John Campbell’s Irish Bakery

I love this place. I am a scone snob. I am the grandson of Scottish immigrants from Aberdeen and Glasgow. The scones here are mostly traditional. They have raisin scones, blueberry scones, shortbread cookies (My Grandma would never put chocolate chips in her scones!) and an assortment of Irish soda breads that are always fresh and delicious.
The staff are always friendly and helpful, the prices are reasonable and fair. This place really worth the visit.
Signed,
Adam, cranky hard to please customer!

SO AMAZING.
Went here for the living social $ 1 for $ 6 worth of pastries promotion. I got out of there with two foccacia breads with sausage and ham, and a bottle of water all for exactly $ 6 with no tax. And the foccacia was bomb. Seriously. I can still taste it. So yummy. I will definitely be back to that bakery. SUPERBOMB.

Really?! I tried the apple tart and was shocked at the flavorful sensation in my mouth! The pastries are delicious! I now have to go back and try all of the many different varieties.
I don’t even like dessert! These tarts have made me turn, stunned and truly a believer that you’ll think the same thing!

Yum! Their pastries are tasty, and so are their breads. Perhaps I’m just cheap, but $ 6+ for a not-​large-​at-​all loaf of bread is a bit steep, in my opinion. So that’s why I am docking a star.
I highly recommend the scones. And I am normally not a huge scone fan.

(Note: I went to the location on Geary between 20^th and 21^st Avenue.)
This place is AMAZING. Small, but a real gem. The Antrim griddle bread was fantastic and I want the recipe but I doubt they’ll be sharing it! Really nice girl working there as well.
Some of their stuff isn’t cheap, but it’s worth every penny. This is the kind of place you really want in your neighborhood and I hope they stick around a while!

I stopped by here based up the recommendations of friends. I was delighted with what I saw as everything looked fresh and tasty. However, my experience was another matter.
I was happy to have the time to look around while waiting for the only other customer to pay. When that transaction was completed I stood in front of the display case to tell the person behind the counter my order. Well I waited and waited while she turned her back to me and proceeded to cut up scones for samples. She even turned at one point to place the items on the plate right in front of me, but turned back around to continue with her task. At no point did she address me or acknowledge my presence. After a minute or two, she finally spoke to me. I told her that I wanted something from the display case and had two other items that I wished to purchase. As she rang up the items she mumbled one price and entered another into the register. I gave her a quizzical look as I thought the prices were odd for my selections (one of the numbers did not correlate to any of my selections) but still paid for the items. A receipt was no where to be found. When I returned home a review of this site and the business’ website confirmed that I was overcharged $ 2.75 for my three items. She had mentioned that business was slow but I wasn’t aware that I was required to make a donation along with my order! I don’t know if this is a normal business practice of theirs but I am upset that this occurred. My friends haven’t encountered this issue on their visits but then again, they don’t patronize this location.
The baked goods are okay, which is why there is 1 star for this review. However, the service I received was deplorable and should not be tolerated by the owners.

1 star for their courage and looking pretty from outside… but really folks, lack of good tea, warming up soggy pastries to begin with in the microwave to be more soggy is a put of off in itself.
Whatever I have tasted in the meat pies didn’t make much sense. It’s cold inside the place, dark, perhaps saving in bills… all around place has no passion. Bummer… sorry John,

I am stingy with the five-​star reviews, but this bakery is, well, let’s just say that as I write, three co-​workers in my office are in various states of food orgasm over the cherry-​chocolate bread.
In addition to the aforementioned magnificence which is full of huge chocolate chunks and soft cherries without being at all cloying, John Campbell’s also hits the high mark for other awesome rustic breads such as whole wheat (which has an amazing cornmeal-​like texture), and traditional Irish soda bread.
The pan bread is delicious and chewy, reminiscient of Indian fry bread, and the foccacias are also amazing. Plus, they’re open until 8:00 PM and are extremely nice.
Please note that they are cash only, and are in constant need of small bills and quarters.
I’m delighted to have this business in my neighborhood and hope it succeeds in this location.

First, I have eaten at this location and the Geary location many times before and have always been blown away by the food. I feel the need to write this in hopes that the owner reads it and gets this locations act together. My wife came home with a Beef pasty and some sort of puff pastry with sausage filling (larger than a sausage roll). I heated everything up in the oven and sat down to feast. The Pasty was near flavorless, with almost no «gravy» inside. I call it gravy, but it is just the normally flavor filled juice surrounding the ground beef and veggies. The sausage pastry was just sort of ‘meh’ as well. The pastry for both was superb, very flaky and crunchy, but the meat was just lacking.
Lastly, the meat was super greasy. Like I said, I’ve eaten from here MANY times before and I know this isn’t supposed to be a healthy meal option and I have no problem with a fair amount of grease. This was beyond the pale though and I think the grease was the main contributor to my dissatisfaction. The food just tasted like grease and fat, instead of the norm which should be well seasoned and thought out pub food.
Please fix the problem because I really do love your food!

Seriously a random fine…
Had never really been in an Irish Bakery so we weren’t sure what to expect. Was looking for a snack on our way to the movies (yes we were going to sneak food into the theaters)
The lady behind the counter suggested the sausage roll, so we each got one + a veggie roll. (it was so yummy — flaky with all kinds of wonderful flavor) The veggie roll was also super tasty.
So we came back after and got the pot pie for dinner — super tasty as well.
They have all kinds of sweet pastries, from cheese puffs, to sausage rolls, and pot pies and a whole lot more yumminess.
See you soon Irish Bakery — probably not good for my little feminine figure but, oh well :)

I was just now treated to a delicious slice of focaccia bread by one of my coworkers. All I can say is Wow!
I have been to John Campbell’s Irish Bakery before so when my coworker said that he was going over to get some focaccia bread I said sure.
Oh and what a delightful surprise it was. This focaccia bread was not the usual that I was expecting. It was made with mushrooms and a delicious blend of dry cheeses, like Romano, Parmesan, sprinkled on top.
It was really like a gourmet pizza creation. But still it stayed within the focaccia bread tradition. So good!
I will continue to check out John Campbell’s as I have heard from several people the selection of breads keeps growing and changing.
Next time you want something really satisfying for a snack or small lunch try the focaccia bread.

I love this place, but it’s a bummer they don’t take credit cards!

John Campbell’s really has succeeded on a truly miraculous, epic level: it has made this born and bred New Yorker completely stop caring that there isn’t a Dunkin Donuts or halfway decent bagel shop within a 600-​mile radious. If I weren’t already married (and straight as an arrow), I would ask for Mr. Campbell’s hand in marriage.
Now, judging by my photo, you can tell I’m a jolly fat Irish boy, so you would obvioulsy think I’m predisposed to being predjudicially favored towards anything with «Irish» in the name. Which isn’t true. I hate Irish Car Bombs. (Why ruin 3 of God’s greatest gifts to the earth by mixing them all together? Steak is great, so is Miracle Whip and chocolate chip cookies are fantastic, but I wouldn’t wanna slam ‘em all down together). But all joking aside, John Campbell’s really is that amazing.
Confession: my wife and I eat here at least 4 times a week. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is just phenomenal. Their chocolate chip scones are absolute perfection. Their Bailey’s scones are divine. The Belfast Bap will fix any hangover (even if you do, for some godforesaken reason, drink Irish Car Bombs) and is truly an amazing deal for $ 6. Wifey loves the bacon, mushroom and brie bread. The chocolate cherry bread is outstanding and makes some of the best bread pudding on earth. The soda bread is some of the best outside Ireland. And OMFG, I have never had a burger anywhere better than the ones I make at home with John’s Antrim Griddle Bread (and you can pick up your rashers and Chef Sauce here to boot!!!) Lordy, I could go on and on and on…
The staff is always super friendly and welcoming, just like the lasses at the bakeries back in Ireland. Do yourself a favor, stop into Campbell’s immediately! And next time, order a Jameson with a Guinness back, and save the Bailey’s for dessert!
Oh yeah, they’re cash only…

Love this bakery. Their raisin scones are to die for. Yes, a little buttery, but everything is so tempting to eat here. They only take cash, but fortunately, the prices are rather reasonable.

Super fond memories of ploughmans’ lunches in Dublin brought me in for a look-​see.
Cuter look in the place and display than it tastes…
Yes on the $ 2 apple puff. the texture mix of crisp puff plus soft sweet apple with powdered sugar all over. yum
No on the pastie that took me. It looked so great, the size, the weight, the golden hue of the crescent-​shaped pie.
But biting into it was such*the*letdown… no taste… absolutely no taste… mashed potatoes, bland, chicken bland, pes, carrots, bland. I would absolutely not order it again until they improve the recipe for their filling.
I think that the winning formula here is sticking closely to the breads and the pastries. But I’m hooked on pasties, and it’s harder than it seems to find some good ones in the Bay.
PS I’m headed straight for their baps next time ’round.

From my crib in Russian Hill, I did my morning jog to Union Street/​Cow Hollow area. And one block away from Union Street is an Irish bakery, which has been open for six months.
The first and original outer-​Richmond location is another business that is one of my bookmarked places that I haven’t gone yet. This is beginning to be a personal trend for me to go to the second location before the first location.
«Don’t expect me to jog all the way to the original Geary Street location any time soon, okay!»
I do like the affordable Irish-​style pastries here. You can get three assorted pastries for $ 5-​$ 6.00. I got the Chocolate Chip Scone, Apple-​filled Puff and Cinnamon-​Sugar Bun. I’m not much a scone-​guy, but the scone is fresh and surprisingly moist. But clearly my favorite is the powdery Cinnamon-​sugar bun (located on the far left of my posted picture).
The bakery also sells other desserts, make sandwiches, and sell imported items from Ireland.
The friendly staff did accept my «sweaty and yucky» twenty-​dollar bill, in which the only payment that the bakery only accepts.
I’ll be back and try other Irish items from here. And I’ll come here on a cleaner approach and use Irish Spring soap.

So, I’ll make it no secret that my wife and I went on a small trip to San Francisco in a half-​assed attempt to get away from our lives. The stress from my job and from her’s was really starting to kill us, both physically and mentally.
Our plan was to stay at a peaceful motel nearby and resuscitate our failing marriage. A little wineing at night and no whining later on. That was the plan. Of course from the moment we stepped into the motel, it was motel hell. We got in a petty argument all because the television in our room didn’t work. She said she needs TV to fall asleep, but I tell her we’re on vacation, give the telly a break. Instead of solving the problem diplomatically, she grabs the boots she’s wearing and throws them straight at me. One hits me on my temple and knocks me into a temporary daze. At that moment, all I needed was fresh air. I stepped out and wondered the unknown streets of San Francisco for about forty minutes until I stumbled in front of Mr. Campbell’s bakery.
«Boy, oh boy!» was my first thought when my pointless walk took me here. I had to step in as soon as the smell of delicious and savory treats hit my olfactory. I stepped in and devoured the small samples they had on display. Sure they were extremely tasty, but I ended up getting something for both me and my special gal that they didn’t have samples of: Shepherd’s pie! I’ve had my fair share of Shepherd’s pie in my twenty-​four years on this earth, but nothing quite as satisfying as the one Mr. Campbell has prepared. The gravy was perfectly flavorful with a perfect texture and the beef and vegetables were proportioned almost freakishly well with each other.
I took it back to the motel to subdue my wife and she loved it. Sure, the evening didn’t result in sex like I wanted it to, but we sure had our fair share of cuddling and avoided an other argument. Thank you, Mr. Campbell. I owe you eternally.

Maybe I’m in the dark, but in a game of word association, I wouldn’t immediately think to pair «Irish» with «bakery.» But I have to say, what a great place, and what a great idea!
At this end-​of-​the-​rainbow corner shop we found a veritable pot-‘o-gold of scones, tarts, meat pies, soda breads, sandwiches, and countless varieties of cookies, cakes, and confections — from the sweet to the savory.
Make this place a Sunday morning destination. Oh, and be warned: cash only.

Wow. This is my new favorite grab-​and-​go place! I’ve been sampling their pasties, their shepherd’s/curry pies, sausage rolls, etc. Crikey, this is good stuff! You can get stuff heated up there or you can carry it back to your office/​home to heat. I highly recommend the basic shepherd’s pie: perfect balance of meat, a little veg, and mashed potatoes with a little browned top.
Times visited: 10+

This could be dangerous, my favorite Irish goodies within five blocks of my house. I knew this place was authentic when I saw Barry’s Tea, Bachelor’s Baked Beans and Minced Pies on offer. I had just asked a friend back home to try and get me some Barry’s Tea next time they fly to SF but John Campbell’s came to the rescue, I’m now fully stocked with Irish tea.
They offer a wide selection of baked goods and the staff had just finished preparing some sausage rolls when I visited the place. I am going to try and swing by here on my way to work this week to see what they have on offer early morning. They also have a wide selection of Irish chocolates and I spotted some classic Cadbury Easter Eggs on the shelves since Easter is only a couple of weeks away. Keep in mind that the prepackaged goods from Ireland can be pricey (not surprising considering the shipping costs John Campbell’s have to pay)