It's Pot Pie Season! Where's the good ones?

[GoodGravy]

It's getting chilly out! Time to warm up w/ a nice pot pie. So where do you go for a good, hearty pot pie? And what kind, chicken, lamb, venison, oyster, etc.?

[maritimah]

I had a great chicken pot pie for brunch at Frank over a year ago. It looks like it's not on the menu now, which is too bad because I thought it was outstanding. It had a really flaky pastry crust and rich gravy. Fingers crossed that they put it back on the menu.

[phoenikia]

Noticed there's a pot pie on the current menu at Holt's Cafe: http://www.holtrenfrew.com/holts/pdf/...

Has anyone tried it?

[Arcadiaseeker]

Summerhill Market is the best chicken pot pie for my money.

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Summerhill Market
446 Summerhill Ave, Toronto, ON M4W, CA

[millygirl]

+ 1 for Summerhill Market. You could never accuse them of skimping on the chicken either. Great value.

[sbug206]

No they don't skimp on the chicken but it's bland and tasteless. Pot pies involve more than just meat.

[millygirl]

I can't say I agree. Besides, I'd rather add a little extra s and p than have it the other way around i.e too salty.

[Arcadiaseeker]

Cumbrae's pot pie is my husband's favourite and it's lovely - we disagree on Summerhill (I love it he does not - he's a Cumbrae fan).

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Cumbrae's
481 Church St, Toronto, ON M4Y, CA

[GoodGravy]

Is there a place to sit and eat at Cumbrae's and Summerhill or do I have to take it home and heat it up?

[Arcadiaseeker]

Both are shops only - you have to take it home and heat it up.

[MeMeMe]

Go to Patachou on Yonge or Arcadian Court if you want a sit down pot pie venue.

PS - not that Post City is the end all be all, but there is their list of some good pot pies:

http://www.postcity.com/Post-City-Mag...

[phoenikia]

Summerhill Market pot pie lovers, check this out:
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/su...

[millygirl]

Hey good work phoenikia! Although Chris Klugman is no longer associated with Summerhill, I'm fairly certain the recipe is pretty much still being used.

I don't recall trying or even seeing Cumbrae's version but I am there later this week so I will pick one up.

I am DYING for chicken pot pie now!!! I mean right NOW. And baguette and butter too!!!

[childofthestorm]

The Arcadian Court on the 8th floor of the Bay on Queen St. makes a killer chicken pot pie that's been on the menu for decades. Served in an insanely nice Georgian great hall with like 60-foot ceilings. It's one of my hidden gems.

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Arcadian Court
401 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5H, CA

[GoodGravy]

I was just in the Bay today and didn't know about this Arcadian Court. Guess I'll be there tomorrow too!

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Arcadian Court
401 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5H, CA

[TorontoJo]

While you're there, pop your head around the corner to check out Great Cooks on Eight -- it's a real hidden gem for a lovely, casual lunch downtown. There's a carry out counter at the front, but just past it is a sit down, full service restaurant with fantastic views of the architecture of old city hall.

[GoodGravy]

So I went to the Arcadian today and almost ordered the lobster club. But sanity prevailed and I ordered the chicken pot pie. The gravy was creamy and flavored w/ herbs, but not salty. The filling was a mix of white and dark meat, small round potatoes, carrots and peas, but no onions, and the crust was crispy on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside. It could've used a touch more flavor intensity, but otherwise, it's an excellent pot pie. Thanks CotS for the recommendation! This was a good start to pot pie season.

BTW, while it sounds like a good idea, you probably shouldn't add the leftover butter that comes w/ the dinner roll to the sauce to make it "richer".

[JennaBean]

I don't even like pot pies and that pic makes me want to go eat one RIGHT NOW! :p

[childofthestorm]

You're welcome. But jeez you are killing me with that photo, I want it NOW.

[GoodGravy]

@JB & CotS: well, we eat with our eyes, don't we? The crappy cellphone pic doesn't even do it justice. Especially since it doesn't show the butter I topped it with after I took the pic.

[torontofoodiegirl]

Good call. My husband and I shared the lobster club and the pot pie, and the club (while not atrocious) was seriously lacking. Tasted like it had just come out of the fridge, and the lobster was flaked not in chunks.

[canadianbeaver]

Harbord House has a great chicken pot pie.

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Harbord House
150 Harbord St, Toronto, ON M5S1H2, CA

[TorontoJo]

I love the chicken pot pies at Summerhill Market! And Flaky Tart has fantastic meat pies that aren't pot pies per se, but are delicious. These are both take out options, though. Never had a good pot pie in a sit down restaurant, though, as it's not something I've looked for specifically.

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Summerhill Market
446 Summerhill Ave, Toronto, ON M4W, CA

Flaky Tart
711 Mt Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S, CA

[sbug206]

I would NOT recommend the chicken and turkey pies at Summerhill. I admire them for putting large pieces of white meat in their pies but they are totally lacking in sauce and veggies. The steak pies are good though.

[tochowchick]

Have to agree...I'm a long time fan of most things Summerhill but their chicken/turkey pot pies are not one of my favourites. I think they are flavourless and the sauce is "gloppy"...disappointing as most other things I get at Summerhill are great.

[torontofoodiegirl]

I concur on the "gloppiness" of the Summerhill chicken pies. My family loves them and, while I do enjoy the nice chunks of white meat, I just can't get over the "gloppy" texture.

I love the pies from Cumbrae's (in particular the chicken with mushrooms) and Healthy Butcher (tortiere and beef pies are good...though as some posters have pointed out, not really "pot" pies I guess).

I also second childofthestorm's Arcadian Court chicken pot pie recco -- just had it for the first time recently, and thought it was really good (but I should note that the other menu items we tried were distinctly mediocre).

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The Healthy Butcher
565 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V, CA

Cumbrae's
481 Church St, Toronto, ON M4Y, CA

Arcadian Court
401 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5H, CA

[GoodGravy]

Ah, you bring up a good point. Do meat pies and Scottish pasties count as pot pies? I don't think so, otherwise we'd have to include beef patties and empanadas which are worth a thread of their own. Let's stick to pot pies w/ gravy so yummy you'd drink it like a milk shake if you could.

[MeMeMe]

Just thinking about this last night. Am making a trip to Patachou for my favourite chicken pot pie.

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Patachou
1120 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W, CA