On July 30, 2026, American Star Diner in North Wales,
Pennsylvania, had shepherd’s pie on their specials menu for lunch and dinner. This
dish is typically served in Irish pubs, but I have seen it in a variety of
diners as well.
Their recipe included the typical beef, vegetables, and mashed
potatoes. What set this version apart was the fact that they put gravy on top of
the mashed potatoes. This added extra moisture to the potatoes, beef, and
vegetables.
Another unique aspect of this version was the dish it was
served in. Typically, shepherd’s pie is served in an oval-shaped dish. I have
seen very few instances where it is a circular dish, and the American Star
Diner is one of these instances. The dish was deep, allowing for more of the shepherd’s
pie to be served.
The value of the dish was excellent. The shepherd’s pie cost
$16.99 for the lunch portion and it included a cup of soup (I chose cream of
potato, and it was delicious). For the amount of shepherd’s pie that was
served, it was an excellent value, especially in relation to other places I
have gotten this dish from. I have ordered shepherd’s pie at Irish pubs where
they did not serve anything with it and it was more expensive. This is not just
at pubs in New York City or Philadelphia.
The shepherd’s pie tasted really flavorful. The beef was a
bit on the drier side, but it was not as bad as other versions I have tasted.
The gravy on top, while unconventional, helped add some moisture to the dish. Even
the mashed potatoes were bursting with flavor, which can be a difficult thing
to do.
Overall, American Star Diner’s version of shepherd’s pie was
a great recipe. While it is unconventional to have gravy on the mashed
potatoes, it added to the recipe. It was a great value when you consider the
cost and how much you got. The dish was flavorful and delicious overall. I hope
the American Star Diner regularly has this on their specials menu and that
people get a chance to try it.