1500 chicken pot pies a day is a lot of clucking for hungry diners. San Diego’s old fashion restaurant, the Chicken Pie Shop has been feeding loyal customers since 1938. No wonder the menu hasn’t changed much in all those the years.
A piping hot individual pot pie with chicken giblet gravy poured over whipped potatoes, vegetables, coleslaw, hefty roll and dessert for under $8 is a real deal. There are other comfort food items such as ham and lima beans but hands down, it’s the pot pie that brings the serious eaters. Mention the restaurant to San Diegans and each has a story to tell with fond memories.
This landmark institution moved to its current location 20 years ago and is settled in the older part of San Diego, North Park. Not a fancy place by any means, but the chicken and rooster décor above the counter seats and on the walls sets the entire ambiance.
Waitresses know their customers and can be seen chatting with the regulars getting caught up on the latest news. A few waitresses and busboys have worked for the restaurant 35 years and quickly serve the hot food coming out of the kitchen on melmac plates. It didn’t take long for many of the senior citizens to clean their plates and eagerly await the dessert.
Flaky crusts are homemade and Sherry the supervisor said the dough is rolled out and formed into the aluminum pie dishes. The yeast rolls rise until ready to bake and she proudly told me the fillings for the cherry, apple and blueberry fruit pies do not come from a can. Wednesday was banana cream pie day and knowing how hard they are to find, I just had to try a piece. The crust was flaky and the filling full of bananas and vanilla cream, delicious.
On the way out, customers pay at the front counter where an old time push button register is still in use. And it’s hard not to resist taking home frozen pies and rolls from the take out area. After all, heating up a pie at home and plopping it upside down on a plate on a cold night is the perfect dinner. Happiness happens by taking a fork and making the first slit letting the goodness ooze out. Brings me back to my youth.
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