If you are one to celebrate Thanksgiving, I’m sure most of you enjoy a slice of pie at the end of the day. Whether that be classic pumpkin, sweet pecan or spiced apple, pie is a simple and timeless staple desert that many look forward to during autumn. There are so many flavors of pie out there that certainly there is one for everyone. I was recently in a pie-eating mood, so I went on a mission to find a good, satisfying apple pie—my favorite flavor. A quick Google search for pie in Portland led me to the Pie Spot.
Located on Northeast 24th Ave., just off of Sandy Boulevard, the Pie Spot is an 11-minute drive from McDaniel. As I stepped into the establishment, the atmosphere was a little bit desolate and the overhead lighting was bright and kind of harsh. I should mention that I did visit this bakery in the evening, so your experience may change depending on the time of day you visit. I was the only one in the store the whole time I ate there, which may be indicative of the bleak interior being off putting to potential customers.
Instead of a slice, the pies that the Pie Spot sell are small handheld pies, about three to four inches wide and about one and a half inches deep. Called “Pie Spots,” each one is six dollars. Their apple flavor is called brandy apple. Overall, the presentation of the pie was quite cute, almost looking like a flower with the crimped crust. I decided to sample the crust first to see how that held up, so I broke off a chunk from the edge. My first impression was that it was a little bit stale, but then it was buttery and flakey, which was enjoyable.
Biting into the pie proved to be a bit of an awkward endeavor due to the height of it, but once I got into the filling it proved to be alright, and didn’t get too messy. I really enjoyed the apples in the filling, the size of each chunk was perfect, not too big or small; the chunks were firm, yet soft enough to bite into while still having a bit of a crunch. At first, I thought that the filling was overall enjoyable, but as I neared the end of the pie, it was really gooey and approaching unpleasant. Although the texture wasn’t great in my opinion, the taste was actually really tasty! As I took a bite, it wasn’t an immediate hit of spices or apple onto my taste buds, but it gradually came on throughout my bite.
Overall, I would say I’m disappointed with my experience at the Pie Spot. However, I would love to try some of the Pie Spot’s other flavors. While some elements of the pie weren’t desirable to me, they may be your cup of tea, so try out the Pie Spot!
