Three Friends, One Irish Tea Shop, and a Taste of Home in Pearl River

There's a particular kind of place that only exists where a community asked for it. The Gracie Rose, at 44 East Central Avenue in Pearl River, is exactly that: an Irish tea shop and in-store grocery that exists to give a taste of home — whether home is Galway, Kerry, or just the next town over.

Walk in and you'll find the full lineup of Irish classics done properly. Breakfast means The Traditional (eggs, Irish bacon, Irish sausage, black and white pudding, beans, home fries, and brown bread) or The Ulster Fry with soda farl and potato bread. Lunch leans into Irish fare: battered North Atlantic cod with mushy peas and chunky chips, Irish-style chicken curry served half and half over chips and rice, and savory pies — chicken pot pie, steak and onion, shepherd's pie. The menu also carries burgers, kids' fare, and a whole section called The Chipsy King, which tells you everything about the spirit of the place. Finish with afternoon tea: scones, finger sandwiches, and the scone of the month that regulars watch for.

The Gracie Rose is run by Tina Murphy, Bernadette "Bernie" Fitzgerald, and Tara McDonald — affectionately known as the Three Biddies. Tina is a Pearl River native with deep ties to Connemara, County Galway, who spent her summers immersed in Irish traditions. Bernie emigrated to New York from Killorglin, County Kerry at 17, carrying her mother Bridie Foley's family recipes; her niece Emma Gilheany is the café's baker, keeping those traditions in the oven. Tara's heritage reaches to County Leitrim and Scotland, and she grew up in Irish culture through competitive Irish dance, performing and traveling through Ireland and North America.

That combination — recipes handed down, summers in Galway, a dancer's sense of tradition — earned the three owners recognition as Hibernian Business Persons of the Year by the Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians. But the day-to-day story is simpler: a welcoming haven where anyone, from devoted fans of Irish fare to first-timers, can sit down with a hot cup of tea and a scone.

Don't skip the grocery side. Alongside the café, the shop stocks imported Irish goods — teas, canned goods, candy, baking products — plus food gift baskets that ship anywhere in the United States through their online store. Catering is available too: platters of appetizers, sandwiches, and desserts for life's important moments, and family meals to go that serve four to six.

The Gracie Rose is open seven days a week (Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM, weekends 7 AM to 3 PM), and takes no appointments — just walk in. Find the full menu at thegracierose.com or call (845) 558-3400.