Living around the corner, I go to Pleasant House quite often--perhaps every couple weeks. That is all my waistline can afford, because this place seldom misses. The specials rock, too, from fish and chips to burgers to bangers, and being able to eat them at Maria's, with its excellent tap list, is always a top-tier meal.

That said, things typically are slow on Sundays. This was not only the Check, Please! effect, but also the weekend of Open House Chicago, and the neighborhood was fairly crawling with visitors. I'll be hitting them at off-peak times for the next couple months. I'm glad you still had a good overall experience, however, despite the wait!

Sweet Willie wrote:

stevez wrote:Pleasant House Bakery pies are also available at Local Goods Chicago located in beautiful downtown Edgebrook; a couple doors west of GNR Elephant Thai.

Local Goods Chicago
5354 W. Devon
Chicago, IL 60646
773/490-8200

Elephant Thai
5348 W Devon
Chicago, IL
773-467-1168

I always thought Local Goods was art/crafts. Good to know!

Unless something has changed very recently, you can also order them -- and other PHB items -- at Lone Wolf (to eat there).

=R=

806 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 600-9391

Plein Air Cafe in Hyde Park also carries Pleasant House Pies (I think they have everything but the cold pork pie much to my chagrin). Although when the University is in session it can be about as hard to find a seat as at Pleasant House!

http://www.pleinaircafe.co/
5751 S Woodlawn Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
Mon - Fri :: 7a–8p
Sat - Sun :: 8a–6p

And don't forget about catering ... my department ordered from PHB for a special occasion lunch a couple of years ago and it was wonderful. Each person ordered the pie of their choice in advance, and then we had big trays of peas and mash (and gravy).

Provenance on Leland outside the south end of Lincoln Square sometimes has Pleasant House pies.

2312 W Leland Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
773 784-2314

I've been going to Pleasant House since its early days and have always been a huge fan. Considering it's Pleasant House Bakery, it's surprising how few baked goods of theirs I've tried (other than the pies, of course). I haven't seen even a minute of Check. Please! in years, so in blissful ignorance I stopped at their booth at the 61st Street Farmers Market last weekend.



The first thing to catch my eye was this box of beautiful jelly donuts.



Yeah, they're as good as they look, filled with a large amount of high-quality strawberry jam.



Also tried a sausage roll for the first time.



Buttery, flaky pastry filled with pork highly seasoned with salt and sage.

Their breads look great, every one of them.



I'm mad at myself for not grabbing that last brick of rugbrød, the dense Danish loaf rarely seen around here (smørrebrød, anyone?).

Standard Market in Westmont always has Pleasant House pies, come to think of it. With winter approaching, I may need to pick some up to pop in the freezer.

I stopped in on Thursday for a quick bite and drink at Maria's, and noticed quite an array of bakery goods--particularly bread and croissants. There was even a loaf of Rugbrod, Rene G, if you ever need your fix. Apparently they are doing the baking at The Plant in old Packingtown/Stockyards. I popped back in just now to grab a loaf for the week and they were out--fresh delivery arriving tomorrow (Monday), for which I will return.

In the interest of research, and given the closure of nearby Beurrage (verified in person, alas), I picked up a croissant. The plain was pretty good at $3. They had a couple other varieties, including chocolate, a gruyere/ham, and another with a long shishito pepper and some other goodies tucked inside--though naturally these cost a bit more, they were both hefty and interesting.

Seeing as I can't get the image to show on here, here is a link: http://s979.photobucket.com/user/mtglth/media/Mobile%20Uploads/1115151112a_zpskep3pdg7.jpg.html

mtgl wrote:In the interest of research, and given the closure of nearby Beurrage (verified in person, alas) . . .

Terribly sad to read this, though I'm hoping we find out that this is temporary. I visited a couple of months ago and everything was as great as ever. Would be another black eye for Chicago's baking scene to lose a gem like this.

Don't shoot the messenger, but by the time you read this, Pleasant House might no longer be offering the wonderful corned beef and cabbage pie I enjoyed yesterday. Large chunks of delicious corned beef, vegetables that had solid texture, a delicious cream sauce that brought it all together, and of course the usual solid crust.




I also tried Pleasant House's baguette for the first time. It was sensational. Beautiful crust, great flavor, and a soft interior but with a good chew.

My chocolate croissant was not as successful. It looked beautiful, but turned out to be somewhat heavy and dense, a tad dry, not all that buttery and contained very little chocolate. I have to say, this was the first item I've ever tried at Pleasant House that didn't impress. Perhaps it was just an aberration, but perhaps others have tried and can chime in.

I have heard recently that the Pleasant House next to Marias may be closing down due to the expansion of Marias and them needing a little parking lot...

Is Pleasant House making pies for Trader Joe's now? TJ's frozen chicken balti and steak & ale "pub pies" look just like the frozen PH pies that are (were?) available at Foodease in WTP.

I had a wonderful plain croissant from there not long ago, but haven't had a chocolate one yet. The breads are generally excellent. I particularly enjoy the rugbrod--dense with grain but not dry or chewy like so many such loaves can be. They are not, however, made on-site at the 31st location, but rather at The Plant not too far away. They may not have perfected their croissants across the board yet.

I am sad not to have gotten a corned beef pie--looks excellent.

I would be surprised if they are selling to TJ's--not sure how they could meet that volume--but perhaps I'll try some and compare. Perhaps some of their production space at the Plant takes care of these as well?

PH is most certainly not closing to accommodate a parking lot for the forthcoming Kimski. Kimski will not be so large that plentiful street parking cannot accommodate. Incidentally, said restaurant is awaiting inspections and could open in the next couple of weeks. I don't believe its opening will result in any alteration of the Maria's/Pleasant House relationship, however--this is a staple of my existence and would ruin me were something to happen.

mtgl wrote:


PH is most certainly not closing to accommodate a parking lot for the forthcoming Kimski. Kimski will not be so large that plentiful street parking cannot accommodate. Incidentally, said restaurant is awaiting inspections and could open in the next couple of weeks. I don't believe its opening will result in any alteration of the Maria's/Pleasant House relationship, however--this is a staple of my existence and would ruin me were something to happen.

I had overheard it while i was at Stanleys on 43rd but who know. I certainly hope not. I used to live right down on Throop and used to love walking to get a pie then go on Mondays for the free Korean bbq and down some polishes with the Kimchi. Now i only head there during the week, even though i still live over on 35th other side of Ashland. I actually prefer to grab a pie to go then head over to Bridgeport Inn, sense i enjoy dinning in dumpsters hahaha.

Hey all,

Let's please refrain from posting any rumors about any places, especially when they involve possible closures. In this case the rumor appears to be erroneous but we're not sure, which is exactly why they should never be posted.

Thanks,

=R=
for the Moderators

Roger Ramjet wrote:Is Pleasant House making pies for Trader Joe's now? TJ's frozen chicken balti and steak & ale "pub pies" look just like the frozen PH pies that are (were?) available at Foodease in WTP.

I've tried the TJ's pies, and if they're PH (which I doubt), it is a different tier of product than what is sold at PH or at other retailers under PH branding.* The TJ's pies look the same in terms of size and exterior, but the crust is way off (not as buttery and flaky) and the fillings are well below the PH standard as well.

* Incidentally, as a PSA, note that they no longer sell frozen PH pies at Publican Quality Meats.

First, the bad news. Pleasant House Bakery, Bridgeport's meat pie stalwart and Eater 38 mainstay, closed its Three Oaks, Michigan restaurant last month after three years in business. The good news: Pleasant House Bakery owners Art and Chelsea Jackson are planning to open a second restaurant in Chicago this year.

http://chicago.eater.com/2016/4/8/11334 ... -nightwood

Dave148 wrote:

First, the bad news. Pleasant House Bakery, Bridgeport's meat pie stalwart and Eater 38 mainstay, closed its Three Oaks, Michigan restaurant last month after three years in business. The good news: Pleasant House Bakery owners Art and Chelsea Jackson are planning to open a second restaurant in Chicago this year.

http://chicago.eater.com/2016/4/8/11334 ... -nightwood

Pleasant House Bakery, beloved makers of royal pies in Bridgeport, will close in mid-May, but new Pleasant House Pub will open in the former Nightwood restaurant space in early June, said chef Art Jackson, who owns the business with wife Chelsea Jackson, who is also the pastry chef.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct ... story.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-pleasant-house-bakery-closing-reopening-as-pub-20160420-story.html

What i had overhead that afternoon at Stanleys was correct, but it looks like this will be much better for them!

Excited for their journey. Bummed it wont be as close, but certainly not too far away.