Charting the best pie in the Bay

Photo courtesy of Mission Pie's website.

Whether holiday season is approaching or not, a good pie is pretty much always a timely dessert. Still, the autumnal falling of the leaves does coincide with foodies falling at their knees for pumpkin, apple, mincemeat pies and the like.

Flaky crust, buttery crust, gluten-free crust. And then there’s all the formulas for sweetness in-between. Put your finger in many pies at any of these BARTable favorites that know how to piece together the perfect whole pies for your holiday gathering or divide pinched crusts into personal slices.

In addition to organic, sustainable pies this shop hosts group dinners, weekly music, rotating art exhibits and public events.

Mission Pie

24th St. Mission (SF)

Three Babes Bakeshop uses ingredients from local farms, and its menu of pies is just as expectedly mouth-watering with vegan and gluten-free options.

Three Babes Bakeshop

Embarcadero (SF)

This cozy bakeshop is where you can indulge in a pie and a pint: local beers on tap are also on hand, along with the usual pairings of coffees and teas.

Dora’s

Downtown Berkeley

Famous pies alongside equally famous fried chicken and waffle feasts are what’s on the menu at this homey Oakland restaurant.

Lois the Pie Queen

Ashby (Berkeley)

by Linda Koffman

Linda Koffman is an SF-based freelance writer and editor. Also a beginner gardener by day/performing songwriter by night, she feels grateful to live a life of extremes balancing plenty of contemplative silence with rocking out in a band. When not writing, she keeps her hands busy (and dirty) with old guitar strings and soil, and enjoys engaging with the Bay Area’s diverse environmental and cultural beauty. She loves puns to a fault and shamelessly laughs at her own jokes.