What’s on offer?
Brothers Ronan and Eugene Greaney opened The Dough Bros in 2013. It was a career change for the Greaneys; Eugene had been made redundant from his job in a bank and Ronan had just graduated from college. Ronan went to Naples to train as a pizza chef. Their approach combines thin-base Neapolitan-style pizza with Irish artisan toppings such as The Wooded Pig pepperoni, Gubbeen chorizo, Toonsbridge mozzarella and Ballymakenny potatoes.
Using Caputo 00 flour, they allow their dough to ferment for 72 hours, a process that enhances its flavour and texture, before baking it at 500 degrees in custom Italian wood-fired ovens powered by 100 per cent beechwood biomass briquettes.
The Greaneys started with a food truck at Galway food markets, before opening a permanent restaurant on Middle Street. The food truck is now in a separate location, in the beer garden of O’Connell’s pub on Eyre Square. The seasonal menu includes highlights like summer clam pie with Linanne’s clams from Co Clare, alongside core dishes such as The Stinger, The Hail Caesar, and Hey Pesto.
During Covid, they launched a DIY pizza kit, which has since become a nationwide success, with weekly home deliveries.
Hera restaurant review: A new gastropub on Dublin’s north side, without the usual cliches
Press Up’s Kaldero: A dining experience that feels more like being fed by an accountant than a chef
Tang restaurant review: Delicious food, charming service, keen prices ... this is in a league of its own
Our restaurant reviewer’s top takeaway picks of 2024
What did we order?
A Pepp Guardi-Jala, curry cheese pizza and wild garlic mayo.
How was the service?
Dough Bros is very popular, so it is likely you will have to queue to order, particularly at lunchtime. It is well managed. You order and pay at the counter and are given a table if you want to eat in.
Was the food nice?
Yes, this is very good pizza. The Pepp Guardi-Jala is a Margarita with the addition of delicious pepperoni from The Wooded Pig and candied pepperoni, which works extremely well, bringing heat and a touch of sweetness. The curry cheese pizza is topped with thinly sliced Ballymakenny Yukon potatoes, red onion, Coolattin cheddar and dotted with dabs of curry sauce. It is tasty and inventive. The bases on both pizzas were perfectly blistered and packed with flavour.
What about the packaging?
The takeaway pizza boxes are recyclable and they are in the process of getting a compostable alternative. Pots for dips and napkins are compostable.
What did it cost?
It was €34 for lunch for two people: Pepp Guardi-Jala, €16.50; curry cheese pizza, €15.50; and wild garlic mayo, €2. This month, to mark dry January, Dough Bros has collaborated with Lucky Saint alcohol-free beer to deliver on Fridays a Limited Edition Pizza Kit nationwide — including bases and toppings for four pizzas and two cans of Lucky Saint lager for €49.99, including delivery.
Where does it deliver?
Eat-in or takeaway available from the counter. Middle Street: Mon-Wed, 12pm-9.30pm; Thur-Sat, 12pm-10pm; and Sun, 12pm-9.30pm. O’Connell’s, Wed-Thur, 5pm-10pm; and Fri-Sun 3pm-10pm. DIY Pizza Kits delivered nationwide. thedoughbros.ie
Would I order it again?
Yes, this is excellent pizza with inventive toppings.