Stepping foot in Wanda's Pie in The Sky is sort of like meeting a famous person. The name of the place has certainly made its rounds about the city. I can't say for sure where or when I first heard about Wanda or tried a slice of her cherry pie. The brand has become something of a fixture around TO.
The decor inside her Kensington Market location is half bakery cafe, half art class. (Alyssa thought it looked like Science class, which is weird. You see what you want to see, I guess.) There are paintings up all around, pie flavours listed on the wall in coloured chalk, and sketches on the display case (drawn by a regular customer, I hear).
This is approprate, as the whole operation was spawned while Wanda Beaver was an art student at OCAD. She used to bake pies in her kitchen and deliver them around town on public transit to supplement her income. A cafe manager (a friend of a friend) gave a pie a try and wanted to sell them. She was in business.
Today her place is full of pies in flavours like sour cherry (her favourite), pecan and Swiss apple (ranging in size and price $8.25 - $30). They also bake scones and croissants, fresh every day, cookies ($1.60) and cupcakes, and proudly brew dark city coffee ($1.60 for a cup).
I've enjoyed the famous pies before, but have a mind for something lunch-like. The hot and cold sandwiches look great ($6.75). They come with such toppings as avocado and Brie, on bread baked in-house. I go for a quiche ($4.75): same great crust I'm used to with a colourful and savoury filling. Seriously, before I even taste it I'm impressed with the appearance. It looks amazing with bright red and yellow peppers attractively peeking out of creamy, broccoli laden cheddar cheese. Later, I warm it up for dinner. It's very creamy but not so rich that I can't eat the whole thing.
Alyssa's got her eye on dessert. She points out a butterscotch pudding with conviction ($4.25). We're in a rush but she insists on sitting down to try a few bites, immediately. A few bites turn into the entire pudding. I can't blame her. I had a spoonful or two and I know that it is pudding and therefore, it is rich and heavy. But it tastes so light and creamy. That thing gets downed fast. Alyssa feels guilty and full, but happy. "That's my new favourite treat," she says, regret and satisfaction wrestling for control of her facial expression.
Photos by Alyssa Bistonath.
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what is so great about these pies...so i decided to go out there and purchase one of their famous pies....had to throw out the half that we couldn't swallow....sori to say but i can buy cheaper and better tasting pies at loblaws....
it's dark city coffee, not dark horse!
over priced...
The croissants are divine. The pie is underwhelming and over priced. I can make a better, fresher pie for much less. But I guess that's irrelevant...people who buy whole pies don't have the time to make one from scratch.
I do like the shop though, very quirky. There's also a few hot guys working in the back and behind the counter. Last time I was there I was in line for over ten minutes due to a 'crisis' but didn't mind the wait at all =)
Always find the service in there APPALLING. Will never go back after a couple of trys.
i really wanted to like it there, but we went in the summer and there were so many flies stuck to uncovered cakes that it was a bit repulsive. or more than a bit.
right you're. thanks.
So what's so gross about these pies? I'm sort of surprised by all the negative comments. I've never had anything from Wanda's because I was scared away by the prices.
I bought a medium-sized regular apple pie from them, and it was VERY tasty. A little on the pricey side, but a hell of a lot better than a generic brand I would buy at a grocery chain.
They also make fantastic hot cocoa, with real melted chocolate. Again, more expensive than other places, but worth the small splurge.
Granted, the service CAN be slow sometimes, as the place is almost always busy, and the staff can get very chatty with the local regulars, adding to the line-up wait.
I have mixed feelings. I have had one very bad experience with poor service and overpriced, hardly edible apple pie (in the summer, when the flies were all over teh uncovered food), and one very good one with fast service and delicious cookies.
I don't think the pie I had was worth the price and agree that I have had much better from Sobeys, but I do like the atmosphere of the store.
I'll have to give it another try before I decide if my first bad experience was just a fluke, but I probably won't shell out for a pie again.
I LOVE the almond croissants, the apple crumble, the sandwiches, the soups and the salads. The rice pudding - a new addition - was way too overfilled with raisins. My husband LOVES the pain perdue on the weekends. The cookies are also good.
The thing I love about Wanda's is the selection of pies. I couldn't believe it when I walked in and saw a chalkboard full of options like Sour Cherry, Pear / Apple, Peach... You don't typically get that much choice! It also feels very local and a part of our city, which I like.
The cookies are really great, the pies not so much (more of a hit or miss- a recently bought a disappointing one with a stale crust), and the service is consistently bad.
For a place you rated as the #1 best place for cookies, why is everyone commenting on the other stuff Wanda sells? Tell me about the cookies! I happen not to give a shite about pie...
Pie haters.
Mel wrote: "The croissants are divine. The pie is underwhelming and over priced."
Well, I was literally a block away, didn't feel like a cookie or pie, so I bought a croissant.
First the price: $2.36! I am not sure if it's the priciest croissant in the city, it is certainly up there. I don't know about the rest of you, I don't like to waste money. If it had been half decent...
Now, the quality, it was already beginning to get a little stale (mid-afternoon, no box or case, standing in the open), it is dense, like biting into a European rye bread; not light, fluffy, and ethereal like a croissant is supposed to be. and you feel it sitting all lumpy in your stomach for quite a while afterwards. And the taste is nothing special either. 1 out of 5 stars at best!
Even Loblaws bakery section churns out better, lighter, tastier croissants by the tray and at 89 cents a bargain to boot.
I don't want to single out "Mel", but it is disappointing that no one offered an opposing view. I don't think I will ever trust another review on this site.
Disagreeing with a review is hardly cause for not trusting ANY review on this site. I've also had a croissant at Wanda's, and it was pretty good. Why would you buy it if it was mid afternoon, sitting in an exposed case? If your 2.36 is so dear to you, why not ask for your money back? Sometimes, things cost more than a dollar. Usually these things are not mass-produced. (I really find it dull when people start whining about how cheap they are.)
@Fleur:
> Disagreeing with a review is hardly cause for not trusting ANY review on this site.
If a review is way off the mark and no one disagrees with it, then yes, the site is not trustworthy.
> I've also had a croissant at Wanda's, and it was pretty good.
Pretty good is far from divine. In any case, it's not pretty good.
> Why would you buy it if it was mid afternoon, sitting in an exposed case?
Because I had no reason to suspect that they had been sitting there all day. Once it is stale it should be removed. Now I know better.
> If your 2.36 is so dear to you, why not ask for your money back?
After I've walked a block and taken a couple of bites? Would you give me a refund? Anyway, the issue is not the price but the value. Can you distinguish the two?
> Sometimes, things cost more than a dollar.
Again, it's not the cost, it's the VALUE!
> Usually these things are not mass-produced.
I don't care if they are made by little leprechauns in Jupiter, these croissants are not good!
> (I really find it dull when people start whining about how cheap they are.)
Is this about how much money you have? Or that you you are so "dull" anything expensive must be good??
went to this place this afternoon as part of my PS Kensington Market experience.. have to say it was TERRIBLE...
First, very confusing where to place your order... then I have to repeat over and over and over again what I ordered to 3 different people working there.. then, Omfg.. it is way Overpriced.. we had one slide of apple pie, one cup cake, 2 coffees that were not even hot.. cost me almost $17... Jesus Christ, I could have a nice dinner with that price.. the apple was nothing special, in fact, you can get something better at Loblaws, or a whole Napolean cake at T & T grocery store.. I will never go back again and will not recommend anyone here to eat there.. it is ridiculous.. even cafe in NYC is nicer and cheaper..complete rip off
btw, they asked me if i wanted whip cream to go with my pie.. guess how much whip cream i got?? the size smaller than a quarter.. like WHY Bother.. are they idiots?
Try the sticky cinnamon bun thingy. Very good.
I wish I could comment on how tasty these pies were, but my efforts to buy one were thwarted by the RUDEST and WORST service I have had in a long time. And having spoke to a few regulars, there seems to be one specific individual who really seems to hate working there. or hates people. It's unfortunate that one employee could leave such a bad taste in so many people's mouths.
I don't know why everyone is hating on this place. Every time I go I get good service and tasty pie! Yeah, it's a bit pricey but it's better than most pie in my opinion. The other day I tried the cranberry pear and it was delicious! Huge piece too, well more than I expected.
I love the vegan hermit cookies, I buy one almost every time I pass Wanda's. They're one of those I-can't-believe-it's-vegan foods that make me love toronto. (same goes for the vegan chocolate cupcakes at the blue banana)
i absolutely love wanda's pies, and i don't think they're that expensive. i work in a bakery myself and making a pie from scratch is much more time consuming than many other baked goods are to make. thus, it makes sense to charge enough money to cover the necessary time and labour.
i do, however, agree that the service can be surprisingly rude at time. there is one person who works behind the counter who has been incredibly rude to me on multiple occasions. as i mentioned, i work in the service industry and i would never treat a customer like that. apart from that, i quite enjoy the atmosphere and the food so i will keep coming back regardless!
There was a lot of attitude from the one worker, if that person doesn't like working there, there are other jobs for them out there.
Bought a cupcake, 3.10!!! Insane, I didn't think of it when I was there, but after a few minutes, I had realized what I spent 3.10 on...their cupcake was dry and seems like a basic cake mix. On top of that, their were little flies all around the place...and it's WINTER.
I wouldn't go back, that's for sure.
I have had very bad service at this warm, so fragrant, so delicous smelling resto. In truth, in spite of the parlous rudeness and posturing from the wait staff, I keep going back. The pies, huge, rich and gorgeous confections, the mango tea, the little cookies, the cooked, spicy potatoes...To Drool For. AND, I went in and spoke with Wanda directly about her staff and she was very nice and helpful, and she gave me a free slice of coconut cream: they often hire people going through hard times, which is laudable, and which explains a bit, and they are always willing to listen and respond to comments. This board in no way reflects the indescribablr deliciosity, the good vibe decor, and utter charm of the place. I feel like it's been in the Market forever.
Terrible experience - overpriced, small pieces of pie, rude staff, cashier was wearing white rat ear rings (really, in a restaurant come on!) and food quality was run of the mill. My mom's pie would put Wanda out of business.
LOVE LOVE LOVE
this place, very good looking and friendly staff
but everyone has their day.
Their pie is delicious and for the most part well worth it
soup and pizza is ALWAYS delicious!
Beautiful lattes
every place has their flaws but lets see all these complainers run their own business?
I wanted to love this place, but unfortunately the pie wasn't that great...and yes I agree with other posters that I have had better grocery store pie. Perhaps it would have tasted better heated up? Regardless, the pie was not fresh and did not leave me wanting more.
What. An. Asshole.
There needs to be some kind of common decency test before you write anything on the internet.