Ever since Trinity closed its doors last year, it has been sorely missed. Luckily, it has now reopened under new management…as a pie and mash shop, of all things! It may not be the restaurant I fell in love with but I was still keen to check it out and see what they have done with the place.

It is run by a lovely lady called Di, who also has a similar restaurant in Lincoln, called Hobbson’s Pie & Mash. They have not yet advertised their restaurant, as they are currently in a “soft launch” period but I have been told to expect to hear more about them in the coming weeks (but remember, you heard it first on The Cambridge Foodies 😉).

The restaurant’s interior hasn’t changed since the previous owners left. It still has that contemporary style, with the charming hint of classic Cambridge identity. I was lucky enough to be seated by the window, so I could watch the cyclists whizzing past on the cobbled streets.

The menu

The menu mostly consists of pies, mash, and a selection of sides. There aren’t many other options available but you will find a few starters, desserts (made in house), and ‘Sausage & Mash’.

I was impressed with their variety of pie fillings, with some very interesting options available. Most notably, the “award winning venison”, blue boar, and fish pot pie.

Prices range from £16-19.50 but all pies come with mash and a mix of three different veg included.

Steak & Kidney Pie

I opted for the steak and kidney pie; a classic choice. It was a decent size but looked rather unassuming by eye. Once I opened it up, however, the pie exploded with a delicious filling that was filled to the very top. This is how a pie should be!

The pie boasted a beautiful texture, with pastry that was crispy, without being too dry or overly dense. It handled perfectly and once inside, I was presented with large chunks of steak that was slathered in a dark (and very rich) gravy.

I had the option of upgrading my mashed potato for an extra £1.20, with the choice of adding horseradish, mustard, garlic, cheese or spring onions. I am a little obsessed with horseradish, so I went all in with that. It added a subtle flavour, a word I don’t like using with my usual cavalier portions of horseradish but I cannot deny the delicious contribution it made to the dish and didn’t steal the spotlight from the pie itself. The mash was complimented by a light brown gravy poured over the plate.

The veg

The selection of veg came with red cabbage, broccoli, and a carrot & swede mix. There was a strip of leek for presentation…but I ate it anyway 🤣

Everything in the vegetable bowl was fresh and added a really vivid colour to the table. This really brought the dining experience to life with a meal that would have been otherwise quite beige. Individually, the portions were a little small, but collectively together came to a fair size, especially when you consider that you get one with each pie.

I ordered myself a cauliflower and cheese, a personal favourite of mine. I found the cauliflower to be quite dry. There wasn’t much cheese to really compensate for it, but I enjoyed the fact that it wasn’t a cheese soup and allowed me to appreciate the cauliflower. This was a refreshing change, which felt like a more grown up version of the dish.

Cheese pot pie

My guest had the cheese pot pie. As with mine, it didn’t look much by eye, but it was deceptive in its simplicity and in fact turned out to be another strong contender this evening. This was mostly credited to the incredible cheese sauce that was made from stilton, brie, and cheddar, which combined into one of the most potent and cheesy flavours I have ever had. It was incredible! The flavour of stilton really shone through, while the chunks of brie floating in the sauce made it extra gooey. The pastry on top was soft and flakey, perfect for dipping into the sauce.

One of the best pies around!

Both my guest and I were in agreement that this was a truly special meal. It’s not often that I am this impressed by a humble pie but I have to give credit where it’s due. Everything was executed so well, from the crispy pastry to the rich and tender filling that was packed to the very top. 

The menu doesn’t steer away from pie, but that’s okay, because there’s some great pie options on the menu, that only makes me want to go back and explore again and again. I can see this being a great place for tourists, looking to explore the best of British!

Thanks for reading…