Republic of Pie
Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding
Pecan Pie with Whipped Cream
Blueberry Pie
Stepping out of EAT with bread pudding in hand it was just a few short steps later that I approached the counter at Republic of Pie, and with the sprawling space nearly four times larger than the nearby breakfast venue the vibe was decidedly different – a few people dotting tables throughout the back two rooms where outdoor light bathed tables from a skylight, and a few up front lounging on antique furniture made all the more comfortable by years of wear.
Open at 8am, with nearly two dozen pies ranging from sweet to savory alongside several additional fresh-baked treats, it was with wide eyes that the scene was surveyed and after asking a few questions regarding the Japanese Cold Brew as well as the non-pie pastries a trio was selected – a some for now, some for later approach largely consumed on a comfy couch while browsing the restaurant’s free WiFi.
Opting for two selections to be warmed up, no microwaves but instead under a salamander, it was with the bread pudding that the tasting began, and served as a sort of layercake with banana bread sandwiching freshly sliced bananas and plenty of melted dark chocolate the results were no less than stunning – each bite moist and rich, so much so that the thick slab was almost too much for a single sitting, particularly when taken next to a pecan pie that rivals the best of what is found throughout the
South, a thin layer of sweet filling beneath a mountain of candied nuts made all the better by a toasty top-note added by the broiler while a 50-cent accoutrement of house-whipped cream proved entirely unnecessary, though immensely satisfying on both the pudding and the pie.
Saving part of the pudding, as well as that from Eat, for an after-brunch snack it was also a thick slice of Republic of Pie’s Blueberry that joined the midday ‘meal’ and although eaten at room temperature neither the buttery crust nor the densely packed bursting berries were anything less than exemplary, each bite making me wish I’d have ordered a few more slices while already planning a return visit during the next trip to LA.
http://republicofpie.com/
