A "paddle of party pies" is what happens when a beer bar proprietor decides to open a pie shop. Owner Aaron Donato figured sample-size beers and party pies had similar appeal.

Pie Thief opened on Barkly Street in Footscray on June 8 in an old electrical repairs shop next door to Donato's brew-focused venue, Bar Josephine. The tiny, brightly coloured shop features just six stools, mostly doing takeaway sales of its party or standard sized pies. A full family-size set is to hit the warmers imminently.

Co-owner and chef Scott Blomfield, who has done time at Supernormal, Mighty Boy and Yarraville's Mantra Studio Kitchen, is serving seven pies at a time in flavours ranging from classic steak and cheese or bacon and egg, to Thai red chicken curry made from a house-made curry paste.

There is also lasagne with layers of bolognese, bechamel and cheese and a vegan option made with pumpkin and tofu cheddar.

Weekly specials might include a nacho pie stuffed with chile con carne, cheese and Doritos, topped with sour cream and pickled jalapenos.

Then there's the sausage rolls. Alongside the standard pork and fennel, you can get one stuffed with chicken parmigiana – chicken mince, bacon, napoli sauce and cheese wrapped in house-made pastry.

For drinks, there's hot or cold Milo, Code Black coffee, and milkshakes in flavours from peanut butter to malt or strawberry. Blomfield also makes a killer vanilla slice.

If you time your arrival to coincide with the opening of Bar Josephine at 1pm, you can pair a pie and a beer paddle for a proper pastry party.

Open Mon-Sat 7am-4pm; Sun 9am-4pm.

297 Barkly Street, Footscray, piethief.com.au.