Adam Ain't Cooking

Pie is life. Pie is love. I've never seen anywhere take their love of pie quite so seriously as this place. There are photos of pies, photos of things related to pies, pie related jokes, and even pies on the toilet doors and on photos in the toilets! Remember Pie-Face from The Beano? Everything in his life was pie focused and pie related and shaped. Welcome to Pieminister, in Manchester.

We visited on a cold Thursday afternoon in November, but as you walk into the small shop front in the heart of the Northern Quarter, there's a fantastic warm atmosphere, both in the steamed up windows from the warmth of the food and the people, but also in the cosy seating, everyone sat together chatting, relaxing, laughing, and munching on pies!

I've wanted to try Pieminister for a long time. Their pie menu on their website sounds amazing, and I wanted to try some as soon as I read it!

I visited with my partner, and we were quickly seated on a table by the stairs, and right by a cabinet showing all of the lovely pies available, behind which the staff were busying away in a small galley kitchen-cum-bar area. Even before we ordered, it was great watching all of the meals being assembled with good hearty portions and good quality stuff!

Looking at the menu, it's what you'd expect, but happily so. They do pies. Good pies. Lots of pies. That's what they do. Pies. There's also Festive Pies at this time of year, a few pie-similar light meals, and a superb array of traditional sides to go with pies. Pies pies pies!

So from the menu I chose the Free Ranger with minted mushy peas and gravy, whereas my partner opted for the epically named MOTHERSHIP, which is a pie (he chose Fungi Chicken) with creamy mashed potatoes, cheddar cheese, minted mushy peas, crispy shallots, and gravy. It's enough to make a grown Northern man weep manly tears of joy!

Although there was a little bit of a wait (as it was very busy), the atmosphere was relaxed, warm, and comfortable, so it wasn't really much of an issue, especially when you'll have to simply believe me when I say it was worth the wait!!

Our pies arrived in those classic camping style metal bowls. The bottom layer was the creamy mash, with the pie sat on top of it, then the minted mushy peas dolloped lovingly on top of that. The meals go upwards, which given that my partner's meal also had crispy shallots and cheddar cheese, gives you the idea of why it was named 'The Mothership', our gravy was served in traditional chrome gravy boats on the side. I must admit I tried some of my partner's crispy shallots and I am DEFINITELY ordering those next time!!

The quality of the food was outstanding. The mash was perfectly creamy and traditional, the pies themselves succulent and tender, and perfectly seasoned, with just the right firmness to the pastry, wheras the minted mushy peas were good old fashioned nostalgia. All of these combined (along with a bottle of Fentimans Dandelion and Burdock) delivered the perfect homely, nostalgic, comforting dinner that perfectly accompanied a freezing cold November afternoon in Manchester.

Forgive the lighting, we were sat under a neon red sign!

The service was friendly, efficient and professional. We were met with smiles and helpful attitudes whenever we needed to ask staff something, right up to paying and leaving.

Pieminister, keep doing what you're doing, you're doing it so very very right, and I thoroughly look forward to returning again soon, by myself, with my partner, with my friends, and with my parents and family. I can't imagine anyone leaving your restaurant without a smile on their faces!