Tuck Shop

Like Dumpling Man, Tuck Shop is an East Village cheap eats staple. Nothing there is over $6, and people flock from all parts of town to try the savory Australian fare. The restaurant specializes in pies and sausage rolls, with fillings that lean more towards Australian flavors (such as the Pork and Sage Rolls or the Traditional Meat Pie) as well as more worldly combination (such as the Thai Green Chook Curry Pie or the Vegetable Pie with Pico de Gallo) The restaurant itself is nothing fancy; there is only one table facing the street while all other seating is at the bar, which faces the refrigerator, oven, and sink. I sat at the bar, and ordered the Thai Green Chook Curry Pie ($5) and the Pork and Sage Roll ($3) per the recommendation of the helpful counter man.

I was surprised to see him pull the dishes right off of a heating rack behind the bar, but I don't know what else I expected , the place is definitely too small to have a kitchen! I was a little apprehensive about how fresh the pie and roll would be, but this worry vanished the second I bit into the Thai Green Chook Curry Pie!

The crust was crispy, flaky, and thick, and the second I cut into it piping hot gravy poured out onto the plate. The filling was better than I could ever have imagined. The combination of leeks, chicken, kafir lime leaves, galangal, coconut milk, thai basil and chilies was absolute perfection- it was savory, but not so much so that it overpowered the lighter sweeter flavors. Pair it with the sweet chili sauce offered up at the bar, and you couldn't ask for a better $5 meal!
The Pork and Sage Roll was a slightly different story.

After the pie, I was expecting something amazing, and this definitely fell short. The pork was well cooked, but the sage was too strong and aromatic for me to enjoy the dish. Also, without the recommended ketchup it was too dry for me to even finish.
Moral of the story: stay clear of the average tasting rolls and order twice as many of the delectable pies!
Address: 115 Saint Mark's Pl , New York 10009 btw 1st Ave and Ave A( other location 68 E 1st St btw 1st and 2nd Ave)
Phone:212-979-5200
Average Price:$4
Grade: A-