Hearing the news that there would be a shop in LA devoted to pies and sandwiches I was instantly thrilled! I thought SimpleThings Pie and Sandwich shop just might be everything I was hoping for. You see, I love pies and find it a rather difficult task to find one worth getting excited about in this city. So I invited my friend Julie to join me on a pie date to check out this new shop.
SimpleThings is cute and quaint with muted colors in a tiny New York-size space. When you walk in the door, you are greeted by a bright glass case filled with pies galore. There was a large selection available – a huge plus! My mouth started to water at the sight of all the delicious-looking mini pies. My choices for the day were coconut cream, salted caramel, French silk, pumpkin, apple, and banana cream. The selection varies daily.
Since we came specifically for pie we ordered five different mini pies – known here as “cuties.” Cute as these cuties were, they were too mini for my liking and after two mini bites they were gone. They are simply too small for their $2.50 price tag.
I started with the apple pie and was sorely disappointed. The crust was, in my opinion, under-baked and chewy. The texture was unappetizing and the filling completely bland. I went back on a separate visit to this pie shop and ordered the blueberry pie, thinking my disappointment in the apple pie was a fluke, but unfortunately this pie had the same soft crust. I asked a SimpleThings employee if the crust was supposed to be so soft and they informed me that the crust was in fact intentionally soft and that was the style of their fruit filled pies. Disappointing. I like my fruit filled pie to have a buttery, flaky, rich crust – not a soft and doughy one.
The cream pies, however, were delightful. The crust on these pies does turn to crumbles when you bite into it, but this I’m willing to forgive when the filling is so creamy, rich and sweet! The salted caramel was silky smooth with a subtle milky flavor. The coconut cream was creamy with an enjoyable, delicate sweetness. The French silk was decadent and velvety.
All in all, the “cuties” are too expensive for their size and I will skip on fruit filled pies next time I go, but that salted caramel may have me coming back for more. I think my mistake may have been that I ordered mini pies rather than going for their simple pie size (medium/individual). I’m not going to write off SimpleThings just yet because I have a feeling the crust on the larger pies will hope up better, fingers crossed for my next pie date.
SIMPLETHINGS PIE AND SANDWICH SHOP
8310 West Third Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Jessica
February 18, 2011i didn’t like their pies at all actually! too sweet and even too small for my kids to enjoy. i kinda expected more from a place specializing in pies!
lynn @ the actor's diet
February 18, 2011i’ve heard disappointing things as well. it’s actually a relief, b/c i have way too many places on my to-eat list!
Esi
February 18, 2011I only had a sandwich when I went because they were out of the particular pie I wanted that day, but I would go back for the salted caramel pie. My sandwich was good, but a little overpriced in my opinion.
JENN
February 18, 2011salted caramel in a pie yum! crumbly crust yuck. soft crust yuck! but i think you’re right maybe it will all come togther better in a larger size 🙂
Jonathon
February 19, 2011love a good banana cream or coconut cream pie!
Kristin Feuer
February 19, 2011I tried a bunch of little pies too, and found them to be not that great. I didn’t even try a fruit pie because of what the crust looked like. I got cream pies and they all seemed a little off in different ways to me. I wouldn’t go back. You know who has good pie? Clementine. Ohh man, that’s the pie I crave.
Nastassia
February 19, 2011Jessica- i agree too teeny even for little ones
Lynn- seems to be all i hear too which is sad
Esi- i wonder why they are so pricey? maybe the neighborhood
Jenn – salted caramel anything is always good!
Jonathon- as Kristen so kindly reminded me Clemetine’s does have an amazing banana cream pie you should try it!
Kristen – we need a Clementine date soon!
Mollie Bryan
February 22, 2011Too bad about those fruit pie crusts. I’ve honestly never heard of an intentionally soggy crust. But those fruit pies can be a challenge. Maybe it will take while for the place to perfect.