Best Pies in Richmond

As you probably already know, March 14 or 3.14 to be exact is known as  Pi Day. While the number 3.14159265359 didn’t generate much excitement for those of us less mathematically inclined, the thought of “pi(e)” certainly does. In fact, I’ve thought of pie approximately 314,159,265,359 times over the last couple of days so that should count for something. At any rate, we decided – what better way to honor “Pi Day” than to find the best pies in Richmond?

As you might expect, Richmond doesn’t disappoint when it comes to pie. In fact, we’ve found some shops in Richmond who serve up pies that will turn even the most devout cake lover into a pie fanatic.

To select the best pies in Richmond, we looked for local bakeries that had the following characteristics:

1. Plenty of options
2. Reasonable prices
3. Something special that made them stand out (a unique flavor, a perfect crust, etc.)

Take a look at our list of the best pies in Richmond and start planning for Easter gatherings and get-togethers today. (Or, if you’re like me, any Friday night will do.)  Just remember, you’ll want to get your orders in early because holidays can be a busy time for many of these local spots. And, of course, if you need to do a little taste testing ahead of time, we certainly won’t judge.

In the meantime, if you have a favorite pie maker that you think should be included on the Best Pies in Richmond list, be sure to let us know at cs@richmondmom.com!

5. Proper Pie Co.

When most of us think of pie, we think of sweet dessert pies. But at Proper Pie Co., that’s just the beginning. This local hotspot hit the Richmond food scene a few years back and wowed everyone with their New Zealand-style pies that come in both sweet and savory flavors. Their savory pie menu changes daily, but you can always count on fresh new flavors with meat, vegetarian, and vegan options available.

As for their sweet pies, well, that’s the main attraction as far as I’m concerned. With more than a dozen flavors, from fruit to chocolate and everything in between, they do change up the offerings, but keep many standards in place. Come into the shop to try pies by the slice, choose from one of their select whole pies at the counter, or call or email ahead and take your favorite whole pies home with you. They’re not the cheapest pies on our list (most 9” deep dish pies are $30+tax and cream pies and nut pies are $35), but we believe they’re worth every penny.

Why we love them: The flavors and options at Proper Pie Co. are hard to beat. Like we mentioned, they usually have well over a dozen flavors to choose from with new combos and seasonal selections popping up on a regular basis. Need some examples? How about Banoffee (bananas, toffee, and whipped cream), blueberry-apple (vegan), buttermilk and raspberry, chocolate and coconut (vegan), chocolate raspberry cream, passionfruit & mango (vegan), and plum and almond…just to name a few. And, of course, you’ll also find classics like chocolate chess, Dutch apple, pecan, and lemon meringue.

Proper Pie Co. lists the day’s offering every morning around 11am on Facebook, so be sure to check back often! If you get really lucky, you might find something like the Campfire Pie on the menu – a chocolate, hazelnut, praline pie topped with burnt meringue. Regardless of what the weekly menu offers, you can rest assured, everything will be out of this world. Guaranteed.

How to order:
Send an email to OrderProperPieCo@gmail.com with your name, phone number, a date and time for pick-up, and the types and quantities of pie you would like; or call the shop at (804) 343-7437. Most orders can be ready in 24 hours, but for holiday orders (around Thanksgiving and Christmas), be sure to allow extra time as this is their busiest time.

Contact:
2505 E Broad St, # 100
Richmond, Virginia
(804) 343-7437
For orders: OrderProperPieCo@gmail.com
For general information: ProperPieCo@gmail.com

4. Sugar and Salt

As one of Richmond’s premier bakeries, Sugar and Salt serves up desserts that are to die for. In fact, you may already be familiar with their expansive menu of cakes, petit fours, pastries, tarts, cookies, brownies, bars, and more. But today, we’re here to talk about the pies and fruit tarts. And trust us, there’s plenty to talk about! While Sugar and Salt gets rave reviews time and again for the level of detail, flavor, and love they put into every cake, their pies are no exception. From the flaky crusts to the melt-in-your-mouth filling, these pies will keep you coming back for more.

Choose from standard fruit pies like apple, cherry, peach, blueberry, and other seasonal offerings; cream and meringue pies like lemon meringue, key lime, chocolate cream, banana cream, or coconut cream; or catch their special seasonal selections like bourbon chocolate pecan, pumpkin, and peanut butter pie. Or want to mix things up a little? Try one of their fruit tarts – fresh, seasonal fruits piled high on a lemon custard base with a shortbread crust.

Why we love them: Sugar and Salt’s lead pastry chef, Sara, backs up everything she makes with years of experience, including time as the Executive Pastry Chef at The Jefferson Hotel. And her expertise shines through. Pies at Sugar and Salt are made with an attention to detail that is evident in every bite. While they don’t offer anything over-the-top or too fancy in terms of flavor offerings, they focus on doing what they do very, very well. And at an average of $18 – $20 for a 9” deep dish pie, we think Sugar and Salt delivers an incredible bang for the buck. Tarts come in 4” personal sizes, as well 8”, 10” and 12” sizes.

How to Order:
Simply go online and complete the easy online order form or call them at (804) 251-0475.

Contact:
201 Yancey Street
Richmond, VA 23222
(804) 251-0475

3. Williams Bakery

History doesn’t lie. And with a story that began in 1911, Williams Bakery has over 100 years of history to back them up as one of the area’s favorite bakeries. Although the original owner of Williams Bakery, H.B. Williams sold his shop in 1944, the reputation he earned for his sensational cakes, pies, pastries, and more meant that the name stuck for the next 70-odd years.

Today, with three locations throughout the Richmond area, Williams Bakery continues to use the same time-honored recipes that got them started so long ago. And when it comes to pies, fresh ingredients and flavors that have stood the test of time are what make this shop one of our Richmond favorites. They make all of their pies fresh daily with options that include apple, chocolate chess, chocolate meringue, coconut custard, coconut meringue, French apple, German chocolate, lemon chess, lemon meringue, pecan, pumpkin, and sweet potato – with Banana Cream and Cherry available for special order.

Why we love them: In a world dominated by fast food and mass production, finding a true “hometown” bakery is a rare treat. But that’s exactly what makes Williams Bakery so special. Because they stay true to their own roots, their crusty, flaky, straight-from-the-oven pies will make you feel like back you’re in your grandmother’s kitchen watching her pies cool on the window sill. We also love that even as they’ve grown over the years, they haven’t lost that one-of-a-kind taste that has made them one of Richmond’s favorite bakeries for generations.

How to order:
You can simply stop in any of Williams Bakery’s three locations in Mechanicsville, Hanover Commons, or Highland Springs and pick up a pie (and any other goodies you want). If you want to order pies to go or have a special order, email them at bakerywilliams@gmail.com or call (804) 746-8370.

Contact:
Mechanicsville         
8084 Mechanicsville Turnpike
Mechanicsville, VA 23111
(804) 746-8370

Hanover Commons
9502 Chamberlayne Road
Mechanicsville, VA 23116
(804) 559-4240

Highland Springs
309 E. Nine Mile Rd.
Highland Springs, VA 23075
(804) 737-7801

2. WPA Bakery

As one of the most popular bakeries in the Richmond area, it’s no wonder this shop for pies, cakes, pastries, and all-things-delicious makes our top five list. And while we love all of the tasty treats they offer, it’s the pie that really seals the deal. Not only do they offer pie by the slice, but they offer all of their amazing flavors in whole pies, as well. Speaking of flavors…choose from apple, pear, peach, blueberry, mixed berry, pumpkin, lemon chess, chocolate chess, buttermilk, almond buttermilk, shoo-fly, pecan, peanut butter, Mexican chocolate, coconut cream, and tagalong…and that’s not even the whole list. Want something special or have a particular flavor in mind? All you have to do is call and they’ll see what they can do. Plus, be sure to grab their seasonal flavors, too, including pumpkin, sweet potato, and key lime.

Why we love them: Great pie is hard to pass up, no matter what. Unless, of course, you or someone in your family has special dietary restrictions. Which brings us to one of our favorite aspects of the WPA Bakery. They specialize in gluten-free and vegan desserts, which includes their pies. Many of their pies feature vegan recipes and almost all of them can be made gluten-free. So if you’re tired of missing out on special desserts because they don’t work with your dietary needs, WPA will change your life! Just give them a call and ask about making your pie (or pies…again, we don’t judge) gluten-free. Best of all, there’s no extra charge – all pies are $29/pie.

How to order:
Stop in one of their two locations, in Church Hill or Southside, for a slice of pie that is made fresh daily, or take home one of their select whole pies (not all flavors are available daily). For special orders, simply call or email the location where you would like to pick up your order. Check the contact information below to find the one nearest you. Allow about 48 hours for the order to be completed –and don’t forget to add some extra time in during the holidays!

Contact:
Southside
3414 Semmes Avenue
Richmond, VA 23225
(804) 477-6449
southside@wpabakery.com

Church Hill
2707 E. Marshall Street
Richmond, VA 23223
(804) 716-9797
churchhill@wpabakery.com

1. Shyndigz

This Carytown sweet shop is no stranger to praise – or to making “best of” lists in the Richmond area. As the go-to place for cakes, cupcakes, and pies, the praise they receive is well-deserved. When Shyndigz first began, they offered full-service desserts in their comfy Cary Street café. Today, they still offer the café with sit-down service, a full menu of desserts and wine, beer and specialty cordials (not to mention a newly enclosed outdoor patio), but you can also pop into the Shyndigz Market and 2go Café for bakery orders, pick-ups, espresso, and more. In other words, you have no excuse not to head to Shyndigz…especially once you taste their pies.

With flavors that change on a regular basis, they don’t offer as many options at one time as some of our other favorites, but what they lack in choices, they make up for in taste. Try their peanut butter pie (graham cracker crust filled with chocolate ganache and peanut butter mousse) or a classic flavor like key lime and you’ll understand exactly what we mean.

Why we love them: We love Shyndigz for their pies, to be certain. But we also love them…well, for them. The funky atmosphere of this Carytown favorite makes it more than just a bakery. It’s a place to hang out with family and friends. It’s a place to get one-of-a-kind cakes, pies, and cookies. It’s fun, it’s hip and it’s a Richmond original. The fact that they make melt-in-your-mouth pies is only the icing on the cake…so to speak. By the way, if you’re looking for bakery take-out pies, be sure to check out their full menu, which includes Bourbon Pecan Pie, Key Lime Pie, Peanut Butter Pie, French Silk Pie and Oatmeal Cream Pies (oatmeal toffee cookies with a sweet cream cheese filling). Pies are only $20 each, so you might just have to get two!

How to order:
It couldn’t be easier to get your pies to go. Simply fill out their easy online order form and allow 48 hours for orders to be completed.

Contact:
Shyndigz Café
1903 West Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia 23220

Shyndigz Market and 2go Café
1831 West Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia 23220
(804) 938-3449
shyndigz@gmail.com

After you’ve feasted your eyes on our Best Pies in Richmond, be sure to check out other amazing Richmond Mom favorites in our Best of Richmond series.