7 Indiana Chain Restaurants That Struggle With Chicken Pot Pie And 7 That Perfect It
Who doesn’t love a good chicken pot pie? This classic comfort food combines flaky crust with creamy chicken filling for the ultimate hearty meal.
Not all restaurant versions are created equal, though! Indiana is home to chains that nail this dish perfectly and others that miss the mark.
Let’s explore which spots serve up pot pie perfection and which ones leave you wishing you’d ordered something else.
1. Boston Market’s Dry Disappointment
Grab a fork and prepare for letdown at Boston Market. Their pot pies often suffer from dry chicken chunks and a sauce that’s either too thick or oddly watery.
The crust? Frequently overcooked around the edges while remaining doughy in the center. Many customers report inconsistent quality between visits, making pot pie roulette a risky game at this rotisserie-focused chain.
2. Bob Evans’ Soupy Situation
Farm-fresh disappointment awaits at Bob Evans when it comes to their chicken pot pie. The filling resembles soup more than the hearty, thick mixture pot pie lovers crave.
Too many carrots and not enough chicken creates an unbalanced bite. The worst offense? Their pies often arrive lukewarm, with a soggy bottom crust that dissolves into mush before your spoon even makes contact.
3. Perkins’ Pastry Problems
Famous for breakfast, Perkins falls short when venturing into pot pie territory. Their crust lacks that essential buttery flakiness, instead presenting as tough and bland.
Inside awaits a filling that’s heavy on salt but light on flavor complexity. Regular customers note the skimpy chicken portions hiding among too many potatoes. When a restaurant skimps on the namesake ingredient, you know something’s gone terribly wrong!
4. Cracker Barrel’s Crust Catastrophe
Country charm can’t save Cracker Barrel’s pot pie from its fundamental flaws. The top crust often arrives burnt while somehow remaining underdone in patches.
Beneath this problematic pastry lies filling that’s swimming in excessive thickener, creating a gluey texture rather than creamy comfort. Temperature issues plague this dish too – scalding hot at the edges but mysteriously cold in the center.
5. IHOP’s Identity Crisis
Pancake houses should probably stick to pancakes! IHOP’s chicken pot pie suffers from an identity crisis – is it soup? Is it pie? Nobody knows.
The filling lacks proper seasoning beyond salt, creating a bland experience despite the colorful vegetable medley. Their puff pastry topper often arrives either burnt to a crisp or soggy and deflated, proving that breakfast champions don’t always succeed at comfort food classics.
6. Metro Diner’s Mediocre Attempt
Metro Diner tries hard but misses the mark with their chicken pot pie. The oversized portion initially impresses until you discover the filling-to-crust ratio heavily favors the latter.
Fork through layers of doughy pastry to find minimal filling hiding below. When you do reach it, prepare for disappointment – the chicken often appears in sparse, tiny pieces swimming in a sea of overly peppered gravy.
7. O’Charley’s Overly Salty Situation
O’Charley’s pot pie looks promising until that first bite delivers a sodium punch. The filling relies on salt rather than herbs to create flavor, leaving your taste buds overwhelmed and your water glass constantly empty.
Their pastry lacks the buttery richness that makes a great pot pie memorable. Instead, it crumbles into dry pieces that fail to soak up the excessively salty gravy. Keep your cardiologist on speed dial if you’re ordering this dish!
1. Gray Brothers Cafeteria’s Golden Standard
Homestyle perfection awaits at Gray Brothers! Their chicken pot pie features hand-pulled chicken pieces swimming in velvety gravy with just the right consistency – never gluey, never watery.
Fresh vegetables maintain their integrity while perfectly absorbing the savory flavors. The crowning glory? A made-from-scratch pastry that achieves the perfect balance between flaky and substantial. This Mooresville institution proves why cafeteria-style dining remains beloved in Indiana.
2. Pots & Pans Pie Co.’s Artisanal Excellence
Artisanal pie-making shines at this Indianapolis gem. Each chicken pot pie features all-butter crust that shatters beautifully with each forkful, revealing a treasure of locally-sourced ingredients below.
The chicken comes from Indiana farms, seasoned perfectly with fresh herbs visible throughout the filling. A touch of cream adds richness without heaviness. Their clever addition of root vegetables alongside traditional mix-ins creates unexpected depth that keeps customers returning weekly.
3. Duos Cafe’s Farm-to-Table Masterpiece
Bloomington’s sustainability-focused cafe creates pot pie magic using ingredients sourced within 50 miles. Their chicken comes from local farms where humane practices are prioritized, resulting in noticeably better flavor.
Seasonal vegetables rotate throughout the year, making each visit a unique experience. The real star? Their ingenious herb-infused pastry incorporating fresh thyme and rosemary into the dough itself. This thoughtful touch means flavor in every single bite, not just in the filling.
4. Punch Bowl Social’s Modern Twist
Hipster hangout Punch Bowl Social reimagines chicken pot pie with brilliant contemporary touches. Their deconstructed version features a buttery biscuit floating atop creamy filling in a cast-iron skillet.
Unexpected ingredients like roasted garlic confit and caramelized shallots elevate the flavor profile beyond traditional versions. The chicken arrives in generous pulled portions rather than cubes, absorbing more flavor. Even pot pie purists admit this creative interpretation deserves serious respect!
5. The Hive’s Honey-Touched Harmony
Bloomington’s bee-themed eatery incorporates their signature ingredient – local honey – into their chicken pot pie with surprising success. The honey adds subtle sweetness that balances perfectly with savory elements.
Their pastry achieves rare technical perfection – consistently golden-brown, never soggy on bottom. The filling maintains ideal consistency, clinging to your spoon without being gluey. Generous chicken portions marinated in herbs before cooking ensure flavor in every bite.
6. Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen’s Consistent Comfort
Chain restaurants rarely excel at scratch cooking, but Cheddar’s defies expectations with their genuinely homemade pot pie. The generous portion arrives bubbling hot with perfectly golden crust that’s visibly hand-crimped.
Inside awaits tender chicken pieces in gravy that achieves the perfect consistency – rich without being starchy. Their vegetable ratio shows thoughtful balance rather than cheap filler tactics. Even on busy nights, this dish maintains remarkable consistency across all Indiana locations.
7. MCL Restaurant & Bakery’s Time-Honored Tradition
This Indiana cafeteria chain has perfected pot pie over decades of service. Their version features a unique double-crust approach, ensuring pastry in every bite rather than just on top.
The filling achieves perfect consistency – thick enough to hold shape when served but not congealed or pasty. Their secret weapon? A hint of nutmeg that most diners can’t identify but miss when it’s absent. The generous portion size reflects Midwestern hospitality at its finest.
