The Pie's the Limit at The Pie Place

This week’s Great Escape takes us away from Peters Township. But, don’t worry; we’re not going too far. We’re just heading up Washington Road to The Pie Place in Upper Saint Clair.

The Pie Place is located at the corner of Route 19 and North Highland Road in Norman Center II, near South Hills Village Mall. As its name indicates, it’s a place that makes and sells pies.

Fruit pies. Cream pies. Meringue pies. Custard Pies. Pies, pies, pies! The Pie Place makes every type of pie imaginable. Its extensive selection of pies is not limited to those items printed on its menu. The bakers make many other pies not listed, and are always open to special requests and new ideas.

Don’t let the name fool you though. The Pie Place offers more than pies. It also sells tarts, tortes, fruit crisps, cookies and cakes. Cheesecakes, brownies, cupcakes, sandwich rings and other savory stuffs are up for sale, too. It has a full-service coffee bar featuring coffee, tea and biscotti selections from Prestogeorge, a coffee roaster in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.

All of the baked goods are made from scratch and are made fresh daily—without any artificial preservatives. The bakers use only fresh fruit in their pies and use local produce and products whenever possible.

Sugar-free pies, tarts and tortes can be made-to-order upon request.

If the last pie you made came from the freezer, or the only thing about it that resembled any actual fruit was the picture on the box, you need to stop by The Pie Place and reward yourself with a delightful delicacy.

Drop in on your way home from work or after a shopping trip. Even if you only have a few minutes to spare, it’s well worth the visit.

Pies are only sold whole. So, if you intend to eat at the shop’s indoor or outdoor seating, you’ll have to pick from the many mouth-watering single-serve items in the refrigerated display cases, such as slices of cake, mini tortes or tarts.

If you select the mixed-berry tart, you’re in for an entirely enjoyable experience. The fresh, juicy berries will pop in your mouth as the smooth and rich crust balances the berries’ bite.

The Pie Place has a lunch special that consists of a sandwich roll, cookie, snack bag of chips and drink—all for $5.50! That’s a reasonable price for a reasonable alternative to fast food.

Bakers Carmine Bossio, Jess Gombas and Julie Accamando own and operate The Pie Place. Between the three of them, they have over 50 years of baking experience—and, they have the recipe for success.

When you mix Bossio’s traditional baking skills with Gombas’ experimental flair and Accamando’s customer-oriented approach, the result is an award-winning combination. In 2010, The Pie Place was voted Best Bakery of the ‘Burgh in Pittsburgh Magazine’s readers’ poll, and awarded Best Apple Pie at the Pittsburgh Apple Fest for its signature lattice-top apple pie.

The bakers continue to expand the services they offer as well as the menu. New services include custom wedding and communion cakes, and baking and decorating classes for both children and adults.

Classes are held at the bakery or can be hosted at an area home. Customers can request a private class as a fun idea for a child’s birthday party or a bridal shower activity.

The Pie Place is offering decorating classes for children (ages 4+) at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on May 7—the day before Mother’s Day! Each kid will decorate a flower pot cake for his or her mom. Pre-registration is required. Class size is limited to 15 kids per class, though an additional class may be added later if there is enough demand for it.

Whether you’re looking for some baking tips, an incredible snack at the end of the day or the perfect dessert for your next special event, The Pie Place is the place to go!