Posted by Michael Stern on March 06, 2008
About halfway between Austin and San Antonio, Kyle is an easy hop off Interstate 35, but Jane and I came upon it while traveling FM-150 on the barbecue trail between Lockhart and Driftwood. I guarantee you won't miss the Texas Pie Company as you drive along West Center Street. Looming over the roof that shades the sidewalk is an immense 3-D statue of a slice of cherry pie. Behind that, the house motto is written in bright red letters: 'Life is Short. Eat More Pie!'
If you are just passing through, as we were, the Texas Pie Company makes it easy to eat more because the pies it bakes are available not only full-size, but as individually-sized mini pies. Not wanting to annihilate all appetite, given the fact that we were heading up to the Salt Lick for a smoked-meats blow-out, we limited our selection to three pies and a piece of cake. The pies' crusts were terrific – not all that pretty, but fine and savory. Lemon chess pie had a bright citrus flavor with a buttermilky cushion; coconut was supremely toasty, its fleshy white shreds packing full nut flavor; and the pecan halves that crowded the top of the pecan pie were rich and sweet and fresh enough to have just come out of their shell. The irresistible cake was strawberry: so, so moist and crowned with a heap of fruit-flavored frosting.
In addition to dessert, the Texas Pie Company sells simple lunches to eat here, including sandwiches and salads, and sells hot meals to take home and eat. Among the latter are chicken pot pie and that central Texas specialty, King Ranch chicken.
Overall: Worth planning a day around
11 out of 13 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?
Reviewers "Must Eats" List
Pie (individual)
($3.00)
Cake (piece)
($3.00)
"Although the name of the place is the Texas PIE Company, this square of strawberry cake with strawberry frosting won my heart. The moistness of the cake cannot be exaggerated and while it is sweet indeed, the berry nature of the sweetness sang through loud and clear."
Michael Stern
"Central Texas is pecan-growing country, and this individually-sized pecan pie does it proud. The nuts have real crunch and fresh-from-the-shell richness. The gooey-sweet part underneath melds nicely with the pie's savory crust."
Michael Stern
"We thought we'd just pass through Kyle, but what Roadfood traveler could resist a storefront like this one?"
Michael Stern
"Click on the photo and check out that ingredient list: sugar, eggs, butter, lemon juice... all good stuff!"
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle
"Lemon chess may well be the perfect pie."
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle
"Almond Joy Pie - you'd better like sweet things!"
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle
"As we first forked through the Almond Joy Pie, we feared that it might be a solid block of almonds and coconut and chocolate chips, like a candy bar. Thankfully, the bottom half of the pie was a plain chess, to "lighten" the effect, if chess pie filling can ever be said to lighten anything."
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle
"In case the bold, primary colors of the building and the four foot high letters that say Texas Pie still have not caught your attention..."
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle
"Capping the Texas Pie Company building, above the giant cherry pie slice, is this cherry-topped mobile that Sue thought looks like something from Dr. Seuss, or perhaps Calder."
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle
