Based on a recent laudatory review (which I read with a jaded eye like some of the other readers who've commented on it), I decided to try Cafe Photo Forum again. I've eaten there 3 or 4 times over the past six months or so and have been a bit underwhelmed, but I decided to give it one last shot. (On a prior occasion, I had salade nicoise that was fine but the service was slow, and several other times I had quiche which took an awfully long time to come and wasn't fully heated through). In any event, I was pleasantly surprised, overall, and will certainly be going back again. I did made the mistake of going when I was very hungry. It took ten minutes to get a menu, another ten for the waitress to take my order, and then another 15 for my soup to arrive. At this point I was beginning to kick myself for taking a chance. Fortunately, the rest of the meal was uphill. The soup was a "seafood soup provencale" and was excellent. It was just the right temperature, was very flavorful with lots of fresh seafood, tomato and other veggies, chunks of potato that were just the right consistency indicating that it had obviously been prepared (at least in part) to order. It was a great deal at $1.95. While I was eating the soup, free glasses of red and white French wine were offered up around the house (apparently in honor of Friday night jazz). I chose the white which was a French table wine (blend) but excellent, quite fruity but dry. For an entree I had the "Crab Forum" ($8.95), a casserole of crab meet in a cream and cheese sauce with an herbed breadcrumb topping. It was very tasty and served piping hot; perhaps a tiny bit sweet for my taste but that's clearly a matter of opinion. (I had to ask for bread to go with it, and was brought a whole wheat roll which didn't quite fit, but apparently it normally comes with croutons that were omitted inadvertently). It was preceded by tasty house salad (included) of very fresh mesclun greens, tomato slices and herbed croutons, dressed with a very good champagne vinagrette. While munching on the entree, another round of wine was offered around the house (!). Although I was going to skip dessert, I felt so guilty for accepting 2 glasses of free wine (especially at the very reasonable food prices) that I ordered a decaf cappucino ($1.95) and a slice of Opera cake ($2.95, I think). The cap was slightly on the weak and tepid side but it was twice the size of the usual Shadyside cap, and had a great head on it. The Opera cake was truly wicked (*licks chops*) and to rub in the insult to my coronary arteries, it was served with whipped cream (and a fresh strawberry garnish). Dinner was accompanied by live jazz from "Don Alico" (a flute/saxophone and piano duo). The guy on reeds (Don Alico, I presume) was excellent; the pianist had a bit of a clumsy right hand but that was easily forgiven as he was otherwise quite talented and jived well with his partner. A little while later they were joined (apparently impromptu) by some guy in computer science at CMU who moonlights on the flugel horn. He was quite good too. I talked to the manager (Carol, who apparently used to work at Poli's and Cafe Flora), who is very friendly and seems to welcome suggestions and feedback. Apparently the jazz is only on Friday nights. They've applied for a liquor license and it's BYOB until then. They are getting a new chef in the New Year who has some pretty impressive credentials and I imagine the menu, which is fairly limited at this point (3 salads, 2 soups, 3 sandwiches, 4 entrees, a handful of desserts) will expand then. Business is on the slow side because it's located a bit off the beaten track on Ellsworth (near the busway, a few blocks from the place where Ellsworth turns into Ravenna, a block or so from La Charcuterie/the Saybrook Fish House/the Japanese grocery). Although I wouldn't plan on a quick dinner (the service, though very friendly and polite, is on the slow side, compared to my usual favorite haunts), I'd recommend giving it a try if you want a light supper or a multi-course meal in a very pleasant atmosphere where you can here yourself think. Where else in Shadyside can you get this kind of price/quality ratio and even hear some live jazz (especially now that the Balcony's closing), surrounded by interesting photographs? There are still some kinks but the management seems very serious about trying to make a go of it. I think it would be a real shame if they didn't get enough business to keep the place going until they have a chance to fine-tune things. Cafe Photo Forum is very "Manhattan" and -- even if a bit self-consciously so -- in my opinion, Pittsburgh could use more places like this. - Bob
Pittsburgh, PA