Mon–Tue 5pm–12am · Wed–Thu 5pm–2am · Fri 5pm–3am · Sat 12pm–3am · Sun 12pm–11pm (202) 725-5527 · Navy Yard, DC
1st Annual
Pie-Off
Sunday, November 15 · 2 PM
Get your name on The Stanley Crust
Enter Your Pie I’m a Pie-stander

The 1st Annual Pie-Off

Everybody thinks their pie is the best. On November 15, somebody gets to prove it.

Suzie Q’s is hosting its first ever Pie-Off, a blind-judged pie competition for home bakers in DC. Up to 20 pies, three surprise judges, one crowd vote, and a trophy that stays behind our bar year round with the winner’s name on it. Entry is free. Watching is free. The slices are the best deal in Navy Yard.

How it works

From sign-up to trophy

  1. Sign up by Friday, November 13. Spots are capped at 20 pies, first come first served.
  2. Bake one full-size pie, 9 inches or larger. Any kind. Sweet, savory, fruit, cream, custard, whatever you are known for.
  3. Drop it off at the bar between 1:00 and 1:45 PM on Sunday, November 15. We give it a number and seal your name in an envelope.
  4. At 2 PM the judges are revealed and the tasting begins. They do not know whose pie is whose. Neither does the room.
  5. Once the judges have their slices, the rest goes out to the crowd. Every guest gets one vote for Crowd Favorite.
  6. Winners are announced at 3:30 PM. First place gets their name etched on The Stanley Crust.

The one rule

Store-bought crust is allowed. The filling has to be yours.

Store-bought crust is allowed. We mean it. Nobody is checking your freezer.

The filling has to be yours. A bakery pie with the sticker peeled off will be pulled from the table and eaten by staff without ceremony.

Bonus points: make your own crust from scratch and the judges give you extra credit. Not required, but it counts.

What you can win

Aprons, gift cards, and a name on the trophy

1st Place

Your name and your pie engraved on The Stanley Crust, a Pie-Off Champion apron, a $50 Suzie Q’s gift card, and a photo with the judges that we will post everywhere.

2nd Place

A Pie-Off apron and a $25 Suzie Q’s gift card.

3rd Place

A Pie-Off apron.

Crowd Favorite

Voted by the room. A Crowd Favorite apron and a pint on us.

About The Stanley Crust

The Stanley Crust is our traveling pie trophy, built in the spirit of a certain hockey cup. It lives on display behind the bar at Suzie Q’s. Every November a new plate goes on it with the champion’s name, their pie, and the year. You cannot buy your way onto it and you cannot take it home. The only way to get your name on The Stanley Crust is to win the Pie-Off.

Pie-standers welcome

Not a baker? Come anyway.

Pie-standers get in free, get tasting slices once judging wraps, and get one vote for Crowd Favorite. Surprise judges will be present. Bring friends, bring a fork, bring opinions.

Enter your pie

Submit your entry

Entry is free and open to anyone 21 or older. One pie per baker. Fill this out and we’ll email you to confirm your spot and your drop-off time.

Sign-ups close Friday, November 13, or when we hit 20 pies, whichever comes first.

Prefer not to use the form? DM @suzieqsdc, email info@suzieqsdc.com, or sign up at the bar.

Good to know

Pie-Off FAQ

Does it cost anything to enter or watch?

No. Entry is free. So is watching.

What kind of pie can I make?

Any kind. If you would call it a pie, it is a pie. Hand pies count, bring at least 12.

Can I use store-bought crust?

Yes. That is the one rule, and it is in your favor. Make your own crust from scratch, though, and you earn bonus points with the judges.

Can the filling be store-bought?

No. The filling has to be homemade.

How big should my pie be?

9 inches or larger. The judges take one slice each and the rest goes to the crowd, so a standard pie covers it.

What dish should I bring it in?

Bring it in a disposable dish or one you are not attached to. We will do our best but we are a bar, not a dish return.

Can I assemble or reheat on site?

No. Pies should arrive baked, cooled, and ready to cut. No on-site assembly, no reheating.

Who are the judges?

That is the surprise. Three of them, revealed at 2 PM. One of them is a professional pastry chef, so bring your best.

How is it scored?

Each judge scores every pie on crust, filling, appearance, and overall, 10 points each. Highest total wins. Crowd Favorite is a separate vote decided by the room.

Can I tell the judges which pie is mine?

No. Doing so gets your pie pulled. The whole point is that it is blind.

Bring your best pie.
Win your name on The Stanley Crust.

Enter Your Pie

Suzie Q’s. 71 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003. Navy Yard, steps from Nationals Park.