Food > The Big Eat Out: or IN
Big Eat Out - Flaming Galah's Aussie Pie Stop
17/12/14
As a humble foodie, I harbour a secret desire. I can take or leave a meet and greet with Raymond Blanc or a regular slot on Saturday Kitchen - my aspiration is to discover the ‘hidden gems’ of dining. You know the sort of place – Jamie Oliver and his camera crew are in the depths of rural Italy, where they stumble into an unassuming looking bistro with only a couple of cigarette smoking old dudes and a sleepy dog as customers. It then turns out that this is where pasta was invented or something and every Michelin starred chef worth their salt heralds it as THE place to eat. Well, anyway, I think I may have hit the nail sur la tête and beaten Jamie to it with Flaming Galah’s Aussie Pie Stop on Ber Street.
Atmosphere
Tucked away, just on the edge of the City’s Hustle and Bustle, Flaming Galah’s is a very unassuming looking joint. Set up in an old chip shop, with a few flourishes from the other side of the world, it would be unfair to judge the atmosphere of what is essentially – apart from a few stools – a takeaway. Really the atmosphere you get in this deal is your own home (unfortunately on this occasion my home also contained a small child with chicken pox, but I won’t hold that against them). However, the warm welcome and friendly service more than makes up for the lack of bijou furnishings and a proper sit down.
Food
You’d be forgiven for thinking, like me, that pie and mash is an intrinsically British dish. But, thanks to the ex-pat community, apparently Australia is all over it – to the point that the trend has come full circle and Flaming Galah’s is being described as ‘traditional Aussie’ back on the streets of Blighty. But if these pies are anything to go by then it would seem that Oz is giving us a run for our money.
We chose two of the ‘bonza’ combos (which are served with mash, gravy and mushy peas) – The Italian and The Klinsmann. The Italian is one of several vegetarian options on the menu, with goat’s cheese, roasted tomatoes, caramelised onion and pine nuts and offered a refreshing contrast of flavours against the carb fest of the mash and pastry. The Klinsmann, one of the week’s specials, is an American/German hybrid of Frankfurter, chilli and cheese. Sounds wrong, but tastes surprisingly right. I should add, as someone who knows absolutely nothing about sportsball, I had to nod and smile when the witty title was pointed out to me, then run home and Google who the hell Klinsmann is.
Other notable items on the menu include the breakfast pie, containing all the fry-up staples, and the signature Flaming Galah, filled with spicy Panang curry. You can also have your pie served as a –slightly unappetisingly titled – ‘floater’, placed on pea soup and topped with tomato sauce.
A word of warning, these things sell like hot cakes pies, so if you fancy a particular flavour it’s worth calling ahead to place your order.
Value
With individual pies priced at £3.95 and the bonza combos selling for £4.95 this is, in my opinion, excellent value for money. The portions are generous and plenty to fill you up for lunch or dinner, surely making this one of the best value meals in Norwich.
Overall
As a sweary individual, I can’t help but have an immediate soft spot for a venue whose name is essentially a gentle insult. But a fondness for foul-mouthery aside, this little place was exactly what the doctor ordered on a cold and blustery day. This is good old fashioned soul food, and will make you feel right at home, whichever side of the globe you’re from.
Flaming Galah’s on Ber Street is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am – 8pm.
Venue 7/10
Fodder 9/10
Value 10/10
Overall 8.5/10