Briermere Farm - Riverhead

[Gastronomos]

I was told that they make good pies. Couldn't find info on here, so I ask, is it true? Does Briermere Farm in Riverhead make good pies?

[nofolady]

We live close to Briermere so people always ask us to bring a pie to any get-together and we always get a pie when we have people over - they have come to expect it and look forward to it. The peach cream pie is outstanding. I'm not sure if this has been mentioned but they use their own fruits grown on their land; their blackberries are huge and their peaches are incredible. They also have a nice selection of produce and their corn is as good as any found out here. They have great tomatoes and usually offer heirlooms, which can be harder to find. They always have a nice selection of fresh herbs as well. Lines never deter me because they always move quickly. Might take a little longer when one of the buses are there but it still is worth the wait, at least for me.

[roxlet]

It wouldn't be a visit to the North Fork without a stop at Briermere. My son feels that their blueberry and corn muffins are second to none. And their strawberry jam is simply divine with only two ingredients: strawberries and sugar. I used to give the jam to a friend of ours for Christmas, and he would hoard it, eating it by the teaspoonfuls, refusing to share with his family! But that jam on one of their corn muffins spells summer in Mattituck for me. Just delicious.

[nooyawka]

They don't make good pies. They make amazing pies. Had a blueberry cream pie 2 summers ago that a friend bought. It sold me.

[mcf]

Taste is a subjective thing of course. I was never wowed by their pies. I used to live reasonably close and never made a special trip for 'em.

[coll]

Have to agree.

[Gastronomos]

So the lemon meringue was better than most and the raspberry peach Ok. Both less sweet than expected, but not worth such a long trip. (might stop by if I’m out east again this summer)

[Motosport]

They make a nice lemon merengue pie but only on weekends.
It is splitting hairs but I like the Modern Snack bar lemon merengue pie better.

[lenorel57]

Where is modern Snack Bar? Do they sell whole pies? Lemon merengue is my absolute favorite

[mcf]

Main Rd, Aquebogue. Haven't eaten there in years, but I remember it as very, very good.

[Motosport]

The food is decent. The Modern Snack Bar Lemon Merengue pie is outstanding. Slices or whole pies.
The only lemon Merengue pie I like better is from Juniors in Brooklyn/Manhattan.
Junior's #1, Modern #2 and Briarmere #3. I could go for any of them right now!!

[lenorel57]

Me too

[lenorel57]

Thanks. We go out to the north fork for the day before the season starts. I'll check on the place before we go.

[grangie angie]

To lenore 157-Also used to be known as Wanda's.

[Motosport]

FYI: The place is NOT always crowded and the parking lot is NOT always full.
During the holidays and on Sundays when the "City Folk" are heading West it can be a busy place but they have a nice system and the lines move quickly.
The pies are very good. As good as some of the other farm stand pies but not as good as the local bakery (Junda's & Blue Duck) pies. I.M.H.O.!
I do love their Lemon Meringue pie. It comes in a close second to the Modern Snack Bar Lemon Meringue pie. Modern also makes an exceptional banana creme and boston creme pie.
For the most part they are open year round. They close up for a short period after Christmas.

[roxlet]

We like Briermere a lot too, although I do make a better pie! However, I have not yet mastered what we call the "Fruit Fantasy," which is their cream pie with all the fresh fruit on it that they make in the summer. The cream seems to be a mixture of cream cheese and whipped cream, and it is divinely decadent. Although it can be busy sometimes, the like always moves pretty well. We haven't tried the pies at The Blue Duck, but their baguettes are exceptional.

[lenorel57]

There's also Wickham Fruit Farm in Cutchogue. I don't know if they're open in the winter. (pardon me, Spring)

[lenorel57]

Yes they do

[grangie angie]

We used to live about a mile from Briermere many years ago.
Always bought their apple and pumpkin pies for holidays,very delish. But I do remembere paying not more than $8 dollars for a really large pie and you had to place orders for it and then wait in very long lines also when picking up. Enjoy!

[coll]

http://www.briermere.com/pielist.htm

I do enjoy making my own pies though, so I might see it differently than most. You let me know if this seems a bit high.

[Gastronomos]

Thank you for the website and price list. $15-$22 for a pie. OK, I guess when I order a slice at a restaurant it costs about $5 - $6 or so... 6 slices per pie? = $30 - $36...

I don't bake, so I'll pay up to try when out in that direction. THANKS!

[coll]

I'd love to hear the opinion of someone as a newbie to Briermere, it's been ages for me.

[mcf]

It's been ages for me, too. Their pies were good in terms of varieties and fruit combinations and not being overly sweet. I wouldn't make a trip for them. The crust was flakey, but not especially good tasting.

[coll]

It's just OK, and I'm not going to say anymore rather than start a flame war. Pie is not that hard to make! And the farm stands are the last to buy into that concept.

[sbp]

+1. They're OK, but compared to homemade -

- their filling can be too "gel" like, not as dense with fruit;
- their crust can sometimes be somewhat tough and not particularly flaky
- their bottom crust is white goo.

[rrems]

coll and sbp,

"pie is not that hard to make"

"compared to homemade"

I know how to make a pie but haven't done it in years, more effort than I want to expend. OP states they do not bake. Can we base our advice on that reality?

[Gastronomos]

No worries. I understand. I can cook, I just don't bake. So, homemade is ALWAYS better. Hand down. But, sometimes you gotta make sacrifices... :-)

[sbp]

I understand, which is why I detailed what to expect relative to homemade. You can't distinguish good from great without a frame of reference.

[coll]

Farm stands like to make you think they cooked it in their kitchen out back, and more power to them. Convience-wise, it worth the extra bucks! But buyer beware is all I will say.

[EM23]

Very interesting! And the pie price list - perhaps I am misremembering, but I thought the prices started at $17.

[coll]

Yeah it looks to me like they lowered their prices by a few dollars. People are so price conscious now, and for good reason!

[rrems]

Sorry sbp, I did not mean to disparage your post, your comparison is helpful, even if homemade is not always an option.

[Gastronomos]

Too pricey? What are they charging for the pies? It's a long drive for a pie already...
Thanks!

[coll]

Not worth the price to me. The parking lot is always jam packed so maybe I'm in the minority.

[EM23]

I have had the blueberry and apple pies from Briermere, and they were good, but not great, IMO. I have not tried the cream pies which, I have heard, are really good (as Chris mentions below.) There is always a line out the door for those pies, so if that is any indication..

The blueberry muffin they make is excellent.
Muffin photo http://www.foodspotting.com/reviews/4...

[Chris VR]

I do love Briemere's pies. Their fruit cream pies are absolutely heavenly- raspberry cream is my favorite.

[Fred19]

Briermere Farm's pies are OK.

Some people feel that they are too pricey, or too much air between the crust and the filling.

Their breads and rolls are very good.

~Fred19

[rrems]

Well, I haven't been there in quite a while, but unless they've changed completely in recent years, they do indeed make good pies. If I were willing to make the effort I could make a pie perhaps as good, but for a "bought" pie, I can't remember a better one than theirs. Very home-style using good ingredients.