September 17, 2007

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House of Pies, Houston, TX

My dad’s new job takes him to Houston on occasion, and he asked me for recommendations in terms of where to eat. Culinarily speaking, there’s not a lot to say about that part of Texas. However, on my one and only voyage there, I was searching for a notable noshing experience and my boyfriend (who spent some time in the Lone Star State as a lad) said, “You HAVE to go to the House of Pies.” I was intrigued.

The House of Pies is an unassuming, almost Waffle House-esque diner whose tagline is, “A slice of heaven on Earth.” I couldn’t agree more. With reliable munchies (I had a Monte Christo sandwich and a heap of fabulously crunchy tater tots) and 24-hour service (with breakfast available anytime), it would already be a great place to add to the rotation. But there’s more! On the daily menu, there are about 8 fruit pies, 11 cream pies, 3 meringue pies, and 8 specialty pies from which to choose. You can buy them by the slice or by the pie, but one thing is for sure—you will never forget your first bite. When I went with some work colleagues while on a business trip, we tried the Dutch apple (yummy), the Bavarian chocolate banana (even yummier), and the strawberry rhubarb (the yummiest). We all decided that we should have skipped dinner and just eaten pie all night. If only they shipped…

The first time my dad went to Houston, he ignored my wholehearted endorsement and skipped the House of Pies. The second time, however, I wasn’t taking no for an answer and I told him I’d disown him if he didn’t give it a try. Then we had the following telephone exchange:

Dad: Guess where I am.
Betty: I don’t know, where?
Dad: The House of Pies.
Betty: * Delighted and jealous squeal * Do you love love love it? Are you eating tater tots? What kind of pie are you having?!?!
Dad: Yes, yes, Bavarian chocolate banana, and oh my god it is so $%#&*@! good.
Betty: * Stomach rumbling, wondering if her agency’s Houston office needs any help *

If you’re anywhere near Houston, you MUST visit this fine establishment. For those of us who are far far away from the magic, we can still talk about pie, which is probably the greatest fall dessert. What’s your favorite variety? Do you make your crust from scratch (and if so, what’s your secret)? Are there any local establishments that can compare to the House of Pies?

Posted by bettyjoan at September 17, 2007 4:06 PM | Comments (2) | EatFoo 1.0 Posts


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Good post on the House of Pies -- it is a winner. But so off about Houston not offering much in the culinary department.

Fourth largest city in the US + heaps of ethnic diversity + lots of oil money = Awesome restaurants

Perhaps on your next visit you can try the amazing Mexican, Indian, BBQ, Middle Eastern, Italian spots in the city. To name a few:

Benjy's (American)
India's (North Indian)
Teala's (Mexican)
Ruggles (Dessert)
Baba Yaga (Vegetarian)
The Mint Cafe (Middle Eastern)

I could go on, but it would take up too much space. Next time you trek down to Houston try doing a bit more research.

Posted by: AS at September 17, 2007 9:03 PM


AS, thanks for the recommendations--I will definitely try some of those places on my next visit. On my first trip, I spent a week getting recommendations from Houstonians and trying as many varied cuisines as possible, but (aside from the House of Pies and a killer cafeteria, the name of which I'm forgetting at present) nothing really impressed me. To be fair, we were treated to some pretty spectacular home-cooked treats, so my taste buds may just have been plumb tuckered out. To be continued, I hope!

Posted by: bettyjoan at September 17, 2007 9:40 PM

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