Whether its the boss on your back, your lover calling to break up (again), or the puzzling investigation of a brutal murder of a popular high school student named Laura Palmer, troubles seem to melt away with a slice of pie and a "damn fine cup of coffee" at your favorite neighborhood restaurant, diner, or java shop.
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Which is why we've selected 10 of our favorite spots to have both in the Valley.
Along with the coffee and espresso drinks, owner Virginia Senior serves up some incredibly "oh my!" slices of pie at her Midtown Phoenix java and wine bar. Ranging from seasonal to standard delights baked fresh every day, our favorite is the Pink Diablo. Featuring a walnut cookie crumb crust, a prickly pear cheesecake is topped with lime curd with a splash of tequila and finished with meringue, mint, and agave habanero sauce. Oh my, indeed.
Grandma Fran does home cookin' proud in her cute little pink-painted breakfast and lunch spot in Mesa. Along with the chicken fried steak and the biscuits and gravy, there are mouthwatering pies that pair perfectly with the coffee -- especially the apple. Topped with a scoop or two of ice cream, Fran's generous slices of pie make sure no one goes home hungry. But if you do want more, you can buy her pies whole to take home.
At this diner-style spot in North Phoenix, Peggy's pies are as popular with the regulars as the scratch-made biscuits and home-style meatloaf. Belly up to the counter and order up a slice of whatever variety Peggy decided to make that day (plain or a la mode) along with a hot cup o' Joe and tell the waitress your troubles. After all, the sign in the restaurant says "Pie Fixes Everything," and Peggy wouldn't lie about something like that.
Can pie and coffee get any better than when they're enjoyed outdoors amid lush lawns, bright flowers, and pecan trees a half-century old? Unlikely. At this South Phoenix getaway, a tree-shaded patio or weathered picnic table makes for an idyllic setting to savor a slice of made-from-scratch pecan or a mini fruit-filled cobbler along with slow sips of coffee. No additional charge for tranquility or reflection.
Since Ruth Cavendar of Mount Ayr, Iowa, started this Midwestern-centric cafe in Mesa in 1985, the same family recipes for her popular, fresh-baked pies are still used today. Featuring more than 20 types of homemade creations (think Dutch apple, peach, and butterscotch) available by the slice, as whole pies, a la mode, or with a chocolate sundae, the question isn't whether or not to have pie, but which one to have -- and how.
Terra Java Coffee House & Bake Shop
This East Phoenix coffee house (formerly Mama Java's) serves up brewed coffees, specialty drinks, and traditional Italian roasted espresso along with small-batch baked goods that, at least for November, include pies from guest baker Charlie Blonkenfeld of That Flaky Pie Company. His two creations, a five-spice pumpkin with a rosemary-tinged crust and a garam masala apple pie made with Medjool dates sound as mouthwatering as they taste.
Vittles get cooked up nice 'n' comfort food-like at this family-owned breakfast and lunch joint in Avondale in business since 1982. Homemade "from the crust up," daily selections of around 25 varieties of pies might include fruity delights like blueberry, cherry crunch, or in-season rhubarb or creamy creations such as banana, coconut praline, or Neapolitan. Order up a slice with coffee or call in advance to have a whole pie made especially for you.
Mom's got meatloaf. Mom's got pot roast with roasted veggies. And at her unassuming, 30-plus-year-old neighborhood restaurant in Central Phoenix, mom's also got homemade pie to go with the Joe. Featuring seasonal fruit pies like blueberry, peach, and apple, and lusciously creamy banana, strawberry, and chocolate creations, pick a favorite then get ready for a humongous piece to be set in front of you. (Mom says you should eat.)
This charming, months-old snack shop and coffeehouse in a renovated 1920s bungalow in Central Phoenix imports its beans from the award-winning Village Coffee Roastery in Scottsdale, makes their pies from scratch, and, if you're in need of an psychic -- well, they've got that, too. Why not enjoy a cup of coffee and a fresh-baked slice of one of Miss Susan's apple, apple kiwi, blackberry, or raspberry creations over a reading? Because at this point, the future looks delicious.
"Life's too short to eat bad pie!" That's what Traci Wilbur, owner and founder of Pie Snob, says -- and we couldn't agree more. Armed with family recipes and a boatload of fresh ingredients, Wilbur's top-notch selection of flavorful pies (fruit, cream, nut, chocolate, and seasonal) can be ordered via the Pie Snob website or, when you want a slice with coffee, at Bertha's Cafe and O.H.S.O. Eatery & NanoBrewery in East Phoenix.
And check out our other lists: 7 Favorite Juice Bars 6 Favorite Hawaiian Restaurants 7 Spots to Eat and Drink Around ASU Downtown 7 Spots to Eat and Drink Around ASU Tempe 10 Favorite Cookie Shops 10 Favorite Vietnamese Restaurants 10 Favorite Restaurant Playlists 10 Favorite Places for Romance on a Budget 10 Favorite Places to Buy Craft Beer 7 Favorite British Restaurants 10 Favorite Bloody Marys 10 Favorite Meat Shops 11 Favorite Summer Cocktails from Metro Phoenix Restaurants 10 Favorite Drive-Thrus 10 Favorite Spots for Guacamole 10 Favorite Theme Restaurants 15 Favorite Late Night Eats 10 Favorite Summer Foods 7 Favorite Soul Food Places 10 Favorite Sangrias 7 Favorite Paleteria 10 Favorite Breakfast Places 10 Favorite International Markets 10 Favorite Spots for Crepes in Greater Phoenix 11 Favorite Phoenix Beers 10 Favorite Spots for Seafood in Greater Phoenix 10 Favorite Gelato Spots 10 Favorite Burrito Joints in Metro Phoenix 10 Favorite Spots for Wings in Metro Phoenix 11 Things to Eat and Drink Before You Leave Phoenix Ten Favorite Phoenix Hot Sauces and Salsas Top Ten Spots for Mac 'n' Cheese in the Valley Three Favorite Espresso Shots in Metro Phoenix Ten Favorite Metro Phoenix Farmers' Markets Ten Favorite Metro Phoenix Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Eleven Favorite Favorite Places for Sushi in the Valley Ten Favorite Metro Phoenix Cupcakes Eleven Favorite Barbecue Joints in Greater Phoenix Ten Favorite Metro Phoenix Wine Bars Ten Favorite Phoenix Irish Restaurant & Pubs Six Favorite Specialty Cocktails in Phoenix Ten Favorite Metro Phoenix Craft Beer Bars Ten Favorite Gourmet Pizza Shops in the Valley Five Favorite Japanese Restaurants in Phoenix Ten Favorite Margaritas in Metro Phoenix Ten Favorite Coffee Shops in Phoenix Five Favorite Thai Restaurants in Metro Phoenix Eleven Favorite Ice Cream Shops in Greater Phoenix Ten Favorite Phoenix Happy Hours Five Favorite Sonoran Dogs in the Valley Ten Favorite Hot Dogs in Greater Phoenix Ten Favorite Desserts in Phoenix Ten Favorite First Date Restaurants Ten Favorite Burgers in Greater Phoenix Ten Favorite Downtown Phoenix Restaurants for Late Night Dining Ten Favorite Vegetarian Entrees in Metro Phoenix Ten Favorite Chinese Restaurants in Greater Phoenix
