BY KAREN YOUNG
A soft and comforting vegetable quiche Photos: Karen Young
I don’t know what took me so long to get to Republic of Pie, but now that I’ve been, I can’t wait to return. Open since January 2012, it’s located in the middle of the Noho District on Magnolia, just east of Lankershim, part of a block full of eclectic eats (including EAT, Bow and Truss, Philly Cheesesteak and Spumante across the street).
Upon first glance what struck me was the expanse of the place — incredibly tall, open beamed ceilings, a few different seating areas, comfy shabby chic couches and chairs mixed with straight edge tables and a small stage. It has an airy, rustic, down home feel with metals and reclaimed wood—the kind of cozy, feel-good, hang out, kick back coffeehouse ambiance found in San Francisco or similar urban communities.
Chicken Pot Pie as a hearty single serving.
Okay, now on to the real business — pies and other treats in a combination of sweet and savory flavors seductively displayed in a bakery case. Everything is baked fresh on the premises. When it all looks and sounds so inviting, it’s confusing to know what to choose. My dining pal and I ended up getting the Chicken Pot Pie, which comes as a single serving in an oversized white mug; the vegetable quiche; and the strawberry-rhurbarb pie for dessert. What I really wanted to do was order all the flavors and take bites from each.
The Chicken Pot Pie is a perfect single serving. Wedging a spoon into the light and flaky crust on top, we found it thickly full of chicken and vegetables. The vegetable quiche was generously cut. Rather than being a bit hard as most quiches are, this quiche is soft with a melding of flavors. It’s mostly filling, rather than crust. The same went for the strawberry-rhubarb pie which is absolutely delectable. The crust serves as a crispy balance for the fruit which is not overly sweet. The strawberry and rhubarb combo tastes like a freshly made compote, as opposed to some pies that are filled with a syrupy corn starch concoction.
The Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie is made from fresh fruit.
Savory flavors include variations of a pot pie, including mac and cheese, chicken, beef and veggie, bacon quiche, vegetable quiches, black bean turkey chili. Prices range from $4.50 – $6.95 per slice/$32 for a pie). Sweet includes many of the usual suspects, including: Apple Pie, Coconut Cream, Strawberry Rhubarb, Banana Cream, Chocolate Carmel Pecan, Key Lime , Chocolate Cream, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry, Blueberry, Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding, Lemon Meringue, Fresh Fruit Cobbler. Slices are $4.50/$28 for a pie.
Republic of Pie is currently adding breakfast and sandwich specials that aren’t on the menu, so just ask. Recent offerings have included omelettes, eggs benedict, pancakes, french toast, chicken melt, spinach/cheese croissant and croque madam. There’s also a changing sweets assortment in addition to pies — eclairs, muffins, cookies, pastries, cream puffs, and more. There’s a good selection of teas and coffee choices. Unique to the eatery is their Noho Cold Brew whereby beans are brewed in cold water over a 24 hour period to make a unique iced coffee drink.
Hang out, kick back, drink coffee, eat pie, listen to music, have a conversation, play on free wifi.
Happy hour happens weekdays from 8-9 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. with selected half-priced drinks. Come evening time there’s entertainment nightly on a small stage at the back , including Music Mondays from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. which showcases singer/songwriters. There’s also free wifi.
I definitely get the sense that the Republic of Pie is a work-in-progress (they keep adding more items), as much as it is a labor of love. I have much more to taste and some live music to check out. I’ll definitely be back.
Republic of Pie, 11118 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA. (818) 308-7990. Open 8 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. Street parking.
Karen Young is the Founder/Editor of My Daily Find. Got news? Tips? Email: karen@mydailyfind.com
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