Pittsburgh: Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh University Place (November 2012)

My spouse and I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh University Place (Oakland) for one night in late November 2012. We visit the city of Pittsburgh often, but we generally stay in the downtown area; on this trip, we decided to stay on campus so that we could see how things had changed since we last visited campus about 15+ years ago. This hotel was previously owned by Wyndham; we think that when that chain bought the old Hilton in downtown Pittsburgh across from Point State Park, they decided to sell this property (or perhaps Hilton and Wyndham just traded locations, with Wyndham taking the old downtown Hilton spot, and Hilton taking this previous Wyndham location).

The hotel is located on Forbes Avenue at the corner of McKee Place, near Magee Women's Hospital and the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. A CVS pharmacy (open 24 hours) is adjacent to the hotel, as well as a bank with an ATM machine. Valet parking is $18 per day; there is no self-parking option available, but there is a large, multi-story parking garage on the next block that had a sign offering $5 parking on nights and weekends, so a guest might be able to save some money that way. Across the street, also on Forbes Avenue, is a gas station (although it was not a chain that we recognized) that also has a small convenience store. Forbes Avenue hosts many shops and restaurants, although most cater to student clientele (such as Hemingway's, the Original Hotdog Shop, Primanti Brothers, and Starbucks). Two "adult" restaurants that we found within walking distance were The Porch at Schenley and Legume, and we recommend both.

The main entrance to the hotel is at street level; however, you must either walk down one half-floor or walk up one half-floor to reach an elevator, which might cause trouble if you have a lot of luggage or mobility issues. There is a handicapped lift, but you would need to find someone to work it for you. The lobby is located on the mezzanine level, along with the entrance to the (valet) parking garage, the pantry/store, and the Great American Grill restaurant and bar/lounge. There are 9 floors in this hotel, and because our Hhonors profile says “high floor and near an elevator”, so we think that may be why we were not upgraded, even though we have Diamond status. No pool or outdoor space is available at this hotel. Wi-Fi is free for all guests (not just Gold and Diamond Hhonors members). Instead of the free breakfast (for Diamond members), we chose extra bonus Hhonors points. The hotel offers free shuttle service within a 2-mile radius. There is event space/conference rooms on the property. The hotel has a 24-hour business center, and you can print remotely from the guest rooms.

According to the map in the hotel directory, rooms ending in -22 and -16 are large corner rooms. Rooms ending in -08 are corner rooms but are regular size. Rooms ending in -04 are corner rooms that are slightly larger than normal. Rooms ending in -05 are slightly larger than normal. There are about 25 rooms per floor. Our room number was 913, which was located near the middle of the floor layout and close to the elevator but was one of the normal-size rooms. Hotel rooms are standard-issue Hilton Garden Inn, featuring a microwave and mini-refrigerator, bed, desk, and easy chair.

We would stay here again to visit the University of Pittsburgh, or if we needed a place to stay to visit someone at one of the nearby hospitals. 

Pittsburgh: Legume (November 2012)

My spouse and I ate at Legume in late November 2012 for dinner. We were staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh University Place, and we were able to walk to this restaurant (although the hotel provides a complimentary shuttle bus within a small radius of the hotel). Valet parking (indoors) is available. The restaurant moved to its current location in the fall of 2011, and also increased its restaurant hours to include dinner on Monday nights. We reserved our table using the Open Table reservation system. This restaurant is open for dinner only on Monday through Saturday (they are closed on Sundays). An adjacent/related bar called Butterjoint (with similar hours) seems to be a happening scene on the weekend and serves a more casual menu.

The menu changes daily, but the restaurant posts it online every afternoon by 5:00 pm; no matter, the menu is an interesting selection of unique ingredients and creative combinations. We had some service issues on the night that we dined - our waiter was very impatient, rushing us to order quickly. And the pace at which our food was delivered was much too fast for us - even though we ate three courses, we were finished in about one hour, although we had planned for and expected a lingering evening. The manager must have sensed that we were unhappy, because she wrapped an extra dessert to send home with us; she questioned us about our experience and tried to make things right, so we give her credit for being astute.

We will probably return to this restaurant because the alternate options for finer dining in the university area are lacking; hopefully the service will be better next time, because the food was tasty. 

Pittsburgh: Rivertowne (November 2012)

Rivertowne boasts four great locations in the Pittsburgh area, each offering a unique atmosphere paired with our quality food and drink selections. Their mission is to provide welcoming and hospitable restaurants by maintaining excellent service standards, serving quality and affordable products, impacting their community positively and to be the premier venue where friends meet. Whether you are looking for delicious food, premium craft beers, or just a great place to meet new friends, Rivertowne has exactly what you are looking for!

Pittsburgh: Six Penn Kitchen (November 2012)

My spouse and I dined at Six Penn Kitchen for Sunday brunch in late October 2012. We had dined at Six Penn years ago for dinner, but we were sharing plates with another couple and did not feel that we could freely order the menu items that we really wanted. In the summer months, Six Penn Kitchen has an outdoor rooftop terrace that is open at night. The kitchen area is open, which provides a nice lively vibe to the main-floor restaurant space. (There is additional seating in the bar and in an area on the second floor.) Six Penn Kitchen is owned by the same restaurant group that owns the Eat ‘n Park chain, but this restaurant has an upscale bistro atmosphere with interesting food (we reviewed another of the restaurants holdings, The Porch at Schenley, separately and favorably). The restaurant is open for lunch (weekdays only), dinner (Monday through Saturday), and Sunday brunch. Six Penn Kitchen uses the Open Table reservation system, although you can also call or walk in.

The brunch menu is excellent (even though we are not usually breakfast-eaters) with unique items such as deviled eggs, beignets, breakfast spring rolls, bacon grits, and tempura-fried bacon. The brunch menu also features sandwiches, soups, and salads, in addition to the usual eggs and pancakes. 

Service was great; all the staff worked well together to serve as many customers as possible in the appropriate time frame. (There was a Steelers game that day, so it was evident that all the patrons were all going to the game.)

Based on our brunch experience, we would love to try Six Penn again for dinner. 

Pittsburgh: Essie's Original Hot Dog Shop ("The O") (November 2012)

It is impossible to tell the story of The Original Hot Dog Shop – The “O” – without speaking about its’ founder Sydney Simon. Mr. Simon was a man with incredible heart and character. He was a model for being strong and courageous while facing overwhelming life challenges. He was a resilient and loving man who served people. He came from a humble background growing up  in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh. He was the son of an immigrant mom from Lithuania and a hard working, blue collar father. Syd’s work in the food industry began while he was in high school as he served a Deli in Highland Park for fifteen years. When the Deli closed, Syd with his brother Moe ,decided to open their own store, and where would a better place be selling Hot Dogs than in the shadows of Forbes Field during the summer of 1960? Today, Forbes Field is a memory to those over 45 years old in the Oakland community, yet Syd’s store still stands today in its original location at the corner of Forbes Ave and South Bouquet Street. The Original Hot Dog Shop started out as “Original Franks and Burgers” Syd and Moe used an old cigar box to hold cash and make change. They developed a secret recipe for their hot dogs and over time began to expand the menu with fries, pizza, and sandwiches.  Eventually, he expanded the store by adding more seating and an upstairs bar. Over the years Syd would open new locations in onroeville, Falls Church Virginia, two sites at Carnegie Mellon University, another in Plum Borough, and one on East Carson Street on the South Side of Pittsburgh.  The Original Hotdog Shop was Mr. Simon’s dream and through it he served everyone. Syd adored his wife Esther (Essie), who he memorialized in the neon sign outside the Original Hot Dog Shop,  and was a loving father to his children. Needless to say, the Oakland Community has changed since Syd opened his store in 1960.  Yet, The “O” is a throwback in time. It is a place where people came to find a quality hot dog, burgers, friesc and friends.  Like its founder, the store continues to adapt and survive amidst all of the radical change around it. Today, there is much more competition from other restaurants, Forbes Field and Pitt Stadium are memories, the Universities and Hospitals have massively modernized and expanded, yet, the Orginal Hot Dog Shop remains a vibrant token of a bygone era where Syd’s dream and spirit remains layered thick like the Earth itself.

Pittsburgh: Porch at Schenley (November 2012)

My spouse and I ate at The Porch at Schenley in late November 2012 for lunch. We dined on the Friday after Thanksgiving, and because classes at the University of Pittsburgh were on holiday, there was no wait for a table and we were seated immediately. We imagine that this restaurant gets quite crowded when the students are in town, in the evenings and weekends, and for school functions like Parents Weekend.

We visit the city of Pittsburgh often, but we generally stay in the downtown area; on this trip, we decided to stay on campus so that we could see how things had changed since we last visited campus about 15+ years ago. Much of the campus remains the same, but this restaurant, located on what was once a commuter parking lot, is an exciting addition to the university area (perhaps those students searching for a daily parking spot would disagree, though!). We understand that students can use their campus dollars/campus cash to purchase food here (which must be something like a meal plan or a credit card to which parents add cash for their children to draw upon). The Porch at Schenley is owned by the same restaurant group that owns the Eat ‘n Park chain, but this restaurant has an upscale bistro atmosphere with interesting food (we reviewed another of the restaurants holdings, Six Penn Kitchen, separately and favorably).

The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating; one area of the outdoor patio has a dual-sided gas fireplace and also has ceiling heaters. In warmer months, part of the dining room wall retracts to give you a view of the Cathedral of Learning and the grassy common. Outdoors, there are also tiny tables positioned near the front entrance; these tables are not under cover nor are heated by lamps, so are probably intended for a quick bite rather than a more lingering meal. We spied a large grill near the front door, so they must do some barbecuing in nice weather. A small counter/walk-up window serves breakfast during the week. The restaurant is large, with regular tables, high-top tables, and booth seating, as well as a large bar. Someone was really thinking when they designed the layout of this restaurant, because it can easily accommodate large groups of students or families. The restaurant does not accept reservations, although you can call ahead to place your name on the wait list. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily, with breakfast at the walk-up window on weekdays.

We ordered from the lunch menu, but we viewed the dinner menu, which was similar. We ordered one salad and one pizza; the pizza was enough to share (priced at approximately $14), but the salad was more of a lunch-size and suited for just one person (although it was not a side salad by any means, and it was priced appropriately at approximately $10). The presentation for the pizza was unique - it was delivered on a metal cookie sheet, accompanied by three "piles" of toppings (cheese, red pepper, oregano) that you could add yourself. We thought that the ingredients and flavor combinations of the dishes were creative.

We enjoyed our lunch at The Porch, and we look forward to dining here again next time we visit the University of Pittsburgh campus. 

Pittsburgh: Sharp Edge Bistro (November 2012 and others)

Sharp Edge Bistro 922 Penn is the newest addition to the Sharp Edge family. Located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District and a short walk from the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Bistro 922 Penn combines the all comfort of your favorite neighborhood bar with the polished feel of a Belgian bistro, offering the same unparalleled beer selection and a unique dining experience. There are 36 taps and 200+ bottles of beer.

Easton: Megs and Mads (November 2012)

Steven Schwartzinger has been in and around the restaurant industry for 20 years. The dream to open his own restaurant had been on his mind for a number of years when Schwartzinger and his wife, Shannan, moved to Forks Township seven years ago and jumped at the chance to start a community restaurant in neighboring College Hill. 
Their Cattell Street location was formerly home to Josephina’s at Cattell’s. But a new vision and menu are breathing life into the College Hill restaurant, which opened Dec. 16.
Flavor: Schwartzinger calls his menu American — not the stereotypical meatloaf and apple pie deal — but a melting pot of cultures and influences. His menu features Asian, Italian and French dishes, but Schwartzinger doesn’t want to limit himself to one cuisine. The beauty of the diversity is on the menu — osso buco listed alongside vegetable lo mein.

“It’s fine dining food in a casual atmosphere,” says Shannan Schwartzinger. “It’s American food done right.”

View full sizeExpress-Times Photo | JOE GILLA plate of the restaurant's Beef Short Ribs -- boneless, tamarind blazed short rib with creamy grits and stir fried vegetables.

Feel: Tables bedecked in linen and candles give the 47-seat restaurant a cozy and intimate vibe. But both owners are quick to say that though the menu speaks fine dining, the restaurant is all about comfort.

“It’s not the fine dining stigma where you have to dress up for good food,” Schwartzinger says.
“It’s casual but not pub food,” Shannan Scwartzinger adds.

What’s in a name? The restaurant is named after the owners’ daughters, Megan and Madelyn, and is family-friendly.

“(It’s) where Mom and Dad can come in and have a steak and salmon, while the kids aren’t forgotten,” Schwartzinger says.

The kids menu is covered in games to keep kids busy and has classics such as pigs in a blanket, mac and cheese and popcorn shrimp.

View full sizeExpress-Times Photo | JOE GILLSalad of Baby Lettuces has mixed greens, Humbolt Fog Chevre dried cranberries, candied walnuts and truffle honey at MeGs AND MaDs Casual Dining.

Food extras: Desserts are made in house, save for seasonal cakes made by the Cake Box Ladies. (Currently they’re serving a rum raisin spice cake with cream cheese icing and creme anglaise.) Soups change frequently and feature favorites such as Manhattan oyster and clam chowder, potato bacon, lentil and sweet sausage and split pea.

Restaurant ethics: Schwartzinger says he wants customers to leave satisfied, stressing quality over quantity.

“It’s good food versus turn-and-burn service,” he says.

He aims for the balance of affordable prices but still delivering a good, quality product.

“I think people are surprised,” he says of their first wave of customers. “This place has changed hands a few times, so people don’t know what to expect. I want people to feel they’re getting a good value.”

View full sizeExpress-Times Photo | JOE GILLMeGs and MaDs' Warm Apple Tart features puff pastry, Dulce de Leche gelato and candied walnuts.

Insiders eat: Salad of Baby Lettuces (mixed greens, Humboldt Fog Chevre, dried cranberries, candied walnuts and truffle honey) — $7; Fried calamari (tubes and tentacles, cherry peppers with marinara and chili-lime aioli) — $9; “Scarole” (escarole with cannelloni beans and sweet Italian sausage, served home-style with grilled Panella bread and shaved parmesan) — $8; Chicken Milanese (French breast with button mushrooms, sauted spinach, mashed potatoes and a brown butter sauce with lemon, garlic and parsley) — $17; Beef short ribs (boneless, tamarind-glazed short rib with creamy grits and stir-fried vegetables) — $22; Horseradish-crusted salmon (panko and horseradish-crusted Wild King salmon, Yukon gold potato with leek and asparagus hash, with a lump crab butter sauce) — $19; Long Island duck breast (pan roasted with roasted turnips, Brussels sprouts and a spiced port reduction with preserved figs) — $21; Pecan Gateau (warm coffee cake with pecan streusel, caramel sauce and Tahitian vanilla ice cream) — $7; Chocolate molten cake (served with raspberry sauce, whipped cream and sel gris) — $7.