This New Jersey native is serving up some of the best pot pies in Cobb County

“Have you tried the pot pies from the guy in Marietta?” asked a colleague. She handed me a menu that listed a dozen varieties of pot pies.

My stomach was overdue for lunch the day I hit up Paul’s Pot Pies, located half a block off Marietta Square. I stopped for a second to admire the tiny storefront — homey and cheery, with flower boxes hanging below the windows — then made a beeline for the door. Like I said, I was hungry — and surprised to find not a single table. A no-frills counter was the only thing separating me from the kitchen.

A middle-aged fellow with dark hair, smiling eyes but a straight face stepped forward from the kitchen.

“Where are the pot pies?” I asked. “This isn’t a restaurant? Are you Paul?”

The pot pies were in the back. Frozen. Ready to bake at home. Or, I could wait 45 minutes or so while he baked it. No, it wasn’t a restaurant — but it was, once upon a time. And, yes, he was Paul, he said with a thick New Jersey accent.

My stomach was growling audibly. Waiting 45 minutes wouldn’t do, but I’d come all this way for pies, so I bought three: jambalaya, chicken curry and vegetarian.

I took them home, baked them that evening, and, after putting a fork into flaky crusts and biting into meaty jambalaya, I went back to chat with Paul.