Blog Archives
When I went to Rock Bottom, I didn’t know what to make of the restaurant. Is it American food? Mexican? European? There are no defining characteristics on the menu (or in the décor) that can help with this conundrum. After eating at the restaurant, I did some research. Rock Bottom is considered to be a brewery first, serving “American style” food.
Italian food is one of my favorites, right behind Mexican and Thai. It’s not easy to find an authentic Italian restaurant in Pittsburgh. I’ve tried several Italian bistros over the past few years, some good, and some not so good. One of the better Italian restaurants in the city is Bravo Cucina Italiana, at the Waterfront.
’ve been an ice cream fan for some time now. Heavy cream, sugar, and chocolate…what’s not to like? Not all ice creams are created equal. Some have little flavor, and bad texture. Some use chemical fillers, and have gooey chunks of candy in them. In my opinion, here are a few things that make quality ice cream. First of all, the percentage of butterfat superiority- the higher the butterfat content, the better the flavor. Secondly, the density of the ice cream also determines quality. The less air in the product, the better ice cream you’re going to have. This being said, I’ve been in search for the perfect scoop of ice cream for a while now.
Nestled off the beaten path in Moon Township, there’s an exceptional place to eat- The Hyeholde Restaurant. What makes this such an extraordinary place to dine (besides the food) is the atmosphere. Hyeholde has been around since 1938, and has a rich and colorful history (read all about it at hyeholde.com). On this particular spring evening we arrived at 6pm; there were 20 of us. I was immediately taken with the grandness of the structure. The building in which the restaurant is situated is truly majestic. The house/castle is old, and adorned with most of its original materials, inside and out. As I waited outside for the remaining guests to arrive, I was surprised that this restaurant was situated in such a rural area.
When I stepped into Shogun Japanese Steakhouse, it was if I was stepping back in time; not. Shogun in Monroeville is a nice restaurant, but it’s far from truly authentic Japanese cuisine, and that’s just fine. I imagine that the folks who choose to have dinner at Shogun aren’t concerned primarily with the food, but are more interested in the theatrics that accompany the food. As much as it is a restaurant, Shogun is a theatre of sorts, with experienced chefs who put on a skilled show at your table.
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.
