Ministry of Pies in Thanet

Had the roast lamb delivered to me on sunday. Food excellent and fantastic service. I had no cash but food left with me and Gary then sent me his bank details to pay for my lunch

Inside the Odds Club and upstairs to the function room on the right where there is seating and the kitchen on the left where you find Gary, the man hind the ministry of Pies. The menu is not just pie-based, but everything is gluten free and a lot is vegan - mostly seasonal. He makes his own ice cream and seasonal fruit crumble and doesn't use sugar in any of his recipes. I loved the surroundings - it's a large function room that was once lovely. We felt that kids would love it, running around on the dance floor, and parents could sit, watch and fill their bellies with homely food. We both had pie - one game and one wild boar. Both excellent and served with roasties and veg (but you can have beans if you prefer) and loads of extra gravy. The inside are really tasty and the pastry is gluten free and vegan. The owner mills his own corn to get the pastry just right. It brought back memories of my grandparents house on a plate - my nan was an excellent pastry maker and so we would love it when she made us pies! We will definitely return, and will try the Sunday lunch or the curry next time - it was totally brill, no fuss and tasty.

The best thing about this place is it’s unique, friendly charm. The restaurant is tucked away, and filled with lots of odd bits that make it a very interesting and lovely place to spend a meal. The menu is short which is great so it’s super easy to choose and you can tell everything is extremely fresh. The pies are made from scratch which was amazing, especially considering the price and the healthy portion size. There were two vegan pie options so my boyfriend and I shared these. The pies are very unique but also tasty and hearty. We were glad to be given extra gravy as it did need it. We are doing Veganuary so we enjoyed having a hearty meal that we wouldn’t usually make ourselves. We thought the best one was the hot & spicy curry one but apparently the Kashmiri one was a best seller. Note that the curry one wasn’t very hot or spicy but it was the tastier one. The service is excellent and we had a really good chat with Gary the owner as well. Would definitely recommend a visit if you are interested in trying a nice local restaurant with charm.

I'm not sure quite how to describe the vegan Kashmiri pie I had. It was a bizarre combination of flavours, and the pastry was very dense and flavourless. The Ministry of Pies is welcoming and quirky, and has a loyal following. I'm sorry to say that the food is not at all to my taste.

I had delicious special ribs and a fine dose of Gary's inimitable hospitality when I dined there with Rosie recently.

Mine and husbands first visit to the Ministry of Pies. Must admit we had never heard of it before! Friends suggested we meet for lunch and are we glad we did. It's tiny and full of stuff but it felt so comfy. There's no drink licence so we had cups of tea and a complimentary glass of punch (which made me feel like having a kip afterwards) The menu has quite some choice on it but 3 of the 4 went for the curry mutton pie. Delicious!! The pastry is not so much pastry as a crust and tastes like nothing I've had before. The mutton was so tender and just melted in my mouth. Curry spices a bit much as they caught me in the back of the throat and were hot rather than warming spices. The veg and the potatoes are whatever is in season and are cooked so nicely. If I'm honest the pudding I had wasn't up to much so wouldn't have it again. Looking forward to going back 👍🏻

Owner, Gary, is so friendly and welcoming. Menu exciting and like nothing else. And great veggie and gluten free options too. Delicious pies, vegetables and potatoes. Feels like home from home. Thanks Gary and Liz for a lovely dinner. Tom and I will be back soon!

It was like having dinner at your best friends house, all but with great food, it takes relaxed dining to a whole new level. Gary has a way of making you most welcome, if you want intimate dining then best give it miss but for meeting interesting people then it's the place to go.

Gary is a great person his cafe is amazing and the food is good i like his breakfast pies. A must to go visit My husband and I had a meal there for our 6th wedding anniversary I will go back

Quirky Margate food and the owner is pretty quirky as well.. Really good gluten free pies Very reasonable prices and I will be back ! The owner Gary with a mohican Haircut is great fun anything you need to know about Margate he knows ! Fantastic..!

We where recommend by the owners wife when we stop by her place for coffee and ice cream ( which was delicious ) we reserved a table for 5 people and as 3 of the group were vegetarian we thought it would be ideal, and we were not disappointed, the food was delicious, we all cleared our plate and Garry was an excellent host. Can I say, do not be put off when you look inside, I think the word is quirky, it is so different to anything we have been to before, so please go, you will not be disappointed

Alcuni amici della zona ci hanno consigliato questo posto ed è stata una piacevole sorpresa. Il locale è piccolino e decorato in maniera stravagante e originale, il cibo l'ho trovato ottimo così come i prezzi!! Il proprietario, Gary, è stato carinissimo e anche molto generoso con noi, cercherò di tornare ogni estate e farò girar parola tra i miei colleghi a Broadstairs :)

What a lovely experience. Gary welcomed our whole family (there are not many places that would so easily and warmly accommodate a toddler, a dog, a carnivore, a vegan and a gluten free eater!) and shared his fab food and passion for kindness. He is a generous host and the food was all delicious and nourishing. Lots of options for everyone and all home made. We will be back. 😊

Honestly. What a great little place. We walked up and found it just off the high street. We were starvin and looking foward to having a gluten free pie. We were not disapointed. Gary the owner was just brilliant. The door was ajar, we entered, hello i said,are you open. Yes out came Gary. Just as quirky as his little resturant. Your early!! He was thinking we were his booking. Honestly the bloke is a dream!! The food was great and he fully understands my fiancee's celiac. He offers tea and coffee with the meal. But if you want more take your own( beer/wine) we sat under a sinclair c5 with a giant spider on it. Theres pictures and so much to look at and Gary is probably 1 of the best hosts ive ever come across!! We will definatly visit him again if we ever go back to Margate! Out of this world. Thanks so much Gary. P.s i didnt feed the owl ;)

Googled gluten free places whilst taking a random trip to margate to see the shell grotto, came across this place which sounded good so off we went. Very quirky place, loads to look at, very quirky owner ( Gary ) and lovely food!!! No cross contamination as its 100% gluten free !!! Also was able to buy drinks at Fez bar to bring in and whilst we ate Gary emailed a friend who owns a pub and b&b so we got a room for the night.....thanks Gary ;)

Fantastic food, gluten free is usually bland awful fare the food here is a breath of fresh air,real delicious food a great meal gf food is once again worth eating thank you Gary.

I love my grub and this place is right at the top for me! Wonderful quirky place with a great atmosphere! The chef/waiter is a star and his food is to die for!!

We came across this quirky restaurant quite by accident and had a wonderful adventure! It’s worth saying we are neither vegetarian nor allergic to gluten but are very tempted by good, wholesome and delicious food. I loved the eclectic feel of the place and Gary is a real Margate character. His alcoholic warm fruit punch was seriously the best drink I’ve ever tasted and to top it all, what great value for money the whole experience was!

Great food Great Pies.. Ideal for gluten free food.. Served with a smile by the very quirky gary.. Oh.. and the deserts are great.. If in Margate give it a go you will not be disappointed..

Tasty gluten-free, vegan pies and puddings amidst the clutter and quirkiness were a Friday night joy, and I'm a committed omnivore! Add the slightly eccentric but hugely entertaining conversation that Gary-Paul, the self-styled Minister of Pies, provides as standard fare and you really can't go wrong. Excellent value for money and highly recommended.

A friend and I visited in march, pre ordered our pies as we required gluten free and one gluten free vegetarian. The pies were amazing, I can't fault the taste and portion sizes. How ever, we both became rather un well shortly after our meals. There has been some debate over ingredients used via a Facebook group for eating out gluten free and it was brought up a low gluten containing pies were being made as well. So wondering if somehow we was given the wrong pie, we'll never find out now. We sadly won't be going back for another visit even though it's now gone completely gluten free, I just no I can't afford to risk being glutened again.

This is a very quirky little place. Clutter is clearly the decor of choice but it works! The people who run it couldn't be more friendly and gave us plenty of tips to make the best of our time in Margate. Having eaten gluten free for many years it was quite an experience to have a pie and it was good..a nice pastry with a bit of crunch and lots of flavour, with potatoes, veggies and gravy of course!! There are plenty of fillings to choose from ranging from steak to vegan. A couple of puddings on offer if you aren't stuffed from the pie, I was but my husband managed a coconut bread and sultana pudding and loved it for it's subtle sweetness and balance of flavours. And an absolute bargain at less than £20!

Another Lovely pie from Gary Paul, first one from the new location in the cute and cosy little restaurant just off the high street. Expect a warm welcome and a tasty meal, you won't be disappointed.

We've been a fan of Gary Paul's amazing pies since his time at the Old Kent Market. When you taste one of his pies for the first time you suddenly realise how bad every other pie in the world is. Gary Paul is passionate about what he does and his pies are simply sublime. He conjures up amazing fillings and makes unusual flavours that tempt your taste buds. He is also the perfect host and you simply can't find a better place to eat in this part of Kent than his shop. Highly Recommended! Thank Gary Paul.

Visited early eve and were welcomed into this quirky little restaurant. Everything home-cooked from fresh, and lovingly prepared by the friendly owner. We had the nicely seasoned vegetarian pie options, but there are plenty of other tasty meaty options, all with gluten-free pastry ... a winning combo! Check it out!!

This quirky restaurant is only small and I am sure it will get more and more popular as word spreads so make sure you book. We had three different pies between us all served with fresh veg and our empty plates showed how much we enjoyed our meals.

Visited with my foodie sister and we both had fabulous meals. All the food is made on the premises by the inspired chef/owner. The pastry he has created for these pies is delicious and he goes the extra mile with freshly cooked veg. Quality, quirky meal at an unbelievably affordable price.

Came here to sample the gluten free wares that Gary-Paul provides... it was amazing. Finding anywhere to eat that is guaranteed Gluten Free is difficult but finding this place was a gem. I had a Kashmiri and Stilton pie, and Gary reassured me and a friend (also coeliac) of the procedure he uses when making gluten free pies. He makes a cracking cup of tea too. We found Gary to be very attentive and friendly, and reassuring (which to us was a relief as some places give us "gluten free" food with assurances it is safe, and we end up ill). I understand that he has now made his kitchens fully gluten free so no risk of cross contamination, so would definitely return.

Fabulous pies with unusual & original fillings. The owner is lovely, a real character who is very friendly and helpful. One of Margate's best kept secret places :)

As it was Sunday they were making mostly roasts, but the kind lady told us that a few pies where available, the owner came to the table to make suggestions. I went for the chicken pie and my girlfriend for the Huggy , both pies where incredible: unique crust and stuffing, juicy potatoes and great gravy! She entertained us during the wait with warmth.

Had the funniest, craziest time... Gary (the owner) has created a beautiful atmosphere... met some crazy fellow diners, was hoping for an amazing pie... got a whole lot more!!!

We went here not really knowing what to expect and it was great. Gary who owns and runs this small but perfectly formed restaurant is a wonderful character and a brilliant host, his pies are really unique, and his home made ice cream is scrumptious.