A single pasty here can weigh at least a pound. That is a full meal folded into puff pastry, and it is sold cold so you can heat it at home.
The menu reads like a London lunch counter. Steak, ale, and mushroom pie sits beside shepherd’s pie and sausage rolls.
Then a Chicken Madras pie and a Hatch green chile chicken pie show up and steal the spotlight.
I like how this little New Jersey bakery treats savory pies as the main event. Sweet pies are still on the shelf, but they play backup here.
The founder brought the idea straight from Essex, England.
Shelves stocked with British chocolate and other imports round things out. The real question becomes simple.
How many pies can one car trunk hold on the way home?
A Baker From Essex Brought Real British Pies Across The Ocean
Samantha Codling moved to New Jersey from Essex, England, and she brought a mission with her. She wanted Americans to discover the hearty savory pies she grew up with.
Her first shop was called The London Food Company, and it sat on Bloomfield Avenue. In 2008, the business moved to Montclair’s historic Watchung Plaza and grew into The Pie Store.
That move gave the bakery its current name and its current home. Codling still serves as chief baker, which tells you plenty about how hands-on this place stays.
British and Irish expats in the area caught on quickly. A taste of home is hard to find overseas, so word spread fast through that crowd.
The story gets another fun twist in recent years. Actor Frankie Faison, who is married to founder Samantha Codling, sells his own granola through The Pie Store and its sister shop.
He even sells his own granola there, and Codling helped him perfect the recipe.
I like that the shop still feels personal after all this time. One baker’s homesick idea turned into a real part of Montclair.
That kind of history makes every crust feel a little more meaningful. It also explains why the menu feels so confident and so very British.
Steak, Ale, And Mushroom Pie Leads A Seriously Hearty Lineup
Savory pies are the heart of The Pie Store, and the lineup reads like a British pub chalkboard. Steak, Ale, and Mushroom Pie is the classic that anchors everything else.
Shepherd’s Pie and Chicken and Vegetable Pie keep things comforting and familiar. These are the kinds of dinners that make a chilly evening feel a lot friendlier.
Vegetarians aren’t left out either. The Cheese, Potato, and Onion Pie is a meatless choice, and it’s made crustless.
Think of it as cozy comfort without the pastry lid.
Spanakopita also appears on the menu. That spinach and feta pastry adds a Greek detour to an otherwise very British list.
Here’s a smart tip for planning. Items are generally sold cold, so you bake them at home before eating.
That makes these pies perfect for a no-fuss weeknight dinner.
It also means you can stock up on a Saturday and eat well for days. A pie in the fridge is basically a dinner plan that already happened.
Hungry families will appreciate how easy this makes things. Just preheat the oven, slide one in, and set the table while it warms.
Nobody has to scrub a single pot afterward.
The Fusion Pies Have The Best Names On The Menu
Somebody at this bakery clearly has a sense of humor. The Chicken Madras pie goes by the nickname Soccer, and the Hatch Green Chile Chicken pie is called ET.
Those names make ordering more fun, and the fillings back them up. Madras is a curry style, so that pie brings warm Indian spices into flaky British pastry.
Hatch green chiles come from New Mexico. Putting them in a British pie is a bold cross-country, cross-ocean mashup.
Honestly, it sounds like the kind of idea that works better than it should.
These pies show that The Pie Store isn’t stuck in the past. Tradition sits at the core, but the kitchen likes to play with flavor.
Britain has a long love affair with curry, so the Madras pie actually feels right at home. The chile pie is the wild card that makes you raise an eyebrow first and smile second.
If you’re shopping for a group, grab one of each. Pair them with a classic like shepherd’s pie and you’ve built a tasting tour.
Everyone gets to pick a favorite, and arguments over the last slice become part of the fun.
Pound-Sized Pasties Will Change How You Think About Lunch
The shop’s Cornish-style pasty can weigh a pound or more, making it a full meal wrapped in a lighter puff pastry crust.
If you’ve never had one, think of a big British cousin to the empanada. The filling usually mixes meat and vegetables, all sealed inside one handheld package.
The Pie Store offers a Cornish-style pasty along with some creative spins. Steak and Cheddar is a hearty pick for big appetites.
BBQ Pork and Cheddar adds a smoky, very American twist.
Lamb and Feta leans Mediterranean. Chana Masala brings chickpeas and Indian spices for anyone skipping meat.
Sweet Potato, Blue Cheese, and Onion might be the most surprising combo of the bunch.
Here’s a fun fact. In the United Kingdom, the name Cornish Pasty is legally protected and applies to products made in Cornwall according to specific requirements.
So anything baked in New Jersey counts as a regional pasty, even if it follows the classic style.
Like the pies, pasties are usually sold cold for heating at home. One could easily cover lunch, and maybe dinner too.
Packing one for work could make your coworkers very jealous by noon.
Sausage Rolls Make The Perfect Grab-And-Go Bite
Every British bakery needs a good sausage roll, and this one offers two kinds. Irish Pork Sausage Rolls sit alongside Gourmet Sausage Rolls.
The gourmet version uses organic ground pork with parmesan cheese, sage, and parsley. All of it gets wrapped in puff pastry, which is exactly where a sausage roll belongs.
Sage and pork are an old-school pairing. Add parmesan, and you get a savory, herby bite that’s hard to put down.
In the U.K., sausage rolls show up everywhere, from lunchboxes to parties. They’re the kind of food people eat standing up and nobody minds.
That makes them a great pick for game days, potlucks, or a quick snack. They’re smaller than a full pie, so they’re easy to share around a table.
They’re also a smart first order for anyone new to British food. A sausage roll is friendly, familiar, and not too intimidating.
Once you like it, you might feel ready to graduate to a full steak pie.
Grab a few extra if you’re feeding kids. They tend to disappear faster than anyone expects, so a backup batch never hurts.
Save Room, Because The Sweet Side Still Shows Up Strong
Okay, the headline says to forget sweet pies, but that might be a mistake here. The dessert list at The Pie Store is surprisingly deep.
Double-crust Apple is the classic. Double-crust Raspberry, Apple, and Blackberry adds a berry twist, and a Cranberry Apple version shows up seasonally.
Key Lime Pie is one of the shop’s most talked-about treats. Banoffee Pie, a British favorite made with banana and toffee, appears on weekends only.
Brandied Pumpkin Pie arrives when the season turns cool.
Some pies need planning ahead. Coconut Custard and Chocolate Mousse are pre-order only, so call ahead before your craving strikes.
Scones come in flavors like Fresh Strawberry, Golden Raisin, Chocolate Chip, and Sharp Cheddar Cheese. Seasonal flavors rotate in too.
On weekends, look for miniature tarts, including Portuguese Egg Custard. Those little treats are easy to grab and hard to stop at one.
My advice is simple. Buy a savory pie for dinner and a sweet one for later.
A meal really isn’t finished until dessert gets its turn, and nobody should have to choose between them.
Soup Season Gets A Serious Upgrade Here
Pies get the headlines, but the soup list deserves a shout-out. It turns a pie run into a full comfort-food haul.
Spiced Moroccan Chickpea with Andouille Sausage is the bold one. Chickpeas, warm spices, and smoky sausage make it feel like a meal on its own.
Creamy Mushroom and Roasted Garlic is a vegetarian option. It sounds like the soup you’d want on a gray, rainy afternoon.
Vegans have choices too. Carrot Ginger Soup brings bright, zippy flavor, while Gazpacho is a chilled tomato-based soup for warmer days.
Pairing soup with a pie is an easy win. A bowl of carrot ginger next to a chicken pie makes a balanced dinner without much effort.
The variety also helps when you’re feeding a mixed group. Meat lovers, vegetarians, and vegans can all find something that works.
Think of soup as the sidekick that sometimes steals the show. On a cold New Jersey night, a warm bowl might be the first thing you reach for.
Then the pie comes out of the oven, and dinner feels complete.
Plan Your Pie Run Around The Hours And The Tea Shop Next Door
Timing matters with a place this popular. The Pie Store sits at 100 Watchung Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043, right in historic Watchung Plaza.
The shop’s own listing shows Tuesday through Saturday hours from 11 AM to 5 PM. Sunday runs 11 AM to 3 PM, and Mondays are closed, though checking before you go is smart.
Saturdays can draw a line before noon. Arriving early gives you the best shot at your favorite pie.
Can’t make it in person? Delivery and pickup are available through services like Grubhub.
Next door, at 106 Watchung Ave, you’ll find The Tea Store, the bakery’s sister shop. It sells luxury teas, U.K. imports, sandwiches, coffee, and matcha.
The Tea Store also carries treats from The Pie Store, including scones. So a scone and a cup of tea are only a few steps apart.
Doubling up on both shops makes a fun New Jersey afternoon. Grab pies for dinner, then sip something warm next door.
It’s a small slice of Britain without the plane ticket, and your oven will thank you later.
