Get'cho Butt to Gaucho!

Remember that time that I used to be a blogger? HA.

People, I apologize. Wedding planning and wedding dieting are not necessarily conducive to free time to write or free calories to consume.

But FEAR THEE NOT. I have a few reviews stored and ready to go to keep your taste buds informed.

One of those is one that I've been excited to post for some time.  Sammies from Gaucho in the Strip!

Gaucho is not your typical restaurant. It's a takeout joint. You come in, you "ooh" and "ahhhh" at the enormous amount of character that's accomplished in such a tiny area (the cuteness-per-square-inch ratio is phenomenal), you order, you GTFU.

There is an adorable little patio adjacent where you can eat outside, but mostly you just want to take these sammies to a (very) private place and indulge because THIS reaction is fairly imminent:

I ordered a Matambre (Flank Steak Sammie) and as I turned to head out and claim a seat under an umbrella, I spotted a Lazy Susan stocked with robust salsas. Four different kinds, all emitting their own unique, rustic aroma and all looking magnificently homemade. They were (in no order because i completely forget which was which...) a Chimmi Churri (traditional herbs and garlic), Pimenton (pepper and herbs), Ajo (roasted garlic) and Cebolla (carmelized onion). Obviously I had to try all four.

 When my sammie was delivered to me (in a glowing halo of light with angels singing somewhere off in the distance), I could already tell it was going to be good. The ciabatta bread was the perfect PANTONE 18-0940 and the oils from the grilled veggies and meat were being soaked in to just the perfect depth.

The meat was juicy and succulent. Easy to rip into with one bite, but not remotely brittle. I took a piece out of the sammie to eat with my fingers (like a true lady) and it was like I was eating candy. Delicious, cow-meat candy. It melted in my mouth and left a nice peppery aftertaste which did nothing but make me want more.

And those veggies. MY GOD. Those veggies. They were charred to perfection, the flavor was out of this world. They were the perfect complement to the steak.

Matambre (regular size), $10

Restaurant Info:
Gaucho Parrilla Argentina
1607 Penn Ave (in the Strip, near the 16th Street Bridge)
412-709-6622

Hours: 
Tues - Sat 11:00 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Reservations: 
Nope. There are four stools inside and a few tables outside, so come WAY before or well after noon to snag a seat at lunchtime.

Overall Opinion:
What I'm saying is, you gotta go here. You just gotta. Lunch break? Saturday in the strip? A nice quick dinner before a night on the town? It's a necessity. Bring your friends, but make sure you butt in front of them in line so you can order first. It's the best steak sammie I've ever had the privilege of putting in my mouth. They've got small plates that also look amazing and I cannot wait to go back and give them a try.

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Say Uncle!

Looks like I'm beginning to make this whole blog thing a monthly affair.  But that's okay, right? Right? Right...

So this month's post is review is one I've been wanting to share for a very long time! There's something special about Uncle Sam's Gourmet Subs.  We had one on campus at Pitt and it was a once weekly -- if not far more frequently -- affair all four years of my college career without fail. It was one of those places that when friends, parents, future students or really anyone came to visit, you just had to take them to try the best sub they surely will have ever eaten.

It wasn't until a few years ago that I even knew there were THREE other Uncle Sam's out there! I've officially eaten at three of the four locations (on numerous occasions...) and it's finally time to share my thoughts.

This week, PID and I finished an eight week diet plan.  (Update on that: I lost about 9 pounds and PID lost 14. Way to go, us!) To celebrate, we made the trip to Robinson to review (and revel in) the deliciousness that is Uncle Sam's Classic Sandwich Bar.

The Robinson location is by far my favorite of the three and I'll tell you why: they serve beer. While I'll say everything I've ever eaten at Uncle Sam's easily stands on it's own as a delicious meal, it often goes down so smooth with an ice cold brew. There's just something about a good sub and a good swig that's worth writing home about.  So good, it's not for the weak of heart.  Like the sign says: Ice Cold Beer, No Cry Babies.

The other thing I like about this location is the old school-diner feel.  Everything from the bar-stools to the nostalgic photograph collections on the wall, to the handwritten chalkboard specials make the experience about more than just eating.

But the eating here is nothing to scoff at, either! We ordered our usuals: for PID the Ultra Philly Cheesesteak

and for me, the Chicken Cheesesteak

For starters, everything is made fresh, right in front of your face.  The meat was cooked beyond perfectly. And, lucky us, the rolls were the freshest we've ever tasted at Uncle Sam's -- like they'd just come from the oven. Though I personally request my sandwich to consist of nothing but chicken, cheese and hot sauce, I still have big expectations of the taste of this sub, and it was delivered!

The final thing I can't get enough of at Uncle Sam's is the fries.  There's something about a skinny fry, crisped to perfection, that make my mouth water.  Sometimes I'll mix up some ketchup and hot sauce to dip them in, but they are perfectly fine all by themselves.



Restaurant Info:
Uncle Sam's

Oakland
‪210 Oakland Avenue
‪Pittsburgh, PA 15213-4064
‪(412) 621-1885
10:30am - 8:30pm Mon - Fri
11:00am - 8:00pm Sat
11:00am -6:00pm Sun
Waterworks Mall
‪936 Freeport Road
‪Blawnox, PA 15238-6172‬
‪(412) 781-3460
10:30am - 9:00pm Sun - Thurs
10:30am - 10:00pm Fri- Sat
Squirrel Hill
‪5808 Forbes Avenue
‪Pittsburgh, PA 15217-1602
‪(412) 521-7827
11:00am - 8:30pm Mon - Sat
11:00am - 6:00pm Sun
Robinson
225 Summit Park Dr
Pittsburgh, PA 15275
(412) 788-4782
10:30am - 9:00pm Mon - Thurs
10:30am - 9:30pm Fri - Sat
10:30am - 8:00pm Sun
Reservations: Don't take 'em and typically don't need 'em, but expect to wait a bit for a table if you go during a weekend lunch rush!
Price: $
Note: Waterworks, Squirrel Hill and Oakland locations are CASH ONLY.  Squirrel Hill and Oakland do not serve beer.

Cliffs Notes:
Ultra Philly Cheesesteak @ $7.35
Chicken Cheesesteak @ $6.95 (you can chicken-ize any sub option for $0.65 extra)
2 diet cokes @ $1.35
Tax (7 % in Allegheny County) @ $1.19
Tip @ $2.00
Total for two: $20.19

Overall Opinion:
I've been thinking it for years and now I've put it in print: best. subs. in. Pittsburgh. With a staff that you can't help but want to make friends with and a product that you can't help but want to order seconds of, this place certainly has it all.  If you haven't tried Uncle Sam's yet, please, PLEASE do. If you have, go relive the magic as soon as possible. 

Wordless...Monday?

Just had a refreshingly delicious lunch outside at the PPG Place Fountain and wanted to share it with everyone.

#4 Turkey Tom, e-z lettuce add avocado with barbecue Jimmy chips (I threw in a cookie for good measure.  It's waiting for me in my purse).  I spent $10.74 and it was worth every penny just to sit outside and enjoy a refreshing gourmet sub in the sun!

Happy Monday!