For those of you who are looking for excellent food & service, and for whom money is not an object, try The Common Plea. It's located Downtown, at 308 Ross Street (you can see the courthouse from there), next to Mitchell's (i think). It doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside... The atmosphere is decidedly, ah, lawyerish? upper crust? old-fashioned? i'm not sure what the proper word is to describe lots of dark cherry paneling, crisp heavy linen tablecloths, and that sort of hushed atmosphere that you don't find in most places... As the name may indicate, the restaurant caters to the legal profession. The menu looks like a summons, for example. You can order the full-course meal (which means you'll eat till you feel like you're gonna burst!), or the abbreviated version (i haven't actually tried that). Expect to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 per person for the full course, especially if one of you gets the New York Strip Steak! This restaurant has the best service i've ever experienced in pittsburgh, bar none. The waitstaff is thoroughly professional yet friendly. This is one of those places where you *never* sit looking at your used plate upon finishing an item! My sweetheart and i went there on valentine's day. He had the N.Y. Strip, which he raved about (quite thick & juicy). He said that it was done to perfection (he's quite picky about the distinctions between rare, med. rare, and medium, as are most steak fans), and well worth the price. I had the veal romano, which was scrumptious. Not greasy, not like some pre-made, frozen veal patty, which is all too often what is served as "veal romano" in some restaurants. The appetizers/soup/salad were equally marvelous, and dessert (usually a choice of fresh fruits) is included as well. Expect to waddle to your car. Fortunately, they have valet parking! This is THE place where i would take someone that i needed to impress-- whether they be business associates, friends from out of town, or future in-laws. The ambience is such that you can carry on a conversation comfortably without having to shout. And the beauty of it: you don't have to be dressed to the teeth to get served. I wouldn't go in cutoffs & a tee shirt, but there were plenty of people there in just shirts & slacks (not suits) or what most folks would consider work attire. Unfortunately, we can only afford to go there about once a year. But that once is an occasion, and well worth it. I can hardly wait for next v-day! Plan to spend several hours eating, if you go. happy eating, --diva
Pittsburgh, PA