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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.
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.
I don’t eat much steak, but when I do, I like a good one. Sometimes you can get a good steak at a regular restaurant, but you will usually need to go to a specialty steak house to get an exceptional steak. Morton’s Steak House is such a place. They serve Prime, USDA Steaks; good cuts of meat, with the appropriate amount or marbling.
We stopped In Morton’s one Thursday evening after work.
Lettuce Wraps. They come from all over for the lettuce wraps, and Chinese food. The crowds are a-plenty at PF Chang’s. If you plan on coming during the weekend, make a reservation, or you could be in for a long wait. What makes PF Chang’s the most successful and highest grossing restaurant at the Waterfront? Several things. Firstly, the service is close to impeccable. When you walk in the door, a hostess smiles, and takes your name. They’re cordial, sincere, and capable. If you have a special need, or require special service, they can make it happen without running to a manager.
French Fries in a salad? Yeah, you heard me…fries and greens. Shortly after I moved to Pittsburgh, I ordered a grilled chicken salad, and it came with gobs of cheese and French fries. It seemed odd to me, I mean, don’t the fries cancel out the health benefits of the mixed greens? Well, I’m not sure, but it sure tastes good- especially with extra ranch dressing. One such restaurant that specializes in the French fry-salad combo is Dunning’s in Regent Square. It’s a family-friendly restaurant that has been around for the past 20 years. Dunning’s food is straightforward; no complicated sauces, expensive cuts of veal, or white tablecloths. What they do have is good burgers, grilled chicken dishes and salads with French fries.
It’s been a long and arduous winter. The snow was unrelenting, and the temperatures were well below freezing for several weeks. Three days ago it was 60 degrees; the sun was shining, and I had my windows open to let in the fresh spring air. I was driving through Squirrel Hill (on Forbes Avenue), and noticed Rita’s on my left.
My first visit to Mallorca was 10 years ago, and it was quite memorable. My cousins and I decided to try out the Spanish restaurant on a Friday night; without a reservation. We arrived at 7pm sharp, and the place was buzzing. The bar was full, and every seat in the joint was packed with hungry foodies. The two of us decided to wait (we had heard such good things) and didn’t want to chance going somewhere else.
