had not requested them as additions.
When I first received the plate of food, I noticed that a few items had been missing so I took it back to the counter. I did not specifically call out every single item that was missing (so as not to come across as pedantic), but kindly asked if the server would put the missing items on the plate. The server was apologetic and added some items to the plate. I thanked her and brought it back over to the table. I then had to go back to the counter a second time to ask for the rest of the missing items.
I felt annoyed that I had to go up and ask twice for the missing food.
When I finally sat down to eat the lunch, the quality of the food was underwhelming. The salad looked thrown together with a disproportionately large amount of beetroot as compared with the 3 or 4 salad leaves. The falafels tasted dry and were squashed from the toasting grill and the pitta had not been fully heated. At this stage, I had spent enough time running up to the counter that I did not feel compelled to go up again.
Bastion Kitchen, please take this review as constructive criticism from a once loyal customer. This cafe used to have a very high standard and friendly staff.
Pros: location, good coffee and atmosphere
Cons: Food quality has gone downhill, staff are not very friendly
Written 17 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael C
County Londonderry20 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
Not clean. My wife had red pepper and tomato soup said it was ok. I had chicken pitta was awful the chicken was that cheap processed stuff & salad just cheap old salad. So tight and squashed in you got banged into anytime anyone moved. Staff friendly but no system and seemed like was there first day open.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
write2ann2004
Hi Michael, just getting back to your review, our cafe was busy when you were we presume, so in busy periods while staff are attending to yourself or other customers they place can get untidy while we clear. But the place is always cleaned. Our Pita Breads are organic, salad leaves are from local producers in the Midlands, our list of suppliers are listed on our menu so that our customers know where their food comes from. We take alot of time and resources into sourcing good produce, and are very proud of that. The food is of a very high standard, we source local fresh ingredients and our chicken pita gets excellent feedback and is one of the most popular pitas on the menu. As for the space.. it's a small space fair enough but as for people bumping into you... were you seated at a table or in the middle of the floor...
Thanks for your review.
Written 12 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Foodie86
Limerick46 contributions
Sept 2022 • couples
Stopped here for lunch based on an internet recommendation. We got food to go but it was so tasty and such good value that it deserves a 5 star review. Pulled pork wrap with pumpkin and sweet potato soup, unbelievably good!
Written 7 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bryan G
Port-au-Prince72 contributions
Sept 2023 • family
In my recent visit to this quaint coffee shop in Athlone, I couldn't help but appreciate the delicious food they served.
The power pancakes were on point, the fruit was fresh and the presentation was pleasing to the eye. It's clear that they put thought and effort into their menu.
However, I must admit that I found the overall experience a tad overrated, given some of the glowing reviews I had seen. While the food was indeed good, I didn't find it to be an exceptional standout in comparison to similar places I've visited.
The ambiance and decor of the coffee shop are undeniably charming, and the staff were friendly and attentive, which added to the overall positive experience.
It's important to remember that taste is subjective, and while I may not have had a mind-blowing experience, others might.
So, while I do recommend trying this spot for yourself, just be prepared for the possibility that it might not fully live up to the hype that some reviewers have bestowed upon it.
Written 7 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aideen R
1 contribution
Sept 2024 • family
I visited today with my young daughter. My sister and her son were joining us. My sister saw online that the restaurant was closing at 3 so she called ahead to ask if it would be OK to arrive at 2.45. The lady assured her that, as long as we arrived before 3, we would be served. As soon as I picked up a menu, Male staff member number 1 asked if I was ready to order. He then informed me that he and his colleagues would be cleaning up while we ate. I told him that I would need a minute to decide on our order. After a minute I went to the desk to order and a very grumpy looking Male staff member number 2 suggested that we eat out of takeaway boxes. I must have looked taken aback as he then snapped "Okay, plates then!" The 2 sandwiches were very tasty (as was to be expected at €25!). My 7 year old daughter couldn't eat fast enough so we asked for a takeaway box after all! The 2 ladies behind us also felt the tension and so decided to leave and get a takeaway coffee on the way out. They were informed that the coffee machine was done for the day. Everyone left disappointed.
Written 15 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EatDrinkBeHappy
Dublin77 contributions
Jul 2024 • friends
Quirky place with character but very unpleasant lunch. Waiter was rude, coffee was weak and unpleasant and falafel lacked flavour. Disappointing, as its difficult to come by restaurants that serve healthy food.
Written 5 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine J
Oxford26 contributions
May 2024 • couples
Cosy little cafe close to the Castle, serving fresh homemade food. We had the soup of the day, which came beautifully presented with warm sour dough bread. The portions were generous - just what we needed for lunch. It's also a little wholefood shop, and does takeout salads for when you're on the run.
Written 17 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jamilia G
Athlone1 contribution
Jul 2023 • friends
I’ve went a few times to this place. It offers very nice wholesome food and has a great menu with a lot of options to choose from. The owner of the establishment is a lovely lady, however, there is a very rude worker who has a very bad manner towards customers and she has a very unfriendly face. She can’t seem to cope during busy times and is therefore dismissive of customers. If she is reads this review, she knows exactly who she is. It is a shame because the other workers are lovely.
Written 5 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Juliet
76 contributions
May 2024 • couples
I didn’t realise avocado in toast could be made to taste this special. All the thoughtful touches that made it both filling and delicious. My partner had the falafel and hummus on the side and the falafel was moist and tasty and the hummus smooth and well balanced flavours.
We also had the lemon cake and a cacao and hazelnut protein ball which was delightful.
Written 15 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vivian C
Bray42 contributions
Jul 2024 • solo
This is not my first time in Bastion Kitchen because the food is absolutely fabulous. The food is so fresh that it feels like they are harvesting it in the kitchen. The flavours are simply delicious.
The staff are so pleasant and helpful... Even the owner serves you.
I can not find fault with Bastion Kitchen.
Written 12 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joanne M
6 contributions
May 2023 • couples
Lovely menu that offers a great range of high quality food. Portions were good, food was very tasty with good variety. Nice selection of "healthy" treats too. The staff were very friendly too. I would most definitely recommend for lunch and will go again if ever in Athlone.
Written 22 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennifer R
Dublin16 contributions
Jul 2022 • family
We stopped at the Bastion Kitchen for lunch en route from Dublin to Connemara. This cafe has a winning combination of beautiful food and warm friendly service. Despite the lunch rush, the ladies there were so welcoming and patient, which was needed for the little person with us :) We’ll definitely be back to this little gem!
Written 30 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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