Pleasant House Bakery

Inside the steak pasty

We went to dinner at Pleasant House Bakery in Chicago.  We had heard about them from a few different sources - Chicago's Best, Check Please and Pot Pie Paradise on the Travel Channel.  We went to their brick and mortar establishment but they also have a food truck around Chicago. They specialize in traditional and modern savory pies.

Exterior of the steak pasty

Steak Pasty - we wanted to try this as we have had pasties before (in Northern Michigan). The pasty was a bit dry and small by comparison to ones we have had in the past. In addition to steak it had potatoes, rutubaga and onions in it. A pasty kind of looks like a calzone.



Exterior of the mushroom and kale pie

Mushroom and Kale Royal Pie - there are 4 different pies to choose from (steak and ale, chicken balti and cold pork pie are the others).  The mushroom and kale pie had assorted mushrooms, kale, scallions and Parmesan in it. It tasted great and we totally could have each eaten our own. It had well blended flavors. The crust is light and flaky and the center is warm and juicy.

Inside the mushroom and kale pie

Deluxe Chips with gravy - kind of like a poutine dish.  This came with bits of skirts steak, cheddar cheese and gravy.  We really enjoyed this dish as well.

Final thoughts on Pleasant House Bakery:

Food - they have a fairly limited menu but it all is homemade right in their restaurant.  The pie was definitely better than the pasty. We were a bit hungry as we left but that was on purpose because we had dessert waiting at home.

Service - you order your food at a a counter and then it is brought out to you when it is ready

Deluxe chips with gravy

Atmosphere - the space is pretty small, there are only about 6 or 7 small tables.  The decore is a bit sparse.  It looks like they do a large carryout business. 

Ballydoyle

Went to eat at Ballydoyle in Downers Grove, an English/Irish Pub.  It was a late celebration of St. Patrick's Day for us.

 


Corned Beef Bites

As an appetizer we had Corned beef bites - they were corned beef and cream cheese shaped into balls and fried. It filled Nick's need for corned beef for St Patty's day. They were warm and freshly fried. We were a little apprehensive about the cream cheese but it went together well with the corned beef.  They were served with a cocktail sauce, but it really was not the best sauce to pair them with as it was too tangy and strong.  The cocktail sauce over powered the corned beef; maybe a honey mustard or mild mustard sauce would have been better.

For entrees we ordered a Steak Boxty and Bangers and Mash.  In Irish, a Boxty means "poor house bread".  The menu described the boxty as a homemade potato pancake cooked on a griddle and wrapped around a filling.  The potato pancake was actually thin and crepe-looking; not exactly what we expected  from a potato pancake (i.e. not like a Jewish/Polish pancake).  But it was very delicate and nicely wrapped around tender well flavored steak.  Nick wishes he could have tried the corned beef boxty.

Inside a corned beef bite

The Bangers and Mash were several links of Irish sausages with a mountain of mashed potatoes.  The bangers were well balanced in the spice arena and served in a light gravy. Natalie was hoping that they would be sweet like the bangers we ate at Chequers in La Grange but they were still delicious.

Final thoughts on Ballydoyle:
Food - tasty, would like to try their corned beef in a more traditional presentation.  Otherwise standard bar fare.
Service - when we walked in there was a sign that said to seat yourself, which seemed a little odd. Then we felt like we waited a long time to get menus and water.  After that everything was served very quickly.


Steak Boxty

Atmosphere - most people probably come here for the pub atmosphere so eating here on a Monday night doesn't really exude the same feeling as on a weekend.  But in the bar area they do have a stage for band performances to take place at night. Something else we noticed is that the waitresses are dressed in kilts and t-shirts - maybe trying to be like Tilted kilt, just a little more subdued an not overtly sexual.

Bangers & Mash