Pies ’n’ Thighs
This Southern-fried grease trap, which started as a drunk-food closet at the back of a bar and is now run by three chefs—Carolyn Bane, Erika Geldzahler, and Sarah Buck—who met while working at Diner, maintains the DIY, seat-of-the-pants spirit of the dive that it sprang from, including scrawled food specials on sheets of paper, chairs and tables that may have been salvaged from a public school, and and borderline aggressive bright overhead lighting. The food, not the venue, is clearly the draw.
Simply brined, floured, and fried, the fried chicken is some of the city's most succulent, with an extra-crisp, greaseless crust. The fried catfish is also excellent and has a cornmeal coating that has been expertly seasoned. The baked beans, which are molasses-heavy and studded with brisket scraps, and the buttery cheddar-swirled grits stand out among the outstanding sides. A classic buttery biscuit containing a small pounded chicken cutlet covered in an irresistibly trashy emulsion of honey-butter and hot sauce may be the tastiest item on the menu, though it isn't a meal or a side.
The pies that are as much responsible for the Pies ’n’ Thighs's cult following as the chicken are on display in a glass case right next to the cash register. These sweet, traditional American favorites, like Nilla-wafer-studded banana cream and bitter chocolate pudding with whipped cream topping, are so traditional that you can picture Jerry Mathers's Beaver snatching a slice from the window.
- Phone: +1 347-529-6090
- Google rating: 4.3/5.0
- Opening Hours: Mon to Thu 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Fri to Sat 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM, Sun 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
- Website: https://piesnthighs.com/
- Location: 166 S 4th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
