Pies 'N' Thighs, Open for Business!

Mar 11, 2010 by Ashley Bressler

Calling all fish and grits, fried chicken and rhubarb pie lovers, Williamsburg’s beloved Pies ‘N’ Thighs is finally back in business. Over the past week, hundreds of Willamsburg residents have been crowding into the reopened restaurant to get their fix of all things hearty, southern and fried.

Pies ‘N’ Thighs reopened it’s doors on Monday after taking a two-year-long break to renovate their new location at S. 4th and Driggs Ave. Co-owner Carolyn Bane said the first week has been busier than ever expected.

“It’s been insane, busy but a lot of fun. It’s great because we know so many of the people and so many people have been waiting for us to open back up,” said Bane.

The restaurant had been a neighbor staple for inexpensive southern food two years ago when it operated from the back of Williamsburg’s Rock Star Bar. Bane said there were rumors that the restaurant was closed by the Department of Health, which she clarifies is false.

“We thought, we can do this in our own place. We had just outgrown it,” Bane said.

The restaurant is modestly decorated with five tables and a general sit where you want kind of atmosphere. The twang of country music helps ease customers into the concept of slow, country dining. The service, however, was exactly the opposite as customers are served almost immediately after ordering.

Bane said their specialty is pretty much everything on the menu, but the most popular combination is the fried chicken with macaroni and cheese.

Anthony Marchesi, Giulianna Marchesi and Erin Green of Williamsburg who shared a piece of ‘ridiculously good’ banana cream pie after a filling meal of southern delights, said they came to see what all the fuss was about after reading about the reopening on several food blogs.

“I didn’t know anything about it before,” said Anthony Marchesi. “The baked beans are amazing.”

While neither had been customers of the first restaurant, all said they would happily return to seconds.

“The coleslaw is really good. I had the pulled pork sandwich and they put it right on the bun with a pickle and you smoosh it all together, so good,” said Giulianna Marchesi.

Bane and co-owners Erika Geldzahler and Sarah Buck have spent the past two years struggling with legal issues related to the new location, which were not revealed until they were well into the renovations.

The three women, who have no formal culinary training, met while working together at Diner (85 Broadway) nearly five years ago. The idea for opening a casual southern food restaurant came from Buck who always enjoyed baking and a mutual southern friend who inspired the concept.

Bane said the goal is to fill the need for good cheap food and to keep the business fun and casual.

“We just started, but I don’t expect it to be as busy as it has been this week,” Bane said.

Pies ‘N’ Thighs Hours:

Breakfast: Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Brunch: Sat-Sun, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lunch/Dinner: Mon-Fri, 11 a.m. to midnight

Sat-Sun, 5 p.m. to midnight

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