If you’ve never been to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, there are a lot of random places with pasties. That includes restaurants, which tend to have their own version of a pasty.
That’s the case with the Epoufette Bayview Inn, which is across the street from Cut River Inn. Both places are small U.P. diners that offer their own pasties.
Bayview Inn gets bonus points for having a deck that overlooks Lake Michigan. On the day I visited, the weather was close to perfect for being outside to enjoy a pasty. I called ahead and ordered mine for takeout so it was ready when I pulled up, since a lot of diners and restaurants don’t have them ready to eat. If you’re not pressed for time and want a nice overlook roughly 30 minutes from the Bridge, Bayview Inn has you covered.
This pasty was similar to a couple others I’ve had in the U.P. in that it looked like a burrito. The main benefit with the burrito pasty is that it’s quicker to make because you don’t have to crimp… and that’s probably the only advantage.
While it looked like a burrito, the crust worked and I wonder what it would’ve looked and tasted like if it was formed like a regular pasty. You don’t get the same kind of crisp when folded like a burrito. So while it tasted fine, I still can’t get over the burrito shape. Maybe it’s a personal thing, but I prefer pasties with a crimped crust.
When I ordered my pasty, I was asked if I wanted gravy on top or on the side. Instead of saying I didn’t want gravy, I asked for it on the side and they included a MASSIVE cup of it. I tasted it, though I ate most of the pasty without gravy, as I do for every review.
Fortunately, the pasty didn’t need gravy. I’ve had pasties where I needed gravy to finish it, but it tasted good enough to eat without the condiment. There was enough meat in it and the specks of carrot and rutabaga didn’t do much to the overall taste. As you can see from the picture, it was full of meat and potato.
Personally, I won’t be seeking out Bayview Inn on future trips because it’s a diner that I’d have to call ahead for. For a diner to make be come back, it’d need a rating above 16 or 17. I mostly liked this pasty, but given the amount of options in the U.P., I probably won’t return.
Taste: 3.5 (out of 5)
Crust: 3 (out of 5)
Pasty Presentation: 3 (out of 5)
The Shop: 3 (out of 3)
Would I come back for Pasties?: 0 (out of 2)
Total Pasty Rating: 12.5 (of 20 points)
(Reviewed Summer 2022)
