When Americans think of pie, rarely do they think of meat. Australians on the other hand put the two together for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Garlo’s Aussie Pie Shop in Westwood is turning Angelenos on to this concept with its straight-from-Down-Under menu of delicious baked-daily hand-crafted meat pies, from bacon and egg breakfast pie to a variety of lunch and dinner pies stuffed with lean beef, curry beef, beef and bacon, steak, sausage, and chicken and vegetables.
The fast-casual dining restaurant recently opened its first U.S. location this September, hoping to spread the pie-mania from their homeland, starting in Los Angeles.
Already they have attracted lunch crowds that wind out the door on a typical day. The neighboring university crowd is especially keen on the vegetarian pie, though the classic steak pie remains the top seller.
Other menu offerings include hearty sides like mashed potatoes, mushy peas and gravy, along with an assortment of sliders: beef, chicken, sausage, and mac and cheese.
The menu is all that, and a bag of chips, plus a small green salad.
For those who came in expecting dessert pies, Garlo’s does not disappoint.
Beside the case of meat pies on display is a full selection of sweets and snacks, including their popular apple turnover with cream and mini personal pies and tarts of coconut, custard, and blue berries with cream; blueberry white chocolate scones with jam, cream and butter; and an array of muffins with apple and mixed berry and Lamingtons.
Befitting an outback eatery, the tables resemble butcher blocks, surrounded by wooden stools. The atmosphere is casual and family friendly, as it ought to be since Garlo’s evolved from a small family business into the giant pie-making dynasty it is today.
Run by the Garlick family, whose nickname of Garlo became the restaurants moniker, the company boats 10 restaurants across Australia and sells its pies at hundreds of supermarkets, hotels, schools, café’s and sports venues.
The L.A. shop is run by the warmly hospitable and handsome former rugby star managing partner Sean Garlick and his equally dashing son Jackson, also a “footy” star, who could be mistaken for movie star.
If diners look closely they may recognize Jackson, along with his brothers, chowing on Aussie pies as boys in photo murals adorning the restaurant walls.
It is amazing to see the pictures of young Jackson munching on a flakey pie when the business just started taking off in 2004, and look at him now as a young man helping to build the thriving company into the culinary cultural force that has become in just a decade since that snapshot.
The prices are more than affordable, with pies starting at $3.95 up to $6.95. Garlo’s is located at 1010 Glendon Street in Westwood, near the City Target.
For more information, visit www.garlospies.com.
