I just wanted to share one of the most pleasant dining experiences I've ever had. My wife and I were looking for a nice place to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary, and a friend suggested the Lavender Hill Herb Shop and Tea Garden (or is it Herb garden and Tea Shop? Dislexia is a disease horrible). So we went :) Lavender Hill is actually two rooms of a huge red brick farm house On Saltsburg road near Alcoma Golf Club. We parked in the back ad walked around the house, taking in the smells of the herbs that are planted along the walk. The dining rooms themselves were the old living room and dining room of the house. The ambiance was that of a bed and breakfast that you might see in Cape May, with flower print wallpaper and beautiful oak furniture. We were seated in the front room (holds 16 for dinner). The back room probably seats around 12. (oh, btw: it's byob). When we arrived, our table was already prepared, including a carafe of ice water and crackers with herb cheese pate and smoked salmon pate. The owner greeted us, and introduced us to our waiter. It was a very nice touch that made us feel welcolmed. Their menu changes every week, and this week was very impressive. My wife started with an eggplant ravioli in a pesto cream sauce. I had never seen purple ravioli before, and the contrast with the pesto cream sauce was striking. I had a seafood newberg (sp?) served with a puff pastry. Given the fact that they serve healthy, low-fat foods, I was a bit nervous about this usually rich dish. However, it and the eggplant ravioli were outstanding. The salads were absolutely breathtaking. I counted 10 different greens, the only of which I recognized was dandelion. It was almost too pretty to eat. My wife ordered a poppyseed dressing, which she liked. My vinagrette was just as good. I'd love to know what olive oil they used. My main course was chicken kirch (spelling?). It was chicken breast stuffed with marble rye, pecans, cherries, and taragon. The chicken was sliced into medallions and served over a cream sauce infused with kirchwasser. The flavors were delicate and worked well together. My wife had a steak dish (I wish I could remember the name of it). It was fillet mignon sliced into medallions about 1/2 inch thick, infused with whole black, white, and green peppercorns, and grilled. It was served over a cracked mustard seed cream sauce. The fillet was so big that my wife couldn't finish it, so of course I helped her (let no steak go to waste!). I'm glad I waited until I finished mine to help her, because the peppercorns would have overpowered the delicate flavors of my dinner. Their coffee was excellent, as were their desserts. Friends of ours surprised us by calling ahead and ordering dessert for us (thank you Tori and Izzy). They put together a sample platter of all their desserts for the night, half of each regular dessert for each of us. They served peach Bavarian (not terribly impressive, but I had never had it before, so I have nothing to compare it to), creme caramel (outSTANDing), and a chocolate truffle tart (a tiny sliver was all I could eat... I've never tasted to rich a dessert in all my life). So, all around it was a wonderful dining experience, and not terribly pricey (with tip we were around $60). If you are a fan of bed and breakfasts and Cape May, then you'd love it. We were so impressed that we've already made reservations for my mother-in-law's birthday (although it's too good for a mother-in-law *wink*). If you're going to go, though, book early. They do a lot of rehearsal dinners and anniversary parties, so some nights are completely booked. If anyone else has eaten there, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the place :)
Pittsburgh, PA
Lavender Hill
In article , [email removed] (Glenn J Ponas) wrote: > I just wanted to share one of the most pleasant dining experiences I've > ever had. My wife and I were looking for a nice place to celebrate our > 5th wedding anniversary, and a friend suggested the Lavender Hill Herb > Shop and Tea Garden (or is it Herb garden and Tea Shop? Dislexia is a > disease horrible). So we went :) > > Lavender Hill is actually two rooms of a huge red brick farm house On > Saltsburg road near Alcoma Golf Club. We parked in the back ad walked > around the house, taking in the smells of the herbs that are planted > along the walk. The dining rooms themselves were the old living room and > dining room of the house. The ambiance was that of a bed and breakfast > that you might see in Cape May, with flower print wallpaper and beautiful > oak furniture. We were seated in the front room (holds 16 for dinner). > The back room probably seats around 12. (oh, btw: it's byob). > > When we arrived, our table was already prepared, including a carafe of > ice water and crackers with herb cheese pate and smoked salmon pate. The > owner greeted us, and introduced us to our waiter. It was a very nice > touch that made us feel welcolmed. > > Their menu changes every week, and this week was very impressive. My wife > started with an eggplant ravioli in a pesto cream sauce. I had never seen > purple ravioli before, and the contrast with the pesto cream sauce was > striking. I had a seafood newberg (sp?) served with a puff pastry. Given > the fact that they serve healthy, low-fat foods, I was a bit nervous about > this usually rich dish. However, it and the eggplant ravioli were > outstanding. > > The salads were absolutely breathtaking. I counted 10 different greens, > the only of which I recognized was dandelion. It was almost too pretty > to eat. My wife ordered a poppyseed dressing, which she liked. My > vinagrette was just as good. I'd love to know what olive oil they used. > > My main course was chicken kirch (spelling?). It was chicken breast > stuffed with marble rye, pecans, cherries, and taragon. The chicken was > sliced into medallions and served over a cream sauce infused with > kirchwasser. The flavors were delicate and worked well together. My > wife had a steak dish (I wish I could remember the name of it). It was > fillet mignon sliced into medallions about 1/2 inch thick, infused with > whole black, white, and green peppercorns, and grilled. It was served > over a cracked mustard seed cream sauce. The fillet was so big that my > wife couldn't finish it, so of course I helped her (let no steak go to > waste!). I'm glad I waited until I finished mine to help her, because > the peppercorns would have overpowered the delicate flavors of my dinner. > > Their coffee was excellent, as were their desserts. Friends of ours > surprised us by calling ahead and ordering dessert for us (thank you Tori > and Izzy). They put together a sample platter of all their desserts for > the night, half of each regular dessert for each of us. They served > peach Bavarian (not terribly impressive, but I had never had it before, > so I have nothing to compare it to), creme caramel (outSTANDing), and a > chocolate truffle tart (a tiny sliver was all I could eat... I've never > tasted to rich a dessert in all my life). > > So, all around it was a wonderful dining experience, and not terribly > pricey (with tip we were around $60). If you are a fan of bed and > breakfasts and Cape May, then you'd love it. We were so impressed that > we've already made reservations for my mother-in-law's birthday (although > it's too good for a mother-in-law *wink*). If you're going to go, > though, book early. They do a lot of rehearsal dinners and anniversary > parties, so some nights are completely booked. > > If anyone else has eaten there, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the > place :) > > > -- > Glenn J. Ponas E-mail: [email removed] > Pittsburgh Public Schools Phone: (412) 323-3405 > Perry Traditional Academy > 3785 Perrysville Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15214 Ed.D. Student in math ed I attended a bridal shower at Lavender Hill. It was wonderful! The opening of gifts was done upstairs and a high-noon tea followed downstairs in the front dining room. The food was lucious. We even chose our tea flavor. I intend to take anyone who is very special to me there for a real treat. I live in the south hills--travel time was about 40 min. and well worth it. Susan Startari West Jefferson Hills