Comfort food for when you need it
Hit up Pilsen for some pies that'll make you feel like royalty
At this point, this week’s recommendation isn’t exactly a secret, nor should it be.
Many of you long-time Chicagoans know about my next pick, known for its British-style Royal Pies, along with its warm British pub food. British food gets a knock for sometimes being bland, but it’s not the case at this spot, which really does feel like a hug.
Let’s cut straight to the chase:
Go visit Pleasant House Pub in the Southside neighborhood of Pilsen.
It’s owned and run by my friends Art and Chelsea Jackson, who you should absolutely go say hello to when you visit. I’ve known Art for a long time now, and he’s been super kind to me through the years, a fact that I cherish very much. He’s supported my food writing career since way back in the day, and has been very encouraging since the first time we interacted.
I first visited long ago when Pleasant House was a tiny little restaurant next to Maria’s Packaged Goods and Community Bar in Bridgeport. The space now houses Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream, a restaurant whose pizza I love (which is unfortunately closing soon).
Back then the restaurant was very small. It’s since moved to Pilsen to a much bigger space. Plus, it expanded to become a pub, so you can sip on some cocktails, drink some beer, watch soccer, and eat British comfort food, all of which is delicious.
First off: You need to try the pies.
There’s four standard options. You’ll always see steak and ale, chicken balti, mushroom kale, and a “More-Rockin’” vegan pie (currently priced at $12.50 each). Then there’s a rotating special, which changes regularly. The single-serve pies all come in a beautiful flaky and tender crust, which is the kind all pies should really aspire to.
I cannot pick a favorite filling. It’s simply impossible. They’re all so good. I’d say my favorite just depends on how I’m feeling at the moment, so if I’m in the mood for British-Indian food, then the chicken balti hits perfectly. The steak and ale’s perfect for the time I just want something hearty, beefy, and substantial; the mushroom and kale is rich, creamy, and deeply satisfying (trust me, it’s not boring). And of course, if I feel like I’ve been eating too much meat, the Moroccan-spiced vegan pie is where to go.
If you’re so inclined, you can ask for it “crowned,” which means you get a scoop of mashed potatoes on top along with a fat douse of gravy, which is vegan (you wouldn’t know by tasting it). Then you’re really eating a full meal.
Here’s one of my favorite things, though: You can buy frozen pies to bring home. That means you can stock your freezer up for an easy convenience meal later. There’s easy baking instructions included and the pies taste just as good as the ones you can order on the spot, which is impressive.
Welsh rarebit is a rare bit
Welsh rarebit is something you don’t often see in Chicago for some reason.
At its core, it’s simply cheese on toast; Pleasant House’s version is a beer cheese on sourdough ($5). It’s fun to slice into if you’re with someone, or if you’re just snacking, it’s not too much food to have with a drink.
Other small stuff you should get:
There’s a pitch perfect Scotch egg ($6), a little pot of pickles ($3) which you’ll want to pick at between bites of anything particularly starchy or rich, and a big favorite of mine are the deluxe gravy chips ($8.50), which are thick chunks of deep-fried potatoes loaded with braised beef, brown gravy, and aged cheddar. The gravy chips are practically a meal by themselves, so you’re probably going to want to split them with someone else if you’re ordering a pie.
The bangers and mash are bangin’ and mashin’
Sometimes all you need is mashed potatoes, some form of meat, and a ton of gravy on a plate in front of you.
That’s where the bangers and mash ($14.50) come in. The sausages are snappy with an ultra-smooth interior, just like they serve in Britain, and there’s really no better accompaniment to them than mashed potatoes and the savory brown gravy on top. It’s a pretty damn generous portion, too. I ended up bringing a whole sausage home along with half the potatoes, which we ate later.
There’s a handful of things I haven’t tried yet (it’s hard to tear myself away from the pies), so if I ever get around to trying the chicken tikka ($15), which is only served on Wednesdays, the pub burger ($15), or the fish and chips ($15), which are Friday only, I’ll report back. Oh, and the brunch menu looks siiiick. Too bad I never leave the house in time for brunch.
For those of you who already know about Pleasant House Pub, take this as a sign that you should go this week. For those of you new to the place, go try some pies. They’ll make your day.
Then bring some frozen ones home too.
Pleasant House Pub
2119 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 523-7437
Mon: Closed
Tuesday-Thursday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
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Talk to you all soon, and have a great week.