chron.com | tubular tv | comics | games | horoscopes | iPhone | Quick Search
Steve Campbell: 29-95
2 locations, including Westheimer and Upper Kirby
Pie is such a happy food; think of American apple pie or a sweet slice of cherry pie or a blueberry pie cooling on a windowsill. And yet, House of Pies is one of the saddest places we've ever eaten key lime pie. It's dimly lit, full of washed-up clubgoers and barflies looking for some late-night comfort food. And the pies? Well, they taste sort of like they've all been stockpiled from the '60s. The fresh fruit pies are your best bet, but we can't in good conscience advise you to eat a cream pie. Also? Don't plan on loitering around this place; there's a $2.50/hour charge for taking up space. Not even the best coconut cream could sweeten that deal.
Vibe: Cut-offs and a dirty white T-shirt? Check. Mullet? Check. Ironic '80s tracksuit? Bring it.
Henry
microknee
melly
Robert Boyd
bshepard
djkoolemdee
meggers
Poor hygiene --smoking in the kitchen---spoiled the meal--
Smoking in the kitchen is a violation of the city health ordinance - and speaking as a former waiter, I can verify that this policy has been around since the 1990s.
Unfortunately, you have to ensure that the city health inspector catches the smoker in the act, otherwise it's a he-said/he-said argument and nobody wins.
Bad experience at House of Pies on Westheimer tonight. Initially we were seated next to kitchen--and the cigarette smoke from the kitchen was so offensive we asked for seats as far as away as possible. Our waitress politely complied, acknowledging our complaint about the cigarette smoke. When you are allergic to cigarettes, this makes a big difference in enjoying a meal. Once seated, the four of us requested to buy an entire pie and eat it there, taking any home if necessary. Manager came to our table and said that was not allowed---we could only purchase single pieces of pie to eat there--just corporate rules he said! I then asked him about corporate rules about smoking in the kitchen which he flatly denied! He was generally brusque and rude about the whole matter--we will not return.
Oh paleez, their food is excellent, never had bad service and if you have a roach at your house/apt, does that stop you from eating there?
HoP is most excellent.
A few years ago, my boyfriend and I had a late night craving and stopped by HoP (we had been there a number of times before). We were shocked when we had a visitor visit our table: a baby cockroach crawled ONTO our table. We have never been back.
Lack of hygiene is never excusable.
As someone who's worked in many restaurants that have scored wonderfully on the Health Department's tests, I can tell you that cockroaches are unfortunately a pest in most restaurants they don't necessarily indicate a lack of hygiene.
I have been there to eat, and I agree it's pretty raggity and the food isn't all that great. But the pies truly are awesome - I would recommend buying a slice or whole pie to go and enjoying it at home!
I love this place. It's diner food and as diner food goes it's good diner food (it's one of the few places in upper Kirby that isn't yuppie-fied). You'd be crazy going to this place expect Haute cuisine. So many pie selections it would make your head explode. However for the diabetic Houstonian, their Sugar-Free Apple and Sugar-Free Cherry pies are a godsend. Yes the $2.50 an hour minimum charge is there to keep loiters from taking up potential business who would normally order their meal and leave. Before you complain take into consideration target demographics of the business and the product. If I go into a superhero movie & expect Shakespeare then I'm going to be disappointed but if I go in expecting awesome fight sequences & explosions then I would be pleasantly suprised. Same policy works w/ books, TV, restaurants, musci etc.
The ONLY dessert my entire office can agree on for birtday's etc... is the Strawberry Cream Cheese pie from House of Pies. Even the "I don't like sweets" people take a slice.
The $2.50 charge is to discourage people who will only order coffee and camp out at the counter or table from taking up space. They are in business to earn a profit and it costs them money when someone is slurping down free coffee refills and reading the paper for hours.
Don't let that discourage you from going there. All good and always good.
Hot apple pie with ice cream...basic Americana...try it here and you'll know why it's a classic...very good flaky pastry.
Try the BLT with avacado if it's still on the menu at the Upper Kirby location, with cottage fries. Corned beef hash with eggs and O'Brien potatoes with scones on the side if you're in a breakfast mood. French silk or their chocolate cream pie is the best esp. if you aren't counting calories. Never had a bad meal there.
Total agree! Great greasy breakfast diner with fresh pies made daily. The french silk & the their bayou goo pies are the best chocolate pies:)