Pittsburgh - any decent food near Convention Ctr?

[Diane Duane]

Friends,

I've got a business engagement at the Convention Center in Pittsburgh over the weekend of the 15th-18th of June, and Himself and I will be staying in the Westin there. Does anyone know if there are any good restaurants within walking distance? (Or, second best, a not-too-long cab ride.) Cuisine's not important -- just the general goodness of whatever place is recommended.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Best -- Diane

[weinoo]

Lidia and Joe Bastianich have a restaurant there on the "strip." I've eaten there and it's pretty good.

Here's some info:

Lidia's Pittsburgh

[Meanderer]

The Casablanca Bistro at 6th and Penn isn't far and is a good choice for Middle Eastern food. Make sure you go after the pre-theater crowds have cleared out.

[mjg]

Kaya is excellent as well:

http://www.bigburrito.com/kaya/

You are right next to the Strip District. If you have time on Saturday morning, it's a great place to spend some time exploring:

http://www.neighborsinthestrip.com/

The Farmers @ the Firehouse market is in the Strip on Saturday morning as well:

http://www.slowfoodpgh.com/farmers.html

[Diane Duane]

Lidia and Joe Bastianich have a restaurant there on the "strip."  I've eaten there and it's pretty good.

Here's some info:

Lidia's Pittsburgh

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Mitch, many thanks! I have a printout...let's see now how much spare timethe convention people leave us to sample the local delights.

Best! -- Diane

[Diane Duane]

The Casablanca Bistro at 6th and Penn isn't far and is a good choice for Middle Eastern food.  Make sure you go after the pre-theater crowds have cleared out.

←

Thanks for the note about this! Himself is a big fan of Moroccan -- does a pretty mean tajine on his own recognizance -- and this place looks very promising. I see they have a website:

http://www.casablanca212.com

Thanks again!

Best -- Diane

[Diane Duane]

Kaya is excellent as well:

http://www.bigburrito.com/kaya/

You are right next to the Strip District. If you have time on Saturday morning, it's a great place to spend some time exploring:

http://www.neighborsinthestrip.com/

The Farmers @ the Firehouse market is in the Strip on Saturday morning as well:

http://www.slowfoodpgh.com/farmers.html

←

Thanks for both recommendations. Alas, the farmer's market will only drive me insane, because EU anti-hoof-&-mouth regulations will keep me from bringing home entirely too many of the things I'd like to pack back. (mutter) Not that this would stop me from going to the market and tasting everything they'll let me taste. They can't stop me from importing stuff inside me.

Meanwhile, I printed out Kaya's menus. Wow, they look attractive. Himself is a big fan of anything jerked, and that Yucatan hot bean dip sounds like something I could dive into head first.

Thanks again!

best -- Diane

[Diane Duane]

Kaya is excellent as well:

http://www.bigburrito.com/kaya/

http://www.slowfoodpgh.com/farmers.html

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mjg, I meant to get back to you ever so long ago about this, but Life Interfered. We went to Kaya and it was super: I look forward to getting back there at some point. Fortunately the convention we were attending is probably going to repeat, so this time we can take a bunch of people with us and steal out of all their dishes.

Thanks again!!

[PaniniGuy]

Fortunately the convention we were attending is probably going to repeat, so this time we can take a bunch of people with us and steal out of all their dishes. 

Thanks again!!

←

Funny, just yesterday I was just bemoaning the complete lack of Pittsburgh posts here.

Since you'll be back, a couple of other places to try:

Eleven is the first restaurant you'll run into on your way up Smallman St. It's worth it. It is also a Big Burrito property, probably their most upscale to date. Although we've always enjoyed it there we've heard of some FOH issues lately.

Also new and near is Nine on Ninth, which is co-owned by the guy who owns the eclectic Cafe Richard in the Strip. Haven't been yet, but initial reviews are very positive.

Lots starting to happen in that area, finally.

But if you really want to eat well and cheap, go to the cart on Penn Ave. that's just before Sunseri Bros. and load up on pad thai ($1.75 for about a pint and a half's worth) and spring rolls ($1 each). You can't miss it. It's extremely good for the price.

[phlox]

Fortunately the convention we were attending is probably going to repeat, so this time we can take a bunch of people with us and steal out of all their dishes. 

Thanks again!!

←

Funny, just yesterday I was just bemoaning the complete lack of Pittsburgh posts here.

Since you'll be back, a couple of other places to try:

Eleven is the first restaurant you'll run into on your way up Smallman St. It's worth it. It is also a Big Burrito property, probably their most upscale to date. Although we've always enjoyed it there we've heard of some FOH issues lately.

Also new and near is Nine on Ninth, which is co-owned by the guy who owns the eclectic Cafe Richard in the Strip. Haven't been yet, but initial reviews are very positive.

Lots starting to happen in that area, finally.

But if you really want to eat well and cheap, go to the cart on Penn Ave. that's just before Sunseri Bros. and load up on pad thai ($1.75 for about a pint and a half's worth) and spring rolls ($1 each). You can't miss it. It's extremely good for the price.

←

So have you tried Nine on Ninth yet? Cafe Richard is right next door to where I work, so I eat their delicious sandwiches for lunch almost every week. I've been wanting to try a new restaurant, so I'm curious to see what people think.

Funny you mention FOH at Eleven, because I just applied to work there! Two managers interviewed me yesterday, and one of them kept talking about how they are in a 'transitional period,' so maybe that means they've had to fire someone!

[handmc]

Bravo Franco

613 Penn Ave (Cross Street: )

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

(412) 642-6677

The room is subdued, with a good-sized bar, and large, connected dining areas. Large, comfortable chairs surround tables spaced so that normal conversation is possible without raising one's voice.

As for service we choose to sit at the bar, Mark the bar tender and wine guru was very nice and very attentive. He made our Martinis the way we liked and knew a hell of a lot about the wine list. When asked, there was a number of decent California options as well as some top notch Italian wines asked for his preference it was not the top end of the list but rather an honest reflection of what he thought was a the best option for what we ordered below. Loser that I am I did not write down what we purchased but I will supplement this post later. The wine was superb.

The Food

For starters, tried the portabella mushroom stuffed with spinach and crab on red gravy this dish, my friends, ROCKED!. A little cheese, lots of crabs and the spinach and mushroom were a perfect appy for $9.95.

Next was Antipasta Primavera $12.95 with prosciutto, sopressata, imported cheese, olives, and fresh vegetables very tasty and served two easy.

Dinner was:

Veal Forestale $21.95

with white wine, artichokes, and wild mushrooms

Porterhouse Steak $38.95

I ordered my steak rare, Rothschild Style which is marinated in a Bordeaux wine then topped with imported Roquefort Bleu Cheese and horseradish breadcrumbs served with an Italian Roasted Tomato. Man this was one of the best steaks I have ever had. WOW.

I have a month long trial starting in Pittsburgh and I will not lack for good places to eat!

[Mel Altenderfer]

Fortunately the convention we were attending is probably going to repeat, so this time we can take a bunch of people with us and steal out of all their dishes. 

Thanks again!!

←

Funny, just yesterday I was just bemoaning the complete lack of Pittsburgh posts here.

Since you'll be back, a couple of other places to try:

Eleven is the first restaurant you'll run into on your way up Smallman St. It's worth it. It is also a Big Burrito property, probably their most upscale to date. Although we've always enjoyed it there we've heard of some FOH issues lately.

Also new and near is Nine on Ninth, which is co-owned by the guy who owns the eclectic Cafe Richard in the Strip. Haven't been yet, but initial reviews are very positive.

Lots starting to happen in that area, finally.

But if you really want to eat well and cheap, go to the cart on Penn Ave. that's just before Sunseri Bros. and load up on pad thai ($1.75 for about a pint and a half's worth) and spring rolls ($1 each). You can't miss it. It's extremely good for the price.

←

So have you tried Nine on Ninth yet? Cafe Richard is right next door to where I work, so I eat their delicious sandwiches for lunch almost every week. I've been wanting to try a new restaurant, so I'm curious to see what people think.

Funny you mention FOH at Eleven, because I just applied to work there! Two managers interviewed me yesterday, and one of them kept talking about how they are in a 'transitional period,' so maybe that means they've had to fire someone!

←

I read this in the P-G yesterday-- may help explain things.

"There have been some major staff changes at Big Burrito Group restaurants in the past few weeks. The chain reaction began with the departure of Greg Alauzen, who was executive chef at Eleven. He has been replaced by Derek Stevens, formerly of Casbah. Alan Peet has replaced Stevens at Casbah."