Living in Australia, getting a sausage roll or a meat pie was always something uni (college) kids got after a night of drinking. My parents, who are immigrants, never got a taste for them, so I would grab them with my friends whenever we were in the city.
It’s been years since I’ve had a sausage roll or meat pie, but when I heard Pie-Not was opening, I was excited. Since its opening, I’ve been back over and over again, trying different things each time. Now, after tasting a good variety of the offerings, I feel I am finally equipped to write something about it.
I’m partial to the authentic meat pies we got in Brisbane, so my initial selection was of course, Dog’s Eye ($5.50), a standard Aussie meat pie filled with premium ground beef with finely diced onions in a shortcrust pastry shell with a puff pastry lid. My first bite was heavenly and honestly, it was the best pie I’d ever eaten, so much better than the ones I remember eating back home.
In Australia, we top our pies with “tomato sauce” our variation of ketchup, which is a little different to American ketchup.
My other favorite is Shroomin ($6.50) which is the Dog’s Eye filling with crimini and field mushrooms. The umami of the mushrooms brings the traditional meat pie to a whole new dimension.
For an even meatier option, try the Bloomin Hot ($6.50) filled with coarse-ground tri-colored peppercorn braised chunky beef. The consistency is like a thick beef stew and it is one hearty mouthful after another.
Aussies love lamb and Mary’s ($6.50) pays homage to that adoration. Ground lamb is seasoned with rosemary, roasted garlic, diced onions and back bacon. Savory meat coated in a rich sauce with a hint of rosemary makes me so happy!
For those of you wanting to stay away from red meat, Sprung a Leek ($5.50) is a tasty option! Chunky chicken breast prepared in a white wine cream sauce with tender leeks is encased in their signature shortcrust pastry shell covered with a puff pastry lid. Reminds me of a chicken pot pie, but SO much better.
Vegetarians will definitely go for Ghandi ($4.50), a pasty-like parcel filled with sweet Indian spiced chickpeas, potato, cauliflower, carrots and butternut squash pieces.
On a recent visit, I tried the Daisy & Babe Sag Roll ($4), an American version of a sausage roll if you will, with premium ground beef and pork, finely grated onions and carrots, extra sharp cheese and back bacon rolled in puff pastry. It was good, but I’m a traditionalist, and when I eat a sausage roll, I want the real thing.
The real thing, a standard Aussie sausage roll, or, Sag Roll ($3.50) is essentially the Daisy & Babe without the bacon and cheese.
This has to be my absolute favorite Aussie delight here. Even though I don’t like ketchup, I like it on my sausage roll. On my next trip home, I’m definitely bringing some tomato sauce back to enjoy with my meat pie and rolls!!
Pie Not
270 E 17th Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Tel: 949-650-7437
I heard about this place recently–looks awesome! There was a similar place for a while in Long Beach that was also a coffee place but it didn’t last very long :/