Pie Face

When I was a kid I had a dream there was a franchise that doled out delicious chicken pot pies – I vowed to make this dream a reality. To my dismay – and my delight – I discovered it had already existed.
Pie face is one of the best franchises to ever exist. Piping hot, mini pot pies whenever you want? This is what I imagined heaven to be like. I thought chicken and mushroom would be my favorite – but I can no longer deny myself the duty of choice, when every pie here is so awesome and satisfying. My favorite is constantly changing with my mood – and isn’t it delightful that Pie Face gives you the privilege of a selection of pies to fit every mood? My current favorite is the Thai chicken curry which isn’t too curry-​like at all. Other favorite include the beef and tomato, the sloppy joe, and pretty much everything.
If your pie face offers you the choice of a scoop of mashed potatoes and peas – GET IT. You won’t regret it, because I never do.

Sad to report the mediocrity of Pie Face. I have heard so many great things about them, but the Philly Cheese Steak (which is one of their top sellers), did not taste so good. My cousin ordered their Indian-​flavored vegetarian pie, and she was also left unimpressed.
Service was all right — guy behind the counter looked like he really didn’t want to be there. The faces drawn on the pie fronts did nothing for us.

The pies are sooo cute and delicious. I recommend the Philly cheese steak and the this chicken.
The lady was really helpful and friendly. It was my first time so I was being very indecisive and she was very patient and helpful.

One visit and all I want to know is how do we get Pie Face down to DC?
Pie Face solves one of the biggest problems in the pie business. How to serve warm delicious pie and ensure that crust stays flaky without having customers wait hours on end for their orders to bake. Their Australian answer? Make them smaller … really small. Sure, a slice from a 12″ pie (see Dangerously Delicious of DC) seems appealing on the photos but it ends up being a pile of mush when actually served. I’ve had larger pies elsewhere that come partially heated. Or crusts that end up like Gerber’s baby food. Moreover, Pie Face’s individual and miniaturized serving sizes offers you the satisfying presentation of getting your whole pie. Pie Face also solves the dilemma of not knowing what fillings to choose. Often you get overwhelmed at the counter so their Australian answer is «why not choose it all?» A 6-​pack runs about $ 12.03 and hits all the important flavors.
Yes, I’m not a big on franchises but I’ve turned over a new leaf in recent years for affordable restaurants that serve novel dishes. It’s not everyday that you can enjoy high-​end boutique restaurants. At some point, you begin to enjoy the satisfying pleasure and comfortable price points of «fast-​food» like Chipotle and Chick-​Fil-​A. And along this line, I’m hoping to see more of Pie Face in the future.
Why 4 Stars? Because Virginia, you really can have it all. [Original Visit: May 2014]

Wow, what a great accidental find! It’s these chance food moments that really make me miss living in New York City.
After spending, literally, hours at the NYU Cancer Center across the street, my wife and I were hangry and in need of a quick bite to eat. We spied the Pie Face Bakery Café from afar and assumed it would be just another coffee shop. Boy, were we wrong.
It’s a tiny space, with only four or five tables. And although they have a lot of options to choose from in terms of food, my wife and opted for two of their savory mini-​pies. My wife, the veggivore, predictably ordered the Tandoori Vegetable savory pie. And I, the caveman, ordered the Philly Cheesesteak savory pie. You know it’s going to be good just by looking at the buttery, yellow, flaky crust that sits atop whatever goodness happens to be inside.
Before we finished putting in our order, the woman behind the counter asked if we wanted our pies «stacked.» Hmmmmm. Well, in short, if you are asked the same question, the answer is: 100%, yes. A stacked mini-​pie is served on a hot plate, the pie removed from its cooking pan, and topped with mashed potatoes, a scoop of freshly smashed peas, and a hearty dollop of brown gravy. (Vegetarian gravy available for the weak.) Not only is it food porn when served, it’s absolutely delicious. I can’t think of anything more enjoyable to eat on a blistery cold, snowy day.
While it sounds like a lot of food, it’s actually a right-​sized portion for lunch. The mini-​pie itself is pretty small, but once you pile on «the stack,» you have yourself a nice, square meal. It is decadent, however. This is not something you eat regularly. (I mean you could, but you’ll need to be rolled down the street eventually.)
LOVED THIS PLACE. Try it if you’re in the area.

The mini pies are great for an on-​the-​go snack! I’ve always wanted to try their savory pies but opted instead for a small blueberry pie since I was going to have dinner with some friends later that night. The prices are kind of ridiculous, but it is certainly worth a visit every so often. The single pie was actually pretty filling, and I appreciated the fact that it wasn’t too sweet. In fact, it tasted pretty wholesome, I think. You can actually buy in bulk for parties which is a great idea as it would be slightly different from what everyone typically always bring… cupcakes! Not to hate on cupcakes, but you really don’t need 15 friends each bringing a box of six cupcakes, nah mean? Bring pieface next time and win at life!
3.5 Stars

Yummy Savory Pastries and open ²⁴⁄₇. I’m in.
Spicy Beef Pie and even the Tandoori Veggie Pie is delicious !!!

3.5 stars. I came here several weeks ago to grab a quick bite for lunch on a weekend. I got a cup of chicken noodle soup and a meat-​filled pie (I can’t remember which one). While the pie was quite delicious, the soup was very blah. I’d recommend this place if you’re running low on time and wanted something easy and portable. The variety is decent, so you’re sure to find something to satisfy every taste. The pies are also super cute!
–L.

A few weeks ago, I had quiche from a midtown kosher restaurant called Milk and Honey, which was easily the best quiche I’ve ever had. So needless to say, after that I had quite the intense craving for QUICHE, QUICHE, AND MORE QUICHE. Being a Murray Hill resident, I figured I’d finally give this nearby hot spot a try.
I picked up the spinach and cheese quiche and asked for it warmed up because I was SO READY to fulfill my craving. After dropping over $ 5 on a measly little piece of baked goodness that I could inhale in two bites (which was a complete rip off for dough that happens to have a cute face on it), I walked out with my so-​called «warmed-​up» pastry and began to dig in.
The outside was lukewarm, the inside was still cold, so I was unhappy.
The pastry dough is nothing special, it was a little dry in my opinion. The inside was less than satisfactory, almost tasteless. I ended up taking a bite and throwing most of it out. G’bye $ 5.
Since this a strictly quiche-​related review, I cannot comment on the pies and other baked goodies they have. They had some apple cobbler pie that looked delicious, but the pies with the faces all look the same so it’s hard to comment on what looks good and what doesn’t.
Quiche craving commences.

This unique chain in a hustle/​bustle location offers all things pie — both sweet and savory, as well as a few other desserts not in pie form. One of my favorites is the brownie. It’s $ 4.30 with tax but big enough for two people to share or 1 fattie. These chewy, brownies are moist and sweet with no shortage of thick chocolate chunks.
Their savory pies are also good — I like the tandoori chicken or chicken and mushroom. Try not to eat this every day.

PRO:
— STEAK MEAT PIE — get it with THE STACK [stack consists of mash potatoes, peas and gravy] — mmm so good. however the peas were a little mushy — like the types you find at school lunches.
THE OKAY:
— CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM PIE — nothing particularly amazing about this. I had high expectations from this because everyone seemed to be wowed by this on Unilocal but it was only ehh… standard Pie. It was overrated.
CONS:
— the place is kind of small.
— EXPENSIVE: 2 PIES FOR $ 12 something. Basically $ 6 something for a pie.
Service was decent. I went in and asked about THE STACK and they showed me what it looked it like.

I think the concept of this chain is extremely cute. Each pie has a face that has a letter to help you distinguish what type of pie it is (ex: «b» for blueberry). Come on, you gotta admit that’s cute!
A pretty decent selection, I must say. And the pies that I’ve tried (curry vegetarian and blueberry) are pretty damn good.
The cost racks up though. Don’t let those pies fool ya!
…maybe it’s a bad idea that I live near one now…

Ordered the apple and pumpkin pie. They were okay. Their pies are cute but pricey.
Friendly staff and clean establishment.

I was in New Zealand and Australia where people eat meat pies like we eat pizza. so I think I know a good meat pie when I see one.
Overall, this place does a nice job. Philly cheese steak pie was very good. Good service. For around $ 8 you get 3 mini meat pies, value is not so great, they should make it 4 for $ 8…as they are kinda small.
Do no order a chocolate chip cookie here… they are overpriced and not that good. I ate half and tossed it… I think Subway or Insomnia has a better cookie for a lot less money. They need to go to Levain and do some reverse engineering if they want to charge $ 3.50 for a cookie. Plus, the pies are really good, so having a substandard cookie detracts from the brand. For the love of G-​d, make an insane mini chocolate chip cookie pie for $ 3.50!
They really should hire me to do consulting. That would look amazing on my fat ass resume.

Two words: The Stack!
Yep, pick a pie and get it stacked, you will not regret it.
I heard the chicken mushroom is the most popular so I tried it and must say its tasty. I did try the philly cheesesteak one as well and that is also yummy.
I will be back to attack The Stack when the next craving hits.

We stopped by here a couple of times during our trip to Manhattan and sampled both savory and sweet pies. I also tried one of the croissants with chocolate inside (those are my weakness) and it was one of the best I’ve had. I think it is a great concept… perfect food for a light meal and I noticed it was also cheaper the more you got so it would be a easy option for catering a party or get-​together at home.
The only thing that kept them from more stars was the fact that it was oppressively hot in there. I know they probably have those ovens going non-​stop, but seriously, turn on the A/​C or open a window or something! The staff all seemed tired and like they didn’t want to be there which is understandable. But also there were only a couple of really small tables and they were very dirty. So, I wouldn’t have wanted to hang out even if it weren’t for the heat.
I think they have an awesome concept and a great product. If they would just make their actual store a little more comfortable I think it would be a real winner.

When I think of down under I think Crocodile Dundee, koalas munching on eucalyptus leaves and kangaroos and how their pouches freak me out. But I don’t necessarily think of pies.
Pie face is an Aussie chain that sells all types of pies. They have sweet and savory ones and they have regular ones and mini ones so you can try them all. I have come here for the savory pies but I have had the sweet ones too. These little pockets of flavors are definitely delish! If you want to order a bunch they have a discounted deal, check their menu, and it comes in a cool box. If you order just one it comes in a cool container and you can add smash to it which is smashed potatoes and smashed peas topped with gravy, a good hearty meal for one person.
When you come face to face with these little pie faces its hard to decide which ones you want. I have had the philly cheesesteak which is beefy and slightly cheesy, the tomato and minced beef with the strong tomato-​ey flavor, the bbq pulled pork with a nose stinging vinegary sauce and the chunky steak which tasted like a wonderful beef stew. They are great when they are still hot. These pies fed me the whole weekend. They also had a thai curry chicken one and a chicken and mushroom which is always sold out whenever I get there and I believe there is a bacon, cheese and onion one also. The sweet ones are mostly fruit based pies and the mini ones are a delight. My favorite is the blueberry because I’m a blueberry kind of girl, but the crust is very flaky and the pies are not too sweet a good balance.
Their funny sleepy looking faces are very cute but if you look at their mouths they reveal the flavors inside. This east side location right on the corner of 34 and 3^rd is kind of far. The 6 train is the closest but if you end up on the west side they opened up some new locations. Yay! They have seating but it is mostly counter seating along the window and like 2 tables. They have other baked items but the savory meat pies are your best bet. Get it with a smash combo or get the smash on the side. It’s 24 hours so come check it out whenever the craving hits you or Crocodile Dundee will haunt you in your dreams.

I rushed here after reading that the Philly Cheesesteak Pie was available for consumption. Noticeable difference: there was more steak than cheese in my mini pie, due to the fact that the pie was made with actual cheese slices as opposed to artificially manufactured cheese whiz.
(If you want cheese whiz, I’m sure you can go next door to Carl’s Steaks and get some whiz to go.)
I personally think that the savory pies are more tasty than the sweet pies. The buttery flakiness of the crust pairs better with the sauces in the savory pies.
One last question before signing off: What’s up with the utter lack of seating at all Pie Face stores? GET SOME CHAIRS.

*Overall 3.5 Stars*
Décor: 2.5÷5
–cute yet very small, there is only seating for 2
–they might be renovating but I noticed the placed wasn’t the clean
Service: 3.5÷5
–friendly
Food: ⁴⁄₅
–I was tempted to get ‘The Stack’ but knowing me, I like to try everything so I went for the 4-​pack ($ 19.93)
–From favorite to least:
1) Chicken Mushroom
2) BBQ Pulled Pork (tie)
2)Thai Chicken Curry (tie)
4) Minced Beef
I’m definitely coming back to try their dessert pies, sandwiches and ‘The Stack’.

Yum! Get «The Stack» — choice of meat pie or veggie pie, smashed potatoes, peas and a scoop of gravy on top, plus a bottle of water for about $ 8! Nifty little meal if you’re on the go — and it’s delicious!
I heard this new location of Pie Face had opened up close to where I work and I just could not resist checking it out. I had tried these morsels of meaty goodness at a Unilocal event earlier this year and I was hooked. As I walked in I was handed a menu that has a lot of items on it. I noticed the option to upgrade to a ‘stack” for a few dollars more and thought «oh hell yes»! On top of the pie you choose (I had the chicken & mushroom) they add on a scoop of mashed potatoes, peas, and gravy! Oh Yessss! A bottle of water is included too. It’s like a mini pot pie meal plate with all the sides piled high on top of it. Again, it was savory and delish!
Prices for both the regular and mini pies are not super cheap, but the loyalty card program they offer will at least ease the pain a bit when you receive that freebie. They also have a selection of sandwiches and wraps here too which I can not see being that big of a sell when you have all these delicious pies to choose from. They even offer breakfast items such as pastries, croissants, and almond sticks.
I might have to come back here in the morning as they seem to have a nice coffee push going on. A «Wake Me up Wednesday» promo has coffee at half price between 8−9am on that day every week. They have a few different strength blends to choose from and cup sizes, along with espresso and iced coffees. On the way out I picked up a card for a $ 1 coffee with any am purchase, or espresso with any pastry for $ 5. They realize us New Yorkers love our caffeine!
Not the biggest place with no available seating. There is barely just a counter spot for a few people to sit at by the window. It’s really a take out space, but it’s all new and clean. They deliver too. The staff was friendly and helpful.
Heck, they are even open 24 hours a day! These Australians from down under know how to rock it!