The Chopped Salad ($7) was comprised of bite-sized pieces of cucumbers, tomato, red onion, celery, and avocado tossed with mixed greens, blue cheese crumbles and PieBird’s House Vinaigrette. The petite Hand Pies (available during lunch hours) are $3 each, $5.50 with one side and $7.50 for two hand pies with one side. Complimenting the chicken in the Curried Chicken Hand Pie‘s filling were sweet potatoes and peas in a very light curry sauce. The side of Lentil Salad with scallions also featured the House Vinaigrette. The Spinach and Feta Pie had a lemony spanikopitastyle filling and was shaped like an open faced tart. It was finished with a Dill Crème Fraiche. The Soup of the Day when we went was a thick, brightly colored Yellow Split Pea. The empanada-shaped Black Bean and Green Chile pie was topped with a plain Mexican style slaw and served with a side of Curry Roasted Cauliflower with carrots. This chunky salad was seasoned with brown butter and thyme. If you eat one pie and one side, you’ll have plenty of room to try one of the frequently changing dessert pies ($5.50 per slice, $6.50 ala mode with ice cream from Lumpy’s). The Chocolate Cream Pie featured a chocolate wafer crust and a seriously deep chocolate mousse. The Blueberry Pie, garnished with Mango Sauce, had a tart jam-like filling. The Coconut Cream Pie, however, was the show stopper. Not too sweet, not too
heavy on the coconut — this was the ideal pie. If you’re looking for a cup of joe to wash down your dessert or give you that extra push to finish your day, PieBird’s interesting house coffee blend is made just for them by the local favorite Counter Culture and served in your own personal French press. If you had ever been to Conti’s and now walk into PieBird, you’d never think it was the same place. Greens, oranges, blues, cartoon birds, and flowers abound. Think Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine van meets the Partridge Family’s bus. On the left hand wall, there is a long banquette tightly packed with tables (don’t expect to have a private conversation about your crazy Aunt Jill’s antics) and art deco chairs. To the right is a grey counter topped bar, at the end of which is a floor to ceiling chalkboard announcing the day’s menu (soup, side, a hand pie, and the desserts all change daily). PieBird is a neighborhood café owned by neighborhood people. Its unique menu serves homemade pies made with fresh, local ingredients and fills a gaping hole in the Oakwood and Mordecai sections of Raleigh.
PieBird
618 n. Person st., raleigh 919.508.7612 | www.piebirdraleigh.com ———
$$$$ tuesday–saturday: 11am to 10pm Cuisine: inventive pies, sweet and savory Meals: lunch, dinner ambiance: retro café Dress: Come as you are noise level: gets loud Features: Vegetarian and lo-carb options, counter dining, small lounge area, sidewalk seating, catering, kid-friendly, take out, credit cards accepted alcohol: Full bar wireless: Yes Parking: street Downtowner tips: get there early as they’ve been running out of food towards the end of lunch and dinner!
Brian is a culinary instructor, food writer and personal chef. His business, Love at First Bite, specializes in private cooking classes and intimate dinners. For more information, please visit Brian at www.loveatfirstbite.net. Brian can be reached at brian@raleighdowntowner.com.
PoPs
spring
spe cials
Tues $5 $3 xx tequ las WEDS $4 $5 Sangria gl/wine thurs $4
$2
margaritas tecates DRAFT
Blues in the Night Your Symphony welcomes blues masters Corey Harris, Phil Wiggins and many other special guests for a journey through the history of a distinctly American sound. Fri/saT, May 6-7, 8pM Meymandi Concert Hall, Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh
TickeTs: $30-$45 / seNiors $30 / sTudeNTs $10 PoPs series Presented by
www.ncsymphony.org 919.733.2750 www.ticketmaster.com 800.745.3000 Raleigh DOWNTOWNeR MagaziNe
specials
one
long hora feliz
& 3.50 Small Plates 5-7 tues- fri
| Downtown raleigH’s PreMier MontHlY | VoluMe 7, issue 4
Historic Depot Building 327 W. Davie St. 919.755.0556
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