Welcome to the first installment of the New York MOOKS Report restaurant review. This week we visit the once-favourite Williamsburg soul food restaurant Pies-N-Thighs, which recently reopened after a two year hiatus.

Members of the cast:
Phil and Grace (not to be confused with Will and Grace) from Frenchkiss Records, home of Passion Pit, Les Savy Fav, The Antlers, Cut Off Your Hands and more.

Noms considered:
Phil’s nom: Catfish box with a side of mac and cheese
Grace’s nom: Pulled pork box with a side of hush puppies/fried chicken box with a side of baked beans
Dessert: Key lime pie/chocolate pudding pie

After a busy day of doing ‘label things,’ Phil and Grace graciously traipsed off the Bedford Ave L stop in hopes of reaching fried food mecca Pies-N-Thighs. Well-lit and happily lacking any Williamsburg pretension thanks to the cheerful and friendly nature of the staff, the restaurant was buzzing when we arrived. Led through a narrow hallway to a room full of checkered plastic tablecloths and what Phil described as “the chairs they use at school,” we found a comfortable corner spot. As an aside, Grace commenced a newfound friendship with a small portable heater.

Phil was somewhat limited to choice of noms due to his vegetarian inclinations, but this was to be expected (you don’t really come to a soul food restaurant thinking that the menu is going to be full of veggie options). Grace seemed to be happy with whatever. And after a 15 minute wait, followed by the realisation that the man at the table next to us looked disturbingly like Matt Dillon, followed by the serving of dishes, and then the consuming of said dishes, the verdict was in.

Phil on the catfish box: 6/10. “Catfish was authentic, fried Tennessee style. Mac and cheese wasn’t clumpy enough – too thin. Both the mac and the corn bread weren’t hot enough, temperature-wise. The coleslaw was unimaginative.”

Grace on the pulled pork box: 5/10. “Totally unimpressed. Loved the fried chicken and beans, though.” [note: the latter part of this statement was supported by the action of taking a piece of finished chicken (i.e. chicken bone) off my plate and picking at it to make sure every tasty morsel was finished and the bone was nibbled completely clean]

Phil on the key lime and chocolate pudding pies: “Key lime was 8/10. Point off for visuals [Grace interjects: "Yeah, it looked like someone splooged on it,"], it could have been presented better. Chocolate pudding pie was well presented and very rich. Hubba hubba!”

Grace on the key lime and chocolate pudding pies: 10/10. “I usually don’t like pie but it was so good. The crust was my favourite part. Mmmmmm…”

Phil and Grace on the service: 8/10
P: The waitress was nice.
G: Yeah, great service.

Grace’s Pies-N-Thighs highlight: “the fried chicken – Williamsburg’s finest.”

Overall verdict:
Grace: “I’d say that was a pretty successful meal. The pie made up for it.”

Pies-N-Thighs
166 South 4th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211-7446
347-529-6090





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