After more than six years of selling savory New Zealand pies at pop-ups and farmers markets around Atlanta, Heaps owner Jake Harvey will open a brick-and-mortar location in Decatur on Thursday.
Located at 2752 East Ponce de Leon Ave., the restaurant will bring a permanent slice of Harvey’s home country to metro Atlanta. The menu specializes in the pies Harvey’s been peddling for years at spots like Truist Park, the High Museum of Art and Little Cottage Brewery, as well as sides and larger plates.
“(We’re) trying to make the expats just feel at home here,” he said.
After Harvey moved from Wellington, New Zealand to New York City, he began making pies at a shop in the East Village, but when he arrived in Atlanta his homesickness drove him to start holding his own pop-ups at breweries around the city. The flaky pies are meant to be warmed up and eaten on the go, he said, an ideal snack for busy New Zealanders.
Credit: Courtesy of Nick D'Andria
Credit: Courtesy of Nick D'Andria
At Heaps, guests can expect pies with fillings like ground beef and cheddar cheese; braised brisket, cheese and pickled jalapeno; green Thai chicken curry; lamb and vegetables; and a breakfast pie with bacon, egg, scalloped potatoes and tomato chutney. Side offerings include kale salad, a slaw with apple and chives and mashed potatoes. Harvey said over the next few weeks the restaurant will roll out larger menu items like fish and chips, rice bowls and New Zealand-style muesli.
“There’s just more things that remind me of home and things that we don’t really have in Atlanta,” Harvey said.
The drink menu will feature New Zealand wine, several local canned brews and Gizza, a specialty beer made for Heaps by Round Trip Brewing that uses New Zealand hops, that will be permanently on tap. Hot beverages including drip coffee, English breakfast tea with a digestive biscuit and Milo, a malted chocolate drink will also be offered.
The interior is decorated with maps and art from New Zealand, and a TV will air New Zealand sporting events like rugby and cricket.
The counter service eatery includes indoor seating for about 40 people plus a patio that holds 20, and during the warmer months the building’s garage door can be rolled up.
Harvey said he plans to continue working with wholesale customers, and Heaps will still pop-up at the Grant Park Community Farmers Market and the Peachtree Road Farmers Market.
During January, Heaps will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, and in February the hours will expand to 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Harvey said the restaurant will be closed this Friday and possibly Saturday due to inclement weather.
2752 E Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. 404-205-5667, heapspies.com
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