So, Monday night when I walked into The 61c Cafe, I fell in love. Immediately, I felt like I was home. Even though I was on a familiar street in familiar Squirrel Hill, I think that with little effort I could have convinced myself I was in another country far away. And I loved that.

I’ve heard nothing but raves about the burgers at Eleven in the Strip, so a trip to a member of the Big Burrito restaurant group was in order. We decided to go informal and sit in the bar. As we entered, I noticed that the entire establishment was very dark. We were greeted by a very kind hostess who escorted us to the bar area. There were high top tables and some very comfortable looking plush chairs situated right by the windows. We pushed two high tops together to accommodate our group of six.

A while back, I reviewed Pamela’s, a trendy breakfast joint in Shadyside. Although Pamela’s has a great reputation, I was disappointed. As a follow-up, I’d like to introduce you to a diner that I do love. It’s called Eggs R Us, but please forgive it’s ridiculous name. The breakfast speaks for itself.

Those of you familiar with Squirrel Hill have undoubtedly witnessed this fight before. It’s a fight that goes back for years and years. Many people have put their own taste-buds to the test in this age old question. Those of you who are unfamiliar with these neighborhood pizzerias, well, you’re also in for a treat. Because tonight I will find out for myself which of these landmark Squirrel Hill pizza joints really is the Best of Murray Avenue.

I’ve had my fair share of subs. This isn’t something I’m proud of, it’s merely a fact. I’ve traveled through Oakland, most of the East Suburbs, Downtown, and Monroeville. Of all the sandwiches I’ve enjoyed over the years, some of my favorites are being made at Uncle Sam’s Subs, in Squirrel Hill. Uncle Sam’s Subs has a wide variety of selections that can be seen on their wall-mounted menu. Among some of the offerings are: The Mediterranean ($4.15), zucchini, tomatoes, grilled onions, black olives, cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce, The Roma Vegetable Sub ($4.15), broccoli, green beans, mushrooms, zucchini, and sweet peppers, The Vegetable Florentine ($4.15), spinach, sweet peppers and fontina cheese. If you’re more of a carnivore, you can go for the Steak Sub ($4.05), The Cheese-Steak Sub ($4.30), The Pepper Mushroom Steak Sandwich ($4.65), Steak and Egg Sub ($4.30), Capicolla and Cheese Sub ($4.15), or the Chicken Cheese Steak ($4.65). Although all of the sandwiches are good, I always opt for the “Ultras.” These are pretty much the same sandwiches as above, but with extra everything! Extra meat, cheese, toppings=extra YUM. All of the sandwiches are prepared in front of you, on a flat grill. The steak, chicken, or other protein is grilled, cheese melted, then the sandwich is built…fresh and tasty! You can choose between regular or whole wheat bread for your sandwich. I recommend the whole wheat- it has a hearty texture and great flavor. It also helps me rationalize ingesting a few thousand calories at one sitting. One more thing…the fries…oh the fries…they’re crisp, salty, and starchy; a must if you’re ordering one of these colossal sandwiches. Uncle Sam’s Subs also offers a wide variety of domestic and imported beers.

Willow describes itself as a restaurant that serves “contemporary American” cuisine. While I’m not sure exactly what that means, I do know one thing–It’s darned tasty.

With nine different dining rooms, you can have a different visual experience each time you visit. On my most recent lunch visit, I was seated with my family of four in a room surrounded by comfy looking couches and a fireplace. With only two other groups of diners in the same area, it felt like we were lounging in a swanky lodge, après skiing.

Have you ever been to dinner in a palatial restaurant that was once a church? Well, that’s what you will find if you choose to have dinner at Church Brew Works. Besides having good food, Church Brew Works brews, and serves its own beers.

It’s hard to believe that a building so vast could house a restaurant, but it does. One of the first times I had dinner at Church Brew Works, I remember entering the parking lot and seeing something peculiar. There were people standing in the parking lot, looking up. A large collection of bats were circling the top of the church, hundreds of bats, it was creepy. Maybe the bats knew something we didn’t.

Char-grilled burgers, big ones, that’s what you’ll find at Tessaro’s in Bloomefield. Besides having great hamburgers, Tessaro’s has a rich history. It’s been around for years, and has enjoyed continued success. The continued success can be attributed to the atmosphere, wood- grilled food, and the wait staff, many of whom who have been around for years.

After attending an event in the city a few months ago, some friends and I decided to try Tamari in Lawrenceville for some food and wine. We had heard good things, and were looking forward to relaxing, and trying the relatively new restaurant. Tamari is not a large establishment; it probably seats 50 people, maybe 20 more during the warm summer months when the patio is open. The interior of the restaurant is contemporary; the lines flow smoothly and the colors are engaging. The streamlined bar was full of dinner guests enjoying appetizers and colorful martinis.

When I moved to Pittsburgh, my new friends encouraged me to visit The Original Hot Dog Shop. “They have the best hot dogs in town,” they kept telling me. I had yet to explore the city, so I went for a ride. After zigzagging through Oakland, I finally came upon the “O”. “So, this is the famous Hot Dog shop that I’ve been hearing about,” I thought to myself. I was impressed. The façade of the restaurant was bejeweled with various neon lights and signs. Once inside I was amazed at the baskets upon baskets of French fries being plunged into hot oil, and what seemed to be hundreds of hot dogs on the grill. Cheese sauce was flying everywhere; on dogs, cheese steaks, and fries- cheese is popular in Pittsburgh.