Our History
Betelnut Café was opened in 2002 in the Mermaid Arts centre in Bray Co. Wicklow, by husband and wife team, Paula and David Ryan.
Over the first 8 years, Betelnut became so popular that the Draiocht arts centre in Blanchardstown built a café on site and asked Betelnut to operate it. Our most recent venture is into the Civic Theatre in Tallaght where the café and bar areas have had a total refurbishment.
We are delighted to work in the backdrop of these vibrant cultural and artistic centres and feel proud to be serving the local people of Bray, Blanchardstown and Tallaght.
Our People
Paula’s love for cooking is an inherent gift that naturally presented as a young girl growing up in a busy family home. Four hungry siblings providing the perfect testing ground for Paula’s self-inspired-recipes. An innate rustic sensibility guides Paula in her kitchen so her menus are inspired in an organic manner with a flair and robust approach to food that presents as hearty and comforting plates for Betelnut’s customers.
David lends a methodical and disciplined work ethic to the team. He manages the large staff team that are a vital ingredient in Betelnut’s success. David’s passions include soup-making, good coffee and building lasting relationships with the customers who come through the doors.
Our staff have played a major role in our success and many have been with us from Betelnut’s beginnings. Our hope is that you will sense a warm welcome in the atmosphere when you visit any of our three locations. This atmosphere, built around a happy team of co-workers and a strong connection to family, friends and customers, is one of Betelnut’s strongest guiding lights.
Our Food
Over the years our menus have changed but the quality of food and customer service is still as good as it was when we first opened our doors. Betelnut’s aim is to provide delicious, wholesome artisan food at an affordable price in an urban and relaxed setting.
We source the majority of our ingredients from small local suppliers and we are proud to have working relationships with quality suppliers such as
The Firehouse Bakery
- The Bretzal Bakery
- The Little Milk Company and
- FX Buckley’s
All our milk, eggs and cheese are organic and most of our dessert baking is done in-house, with Paula’s home-made treats a staple favourite.
Betelnut prides itself on doing simple food well. We are famous for our made-from-scratch soups, our homemade jams and chutneys. Our salads are seasonal and inventive and our sandwiches are the best around! Keep an eye out for these seasonal changes and other creative additions to the menu.
Our Philosophy
Our working philosophy focuses of making our customers feel welcome and comfortable. We understand first-hand how hard it can be to get out for a coffee or lunch with a young family, elderly parents or simply to enjoy a break from work. We welcome you all, for who you are, and offer you a space to relax, unwind and enjoy a delicious meal.
Each Betelnut location is inextricably linked to the arts and to culture through the incredible centres we are based within. Attending the range of events offered in these hubs offers the chance for family and friends to be inspired by shared experiences. The Betelnut philosophy is to add an extra layer of specialness to an outing with your family or friends.