If you’ve been scrolling through Instagram looking for dining inspiration over recent weeks, you’ll almost certainly have come across American Pies.
Positioning itself as the ultimate treat day destination, the pizza joint from the Brewski team offers everything from deep fried calzone, tater tots and cheesy garlic knots to real Chicago style deep dish pizza pies with a trademark parmesan butter crust.
And now, the Mosley Street joint has launched the doughrito – a garlic bread and pizza burrito hybrid stuffed with everything from fried chicken with buffalo sauce to cheeseburger or aubergine parm.
Who could resist? Not us, that’s for sure.
The place was packed on the weekday we popped by for a late lunch – unsurprising given the love for American Pies on social – but thankfully we managed to grab a table.
First up, we just had to try that 7″ tear and share deep dish garlic bread with cheese (£8) that has had us salivating over our phone screens.
The light fluffy crust is stuffed with molten mozzarella, with strands stretching seductively into the perfect cheese pull as we lift a slice.
Soft, oozy and gloriously garlicky, this is comfort food heaven – and you can add spicy nduja or veggie nduja if you want an extra kick.
Other eyes-bigger-than-tummy-inducing starters include the likes of hand twisted garlic knots drenched in confit garlic butter, a range of parms, and deep fried duck lasagne bites with hot honey dip.
If you want to try the lot, their Sweet Dreams are Made of Cheese sharer offers a heaving platter which also features tater tots, Flamin’ Hot Dorito mozzarella sticks, fried chicken and more (£45).
There’s a danger of peaking too soon – but that would mean missing out on the main event – that deep dish pizza.
Cooking times take around 20-25 minutes for a 7″ pizza (from £10.50) and 40 minutes for the 10″ (from £19, and serving two to three people) – but it’s worth every second.
The Chicago style deep dish pizza pies are made with a trademark parmesan butter crust, stuffed with frankly obscene amounts of mozzarella and topped with a chunky marinara sauce.
Toppings include everything from classic pepperoni (with or without jalapenos) and spicy fennel sausage with hot honey to fried chicken with buffalo hot sauce, nduja and goats cheese, or fried aubergine parm pie.
Each gooey, steamy slice of the crisp, spicy pepperoni pie we go for is an utter delight.
And now, there’s a new item on the menu that’s got everyone talking: the doughrito (from £13.50).
If pizzas are good, garlic bread is good and burritos are good, then putting them together is great, goes the thinking. And who are we to argue with that kind of logic?
You can choose from a range of fillings including fried chicken, cheeseburger, aubergine melanzana or Grandad’s Sausage with bacon.
We try the meatball option, which is stuffed with tender lamb meatballs, spicy pepperoni, chipotle sour cream, smoked bacon, and crunchy peppers and onions.
It’s lighter than it looks – but we have to admit defeat.
Thankfully, we’re asked if we’d like a takeaway box to fill with anything we can’t manage – a great idea to minimise waste, and one which most customers seem eager to take them up on.
American Pies really does offer the ultimate comfort food, but make sure you go hungry. And preferably wearing an elasticated waistband.