Our First Taste of the Newly Open Pie Face
I like to think New York is one of the most diverse food meccas in the world. With so many options these days, it’s hard to believe that there are unexplored cuisines in Midtown. Yet, until Monday, I could not direct you to an Australian meat pie establishment. (Unless you have a time machine back to when Tuck Shop briefly occupied the Cyber Cycle Cafe on 49th Street.) Enter Pie Face, a meat pie takeout chain straight from down under that opened its first US shop on the corner of 53rd and Broadway this week.
Of the seven savory meat pie options (chunky steak, mince beef + tomato, chicken + mushroom, tandoori vegetable, Thai chicken curry, Mexican and bacon + egg + cheese), I ordered a regular-sized Thai chicken curry pie ($5.95), which I upgraded to a stack (topped with mash potatoes, peas and gravy), making it $7.95. I think the pie probably had a diameter of around 4-inches, and they also sell minis of each flavor ($2.95 each). Since my pie is covered in stuff, you can’t see that there are, in fact, faces on the pie crust. Each kind of pie has a different face, which all look at you from the glass case as you enter the store. Cute gimmick.
I have to admit, at first I was skeptical about the meat pie, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The pie was filled with large chunks of chicken, carrots and other veggies, and it did have a curry taste to it, although it is mild — almost sweet — and I’m not sure I’d have thought Thai if it hadn’t been called that. Topped with “smash” (mashed potatoes and peas) and gravy, this is a hearty lunch, but definitely not as much food as a container of street meat. I have a feeling it would be difficult to order multiple items, stay under $10 and be satiated until dinner.
A couple Midtown Lunch’ers have also been and were nice enough to comment on Monday’s Pie Face post. Lunch’er eknick mentioned spotty service, which makes sense for any establishment’s first week. But more importantly they liked the food, calling it “delicious” and “a slice of home,” although they use “a lot more butter on the crust” than Australian pies you may be used to. Lunch’er hightemp commented on both sweet and savory pies, as well as the breakfast pie option, which according to him was the best one.
And, don’t forget, tomorrow’s Australia Day, and they’re giving away free pies all day long!
The + (What someone who likes this place would say)
- Something new! Welcome to the neighborhood, Australian meat pies!
- The smiley faces are adorable.
- Lots of options and combos within the ML price range.
- I was really bummed when Tuck Shop left Midtown. Glad to finally have Aussie meat pies back.
The – (What someone who doesn’t like this place would say)
- Trying multiple items will push me over $10.
- They’re still working out the kinks, so service can be spotty.
Pie Face, 1691 Broadway (btw 53+54th), 212-247-9065
Posted by Rachel Goldner at 11:55 am, January 25th, 2012 under Pie Face.
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20 Comments
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I would suggest they lower the volume of the blaring music, make the credit card swipe machines not swivelable, make the pie faces all happy or variation of happy, not sad, confused or dead, and give the staff some damn step stools.
a full review during the grand opening week, well done Rachel! keep up the good work.