Betty's Pies

Betty's Pies

Two Harbors, MN

Reviewed May 30th, 2005

My girlfriend bonded with a teenaged girl while they both were waiting to use the women's restroom. "This sucks huh? It should be bigger so more people can get in there," said my girlfriend. "Yeah, this totally sucks," agreed the girl, trying hard to fit in with the cool older restroom set. A typical gas station bathroom has a bathroom with more space, character and less waiting then those at Betty's Pies. Each restroom was a small, single entry with white tiles and a generic border of blue tiles in an alternating checker board pattern. To be fair, there was no waiting for the men's while we were there. Never the less, the experience was not impressive. In the men's room to the left you will find a barely concealed hot water heater and/or maintenance closet.

Unfortunately for Betty's Pies, excellent, heartfelt service cannot negate the damage done by grossly overpriced, lackluster food and a lackluster bathroom. Before the Highway 61 expansion Betty's Pies was this quaint and quiet little five table shack that served up great atmosphere as well as great pie. Now it is a large, chaotic restaurant that was rebuilt to harness the power of the crowd. It has in effect evolved from its mom n' pop origins into a yuppie pit stop with a brand name. It is not the fault of the establishment that Highway 61 was expanded or that it suddenly went from steady underground success to explosive mainstream popularity when it reopened but these things have combined to kill the spirit of the place. In a way, it is Lake Superior's fault that the restrooms suck here. If the Big Lake had been kind enough to stop eroding the hell out of the poor old shoreline, Highway 61 never would have needed any expanding. Now its so expanded that the highway is all flabby and out of shape. You hear me Lake Superior? Yeah, that's right boy-ee! I'm talking to YOU!

It saddens me to say you won't find any hint of the old Betty spirit in the restroom. The women's restroom was clean and the men's was better than a pig sty but far short of excellent.

- Justin Teerlinck

RESTROOM RATING: 3
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