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| A Matador pie at Pieminister yum! |
So, there
was me thinking that to find a decent “pie n mash” shop you ‘ad to go darn the
East end o’Landan. It was, I suppose, only a matter of time before somebody
brought this classic English dish from the streets of London to the masses. Indeed,
Pieminister did not originate from the East end, but down the M4 in Bristol when
it was founded by two friends in 2003. Their business has now expanded, with
establishments sprouting up around the country, one of which has now found its
way up the M1 to Leeds.
This is
where Samantha and I found ourselves on a cloudy Sunday lunchtime. We wanted to
judge for ourselves that building such a restaurant on the site of the old
Oxfam shop, opposite “Reds” was not such a “pie in the sky” idea.
On entering
the first thing that hits you is the food counter with the kitchen behind. Sat
on top of it true to form was a pie smothered in mushy peas waiting to be
delivered to a table. Not really the first thing you expect to see on first
entering a restaurant. Fear not readers, or pie fans this is not going to
descend into a Five Guys style rant!
We were
shown to a table for two by a pleasant waitress and so our Pieminister
experience was to begin.
The staff,
all of them very young, were to put it bluntly just a little bit too keen.
We had
barely sat down and taken our coats off she was busily telling us what they had
run out of. Uh oh! – then asked virtually straight away what drinks we would
like. Err hang on not even thought about that one yet love.. This also happened
to another couple on the table next to us.
However,
once these had been cleared up and drinks quickly ordered there was still
plenty to choose from the food menu.
This was
clearly laid out and I think very reasonably priced. The most expensive pie was
around the £5.50 mark, plus sides, the list of which consisted of the
inevitable minted mushy peas, fries (skin on ones), sweet potato fries, slaw
and other accompaniments priced at £2.00 each. Not bad.
Sam and I
both opted for the matador pie, which contained steak, chorizo, olives and
butter beans. (Wow, olives in a pie!) My accompaniments were mash potato and
garden peas with chilli.
The food
came in under ten minutes and it was a very nice treat, with well cooked steak
mixed with the aforementioned olives and chorizo. The peas and chilli were also
a very good idea. Sam’s sweet potato fries were very good too and better than
ones I’d tasted in other “trendy” eateries.
That was it. As easy as pie! You sit, order,
eat within ten minutes of arrival and then (unless you order a dessert) you pay
and you go. Next!
You see,
Pieminister is a bit like a conveyer belt. Customer comes in, sits down, orders
drinks, orders food, eat, go. Don’t expect to stay there too long. Some may
call it efficient and yes that is a valid way of describing it, but on the
other hand you barely stay there long enough to think, and could be
disappointed if you wished for a more prolonged eating experience. However, I
would most certainly return and try another one of their delicious pies and if
you have a spare few minutes in town should do too.
