Potter’s Pasties’ owner Alec Duncan once told us that a storefront version of his popular food truck “was kind of a no-brainer.” The same can be said for visiting that storefront. Whether or not you dig English pasties (flaky, pot pie-like pockets similar in shape to empanadas), you’ll feel the pulse of Potter’s authenticity the second you descend the stairs to the shop’s basement lair on Como Ave.
The set-up is simple: There’s nowhere to sit, the silverware is plastic, and hot pasties roll out of the kitchen in the blink of an eye. Duncan or one of his employees hangs out of a small window, smiling, ready to regale you with pasty enthusiasm and lots of information about the shop and its British flair. Duncan’s wife is from the U.K., so he’s stocked his bitty shop with true English snacks, like teal cans of Heinz Baked Beans and a fishbowl of Cadbury candy bars.
With no room for a freezer, the shop makes everything fresh every day. And Duncan really seems set on making his hand pies affordable, which bodes well for the student-run neighborhood. Each pasty comes in small ($5) or large ($8), and both versions are filling.
But the best deal is the Couch Change Pasty, a pocket of leftover fillings for the cash-strapped. It clocks in at $4.50, and the barbecued pork specimen we tasted last week was phenomenal. First, the crust was slightly flaky, a little stretchy, and sweet almost like brioche. The juicy pork went beautifully with some sweet caramelized onions, sweet potatoes, and a little cheddar to take the edge off.
The Pasty of the Week (market price) we tried brought on Thanksgiving-style sighs. It was packed with pork, sweet potatoes, herbs, and warm pears. Drenched in spicy, house-made pear mustard, it made the grimy, unseasonable snow melt straight away.
Potter’s other pies sound exciting but don’t always hit the mark. Their Banoffee Pie was gooey and excellent if you crave caramel and true banana flavor, but the crust was tough enough to be depressing after those kick-ass dinner pasties. Similarly, a cherry, pear, and mint goat cheese slice was herby, strange, and hard to manage with plastic forks. In lieu of dessert, grab a Crunchie bar and get on your way. And students, listen up: Par-baked pasties are always available and bicycle delivery starts at 5pm.
Potter’s Pasties
British hand pies in Minneapolis
1828 Como Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
CHEF / OWNER: Alec Duncan
HOURS: Mon-Thu 11am-10pm
Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
Delivery
Mon-Thu 5pm-10pm
Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm
BAR: None
RESERVATIONS / RECOMMENDED?: No / No
VEGETARIAN / VEGAN: Yes / No
ENTREE RANGE: $4-8