The loaf of the Irish

Soda bread is, for most of us, a Saint-Patty's-Day-only treat- so you might as well have the best there is! Here's how our judges ranked the local offerings.

Score, from 1 (low) to 10 (high)

The Winner! Villa Dolce Bakery, Montvale $4

"Lots of raisins- very nice-looking"
"Light in color, brown on top, a ton of raisins!"
"Looks the most delicious"
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"Very good"
"A bit on the sweeter side"
"Seems too sweet for soda bread- maybe too much vanilla?"
"A raisin bread more than a soda bread"
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"Light and airy"
"Not dense enough"
"Very soft and fluffy"
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6.0

Market Basket, Franklin Lakes $3.99

"No raisins!"
"Basic"
"Light"
"Plain"
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"Nice flavor-but no raisins!"
"A little like biscotti"
"A bit of an aftertaste"
"A nice yeasty flavor"
"Kind of salty"
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"Fluffy"
"Moist to the touch … dry to the taste"
"Nice and dense" "Chewy but firm"
–
5.3

Miller's Bakery, Cliffside Park and Tenafly $3.99

"Looks good" "Nice and hearty"
"Thick with raisins"
"Cooked well-a little darker, with a hard crust"
"Powdery"
–
"Sweet but not too sweet, with a touch of spice"
"A peppery aftertaste"
"Bready"
"Quite acceptable"
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"Light And Moist"
"Nice Thick Brown Crust"
"Soft In The Middle" "A Little Springy"
–
5.1

The Porter House, Montvale $12.99

"Looks like a bundt cake without the hole"
"Stands apart because of its carrot color"
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"Sweeter than the rest"
"Maple taste" "Almost no raisins" "OK" "Very different"
"Unlike any soda bread I've had before"
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"Very grainy" "Dry" "Firm"
"Crumbly but dense"
–
5.1

Palermo's Pastry Shop, Ridgefield Park $3.50

"Like a beautiful loaf of Italian bread with raisins"
"A round loaf, well-cooked but not burnt- looks good!"
"Some powder"
–
"Moist and flavorful"
"They've added something- Bailey's?"
"Is there rum in there?"
"Has sort of a berry flavor to it"
"Sweet, buttery"
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"Crumbly" "A tad dry" "A little too flaky"
"A little heavy on the powder"
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5.0