Joe's Pasty Shop - RHINELANDER

Recently, we took a trip to Northern Wisconsin and stumbled upon this little gem of a shop. It was adorable, and the woman running it was delightful. The moment we opened our car doors, the enticing aroma of pasties wafted towards us. However, much to our dismay, we learned that they don't sell them ready to eat. Instead, they make them fresh and freeze them, so you can take them home and finish cooking them in your own oven. We decided to buy six pasties: one Cornish, one traditional, one Reuben, one bacon cheeseburger, one Southwest, and one Greek. (Wow! The Reuben was absolutely mind-blowing; it felt almost sacrilegious, which might have added to its incredible taste.) To make a long story short, every single pasty I tried quickly became the best pasty I’ve ever had! We cut them up at the table to share and, honestly, they were better than what I've had in Cornwall and even better than what we make at home. The crust was fantastic, the ingredients were high quality, with minced steak and tender vegetables… simply delicious! We indulged to the point of discomfort, but I have no regrets. I don’t know who Joe is, but he’s done an outstanding job! Rhinelander is nearly two hours away, but I can absolutely see myself making that trip again and again!

Not only do they offer a variety of delicious and creative flavors, but the classic options like the Cornish pasty and traditional pasty are also outstanding. I’ve traveled across the country sampling pasties wherever I can and have tasted many from other places in the U.P., but I have yet to find one better than Joe’s—especially when it comes to the crust. I often have to trim off tough, overcooked crust from other pasties, but Joe's consistently provides delightful, flaky, perfectly balanced crusts. What sets Joe’s pasties apart is their commitment to using locally sourced ingredients. Whenever I'm feeling homesick, I turn to a pasty because it reminds me of home, and I appreciate that while I'm enjoying my favorite comfort food, I'm also supporting a business that supports the local community. Overall, Joe’s Pasty Shop offers not only incredible pasties but also excellent business practices.

The shop had an absolutely delightful aroma. I was really impressed with the quality of the ingredients and the effort the owners put into making these hearty pastries. I will definitely be returning!

We picked up 3 pasties for dinner. bacon cheeseburger, pizza, and Cornish. All were delicious! On par with Randall's Pasties in the UP!! Beautiful/flavorful dough which is key to a good pasty! We'll be back soon for more! Very well organized with our order when we came to pick them up!! They come frozen so you do have to take and bake yourself, but very easy and we'll worth the effort!! They give you easy to follow instructions on how to bake!! Can't go wrong!!

It seems like the restaurant may have already closed, as they are likely relocating to Michigan.