Ahmed A. wrote: > We'll be visiting Pittsburgh for a weekend. Does anyone have any > suggestions of a good place to eat. My defenition of "good" is: > Tasfull food, well prepared, presentation, service, good decor > and a nice location with some scenery (if applicable!). > Is there a claim to fame that Pittsbirgh has in any "specialty > food"? > I tried to e-mail, but couldn't get through... Pittsburgh is my hometown, although I'm in Northern CA now. If I could go to dinner there tonight, I'd check out one of the following : La Foret (French/"California" cuisine) in the east end of the city, about $30 a person, elegant. quiet, truly outstanding; Mallorca (Spanish), in the Southside on Carson Street, $15 a head, gets a little crowded but garlic chicken and paella to die for; Cafe Giovanni (Italian), on Walnut Street in Shadyside, beautiful atmosphere, often live music, $15-20 a person Primadonna (Italian) in McKees Rocks ($10-17) a head. Bargains like this place just can't be found in other "big" cities. The food is super, the staff top-notch, and the owner even comes over to talk to you! Cafe Allegro (Califonia Cuisine) in Southside ($15-20) very fresh, awesome desserts, elegant. I'd avoid the restaurants with views, (Le Mont, Christopher's, Tin Angel, et al) which are located on Mt. Washington. They are, as a rule, overpriced tourist traps. Instead, have dinner at one of the places above and then motor over to Station Square (across Smithfield Street Bridge from Downtown district), have a drink at the Gandy Dancer saloon, and then take the incline up Mt. Washington to see the view without paying the price of a mediocre meal. Pgh. is well-known for two places to eat--both are pits, popular with everyone from yuppies to students to truckers, but YUMMY and if you feel like shooting your cholesterol count through the roof, try: The Original (Oakland) ($3-6) located betwixt and between the several Universities, Colleges and Hospitals is this hot dog and cheese fries heaven. The Fries are what keep people coming in. I think they use 10,000 pounds of potatoes a week. you shouldn't go there too late at night unless you don't mind rowdy, loud drunks. Primanti Brothers (Strip District) ($4-7) open all night and famous for their sandwiches, which have the fries and delicious vinegary coleslaw slapped right on 'em. I LOVE their tuna sandwiches! Don't ask the counter people for your fries on the side, though, they get hostile. Happy eating--I'm jealous! The combination of great food, great price that you'll find at these places is hard to beat--I know I'm paying a lot more, sometimes for less, here in CA. Marcy P.S: If you need any more info, please feel free to e-mail.
Pittsburgh, PA