It’s a lazy Sunday morning. Maybe you are spending some quality time with the family, or maybe last night was amazing but this morning…not so much. Your stomach starts to growl and you’re thinking breakfast. “There are many options,” says O’Blarney’s Irish Pub’s managing partner Mike Heelan. “The problem is, so many places are…well…meh. I love going out to breakfast, but it’s so often a disappointment. I’m actually kind of a big fan of ‘dives,’” Heelan explains. “I like a place to have a little character, but what’s really essential is if they care about quality. You can tell right away if they do.”
So…about this breakfast predicament.
Flash back four years ago to “Bailey’s Motor Inn.” Bailey’s was about to close its doors for good despite being packed every morning. “It just so happens there was this great group of guys who love to work on cars, who were regulars there,” Heelan recalls. “One of them reached out to me and asked me if I would consider opening for breakfast. They were very particular about what they were looking for, too. They wanted a good value, nothing fancy and they definitely didn’t want to pay too much for coffee. I liked them immediately. We had no experience serving breakfast at O’Blarney’s, but I could tell we were a good fit so I sad said yes.”
With a great space and a fully equipped kitchen Heelan now needed a staff who really knew what they were doing. He went to Bailey’s for breakfast and was thoroughly impressed with their two servers, Ginger and Marilyn. “One of the smartest things I’ve done in this business was offer those two jobs,” Heelan says laughing. In all honesty, he credits them both with being instrumental in getting his breakfast business up and running.
Fast forward a few years to today. Marilyn still serves breakfast at O’Blarney’s while Ginger has moved on. However, Mike assures me that Stacy, his newest server is right on par. “I’m so fortunate. The people I work with care about me, they care about the business and they care about each other,” Heelan says. “I think more than most places, the people here in this pub are extremely invested in our success. Whatever the formula, at 2.3 million dollars in sales last year our little O’Blarney’s is in the top 10 percent in sales of all restaurants nationwide.”
If you come out to try O’Blarney’s for breakfast, Heelan is especially proud of his eggs benedict, but with other classic favorites like biscuits and gravy, chicken fried steak, and a great selection of omelets, there’s plenty to keep those traditional breakfast eaters happy. Yet, if you are feeling more adventurous, dive into a plate of bangers and hash, a Monte Cristo or try the quiche of the day. And don’t forget a spicy homemade Bloody Mary to wash everything down, although the BIG one is more like a meal in itself.
O’Blarney’s breakfast business has doubled over the past four years and he’s always happy to see more new faces. “We have some regulars that come in five or even seven days a week, but we always have room for more.” Just remember O’Blarney’s is a sports bar, so during football season expect the entire place to fill up rather quickly and people to stay longer. No matter how busy they may sometimes get, Mike is focused on quality. “When customers get their breakfast, it has to be good,” he says. “It can’t sit in the window. It’s got to be hot and it’s got to taste great.”
Lucky for O’Blarney’s, Heelan’s guests seem to be extremely happy with the breakfasts he’s bringing to the table. Pulling out his phone, he shows me an app that alerts him when a customer posts a review. He scrolls through to the comments. “It’s all positive feedback, four and five stars mostly. That makes me very proud of what we do. In this business, word of mouth is the most important thing by far,” he says.
Having worked in the restaurant industry myself for many years, I know how important it is to get someone’s breakfast right the first time. It’s not only the start of their day, but also sets the stage for how the rest of it will go. Hellan knows this. “We work hard here and we want to be the very best that we can be,” he says.
O’Blarney’s Irish Pub is open for breakfast Monday through Saturday 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and on Sundays from 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
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