If you haven't been to Cornish Pasty, please set aside your computer, get into your car, and drive to one right this very moment.
It is so unlike anywhere else around, and yet exactly what I wish all restaurants would try to be.
My first Cornish Pasty visit was to the original Tempe location when it was a long narrow hallway with a bar and 2 tops crammed into it. I remember loving the food and wishing for a bit more comfort. We waited impatiently for the "new" location to open at Dobson and Guadalupe and immediately made it our regular place as it was larger and easier to get to.
Cornish Pasty Co is smart, as they not only expand to additional locations but also grow their existing locations. They've extended their Tempe location significantly since my first visit, and the Mesa location first added a beautiful patio and then a huge addition that expanded the dining room, added a bar, and made the patio even larger.
Their patio is definitely a great place to dine, with high backed booths that can easily seat 6 and even as many as 8 if you're willing to get cozy. It is a bit quieter than the indoor seating area, which makes it ideal for groups or couples that might want to have an easier time making conversation. I also love that the way it has been built creates ambiance within the patio itself and blocks the view of the parking lot. They have fans and misters, but unfortunately AZ is just too darn hot to allow you to enjoy it during the summer months.
The indoor seating is extensive and varied, and the décor is awesome! Most/all of the furniture is handmade or reclaimed/repurposed. They are the first place I saw using old doors as tabletops and church pews for benches (these tables are huge and easily seat 8 people, which is nice when you're with a big group) The color scheme is unique - dark woods with a lot of black paint, white walls, melted wax candles, and black and white photos of miners on the walls (pasties were historically used as lunches for miners in Europe) There is a "drinkin'" bar on one side of the dining room and a bar top looking into the kitchen on the other side.
On my most recent visit, they were pretty full and we were given the option of sitting up at the kitchen bar. I hadn't sat up there before and was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it was! They have an elevated platform running beneath the bar which makes it easy for shorter people (like me) to clamber up unto the barstool without too much difficulty. They also had purse-hooks (all high tables should have these) in the form of carabiners that clip onto your purse strap - awesome!
I will say that sitting up by the kitchen in the middle of summer is a bit warmer than the surrounding seating... I initially worried I was going to regret our seating choice but our lovely server, Stephanie, showed up quickly to take our order and provided giant glasses of ice cold sodas and tea, then kept 'em coming. Stephanie was awesome and provided a few great suggestions (mixing two of the sauces for my husband's Meat and Cheese Pasty, for example) - she was prompt and fun. Sitting up at the counter had the added benefit of being able to watch the magic of the kitchen unfold - their chefs WORK! It was fun to see and they all seemed to be having a pretty good time with one another - I appreciated seeing how the team worked well togdether and the manager was bantery and encouraging to all of the staff.
The food... so good! Seriously have never had anything that isn't good. My go-to pasty is the Porky (although it is embarassing to order... kinda like "Moon over My Hammy" at Dennys) - it is closest to the types of pasties I grew up eating in the midwest - Pork, potatoes, onion, red wine gravy - wrapped up in a delicious crust. The portion size is perfect; if you're hungry, it'll fill you up, and if you're not so hungry, you eat one half and take the other to reheat later. Either way you win. I've also enjoyed the Italian, and my husband recently got the Meat and cheese that was amazing with a mix of Chipotle and Barbeque sauces (on our server's recommendation)
That said, one day a few years ago I went rogue and ordered soup instead of a pasty (WHAT?) Specifically, the Potato, Leek, Stilton Soup. It is incredible, you guys. Perfect, hearty, and warm during the winter but also so good that I order it even though it is 112 degrees outside. It also comes with generous pieces of homemade bread perfect for dipping or slathering with tasty butter. Now I get it every. freaking. time. and I miss out on the pasties because I just can't help it.
I've also had their Wings (delicious - sweet with a little bit of spice) and their chips (big steak-fries that do not typically come out earlier than the rest of the food)
We've had desserts before but it has been a really long time. I remember liking the fruit Pavlova as well as the Banoffee tart, read more