4 Florida Restaurants That Fall Short On Pot Pie & 4 That Perfectly Deliver It
Pot pies hold a special place in my heart as the ultimate comfort food.
That golden, flaky crust hiding a steamy center of savory goodness?
Pure magic! As a Florida foodie who’s eaten my way through countless diners and cafés, I’ve discovered that not all pot pies are created equal.
Some restaurants nail this classic dish while others serve up disappointment under that promising crust.
1. Okeechobee Prime Market’s Misguided Gourmet Attempt
Fancy isn’t always better! Okeechobee Prime Market tries to elevate the humble pot pie with truffle oil, exotic mushrooms, and premium beef, charging a whopping $24.95 for their “Prime Market Pot Pie.” My wallet wept while my taste buds shrugged.
The crust looked stunning – a glossy, perfectly egg-washed dome that promised heaven. Yet underneath lurked a filling so overwhelmed by competing flavors that I couldn’t tell if I was eating pot pie or some confused beef bourguignon.
Too much rosemary dominated every bite, while the promised truffle essence was nowhere to be found. The market’s attempt to fancy-up this classic dish only proved that sometimes, simple done well beats complicated done poorly. Some traditions don’t need reinventing!
2. IKEA Café’s Swedish Meatball Pot Pie Mishap
Who knew furniture shopping could lead to such culinary disappointment? IKEA’s Florida cafés recently added a Swedish meatball pot pie to their menu, and like some of their furniture, it requires significant improvement.
The concept sounds promising – their famous meatballs tucked into a traditional pot pie. Unfortunately, the execution falls flatter than their packaged cardboard. The crust arrives pale and underbaked, while the interior features their standard meatballs swimming in a gravy that’s simultaneously too salty and too bland.
The lingonberry jam dollop on top creates a weird sweet-savory confusion that doesn’t work. I love their meatballs in their traditional presentation, but this pot pie experiment proves that not everything needs to be reinvented. Some assembly required, indeed – of better flavor combinations!
3. Metro Diner’s Disappointing Pot Pie Letdown
Metro Diner broke my heart with their pot pie. I’d heard such great things about this Florida chain that I practically skipped through the door, visions of buttery pastry dancing in my head.
The reality? A soupy mess with undercooked vegetables hiding beneath a crust that somehow managed to be both soggy and tough at the same time. The chicken chunks were sparse and stringy, almost as if they were an afterthought rather than the star.
The gravy lacked seasoning, tasting more like thickened water than the rich, herbaceous sauce pot pie deserves. Even the presentation felt lazy – just a ceramic bowl with no finesse or care. For a place that gets so many comfort foods right, their pot pie is surprisingly subpar.
4. Trader Joe’s Frozen Pot Pie Bar Flops Hard
Florida’s Trader Joe’s locations recently installed “heat-and-eat” pot pie bars, promising restaurant-quality pot pies in minutes. My excitement quickly turned to regret after the first bite.
These pre-made pies sit under heat lamps for hours, resulting in crusts that taste like cardboard and fillings that separate into oily puddles. The chicken variety featured tough, stringy meat while the vegetable option contained mushy, indistinguishable produce that had clearly seen better days.
The worst offender was the turkey pot pie with its bizarre sweet undertone that tasted like someone accidentally spilled apple pie filling into the mix. Even the $6.99 price tag couldn’t justify these sad excuses for pot pies. Some convenience foods just can’t replace the real thing, no matter how cute the packaging.
5. Se7en Bites’ Southern-Style Pot Pie Paradise
Holy buttermilk biscuits! Se7en Bites in Orlando serves a pot pie that made me want to call my grandma and apologize for ever complimenting her cooking. Their “Southern Comfort Pot Pie” features a biscuit-style top crust that’s flaky yet substantial enough to hold up to the filling.
The interior is a masterpiece of slow-cooked chicken, carrots, celery, and peas swimming in a velvety sauce spiked with just enough sherry to make it interesting without being pretentious. What really sets this pot pie apart is the addition of sweet potato chunks that add unexpected depth and natural sweetness.
Chef Trina’s secret? She roasts the vegetables separately before adding them to the filling, intensifying their flavors. I literally scraped my plate with my finger when no one was looking – it’s that good!
6. Peach Valley Café’s Farm-Fresh Chicken Pot Pie Perfection
Peach Valley Café might be known for their breakfast, but their chicken pot pie deserves its own fan club! During a rainy afternoon in Gainesville, I stumbled upon this gem and haven’t stopped thinking about it since.
Unlike many restaurant pot pies that arrive in a ceramic dish, Peach Valley serves a free-standing beauty with a crust so buttery and flaky it shatters delicately with each forkful. The filling strikes that perfect balance between thick and saucy, clinging to generous chunks of rotisserie chicken and seasonal vegetables.
Their secret weapon? Fresh herbs from their own garden plot behind the restaurant, including thyme and tarragon that infuse the gravy with aromatic goodness. The portion size is just right too – satisfying without leaving you in a food coma. Pure comfort on a plate!
7. Mimi’s Café’s French-Inspired Pot Pie Triumph
French flair meets American comfort at Mimi’s Café! Their “Parisian Pot Pie” caught my eye during a shopping break in Jacksonville, and what a delightful surprise it turned out to be.
The genius twist here is the puff pastry top – lighter than traditional pot pie crust but still substantial enough to satisfy. Underneath hides a creamy filling studded with tender chicken, mushrooms, and pearl onions in a sauce enhanced with white wine and a touch of Dijon mustard that adds subtle tang.
What really won me over was the addition of fresh tarragon and a sprinkle of crispy pancetta bits that added texture and smoky depth. The individual copper pot presentation makes you feel like you’re dining in a French bistro rather than a Florida shopping center. C’est magnifique!
8. Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen’s Classic Comfort Winner
Sometimes the classics win for good reason! Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen on Pines Boulevard serves a homestyle chicken pot pie that transported me straight back to Sunday dinners at my grandmother’s table.
The massive portion arrives piping hot with steam escaping from a perfectly golden dome of crust that’s both substantial and tender. Beneath this protective layer bubbles a filling that’s clearly made from scratch – chunks of white and dark meat chicken, carrots cut into actual pieces (not those uniform little cubes), and peas that still have some texture.
The gravy hits that perfect consistency – not too thick, not too runny – seasoned simply with black pepper, thyme and a hint of celery seed. No fancy tricks or gourmet twists needed here. Just honest-to-goodness comfort food done exactly right. Worth every penny of its $12.99 price tag!