As the holiday season dawns and stomachs begin to rumble with the promise of traditional meals, people are searching far and wide for the best places to buy their food. In the month of November, Thanksgiving is on the mind as families begin to prepare their menus. This typically ends with the dessert most commonly associated with the meal: pie.
Whether you are looking for a traditional pumpkin pie or something a little more nuanced, there are a litany of places in Salt Lake City that offer a wide array of pies. As you and your families begin to split the holiday duties, here are a few restaurants owned by pie enthusiasts to keep on your radar.
Left Fork Grill
After an enriching culinary education at the New England Culinary Institute and a turn as the executive chef at two restaurants, chef Jeff Masten found his passion for entrepreneurship and opened Left Fork Grill in 2006. The restaurant couples the nostalgic diner feeling with a modernized menu and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and most famously, pie.
Sitting at the crossroads of 68 W. and 3900 S., Left Fork Grill is home to a delectable array of pies. Their pie menu changes daily, but the grill accepts pie orders to be picked up at any time. They have everything from the classic pumpkin pie to unique creations like almond joy and coconut banana. They even offer a variety of pies that can be made with no sugar. Everyone can find something to love at Left Fork Grill.
Pie Fight
Whether you’re looking for a quick slice or something shareable, Pie Fight has you covered. In the heart of the 900 E. 900 S. neighborhood, Pie Fight offers handmade pies of all sizes. They offer full 9-inch banana creme, apple pecan, pumpkin and berry pies that are perfect for the holidays, while also offering a variety of smaller pies just in case you want one all to yourself.
The smaller pies appear more like tarts because instead of having an exposed top, they are completely surrounded by a thin crust. Pie Fight has also introduced a new version of pie that is unique to them. Their menu displays a kind of ice cream sandwich, but the center includes a layer of either cherry or blueberry-lemon pie filling.
Pie Party
Cori Norton turned her passion for baking pies into a full-time gig by opening Pie Party. She typically sells her creations at downtown farmers’ markets and Culture Coffee but is currently in the process of opening her first storefront at 3130 S. Highland Drive.
Norton specializes in custom catering orders, so Pie Party should be your go-to for any and all holiday events. Every pie is baked by hand using in-season produce, and Norton curates each one 100% on her own. The website notes that the allotted time for order fulfillment is two weeks, so be sure to get your orders in plenty of time before the holidays.
James Gourmet Pies
Air Force veteran James Edwards brought his love of baking to fruition when he sold his first sweet potato pie during his military service. That love has now transpired into the “Best of Utah” award-winning business, James Gourmet Pies.
His specialty is sweet potato pie, but he also offers other classic flavors like pumpkin, buttermilk and banana pudding. His pies are available at several retailers throughout Utah. However, his website offers frozen pies that can be shipped nationwide, so wherever the holidays take you, James Gourmet Pies has you covered.
