It really isn’t fair to visit a bar if we’re in a rush. In a good bar visit, we generally relax and observe, order our drinks, and eventually talk to the people around us. But we were in a rush the night we went to the Pie Bar because our daughter and son-in-law were treating us to dinner and the theater. We’d taken the bus from their apartment, but another passenger warned us that we’d landed on one of the slowest routes at the slowest part of the day. We’d probably get there faster walking, she said (and Google maps agreed). So we got off the bus and did just that, but we were still pressed for time if we wanted to be at the theater when the curtain rose.
Grant was concerned that since Pie Bar is a small place, we might not find seats, but there was room at the bar, where we prefer to be. And the bar was the best place to watch Patrick mix the drinks. While he did, Mindy asked him about his t-shirt. It needed a little translation for us (not Paige) because math was involved.
All four of us ordered savory slices to go with our drinks; Mindy had steak pot pie, I had ham and cheese quiche, Grant had the Seattle pie, and Paige had a chicken pot pie. For drinks, Mindy ordered a Butter Baby (butterscotch schnapps, hot chocolate, and whipped cream) and Paige chose Peppermint Heat (another hot chocolate selection). Grant ordered a key lime pietini, and as an appreciator of the arts, I ordered a Bob Ross (apple moonshine, honey, lemon, orange bitters, and an ice ball reminiscent of Bob Ross’ fro). I probably should have gone with a more pie themed drink, the Apple Pie Mule or the Lemon Meringue Pietini, but I enjoyed what I ordered.
Our drinks safely in front of us, we asked Patrick our two questions.
He said a good bar needed “Ambiance… Do you want more than one word?”
“Sure,” I said, and asked, “What do you mean by ambiance?”
Patrick had many words to add. He said an important part of it is the relationship between the staff and the customers. He isn’t a fan of big bars -- he prefers one that is “cozy,” an adjective that could definitely describe Pie Bar.
He said attention to detail is important, in the drinks, food, and decor. “Is there garbage in the corner?” He said he’s been to places that shove everything to the side of the bar. He said this is much more true of the West Coast. In the East “they know how to make people come back, for 50 or 60 years.”
I asked what came first, the Pie or the Bar? Patrick said that as in the name, the pie came first. Years ago, someone taught him how to bake pies. When the space in Capitol Hill became available, he thought it would be a great place to bake pies. He later realized the place was shaped rather like a slice of pie. (Not unlike our bar last week, The Triangle Pub). He soon realized that the Capitol Hill area had a lot of evening foot traffic, making a bar a sensible choice and bringing together two great things, pie and drinks. Most of the drinks are pie influenced (though I don’t think the pies are alcohol influenced.).
Patrick needed to attend to bar business before he could tell us what he thought made for a good church. When he came back, he said the same word, “ambiance,” would work. He added that the music was important to him -- a good choir. He likes to sing. He mentioned he was Catholic (which makes sense with the name, Patrick).
Patrick asked if we’d be having dessert. All of us really wanted a slice of dessert pie -- the menu has suggested pairing for drinks -- but there wasn’t time for me to decide between the Apple Crumble and the Peanut Butter Chocolate pie, let alone eat either before the show began. We'll have to go back for dessert. We will definitely have to go back for dessert (our treat this time, Grant and Paige).
“Pie” and “Bar” are such short words, but there is so much in each of them. When you put them together, well, that is one tasty recipe.
He said a good bar needed “Ambiance… Do you want more than one word?”
“Sure,” I said, and asked, “What do you mean by ambiance?”
Patrick had many words to add. He said an important part of it is the relationship between the staff and the customers. He isn’t a fan of big bars -- he prefers one that is “cozy,” an adjective that could definitely describe Pie Bar.
He said attention to detail is important, in the drinks, food, and decor. “Is there garbage in the corner?” He said he’s been to places that shove everything to the side of the bar. He said this is much more true of the West Coast. In the East “they know how to make people come back, for 50 or 60 years.”
Patrick asked if we’d be having dessert. All of us really wanted a slice of dessert pie -- the menu has suggested pairing for drinks -- but there wasn’t time for me to decide between the Apple Crumble and the Peanut Butter Chocolate pie, let alone eat either before the show began. We'll have to go back for dessert. We will definitely have to go back for dessert (our treat this time, Grant and Paige).
“Pie” and “Bar” are such short words, but there is so much in each of them. When you put them together, well, that is one tasty recipe.
And we made it to the play in time.
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