The shop

McCabes Deli sits on the corner of Tara Street, Dublin 2, with the DART station on the same street. It opens at 7am and shuts at 4pm, and it doesn't trade at weekends — which is the whole story of the business: it feeds the offices around Tara Street and George's Quay, breakfast then lunch, and goes home.

Sandwiches, wraps and rolls are made to order at the counter with any three salads included, and the display fridge carries a dozen named ciabattas made on the premises, alongside homemade sausage rolls and pastries. Breakfast runs until 11:30. Coffee is billed on the board as speciality, roasted in Co. Wicklow. It's a small room, and it queues at lunch — between about one and two on weekdays — though the queue moves quickly.