Dinkum Pies
29 Block Place, Melbourne
Phoe 03 9654 6792
The Meat Pie is as iconic as they come as far as Australia’s National Dish is concerned. This hand held package of pastry, meat and gravy is as much lauded as it is loathed (body parts and gravy anyone?). Despite that, I reckon you can’t beat a good meat pie, and one of the more traditional versions can be found at Dinkum Pies in Block Place.
This pie shop feels like it has been time-warped out of country Victoria circa 1960. The shopfront and decor is incredibly retro, and not in that forced designer cool kind of way either. This my friends is the real deal. Inside…well, lets just say that your eyes won’t rest long for want of something to read while you consume your pie. Laminated posters adorn most of the walls, with one particularly amusing piece advising “When it’s brown it’s cooked. When it’s black it’s buggered.”
Luckily we chose the non-buggered versions. To start with the pie case is made with a good shortcrust pastry - firm and not too soggy. Then check out the layers of lovely buttery yellowy puffy pastry on top! You can just tell that this is going to taste good.
Inside, the beef, gravy and mushrooms (yes, you can see one peeking through to the left) is hearty and flavoursome. Slather the lot in tomato sauce and bite in, careful not to scorch the roof of your mouth.
Or you might go a Shepherd’s (otherwise known as the Meat and Potato) - short crust pastry filled with a beef mince, carrot, onion, celery and tomato gravy. Instead of a puff pastry top, a piped swirl of yellow mashed potato prevents the meat from escaping.
Along with the regulars (and yes, they even have vegetarian pies), they also do a roaring trade in country bakery type pastries; hedgehogs, apple cakes, matchsticks, fruit mince slices, scones, yo yo’s and eclairs.
For more Dinkum Pie goodness check out the review at Secret Melbourne. But if it’s just pies you’re after, you can’t go past Piecon.
I just love that you can find such an honest, authentic, down to earth bit of Australiana smack bang in the CBD. All is not lost!
Written by mellie on
September 28th, 2008 | Tags: Block Place, cafe, Dinkum Pies, meat pie | Category: dining experiences, food items
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September 28th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Absolutely on the nail! I can’t offhand think of anywhere else as old-fashioned-good in the CBD. The coffee lounges are gone or touristy, most of the cafeteria-like places are long dead… sniff.
September 28th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Oohh, where is Block Place? I’ll have to find out, I’ve had the biggest hankering for pies over the last couple of weeks.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Hey Duncan - *sigh* yes, these gems are a dying breed. But I’m so glad to still see them around and going strong. Another cool place is the Nut Man on Russel St (between Lonsdale & Little Lonsdale Sts). It’s is one of those old fashioned nut places (a bit shabby around the edges) but going strong.
Hey Anna - Block Place can be found off Little Collins Street between Elizabeth & Swanston Sts. It connects up to the famous Block Arcade. I’ll have to take you and Paulie there at some stage!