Baker51 — Restaurant in County Mayo

I got absolutely robbed at Baker 51. Wallet emptied. And I couldn’t have been happier about it. The floor was being run by a group of young gals who were absolutely fab — full of energy, friendly, and had the whole place running like clockwork. They waited on us hand and foot and didn’t bat an eye as we cackled away in the corner. My friend was in flying form, laughing so hard I’m surprised the roof’s still intact. Great company, if I may say so myself.

We both went for the pizza — fresh, tasty, and properly satisfying. I gave mine a solid 9/10, my friend gave hers a 10/10 and looked like she’d found religion.

And then... the pastries. Good luck to anyone with even a hint of self-control. I was one bad decision away from launching myself behind the counter to get at them. The poor gal serving me probably thought I’d lost the plot with the way I was looking at these pastries like I had just emerged from the famine. I eventually settled on a pistachio pastry that was absolutely unreal. My friend went for the Biscoff version — equally unreal, apparently. I wouldn’t know. She inhaled it in about 3 seconds and looked mildly guilty afterwards.

We also got some cinnamon buns for the road — and honestly? I should’ve gotten a second one for the boot of the car in case of emergencies. Sticky, soft, heaven.

Menu prices were very reasonable, in my opinion. The pastries are a bit dearer, but my GOD — you get what you pay for and more. I now have a muffin top and zero regrets.

If I had one request - put fresh donuts on the bakery menu. Just trust me. I'll keep you in business if ever there was a fear of that...

Visited here today for the first time, it was busy but not overly when we arrived. Steps up and down to dining areas with one table at ground floor level. We were nicely greeted at the door and chose the ground floor table due to mobility issues, which proved to be a little draughty. We were given time to browse the menu and our order was placed. Coffee & tea arrived swiftly, however the melts which we chose to have on regular bread took a long time to arrive, by which time the drinks were drunk or they would have gone cold. As we were waiting for our food we noticed it was getting noticeably busier with people waiting for service up to 10 minutes and our space getting a little crowded but less draughty. Our food arrived with generous fillings & simply presented. The facilities are downstairs and are well presented. While paying at the end I saw the prompt on the till about the loyalty tag/card and receiving free foxes to sign up so asked the cashier who either didn't understand, chose to ignore or decided it was too busy to deal with at the time, so I wasn't signed up at the till or given anything to take home. Overall a pleasant place to visit but needs some improvements as there are plenty of alternatives & competition...

Baker51 is a hidden gem in a non descript laneway, transformed into a Euro -worthy Cafe that pays tribute to the legendary Mike OHara , founder of Foxford renound bakery. The moment you step inside, you are struck by the thoughtful design, from the sleek red brick and grey wooden panelling ,to the exceptional wooden floors and safety conscious stairs. The cafes decor is elevated by beautifully framed black and white historic photos giving it the feeling of a small Art Gallery. The attention to detail is impressive with lovely touches like the LADIES artwork fracturing a Fox, and the bridge over the river MOY, nodding to Foxford’s heritage. The service is top notch with friendly and efficient young staff wearing modern uniforms. From the warm welcome to the speedy service every aspect of the experience is well executed . Whether you are in for a coffee , an OHaras pastry or a light lunch, Baker 51 is a must visit destination. It’s a delightful surprise in the heart of Ballina. with a great car park...