The Place
It takes guts and a lot of hard work to open up your own restaurant, so we have to give props to Lindsey Wang for her moxie. After searching Shanghai for an apple pie that met her standards, this former fashion designer and self-taught baker decided to fly the coop and open her own pastry haven. The result is Pie Bird, a nostalgic bake shop serving up quiches and desserts photogenic enough to grace the cover of Southern Living.
The Food
In line with the Americana vibes, the display case is filled with quintessential pies. The cornerstone of summer buffet tables, strawberry rhubarb (RMB46/RMB298 per slice/whole) is brimming with sweet berry juices and a burst of tartness with a lovely custardy texture.
Image by Cristina Ng/That's
The best-selling coconut cream pie (RMB40/RMB258) is the devil of all desserts, tempting you with its rich filling and freshly whipped cream. The surprise addition of chocolate pudding makes this the ultimate indulgence, but you might need a double espresso (RMB16) to get through the whole slice.
Key lime (RMB40/RMB258) is hard to get right outside of Florida, so we admire them for trying. Unfortunately, this version lacks the requisite mouth-puckering smack of citrus and graham cracker crust.
Image by Cristina Ng/That's
Speaking of crust, Wang uses the same all-butter crust for sweet and savory pies. While it is sturdy enough to hold its shape, it could sacrifice beauty pageant points for some tenderness.
Image by Cristina Ng/That's
As for the savory options, our favorite is the salmon and pickle (RMB42/RMB268). The pickle juices penetrates through the flan-like egg mixture to mingle with chunks of cream cheese. We aren’t surprised that it sells out daily.
Food Verdict: 2/3
The Vibe
Image by Cristina Ng/That's
Pie Bird’s quaint environment, warmed by the scent of baking, is a welcoming place for a casual lunch or afternoon break. We might prefer the pies at Al’s Baking Co. and the (cheaper) quiches at Pain Chaud, but nobody matches Pie Bird when it comes to options.
Vibe Verdict:1.5/2
Total Verdict: 3.5/5
Price: From RMB38
Who’s going: Jing’an locals, pie enthusiasts
Good for: lunch dates, coffee breaks, afternoon treats
[Cover image by Cristina Ng/That's]
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