Pleasant House Bakery

Pleasant House Bakery

Art and Chelsea Jackson have opened Pleasant House Bakery in Bridgeport. I've seen some pix of their savory pies and they look fantastic. From what I've read, they have 15 or so seats, so you can eat there or takeaway.

964 W. 31st St.
Chicago, IL 60608
http://thepleasanthouse.com/

Thanks David! However, we are not open yet! Sorry for any confusion. This could be the big week though.

Thanks, Art; guess it was wishful thinking .

Live a couple blocks away, can't wait!!

Did a quick u-turn on my way over to Zaytune yesterday when I saw the door at Pleasant House was open. I got the chance to speak with Art (who seems deceptively calm given that he's in the midst of what must be a harrowing process in getting a new space open) for a little while as I waited for my steak pasty.

While that was cooking, I got a chance to sample some of their house-made ginger soda, which was perfect for the heavy afternoon humidity on the front of yesterday's storm. They have a small refrigerator case stocked with sausages, pies, marrow bones, and a few canned drinks. Art said they were planning to offer their house-made sodas from a fountain in the future.

I took my pasty to go, and took a bite as I went to pull away. But I never quite made it that far, because I ate nearly the entire thing idling in park on Morgan. The crust was flaky and redolent with butter, caramelized lightly around the edges, crisp without being crumbly and indulgent without being heavy. The pie was well-filled (didn't feel like it was going to overflow or seep out of the other end once I took a bite) with tender beef, bits of potato, and what seemed like ever-so-slightly caramelized onions. The filling was lightly coated in a sauce that didn't suffer from your run-of-the-mill hand pie's oversalting or gumminess. I'm not especially familiar with pastys, but I thought this was a very good one.

Bridgeport seems to be experiencing an embarassment of riches over the past couple of years, and I think it's a safe bet to add Pleasant House to the list. Welcome to the neighborhood!

They were still open at 11pm when I arrived at Maria's Community Bar last night, so I dropped in for some takeout. They are apparently doing a Friday night fish fry - it smelled fantastic - but as I walked in when they were winding down, contented myself with a couple of Royal Pies instead. As I waited for my Steak and Ale and Chicken Balti pie, I had a chance to chat with Chelsea a bit. In addition to the pies & the specials, they sell fresh Slagel Farm eggs and have plans to add more items, they have some very ambitious plans for the space. I really loved Chelsea's enthusiasm for what they are doing and, as I'm in Bridgeport quite often, looking forward to returning on a regular basis.

The pies, btw, were incredible. My pictures are too awful to post, but yowza! Of the two, our table had a slight preference for the Chicken Balti, probably due to the fantastic sauce (the coriander, if I am not mistaken) served on the side, but the crusts were buttery, crisp and beautifully flaky at the same time. Both the steak and the chicken were packed with wonderfully seasoned and hearty fillings. I don't think I can add anything to Oculi's description, but man, these were some fantastic pies! Shared amongst 3 people, two pies were a very satisfying bar snack. I also noticed they have Scotch Eggs and butties on the menu. Count me as a fan.

This may be my favorite food corner in Chicago right now. I've written about how I really like Maria's and Bridgeport Coffee. It's just ridiculously awesome that Pleasant House is right there and Zaytune, too, (not technically on the corner, but close enough). The deliciousness is in such close proximity that it's actually all too near to food crawl, I believe--especially if you're like me and start at Pleasant House and feel like you need to be wheeled out of there because of a (happy) belly full of pasty and peas.

As a North Shore resident, this place is way out of my way, but we were able to stop by for take out after a show in Hyde Park. My reaction: they may be doing for savory pies what Hoosier Mama has done for dessert pies (although HM as some great savory stuff). There is a limited manu; only 4 or 5 pies as I recall, but the quality was oustanding. Each pie is a single serving; no slices. I had the Chicken Balti, which is a curried chicken filling; mild yet very flavorful. The key, of course, is the crust, and it was thick, flaky and buttery. There is a high dough to filling ratio (high on the dough side, because each pie is a fully encased single service) which is my strong preference, if the dough is good. My wife loved the pasty. We also tried the pickled egg, which was good, but more of a novelty item. We also had their home made ginger soda, which was outstanding.

Wishing this place was nearer to me,
Jonah

I'm dropping everything because of how impressed I was by what I tried from Pleasant House Bakery today. A co-worker drove a gaggle of pies up to Niles today and man, were they sensational . . .


Pasty (left), Steak & Ale Pie (right)

Even with the long drive, the crusts on these pies were crispy, light and flaky once they made it back to our Niles office. The fillings and the crusts were astonishingly delicious, too. We also tried a few other varieties, including the Chicken Balti and the Mushroom & Kale. They were all sensational. It was hard to pick a favorite. Even a side of fresh peas was exceptional. Like Jonah, I'm located nowhere near this place but based on what I experienced today, it'd definitely be worth a dedicated trip from Niles, and I'll be sure to make one (or more) asap.

=R=

i stopped by pleasant house today and was warmly greeted by art, the owner. i took a chicken balti pie to go, and ran into pigmon, another lth'er, as i was leaving. the pictures of this pie dont lie- it was as delicious as others have said. i really enjoyed the cilantro chutney that came with it, though it would have been even better with some heat to it. i'm already looking forward to trying the steak pasty and the salad with their own lettuces, but i would love to see PH add a single crust savory pie to its repertoire, as this pie is so rich that i don't think i'd want to eat it regularly. i'd love to have the option of something less heavy, but still be able to enjoy the fantastic pastry. justjoan

I went last week and was in love with the place the moment I stepped in (even though it was 11:25 and they still had their closed sign up and I had to bang a bit on the funny front door). But I will possibly echo justjoan: I found parts of the pastry a revelation but two things were problematic: there was too much of it (too thick to crack through with a fork) and the one I was served (the top of the list: steak and gravy) was burnt at the middle waist section of the "pie." I still enjoyed the best part of the pie -- the insides were lovely, and my side of peas with mint were "spot on." But they need to even the kinks out on the cooking time of the crust and I think I will try the pasty next. I think that thinner "crust" will sit better with me. But I really like the zeitgeist of this place so I will return to further explore the menu. Like Bangers & Mash and Fried Fish on Fridays.

bjt

The husband and I are in Bridgeport several times a week (White Sox/Maria's), so we've been hitting Pleasant House on a regular basis, but last night was the first time I managed to get there for the Friday night fish fry. Like everything else we've had there, I was absolutely wowed. For $12.00, I got an enormous, perfectly fried hunk of whitefish, along with some fantastic chips. We also had a side of "slaw" which was really a very nice mixture of their own greens in a tart dressing, a Chicken Boti pie (the picky eaters favorite) and an order of the gravy chips. They packed it all up for us to take next door to Maria's, where we enjoyed it all with some Zombie Dust. We noticed others doing the same thing, it almost feels like the new patio over at Maria's is an extension of PHB's dining room. This is rapidly becoming my favorite one-two punch in Chicago.

Attend the tale of Pleasant House
so praised by Hammond and Heather Shouse
they trim their pastry with hipster care
organic ingredients comprise all their fare
No British shoppe can so enchant
as Pleasant:
The Demon Bakers of Bridgeport

They opened up on 31st
with homebrewed sodas to quench our thirst
designer glasses and yoga bods
craft far better pies to take over to Maude's
by Pleasant, by Pleasant House
The Demon Bakers of Bridgeport

Stoke your ovens hot, Pleasant,
spice stews in your pot!
Freely seeps the balti and the salsify

Its menu short, its larder stocked
nigella seeds and kale are rocked
some fish and butter and ale and peas
(I'd like a bacon cookie, please)
Pleasant thinks and Pleasant plans -
I hope that's just steak frying in the pans -
Pleasant is smooth, Pleasant's addictive
Five pounds I've gained there are poorly predictive
Pleasant! Pleasant! Pleasant! Pleasant! Pleasant!

Attend the tale of Pleasant House
I kid their style but can't further grouse
their pasties will make you cavort
like Michael Carlson on five shots of Malort
will Pleasant, will Pleasant House
my favorite bakers in Bridgeport.

Great start to the day--thank you.

Santander wrote:Attend the tale of Pleasant House
so praised by Hammond and Heather Shouse
they trim their pastry with hipster care
organic ingredients comprise all their fare
No British shoppe can so enchant
as Pleasant:
The Demon Bakers of Bridgeport...

Brilliant!

Thanks,

=R=

Santander....you're my kind of guy.

Now I will have that delightful ballad running through my mind during my incredibly boring 3 hour meeting this afternoon -- with visions of delightful pies accompanied by a razor slitting the throats of my colleagues...

Mmmmm.....

earthlydesire wrote:Santander....you're my kind of guy.

Now I will have that delightful ballad running through my mind during my incredibly boring 3 hour meeting this afternoon -- with visions of delightful pies accompanied by a razor slitting the throats of my colleagues...

Mmmmm.....

You know, one time David Hammond was pondering the need for LTH "handles", i.e. not using our real names.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Santander wrote:Attend the tale of Pleasant House
so praised by Hammond and Heather Shouse
they trim their pastry with hipster care
organic ingredients comprise all their fare
No British shoppe can so enchant
as Pleasant:
The Demon Bakers of Bridgeport...

Brilliant!

Thanks,

=R=

Indeed! Now if the pastries were trimmed with a little less hipster care but were instead slightly bigger in size (and a touch lower in price), and (most importantly) the heat-level were amped up a couple-three notches.. then they'd live up to the quality of the ballad

c8w

I actually found the price and quality to be in perfect pitch, on my first visit this past Friday. I got a special, the Yankee pie, with mashed and gravy. It came to about ten bucks altogether, perhaps 10.50, and filled me up very nicely.

The pie itself was almost a chicken pot pie, but entirely encased in crust--and the crust was pretty awesome. It ran the gamut from light, flaky, and toasty on the outside, to gravy-soaked meat vehicle on the inside. The mix contained therein balanced nicely between chicken, carrots, and peas, with a good coriander note. The chicken, wonderfully, tasted like the actual animal, as opposed to the bland white protein I'm used to--major points on that.

The mashed potatoes were of the simple, unadorned variety--unbesmirched by an overdose of garlic or blue cheese--and married nicely with the equally straightforward, sage-y gravy.

I could've easily dropped ten bucks on some middling pot pie in any number of places, but the fine crust wrapped about those tasty innards left me quite content. Yes, there's a prominent hipster vibe, and the outside of the building looks like a friendly sort of hovel, but no matter. I'll be back, and how.

mtgl wrote:I actually found the price and quality to be in perfect pitch, on my first visit this past Friday. I got a special, the Yankee pie, with mashed and gravy. It came to about ten bucks altogether, perhaps 10.50, and filled me up very nicely.

I too found the quality of the pie to be good - the crust was flaky and pretty good IMHO. However, as you say, it was a little over 10 bucks - and it came nowhere close to filling *me* up, at any rate It felt sort of like a mini-pie to me, almost.. the size really isnt big at all. To me it was a snack, definitely not a meal.

I had the balti-chicken pie.. and it was savoury, and pretty tasty. Iam sure the ingredients are "organic", and "sustainable" etc etc (most of which I personally am not concerned about, Iam only concerned about the taste - YMMV). But, IMHO, it was totally and completely lacking in heat - and a balti/curry type filling which lacks heat isnt *right* to me

Iam not trying to criticize - its a nice place, the pie-crust etc was good (and its good to have a savoury pie spot that does a good crust). But, as I said above, in my personal opinion theyd get a "rave review" from me only if they were a couple-bucks cheaper, their pies were a couple-inches bigger, and they had at least 2 or 3 notches more "heat" in their balti-filling

c8w

I too found the quality of the pie to be good - the crust was flaky and pretty good IMHO. However, as you of which I personally am not concerned about, Iam only concerned about the taste - YMMV). But, IMHO, it was totally and completely lacking in heat - and a balti/curry type filling which lacks heat isnt *right* to me :-)

i understand you'd prefer more heat- i would too, but i'm pretty sure that 'balti' refers only to the stir fry style of indian cooking used, and doesn't dictate that the dish will be spicy. you'd have to ask how it's prepared to determine it's heat level. justjoan

I don't think you'll find any North England inspired cuisine packing heat.

After living in the UK most of my life, this is one of the best pies i have ever eaten! The pastry was rich in a good way (could have eaten the pastry by itself!), cooked just right and the generous meaty filling was melt in the mouth. Husband got the pasty and was equally impressed. We shared (fought over) the special fries which were their version of poutine with cheese, gravy and steak and enjoyed the refreshing homemade tea and a ginger sodas. I am a pretty good eater and am very suprised to see that someone found this pie more of a snack. I also found the prices to be fair considering the quality and flavours. I'm looking forward to returning on a wednesday night for some homemade bangers and mash. This place is really quite special and im pretty sure that before long they'll have long lines out the door.

I tried Pleasant House yesterday and came away quite impressed. I had the chicken balti pie with coriander chutney and a side of the English peas. After being served the pie, I'll admit that at first I was a bit concerned that it wasn't going to be enough food, but after finishing it I was quite satisfied. The pie looks small, but I think it is fairly dense. From a flavor perspective, it was easily one of the best things I have eaten in Chicago in a while. The crust was perfectly flaky, the chicken was nicely spiced, and the chutney was a great compliment. I wished it was bigger simply because I wanted to keep eating it, but I left feeling satisfied. Not too full, but not hungry. The total was around $10-$11 dollars. Of course it would be great if it were cheaper, but I didn't think the price was out of line with the quality of the food. I will definitely be back to work my way through the rest of their menu.

I ate at PH Bakery last night as well and also liked it very much. I had the kale/mushroom royal pie, which was totally delicious. The crust is everything folks are making it out to be, and the filling was hearty, filling, and nicely seasoned.

Also, knowing they maintain a few nearby plots for growing veggies, I got the green salad that was on the specials board for $3.50. Just a really simple salad with a bunch of different kinds of baby lettuces, a few thinly shaved carrots and radishes, and a basic vinaigrette. It was fantastic. This was a simple salad of the quality that you get at places like Publican, Bristol, or Lula, but for $3.50 in a counter-service atmosphere.

I also really liked the feel of the place. It sits at kind of the crossroads of what is shaping up to be a nice little dining scene down there in Bridgeport, it's got a nice, open, airy feel, despite the very small size, and it felt natural and effortless for me to engage in brief conversations with some of the other diners. PH Bakery already feels like a meeting place for the community.

Their house-made ginger ale was nice, although I wouldn't have minded a bit more bite to it. The meal cost me less than $15, which I felt was a great value for the quality that was delivered. Art and Chelsea are gracious hosts who understand the concept of hospitality and being a part of a community, and it's really evident right when you walk into this place.

I wish I lived closer, but I'll be making the trip down every once in a while for some of their specials, including the fish and chips on fridays.

I had a great early lunch here with a friend and his son yesterday. The price point is perhaps a tad high, but as with Hoosier Mama, this is frankly not food one should be consuming on a regular basis: the crusts are absolutely killer, but they'll eventually also kill you!

Anyway, loved it all around. We got two steak & ale pasties, the balti, the premium steak and a Scotch egg. I briefly confused the bath salts by the register as dessert items (disaster averted!), and was interested as well to see these guys are growing some of their own produce (as needed). Great, casual service, laid-back no frills sort of place. And Bridgeport Coffee across the street was a nice discovery as well. I'll be back for both, for sure.

Very much enjoyed the crusts (the high point of the meal for me). Preferred the pastie over the pie but both were flakey, rich and very much in the style of Hoosier Mama. The pastie I was told though was not traditional in the least and will defer to my learned table mate's pronouncement on that. The fillings (balti, steak) seemed to be on the mild-bland side but perked up with additional salt and pepper. Chips were not to my liking nor the gravy ladled over them. They were more in the home fries category than chips. The coriander chutney which I would have thought I'd like, left me cold. There was a distinct aftertaste to it that I did not care for. Peas were nice but the mint was not to be found.

For the most part I did enjoy the food, room and concept but doubt I'd write a sonnet about it. My lute is in the shop.

"For the most part I did enjoy the food, room and concept but doubt I'd write a sonnet about it. My lute is in the shop."

Couldn't you use your Caxixi?

Couldn't you use your Caxixi?

Clashes w/my green tights.

Evil Ronnie wrote:"For the most part I did enjoy the food, room and concept but doubt I'd write a sonnet about it. My lute is in the shop."

Couldn't you use your Caxixi?

Since I've had a few PMs about it, it's ballad-form, after the prologue to Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, which is, of course, a musical (and fable, and films) about English pie-making. Of sorts. Jazz, you can borrow my instrument anytime yours is at the luthier.