The Pie Hole

Reviews 3

WA

Walter Macalma

Since macaroons and cupcakes were so 2011-2012 I think we have to give props to the original dessert. The pie. And on Pi Day no less. Happy Birthday Anne. Ill give Pie Hole some real props in having some of the most innovative flavors Ive ever had. Early Grey, Thai Tea, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Almond Joy. Ive had a lot of desserts despite not being a dessert guy. If its good Ill try it, but coming from SD I had to make my trips here worth it, so coming with my crew we got a bunch of slices to split is the only reasonable way to eat their changing menu. I had about half their menu in 1 trip Dont be deterred by the location. Downtown LA can be brutal getting in and out of and the street only parking and then waiting in line here. Dont be scared, it will all be worth it for that rich, cinnamon ladel Mexican Chocolate, its not nearly as heavy as youd think with just a hint of bitterness and "smoove like butta". Ok maybe not that smooth, but consistency and their best seller. Its often sold out later in the day/evening. Earl grey is interesting and a common combo with the # seller Mexican Chocolate 1, but try it by itself and only by itself and youll realize its not that great. It really feels you wanting. Its missing something that completes your normal morning earl grey tea experience. Lemon, milk, or sugar are the most common additives, non of which are featured here. All the love for the earl grey and not a single British tea drinker pointed that one out. Thai tea when available is much better, more complete profile, but both lack the texture. I found the thai tea the most interesting because NO ONE else does anything like it. To me creamier, sweeter and the condensed milk flavor is almost as alluring as the color. Custard is good with its flakey crust and jelly like texture its really easy to fill up. I took a whole pie home and 1 lake night ate the whole thing and didnt feel bad about it. I could go through the rest of their menu, but found the rest of it not as interesting as their savory pies. Wait the Key Lime does not use kaffir limes. Im again surprised all these LA yelpers didnt pick up on that or maybe theyve just never been to Florida. Savory pies need oomph, they need umami without the fat they need herbs and spices to permeate the doughy, flakey blanket that encapsulates it. The easiest way to get this is with a rue. This is why pastry chef school is different that culinary academys. They dont quite get it right, its just too salty, you dont get the chicken flavor within the chunks. Breakfast pie would be great if they served it during breakfast hours. The issue here is eggs need fluff, it needs air, much like a quiche and they fail here also. Mac and cheese is nice and dense, but needs more béchamel aka cheese sauce. Service here is great, they do run out of things so dont be all butt hurt when you come late in the day or night and the top 3 slices are all gone. Frankly I think they are a little overpriced in general, but not such great ideas for pie desserts I cut them some slack since most people spend 1/4 of their meal/entrée money on dessert in my experience. Décor is small, its a café and the coffee does compliment their pies, but its not a gourmet, roasting house its basically a notch below starbucks in that regard. I once thought this place was 5 stars, but as Ive eaten them more and more I realize they could perfect the recipes on both the sweets and savorys, but the crusts and consistency theyve got on lock. Try them all and dont just go with the fan favorites, youll find surprises like how the Early Grey is really not as good as everyone thinks.

JA

Jason Lum

Depending on your preferences Pie Hole could sound disgusting or absolutely delicious! Dont let the name fool you. Its not what you think unless you were thinking about a legit pie place then you are correct. If you are like me, you are team pie! Something about cake and cupcakes are meh. Boo Team cake boo! Unless we are talking ice cream cake then that is delicious but pie is king! Cake breading is whatever and I dont need frosting. Pie are just perfect for both hot served with meat or cold and sweet. Thats what he said. This is like the Twilight of desserts but I will never understand cake lovers. I suggest birthday pie and skip the cake. Yes, I just went Twilight in a review and yes the series movie does suck but this review is off to a good start. I chose the maple custard pie and a mint chocolate latte iced. The maple custard was beautiful. Tear. It was easily one of the best pies I have ever tasted. I am not just saying it to be a cliché. The custard is like a crème Brule and the crust is a buttery with good texture but soft and does not break apart. A-Plus on the crust consistency. What would make a crème Brule out of this world? Yes, maple crust on top. Let me repeat a crispy not too sweet maple top. It sounds dirty but its so right. Its not truffle butter. Please dont urban dictionary that you have been warned. The mint chocolate latte iced. I do not recommend this drink but with a disclaimer. If you are pregnant or being visited by aunt Flo, you will love this dont question me just get it. Husband, boyfriend, or fling you are welcome! I just solved all your problems. For a normal person without a chocolate addiction or massive sweet tooth and doesnt want diabetes, do not order this drink. It is like drinking a chocolate mint milkshake yes it is delicious but minus the liquid and make it sure thick. Basically if I took a chocolate mint bar and scooped ice cream and gave you a straw and some ice that is what your drink will be. I cant wait to go to pie hole again! Maybe this time I will go for the whole pie. This place lives up to and exceeds the hype. Please dont follow the hype. Just eat some good pie and fill your mouth with a slice of heaven.

MI

Michael Wang

If my friend had never told me about The Pie Hole, I would have literally just walked right past it while going to Wurstküche. Now my pie game only consists mainly of Marie Calendars chicken pot pies from Costco and assorted pies from Whole Foods, so its not epic by any means. Luckily, The Pie Hole was able to show me a pretty solid pot pie, and see that Costco doesnt always have the most amazing food in the world. The Pie Hole is actually pretty small size-wise, but it wasnt crowded at all when I went there. The overall feel here is a little on the hipster-side, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. This place is clean, and has tons of open dining space. As far as food goes, there are plenty of savory and sweet pies to choose from. Each pie will run you about $5-6, but it is worth each dollar. I decided to go with the Chicken and Cornbread Pot Pie. If I was going to go with a savory pie, what better one than to order a chicken pot pie? Once the pot pie came out, I was extremely excited. For $6, it was definitely a good size for a small meal. Once I dug my fork through the fluffy breading, I knew I was in for a treat. The pot pie simply tasted amazing. There were plenty chunks of chicken inside, and I could taste the nice cornbread mixed in. I honestly could just barely finish my pie, but then again, I did eat a lunch right before. Nonetheless, my taste buds were firing on all cylinders. Needless to say, I was quite satisfied with what I had ordered. The Pie Hole is a great place to grab a bite when youre not too hungry. If youve already eaten lunch, then dont worry because you can go with a slice of their sweet pies. This is a neat little restaurant in DTLA that serves up some mean flavor.