Walnut Grill

 I just got back from having dinner at the Walnut Grill in Shadyside (on
 Bellefonte Street at Walnut.)  I had some fellow college friends from out of
 town (Baltimore) visit, and I had chosen the Thai Place as the place to eat,
 but they opted instead for the Grill, despite it being a place typically at
 the limit of a college student's budget.

 Seating was, surprisingly, prompt - especially 6:30 PM.  There was only one
 couple ahead of us (we were 4).  We were seated within two minutes.  The
 decor was somewhat eclectic, but tasteful and it seemed to fit their menu,
 especially the big metal bull-head sculpture.  While dining, I noticed that
 they tend to rearrange the tables a lot as people come and go, while
 cleaning them.  It kept things interesting and seemed to speed up the
 operation of the place.

 The menu was a little sparce on the choices for meals, but a good choice of
 appetizers more than made up for it.  The drink menu was perfect.  It was
 full, varied and contained items to complement any of the meals -- without
 having too many choices.  A list of the non-alcoholic beverages on the menu
 would have been handy, however.  We had to ask the waiter what was available
 (Coke products, Dr. Pepper and bar stock mixers & juices).  Although we
 didn't get any wines with the meal, I noticed my fellow diners commenting
 positively on theirs.

 The staff, although good-looking and varied, is a little weaker than some
 other places, I thought.  Our server only set the table for three, so we
 later had to ask for another setting.  Also, it took quite a few moments for
 the waiter to remember what the night's vegetables were.  Customizing your
 choices was easily (note the standard $1 extra for cheese), perhaps too easy
 though.  The grilled chicken sandwiches that two of my companions ordered
 unannouncedly came dry, because they hadn't explicitly stated mayonnaise.
 It was easy to ask for some though.  Drink refills were prompt on an empty
 glass.

 The food got mixed opinions.  One friend got some french onion soup as an
 appetizer.  She enjoyed it, and said it was good (and the cup was very
 big!).  I noticed that it was a little sparing on the cheese, though.  (Then
 again, I typically compare french onion soup to what I had had in
 restaurantes in Quebec city.)  The grilled chicken, once it was hydrated
 with some mayonnaise, seemed fine to her, and the plate was filling.
 Another friend got the angus burger, and she loved it; I don't think there
 was but a single crumb left on her plate.  I ordered the veal meatloaf.  It
 was one of the best meatloaves I've had in a restaurante.  (That's my
 typical order -- I'm trying to find one that I can say is better than my
 mother's and have not yet succeeded.  The one that came closest is at a
 truck stop just outside of Cleveland in Geneva, OH.)  There were four large
 slices, each nicely grilled dark.  It tasted to me like they were grilled
 with bourbon a little bit, but I didn't get that 'bitter' taste like I often
 do from such things.  They cut easily and were consistent throughout -- and
 tasted good!  The sides were average.  The vegetable medley of green beans,
 carots and two kinds of squash was barely warm on delivery, and was cold
 after only a couple bites.  There was nothing special done to it, just
 steamed veggies.  The mashed potato was better.  They leave the skin in when
 they do the mashing, and I believe there was some garlic in it.  The portion
 of gravy on the plate was very small, especially for a meat loaf meal, where
 the gravy goes on both.

 All-in-all, it was a good experience.  Everyone left full, and it was around
 $50 for the four of us to eat.

 -MqsTout