Pittsburgh Restaurants Reviews and Ratings

The Library Review: an ecounter with a white russian

2008-08-13T21:23:00.003-05:00

Area: South Side
Rating: Monthly Regular
Notes: Great for a first date.

Well forgive me all for the ridiculously long break I took from this site. I've been traveling in and out of the area for several months and not visiting too many area restaurants. But I'm finally back, and ready to work my way backwards through the places I've visited since the last review.

So let me start with The Library, an unassuming, friendly, unpretentious, and great first date place in the South Side. I know it's a great first date because I actually went there on a first date and it all went very well -- so I confess this may be a bit biased.

The place is intimate and cute. The walls are decorated with bookshelves and the menu is presented inside books, but they were careful not to overdo the theme. Service was excellent, and the ambiance was surprisingly romantic despite the open bar next to the restaurant side with the 30 some crowd doing shots and watching football. The food was also excellent although the menu was a bit limited for vegetarians. But then I say, eat meat and you wont have this problem. We first got the humus plate with grilled pitta and it was outstanding. Then I got the salmon which was served on a bed of miniature potatoes, which had such a unique and wonderful taste, I could not believe they were potatoes. The salmon was cook to perfection (not overdone) and the veggies perfectly tender.

I would gladly visit this place again. It is not cheap enough to go every week, but well worth the monthly visit.

www.thelibrary-pgh.com
2302 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412) 381-0517

Jesus, I forgot to mention the white Russian. Well, I never had a White Russian until I visit this place. Yes, I am that uncool. I love Baileys but often I feel it's too sweet unless I dilute it with milk of water, but I found the White Russian to be the perfect improved alternative. Milky, not too sweet, delicious!

Tom's Diner: from the Diner Ladies group

2008-04-06T17:09:00.002-05:00

Area: South Side
Rating: I guess
Notes: Very nice without the food to match

Another Sunday, another diner breakfast. This time we visited Tom's Diner, a member of the Diner Ladies group. The Diner Ladies is a group of 4 women-owned diners in the greater Pittsburgh area. They also include the Hot Metal Diner, The Cole Diner, and the Square Café. Now, it’s difficult to write a review of any diner in Pittsburgh without making a comparison with the Square Café. And this time, as both are members of the same group, avoiding the comparison is even harder. But I will avoid making any comparison statements, especially because comparing Tom’s Diner to the Square Café would be like comparing a taco bell to Ibiza. Ok, I’ll stop now.

Actually the place was pretty good. A very classic small town diner full of locals, oldies, and the random trendy couple. The food was perfectly diner-like. I got 3 eggs with sausage, bacon, home fries, and white toast. I couldn’t complain. The bacon was of surprising great quality, the toast perfect, the eggs not too runny – not too dry. The service was fast and friendly. My only real complain was the ambiance. It was just a bit too grungy, dark, sterile – not quite the place to bring someone you want to impress. And it seems the owners know this, because they are moving to the place next door, which looks like it was a more upscale restaurant. So hopefully the new location will be much better.

At the end, I will come back after they move and will post a new review, but so far, there is no other place in Pittsburgh that comes close to the Square Café for breakfast.

PS, as a disclaimer: I don't get anything from the Square Cafe - I just like it that much.

La Feria in Shadyside. Sorry but radically over-hyped.

2008-03-28T09:03:00.005-05:00

Area: Shady Side
Rating: I guess
Notes: Very nice without the food to match

This is bound to be a controversial review. I know how much people love this tinny, super cute, Peruvian restaurant in the middle of trendy Shady Side. But sometimes I feel that these type of places – places with a unique style, uncommon food choices, and well established groupie base – get their fame more from people’s desired to feel ‘cool, trendy, new age’ than from the quality of their product: “OMG I found this super cool Peruvian restaurant, we have to try it”. Well, let me give them the credit they deserve: the place is cool, cute, trendy, romantic, unique, refreshing, friendly, educational, even inspiring! A place for a first casual date? Definitely. You will really impress someone, especially if that some one is easily impressed by ‘super cool Peruvian restaurants.” But is the food and the menu up to par? NOT EVEN CLOSE. First the menu is very limited, with just a few sandwiches and a couple of main dishes that change every week. I ordered the empanadas and I was very disappointed. I’ve eaten empanadas in Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Caribbean, and although there are subtle differences, I never felt I was eating a French pastry with some spinach inside. So I’m not sure if the issue is that the Peruvian empanadas are that much different than those from other countries, or if the chef simply wanted to create a more sophisticated version, but in either case, I rather eat the empanadas at Kaya. Then I got a vegetarian sandwich and it was decent, but ridiculously overpriced. I do have to admit that the bread pudding for dessert was really out of this world. At the end, I felt that the food did not match the authenticity of the rest of the restaurant. Ropa Vieja? That is clearly not a Peruvian dish! They may eat it in Peru, but people eat pizza in Mexico too and you don’t see pizza offered at Mexican restaurants. 5527 Walnut St. Pittsburgh, PA 15232 (412) 682-4501 www.laferia.net

Tamarind on Craig st. Much better for dinner!

2008-03-22T15:09:00.002-05:00

Area: North Oakland
Rating: Monthly Regular
Notes: Skip the lunch.

So this past weekend I had the chance to go to Tamarind for dinner. As you can see from this past post, Tamarind was a major disappointment when I tried it for lunch. But I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised about how good the food was at dinner. I had the Samosa as an appetizer and it was excellent. It came with three spicy sauces and really I wanted to take some home, they were that good. Then I ordered the mixed grill and it was amazing. It had tendori shrimp and chicken, chicken tikka, and some really tasty sheesh kabab. Surprisingly, my favorite were the tikka and sheesh kabab. So next time I may just order the chicken tikka. The mango lassi was also wonderful, but who could mess up a mango lassi? The services was standard, nothing special, and the ambience pretty plain. I think if they dimmed the lights a bit, the place may look a bit more romantic. As is, it’s not the right place for a first or second date (try Ibiza instead). www.tamarindpa.com. 257 N. Craig Street, Pittsburgh - (412) 605-0500

Pamela's in Shadyside: A classic American breakfast

2008-03-16T18:28:00.003-05:00

Area: Shadyside
Rating: Monthly Regular
Notes: Excellent Breakfast- Does not take credit cards

This is a long overdue review of one of Pittsburgh’s classic institutions: Pamela’s in Shadyside. I woke up on Saturday way before most people had opened their eyes and decided to come to Pamela's with a friend. When we arrived there were 2-3 couples on a classic 'post date' breakfast run. The place contrasted with the traditional ultra trendy Shadyside restaurants and looked more like the type of hidden gems you find in NYC’s Sojo or Boston’s Southy. Authentic, no windows, country, bright, rustic – a real ode to the urban diner. We both ordered the eggs with cheese, home fries and toast. They were just perfect. The eggs perfectly cooked, the toast amply buttered, and the home fries just excellent. The prices were very reasonable, if not cheap. With sodas, the bill for two was under $15. The services was also excellent, prompt and friendly. Unfortunately they don’t take credit cards, which in my book is a sure way to make me think twice before coming back. I simply hate businesses that are too cheap to accept credit cards. In sum, this is one great breakfast place. Is it better than Square Café? Not in a million years. Is it worth trying? Definitely! Actually, it’s worth eating there once a month. 3703 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (412) 683-4066

Double Wide - Eggs Benedict!

2008-03-09T21:03:00.004-05:00

Area: South Side
Rating: Let's eat here once a week
Notes: Great brunch!

This morning I had the opportunity to eat brunch at the Double Wide in the South Side. I remember seeing this place packed during the summer and I always thought it was such a neat concept to keep the 1950's gas station theme with the outdoor seating. For those of you who have never been there, the double wide is located inside an old service station creating a very unique ambiance. The main structured was kept mostly intact so during the summer the garage doors are kept open expanding the restaurant into the front driveway. During the winter the garage doors are of course closed but they are mostly glass so you still get a great open feeling. So it seems this is the place for Eggs Benedict. We had a table of 5 and 4 of us ordered them. I substituted the Canadian bacon for sausage and I really loved it. As you can see, the eggs came with potatoes, which were not the favorite of some of my friends, but I did like them. Maybe I wished they had been a bit less greasy, but the taste was actually wonderful. Now the eggs… wow, perfectly done, the sauce was exquisite, and it was served over a super fresh English muffin. The service was excellent, prices reasonable, and all in all, a great place to come for brunch during the weekends. www.doublewidegrill.com
2339 E Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA 15203. (412) 390-1111.

Sardine Salad Anyone?

2008-03-07T23:04:00.003-06:00

Ok this is not a restaurant review but I thought I have to share this:

Call me crazy, but back in December, while visiting my super trendy and cultured sister in Boston I had the most unexpected amazing dinner: Sardine Salad. Ok. Don’t run away just yet. I know! Sardines? You have to be either in Portugal or showing off to some Hampton’s friends to eat that! Well. I have to tell you, after weeks of considering whether I was brave enough to try it again, I went for it and it was.. oh so delicious!

So here is the quickie for those adventurous kind.
1 can of sardines in water or olive oil (I got mine from trader joe’s)
1 avocado
1 red onion
10 cheery tomatoes
1 lime
Pepper
Olive oil
Sea Salt.

It’s this easy: cut the avocado, the red onion, and tomatoes and make a pretty salad. Open the can of sardines (ignore the fishy smell they don’t taste like that) and plate as desired. Then squeeze the entire lime all over the salad (the more lime the better) and do a light pass of olive oil. Sprinkle some salt and pepper, and enjoy!

Maximum flavor: great pittsburgh hotdogs

2008-03-04T07:42:00.004-06:00

Area: North Oakland
Rating: Monthly Regular
Notes: Super cheap. Does not include Lipitor prescription. Great dogs.

OK, I swear I haven't abandoned this blog. This is what happened: I got excited about the blog in January and I went crazy with the eating out thing. And since this blog has produced about 22 cents in advertisement income, I ran out of money by the end of January and had to spend the last week or so eating pasta with tuna cans at home. But I finally got paid so the irresponsible going out can continue.

So my first lunch venture was this week to "Maximum flavor pizza show" right on the food strip of South Craig. I think I may come here often so I will keep updating this entry as I try new things (The pizzas looked amazing). I got a cheeseburger, a hot dog, and a drink for about $5, which you simply can't beat. Sadly the burger was completely forgettable. A piece of meat, two buns, some veggies, just didn't work together. But there was something about the hot dog that was just amazing. I actually wished I gotten 3 hot dogs for the same price instead. Now, this is not the place for those of you who are dieting. You can sense your cholesterol inch up just by looking at the pictures on the wall.

Soba: An amazing Pittsburgh dining experience

2008-02-10T10:19:00.000-06:00

Area: Shadyside
Rating: Holy mother of God was that food or just a piece of heaven
Notes: Expensive. Worth it. Don’t miss the bread pudding or the Soba Banana Split. Make reservations.

During the past week I visited 2 restaurants that had been highly recommended by several friends. While Tamarind was a bit of a disappointment, Soba way exceeded my expectations. I know everyone raves about Soba so I will make this short. The place is gorgeous with a great NYC-style atmosphere – perfect lighting, romantic if need be, crowded without being overwhelming, and elegant to meet the highest standards for a semi-casual fine dining experience. The service was friendly, efficient, and reserved; just what you expect from a classy place like this. I got the Thai corn chowder with crab as a starter and it was really amazing: creamy yet light, spicy, and.. oh how much I love the texture of corn on a well made chowder. However, I have a very high tolerance for spicy food (I love hot food) and I have to say this was perfectly hot (on the hot side) for me, which usually means it’s too hot for most non-spicy lover types. Then I got the Pad Thai with shrimp, chicken, and tofu and I it was one of the best Asian dishes I’ve ever tasted. I was a bit afraid of the tofu because I hate tofu, but the dish was so perfectly integrated and it tasted so great that I didn’t even notice it had tofu! For dessert I tried both the mango bread pudding and the Soba banana split and you can’t go wrong with either one. I was there with 8 people and everyone seemed to love their dishes. At the end the bill was about $60-$70 per person with 2 bottles of wine and several drinks. 5847 Ellsworth Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15232. 412.362.5656. http://www.bigburrito.com/soba/index.shtml

Tamarind on Craig - One big "I guess"

2008-02-07T20:00:00.001-06:00

Area: North Oakland
Rating: I guess
Notes: Expensive, small buffet for the price. THIS IS ONLY A LUNCH REVIEW I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE QUALITY OF THEIR DINNER MENU.

UPDATE: I had a much better experience at dinner. Follow this link for the dinner review

Wow, this is the biggest “I guess” review I’ve done so far. Since I moved to Pittsburgh last summer at least 4 people have told me that I had to try Tamarind because the food was amazingly good. I’ve been wanting to try this place for a long time, and I heard so many good things about it that I actually recommended it on this blog as an alternative to Star of India (also on Craig Street). So today for lunch I decided to take the long walk to Tamarind and finally sit and enjoy some wonderful Indian food. But when I finished, the only thing I could think was … “I guess”. I mean, really… I guess. I don’t know if my expectations were a bit out of control, but this was a real disappointment. The place is super nice, with a great dining area and beautiful windows, the staff was very friendly, but the two main problems were the food and the price. Ok the food was not all that bad. I had two types of chicken (Tandoori and Jalfrize). I love Tandoori chicken but I hate when all they give you are miniature pieces of mostly dark meat and bone, like it was the case at Tamarind. Please, add some full chicken breasts! The Jalfrize was actually much better with large pieces of white meat, but this to me just spoke at how unimpressive the Tandoori was. You see… I usually have just a small taste of different things but gorge myself on Tandoori chicken. This time however, I didn’t even finish the Tandoori I got on my first trip. I also tried the vegetable pulao, which is simply a rice with tinny vegetables, and this was actually pretty good. Finally for dessert I got something a bit strange that was excellent. It was a carrot dish called Carrot Halwa. It consisted of cooked shredded carrots on a sweet milk sauce. It had the condensed milk flavor of many Indian desserts, which I actually love since I used to eat condensed sweet milk right out of the can when I was a kid! Now, why am I complaining about this place if I liked the jalfrize, Pulao (or is it Paluo?), and the condensed milk with carrots? Well, first because this is Indian food, and I loooove Indian food, so you really have to try hard to disappoint me (although I’ve been disappointed with the two places I’ve reviewed. I may need to rethink this). Second, the buffet was way too small. I mean I think there were like 6 dishes at the most, and it was expensive at around $8 plus your drink and tip. So at the end I spend $13 on a lunch that was far from memorable. But I guess other people like this place. 257 North Craig Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Call us at 412-605-0500 http://www.tamarindpa.com/

Calabria’s At Penn Avenue: wow that’s a sandwich.

2008-02-04T15:55:00.000-06:00

Area: Bloomfield
Rate: Let’s eat there every week.
Summary: Delivers. Great Lunch Hoagies! The small hoagies are big enough for most non-pig people.

Ok just a quick note about this place. We ordered lunch from Calabria’s today. I got the small Philly chicken hoagie for $4.95, with tax and tip, the whole thing cost me $7. Now, I really think hoagies are tough to make well, and Philly’s even tougher. More often than not what I get is 1) a piece of bread, with some meat, and some vegetables (sounds horrible? – that’s the point!) or 2) a soggy bread drenched in melted cheese, oil, butter, and some pieces of fat with some meat attached (I know!). So every time I ask for a hoagie, and specially a Philly, I know I’m taking a major risk. Well, I was glad I took the risk. This Philly Chicken was really amazing. It had lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo, but somehow the chef made all the flavors mesh beautifully. And on top of it, it didn’t feel greasy at all! OK, I know it probably had 700 calories, but I didn’t feel like that, and that’s what matters most :-). So at least for lunch I can say this place is great! 4911 Penn Avenue. Pittsburgh, 15244. 412.362.3446. Calabriasitalianrestaurant.com

Veracruz Mexican Restaurant – A Deliciously Authentic Pittsburgh Spot.

2008-01-30T12:06:00.000-06:00

Rate: Let’s eat there every week.
Summary: 10% off with student id. Authentic, super friendly, a bit pricey for a lunch spot.

While Veracruz is located in the middle of everywhere (Forbes in South Oakland), in my book this is still a hidden gem. When you enter you will encounter a tiny lunch spot with a few high tables and some counters. The menu seems traditionally Tex-Mex (burritos, quesadillas, tacos), but that’s were the “Tex” ends. Today I got the chicken burrito. What a surprise! This was a real authentic Mexican meal, completely not Americanized. What do I mean by that? I really don’t know, but the burrito had nothing to do with what you usually would get at Qdobas. Instead, uniquely authentic flavors merged together to create a compact, homogeneous, and delicious burrito. I guess one thing I hate about places like Qdobas is that with every bit you get a chunk of something different. Like here is the ball of sour cream bite. Now the piece of hard avocado bite, etc. Well, you won’t experience that with the Veracruz burrito. I had a craving for dessert too so I got a home made flan. It this was also wonderfully authentic, with the brown crust that you only see when traveling in South America. In summary, this place was wonderful. The staff was very cordial, the tables clean, and the food fantastic. My only criticism is that the prices were a bit on the high side for a lunch spot. If you get a grande burrito supremo with a soda you get close to the 10 bucks mark. But I think it’s still worth the money. 3715 Forbes Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3408 Phone: (412) 688-0766

Lidia's Brunch - Affordable High Class!

2008-01-27T20:11:00.000-06:00

Area: The Srtip District
Rating: Holy Mother of God was that food or just a piece of heaven?
Summary: Elegance, find dining, mind blowing, and affordable? You've got to be kidding me!

So two great friends invited me to join them for brunch at Lydia's today. Lydia's is a bit of an institution located right in the middle of the strip district, a block from Krobar, but they might as well be a million miles apart (although there is always a time for some crazy Krobar nights). So I arrived there at 11:30am and was surprised to see how elegant this place was. The staff was sharp and spotless, the decoration classic yet contemporary. The hostess was very friendly and promptly walked us to our table where we were greeted by a young yet super professional waitress. The brunch at Pydia's is a "Prix Fixe" of $22 and includes a complementary drink (think mimosa!). OK, so here you are saying $22 bucks for a glorified breakfast? Give me a break! Well... not quiet. This is not just a glorified breakfast. This might just be the most amazing breakfast you'll have, and a chance to feel "high society" for less than what you spent saturday night on Coronas. Believe me, this place was unbelievable. For the $22 you get 3 courses. The first course was a cheese, meats, and antipasti table. I filled up my plate with a great ceasar salad, some fine Italian salami and pepperoni, and an egg suffle. To this I added some home cooked pastries and bread to go with the 3 types of butter! Yes, 3 types! For my second course I tried the Piadina con Prosciutto Coto, which was a Piadina (kind of pita) filled with cheese, ham, and some out-of-this-world potatoes. Actually I think tasting the potatoes alone is worth the $22. For the 3rd course (dessert table) I tried the tiramisu and a raspberry cake, and both were amazing. Now, the prize really has to go to the Frico. This is the second course that one of my friends ordered. It was a thin crispy tortilla looking thing actually made out of cheese! filled with potatoes, leek, and either eggs or mushrooms. I actually don't know which version she got but it was really amazing. I mean you HAVE TO order this if you go. Just put your diet on pause for one day and enjoy! At the end we all agreed that this was so worth the $22 price. The place was elegant, the food was great, the staff wonderful. One of my favorite places in Pittsburgh and if I were rich it would be there every Sunday morning! But for now I'll settle for the Square Cafe (which I love too). 1400 Smallman St Pittsburgh PA 15222

(412) 552-0150 http://pittsburgh.lidiasitaly.com

La Casa - Another Great Pittsburgh Tapas Bar

2008-01-27T09:13:00.000-06:00

Area: Shadyside
Rating: Monthly Regular (because of cost)
Notes & Summary: Great food, expensive, needs a friendlier hostess.

So I finally got to go to La Casa, a small but super cozy place on Shadyside Ellsworth Ave. The place is ultra romantic, especially if you get one of the nice corner tables. I was initially hesitant about this place since I like Ibiza so much, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food was. The menu is similar to Ibiza but I actually think they have a wider selection, especially of hot tapas. We got the assorted olives, the spicy potatoes on a tomato sauce, the grilled shrimp, the seafood ceviche, and the springrolls (actually called “breouatte” – who knows why, since that is definitely not a Spanish word). I can comment on all the plates except for the olives because I hate olives! But everything else was amazing, specially the potatoes and the spring rolls. The potatoes were just perfectly cooked and spicy enough to give you a kick but without making your nose runny. DATING TIP: Don't get spicy food on a first date. Runny noses are not attractive. The only think I would not get again is the ceviche, mostly because it’s so expensive and I think I would enjoy two other different tapas for the same price. The prices were reasonable for what it is, but in the expensive side. You can expect to pay about $60-$70 for 2 people with one drink each. The only thing that dampened the mood was the hostess. I’m afraid she may be the owner or related to the owner (at least she acted like it) so I’m probably going to get kicked out next time I go there. But she was one of those people who think that because she calls you sweetie and honey she can be a real b…. I mean rude. It wasn’t just with us, but with pretty much everyone there. Just as an example, we asked to take some food we couldn’t finish home, and she REFUSED. Seriously! I’m not kidding. First she gave us this disgusted look like if we were the lamest people she had ever seen, and with a "honey smile" simply said, “I’m sorry we don’t have any bags, boxes, or anything like that.” So we waited a little bit and asked our regular waitress, who gladly took our food and came back with a perfectly wrapped box in a plastic bag. That hostess really needs to keep herself behind the cash register and let the people-person staff work with the customers. Seriously. http://www.casablanca212.com/ 5884 Ellsworth Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15232 (412) 441-3090

Orient Express closed?

2008-01-26T14:19:00.001-06:00

So I just drove by Orient Express on Forbes and Craig (North Oakland) and said "OMG I've been here a dozen times and I'm yet to write a review", then as I got right in front of the door I saw a plywood sheet covering the door and some construction equipment. I couldn't stop to see if there was a sign. If you know what's going on let me know. This was such as great lunch spot with great food. I hope it's just remodeling!

Union Grill Lunch Review – Your mama’s kitchen

2008-01-25T11:41:00.000-06:00

Area: North Oakland
Rating: Monthly Regular
Notes & Summary: Great food, expensive, crowded.

About 4-5 times I’ve been around Craig St. during dinner time and decided to go to Union Grill, only to encounter 25% of the Pittsburgh population who had the same idea. So since I conveniently forgot to bring my lunch today I decided to give them a try for lunch instead. Union Grill is on Craig St, right in the middle of the restaurant strip between Forbes and 5^th. From the outside it looks fancy, like a high end French Bistro, and somehow that’s what I was expecting. But actually the place is too campy and country to be French. Maybe that’s why their slogan is, actually I forgot what it was, but it had something to do with American food. So I sat at the bar and was greeted by a friendly bartender. I ordered the buffalo chicken sandwich with coleslaw, which is a risk because I’m a coleslaw snob. As I waited the place began to get crowded. It was interesting to see the demographics: no students. Instead, the place was packed with young professionals and nerdy professors. I can make fun of nerdy professors because they are my colleagues – not that I’m nerdy at all. Although last week a friend of mine told me that there is no such thing as a non-nerd professor. She should see me at the Matrix. Ok I digressed. The chicken sandwich was outstanding. A very large chicken breast well breaded, spicy, and without the nasty pieces of fat you sometimes get on similar fried chicken sandwiches. It came with blue cheese on the side, which I used all to help with the spiciness. And I loved the coleslaw. I hate when chefs want to reinvent coleslaw and create something that ends up looking and tasting as a Greek salad. I like my coleslaw to resemble as much as possible the tubs you buy at Wal-Mart. And this was just like it, except better, a fine dining version without losing its roots. So I really enjoyed this place and if it wasn’t so expensive I would go there every week. I will post a separate review when I return for dinner. 413 S Craig St Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (412) 681-8620

Panera Bread toasted cinnamon bagel with cream cheese

2008-01-24T11:48:00.000-06:00

So on Sunday I went to Ikea for their great, amazing, out of this world, 99 cent breakfast. But I almost cried when I drove into the parking lot at 9am to see it completely desolated. Are they on Swedish time? Sunday hours 11-9. OMG how disappointing. But I was way too hungry to wait 2 hours so I drove around to find something else and I was so excited to see Panera right next to Walmart.

I know everyone loves Panera and there is really no need to write a review. The place is great, friendly, sophisticated, and cheap for the quality of its food. So I will just simply comment on the toasted cinnamon bagel with cream cheese I got. You will not believe how unbelievably good this tasted. It was crunchy, chewy, soft, salty, sweet, al dente, overwhelmingly please kill me now I'm in heaven! Not even Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor could beat it, and I say that with a straight face and expecting hate mail from my Ann Arbor pals. So if you are ever in Panera for breakfast, try the bagel, it will blow you away.

PS. I read a review at the Post G saying that Camille's sidewalk cafe was great and a true competition to Panera. That guy needs to stop smoking that stuff.

Walnut Grill - I guess

2008-01-22T17:20:00.000-06:00

Area: Shadyside
Rating: Only if your date is gorgeous and wants to eat there
Notes:
Summary: Just didn't do it for me.

Do you know one of those girls (or guys) who "in paper" should be gorgeous? I mean, their noses are the right size, blue eyes, nice lips, nice skin, nice hair, good personality, great body, nice smile… but for some inexplicable reason they can’t even get a 5 on your 10 point scale? I’m sorry but I have to say that the Walnut Grille is that kind of restaurant for me. Everything about this place should make it an ultra cool trendy place. It’s in the best spot of Shadyside, with great views, clean lines, great colors, nice friendly staff, and even a great looking menu. So it’s beyond my small head to explain why it just didn’t do it for me. You know what it felt like… like when your local diner decided to transform itself into a “trendy” restaurant, but when you visit after the transformation you realize it didn’t quite work. Ok, now the food... The first time I went there I got the sirloin sandwich and I have to say it was the most uninspired stake sandwich I’ve ever eaten. It was plain, with little effort to make the flavors work together, almost as if a 19 year old kid opened a ciabatta, threw some pieces of meat, and sent it my way. The second time I got a shrimp pasta and the shrimp were simply overdone. Surprisingly this place has been packed both times I’ve been there, and I wonder if I just had bad luck the two days I visited, or the traffic is mostly day visitors to Shadyside who don’t know any better. I think the owners should to some simple market research and find out what proportion of their clientele are return visitors. And if you have been there and loved your food, please post a comment and let me know! After all, I live a few blocks away and can always use more places to eat, but as I stand right now, I would only go if my date was gorgeous and she really wanted to eat there. 5500 Walnut Street Pittsburgh, PA 15232. 412-688-8220

Ibiza Tapas and Wine Bar

2008-01-20T10:43:00.000-06:00

Area: South Side
Rating: Monthly Regular (mostly due to cost)
Notes: Tapas! Make reservation during peak times
Summary: Trendy, cozy, great food.

I went to Ibiza last night for second time and left liking the place even more. The place is right next to Mallorca on Carson St. and I believe they are both owned by the same people. At night it’s a bit tricky to see since the sign is not well lit and until you are right in front of the window it is difficult to see people inside, so both times I thought the place was closed until I walked in. Now, once you make it inside you will be transported to a super nice and trendy NYC tapas bar, with stylish modern decorations, clean lines, and friendly staff. We didn’t have reservations but we got there early enough that we were seated outside on a great table. OK, it was freezing last night so the idea of seating outside was not that fun, but don’t be afraid. They have done an amazing job transforming the outside patio into a winter proof, very warm (almost hot), and very welcoming place. Although they have a full menu including some main entries (Platos Fuertes) this is a tapas bar so we got tapas. We got 2 tapas per person and this was more than enough for people who eat normal quantities of food. I tasted the traditional bruchetta, the fillet mignon, the fresh tilapia ceviche with avocado, and the Spanish sausage with potatoes. I can tell you that I loved all of them except for the ceviche with avocado, and actually this is the 2nd time I got to try this and I disliked it both time. First the “avocado part” consisted of simply 2 miniature slices of avocado on the side. That’s it. I don’t know why but I really was expecting the avocado to be better incorporated into the ceviche. Then the ceviche was a bit too fishy for my taste, and simply could not compete in flavor with the rest of the tapas, which were just outstanding. I specially recommend you get the fillet mignon with mushroom sauce. It was perfectly cooked, tender, juicy, delicious, and covered with a heavenly sauce and pieces of mushrooms. You can’t miss it. For dessert I tried the crème brulee and well, it was crème brulee… Just as with nutella crepes, how can you go bad with crème brulee? Ibiza is a bit expensive just because eating tapas is expensive. You should expect to pay about 30-40 per person with 1-2 drinks. www.ibizatapasrestaurant.com 2224 E Carson St Pittsburgh, PA 15203. (412) 325-2227

IKEA MEAT BALLS!

2008-01-18T10:50:00.000-06:00

I KNOW, I KNOW! But I love these damn things! So this will be short and sweet. Ikea, the home of everything good, could not let you down with its food. I’ve been known to drive the 25 minutes to Ikea just to get the meatballs by myself for dinner. And it’s ok if you think I’m lame. But once you try them, you’ll understand. Simply the best meatballs you will get anywhere. Next time you go to Ikae don’t skip the meatballs. Take a break from all the shopping and eat them, you wont regret it!

Square Café – my favorite breakfast so far.

2008-01-18T09:39:00.000-06:00

Area: Braddock Ave - Edgewood
Rating: Let’s eat there once a week
Notes: Breakfast, crowded during the weekends.
Summary: amazing!

I dear friend of mine invited me to come over for brunch at the Square Café a couple of Sundays ago. I had never been there although a few people had mentioned it. Parking was a bit tricky but I found some spots a block away on Braddock towards the highway. Once I entered I was very surprised. Despite having the “ugly dinner” lighting, the place had such a great atmosphere. It was clearly the place to go for the local trendy with an edge crowd. Service was excellent. Super friendly and fast despite how packed the place was. I got a side of French Toast and the breakfast sandwich. First, the French toast was utterly amazing! It’s been 3 years since a Greek diner in Ann Arbor that I’ve had such amazing French toast. Just heavy enough without becoming soggy, sweet, creamy, wow I’m getting hungry now! Then the breakfast sandwich was not just any sandwich. They actually make it on a ciabatta that is perfectly toasted on the outside and soft on the inside. With melted cheese, grilled ham, and eggs, this is the most sophisticated breakfast sandwich I’ve ever eaten. Try it! Prices are reasonable but not ultra cheap. But this is far from cheap food so you will not regret coming here. By far my favorite breakfast place so far! 1137 south braddock avenue pittsburgh pennsylvania 15218
t: 412 244 8002 www.square-cafe.com

EatUnique earthy lunches

2008-01-17T11:33:00.000-06:00

Rating: Let’s eat there once a week
Notes: Takes Cards, cheap.
Summary: Great lunch spot.

I can’t believe it took me this long to find this place. I’ve walked by it dozens of times, and once I actually walked in but it was so packed I decided to go to Little Asia instead. But since I began writing this blog I decided I should start trying new places for lunch too. So today I went out into the blizzard and headed directly to this place. The spot is super earthy, nicely yet simply decorated, with ample room to sit (on back) during the crowded lunch hour. It works as a deli in that you order, step aside and wait for your number, and then take your food with you. The attendants were mostly friendly college students wearing some really cool t-shirts (They should sell them). I got a half Ham and Swiss sandwich, a cup of white chili, and a soda for $6. Not bad at all! The sandwich was pretty standard and initially I got concerned when I realized they didn’t put any mayo or other sauce (you need to ask for this explicitly). But then I was pleasantly surprised at how good this plain sandwich tasted. The meats and lettuce and tomatoes were super fresh and blended great with the rye bread. The soup was even better. It was a regular chili but made with white turkey meat, white beans, and green papers. If you get lucky to find a seat at the front check this out: You will see their logo on the window and door but they are facing outward so you will see them from behind (backwards). Try to read the slogan. I don’t know about you but I usually get entertained by stupid stuff like that. So I tried to read it and it took me like 5 minutes to get it. I think it’s the font they use that makes it look like Russian characters when you read it backwards. Ok enough of that. Give this place a try. It’s now one of my favorite lunch spots. Eat Unique. 305 South Craig St. Pittsburgh, PA 15213. 412-683-9993. web.eatunique.us

Kevin's Deli a great lunch alternative

2008-01-16T12:42:00.000-06:00

Rating: Let's eat there every week
Notes: Deli. Takes cards. Open for breakfast and lunch only
Summary: Great food, great people, convenient, a hidden gem!

OK Kevin’s deli is not a restaurant. It’s a tiny deli inside Webster Hall on 5Th and Dithridge, but the food is great and I’m a Kevin’s deli addict. Mostly because I work at Webster Hall and go to the deli a couple of times a day, sometimes for breakfast when I'm late and couldn’t eat at home, sometimes for lunch when I'm too lazy to bring my own, but most times in the middle of the afternoon to get a piece of cake and a diet coke. But each time I love it. There is no place to sit and the place is usually packed 3 deep during lunch time, but Kevin and his assistant roger will always greet you with a smile, agree to any special requests, and if you are nice they will even cut a huge piece of cake for you! The place is really an institution and if you work in the Oakland area you should really come here for lunch sometime. Ok, I have eaten in this place more times I care to admit and I could talk about almost all things in the menu, but I will simply mention a few. If he has chicken noodle soup the day you visit, don’t pass it up! The last time I ate something so good was in college when I was sick and the grandma of my then girlfriend spent 2 hours making me her special chicken noodle soup. Believe me you will love it! The tuna melts are excellent (actually I ate one today) and his chicken hoagies superb. And he always has this pound cake that will add a pound with each piece but it is so worth it! Kevin’s deli is cheap and you can call ahead and order. 412.621.6368. 4415 5th Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15213.

Little Asia is the place for lunch!

2008-01-14T19:53:00.000-06:00

Rating: Let's eat there every week
Notes: Chinese. Takes cards if bill over $10. Cheap for lunch but bring cash.
Summary: Amazing chicken. Amazing chicken. Did I mention amazing chicken.

This is my favorite lunch spot. The place is located inside a little indoor shopping suite on Craig street between Forbes and 5th. The ambiance really depends on whether you sit in the restaurant area, or go to the pick up windows and sit on the hall. The restaurant area is actually very charming, and for some reason it reminds me of a sushi place. Hmm I guess this place does have sushi but I’ve never ordered any there. But if you got to the window for pick up then you really feel you are at the food court of a cheap Outlet Mall. When I sat at the restaurant area the service was very decent, forgettable, which is actually good since we tend to remember more when the service sucks. But the food is anything but forgettable. I eat lunch there at least once a week and by now I can only speak of two plates: Amazing chicken and chicken lo main. Please try one of these if you visit, or better yet try both! The place is actually pretty cheap, except that your better bring cash if you are alone since they accept credit cards only if your bill is over $10. A couple of times I got extra food just to use the card. Address: 301 S Craig St. Pittsburgh, PA 15213. (412) 622-0133

Orient Kitchen & Shrimp with Mayonnaise

2008-01-13T19:27:00.000-06:00

Rating: Let's eat there every week!
Notes: Chinese. Takes Cards. Moderately expensive.
Summary: Yes, this is the place. Just park the car, ignore the street, and walk in! Best Chinese in town.

Ok this place is not getting any stars for ambiance. It’s on probably one of the ugliest streets of Pittsburgh, the sign looks like it hasn’t been changed since 1965, and yes, that’s a strip club next to the gas station. BUT TRUST ME! This place rocks! I live just a couple of blocks away and one day I decided to just go by myself during a Chinese craving attack. Boy am I glad I did! As soon as I walked inside I knew I was in for a treat. The place was packed. But not just packed. It was packed with Chinese customers! That’s when you know this place is good. The service was standard, with one person struggling to attend to the packed place. But the food… wow, by far the best Chinese in town. I got a spring roll, which was decent, but this was followed by the house fried rice and moo shu chicken, which were both superb! I came back on a different day for take out and, after reading a review at a local newspaper site, I decided to be brave and order “Shrimp with Mayonnaise!” It was simply a shrimp dish with a creamy sauce and I was rewarded for the courage it took to order it. It was delicious! The prices are slightly above average for a Chinese restaurant, but this is a class apart any other Chinese restaurant in town. Address