Golden pastry filled with savory meat and vegetables deserves just as much attention as a slice of dessert pie. Especially when the bakery specializes in traditional British-style creations that make an ordinary lunch feel a little different.
This Virginia shop prepares fresh pies daily, offering hearty savory varieties alongside sweet slices and whole desserts. Its menu includes the kind of pastry-wrapped meals associated with British baking traditions, with fillings that can change depending on availability.
I love how practical the concept is. A well-made savory pie gives you a complete meal wrapped in flaky pastry, and there’s something wonderfully satisfying about that combination.
Orders are available through a small pickup window, which adds another distinctive detail to the experience. Once a particular variety sells out, there’s no guarantee it’ll still be waiting when you arrive later.
From Rock Tours To A Pie Window In Church Hill
Cooking for rock royalty sounds like the dream job. Neil Smith spent years feeding stars like David Bowie, Madonna, and Paul McCartney on world tours.
Still, something was missing on all those trips. Good savory pies, a daily staple in his native New Zealand, were tough to track down in England and the United States.
That gap turned into a plan. Neil and his wife, Nikki, set out to bring New Zealand-style pies to Richmond, and Proper Pie Co. was born.
The couple didn’t jump straight into a shop. They started with a food cart at local farmers’ markets, testing recipes on real customers first.
Help also came from Richmond’s Supporting East End Entrepreneurship Development program, known as SEED. That support helped them move from a cart to a permanent home in the city’s East End.
I love that this story starts on tour buses and ends in a neighborhood bakery. It gives every pie a little backstory you can taste.
Proper Pie Co. now feels firmly rooted in Virginia. Yet the recipes still carry a clear accent from the other side of the world, which is exactly the point.
A Proper Pie Has A Top, A Bottom, And Zero Excuses
Most American pot pies cheat a little. They’re often a dish of filling topped with a pastry lid and called a day.
A proper pie, in the New Zealand and British sense, plays by stricter rules. It has a full crust on the top, bottom, and sides, so the whole thing holds together.
That sturdy shell matters more than you’d think. It means the pie works as a handheld meal, not just something you scoop from a bowl.
The crust is the backbone of every order at Proper Pie Co. Buttery and flaky pastry wraps each filling, whether savory or sweet.
The size is personal, too. These are individual pies, built for one hungry person at lunchtime rather than a whole table.
Here’s a practical tip for first-timers. Grab a napkin or two, because flaky pastry tends to leave a trail of golden crumbs on your shirt.
Once you understand the shape, the rest of the menu makes sense. Every filling has its own sealed little house, and the crust is doing serious structural work.
It’s comfort food with good engineering.
Steak, Lamb, And Curry Make A Strong Case For Pie At Lunch
Steak and Cheese leads the savory lineup, and it’s a classic for good reason. Chunks of beef and melty cheese tucked into pastry are hard to argue with.
Spice fans get options too. Jalapeño Mince and Cheese adds some heat to the traditional mince pie formula.
The menu stretches far beyond beef. Lamb and Sweet Potato brings a cozy, slightly sweet twist, while Chicken, Leek and Mushroom leans gentle and creamy.
Then things travel even further. A Thai Butternut Curry pie shows up on the board, and it comes in a vegan version.
Butter chicken and pork, apple and cheddar have also been part of the rotation. The lineup changes, so the pie you loved last month might be resting this week.
That rotation is half the fun. Each visit becomes a small surprise instead of the same order on repeat.
My advice is simple. Pick one familiar flavor and one wild card, then compare them side by side.
You’ll learn your favorite fast. And at Proper Pie Co., one pie each rarely feels like enough research.
Sausage Rolls And Pasties Steal Some Of The Spotlight
House-ground pork is where this sausage roll starts. The meat gets blended with caramelized onions and a hint of sage before it’s wrapped in buttery puff pastry.
Anyone who has spent time in Britain will spot it right away. Sausage rolls are a bakery staple over there, and seeing one done properly in Richmond feels like a small gift.
Not into meat? A Broccoli, Chickpea and Feta Roll fills the same role with pureed chickpeas, cheese, onion, sun-dried tomato, and garlic.
The pasty side of things gets fancier. A Smoked Salmon, Gruyere and Potato Pastry nods to the classic folded pasty, with a richer filling.
These smaller bites solve a real problem. They’re easy to carry, easy to share, and great when you want a snack instead of a full pie.
Try pairing one roll with a savory pie for a hearty lunch. Or grab a few rolls for a group and let everyone sample.
Either way, Proper Pie Co. proves pastry isn’t only for dessert. Sometimes the humble roll quietly wins the whole order.
Save Room, Because The Sweet Side Fights Back
The title says forget sweet pies, but the dessert case did not get that memo. Proper Pie Co. bakes plenty of sweet options alongside the savory ones.
Banoffee pie is a British favorite worth knowing. It layers a biscuit crumb base with toffee, bananas, and cream.
Lemon Meringue has its own bragging rights. It’s been described as having the tallest meringue in town, which is a bold claim for a pie.
The flavors rotate with the seasons. Strawberry rhubarb, key lime, chocolate chess, and pear and cranberry streusel have all made appearances.
Vegan diners aren’t left out of dessert. A Coconut Key Lime pie has been offered as a plant-based option.
Sweet pies are also sold whole, not just by the slice. That makes this a handy stop before a family dinner or holiday gathering.
Don’t skip the Anzac biscuits either. These oat cookies are a nod to Neil’s New Zealand roots, and they travel well in a bag.
One savory, one sweet feels like the right balance. Your lunch gets a proper ending, and nobody has to choose sides.
The Pie Hole Is Literally A Window, And It Works
Ordering here happens at a walk-up window. There’s no dining room to wander through and no counter to lean on.
A menu posted in the window helps you sort savory from sweet before you reach the front. That’s useful, because the choices can get overwhelming in a good way.
Proper Pie Co. runs as a takeout spot. Indoor seating and restrooms aren’t offered, so plan your stop with that in mind.
A couple of outdoor tables sit on the sidewalk for anyone who can’t wait. Grabbing one feels like a small victory on a sunny afternoon.
Inside, the bakery is small and quaint. The branded storefront looks clean and friendly, with a homey neighborhood feel rather than anything flashy.
The setup keeps things moving. Pies are already baked, so the window crew can hand over orders quickly.
I actually like this format. It turns a bakery run into a quick, cheerful errand instead of a long sit-down meal.
Bring a bag if you’re stocking up. Juggling pies, rolls, and a whole dessert pie with two hands is a skill nobody should test.
Your Picnic Spot Comes With One Of Richmond’s Best Views
Libby Hill Park sits just around the corner, and it might be the best dining room this bakery never had to build. The overlook gives you sweeping views over the James River and the city.
That makes the takeout model feel like a bonus. You carry your pie a short distance and suddenly lunch has scenery.
Sunset is a strong choice here. The bakery even agreed online that sunset and pie make a good combo.
The neighborhood adds plenty of history too. St. John’s Church, where Patrick Henry gave his famous speech, is about a block away.
So a pie stop can easily turn into a mini walking tour. Eat, stroll, look at old buildings, then maybe circle back for dessert.
Church Hill is one of Richmond’s oldest neighborhoods, with charming streets close to downtown. It rewards slow wandering more than rushing.
A practical tip is to bring a blanket in warmer months. Park benches can fill up, and grass makes a fine table.
Honestly, pairing Proper Pie Co. with this view feels almost unfair to other lunch spots in Virginia.
Finding The Shop Is Easier Than Choosing A Flavor
East Broad Street runs right through the heart of Church Hill. That’s where you’ll find this little pie shop.
The full address is 2505 E Broad St #100, Richmond, VA 23223. Plug it in, and you’ll land in a mostly residential stretch of the neighborhood.
Parking is generally on the street. Since this is a neighborhood rather than a busy shopping center, a short walk may be part of the trip.
The location is close to downtown Richmond. That makes it a handy add-on if you’re already exploring the city’s museums or riverfront.
Travelers passing through Virginia can treat it as a worthwhile detour. Pies travel reasonably well, so you can pack a few for the road.
Some pie fans even freeze extras for later. Savory pies are good candidates for reheating once you’re back home.
The shop has earned spots on lists of Richmond’s best places to eat. Not bad for a bakery that operates out of a window.
Arrive with a plan, or at least a shortlist. Standing at the window with zero ideas is how six pies end up in your car.
Timing Your Visit Saves You From Pie Heartbreak
Mondays and Tuesdays are off days. Proper Pie Co. opens Wednesday through Sunday, from noon until 6 p.m.
That window is generous, but popular pies can sell out. If you’re chasing a specific favorite, earlier in the day gives you better odds.
The menu rotates, especially on the sweet side. Seasonal specials come and go, so checking the shop’s social media before heading over is a smart move.
Planning a party or family event? Sweet pies can be bought whole, and pre-ordering is a handy way to make sure yours is waiting.
Vegan eaters should feel welcome here too. The rotation regularly includes plant-based savory and sweet choices.
Hours can shift around holidays or summer breaks. A quick look before a long drive keeps the trip from ending at a closed window.
Once you’ve got your timing down, the visit is refreshingly simple. Order, pay, and walk off with something warm and flaky.
Richmond has plenty of good food, but few places taste quite this far from Virginia. A New Zealand pie with a river view is a pretty great way to spend an afternoon.
