If you’re looking for some black pudding to go with your bronx brews, you can’t go wrong at “An Beal Bocht” at 445 W238th street.

ABB has a been a go-to of mine since being introduced to the cozy spot, and for good reason.   There’s an inviting old-school neighborhood feel, along with an authentic Irish vibe that permeates every corner.  The Imported foods that line the walls certainly help in that regard.

The food is a rich, hearty mix of Irish and Americana, and errs on a “more is more” mentality, which you won’t find me complaining about.  There are also more than a few craft beers on tap, including one by the Gun Hill Brewing Company, which I recently visited.

In fitting with the neighborhood atmosphere, the tables in the main area range in size and you may find yourself sharing table space with strangers.  The secondary space, which is often held for private parties and performances, as it was for our visit this time, has much more seating available with ample amounts of 2-4 seater tables.

This time around, we made our way there around 2pm on a Sunday.  There’s often a live Irish music session going on around that time, but things were quiet this time around, probably due to the private event being held in the second space. (EDIT:  The Irish music starts at 4, so we were a bit early.  The event in the second space was a performance of “Jack and the Beanstalk“)

From the Brunch menu, we decided on the “Vegetarian Wrap”, and the “Traditional Irish Breakfast”, albeit with some changes, opting out of the potatoes and toast in lieu of Roasted tomato and mushrooms.  They were very accommodating.

The Irish breakfast really hit the spot.   The sunny-side-up eggs (my favorite kind, you’ll come to learn) were just the right amount of runny, and the sausages had a juicy pop. The tomato was roasted perfectly, with a satisfying bite that many get wrong by cooking them too much. The rashers (Irish bacon) were a bit tough, and were my least favorite part of the dish.

My companion liked the wrap, but it quickly became soggy from the roasted vegetables.  This comes with the territory, and is partly why I’m generally not much of a fan of cooked vegetable wraps.  They can very quickly turn into a mess.  The potatoes tasted great, although I almost wish that there was a salad option.  The sausages you see here were an added side.

Both of us chose to go with the Bloody Mary over the Mimosa.  They were somehow both hearty and refreshing, with a great spicy bite and just the right amount of ice.  If you like a kick, go for the jalepeno-infused version.  You won’t regret it. Seriously.

All in all, a well spent Sunday.  I’ve done it before, I’ll do it again.

Definitely worth a visit, with some friends or a comfortable date.  You might want to check their schedule at http://www.anbealbochtcafe.com to coordinate your trip with a performance to flavor the experience.

 

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