Don mimi

THE woman raving about Don Mimi, a new Italian deli and pizzeria in North Strand, Dublin 3, had a story about this young local girl who went in asking for pizza with sweetcorn and pineapple. The man behind the counter told her she was “in Italy now” and so he couldn’t in good conscience put either of those toppings on a pizza. The girl got an real Italian pizza, studded with sundried tomatoes instead of sweetcorn. She has been back.

Don Mimi’s lurid yellow front is reminiscent of a kebab shop; the only external hint of Italia is the Vespa parked outside. Inside it’s an authentic, if tiny, down home Italian kitchen, with space for around 20 diners, serving homemade everything you would expect: pizza, lasagne, canneloni, bruschetta, antipasti, tiramisu and panacotta. We feasted on clams with fresh linguine and sampled stunning pear cheese made by the mama of proprietor Paolo Marinuzzi on a recent visit.

Don Mimi is named for Paolo’s late grandfather Domenico who was from Naples. (Paolo’s mama is from Lombardy and his papa from Sorrento.) The prices are keen, only €3 for the bruschetta, with most of the (thin, crispy) pizzas coming in at around a tenner. A €5 foccaccia lunch special – Paolo makes the bread on site every day – includes coffee. All dishes are available for takeaway and local delivery.

“Oh, please don’t write about it, we’ll never get a table again,” said the woman with the sweetcorn story. Sorry, but this little corner of Naples in the North Strand is just too good to keep to ourselves.

Don Mimi, 148A North Strand Road, 01-8561714