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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

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

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.