Pi Day is celebrated each March 14 in honor of the mathematical constant — and as an excuse to indulge in all the sweet and flaky scrumptiousness that is a great pie. (Nevermind that pie has its own day; National Pie Day is Jan. 23.) But pie deserves more than one day of celebration. Whether you're shopping for some to bring home or looking for a casual corner shop to enjoy a slice, here are our picks for the best places for pie around the Twin Cities any day of the year.
Bakery Pies
Honey & Rye Bakehouse: The care and quality of a pie begins with the crust, and the buttery one holding all the goods at this St. Louis Park bakery tastes like love. Order a whole pie ($30) or a slice ($4) for same-day pickup and enjoy the flavor of the day, or place a special order in advance for Key lime, chocolate coconut cream, blueberry streusel or salted banana caramel cream pies. 4501 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park, honey-and-rye.com
Black Walnut Bakery: Pastry chef Sarah Botcher's bakery was borne from her culinary training and a desire to build her own business. She started out selling pastries from a small table at the Minneapolis Farmers Market and quickly grew a passionate following. Inside her sunny Minneapolis shop, the lemon tarts (which are definitely pie adjacent, if not technically pies) are filled with springy-tart curd ($5.25). Meanwhile, her banana cream pie ($6) is down home cream and crust. 3157 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., blackwalnutbakery.com
Sarah Jane's Bakery: This neighborhood bakery is ground zero for great Midwestern pie. There are all kinds of classic flavors to choose from, such as apple, cherry, berries and French silk ($15.50-18.50). Order ahead and don't be shy about grabbing a couple of doughnuts for the drive home. 2853 NE. Johnson St., Mpls., sarahjanesbakery.com
The Buttered Tin: There are two locations of this lively cafe owned by pastry chef Alicia Hinze, both with drool-worthy pastry cases. But the pies are so fun to order in advance. Get one that's frozen to save for a later date, or pick up a freshly baked one ($34.04). Flavors run the gamut from French apple and peach bourbon to lemon meringue and one that's flavored like toasty s'mores. 237 E. 7th St., St. Paul; 2445 NE. Marshall St., Mpls.; thebutteredtin.com
Restaurant pie
Myriel: Karyn Tomlinson's Highland Park restaurant seems like the perfect date-night destination, a place worthy of fancy shoes. But tucked into the dessert menu is pure Midwestern comfort. Her pie crust is so dialed in that it's rumored that it clinched her win at the 2018 Grand Cochon, the national whole-heritage-hog cooking competition (one of her entries was Lard and Apple Pie). 470 Cleveland Av., St. Paul, myrielmn.com
Hot Hands Pie & Biscuit: The cafe bakes up biscuits and pie — both acceptable breakfast foods — as a tribute to the buttery floured arts. You could bring a slice home for dessert, but grabbing a slice ($5) inside Tara Coleman's cute shop is an ideal way to start an otherwise unremarkable weekday. Hot Hands also thrives on variety. There are fantastic savory potpies to take home ($12.95) and pie shakes ($8.50) for a leveled-up sweet treat. 272 Snelling Av. S., St. Paul, hothandspie.com
Breaking Bread Cafe: This neighborhood weekday cafe is a welcome way to either kick off the day or break it up midday. But no visit is complete without a slice of sweet potato pie. Its silky texture and pure comfort flavor must have been what was in mind when the phrase "sweet as pie" was coined. Poured into a flaky crust, it's worth a trip over there if it's been a minute since you've been. 1210 Broadway Av. W., Mpls., breakingbreadfoods.com
