One Cornish pasty from this little bakery can weigh a full pound before it ever sees your oven. That isn’t a snack, it’s a whole lunch wearing a golden crust.
The shelves hold British meat pies, sausage rolls, scones, and even cheerful bottles of Irn-Bru for homesick expats. The owner grew up in Essex, England, and she still does the baking herself.
Every pasty and pie sits in the case cold, ready to heat in your own oven whenever hunger strikes. I like how that turns one quick New Jersey stop into dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow.
Apple pie lives here too, and it happens to be a best-seller. Still, I can’t imagine skipping a mushroom-loaded steak pie or a Banoffee slice just to grab the usual, can you?
A Little Slice Of England Lives On Watchung Plaza
Montclair has plenty of coffee shops and cafes, but only one storefront here bakes pies the way they do in England. The Pie Store sits in the historic Watchung Plaza, and it calls itself New Jersey’s go-to spot for homemade British pies.
That’s a bold title for a small bakery. Then again, the shop backs it up with savory pies, sweet pies, pasties, sausage rolls, and scones all made in-house.
Its Google listing sums it up neatly as British meat pies, sweets, and groceries. Every one of those words matters, because the shelves carry imported U.K. goods alongside the baked treats.
So yes, you can grab a classic apple pie here. You can also leave with a pound-heavy pasty, a bag of crisps, and a chocolate bar you last saw in London.
The shop holds a 4.5-star rating across more than 400 Google reviews. That’s a lot of happy pie eaters for one compact shop in Essex County.
Fans of comfort food will feel right at home. Fans of British comfort food may feel like they’ve actually gone home.
Consider it a trip across the Atlantic without the passport line. The flight time is however long it takes to find parking.
An Essex Baker With A Food Stylist’s Eye
Samantha Codling didn’t start out as a pie shop owner. Before she was rolling crusts in New Jersey, she worked as a food stylist, making dishes look gorgeous for the camera.
She grew up in Essex, England, and carried those home-kitchen flavors across the ocean. Today she’s the owner and chief baker of The Pie Store.
Her first business in town went by a different name. She opened The London Food Company on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair.
In 2008, she moved the operation to Watchung Plaza and shaped it into the shop you’ll find today. A sister shop, The Tea Store, now sits just a few doors away.
There’s a sweet twist in the timeline too. Essex the English county gave way to Essex the New Jersey county, since Montclair sits in Essex County.
Her husband, Frankie Faison, is part of the picture as well. He sells his own granola at the store, which makes this a true family affair.
The shop also serves a sizable local community of British and Irish expats. For them, it can feel like a taste of home packed into a pastry box.
Steak, Gravy And Green Chile Make Pie A Proper Dinner
Gravy, beef, and mushrooms under a golden lid. That’s the best-selling steak pie at The Pie Store, and it sets the tone for the whole savory lineup.
Shepherd’s Pie is the other big seller on the savory side. It’s the kind of supper British families have leaned on for generations.
From there, the menu branches out in fun directions. Cheese, Potato, and Onion Pie keeps things meat-free, while Chicken and Mushroom Pie covers the poultry crowd.
Then come the curveballs. A Hatch Green Chile Pie brings a Southwestern kick, and a Chicken Madras pie nicknamed the Soccer Pie nods to British curry culture.
Turkey and Stuffing Pie appears on the list too, and it may show up around the holidays. Picture Thanksgiving dinner, folded neatly into a crust and ready to reheat.
Want proof that pie can be dinner? The savory case makes the argument better than any essay ever could.
New Jersey has plenty of diners and pizzerias on every corner. Very few of them, though, hand you a ready-to-bake curry pie on a Tuesday afternoon.
Choosing just one is the real challenge. Buying two and calling it meal planning is a perfectly reasonable strategy.
One Cornish Pasty Could Cover Lunch For Two
A pound. That’s the minimum weight of a pasty here, which means one of these feels less like a snack and more like a project.
Pasties are traditional British hand pies, a bit like oversized empanadas stuffed with meat and vegetables. The Cornish Pasty is a best-seller at The Pie Store, and it’s the natural place to start.
The supporting cast is just as fun to read. Steak and Cheddar, BBQ Pork and Cheddar, and Lamb and Feta all appear among the pocket pasties.
Vegetarians get real options too. Chana Masala brings chickpea curry into the crust, and Sweet Potato, Blue Cheese, and Onion sounds like a cozy fall dinner.
Every pasty goes home cold, so plan for some oven time. That’s a feature, not a flaw, since you can stock up and bake whenever hunger hits.
Historically, pasties fed Cornish miners who needed a portable meal underground. A pound of pastry and filling still makes a pretty convincing lunchbox today.
Splitting one between two people is a smart move. Eating one solo is a bold one, and nobody here will judge.
Sausage Rolls And Cheddar Scones Steal The Side Spotlight
Sausage rolls are basically the British answer to pigs in a blanket, only grown-up. The Pie Store offers two takes: a classic Sausage Roll and a Gourmet Sausage Roll.
Both make sense for game day, a road trip snack, or a quick lunch at your desk. They also travel better than a full pie balanced on your lap.
Then there are the scones, baked fresh in a rotating mix of flavors. Cranberry-Orange, Raisin, Chocolate Chip, and Strawberry cover the sweet side nicely.
Sharp Cheddar is the wild card. A savory scone with soup on a chilly afternoon might be the coziest combo in the county.
Portuguese Egg Custard Tarts join the lineup on weekends. They’re a fun detour from the British theme, and a very welcome one.
Scones are also the easiest entry point for picky eaters. Kids who balk at a lamb pasty will probably find a chocolate chip scone hard to resist.
Add a pot of tea and the whole spread starts to resemble a proper afternoon tea. Cream and jam are entirely your call.
Banoffee Is The Weekend Treat Worth Hunting Down
Funny thing about that headline. The Double Crust Apple Pie is actually one of the shop’s best-sellers, so skipping it entirely might be a mistake.
Its fruity sibling, the Double Crust Raspberry-Blackberry-Apple Pie, is a best-seller too. Two crusts, three fruits, and zero reason to share.
Key Lime Pie brings a Florida flavor into the case. It’s a bright, tart change of pace after all that savory talk.
Banoffee is the one to hunt for if you want something truly British. It layers bananas and toffee, and it shows up on weekends.
Coconut Custard Pie is available on weekends or by pre-order. Chocolate Mousse Pie needs a pre-order, so plan ahead if chocolate is non-negotiable.
Seasonal pies keep the calendar interesting. Cran-Apple and Pumpkin roll in at the right times of year, just in time for holiday tables.
Showing up to a family dinner with a British-style pie from The Pie Store is an easy win. Nobody needs to know you didn’t bake it yourself.
Sweet tooth or not, the dessert case deserves at least a long look. It might just talk you into a second box.
Irn-Bru, Cadbury And Even Fairy Liquid Line The Shelves
Irn-Bru, Lucozade, and Cadbury share shelf space with the pies. For British and Irish expats, that lineup can feel like spotting an old friend across a crowded room.
The grocery side stocks candies, chocolates, biscuits, and crisps. Remember, crisps are chips in Britain, and chips are fries, so read labels carefully.
Cooks will find jams, savory sauces, and curry mixes too. Those make it easy to bring a little U.K. flavor into your own kitchen.
The Pie Store even carries hard-to-find household goods from the U.K. and Ireland. Fairy Liquid, the famous British dish soap, is one of them.
That might sound like an odd thing to buy at a bakery. For anyone who grew up with it, though, the familiar bottle is half the fun.
Kids may well love this corner for obvious reasons. Unfamiliar candy wrappers turn a quick errand into a mini treasure hunt.
It’s also a clever gift stop for birthdays and hostess presents. A bag of British biscuits beats another scented candle any day.
Bring a tote bag, just in case. Snacks have a sneaky habit of multiplying at checkout.
The Tea Store Down The Block Doubles The Fun
A few doors down sits the best excuse to make this a two-stop visit. The Tea Store, at 106 Watchung Ave, is the sister shop to the bakery.
Luxury teas are the main attraction there. The shelves also hold more U.K. imports, so the British browsing doesn’t have to end at one door.
Some treats from The Pie Store show up at the tea shop too. That means you might pick up a scone and the tea to go with it in one easy loop.
Having two shops so close together makes the outing feel bigger than a single errand. It’s a short stroll, not a second drive across town.
Tea lovers will appreciate the chance to try something new. A good loose tea paired with a Banoffee slice sounds like a pretty great Saturday.
Planning a homemade afternoon tea? Between the two shops, the hardest part may be fitting everything into one shopping bag.
It’s a nice reminder that Watchung Plaza rewards a slower pace. Park once, wander a bit, and let curiosity pick the order.
Grab the kettle when you get home. The rest pretty much takes care of itself.
Plan Around Short Hours And A Bring-It-Home Menu
Timing matters, because the doors don’t stay open late. The Pie Store opens at 11 a.m.
Tuesday through Saturday and closes at 5 p.m.
Sunday hours run shorter, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday hours have been listed differently in different places, so a quick call ahead is smart.
You’ll find the shop at 100 Watchung Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043. It sits in historic Watchung Plaza, an easy drive for much of North Jersey.
Street parking nearby can be limited, so give yourself a few extra minutes. A weekday visit may make finding a spot a little easier.
Pies, pasties, and sausage rolls are sold cold for heating at home. Plan on dinner rather than a hot on-the-spot snack, and bring a cooler bag on warm days.
The shopping area is small, and there’s a step at the entrance. That’s worth knowing for strollers, wheelchairs, or anyone with mobility needs.
Handmade baking and imported goods can run on the pricier side. Coming with a list helps you avoid buying one of everything.
Pre-order items like Chocolate Mousse Pie need a little lead time. A quick heads-up keeps your plans running smoothly.
Why Savory Pie Deserves A Spot On Your New Jersey Bucket List
Plenty of bakeries chase every trend. The Pie Store does one thing really well, and that thing happens to be British comfort food.
For families, it’s an easy way to try something new without a big production. Kids can grab a scone while adults debate steak pie versus pasty.
Expats get a taste of home, from Cadbury to Fairy Liquid. Curious New Jerseyans get a passport-free food adventure in their own backyard.
It also suits the cold-weather crowd beautifully. A pasty waiting in the fridge on a snowy night feels like a tiny act of self-care.
The family story adds warmth too. A baker from Essex, a granola-making husband, and a shop that has called Watchung Plaza home since 2008.
So go ahead and grab the apple pie if you must. Just don’t leave without something savory tucked under your arm.
Odds are good you’ll be planning the next visit before the oven timer even beeps. That’s the real sign of a great pie shop.
Montclair has given New Jersey a little corner of England worth the trip. All it asks in return is a hearty appetite and some oven space.
