Where to find pie in Indy for Pi Day
Ask the average Hoosier where to find the best pie in town, and they'll likely point you to their grandparents' kitchen. While there may not be a bakery in the world that can replicate the sweet nostalgia of your favorite home-baked pie, there are plenty in the Indianapolis area serving up tasty slices. March 14 marks Pi Day, and plenty of Indianapolis-area bakeries are celebrating the unofficial pie holiday. If you're looking to commemorate the occasion — not that you need an excuse to eat pie — a visit to one of these restaurants or bakeries is in order.
Best pie in Indy?: Three slices to try around town
Gray Brothers Cafeteria
555 S. Indiana St., Mooresville. graybroscafeteria.com
The decades-old Mooresville icon is known for its homemade noodles and fried chicken livers, but Gray Brothers also offers a robust selection of pies. Most of your local fruit stand is represented in Gray Brothers’ pie selection, but if you want something more traditional, try the apple, pumpkin or pecan. Or go for the peanut butter or butterscotch cream pie. Slices cost $5.50 and whole pies cost $22.99.
Illinois Street Food Emporium
5550 N. Illinois St., eatincarryout.com
After polishing off a chicken salad sandwich or the Rocky Ripple roast beef special, diners at Illinois Street can purchase a whole pie from the bakery. The Emporium’s menu currently features pecan and chocolate pecan pies in addition to a variety of cakes, breads and pastries. Prices range from $20 for a pecan pie to $30 for coconut cream.
MCL Bakery
Multiple locations, mclhomemade.com
The Indianapolis-based restaurant and bakery offers whole pies and slices of coconut cream, pumpkin, pecan, cherry and Bavarian chocolate daily. Every Thursday, slices of a rotating pie flavor are half off. Full pies range from $15.25 to $19.99.
My Sugar Pie
40 E. Pine St., Zionsville, mysugarpie.com
Anything can be a pie at My Sugar Pie in Zionsville. Pineapple, s’mores, mint chocolate chip — sure, why not? However, you can also find staples like pumpkin, pumpkin praline, Dutch apple, apple lattice, key lime and pecan whole pies for $36-40. Select slices will be available for $3.14 on March 14.
Pots & Pans Pie Co.
4915 N. College Ave., potsandpansindy.com
The Meridian Kessler/SoBro staple sells just about everything hot that fits in a pie tin, from classic Hoosier sugar cream pies to chicken pot pies and even baked mac and cheese. Pots and Pans rotates certain pies monthly; during March the bakery is offering warm-weather flavors like pineapple passionfruit and cashew coconut cream. Or order the hallowed FrankenPie, which contains a slice of all six March flavors, for $39.50 until March 14.
Punkin’s Pies
1220 Waterway Blvd at the AMP Indy, punkinspies.com
Joanna ‘Punkin’ Wilson got her start making sweet potato pies with her mother. After years of trial and error, she perfected her mother’s recipe and in 2019 opened Punkin’s Pies. Located in Indianapolis’ self-proclaimed Innovation Hub, Punkin’s offers several whole pies including pecan, apple lattice, apple crumble and, of course, sweet potato. Prices range from $15 to $30, depending on flavor.
Ralph’s Great Divide
743 E. New York St.
Pie might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of this cozy downtown tavern, but diners at The Great Divide shouldn’t leave without enjoying a $5 slice of pie or two. Flavors rotate frequently, so you’ll just have to go and find out what’s on the menu.
Rise’n Roll Bakery
Multiple locations, risenroll.com
The Middlebury-based Amish-style bakery offers a number of pies in addition to its donuts, sweet breads and cookies. Whole pies can be ordered by calling your local Rise’n Roll, and individual slices are also available for purchase. Daily offerings and in-stock items vary by location.
Shapiro’s Delicatessen
808 S. Meridian St., shapiros.com
The iconic cafeteria’s robust menu includes a variety of pies, including favorites like pecan and apple as well as lemon meringue and rhubarb.
Taylor’s Bakery
6216 Allisonville Road and 8395 E. 116th St., Fishers, taylorsbakery.bakesmart.com
On a menu featuring bread, cakes, donuts and even dog treats, you’ll find a small selection of pies including apple, Dutch cherry, and key lime. Prices range from $24 to $29.
Contact dining reporter Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@gannett.com. You can follow him on Twitter @bradleyhohulin.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pi Day 2024: Where to find pie in Indy
