Comment Archives: stories: Food+Drink: Dining Reviews
Re: “Typhoon New Thai Cuisine”
One of the best meals I have ever had in Pittsburgh. I agree with the previous poster that the food is great, but the prices are greater!
For an affordable great Thai experience (almost as good) the Smiling Banana Leaf is my choice
Re: “The Capital Grille”
Had a lovely time on my birthday in '07. I have to agree, with the PCP 's review, the food is pricy, but excellent and there was a very tall, handsome young waiter --- who was very attentive and personable...Varean, the best waiter, ever...and we've dined in our share of restaurants throughout the city, here, and others on the east coast. We'll come back soon. The crabcakes/lobster was delish! Hope they add sea scallops to the menu.
Re: “Paris 66 Bistro”
Have been here a couple of times. The place is beautiful, the food is good, the owners welcoming. A real win.
Re: “Hofbräuhaus”
I love the Hofbrauhaus and the best beer brewed in Pittsburgh. I even enjoy the entertainment and have attended the last four keg tapping ceremony. But, I have to agree with your disappointment with the spätzle. My son and I fell in love with the kase spätzle (as you described) in Bavaria just this past spring. Comparing these tasteless lumps of dough and CheezWhiz with the complex flavors of the homeland's delicious egg dumplings fried in butter with melted Emmantaler and thinly sliced crispy grilled onions on top is almost a crime....and that's coming from a Hofbrauhaus regular....I mean... I really love the Hofbrauhaus and enjoy the various wursts, potato pancakes and red cabbage....but steer clear of what they call spätzle ...PROST !!!
Re: “UUBU6”
We dined here with another couple this past weekend and had a great experience! I'd say they've responded to criticisms about service, because our server was timely, pleasant and efficient. The food was excellent from the appetizers to the dessert. They have a great wine list with reasonably priced bottles that match their affordable entrees. The decor is very attractive. If you have any interest in helping a local restaurant survive, please give UUBU6 a try! It was well worth our efforts ... a very enjoyable dining experience!
Re: “Golden Pig”
i lived in korea for a year very recently, and just want to point out that using packaged ramen is exactly what the little hole-in-the-wall restaurants there do-----they toss in the noodles and seasoning and hook it up with all sorts of other goodies---so the fine lady here is not takin' you for a cheap ride when she serves up the packaged stuff. it's the way of the land.
Re: “Hofbräuhaus”
OH MY GOD, WE WENT THERE ON SATURDAY, WHAT A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE! WAITED 2 HOURS TO TRY TO GET A TABLE, ONLY TO HAVE TO SIT DOWNSTAIRS OUTSIDE WHERE THERS A VERY LIMITED MENU WHICH NOONE TOLD US ABOUT UNTIL WE SAT DOWN WHICH THAT TOOK ANOTHER 20 MINUTES TO FIND A TABLE.
WAITED ANOTHER 15 MINUTES FOR THE WAITRESS AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS SHE ASKED US FOR WAS OUR CREDIT CARD, WE ASKED HER WHY AND SHE SAID ,THAT WAS THE POLICY AND THAT SHES HAD ALOT OF DRUNK PEOPLE JUST LEAVE AND SHE WASN'T GETTING STUCK WITH THE BILL. HOW RUDE AND INSULTING!!!
THEY SCREWED UP OUR ORDERS,GOT THEM COLD AND THEY WERE OUT OF THE PIG DISH WHICH IS ONE OF REASONS WE WENT THERE. IT WAS SO CROWDED,UNORGANIZED,LOUD AND WE WONT GO BACK!!
Re: “Amigos”
I haven't been to Amigos, but I'm really tired of these car window stickers that show a "family" in cartoonish silhouette. Some times the husband, wife, two kids and the dog are accompanied by their names. Naturally, the kids and the dogs have the modern, pretentious names like Taylor, Tyler, Brit, Casey, Evan, Cory, Rory, etc.
Re: “Palate”
We went to Palate because we were going to a show. We arrived half an hour early and the host graciously showed us to the bar. He was friendly and funny. We sat at the bar and were accosted by a horrendous odor. It smelled like wet dogs. Out of curiosity, we walked around to find where it was coming from. After an (admittedly unscientific) investigation, we discovered the rug in the bar smelled like it had never been steam cleaned or vacuumed. The bar, I should point out, is on a separate floor from the restaurant and was completely empty. It may be they never use it unless patrons come in early as we did.
Now to the service. They sat us at exactly our reservation time. We sat for 20 minutes before anyone came to the table. I wouldn't have been off put by this, except there weren't that many customers. The young lady gave us two menus while another one filled our water. I asked for a diet coke, my girlfriend asked for wine (I forget the type). 15 minutes later the first lady finally brought us some bread along with our wine and soda. We were ready to order; she wasn't ready to take our order. She walked away while we were talking to her.
About 5 minutes later she returned with our bill. This was extremely punctual, however we hadn't even ordered yet. We corrected her. She took the bill to another table. At this point a THIRD young lady arrived with our dessert: creme brulee and a cake of some sort. It looked delicious, but we still hadn't ordered our entrée let alone dessert. We corrected her and she brought the dessert to another table. Nope, wasn't theirs either. She spun around until the proper table waved her over. At this point my soda and my girlfriend's wine have been empty for 5 minutes. We made a joke to see how long it would take for the staff to notice.
Finally a man came to the table and took our order. I asked him very flatly if I order a "blood rare" filet, will I get a blood rare filet? I specified that I like to have my steak dodging the fork. He said that he would personally walk to the chef and give him the instruction. My girlfriend ordered the lamb. Coke and wine still empty.
While we were waiting, GIRL #3 arrived withour dessert arrived again. It was the creme brule and cake again. We told her we still hadn't ordered dessert and were waiting on our entree. She picked the dessert back up and disappeared downstairs with it. Coke and wine still empty.
Our salads and appetizers arrived. They were delicious. We ate them with parched throats because --- Coke and wine still empty. At this point, we moved our glasses to the edge of the table. The male server noticed the movement and immediately asked my girlfriend if she needed more wine. She said yes. He disappeared. Coke still empty.
He returned with her wine. I turned my glass upside down (had already eaten the ice) to give him a better hint. He walked away. Coke still empty. Now I was really thirsty. I balanced the glass on my head. When the first girl returned with our entrees, she noticed and refilled my diet coke.
On to the food. My steak was brown all the way through. My girlfriend graciously offered to trade entrees since she eats her steak medium well. In a normal restaurant, I would have called the waiter over and asked for another steak. But this place was amusing me now. Since the waiter made a point to talk directly to the chef, I wanted to see if he would check up on me. So I switched entrees with my girlfriend. The lamb was great. My girlfriend liked the steak. The waiter did check up on us. He neither asked if the steak was to my liking nor noticed that my girlfriend was now eating it. Girl #3 arrived with crème brulee and cake for the table next to us who were just seated. She disappeared downstairs again after they corrected her.
We finished eating and our check arrived. They charged us for a bottle of wine instead of two glasses. Everything else on the check was correct.
I paid the tab. My girlfriend was now convinced that we were on a hidden camera tv show and didn’t want us to overreact to anything. So when GIRL#3 inevitably showed up with a crème brulee and a cake, we ate both of them and thanked her. To the credit of Palate we were never charged for the dessert, and we got to attend two shows that night. The first was a comedy at Palate. The second was a tragedy at Heinz Hall. Or did I get those reversed…?
Re: “Istanbul Grille”
I was very disappointed in this Turkish resturant. They have chicken doner Kebap on the menue, but do not make it any more due to low demand. They said that they had a lamb on instead. I tried it out. It was NOT a doner kebap. It was a poor $13 gyro. the rice and salad that came with it were good though. I have eaten doner kebap in Germany, Turkey, and even Japan. The one they served me was dried up gyro meat. I will not be going back.
Re: “Bismillah”
A few words of caution! Don't eat from the buffet!! I have eaten here 3 times, the first time with my boyfriend ( he is Indian and loves pakistani food) the food was very good, especially the haleem which they only make on the weekends, second time I took my coworker, the restaurant was actually unable to prepare food because the gas company was working on the gas line but the owner graciously served us leftovers which he reheated and it was also very good, OK so far so good, I am really liking this place, especially since there are so few choices in Monroeville that are not a chain. I have to agree that the service is not good even when there is no one else in the place. My coworker and I go back the following week, to our delight they now have a lunch buffet, great because now we can try a variety of dishes! As we begin to eat I say I'm a little leary about eating this food as it is not very hot. The food was delicious but by 2 am I have the worst case of food poisoning I have ever had! Since my coworker was also violently ill with the same symptoms we knew it was food poisoning. Lasted for about 2 days. As far as I could tell they put the food in the warming trays without heating it first to the proper temperature, directly from refrigerator to buffet, so the food is sitting out for hours without actually cooking. Sadly, I have been afraid to eat there again :( though the food was quite tasty.
Re: “Golden Pig”
The Golden Pig is wonderful, I'm honored to know it is here so close to Hickory. The food is fresh and always delightful. When someone opens up a restaurant like this in the area it really makes the place that much nicer to live in.
Re: “ALLA FAMIGLIA”
SERVICE WAS HOSTILE, INSULTING AND WITH A CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER
All Famiglia should stay in their famiglia kitchen because the owner and waiter have no courtesy or people skills for dealing with the public. My request for some sliced onions on a salad resulted in huffing and puffing, condescending attitude. Elderly Mother and I decided to leave after they refused to give us the antipasto plate when we were willing to pay the menu stated per person charge...OH NO. The owner said he can do what he wants and not honour the menu..He only makes it for four people..Menu does not say that at all.But then when we got the bill, they had the arrogance to charge a $15 dollars penalty charge for eating two peices of the bread they put on the table!!! HA HA, having gym equipment repairmen as waiters with zero tolerance is all you can expect. NO CLASS NO JUDGEMENT NO COURTESY. For $75/veal chop wouldn't you expect a pleasantry. Forgot the clincher: He screams in the restaurant in front of all the patrons that I cause trouble every time I come in there...This is outrageous and an absolute lie intended to fight. Then he kept screaming at my poor mother. NO CLASS JUST AN AMBRIDGE JERK.
Re: “Golden Pig”
The Golden Pig is great,I had stopped there as well. We love the owner,the food,the smells,the whole package takes you away from the Cecil that is on the outside. Everyone who likes good food should try it. You will return!
Re: “Spadafora's”
I am from Malden Ma. and our family owns an Italian Restaurant and function hall [www.anthonysofmalden.com] It was fun reading about Spadaforas restaurant, as that is also our last time. My dad is 84 and still involved in the restaurant. He is in the Boston market every morning at 4:30 to select his produce.
I enjoyed reading about your restaurant and would love some day to stop in for a bite to eat, until then continued success and god bless.
Bill Spadafora
Malden Massachusetts
Re: “UUBU6”
Do not waste your money or your time with this restaurant. Had an 8:00 reservation and did not receive a morsel of food (including bread) until after 9:00.
First, the waiter took our drink order and brought a warm bottle of white wine, with no ice bucket. Asked him for an ice bucket to at least get the wine closer to the proper temperature, and he brought out a bucket with about 10 ice cubes in it. After getting more ice, we let the wine chill for a while (we certainly had time). He took our orders and though one of the dishes came with a salad and we added a salad to the other dish, 30 minutes passed and there was no salad. The waiter was never even around to ask about the status of the order. Finally, he came out with our entrees. After informing him that we never received salad, the waiter acted like it was a newsflash that we even were getting salads (even though one of the meals included a salad). He said he'd bring the salads out soon and when I asked him if the entrees would just be kept warm or recooked, he basically didn't consider recooking them fresh as an option.
When the salads finally came out (20 minutes later), they were good but not worth waiting an hour for (still had to actually ask for bread at this point). The food itself was adequate, though the entrees were a little dried out because they were ready 30 minutes before we finally got to them. We didn't bother staying for dessert as we couldn't wait to get out of there. In fact, had it not been for the fact that we had a gift certificate to the restaurant, we would have just cut our losses and left a lot earlier.
I will repeat, do yourself a favor and skip this restaurant. If you really would like a great Pittsburgh dining experience, go to Nine On Nine instead.
Re: “Jerome Bettis' Grille 36”
Wheres the beef the one pound Bettis burger is more like a Mcdonald kids burger also came with 6 small fries, my wife and son stake was small and cold, service is poor all in all it sucked nice sport setting thats about it, its an over priced poor food joke
Re: “Amigos”
Fake reviews and payolla. This place is awful. Go ahead - try it for yourself. Giant microwaved burritos and awful sauces. The chips are good, the salsa okay. Not half as good as Chi-Chis, not even as good as Taco Bell.
There's not a nice way to say it - this place sucks.
Re: “Amigos”
I do have to say I was sad to see Jakes Beef & BBQ go, but when I saw it was going to be a Mexican restaurant, I got over that quickly! My friends and I love Mexican so we frequent this restaurant alot! We love happy hour and the specials. The decor is beautiful and welcoming. The chicken chimichanga is my favorite!!! Coming a close second are the margaritas! Perfect everytime!!
Re: “Sukhothai”
Owner is very arrogant. Try Green Mango at Monroeville and Regent Square instead.