Pie 'n Burger
Yesterday we were in Pasadena for a memorial. The tribute didn't start until 2-ish, so we thought this would be a good opportunity to have a quick lunch at the Pie 'n Burger, a Pasadena institution. We arrived at 12:45...the tiny restaurant was packed. In spite of the intense heat in the Pasadena area, people were out and about. The Pie 'n Burger has been here since 1963 and it is air-conditioned.
We only had to wait about 15 minutes for a seat at the counter. Naturally, we both ordered cheeseburgers. It was too hot to have fries and pie. Come to think of it, the burger here always fills me up so much that I've never ordered a piece of pie. Everyone raves about the pie.
The interior could use a bit of TLC. Many of the counter chairs are broken, a fresh coat of paint wouldn't hurt the ceiling, the late '60's plaid wallpaper looks pretty good and adds to the ambiance of this country-kitchen-style coffee shop where they serve simple, yummy food with a smile.
To me, the burger is just right....not too thick, cooked perfectly, accompanied by a big hunk of iceberg lettuce, tomato, pickles and Thousand Island dressing. I added grilled onions and American cheese on my burger. I would compare the taste of the burger to In 'n Out, but a bit less greasy. It's not extraordinary, but if you're in the area, this is a perfect place to stop for a quick lunch or dinner.
Pie 'n Burger, 913 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 626/795-1123
We only had to wait about 15 minutes for a seat at the counter. Naturally, we both ordered cheeseburgers. It was too hot to have fries and pie. Come to think of it, the burger here always fills me up so much that I've never ordered a piece of pie. Everyone raves about the pie.
The interior could use a bit of TLC. Many of the counter chairs are broken, a fresh coat of paint wouldn't hurt the ceiling, the late '60's plaid wallpaper looks pretty good and adds to the ambiance of this country-kitchen-style coffee shop where they serve simple, yummy food with a smile.
To me, the burger is just right....not too thick, cooked perfectly, accompanied by a big hunk of iceberg lettuce, tomato, pickles and Thousand Island dressing. I added grilled onions and American cheese on my burger. I would compare the taste of the burger to In 'n Out, but a bit less greasy. It's not extraordinary, but if you're in the area, this is a perfect place to stop for a quick lunch or dinner.
Pie 'n Burger, 913 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA, 626/795-1123 Labels: Architecture, Food, Friends
posted by Ellen Bloom @ 11:23 AM
5 Comments:
Glad you enjoyed it. Hate to be a hater but you'd think as popular as that place is and for the prices they charge, they could afford to fix themselves up a bit. It was rundown and dirty last time I was there years ago. I guess the burger is reasonable enough but $9.50 for a tuna melt? Oh well, folks love it . . .
Well, it wasn't dirty at Pie 'n Burger yesterday, but the place is run-down. $9.50 for a tuna-melt??? Yikes! That is a bit steep. Like I said, if we weren't in the area, we would never make a special trip here.
In our house there's a standing joke about the P'n'B, which originated in the wake of a late '90s Ian Whticomb show on KPCC. Mr. Whitcomb was extolling the merits of the P'n'B, saying of its clientele, "They're good people at the Pie'n'Burger, they're BOOK people." Whenever driving past, I'll remark, "Maybe I should stick my head in the door, see what they think of the latest Jonathan Franzen."
Still, this past T'giving, we were invited out to dinner, which meant of course...no turkey at our place for Friday sandwiches. Playing a hunch, we went to the P'n'B, hoping that they'd have made a turkey for their sandwiches, rather than using Oscar Meyer turkey cuts. Sure enough, P'n'B came through with great sandwiches. Still uncertain about the peanut butter merengue pie, though...
And then there's this:
http://www.gelatobaby.com/2012/05/11/las-original-subway/
Hey Richard! As always, thanks for the comment. Good to know that Pie 'n Burger makes REAL turkey for their sandwiches!!
Happy New Year!
This place has been a favorite for years. Also, they serve great breakfasts.
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