I always love an impromptu food adventure (who wouldda thought?). This morning, I texted my cousin Harry to let him know that I’d be in his neck of the woods (Brooklyn), and he invited me to brunch with his co-workers at Pies and Thighs, a place that has been on my mind as a must-try before leaving New York. Pies n’ Thighs is known for it’s fried chicken and waffles, but it actually offers a small collection of other solid brunch options: scrambled eggs, biscuit sandwiches, pancakes, and of course, a wonderful array of pies. It has nothing close to refined food, and with its low prices, diner furniture, and country grub, aside from its hipster waiters, you really feel like you’re in the heart of the south when eating here.
fried chicken and waffles!!!
Our wait around 1:30pm was 45 minutes, but after being seated and placing our order we waited a good 25 minutes before getting our food. Though the place is small, they do things slowly and with care – but it’s worth the wait. The food was ridiculous. I did a good number on the crispy fried chicken and waffles covered in sweet butter, preserves, and maple syrup. I never quite understood the hoopla over this southern tradition until today, but the sweet and salty carbo-load tastes like magic. Plus, the chicken here is incredibly crisp and juicy, sort of like the crispy chick I remember trying at Jacques-Imos in New Orleans. I also had the special eggs scramble with asparagus and goat cheese, which came with an oversized crispy biscuit, honey butter, and a green salad – very soft scrambled, but very good! And for the table, we shared a chicken biscuit, a sandwich layered with a buffalo sauced chicken strip, sweet honey butter, and a buttery golden biscuit. Everything I tasted was amazing, so far outside the box of what I normally eat.
eggs special
cousin harry gettin' down
Despite my impending food coma, we opted for two slices of pie, because when in Rome…I thought I had tasted the best cream pie from Two Little Red Hens a few weeks ago, but this banana cream pie was a strong contender. With a crust made of buttery nilla wafers beneath a layer of banana and a massive scoop of fresh whipped cream, this was the quintessential, classic banana cream pie. The peanut butter chocolate pie was a dense, thick layer of sugary peanut layered with a thin coating of dark chocolate and peanut. This slice could have benefited from some whipped cream, but that didn’t stop us from chowing down.
Brunch was another sure sign that Brooklyn is a food world worth exploring. I am overwhelmed with places to try before I return to the west coast – but fear will not stop me!
Grade: A
Location: 166 S.4th Street (@ Driggs)
Website: http://www.piesnthighs.com
