The often serene vibe of Seattle’s Roosevelt neighborhood takes a turn when I walk into Pies & Pints, just off of 65th Street.
With wall-to-wall booths and dangling stained-glass lamps above each nook, the place is seemingly mom n’ pop—we’re talkin’ pies here after all—but rightfully a bit more edgy than Grandma’s kitchen, attracting masses of college students from nearby University of Washington. The warm and enthusiastic pint-filled atmosphere of just-legal 20-somethings carries you past eclectic artwork to the back of the college-student-clad lair.
Here, you can find just as many pies as pints, but from a bar seat bearing a view of the well-stocked liquor shelves, rotating tap and TV. Start your evening off with a pint of your choice–Manny’s, Woodchuck, Guinness and Amnesia among others—or a house cocktail, like a classic Revolver, wintry Snow Bunny or the “great for self-loathing and self-confidence” Suffering Bastard. Okay, this is definitely not your grandma’s kitchen.
From any seat in the house, you can explore the menu with its vast list of pies. While you may be expecting a nice ol’ slice of berry or pumpkin pie, prepare to indulge just a step further with a personal-size savory Australian-style pot pie. Classic chicken, lamb and potato, Indian curry and beef mushroom burgundy are just a handful of the options for the signature grub. Prepare to leave as stuffed as the pie was when it arrived on your platter, as these bad boys are no joke, each weighing in at a ½ pound.
If you’re feeling adventurous, order a pie float. Exactly how it sounds, your favorite pie arrives afloat in one of the kitchen’s homemade soups. Guests who aren’t into the “pie” portion of the menu can feast on macaroni and cheese in Welsh beer cheese sauce, poutine and a variety of homemade fries, tots and salads.
On Tuesday nights, grabbing one of these comfort-food-esque plates and a pint requires some planning. While wandering in for sustenance is simple most nights, Tuesday night’s crowd is exponentially larger, tables of students gathered eagerly for trivia night. You would do wise to arrive early if you plan on sitting, and of course, bring your trivia savvy crew with you for a night of trivia hosted by GeeksWhoDrink.
Since you’ll be supporting your teammates during the competitive yet cheerful event, also consider supporting Pies & Pints’ neighbor Eight Bells Winery by sharing a bottle of vino made in Roosevelt from Northwest grapes. Other house events include live music from local Northwest artists, football Sundays and all day happy hour on Mondays.
Regardless of when you choose to head over to Pies & Pints, you’re destined to find a good time laced with pot pie and ale.
