1830 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Introduction
The Pub Chip Shop is a hole-in-the-wall establishment on East Carson Street in Pittsburgh’s Southside neighborhood. There is no better place that we could have visited for our October trip! We spent a sunny autumn morning in the Southside enjoying delicious and authentic English & Scottish food. Along with our meal came a spooky history lesson about Pittsburgh!
The Owner
During our visit, we had the opportunity to sit down with Drew Topping, the owner of The Pub Chip Shop, and ask questions about him and his restaurant. Drew is a native Pittsburgher, with Scottish roots stemming from his grandparents who immigrated to Pittsburgh looking for work in the steel industry. Having such a strong connection both to his community and his family, he decided to bring his roots to the plates of Southside with the opening of The Pub Chip Shop over 10 years ago. He set up shop on East Carson St. back in 2013 in an unlikely place: an old flower shop. First serving up his family's fish and chips, The Pub Chip Shop later expanded its menu to incorporate fresh, homemade donuts and even fusion dishes with Thai and Indian influences. Catering to the bar scene in Southside, this is definitely a place to check out if you’re in need of hearty comfort foods after a night out. Moving forward, Drew is planning a grand re-opening for his pub, Piper’s Pub, which is also located on East Carson St. Be sure to check it out in the coming weeks!
The Restaurant
Situated between Primanti Bros and The Pub Chip Shop’s sister establishment, Piper’s Pub, it is only fitting that the local combination of old Pittsburgh staples paired with beloved comfort food made way for The Pub Chip Shop’s success in that location since 2013. There are hints of vintage charm, from the stained glass windows to the intricate tiled floor. In fact, Drew mentioned that Southside was originally home to Pittsburgh’s booming glass industry, which explains the extensive use of glass in Southside’s buildings. Operating with a compact, accessible kitchen, The Pub Chip Shop is perfectly designed to offer take-out style meals, but they do have a few stools next to the large front window, so you can enjoy your meal with a view (and do some people watching!). Along with the restaurant’s unique charm, it has some spooky happenings that come with it. There have been claims of the figurines on the cash register flying across the room! If you are given the chance, ask the owner, Drew, about the ghost who prefers the middle stool, or about the ghost girl who resides upstairs.
Underlying The Pub Chip Shop’s success, Drew grappled with unforeseen problems during the pandemic, including staffing shortages and supply chain inconsistencies. “Originally, we had 45 staff members and now we only have six,” Drew explained, thus highlighting the pandemic’s impact on staffing. He mentioned that supply chain issues made it increasingly difficult to obtain unique ingredients that were typically used in weekly specials. However, over time, he was able to work around these obstacles and form relationships with local stores and Erie-based providers that could supply ingredients. Now, he uses those ingredients to make his own sausage, biscuits, sandwich buns, donuts, and sauces in-house! As a follow-up, we asked about his personal favorite ingredients and dishes, to which he responded “my favorite dish on the menu is the sausage breakfast sandwich. I wish more people ordered the loaded baked potato tot bombs too.” It is no wonder that The Pub Chip Shop is here to stay, given its rich history and crisp, welcoming interior!
The Food
Sapna: I ordered the Thai Chili Chicken Bap, which was a large portion of chicken covered in a Thai sauce and topped with green onions in between a traditional British bun. The homemade tangy and spicy Thai sauce was a perfect combination paired with the crispiness of the chicken, and the sandwich had just the right amount of flavor. This sandwich was a monster to eat because of its large size, but the portion to pricing value was really good. Additionally, I tried one of their donuts that they make fresh in shop each morning, and it was phenomenal. The airy dough and the velvety chocolate frosting was the absolute best end to my meal. I really enjoyed my experience at the Pub Chip Shop, and would definitely recommend it to others!
Zoe: I ordered the Fish and Chips. I can honestly say that these were the best fish and chips that I’ve ever had. There was a perfect amount of batter on the fish, and it was crispy and greasy, making it very rich. The haddock was perfectly cooked and was so tender that it was falling apart. The chips were also very good; they were not too soft or hard, but had a nice crispy texture. I also got tartar sauce on the side. I could definitely tell that they made their own sauce. The creamy and slightly tangy sauce paired well with the rich and buttery fish and chips. I would definitely recommend this dish - if you like fish and chips, you will not be disappointed!
Erin: While The Pub Chip Shop had a menu full of enticing options, I went with the Sausage Roll for my main dish. I was far from disappointed; the puff pastry surrounding the filling was perfectly flaky, buttery, and all-around delicious. The real seller was the savory sausage filling, flavored with sage just enough to enhance the naturally appetizing taste of the sausage. Although the roll was satisfying on its own, my sweet tooth kicked in and I split a fresh strawberry jam-filled donut with Jen! Jam-filled has always been my donut of choice, so it is definitely a compliment to The Pub Chip Shop when I say that this may have been my favorite one. There was a great jam-to-dough balance, and its powdered sugar coating served as a cherry on top. I am so grateful that I got to enjoy this meal on a beautiful day outdoors and speak to the amazing owner, Drew!
Jen: I ordered the Fish and Chips at the Pub Chip Shop! The best part about my meal was how fresh the fish tasted. There was a perfect batter to fish ratio where it didn’t feel like you were just eating fish or just eating batter. Moving on to the chips, they were perfectly cooked. I dipped my chips into tartar sauce, which I later found out was house-made! Lastly, I ordered a jam-filled donut to go with my meal! Normally, I’m not a fan of donuts because they’re always dry or there’s never enough jam in the center of the donut. However, I bit into this donut and was floored. The donut was sweet, soft, and had delicious strawberry jam. I wish they set up shop closer to Pitt’s campus; I think it would be a huge hit among hungry students!
Korrina: I ordered a Sausage Roll and a Yinz Creme donut during my visit to The Pub Chip Shop! The puff pastry of the sausage roll was airy and flaky, perfectly contrasted by the rich, hearty sausage inside. It was absolutely delicious and served as a perfect comfort meal! I have a massive sweet tooth, so I was looking forward to trying Drew’s famous donuts, which are made fresh every day. They had a wide variety of flavors to choose from, but I went with the employees’ recommendations: the Yinz Creme donut. I was impressed at the donut’s fluffy, smooth texture and the creaminess of the filling. The chocolate coating added the perfect level of sweetness, which balanced out the other flavors in the donut. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with Drew about Pittsburgh’s history, spooky local happenings, and his childhood stories too! We finished off our visit with a brief walk around Southside, where we marveled at the use of stained glass in buildings and admired the local scenery. I would definitely recommend The Pub Chip Shop to others, and will definitely return one day for more donuts (probably the best I’ve ever had!) and delicious comfort food!