The Pastry Pilgrim

I believe the sausage rolls are from HARPERS — so definately worth a visit

I am super jealous that I am not the first one to get to review the Pastry Pilgrim. I lurve this place and want one of my very own. Shouldn’t I? I mean, you English did come to the States to be called «Pilgrims» so it seems only fitting that «The Pastry Pilgrim» should be on my shores and not yours.
The Brit and I stumbled up TPP while searching for a good breakfast spot. I had a great proper English muffin, who knows what The Brit had, and then we shared the caramel shortbread (though I easily could have shoved that sucker in my mouth when he wasn’t looking, it was so friggin’ good!). I know a shortbread isn’t breakfast food, but who the hell cares? It was the holidays and it was cold! Sweets warm you up or whatever.
The space is lovely, crisp, clean and comfortable. The staff was friendly and the place warm provided someone shuts the door behind them. I swear to god I will make The Brit take me back here to get me a traditional pasty, and after reading Leon’s review, I’ll probably shove a sausage roll or three down my gob as well. Oh, and I’ll have a box of those caramel shortbreads as well thanks. Holiday fatness here I come (again).

Hmmm.
Safe to say, if i start my review with ‘hmmm’, the place isn’t going to get more than three stars. Because there’s just not much to shout about here. We were only here because we couldn’t find Foxcroft & Ginger (we were on the wrong side of the street and it was well hidden behind some market stalls). Pastry Pilgrim wasn’t as great as it looks.
My pork and apricot sausage roll should have been great. But it was just average. There was nothing to shout about (want a sausage roll to shout about? Head to the café in the Wellcome collection). My friend’s pasty was better, but it was more expensive too. And there was nothing great about it. Although I don’t think it was their fault that my dining companion threw ketchup all over it. I despair.
I’d pop back in to grab a bite on the go, but I won’t make a point to come back. Shame, because the service was friendly and there’s no reason not to like it. I just wasn’t blown away.

As bakeries go, The Pastry Pilgrim rustles up some very impressive tucker. It has an upmarket vibe, and the food delivers a tasty punch. The sausage roll I had was the tastiest I have ever eaten in London. The cinnamon bun, was drenched in sweet, satisfying guilt. This is no swanky Greggs, there is clearly a lot of heart put into the offerings. If you are looking for a fuller meal you can have pie with mash, and a whole host of other baked goods, that are sure to leave you in a happy state of delicious fullness.

Nov 2010: CLOSED DOWN
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If you are new to the UK and would like to get into this whole pie thing without being reminded of terrible movies you saw as a child (where the witch would stuff pies with puppies, kitties and other poor things) then this is a good choice. It is close to Oxford street, easy to find and not too expensive. If you are lucky, you may even find a seat.
I can really recommend the steak and guinness pie. Was less impressed by the cheese and onion one.

best bacon sandwich on the planet. Ever.

A succession of interesting takeaway places have opened on this site and closed again quite quickly recently. However, in Pastry Pilgrim, I think there’s now a shop which I hope will survive.
Like Linzi M, I was excited to see a new shop open and the display of food straightaway made my stomach rumble although I had just eaten lunch not so long ago.
On the left is the savoury section. Their selection of handmade pies was being offered with mashed potato, a choice of Heinz beans or onion gravy and a can of Coke for under a fiver. There’s a choice of beef & Guinness, chicken leek & mushroom, beef chilli and broccoli & stilton. All looked very tasty with thin puff pastry supporting a generous amount of filling.
The sausage rolls were also wonderfully fat fingers of meat with thin pastry covers — their menu proudly announces that these gourmet pork sausage rolls are loved by the Hairy Bikers.
There was a selection of baguettes in the next cabinet over but my gaze was drawn to the shiny yummy looking pastries — croissants, pain au chocolat and the most amazing looking fruit danishes.
Just when I thought I couldn’t be tempted anymore, I arrived at the piece de resistance — the cupcakes from the Organic Cupcake company. Looking much more natural than the fluorescent Hummingbird variety, there was only one real choice possible for me — peanut butter. So far, the best cupcake in London for me.
I shall be back with an emptier stomach to try more offerings here. One could almost consider it a pilgrimage!

A couple of days open and the eagle eye of the Unilocaler strikes! Amidst the grim and sometimes glitter of Berwick Street a new treasure has opened, The Pastry Pilgrim. Its sign announces Baking Happiness with handmade pies, pasties, baguettes and cupcakes. Drawn in by the counter of fresh, beautiful looking artisan treats, I was sold before I could even get my purse out. Though it looked a little intimidating from outside, the staff were all smiles and welcomes, even offering to stay open till I returned as I had no cash (they don’t take cards yet).
A glutton for cupcakes of any sort I picked out a Lemon and Raspberry. Most cupcakes are shamelessly sugary, flaunting their buttercream icing and artificial colouring but the Pastry Pilgrim cupcakes (from The Organic Cupcake Company) are all about depth and character. Boasting organic sponge with natural juice and zest buttercream, the Lemon Cupcake was airy and sophisticated. I didn’t even feel naughty tasting the Raspberry, it was almost healthy with fresh fruit laced through the sponge and matching buttercream. These cupcakes are undoubtedly a class above any you’ll have tasted in London.
At between £2.10 and £2.30 per cupcake, the prices are a bit expensive but if you’re passing I urge you to pop in and try a delicious treat, the sausage rolls look divine. They’re nice people with great food and, judging by the stale, dry muffin I had in Starbucks yesterday, way more deserving of your hard earned cash.