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

I’ve never been to any of Emeril Lagasse’s other restaurants before, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when my significant other’s parents said that we had a reservation there this past weekend.  The décor is very fitting with the rest of the casino, which has a steel theme (the casino itself is in a building that used to be part of the Bethlehem Steel Works), with dark browns and blacks and sheer reddish-orange curtains.  Interesting cylindrical crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling.  The extensive wine selection is displayed in a sort-of rotunda near the host desk.  This restaurant also has a section where you can sit and eat at a “bar” right in front of the kitchen and you can watch the world-class chefs preparing your meal.

For starters, we ordered some drinks and appetizers.  Their wine menu is HUGE and I’m sure you can find any type of wine that your taste buds desire.  We ordered a few lobster bisques, which were presented to us in a way that I’ve never seen before.  The server came over with a bowl that had a small lump of lobster meat in the center.  In their other hand was a small saucepan with the actual soup in it, and they slowly poured the soup around the lobster meat.  The bisque was not like other lobster bisques I’ve tried, it has some unique favoring that I couldn’t identify and a bit of a kick that pleasantly lingered in your throat after you finished.

For the main course, myself and my boyfriend’s mother both got the fresh fish of the day (mahi mahi) prepared in the “lighter style”: over cous cous and fresh veggies with tomato citrus vinaigrette (they also can prepare the fresh fish Creole style).  Very delicious – the vinaigrette was a perfect pairing with the fish and vegetables.  The men at the table both ordered steak, New York Strip and Filet Mignon.  A trio of sauces accompanies any steak order: house-made Worcestershire sauce, creamy horseradish sauce, and a Béarnaise sauce.  I didn’t try it, but apparently the Worcestershire was to die for and didn’t have the usual smoky taste that store brands have.  You can also order side dishes à la carte, which are big enough to share between two people. After we gorged ourselves on dinner, we enjoyed some vanilla bean crème brûlée for dessert (my favorite!).

One big sell of this restaurant (other than the Emeril name, of course) is that they are stimulating the local economy and buying local produce as much as possible.  The free-roam chickens, beets, and other vegetables on the menu are all grown locally to the Lehigh Valley.  The service seems to be another big draw.  We were waited on by a friend of the family, who was so friendly and helpful during the entire dinner service.  We heard rumors that if you get up from your seat during dinner, someone will come over and give you a new napkin by the time you get back.  None of us got up during dinner to find out if that was true or not, but I suspect that is probably is true because the wait staff was really up top of things.

I’m sure you’re wondering about price.  The menu is pricey, and if you decide to get an appetizer, and a salad, and a side dish, and dessert, and a drink… well, it adds up.  Most of the appetizers and salads are close to $10, and most of the dinner plates are between $25 and $40.  If you’re in the area or at the casino and are looking for a nice, upscale dining experience, definitely give Emeril’s Chop House a try.

Emeril’s Chop House

77 Sands Boulevard

Bethlehem, PA 18015

484-777-7777

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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 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.