Finding an open pasty shop in the Upper Peninsula during winter isn’t easy, but Johnnie’s On 2 is one of the few places that stays open year-round. The restaurant opened in 2021, though I didn’t realize Johnnie’s sold pasties until 2024, when I noticed a sign advertising “Fresh & Frozen Pasties.”
Like most bar-restaurants in the Upper Peninsula, the biggest advantage is availability. I visited in the winter, when most traditional pasty shops are closed for the season, especially along US-2 in St. Ignace.
Located a few minutes west of the Bridge, it’s easy to access. In case you want a beer and a pasty, this is probably one of the more convenient spots if you’re driving on US-2. Unless you visit during the busiest part of the week, there should be room.
Since Johnnie’s On 2 is a restaurant, I called 30 minutes ahead and ordered takeout. I also visited on New Year’s Day, so there’s zero chance the pasty was made to order. Maybe they make pasties on the spot during a normal time, but I didn’t get that experience.
As seen in the pictures, one was oddly dark brown and a bit burnt while the other one wasn’t. It was built like a “lazy pasty,” which I use to describe pasties that resemble a burrito, with no crimping in sight.
Because it was likely heated quickly, the thin crust was soft and mushy on the bottom. My first bite was a large, mushy chunk of plain crust. Unsurprisingly, that dampened my experience.
My pasty also had an odd smell to it, which wasn’t the case with the second, darker one. Whether it was my nose on that day or not, I’ll rate this as if the weird smell wasn’t there.
Outside of the smell and crust, something that may be a little hard to get past, it was a decent pasty. There was a lot of meat and the potatoes weren’t overwhelming. Despite it being speed-heated, there was no freezer-burn taste or melding together of ingredients, which tends to happen with microwaved pasties.
Like most restaurants, the pasties are a little pricier at $14. When you compare that price with basically every US-2 pasty shop nearby that costs fewer than $10, it’s hard to get people to come here for pasties. Of course, no one but The Pasty Guy does that.
If you want a drink and the rest of your crew isn’t interested in pasties, Johnnie’s On 2 is at least an option.
Taste: 3.5 (out of 5)
Crust: 1.5 (out of 5)
Pasty Presentation: 2.5 (out of 5)
The Shop: 3 (out of 3)
Would I come back for Pasties?: 1 (out of 2)
Total Pasty Rating: 11.5 (of 20 points)
Reviewed Early Winter 2025
