Pie Junkie and Bakery - Calgary

The desserts at this restaurant are fantastic. I bought two pies and they were both delicious. The only downside was that the crust was a bit thin and hard. While the prices are a bit high, it's worth it to treat yourself once in a while. I would suggest trying it at least once.

Avoid this restaurant if you enjoy pies and have a darker complexion. The prices are not worth it, and the service is both racist and rude. As a newcomer to the city, I decided to try a pie while exploring the area. Upon entering the very small shop and being the only customer there, I was not greeted or acknowledged by any of the four workers. I assumed they were busy and proceeded to purchase an entire pie for $29. When I asked if the pie could be cut since there were four people in my group, the manager rudely said it couldn't be done. After buying the overpriced pie, I requested a bag to carry it in, only to be told they were running low on bags and couldn't provide one. It was clear that I was being judged, as they chose who to give bags to. The pie itself was disappointing, with a doughy crust and excessive crumble topping. I will not be returning and will make sure to share my negative experience with others. It's truly disappointing.

We decided to try out the new restaurant in Crowfoot Center after it recently opened. We ordered two pies and two desserts, which came to a total of $30. While I thought it was a bit expensive, I can't complain since it was my decision. Unfortunately, the pies were very salty and not very impressive in terms of flavor. The desserts were tasty but nothing out of the ordinary. Overall, it was not an experience we would choose to repeat.

This review is for the new Kensington location that opened in July 2017- they aren't listed on TripAdvisor yet.I LOVE pie. It's my favourite treat. I'm often disappointed in pies from stores and bakeries, usually because they don't pay enough attention to making a good crust. People get distracted by fillings because they're the flashier part of the pie, but no pie will be good if the crust is disappointing. It needs to be flaky, salty and flavourful. Pie Junkie understands that: their butter crust is simply wonderful. It has a beautiful texture and it melts in the mouth. After a good crust, of course, the filling matters too. Most places make their sweet pies TOO sweet- the sugar overpowers the fruit. (For example, I'm always so disappointed when I buy lemon pie and its filling has no tartness at all.) I tried the sour cherry turnover at Pie Junkie, and it was perfect- just a little sweet, and redolent of rich cherries. What a treat!This place also has a terrific selection of savoury pies. I often wonder why Canadians neglect savoury pies as part of their cuisine- they are the perfect comfort food for a cold climate. But aside from the lackluster chicken pot pies you find on pub menus (which are often not even a proper pie with a top and bottom crust, but merely a dish of stew with a layer of puff pastry laid overtop), it's hard to find good savoury pies in Canada. Now that I know how good Pie Junkie's crusts are, I can't wait to try their savoury pies. Next time!They have a variety of cookies and squares at this shop as well. These confirmed my normal rule of thumb: always stick with the specialty! I tried a peanut butter cookie, after first asking the staff whether they were soft (crunchy-style PB cookies are not my thing) and being assured that they were. It's true- the cookie was soft, but in a soft-and-crumbly way, not moist and chewy as I had hoped. Next time, I will choose my words more carefully, and ask whether the cookie is 'chewy', not whether it is soft! I will say, the flavour was excellent- nutty, not overly sweet, and with just the right touch of saltiness. There was no hint of the staleness you so often notice in bakery cookies. It was a better-than-average cookie. But the pie was SO good that I think I will stick with that next time.

We shared the Butter Chicken pie and the Steak and mushroom pie... by far the best meat pies we've ever had. So rich, flavourful, buttery. Can't wait to try the berry/rhubarb for desert, but we're just way too full!!!