The Dubliner in St. Paul has expanded and is serving up a menu beyond popcorn and Heggies Pizza.

The Irish pub (2162 University Ave. W.; 651-646-5551; thedublinerpub.com) has taken over the former Bonnie’s Cafe space next door and this week unveiled a new restaurant.

While the pub and cafe spaces are now under one name called The Dubliner Pub and Cafe, they remain two separate operations divided by a wall as the owners look to secure a liquor license for the cafe.

While liquor is not on the cafe menu, food from the cafe can be ordered at both places. Eventually, the owners hope to secure a license to serve liquor at the cafe space.

The cafe serves breakfast all day as well as separate lunch and dinner menus. Look for things like omelettes and Irish cream French toast and pancakes on the breakfast menu, fish and chips and chicken fried steak for lunch and casual pub fare for dinner.

Diner food comes special touches such as red onion marmalade on toast and deviled eggs that are deep-fried. The chef is William Niemer, who runs THAT Cooking School in Lilydale.

The cafe space has been given an update, with refinished booths and stools as well as new flooring and windows. Red dining-room chairs from the former Nye’s Polonaise Room have been brought in and tabletops were designed by local artists.

“We’re kind of hunters and gatherers. We like to collect things that have stories and history behind them,” said Geri Connelly-Scanlon, who co-owns Dubliner’s with her husband, Tom Scanlon.

While Connelly-Scanlon is looking forward to the 33-year-old Dubliner’s next phase, she said it has not come without challenges. Bonnie’s Cafe had loyal customers, and the Dubliner owners have been hearing from some.

“We’ve been getting a lot of disparaging remarks. People are saying we pushed them out,” Connelly-Scanlon said. “That’s not true. The lease became available and we said yes.”