THE PLACE: There are certainly no other Irish Soda Bread Shops that I can think of in Manhattan. Perhaps that is why Mary O’s has had a huge line since the store debuted a few months ago. In addition to having a niche product, the bread at Mary O’s has developed a massive following when Mary O’Halloran (who owned the now-closed pub Mary O’s) started making scones from her mother’s recipe during the pandemic. From beer to soda – baking soda, that is. Stepping into this narrow but deep bakery, the smells are intoxicating and the walls are charmingly stocked with specialities from the homeland. No doubt this should be the first stop on your St. Patrick’s Day crawl.
THE MENU: As the name suggests, you’ll be ordering Irish Soda Bread. You can pick up a loaf or the soda bread in scone form. That’s the extent of the menu, aside from coffees, cider, and packaged Irish chips and candies.
THE DISH: I was hoping for something great here (mostly to tie it into the Irish holiday) but I was not prepared to be so wowed by these delicacies. The Irish Soda Bread Scone is slathered with Irish Butter and Blackberry Jam. The crunchy exterior features browned bits and is layered with nutty caramelized flavor, while the interior is soft, fluffy and all buttery goodness. Think somewhere between a scone, muffin, and American biscuit. While the large amount of butter hints at overwhelming richness, the high quality blackberry jam provides a sweet foil. This scone is probably the best dish I’ve had so far this year and I’m not just saying that because it’s St. Paddy’s Day! Price: $6
| MARY O’S IRISH SODA BREAD SHOP |
| 93 1/2 East 7th Street (between First Avenue and Avenue A), East Village (212) 505-5611 |
| maryos.nyc |
