The Upper Crust

The Northern Beaches' favourite little mom-and-pop pie store has a big upper hand in Sydney's pie wars: Collaroy Beach. Once you pick your pie from the small shopfront with the large line out front, cross Pittwater Road and march down Anzac Avenue and enjoy it by the seaside. It's one of the prettiest spots in Sydney. But the pies here would be worth the trip even if you had to eat them in an alley, really. There's enormous range, and some adventurous flavours – a chicken, avocado and brie number is surprisingly good – and their signature beef and Burgundy is grand stuff. The beef chunks could be tenderer, but that thick Burgundy sauce they're swimming in is winey perfection. Bonus points for manageability, too: the pie is small enough to hold and the no-fuss, crisp, not-too-flaky shell make for quick, easy, beach eating.