We Got our Kicks at Paris 66

In the final days of Pittsburgh Restaurant Week, my closest gal pals and I decided to leave the boys behind and have a night out on the town. So obviously we picked the most romantic place we could find and headed to East Liberty to get our French on.

Verde Tasty

Ahh, springtime in Pittsburgh.  Typically beautiful, but virtually non-existant this year. We've completely skipped over spring and melted the snow with an unnatural summer heat.  It's baffling, but I can't say I'm actually complaining. Weather like this presents the perfect opportunity to take advantage of quite possibly my very favorite activity on the planet: dining al fresca!

I'd been jonesin' hard for some primo outdoor patio time when one of Pittsburgh's newest restaurants, @VerdePGH, popped on to my Twitter feed with an announcement that their patio was indeed open for business.  That settled it. The moment the clock struck 5 I packed up my things (a rare occurrence...) and swung by to pick up a very special F.O.R.T (who we'll call E1) to head deep into the heart of Garfield and fill our bellies at Verde Mexican Kitchen & Cantina.

Verde is hardly difficult to find.  The neon green walls of the building serve as just one of the many reasons for the restaurants name.

The fresh and inviting exterior gave way to a lively and colorful industrial setting inside.  But although the restaurant's open floor plan allowed for it to open up to the outdoors beautifully, we weren't headed inside.

A table was open for us on the patio and we sat right down. We were barely in our seats when we were greeted by our friendly server and a complimentary serving of chips with (of course) a verde tomatillo salsa. The salsa had just the right kick and tasted incredibly fresh and delicious and the chips were crisped and salted to perfection.

Chips & Salsa, $4 (complimentary first round)

With the weather as beautiful as it was, we found it extremely difficult to pass up the happy hour $5 margarita special. So we didn't.  E1 tried the Casa Verde or house 'rita ($5 during happy hour, $7 during regular business hours) while I couldn't ignore the passion fruit and pomegranate of the Baja Eden 'rita ($9) calling my name.  The drinks were refreshing and delicious. The alcohol was far from overwhelming so the flavor was the star of the show, which is just how I like it.

Casa Verde Margarita, $7 ($5 during 5-7 p.m. happy hour)

Baja Eden Margarita, $9

E1 and I were both smitten with our server and his abounding knowledge of Verde's ingredients and flavors. His descriptions of the day's specials and answers to our questions about how certain menu items were cooked really helped us to make an informed decision about our meals.

Their menu was still slightly seasonally geared to winter but, um... technically winter had only ended the day before, so I'm not really judging.  I mention this only because I was drawn toward the Pozola Verde (a traditional hominy-based stew, pork shoulder, tomatillo, jalapeño and pumpkin seed for $8) but our server mentioned it was a bit heartier and a warmer stew, whereas I was sitting outside in the summ...er...spring heat and wanted something fresh and light.  So I went instead with the Marlin Pescado Tacos ($15) while E1 gave the Pollo Tacos ($12) a go.

Pollo Tacos, $12

Pescado Tacos, $15

I'll let you in on a little secret: E1 and I both have a habit of talking a lot (though I'm sure reading my copy heavy food blog has NEVER given you that impression before...).  So imagine our surprise when our taco platters arrived and not a word was exchanged between us for a solid eight minutes as we devoured every last bite.

I'm starting to wonder if Pittsburgh may be becoming the Fish Taco capital of the world in a geographically surprising turn of events.  First I was blown away by California Taco Shop, and now Verde has certainly come up as a strong competitor. Using fresh, locally sourced ingredients Verde's tacos made for a meal which could rival any costly, gourmet/fine dining dish. E1's poblano crema balanced the heat beautifully while my chipotle aioli married with the crunch of the slaw in a way that made me leave no crumb behind.

Restaurant Information:

Verde Mexican Kitchen & Cantina

Address: 5491 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15206 

Phone:  412-404-8487

Reservations: You can make a reservation directly from their website, over the phone or at OpenTable.com

Hours: Dinner is served beginning at 5 p.m. every day, but Brunch is on the docket later this spring...

Cliffs Notes:

Baja Eden Margarita @ $9

Casa Verde Margarita @ $5

Pescado Tacos @ $15

Rollo Tacos @ $12

Tax:                        Food tax  @ 7% (Allegheny County only) @ $2.87

Tip:                           $9
Total for two:          $52.87

Overall Opinion:
It's exciting to see innovative new eateries like Verde popping up in underdeveloped areas of the city offering local ingredients and a fresh take on preparing familiar foods. This experience was nothing short of what we were hoping to find: great tasting food and a unique dining atmosphere. I tip my hat to  native Pittsburgher Chef LBEE for bringing her Latin-American culinary experiences back with her to the 'burgh. What once was "Mexican" is now truly a refreshing twist on global cuisine in which I will be happy to partake again and again.  I look forward to the menu evolving to feature seasonal spring ingredients, especially. For the experience, for the ambiance, for the food, for the company -- do yourself a favor and go green. Give Verde a try.

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Spoontastic!

I have to say, I originally sang the blues the curtains closed on East Liberty’s Red Room last year.  But when I heard that a man from my hometown (Dave Anoia) was playing sous chef to Brian Pekarcik’s farm-to-table movement of epic proportions to replace the space, I knew I had to put aside my biases and give Spoon a shot.

It took a little longer than I’d hoped, but PID and I finally committed an evening to an East Liberty trip.  Even though there is an Open Table link on their website, I felt compelled to call to make a reservation on Friday afternoon, just in case.  I’m glad I did. They had two slots available at the time of my call: 5:30 and 9:30.  So for fear of inaccurately reviewing the food due to starvation, we begrudgingly accepted the earlier reservation and kept our fingers crossed that I’d have enough time to make myself presentable after a morning full of dog walking and soccer games.

We arrived a mere eight minutes late (which would have been only five if not for the construction on Centre Avenue and the fact that we didn't realize they offered valet parking for $3) and our table was still waiting for us. I still hate close-quarters seating which is what we got, but I'm happy to report that only one wall of the dining room is set that way. The rest boasted a warm, contemporary (appropriately placed) design. And get this -- the tap water comes in totally cool (literally, they're chilled) branded bottles kept at your table throughout the meal.

I have to tell you, things only go up (way up) from here. We started with the bread...

Normally the bread is a place saver.  Not even substantial enough to be called an opening act, the bread basket is best metaphorically compared to house music before the lights even dim.  But let me tell you, at Spoon, this house music just might get a Tony nod. 

Crackling baguette slices were taken up a notch by delicious whipped butter.  And my taste buds couldn't award a winner between the cream cheese and green onion biscuits or the dill infused cornbread. I've never done this before at any establishment (aside from The Olive Garden), but I was forced to request a second basket. 

And then it was on to the...well, the opening act.

I had a difficult time choosing between two eye-catchers: Ahi Tuna Two Ways and Lobster Cake with a Pickled Beet Salad.  PID expressed interest in the tuna and so tuna we got.  He also ordered a bowl of the butternut squash soup. And I have to tell you, if the bread got a Tony nod, this first course took home the award without so much as a gasp of shock from the audience. Never has an appetizer won my heart the way both of these dishes did. It made my taste buds tingle in excited anticipation for the rest of my meal, though I never wanted it to end.


The Butternut Squash was a perfect seasonal dish.  It screamed of fall flavors -- squash and apples with a hint of bourbon -- with a few surprise delicious bites confit'd duck inside.

But it was the tuna dish that hogged the spotlight for me, both ways.  I dug right in to the raw ahi and soba noodles with a chili aoili that married the flavors together in such a way that hoped my marriage turns out half as happy.  Moving on to the tuna wrapped crab roll and avocado puree I didn't feel any less satisfied.  Though if you forced me to play favorites I'd give more face time to the noodle salad.

 

 This dish alone is worth a visit, though I can't say there's nothing more to be said about our meal.

Though it was hard to move on from the tuna-tongue-tango I'd just danced, it was time for our entree...

Here again PID and I battled back and forth amongst ourselves between menu options that all sounded equally delectable.  The waitress happily informed us that all of the poultry and beef items were raised cage free and grass/milk-fed (respectively) at locally based Kennedy Farms, so PID ordered the Veal Duo with enthusiasm as I chose the Horseradish & Crab-crusted Salmon.  If the tuna took home the Tony, these entrees cross-pollinated to piss off the pop-stars by winning both Tony and Grammy awards.

PID loves a good meatloaf, but admittedly has a bit of trouble letting go of mama PID's recipe as his unbeatable favorite.  He smiled as he took his first bite and assured me he'd found her some competition (but of course, nothing will ever TRULY beat mama PID's meatloaf).  For those who love meatloaf, you won't be disappointed.  It still maintains the comforting meatloaf consistency but flaunts a surprising burst of chipotle flavor.  The "duo" came from the meatloaf's braised counterpart, wrapped in bacon and served atop of Napa cabbage and forest mushrooms.  Juicy and satisfying. To say the very least. Even the carrot puree was a shining star.

I'm truthfully having a hard time coming up with what to say about my dish, mostly because my mind exploded when I took my first bite.  The salmon, perfectly cooked and falling apart on my fork, donned a bonnet of jumbo lump crab meat that melted in my mouth with the horseradish and bearnaise singing not-to-be-ignored backup.  But the shock of the dish was the homemade crispy gnocchi which took on more of a mashed potato ball feel.  I felt obligated to incorporate salmon, crab, sauce and gnocchi all together in every fork-full because it simply tasted so darn good. And although I separated the haricot verts (fancy word for French green beans for those of you who don't watch Top Chef or attend Le Cordon Bleu), they also were perfectly complimented by the bearnaise.

I really and truthfully did not want this meal to end.  None of it.  And so, PID agreed that we didn't have to let it.  To my delight, he asked for a dessert menu.  And so, it was on to the final act.

The waitress read us the list of daily house-made ice cream and sorbet selections but we had our eyes on a few other things.  PID opted for the angel food cake without so much as a second glance and I the pound cake with berry sorbet (sadly, the berry sorbet was not offered as a stand-alone item -- I asked).

The angel food cake's supporting cast of hand-whipped vanilla cream and almond brittle with raspberry puree stole the show.

While I apparently am better at eating than reading, I still enjoyed my dessert aside from the fact that the pound cake was infused with an essence of citrus (which, to someone like me who can unapprovingly smell an orange being peeled from 8 cubes away, the "essence of" more closely resembled "drowned in").  The berry sorbet won me over. I wanted more of it.

Cliffs Notes:

Drinks:           2 diet cokes @ $1.75
Appetizers:     Butternut Squash @ $4.00
                      Tuna Two Ways @ $14.00
Entrees:          Salmon @ $24.00
                      Veal @ $28.00
Desserts:         Pound cake @ $6.00
                      Angel food cake @ $6.00
Tax:                     @ 7% (Allegheny County only) $5.99
Tip:                      (since Erica was quick, informative and overly patient) $18.00
Total for Two:    $109.49

Overall Opinion: I have a new favorite restaurant.  My parents, when in town for a visit, are constantly bugging me to take them to the places I hold in highest regard and I've always had difficulty choosing.  This trip etched it in stone.  I can't think of a single negative thing to say about the restaurant's ambiance, waitstaff, or - most importantly - food. I absolutely cannot wait to go back and try the other menu items which caught my eye.  And neither can PID -- which is the truest test as he doesn't like to try anything twice as he often considers it a waste of time and money.  Spoon, you deserve a standing ovation and I cannot wait for the encore.

An aside:  Starting September 27, be sure to check out BRGR, opening next door in Spoon's hip lounge section featuring gourmet burgers that already have the town talking. (OK well maybe it's just me, but I'll talk with my mouth full of those things any day).

Pittsburgh Restaurants