Forest Grove

**Forest Grove: Where the pies sell out faster than a Perth parking spot**

We know what you're thinking. Forest Grove? Isn't that where you drive past on the way to the *real* Margaret River wineries? And honestly? You're not wrong. When you mention Caves Road, everyone conjures up images of manicured vineyards at Vasse Felix and polished fine diners. But venture a little further south, past the cellar doors and the tourists with their tasting flights, and you'll find the true beating heart of our humble 'hood: Pies & Ale.

Look, we're a simple lot. We don't need your degustation menus or your fancy amuse-bouches. We need pastry. And thankfully, Mike Lane — who's been baking pies for over a decade, originally at Subiaco Farmers Market before running the Gracetown and Prevelly general stores — decided to grace our patch of the world. As Broadsheet noted, the idea came to him "over a glass of wine." Classic. "Pies & Ale, what an idea!" And honestly? Revolutionary.

These aren't your standard servo pies with a suspicious amount of grey gravy. No. We're talking chicken katsu curry with a rich gravy. A cheeseburger filling with American cheese and pickles using Harvey beef. A "generously spicy" Thai green curry lentil for the tree-changers. All hand-pressed daily and wrapped in flaky, house-made pastry. You can even upgrade with mushy peas and mash, house-made pickles, or spicy guindilla peppers. Fancy.

But here's the petty local drama that gets us all in a froth: **they often sell out.** That's the only caveat. Visit early, we beg you. There's nothing worse than rocking up at 2:45pm, ready for a pie and a Rocky Ridge brew, only to be met with empty trays and a shrug. It's happened to the best of us. We've learned to treat a trip to Pies & Ale like a military operation.

The misfits? Anyone expecting fine dining with a vineyard view. We've got four taps of WA brews from Artisan Brewing, Margaret River Brewhouse and Rocky Ridge. We've got forest walks to mooch around. We've even got that cute Airbnb, The Grove At Ryan's Rest, if you want to sleep it off. But if you need a sommelier and a cheese trolley? The main hub is that way.

But who would love it here? The surfers. The pie cult followers. Anyone who understands that the best things in life are a flaky pastry filled with Harvey beef and a cold local ale, enjoyed in the middle of a marri forest. We're not trying to compete with the fancy wineries. We're just here to feed you, and occasionally disappoint you when the pies run out. And we wouldn't have it any other way. 🥧🍺