The Humble Pie franchise has finally made an appearance in Tucson. Located in La Encantada in the foothills area, Humble Pie offers a change of scenery for those who tire of the everyday campus experience. With six locations in Phoenix and the newly established location in Tucson, it is clear that Humble Pie has made its mark on the state of Arizona.
This location provides a breathtaking view of Tucson’s skyline and mountain ranges. Despite the long drive from campus, the restaurant’s location is convenient for of shopping. Humble Pie is situated next to a variety of shops and eateries, such as Tavolino and Firebird Wood Fired Grill.
The exterior is simple but elegant. The main red sign welcomes hungry passersby, as does the accompanying outdoor seating decorated with dim lighting and much-needed heat lamps. Wallpaper tinted with a light green accent and finished with black patterns and contemporary art styles add to a catching interior. The kitchen is open, allowing all patrons to view the preparation of the pizza from their seats.
The friendly and accommodating staff work well in the upbeat and busy environment. The menu offers great choices, ranging from classic Italian appetizers and sandwiches to personal pizza pies. On the menu the pies are divided according to sauce preferences: one page with white sauce and the other with marinara sauce.
The prices are fairly cheap: a 12-inch pizza pie generally checks in at about $14, depending on extra toppings or substitutions. For those craving a little elegance on a budget, Humble Pie offers date night specials and happy hours at reasonable prices.
While the wait for the food dragged out for quite some time, the pizza did arrive freshly made and prepared exactly to order. The grilled chicken pesto pie, made with white sauce, came out surprisingly sensational. The pies are cooked to a char, adding a contrasting but delicious flavor. Topped with goat cheese, pesto spread, baby tomatoes and olive oil, the chicken pesto proved to be a real score.
Bailey Richards, a waitress at Humble Pie since its opening in December, expressed her enthusiasm for the restaurant.
“I knew the company from home because there are six locations in Phoenix,” she said. “I’ve been going to the one by my house for years, since they opened up there. The company has just celebrated its eighth-year anniversary. My favorite dish is definitely the shrimp pizza. It sounds really strange but it’s actually so good. It’s kind of spicy due to the sauce we put on there.”
Richards, clearly pleased with the menu at Humble Pie, continued by offering details on her favorite part of the job.
“I love the staff family here. We tip pool, so we’re a big team,” said Richards. “We’re helping each other out at all times, there’s no fighting for tables or things like that. The six owners that oversee all of the Humble Pie locations understand where we are all at, so it makes it so much easier”
While the food here is fantastic, Humble Pie stumbled in some regards. The seating arrangement was far too crowded. The tables were too close together and the high top chairs were practically placed back-to-back, leaving little room for patrons to lean back. Additionally, the main dining room created more than a few echoes, which added loud noise when big parties were present.
For those who are looking for a change of scenery and a new taste of casual yet elegant Italian cuisine, grab a slice at Humble Pie.
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