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Rivertowne Pub & Grill, North Huntingdon, PA

jlandefeld — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:06:02 +0000

PA Rt. 30 commuters may be familiar with this Rivertowne location, just inside the Westmoreland County line. The Pub & Grille, one of three Rivertowne locations, has a lot to offer with a wide selection of appetizers and a nice variety of beer on tap and bottled. Some of the best spinach & artichoke dip you will find in the Pittsburgh area can be had here.

The menu is broad and eclectic. You can find something for nearly every taste and they are equally good for lunch or dinner. They have a nice assortment of children’s selections on their menu as well. There is pizza with amusing river themed names as well as sandwiches, vegetarian selections and full dinners. So, whatever your preference, you will likely find something to suit you.

The prices on appetizers during Happy Hour can’t be beat! Our last visit in late July turned out making it out from the city and arriving while it was still Happy Hour with 1/2 price appetizers. You can easily make a meal out of 2 or 3 of their generous appetizer portions and it won’t kill your budget.

Bucket of Shrimp

We’ve enjoyed appetizers (vegetarian ones as well), wraps, burgers, and buckets — yes, they are literally buckets — of shrimp and fries, wings and fries, fish and chips. Great finger food, well prepared. The salads are huge as are most of the sandwiches. Come prepared with a hearty appetite.

The atmosphere is that of a well-worn local haunt, which only adds to the charm. There are flat screens around the dining area for those who what to keep up with the sports scene but it isn’t overwhelming. There are also pool tables and a full bar if you want to gather a group of friends for an evening out for good beer, conversation and a game of pool.

It does get a bit packed at times during Penguins or Steelers games. There’s a nice enclosed outdoor deck that allows you to escape the crowds when the weather is nice. They have specials and events throughout the year. It’s best to check their web site for that information to be up-to-date.

Prices range from $4.95 appetizers to $19.95 for a bucket with a whole pound of steamed crab legs. Appetizers at 1/2 price during Happy Hour (subject to change without notice).

You should consider checking out their other locations as well — one might be more convenient for you. We’ve enjoyed very good beer at the Pour House, in Monroeville, PA, where they have 14-18 styles of beer on tap. We haven’t tried the Rivertowne Inn in Verona, PA but with the same menu on offer I’m certain you will find something to enjoy there as well.

Hours: 11 am – 2 am (kitchen closes at 1:30 am)

Rivertowne Pub & Grille
14860 Route 30
North Huntingdon, PA 15642
412-823-2239

Max & Erma’s Pittsburgh, PA

JHoutz — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:50:15 +0000

I regularly visit Max & Erma’s for lunch on the days that I find myself working from home. While being a national chain, each restaurant has it’s own “hometown feel” and offers specials and promotions that aren’t available nationwide.

Both their lunch and dinner menus offer a wide variety of salads, appetizers, sandwiches and entrees. The restaurant is well known for their burgers and warm chocolate chip cookies. They even have a customer loyalty card, called “Good Neighbors Rewards”. It allows you to save money on every visit, as well as receive special promotions throughout the year. It’s free to join and can be used at any Max and Erma’s.

My regular lunchtime item has been the “Erma Combo” ; it includes a cup of soup, a 6 oz. cheeseburger with seasoned fries (or hamburger in my case), and a warm chocolate chip cookie all for $8.99.

On my recent visit, I requested Amber, who is extremely nice and a great waitress. Amber remembered what I like to drink- ice tea, half raspberry/half unsweetened, and she remembered my milk allergy. Definitely ask for her during lunch if you’re at the Greentree (Manor Oak Plaza) location. She was sweet enough to substitute a salad in place of the soup for me and every course of my lunch was timed perfectly. The 6 ounce burger is a perfect size for lunch fare, however a 10 ounce option is available, if you have a heartier appetite. Other notable things about the restaurant include: FREE cookies on your birthday! You can choose chocolate chip, white chocolate macadamia nut or a mixture of both. They serve you half a dozen warm cookies right out of the oven. They do take about 10 minutes to bake, so be sure to plan ahead if you’re going to indulge. For the kids, or the “kid at heart” there’s a sundae dessert bar, Tuesday nights at the Greentree location are fun filled with a magician roaming the tables during dinner, and there’s the ever-popular Sunday brunch. The Easter Bunny and Santa Claus are even known to make appearances on their special days.

The website has a location finder so that you are able to find the Max & Erma’s closest to you.

The Hop House, Pittsburgh PA

jmalecki — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:23:42 +0000

For something different, I decided to stop for dinner at The Hop House located on Babcock Boulevard in the North Hills (they also have a Greentree location on Noblestown Road). Many Pittsburghers may know of the North Hills location by its former name, the Barking Shark.

The Hop House has a fairly large bar with several flat panel TVs and table and booth seating as well. They also have a few arcade/video games and a pool table for those who like some games with their drinks. One of the downsides (at least for me) of this place is that they operate primarily as a bar, so they are still a smoking-friendly establishment. (On a related note, The Hop House’s website and signs on the doors state that as per the PA Indoor Clear Air Act, patrons must be 18 or over with a parent or legal guardian.) Based upon the fact that they serve more drinks than food, I was surprised at how extensive their dinner menu was. Plus, almost every single item on the menu was under $10! The food choices ranged from tasty appetizers and pizzas to burgers, salads, and “comfort foods“. I started with the Onion Straws as an appetizer, which was served with a tangy honey mustard-like sauce. They were delicious and not too greasy. For my entree, I decided to take a gamble and order the Ahi Tuna Entree (ahi tuna with a coconut and sesame seed crust) and my dinner companion ordered the Hop Along Burger (a juicy 1/2 pound burger topped with melted cheese, caramelized onions, and mushrooms) – which looked delicious by the way, if I was a burger kind of gal. I bet I know what you’re thinking – ordering ahi tuna, at a bar?!? It was worth the chance – it tasted great and I thought the coconut was a nice touch to give it a little sweetness. Most of the entrees also come with a choice of two side dishes (mashed potatoes, veggies, rice, fresh fruit, fries, etc), so you definitely get your money’s worth. We couldn’t even finish our whole plates.

Since The Hop House is known mainly for their beer selection, on the menu they have indicated their beer suggestions to go with some of the entrees. They have a pretty long draught list (I counted about 26) and a variety of specialty beers, too. There are daily happy hour specials and each night has a different beer special, which is indicated on their website. Wednesday is 15 cent wing night – you can’t beat a deal like that.

The Ross Township location has a big parking lot next door with free parking (this is a major improvement from the lack of parking back when it was the Barking Shark) and the Greentree location has free parking as well as outdoor seating. The Greentree location also plays host to popular local bands on a weekly basis; the schedule is on the website.

I did notice after I left that I was charged for an iced tea when I only had a water, but I’m not one to make a fuss over something little like that. Despite the mistake on the bill, the total came to under $30 for an appetizer and two entrees. I’d definitely like to go back to try some of their other entrees and sample some beer.

The Hop House – www.thehophouse.com

Greentree location – 2749 Noblestown Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, 412-922-9560

Ross Township location- 5510 Babcock Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, 412-366-3606

Oishii Bento, Pittsburgh Pa

dhumaigobae — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:42:08 +0000

I’ve passed Oishii Bento (the yummy lunchbox) hundreds of times and not gone in but I finally managed to find them not crammed full of students and popped in the other day for bento http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bento .

Actually something had my mind on bento all day so I had already printed out their menu at http://www.oishiibento.com so I could get in and out with my Spicy Pork Bulgogi Bento. Additionally, the website is as clean and friendly as the restaurant- something you don’t always experience.

I was delighted to find the restaurant clean and airy with window seating and plenty of traditional yet modern Japanese decorations you’d find in the home. The staff was pleasant, polite and quick and it took about 5 minutes for my order, totalling $7.40-something. I ended up having to walk across Oakland to get a 40 minute bus home so it’s a good thing I ordered bento, which is one of the most portable dishes on earth. Well-packed, it survived the trip with the miso soup unscathed in its styrofoam bowl and everything at exactly the right temperature- no reheats.

So here’s what you get: my bento had a choise of soup or salad and I took soup. A generous portion (I’m having the rest today for lunch) of spicy pork and steamed rice w/sesame seed, 2 potstickers, a cold rice salad, miso soup and kimchee. The pork wasn’t as spicy as I was anticipating but the flavour was nice and complex and I’m not a fan of mushrooms but they were blended into the dish quite well. I’ll never turn down a potsticker (excuse my American english, I’m not even sure what these were called besides yummy) and I tried kimchee and miso soup for the first time.

Let’s just say I didn’t hate the kimchee but it is strong and I loved the miso soup- it’s a unique and lovely light tasteing broth. And okay, I’ll admit I didn’t touch the cold salad- I have this thing against cold salads in general but it didn’t smell too bad.
Oishii Bento’s menu includes both Japanese and Korean offerings from udon to sushi, rice bowls to bento, and very reasonably priced sides such as miso, edamame, kimchee and tempura amongst others. This is definitely a place I’ll hit up again, and they have a pretty cool business card too. You’ll find it on Oakland Avenue on the right hand side before Citizen’s Bank- ironically it’s across the street from Sushi Boat and a door or two past Sezchuan. Visit their site http://www.oishiibento.com for online coupons.

Oishii Bento
proprietor: Si Hyuk Choi
119 Oakland Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412.687.3335
Mon-Fri 10:30a-9p
Sat: 11a-9p

Azuma Sushi is a friendly neighborhood spot for sushi and Japanese comfort food (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Weekend Meditation: Influences (thekitchn.com)

GlobalPittsburghEats – Pittsburgh’s Seviche Offers Tantalizing Mix of Style and Taste

TBuell — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:08:03 +0000

A little secret – if you go to Seviche, sort of a Latino sushi bar nestled in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, they’ll roll out the red carpet if you tell them it’s your first visit. Even if it’s not. They won’t care. Any excuse for more fun.

Located at 930 Penn Ave., Seviche offers a taste of Cuba and Miami in a Pittsburgh-friendly sort of way. Plenty of beautiful people, sure, but also several regular folks like us. One night we were there, the manager’s parents were there from the ‘burbs, hugging and high-fiving with customers and staff. Only in Pittsburgh.

Seviche (the food) is an ancient preparation of raw seafood in a citrus marination (traditionally lime juice) that has the effect of essentially cooking the meat with a refreshing and invigorating result. There are usually fresh veggies and spicy peppers involved, too, so it’s a delicious combination.

Seviche (the restaurant) boasts “an eclectic blend of traditional Latin American recipes and modern ingredients infused with international influences.”

Any of the knowledgable staff will tell you that the kitchen’s main attraction is the seviche bar, which features 15 fresh sushi-quality seafood selections that may be ordered in seven different preparations.

Diners can choose from raw Ahi Tuna, Scottish Salmon, Hamachi (Yellowtail Snapper), Bahamian Conch, Oyster or Fish of the Day, and semi-cooked Lobster, Shrimp, Crab, Octopus, Scallop, Mussels and Calamari.

Seviche also offers a wide selection of Tapas, the small-plate servings heavy on seafood also traditional in Latino cultures, and Bocadillos, which are a kind of rustic sandwiches of pork or beef. The menu can be confusing, given all the possible combinations, but our server was happy to make good recommendations.

The bartender whipped up a wicked Mojito (repeat after me, “It’s my first time here,”) and the wine list looked excellent.

Executive Chef/Owner Yves Carreau came to Pittsburgh in 1984 from his native France (via Los Angeles) to manage the kitchen at the Churchill Valley Country Club. Four years later, he opened his own venture, Asiago, a French/Italian restaurant, located in One Oxford Centre, downtown Pittsburgh.

As the Seviche website boasts, “Carreau now brings his worldly sophistication to Pittsburgh with both Seviche and the Sonoma Grille, a melting pot of international cuisine, wrapped with a California twist.”

An evening at Seviche, which offers valet parking at a reasonable price, is like taking a trip to South Beach or Havana minus the hassle and expense. A great asset to Pittsburgh.

Seviche
930 Penn Ave.
Cultural District
412-697-3120
www.seviche.com

Hours: Dinner Mondays-Saturdays 5 p.m.-1 a.m.
Prices: All plates, $7-$12; desserts, $8; wines, $6-$16.
Non-smoking

GlobalPittsburghEats offers occasional candid reviews of international restaurants in the Pittsburgh region. Read more at http://globalpittsburgh.blogspot.com.

A taste of India, Lawrenceville Pa

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:20:35 +0000

I’m a great fan of indian cuisine and while my own home cuisine certainly isn’t restaurant-quality, every time I find a good indian restaurant I find myself getting creative in the kitchen. Coincidentally my workplace just moved to Lawrenceville and luckily A Taste of India http://www.lawrencevillecorp.com/directory/businessPage.php?business_id=206 is nearby.
You might not think anyone is home behind all the window signs in this little restaurant tucked right in on Penn Avenue but as I found out the other day in the midst of a gray rainstorm, A Taste of India is open for business. The main offering is the very reasonable lunch buffet with both vegetarian and meat offerings as well as salads and dessert, but a full and varied menu is offered and I walked in for takeout only, choosing a regular portion of channa masala http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chana_masala I opted for the medium spicy version and a sweet lassi (made with rose water).
I was well-impressed for my $11.00 and coin- the service was lovely and quick and the portion was quite generous (I got 4 portions of channa masala and rice, one of them for breakfast this morning ) as well as being spiced just right and the lassi had just the right amount of tart and sweetness to it.
A Taste of India is located at 4320 Penn Avenue (near Penn-Main) in Lawrenceville and is open for lunch Monday through Thursday 11:30-2:30 and dinner 5:00-10:00, Saturday for lunch 11:30-2:30 and dinner 5:00-11:00 and Sunday dinner 5:00-1000.

A review and photos of the Neela’s dining experience (uncork29.com)
Sanaa Brings Tastes of India to the Animal Kingdom Lodge (affordabledisneyvacationpackages.com)

Pamelas Restaurant, Pittsburgh Pa

admin — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:21:19 +0000

I tend to be at the hospital for myself or a family member relatively often and we try to have lunch or breakfast out to sweeten the deal by choosing a different place every time. Recently our travels took us to Pamela’s in Oakland (FYI, Pamela’s also has Strip and Squirrel Hill locations) for brunch.
We ordered a veg omelet with chips (french fries) and the banana chocolate chip pancakes. I had my omelet smothered in melted swiss cheese and I must say, it was savoury, delicious and generously porportioned. The omelets come with toast and a choice of potato so I skipped the toast and went for the heart-groaning chips to go with. While I can’t say enough about my succulent omelet, I’ve certainly had better chips. These were a little limp and thin but you know I ate them anyway…
My husband’s banana chocolate chip pancakes looked to die for and there were no complaints from him and even better, a clean plate. The pancakes are the consistency of what Americans would term crepes with crispy, lace-like edges and feature several fillings. They smelt heavenly and though I was a good girl and avoided the wheat, they’re tempting enough that I may need to brave it one day and indulge. The menu for Pamela’s is brunch oriented and breakfast is served all day. There’s not much on here that even a picky eater wouldn’t like.
Service at Pamela’s was very friendly and quick and the quirky artwork decorating the walls kept us entertained. Right on Forbes Avenue, Pamela’s is easy to walk to from UPMC or the universities. The only real downside of this restaurant is that they don’t take cards but there is a National City ATM right around the corner.
Pamela’s
(412) 683-4066
3703 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Pancakes and Sausage on a Stick! (workbench.cadenhead.org)
Celebrate: It’s National Chocolate Chip Day! (inquisitr.com)

Falces Restaurant, Munhall Pa

dhumaigobae — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:44:00 +0000

In the category of sit-down fast food I must mention Falce’s restaurant in Munhall. Located right on Main street, this is the local watering hole in a place that really doesn’t have any other sit-down places to frequent (unless you count the continual stream of chinese and pizza places opening and closing). The portions are right and so are the prices. Daily specials are posted in the window and you’ll always find a steady crowd of older gentlemen at the bar with their morning joe.

While this restaurant isn’t particularly gluten-free friendly, it is a nice down-home alternative for the area. Service is fast and friendly and the breakfast menu stands out next to the pies as Falce’s best feature. On the breakfast menu I recommend the Yakatz to hungry customers. A Falce’s specialty, the Yakatz is an omelet on sterioids with chunks of potato, veg and cheese cooked to ooey gooey perfection. Like the rest of the menu, the Yakatz is an example of the plain honest offerings you’ll find here.

The downside of Falce’s is its hours which must have been set to cater to the locals (then again, I live like 5 doors down and can never get back from work through traffic to catch them still open), so be forewarned. But its a nice little breakfast or lunch spot.

Falce’s Restaurant
3716 Main St
Munhall, PA 15120
(412) 461-7345?
Mon-Fri 6:30-7
Sat/Sun 7:30-2

Have A Family Feast Tonight… And It Doesn’t Have To Be From KFC (techdirt.com)
The Celiac Story (friendseat.com)

Coca Cafe

dhumaigobae — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:30:57 +0000

My employer is moving to the Lawrenceville area and the Lawrenceville Corporation http://www.lawrencevillecorp.com/index.htm has kindly furnished us with a list of businesses worth checking out. Easter Saturday I went to check out Coca Cafe on Butler Street near Arsenal School for brunch. The building itself, easy to find, is a mixmatch of styles and feels like a big-city cafe with plenty of artsy people hanging around inside and for a Saturday going on lunch-time, it was packed but we did get seated fairly quickly.

Our table was in the narrow hallway in back of the front counter and the mod-style furniture was close enough across the aisle for me to eavesdrop in on the nearest conversation without even moving. The booth we sat at in particular was a formica-covered throwback to the 60s and behind us was displayed a large piece of local art that kept me searching for all the tiny details hidden within for the better part of the dining experience. So yes, Coca Cafe is also part-gallery.

We ordered the Four Cheese Omelet (w/ham) and the Chicken Curry Salad. Both were good-sized portions well-presented on big bistro-style plates and the wait was very short. The Four Cheese Omelet features jarlsberg, cheddar, goat, and muenster cheeses and was very savoury with just the right amount of goo from the cheese. This was served with thick toast and orange.

My Chicken Curry Salad was presented on a bed of field greens with apple slices. Very tasty indeed, the spice was quite balanced and bland enough for my partner to have a try but spiced enough for me to enjoy as well. My only complaint about this dish was the proliferation of raisins. I’m not a raisin fan so points to the Cafe for creating a dish I ate nearly all of- my plate was decorated with a little mound of picked out raisins when I finished.

So, the lowdown: Coca Cafe is perfect for the art crowd, students and just about anybody else looking for a relaxed lunch or breakfast (which they serve both of all day long, our friendly waitress informed us). Their website http://www.cocacafe.net/index.html is clean and easy to navigate (an absolute plus) and includes the menu and prices (more points from me). Most menu items range from $4- $8 so I thought that was quite affordable and there’s quite a variety. Vegetarians are also welcome and can substitute tofu in most dishes for meat and gourmets will enjoy selections such as Sundried Tomato Pesto Omelet and Turkey Rachel. (But there’s plenty of down-home goodies for everyone too). And check this out- Coca Cafe caters, too. Overall a relaxed and tasty dining experience, my one suggestion would be a little more organization for seating- we weren’t sure if we had to wait, sign in, flag someone?

Hours: Tues-Fri 7-3

Saturday 9-3

Sunday Brunch 10-3

Simple Homemade Cheese (greendaily.com)
Tea Sandwiches (recipes.suite101.com)
a mini-meal, and other good food (cathweber.blogspot.com)

Welcome to Edble!

admin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:03:47 +0000

The Edble Review is a global, social food review blog. Written by real people, eating in real places we’re bringing you honest views, reviews and opinions. Creating exposure for writers, establishments and towns.

edble.com » Pittsburgh

Rivertowne Pub & Grill, North Huntingdon, PA

Max & Erma’s Pittsburgh, PA

The Hop House, Pittsburgh PA

Oishii Bento, Pittsburgh Pa

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GlobalPittsburghEats – Pittsburgh’s Seviche Offers Tantalizing Mix of Style and Taste

A taste of India, Lawrenceville Pa

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Pamelas Restaurant, Pittsburgh Pa

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Falces Restaurant, Munhall Pa

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Coca Cafe

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Welcome to Edble!