OK, long shot here but...

Silvio.Dante

Does anyone remember a café/restaurant that was on Grafton Street called Johnathan's back in the late 70's..?

It was located near Burgerland, opposite Switzers or thereabouts.

It always seemed exotic to my 6yr old eyes and the pancakes they did were sublime...:)

admiralofthefleet

i remember jonathans in the ilac, a kind of upstairs place. i think there may have been one in the irish life as well

Miguel_Sanchez

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

i remember jonathans in the ilac, a kind of upstairs place. i think there may have been one in the irish life as well

Was that the place that used to do sundaes with sparklers in them? I thought they were amazing.

My aunt used to bring me there when I was a kid in the mid-80's.

Silvio.Dante

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

i remember jonathans in the ilac, a kind of upstairs place. i think there may have been one in the irish life as well

Yes, I'd forgotton that.

There probably was a connection as the Ilac was opened in the early 80's. However I don't think the Jonathans on Grafton Street was still open then...

Mr Simpson

Aww I remember Johnathans in the Ilac, what a place. Their ice cream floats were awesome

ProudDUB

Wow. I remember the one in the ILAC Center. T'was fablis ! Back in the mid 80's, my sister was brought there on her 18th birthday by the parental units. It was just that fancy. Imagine telling an 18 year old these days that you are taking them out for ice cream for her birthday. You'd be laughed out of it ! :rolleyes:

Wishbone Ash

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

It was located near Burgerland

There was one beside Burgerland in O'Connell Street.

[Jackass]

Jeez, O'Connell Street looks well in that photo! Nice pavings and shop fronts... Shame for all the neglect and tack that crept in over the years.

So what happened to this Jonathans in the end? Sounds like a cool place. Never heard of it.

Miss Lockhart

I remember the place in the Ilac as being The Soda Fountain - half way up the stairs to the library. They did fabulous ice-cream floats.

I remember Jonathon's in the Ilac as being an upstairs coffee shop, but I don't remember any ice-cream sodas.

admiralofthefleet

im going to do a little digging and report back, a collegue of mine ran the old hotpot cafe on the quays beside bermingham cameras back in the day so he may have info.
its hard to get him sober on a sat night though so ill ring him tomorrow and try get some info for you op

robjones1981

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

There was one beside Burgerland in O'Connell Street.

That signage and font etc is def the same as the one that was in the Ilac

GerardKeating

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

Does anyone remember a café/restaurant that was on Grafton Street called Johnathan's back in the late 70's..?

It was located near Burgerland, opposite Switzers or thereabouts.

It always seemed exotic to my 6yr old eyes and the pancakes they did were sublime...:)

Burgerland were never on Grafton Street, The Dublin branches were Baggot Street, PowersCourt Town House Centre and O'Connell Street.

Silvio.Dante

GerardKeating wrote: »

Burgerland were never on Grafton Street, The Dublin branches were Baggot Street, PowersCourt Town House Centre and O'Connell Street.

Must be King Burger then..?

Miguel_Sanchez

Miss Lockhart wrote: »

I remember the place in the Ilac as being The Soda Fountain - half way up the stairs to the library. They did fabulous ice-cream floats.

That's the one I'm thinking of.

Fond memories of being taken there. I think we went after seeing Tron in the cinema once.

GerardKeating

Silvio.Dante wrote: »

Must be King Burger then..?

BurgerKing were (still are) at the Top of Grafton Street,

King Burger were in ILAC, Talbot Street and maybe O'Connell Street.

Wishbone Ash

EDIT - brain not switched on!

robjones1981

GerardKeating wrote: »

BurgerKing were (still are) at the Top of Grafton Street,

King Burger were in ILAC, Talbot Street and maybe O'Connell Street.

Ah King Burger - remember them well - used to be in ILAC were McDonalds are now

Janey_Mac

The cafe upstairs in the Ilac- was there an animatronic scarecrow eating a carrot?

Silvio.Dante

If I remember correctly the McDonalds on Grafton Street was the first one in Dublin and probably the country.

Does anyone remember the wall sized photographs of Chinese people eating in their McDonalds restaurants? It was very exotic to my 6/7yr old eyes...:D