5 Restaurant Chains With the Best Homemade-Style Pies
There’s something special about a homemade pie. Everything from the taste to the texture is made with extra care and if you can make one from scratch, it’s worth the effort. But you don’t always need to spend hours in the kitchen to get that old-fashioned dessert experience. Several restaurant chains have made pie a signature part of their menus, offering everything from classic fruit favorites to rich cream-filled slices. Eat This, Not That! turned to Therese Buchanan, home chef, food blogger & recipe developer at Tessie’s Table to share which chains come closest to delivering that homemade-style experience. Here are the top five.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Cracker Barrel has leaned into the idea of traditional Southern comfort food since opening its first location in 1969. The chain’s dessert menu fits naturally into that old-fashioned approach, making it a popular stop for diners looking to finish a meal with a classic slice of pie. “Cracker Barrel has always done comfort food well, and the pies are no exception,” says Buchanan. “The Apple Streusel is a standout, with a flaky crust and plenty of cinnamon-spiced apples that taste like something you’d expect at a family gathering.”
Bakers Square
For Bakers Square, pie isn’t simply another dessert option—it’s central to the restaurant’s identity. The chain has long offered an extensive selection of pies, giving diners plenty of familiar flavors to choose from alongside its broader American-style menu. “Bakers Square has built its reputation on pie, and it’s easy to see why,” Buchanan states. “From French Silk to Lemon Meringue and Country Apple, there’s a pie for just about everyone, and the generous fillings are what keep people coming back.”
Village Inn
Village Inn has a long history of serving classic American comfort food, but its pies have become one of the chain’s most recognizable offerings. Its menu includes a mix of traditional favorites and rotating options, making it a destination for diners who want dessert to be part of the meal. “Village Inn has been serving homemade-style pies for years, with favorites like Cherry, Coconut Cream, and seasonal fruit pies,” Buchanan notes. “The fruit fillings taste fresh, and the crust has that classic bakery-style texture that makes a good pie even better.”
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery
Perkins combines the casual restaurant experience with a bakery-style selection of desserts. Its pies are part of a larger menu of baked goods and sweets that gives diners the option to take dessert home or enjoy a slice after their meal. According to Buchanan, “Perkins has one of those dessert cases that’s hard to walk past without stopping.” She adds, “Whether it’s a cream pie or a classic fruit pie, the slices are generous, the crusts are flaky, and they have the kind of homemade look people expect from a neighborhood bakery.”
Marie Callender’s
Marie Callender’s has been associated with pies for generations, dating back to the family’s original pie business before the restaurant chain expanded. While many locations have closed the doors, there are still a few open and pie remains an important part of the brand. “Marie Callender’s built its name on pie long before its frozen meals became popular,” Buchanan explains. “The restaurant still offers a wide variety of fruit and cream pies, and the buttery crusts and generous fillings are a big part of why they’ve remained customer favorites for decades.”