The Metro Detroit Pasty Trail is focused mostly to the north of downtown from Livonia to Troy and St. Clair, but there’s one spot downriver that pasty enthusiasts can enjoy. The Pasty Shop is just off I-75 in Southgate and it stands alone in the area in terms of pasty offerings.

The bonus for this pasty is that it looks like a genuine pasty. A majority of the Detroit pasties look like homemade creations, but The Pasty Shop pasty looks like a true pasty. However, that doesn’t mean everything. The crust was full, crisp and had plenty of flake, yet it lacked flavor with maybe no salt used.

Unfortunately, the insides were the same. Everything about it looked pretty good, but a couple bites told the entire story. I went with rutabaga (and carrot), which according to the owner, are more popular with the younger crowd. They also charge about 50 cents more for maybe seven or eight pieces of rutabaga. Everything was diced including the steak that was a tad pink. It could’ve probably been mixed better with potatoes taking over a good portion of the pasty. The ratio was passable, but it felt like there could’ve been more steak. As seen in the middle picture, one bite into the side could be all potato. 

Before visiting, make sure to visit the Facebook page as they usually post about closings and such. It’s run by one lady and she can’t be there at all hours and that’s why it’s open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days.

If a little more salt was used, this could be one of the better pasties in metro Detroit. The Pasty Shop has the look down, it just needs to add a little taste.

Taste: 2.5 (out of 5)
Crust: 3 (out of 5)
Pasty Presentation: 4 (out of 5)
The Shop: 3 (out of 3)
Would I come back for Pasties?: 0 (out of 2)

Total Pasty Ranking: 12.5 (of 20 points)

Reviewed Summer 2018