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.
Showing posts with label seafood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seafood. Show all posts
Thursday, February 14, 2013
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.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Taste-E Squared
After being thoroughly inspired by E2's kickstarter program, we realized we should probably (definitely) give their hyper-local menu a try.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Capstoned
PID and I had no intentions of dining out this week. You see, we've recently reviewed our bank statements (specifically, our restaurant expenditures) over the past 30 days and...let's just say the figure was less than flattering.
But when an empty fridge prohibited us from cooking a suitable meal at home we decided to dig into our coupon vault and pick a dinner option. Originally we chose the Olive Garden (we had a gift card), thinking it would be an in-and-out destination. CHA! Yeah right! we squeezed our way past what felt like a thousand people waiting and quickly turned down the hour and a half wait.
After a brief huddle, we decided on Capstone Grill on Rt. 19 in McMurray. We called ahead to check on their wait situation. We were told it would be 40 minutes, but with their call-ahead seating service we would have priority over any walk-ins who come in after our call and we should be able to slide in relatively soon after arriving. So we made the 27 minute trek.
When I walked in the door, the smell of seared scallops engulfed me. PID had eaten here only once before and raved about it for weeks, and this powerfully delectable scent was everything he described and more. But alas, our table was "not quite ready," and so we had to wait. And wait. And wait. All in all, we waited for 78 minutes. Not quite what we were expecting (or told). At 8:05 I looked at PID and said "if we're not the next name called, we're getting Taco Shop and calling it a night. Lucky for us, we WERE up next.
With hints of both desperation and exasperation in our voices, PID and I ordered the appetizers we'd known we'd wanted for the past 54 minutes, Bruschetta and Crab Stuffed Mushrooms.
After one bite, I immediately regretted my angst-filled post to Foursquare complaining about the wait and decided...it was worth it.
The bruschetta was bursting with flavor. The basil aioli was extremely refreshing and PID and I were shocked at the perfection of the toasted ciabatta. It was not too overdone and not to underdone, so it didn't fall apart/mutilate the roofs of our mouths (folks, it's happened), but still had a slight crunch to it. Belisimo!
The crab-stuffed mushrooms were excellent. The first thing I've noticed was that this was real, honest-to-God crab meat. Sadly, I've experienced many a stuffed-mushroom which didn't use the real stuff and it just doesn't measure up. Served hot and steamy, this appetizer really hit the spot. Which was dying to be hit...so, well played.
As we were waiting for these delicious appetizers, I began perusing the drink menu and -- although I had no real intentions of imbibing -- a certain martini caught my eye. I've always been a sucker for an good apple-tini, but this one touted a caramel apple twist. Sold! The drink, which was composed of apple schnapps, butterscotch schnapps, three olives vodka and a hint of cinnamon, was delivered in a stemless martini glass, set in a bowl of ice water. How classy!
Unfortunately I think mine had a touch too much butterscotch schnapps. But it had the makings of an excellent cocktail!
After a moment or two, freshly baked bread and red pepper oil, a salad with raspberry balsamic vinaigrette and Capstone's famous (and rightfully so, I've discovered) Clam Chowder arrived at the table. And away we nommed.
We moved on quickly to our entrees (it was LATE, after all) and boy were we pleased. I'd heard nothing but excellent things about the seafood, so I knew I wanted to try some fish. What's great about Capstone is that you can pick from a list of many fish options and then from another extensive list of preparations. This was beyond exciting to me...but overwhelming. Our adorable and knowledgeable server Robin did an outstanding job of steering me in the right direction once I let her in on my fish of choice. And so, I was served an order of Swordfish -- Thai Chilli BBQ style with a puff of wasabi.
The dish was served with a side corn concoction with cilantro and tomatoes and was by far one of the best side dishes I've had in a while -- as I'm sure you can tell, since I don't normally talk about sides at all. Cuz they're sides. And stuff.
But, as expected, the Swordfish was the star of the show here. Seared to perfection, this fish was less of a flaky white fish and took on a texture more reminiscent of an excellent cut of steak. It was more meaty and substantial. I definitely suggest it for folks who want to ease their way into eating fish. The spiciness of the Thai chillies and saltiness of the soy married excellently with the bite of the wasabi when I mixed them all together on the plate like a 5-year old coloring project gone horribly wrong. This dish? Delish.
PID had eaten the famed seafood at Capstone before, so the lingering growl in his tummy swayed him to order a giant hunk of cow to switch things up a bit. He originally wanted the NY Strip, but sadly -- being that it was nearly 9 p.m. when we ordered -- they were fresh out. Reluctantly he went for the Sirloin instead (14 oz. portion at that -- my darling growing boy...) but was pleasantly surprised. Sure it was a bit fatty -- what sirloin isn't? But it was just the right amount of fat to seal in that delicious juicy flavor. Even though the dish was served with a horseradish cream sauce, he forked over the $1.75 and topped his steak with crumbled bleu cheese -- what an incredible decision. One of my favorite flavor combinations...ON THE PLANET. He definitely enjoyed.
Restaurant Info:
The Capstone Grill
Address: 4050 Washington Rd, McMurray PA
Phone: (724) 941-1009
Reservations: Not taken, but you can call ahead for expedited seating (if you're lucky). On weekends, get here at LEAST an hour before you plan on eating anything at all.
Price: $$$
Cliffs Notes:
2 Diet Pepsi's @ $2.49
Tomato Bruschetta @ $5.25
Crab-stuffed Mushrooms @ $8.50
Caramel Apple Martini @ 9.50
6 oz. Swordfish (which came with salad and roast corn) @ $16.00
14 oz. Sirloin (which came with Clam Chowder) @ $21.95
Add bleu cheese @ $1.75
Tax (6% in Washington County): $3.51
Living Social coupon @ -$40.00
Tip @ $15.00 (a good TOPper always tips on the full amount)
Total for 2: $46.44
Overall Opinion:
Despite the fact that we waited...and waited.......and WAITED after being told it would be 30-40 minutes, we really enjoyed our overall experience here. The food definitely wound up being worth the wait. They really live up to the hype when it comes to serving some of the most outstanding seafood in Pittsburgh. If you like seafood but haven't yet made the trek to Capstone, what are you waiting for? This place will knock you right off your sea legs. A sign at the entrance of the restaurant defines Capstone as a "high point or culmination of a series of smaller achievements." This evening's meal was definitely a high point for us when it comes to being served outstanding food. Touche, CG -- and we must agree.
After a brief huddle, we decided on Capstone Grill on Rt. 19 in McMurray. We called ahead to check on their wait situation. We were told it would be 40 minutes, but with their call-ahead seating service we would have priority over any walk-ins who come in after our call and we should be able to slide in relatively soon after arriving. So we made the 27 minute trek.
When I walked in the door, the smell of seared scallops engulfed me. PID had eaten here only once before and raved about it for weeks, and this powerfully delectable scent was everything he described and more. But alas, our table was "not quite ready," and so we had to wait. And wait. And wait. All in all, we waited for 78 minutes. Not quite what we were expecting (or told). At 8:05 I looked at PID and said "if we're not the next name called, we're getting Taco Shop and calling it a night. Lucky for us, we WERE up next.
With hints of both desperation and exasperation in our voices, PID and I ordered the appetizers we'd known we'd wanted for the past 54 minutes, Bruschetta and Crab Stuffed Mushrooms.
After one bite, I immediately regretted my angst-filled post to Foursquare complaining about the wait and decided...it was worth it.
 |
| Tomato Bruschetta with Basil Aioli, $5.25 |
The bruschetta was bursting with flavor. The basil aioli was extremely refreshing and PID and I were shocked at the perfection of the toasted ciabatta. It was not too overdone and not to underdone, so it didn't fall apart/mutilate the roofs of our mouths (folks, it's happened), but still had a slight crunch to it. Belisimo!
 |
| Crab stuffed mushrooms, $8.50 |
The crab-stuffed mushrooms were excellent. The first thing I've noticed was that this was real, honest-to-God crab meat. Sadly, I've experienced many a stuffed-mushroom which didn't use the real stuff and it just doesn't measure up. Served hot and steamy, this appetizer really hit the spot. Which was dying to be hit...so, well played.
As we were waiting for these delicious appetizers, I began perusing the drink menu and -- although I had no real intentions of imbibing -- a certain martini caught my eye. I've always been a sucker for an good apple-tini, but this one touted a caramel apple twist. Sold! The drink, which was composed of apple schnapps, butterscotch schnapps, three olives vodka and a hint of cinnamon, was delivered in a stemless martini glass, set in a bowl of ice water. How classy!
 |
| Caramel Apple Martini, $9.50 |
Unfortunately I think mine had a touch too much butterscotch schnapps. But it had the makings of an excellent cocktail!
After a moment or two, freshly baked bread and red pepper oil, a salad with raspberry balsamic vinaigrette and Capstone's famous (and rightfully so, I've discovered) Clam Chowder arrived at the table. And away we nommed.
 |
| New England Clam Chowder |
We moved on quickly to our entrees (it was LATE, after all) and boy were we pleased. I'd heard nothing but excellent things about the seafood, so I knew I wanted to try some fish. What's great about Capstone is that you can pick from a list of many fish options and then from another extensive list of preparations. This was beyond exciting to me...but overwhelming. Our adorable and knowledgeable server Robin did an outstanding job of steering me in the right direction once I let her in on my fish of choice. And so, I was served an order of Swordfish -- Thai Chilli BBQ style with a puff of wasabi.
 |
| Teriyaki Swordfish, $16 |
The dish was served with a side corn concoction with cilantro and tomatoes and was by far one of the best side dishes I've had in a while -- as I'm sure you can tell, since I don't normally talk about sides at all. Cuz they're sides. And stuff.
 |
| Tomato cilantro roast corn |
But, as expected, the Swordfish was the star of the show here. Seared to perfection, this fish was less of a flaky white fish and took on a texture more reminiscent of an excellent cut of steak. It was more meaty and substantial. I definitely suggest it for folks who want to ease their way into eating fish. The spiciness of the Thai chillies and saltiness of the soy married excellently with the bite of the wasabi when I mixed them all together on the plate like a 5-year old coloring project gone horribly wrong. This dish? Delish.
 |
| 14 oz. Sirloin with Horseradish & Bleu Cheese, $21.95 |
PID had eaten the famed seafood at Capstone before, so the lingering growl in his tummy swayed him to order a giant hunk of cow to switch things up a bit. He originally wanted the NY Strip, but sadly -- being that it was nearly 9 p.m. when we ordered -- they were fresh out. Reluctantly he went for the Sirloin instead (14 oz. portion at that -- my darling growing boy...) but was pleasantly surprised. Sure it was a bit fatty -- what sirloin isn't? But it was just the right amount of fat to seal in that delicious juicy flavor. Even though the dish was served with a horseradish cream sauce, he forked over the $1.75 and topped his steak with crumbled bleu cheese -- what an incredible decision. One of my favorite flavor combinations...ON THE PLANET. He definitely enjoyed.
Restaurant Info:
The Capstone Grill
Address: 4050 Washington Rd, McMurray PA
Phone: (724) 941-1009
Reservations: Not taken, but you can call ahead for expedited seating (if you're lucky). On weekends, get here at LEAST an hour before you plan on eating anything at all.
Price: $$$
Cliffs Notes:
2 Diet Pepsi's @ $2.49
Tomato Bruschetta @ $5.25
Crab-stuffed Mushrooms @ $8.50
Caramel Apple Martini @ 9.50
6 oz. Swordfish (which came with salad and roast corn) @ $16.00
14 oz. Sirloin (which came with Clam Chowder) @ $21.95
Add bleu cheese @ $1.75
Tax (6% in Washington County): $3.51
Living Social coupon @ -$40.00
Tip @ $15.00 (a good TOPper always tips on the full amount)
Total for 2: $46.44
Overall Opinion:
Despite the fact that we waited...and waited.......and WAITED after being told it would be 30-40 minutes, we really enjoyed our overall experience here. The food definitely wound up being worth the wait. They really live up to the hype when it comes to serving some of the most outstanding seafood in Pittsburgh. If you like seafood but haven't yet made the trek to Capstone, what are you waiting for? This place will knock you right off your sea legs. A sign at the entrance of the restaurant defines Capstone as a "high point or culmination of a series of smaller achievements." This evening's meal was definitely a high point for us when it comes to being served outstanding food. Touche, CG -- and we must agree.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Taste of Virginia Beach
This week, ToP and PID went coastal.
A trip originally designed as a Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon adventure turned in to a seafood marathon in it's own right. PID and I ate like kings of the sea for six straight days without waning. I just about turned in to a scallop myself.
My goal in life is to tell ya'll all about Pittsburgh dining at it's finest, but even a burghaholic like myself needs to spread her wings every once a while! So PID and I flew down south to expand our palates to a bit of southern cuisine, Virginia Beach style.
In case any of you are planning a trip to VA Beach in the near future I'll give you a few hints as to your dining destinations! If you're considering places to vacation, think about this family friendly location as a great place to catch some rays and lick your lips!
Location: 23rd St. between Atlantic and Pacific
We ate: Oysters Rockefeller and Corby's Original Crab Dip as appetizers, PID the Crab Cakes and I the Scallops Barca for dinner.
We thought: Absolutely outstanding! I was moderately disappointed in the ORocks. I've had better. They had a slightly fishy scent and way too much spinach. But the scallops and crab cakes were broiled to perfection. We walked right past the restaurant twice before having to ask where it was. Keep your eyes peeled! Hidden in the form of a beach house with no sign of a...well...sign anywhere, this establishment is a fine piece of trickery that keeps tourists at bay while catering to the locals and tourists-in-the-know like PID and myself. We were told we'd have an hour wait and were seated in 20 minutes. What a fine evening!
The price: $$
Name: Baja Cantina
Location: 23rd St. between Atlantic and Pacific
We ate: PID ordered the mahi mahi famous fish tacos and I went for the tuna flautas
We thought: WOW. Relatives of mine had been raving about this place for years. I finally took the step since we noticed it across the street from Tautog's the evening before. PID and I rented bikes (yes, we did it) and rode our way down from our 36th Street hotel for lunch on Sunday afternoon. Though we were joined by a few fellow racers, there was no wait for a well shaded outside table. Mahi tacos and tuna flautas were TO. DIE. FOR. The Cantina's queso sauce and homemade pico de gallo made the dishes truly stand out. Don't wait as long as I did to put this place to the test for yourself.
The price: $
Name: Pocahontas Pancakes
Location: 35th and Atlantic
We ate: Strawberry Belgian Waffles to share, PID the Eggs Sampler and I the Gyro Feta Omelet with diced tomatoes.
We thought: We were pretty darn lucky to be staying across the street, or else we may not have discovered this gem. Though we were slightly cramped against our neighbors, it only proved a problem as we became embarrassed about the fact that we ordered three large breakfasts and scarfed down every single bite. The staff was extraordinary, it kept the place flowing regardless of the mega millions waiting outside for their delicious morning treat.
The price: $
Our 3-4 Star Recommendations:
Name: Catch 31 Fish House and Bar
Location: Laskin and Oceanfront
We ate: Steamed clams, crispy fried calamari, PID had the Catch "Ciopino" and I had the Bronzed Yellow Fin Tuna
We thought: Delicious, but not worth the three hour wait. We arrived at 6:15, about an hour before hunger pangs kicked in, anticipating a long wait. As expected, we were told to expect an hour and 15 minutes. So we waited in the beautiful white rocking chairs and took in the setting sun and sea breeze. But an hour and 45 minutes later when we still weren't seated, I had to ask what was going on. I was then told 10 more minutes. Thirty minutes later and still, we waited. Finally, at 9:05 we were seated. Though I had complained at the wait and the notable occurrence where a couple who arrived 20 minutes after us were seated before us, we were offered no complimentary...anything. Luckily the service was swift and the food was tasty, but PID was less than impressed and though the Tuna was perfect, my rice was slightly overdone. I say check it out for the ambiance and fresh fish alone, but go in the off-season.
Price: $$$
Our 1-2 Star Spots to Avoid:
Neptune's
Location: 29th & oceanfront
Why: Most of the buffet food had been sitting out for hours. The clams were watered down. The butter tasted like...mystery liquid. The stuffed mushrooms were the only saving grace.
Fish Bones
Location: 12th and oceanfront
Why: Just....blech.
Waterman's Surfside Grille
Location: 5th and oceanfront
Why: SUCH A BUMMER! This place had been recommended to us numerous times. But we were sorely disappointed. My "Just Seafood" platter consisted of completely unseasoned scallops, watered down lump crab meat and tough shrimp. The "veggies" offered me a steamed carrot or two, one quarter of a sprig of asparagus and about 30 slices of squash. BORING! PID got the fried seafood platter and quickly regretted it. It was way too much, even for him. If you claim to have the best crab cakes on the beach you'd better back it up. They did not. Don't listen to the hype. A seafood specialist who can't properly season seafood? Not worth the trek to the inlet.
I will post a few more (coming soon) but for now, these are the best and worst of our vacation!
We had a delicious time, but we're certainly glad to be back in the 'burgh!
A trip originally designed as a Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon adventure turned in to a seafood marathon in it's own right. PID and I ate like kings of the sea for six straight days without waning. I just about turned in to a scallop myself.
My goal in life is to tell ya'll all about Pittsburgh dining at it's finest, but even a burghaholic like myself needs to spread her wings every once a while! So PID and I flew down south to expand our palates to a bit of southern cuisine, Virginia Beach style.
In case any of you are planning a trip to VA Beach in the near future I'll give you a few hints as to your dining destinations! If you're considering places to vacation, think about this family friendly location as a great place to catch some rays and lick your lips!
Our 4-5 Star Recommendations:
Name: Tautog's
Location: 23rd St. between Atlantic and Pacific
We ate: Oysters Rockefeller and Corby's Original Crab Dip as appetizers, PID the Crab Cakes and I the Scallops Barca for dinner.
We thought: Absolutely outstanding! I was moderately disappointed in the ORocks. I've had better. They had a slightly fishy scent and way too much spinach. But the scallops and crab cakes were broiled to perfection. We walked right past the restaurant twice before having to ask where it was. Keep your eyes peeled! Hidden in the form of a beach house with no sign of a...well...sign anywhere, this establishment is a fine piece of trickery that keeps tourists at bay while catering to the locals and tourists-in-the-know like PID and myself. We were told we'd have an hour wait and were seated in 20 minutes. What a fine evening!
The price: $$
Name: Baja Cantina
Location: 23rd St. between Atlantic and Pacific
We ate: PID ordered the mahi mahi famous fish tacos and I went for the tuna flautas
We thought: WOW. Relatives of mine had been raving about this place for years. I finally took the step since we noticed it across the street from Tautog's the evening before. PID and I rented bikes (yes, we did it) and rode our way down from our 36th Street hotel for lunch on Sunday afternoon. Though we were joined by a few fellow racers, there was no wait for a well shaded outside table. Mahi tacos and tuna flautas were TO. DIE. FOR. The Cantina's queso sauce and homemade pico de gallo made the dishes truly stand out. Don't wait as long as I did to put this place to the test for yourself.
The price: $
Name: Pocahontas Pancakes
Location: 35th and Atlantic
We ate: Strawberry Belgian Waffles to share, PID the Eggs Sampler and I the Gyro Feta Omelet with diced tomatoes.
We thought: We were pretty darn lucky to be staying across the street, or else we may not have discovered this gem. Though we were slightly cramped against our neighbors, it only proved a problem as we became embarrassed about the fact that we ordered three large breakfasts and scarfed down every single bite. The staff was extraordinary, it kept the place flowing regardless of the mega millions waiting outside for their delicious morning treat.
The price: $
Our 3-4 Star Recommendations:
Name: Catch 31 Fish House and Bar
Location: Laskin and Oceanfront
We ate: Steamed clams, crispy fried calamari, PID had the Catch "Ciopino" and I had the Bronzed Yellow Fin Tuna
We thought: Delicious, but not worth the three hour wait. We arrived at 6:15, about an hour before hunger pangs kicked in, anticipating a long wait. As expected, we were told to expect an hour and 15 minutes. So we waited in the beautiful white rocking chairs and took in the setting sun and sea breeze. But an hour and 45 minutes later when we still weren't seated, I had to ask what was going on. I was then told 10 more minutes. Thirty minutes later and still, we waited. Finally, at 9:05 we were seated. Though I had complained at the wait and the notable occurrence where a couple who arrived 20 minutes after us were seated before us, we were offered no complimentary...anything. Luckily the service was swift and the food was tasty, but PID was less than impressed and though the Tuna was perfect, my rice was slightly overdone. I say check it out for the ambiance and fresh fish alone, but go in the off-season.
Price: $$$
Our 1-2 Star Spots to Avoid:
Neptune's
Location: 29th & oceanfront
Why: Most of the buffet food had been sitting out for hours. The clams were watered down. The butter tasted like...mystery liquid. The stuffed mushrooms were the only saving grace.
Fish Bones
Location: 12th and oceanfront
Why: Just....blech.
Waterman's Surfside Grille
Location: 5th and oceanfront
Why: SUCH A BUMMER! This place had been recommended to us numerous times. But we were sorely disappointed. My "Just Seafood" platter consisted of completely unseasoned scallops, watered down lump crab meat and tough shrimp. The "veggies" offered me a steamed carrot or two, one quarter of a sprig of asparagus and about 30 slices of squash. BORING! PID got the fried seafood platter and quickly regretted it. It was way too much, even for him. If you claim to have the best crab cakes on the beach you'd better back it up. They did not. Don't listen to the hype. A seafood specialist who can't properly season seafood? Not worth the trek to the inlet.
I will post a few more (coming soon) but for now, these are the best and worst of our vacation!
We had a delicious time, but we're certainly glad to be back in the 'burgh!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Thirsty Thursday: ilLUMAnated
It was a dark and rainy night...
OK so it was just a Wednesday in the 'burgh.
Anyway, after a crazy day on both our parts, PID and I decided to take advantage of the rain which granted us momentary freedom from soccer, dog walks and Pirates games to use our Groupon to Luma (which has been burning a hole in my inbox for far too long)!
Luma has two locations: Aspinwall and Mt. Lebanon. We chose Mt. Lebo due to its far superior proximity to home.
As soon as we pulled in to the parking lot (which was on a steep incline, but hey, we're in Pittsburgh. We should be used to this by now) I could already tell I was going to like it there. We had to walk past the back patio to get to the door and I could see through the glass doors to what looked like a very mod ambiance. I was giddy with excitement.
We arrived to a packed waiting area without an empty bar seat in the house. I immediately kicked myself after assuring PID on multiple occasions that we wouldn't need reservations on a Wednesday. Turns out, Luma has half price wine on Wednesdays! What a pleasant surprise! They call it "Winedown Wednesday" which I find clever and appealing. Every single bottle of wine on their menu (aside from the 5 selections which are priced at over $100) was available for half off as a bottle or stem which is different than many 1/2 price wine nights I've experienced. It was fabulous!
And so it was on to the wine... much earlier than we'd anticipated.
While there were no seats at the bar, there was no way we could turn down ordering a bottle for while we waited for our table. I relished the thought of having more affordable choices and stared at the menu for what felt like hours before finally landing on the Excelsior Cabernet, originally priced @ $22/bottle.
I must say that if you don't happen to try Luma on a Wednesday they still do have a great selection of "Twenty at $20" wines. The hostess was nice enough to hold the opened bottle under her station as we held tightly to our stems.
As we sipped, we began innocently eavesdropping as PID and I do so well when we heard a very familiar voice. I turned to my left to see Paul Steigerwald, glass of red wine in one hand and Blackberry in another, waiting patiently for what the hostess referred to as his usual table. I couldn't bring myself to ask for a picture, he looked like he just wanted to enjoy his wine, but I leaned over and had to ask:
me: "So you come here often?" (Yes. I really said it.)
Steigy: "From time to time."
me: "Is it worth the wait?"
Steigy: "The wine sure as heck is!"
We air-cheersed (can I copywrite that?) and I left him to his texting.
Finally our table was ready and since we'd been waiting for about 30 minutes (don't make our mistake, reserve a table no matter the day of the week), we were already prepared with our order and it was on to the appetizer.
Now Brie is one of my favorite cheeses. I've made my own chutneys and had myself a delicious snack at home, but never experienced anything quite like what we were served at Luma. This brie was baked to a light browned skin and was served with a sticky glob (and I mean that in the most positive way possible) of a pecan and brown sugar mixture which I have to assume had maple syrup in it.
I almost felt bad eating it before my meal. The pecans and brown sugar were the perfect level of sweetness and the cheese literally melted on the knife as we sliced it. It would have made for a great dessert. I was very interested in the choice of crackers as well. They were large sesame crackers. Not something I would have paired with pecans and brown sugar...but it worked!
PID couldn't resist ordering a cup of She-Crab Bisque. Had I been confident enough in my stomach to order yet another food item, I would have done the same. He was in heaven. He loves spicy which is just what this bisque was.
And while typically I like a kick of spice as much as the next gal, this crab had a bit more than a pinch (get it?) of cayenne which didn't seem to fit with the rest of the ingredients. Maybe I'm biased to my Rudy's Inlet she-crab bisque in Virginia Beach, but I wasn't feeling it as much as PID was.
It was a busy night -- Winedown Wednesday will do that to you I suppose -- so the service was slightly slow. We had to order a diet Pepsi for PID three times. When our waitress finally returned after our third order she informed us that they were out, but she was going to send someone to the pizza shop down the street to pick up some more. This completely made up for her original forgetfulness. Really? You'll walk down the street for more? We politely told her it wasn't necessary, but of course she brought it for him anyway. That's server dedication! Bravo. With supply & demand as well as labor costs in consideration she probably could have charged us $19 for the glass. She didn't of course, but needless to say we didn't bother her for a refill.
After we received coveted beverage, we moved on to our entrees.
PID and I decided we're around each other so much that we've adopted one another's eating habits. He went for the Spicy Shrimp Pasta (served with asparagus) while I opted for the Tenderloin Alfredo. He took my seafood and I his steak. Thank goodness we don't mind spreading germs because we each ate right off of the other's plate.
PID was very satisfied with his dish but asked me to share with all of you with a very important lesson:
Always bring a Tide Pen.
When you're wearing a lovely white button down (he looked so dapper), you don't want this...
...anywhere near it. I took a bite and this dish was spiced to perfection (as well as beautifully plated). The heat felt more appropriate with shrimp and pasta than the crab bisque and the asparagus acted as a cooling element. I wasn't sure how I felt about the choice in using Angel Hair pasta in this dish versus a thicker variety, but PID insisted it didn't affect his enjoyment one bit.
Unfortunately I was slightly less pleased with my meal. Upon ordering, I was intrigued by the thought of tenderloin paired with fettuccine Alfredo. I'd never seen it served this way before (am I just naive?) but I like steak and I love Alfredo. So why shouldn't we put 'em together?! Sadly, I quickly figured that out. First, I was completely overwhelmed by the size and number of medallions served with the dish. I'm already eating a heaping bowl of pasta. Adding four fist sized cuts of steak (and I'm taking man fists, here) makes me full before just by looking at it.
But I'm very sad to say that wasn't the dish's only problem. The meat was extremely bland. It lacked flavor completely. I forced myself to drag it through the excess Alfredo sauce just to make it taste like...well...anything. The four medallions were also cooked extremely inconsistently. I ordered them medium well. I believe two came that way while one came merely seared and still another was unbearably charred. I don't want to knock this dish completely, however. The Alfredo sauce was some of the best I've tasted -- ever. It was surprisingly light while still holding an absurd amount of flavor. The fettuccine on its own would have been a meal enough for me. I wondered to myself if the meat was poorly cooked only due to the busy evening -- but then I reminded myself that that shouldn't be an excuse.
We, once again, didn't partake in dessert, but the table to my left sure did. It appeared to me that the family of four ordered one of everything on the menu! Looked like a sorbet, a cappuccino, some type of mousse and a few other delights with whipped cream on top. Maybe they write a restaurant blog, too...?
Cliffs Notes:
Groupon: 1 @ $20
Drinks: 1 Diet Pepsi @ 2.25
1 bottle of Excelsior Cabernet @ (Guess what? you have to choose between using a Groupon and paying half price for wine. had I known this, I probably would have paid for the wine at the bar rather than having it transferred to my table. I was less than pleased, but it was delicious wine so I shrugged my shoulders and chose to use the Groupon. I WARN YOU NOW! No Groupons on a Wednesday if you're a wine freak like myself) $22
Appetizer: Baked Brie @ $9
She-Crab Bisque @ $7
Entree: Spicy Shrimp Pasta @ $16
Tenderloin Alfredo for $22
Tax: 7% Sales Tax (Allegheny County only) @ $5.38
Tip: $15 (because "good grouponers" tip on the entire amount)
Groupon Discount: - $40
TOTAL FOR TWO: $76.93
Overall opinion:
It was deja vu all over again with the ambiance. I couldn't help but feel I'd been there before until I went back home and did some research. A Pittsburgh phenom, Head Chef Michael Rudman also heads up the kitchen at Willow. I must say, although it was slightly more expensive, I would have to suggest Willow over Luma. However, I absolutely have no qualms returning to Luma -- maybe trying the Aspinwall location. The menu was captivating and though I may have chosen the wrong entree, it wasn't because of a lack of desirable choices. I'm convinced my less than excellent experience was a one-time fluke that can be easily corrected with a return visit. And PID enjoyed every bite. So give it a try! If for nothing but the wine and the atmosphere alone!
OK so it was just a Wednesday in the 'burgh.
Anyway, after a crazy day on both our parts, PID and I decided to take advantage of the rain which granted us momentary freedom from soccer, dog walks and Pirates games to use our Groupon to Luma (which has been burning a hole in my inbox for far too long)!
Luma has two locations: Aspinwall and Mt. Lebanon. We chose Mt. Lebo due to its far superior proximity to home.
As soon as we pulled in to the parking lot (which was on a steep incline, but hey, we're in Pittsburgh. We should be used to this by now) I could already tell I was going to like it there. We had to walk past the back patio to get to the door and I could see through the glass doors to what looked like a very mod ambiance. I was giddy with excitement.
We arrived to a packed waiting area without an empty bar seat in the house. I immediately kicked myself after assuring PID on multiple occasions that we wouldn't need reservations on a Wednesday. Turns out, Luma has half price wine on Wednesdays! What a pleasant surprise! They call it "Winedown Wednesday" which I find clever and appealing. Every single bottle of wine on their menu (aside from the 5 selections which are priced at over $100) was available for half off as a bottle or stem which is different than many 1/2 price wine nights I've experienced. It was fabulous!
And so it was on to the wine... much earlier than we'd anticipated.
While there were no seats at the bar, there was no way we could turn down ordering a bottle for while we waited for our table. I relished the thought of having more affordable choices and stared at the menu for what felt like hours before finally landing on the Excelsior Cabernet, originally priced @ $22/bottle.
I must say that if you don't happen to try Luma on a Wednesday they still do have a great selection of "Twenty at $20" wines. The hostess was nice enough to hold the opened bottle under her station as we held tightly to our stems.
As we sipped, we began innocently eavesdropping as PID and I do so well when we heard a very familiar voice. I turned to my left to see Paul Steigerwald, glass of red wine in one hand and Blackberry in another, waiting patiently for what the hostess referred to as his usual table. I couldn't bring myself to ask for a picture, he looked like he just wanted to enjoy his wine, but I leaned over and had to ask:
me: "So you come here often?" (Yes. I really said it.)
Steigy: "From time to time."
me: "Is it worth the wait?"
Steigy: "The wine sure as heck is!"
We air-cheersed (can I copywrite that?) and I left him to his texting.
Finally our table was ready and since we'd been waiting for about 30 minutes (don't make our mistake, reserve a table no matter the day of the week), we were already prepared with our order and it was on to the appetizer.
Now Brie is one of my favorite cheeses. I've made my own chutneys and had myself a delicious snack at home, but never experienced anything quite like what we were served at Luma. This brie was baked to a light browned skin and was served with a sticky glob (and I mean that in the most positive way possible) of a pecan and brown sugar mixture which I have to assume had maple syrup in it.
I almost felt bad eating it before my meal. The pecans and brown sugar were the perfect level of sweetness and the cheese literally melted on the knife as we sliced it. It would have made for a great dessert. I was very interested in the choice of crackers as well. They were large sesame crackers. Not something I would have paired with pecans and brown sugar...but it worked!
PID couldn't resist ordering a cup of She-Crab Bisque. Had I been confident enough in my stomach to order yet another food item, I would have done the same. He was in heaven. He loves spicy which is just what this bisque was.
And while typically I like a kick of spice as much as the next gal, this crab had a bit more than a pinch (get it?) of cayenne which didn't seem to fit with the rest of the ingredients. Maybe I'm biased to my Rudy's Inlet she-crab bisque in Virginia Beach, but I wasn't feeling it as much as PID was.
It was a busy night -- Winedown Wednesday will do that to you I suppose -- so the service was slightly slow. We had to order a diet Pepsi for PID three times. When our waitress finally returned after our third order she informed us that they were out, but she was going to send someone to the pizza shop down the street to pick up some more. This completely made up for her original forgetfulness. Really? You'll walk down the street for more? We politely told her it wasn't necessary, but of course she brought it for him anyway. That's server dedication! Bravo. With supply & demand as well as labor costs in consideration she probably could have charged us $19 for the glass. She didn't of course, but needless to say we didn't bother her for a refill.
After we received coveted beverage, we moved on to our entrees.
PID and I decided we're around each other so much that we've adopted one another's eating habits. He went for the Spicy Shrimp Pasta (served with asparagus) while I opted for the Tenderloin Alfredo. He took my seafood and I his steak. Thank goodness we don't mind spreading germs because we each ate right off of the other's plate.
PID was very satisfied with his dish but asked me to share with all of you with a very important lesson:
Always bring a Tide Pen.
When you're wearing a lovely white button down (he looked so dapper), you don't want this...
...anywhere near it. I took a bite and this dish was spiced to perfection (as well as beautifully plated). The heat felt more appropriate with shrimp and pasta than the crab bisque and the asparagus acted as a cooling element. I wasn't sure how I felt about the choice in using Angel Hair pasta in this dish versus a thicker variety, but PID insisted it didn't affect his enjoyment one bit.
Unfortunately I was slightly less pleased with my meal. Upon ordering, I was intrigued by the thought of tenderloin paired with fettuccine Alfredo. I'd never seen it served this way before (am I just naive?) but I like steak and I love Alfredo. So why shouldn't we put 'em together?! Sadly, I quickly figured that out. First, I was completely overwhelmed by the size and number of medallions served with the dish. I'm already eating a heaping bowl of pasta. Adding four fist sized cuts of steak (and I'm taking man fists, here) makes me full before just by looking at it.
But I'm very sad to say that wasn't the dish's only problem. The meat was extremely bland. It lacked flavor completely. I forced myself to drag it through the excess Alfredo sauce just to make it taste like...well...anything. The four medallions were also cooked extremely inconsistently. I ordered them medium well. I believe two came that way while one came merely seared and still another was unbearably charred. I don't want to knock this dish completely, however. The Alfredo sauce was some of the best I've tasted -- ever. It was surprisingly light while still holding an absurd amount of flavor. The fettuccine on its own would have been a meal enough for me. I wondered to myself if the meat was poorly cooked only due to the busy evening -- but then I reminded myself that that shouldn't be an excuse.
We, once again, didn't partake in dessert, but the table to my left sure did. It appeared to me that the family of four ordered one of everything on the menu! Looked like a sorbet, a cappuccino, some type of mousse and a few other delights with whipped cream on top. Maybe they write a restaurant blog, too...?
Cliffs Notes:
Groupon: 1 @ $20
Drinks: 1 Diet Pepsi @ 2.25
1 bottle of Excelsior Cabernet @ (Guess what? you have to choose between using a Groupon and paying half price for wine. had I known this, I probably would have paid for the wine at the bar rather than having it transferred to my table. I was less than pleased, but it was delicious wine so I shrugged my shoulders and chose to use the Groupon. I WARN YOU NOW! No Groupons on a Wednesday if you're a wine freak like myself) $22
Appetizer: Baked Brie @ $9
She-Crab Bisque @ $7
Entree: Spicy Shrimp Pasta @ $16
Tenderloin Alfredo for $22
Tax: 7% Sales Tax (Allegheny County only) @ $5.38
Tip: $15 (because "good grouponers" tip on the entire amount)
Groupon Discount: - $40
TOTAL FOR TWO: $76.93
Overall opinion:
It was deja vu all over again with the ambiance. I couldn't help but feel I'd been there before until I went back home and did some research. A Pittsburgh phenom, Head Chef Michael Rudman also heads up the kitchen at Willow. I must say, although it was slightly more expensive, I would have to suggest Willow over Luma. However, I absolutely have no qualms returning to Luma -- maybe trying the Aspinwall location. The menu was captivating and though I may have chosen the wrong entree, it wasn't because of a lack of desirable choices. I'm convinced my less than excellent experience was a one-time fluke that can be easily corrected with a return visit. And PID enjoyed every bite. So give it a try! If for nothing but the wine and the atmosphere alone!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Wordless Wednesday: Food IS Art
Looking for a less-than-obvious place to find great food? Just look for great art.
I skipped across the Blvd of the Allies for lunch outside on Monday.....there were a few choices.
I settled on something called "edible salad bowl" $10 (plus $1 per extra meat). Edible salad? I certainly hope so... but start with a freshly baked taco bowl, add a few tongfuls of this HEAPING bowl of salad, top it off with a mix of grilled veggies, chicken and shrimp and throw in a dollop of light sour cream and it's more than edible. It's delectable. Look for them on the Point side of the festival.
Although it was quite satisfying, I was not satisfied. And so the only logical solution was to go back on Tuesday. But this time I was determined to dig deep and find something....exciting! And that is exactly what I did. I was distracted by amazing photography, vivid paintings, metal welding and some really cool clocks...but hidden deep in the depths of the arts fest (between the back of the Hilton and the KDKA newsroom) lay a treasure.....
LOBSTER BURGERS?!?!?!?!!! Sign. Me. Up. I ordered one for $8 (want a combo with fries and a salad? tack on $2) and, just to test my stomach, an order of -- wait for it... -- coconut shrimp! (also $8)
I refuse to exaggerate, but I must tell you this was, by far, THE VERY BEST LUNCH I have EVER eaten. EVER. I threw in a $5 freshly squeezed lemonade and snagged a bench in the park to make it an authentic "arts fest" meal.
Personally, I was spent. I couldn't have been happier with my meal. But if you've got a sweet tooth, you will not be left wanting. A few parting photos to tickle your tastebud fancy...
See you at the Three Rivers Arts Festival! (Hurry!! Only 5 days left!)
I skipped across the Blvd of the Allies for lunch outside on Monday.....there were a few choices.
I settled on something called "edible salad bowl" $10 (plus $1 per extra meat). Edible salad? I certainly hope so... but start with a freshly baked taco bowl, add a few tongfuls of this HEAPING bowl of salad, top it off with a mix of grilled veggies, chicken and shrimp and throw in a dollop of light sour cream and it's more than edible. It's delectable. Look for them on the Point side of the festival.
Although it was quite satisfying, I was not satisfied. And so the only logical solution was to go back on Tuesday. But this time I was determined to dig deep and find something....exciting! And that is exactly what I did. I was distracted by amazing photography, vivid paintings, metal welding and some really cool clocks...but hidden deep in the depths of the arts fest (between the back of the Hilton and the KDKA newsroom) lay a treasure.....
LOBSTER BURGERS?!?!?!?!!! Sign. Me. Up. I ordered one for $8 (want a combo with fries and a salad? tack on $2) and, just to test my stomach, an order of -- wait for it... -- coconut shrimp! (also $8)
I refuse to exaggerate, but I must tell you this was, by far, THE VERY BEST LUNCH I have EVER eaten. EVER. I threw in a $5 freshly squeezed lemonade and snagged a bench in the park to make it an authentic "arts fest" meal.
Personally, I was spent. I couldn't have been happier with my meal. But if you've got a sweet tooth, you will not be left wanting. A few parting photos to tickle your tastebud fancy...
See you at the Three Rivers Arts Festival! (Hurry!! Only 5 days left!)
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Monday Night Raw (Tuna)
Let me start off by saying that PID and I are not millionaires. We're far from making Pittsburgh's Finest lists of any kind and it's a rare occasion that we get out more than once a week, especially to a fancy establishment. So while this may be my second post about a schwanky restaurant in two days, don't let it fool you. I do not have the income to supply posts of this caliber at this frequency. But it just so happened that last night was one of those evenings where the stars aligned (and by "stars aligned" I mean it was a miserable boring Monday that we wanted to spice up, we'd been holding on to this groupon for quite some time, and I was jonesin' for some TarTar). So we bit the bullet, printed out our groupon and headed to Willow on Camp Horn Road.
I hadn't heard much about this place, to be honest the first I'd heard about it at all was the moment I received my daily groupon e-mail alerting me of the 50% off deal. But the moment I clicked on the link which drove me to their website, I was intrigued. I'm in PR. A good website speaks volumes to an overall first impression and ultimately impacts your potential diner's decision making process. At least that's what happened with PID and me. I was sold on the general appearance and Chef Rudman's rap sheet before I'd even glimpsed at a menu. I will say I've been fooled by magical photography and/or Photoshop in the past, but let me assure you that Willow uses no such trickery. The website gallery barely comes close to doing justice to the ambiance at Willow. It's truly a beautiful atmosphere.
As the website promises, the restaurant is nestled safely in a bed of trees, hidden from commercialized society and free from the chaos of evening traffic. Though we opted to forgo the seemingly beautiful patio due to the cold front and drizzle, we could tell upon walking in that things tended to remain quiet regardless of it's proximity to I-279. Though I can't speak to it directly, I'd definitely suggest taking advantage of outside dining here during the summer.
We had made reservations on www.opentable.com and the hostess was waiting for us when we arrived. She showed us through a few rooms (though the restaurant seats up to 300, it maintains an intimate setting by hosting multiple dining rooms, all with a different yet equally appealing feel)...
...until we reached our destination. PID and I were seated by the fireplace, but not before first being asked if it suited us. It did. We sat.
And so it was time for the wine.
When our waiter arrived with water in hand, he was slightly nervous, but extremely friendly. He reminded me of a friend from college and made both PID and I feel comfortable and welcome. I ordered a stem of one of my favorite vices, Rhein River Reisling for $8, while PID went for the Chilean Veramonte Merlot for $11. We were overly pleased with the wine list. We had the option of ordering by the glass, 1/2 bottle or full bottle and the choices went on for 12 pages. There was also a reserve list at which, sadly, we couldn't even afford to tease ourselves by taking a peek.
Then came the bread.
Always an exciting amuse bouche. Though I only indulged in a half a slice, we were quite pleased with the oil and herbs. But that's not what I came for.
Then on to the appetizer.
I'd been excited about this for a while. Without boasting, I would like to shamelessly proclaim that I consider myself a connoisseur of tuna tartar. It is, by far, my favorite dish. You'll learn quickly that if tuna tartar is on the menu, I will order it and tell you what I think, whether you like tartar or not! Willow's Hawaiian Tuna Tartar (for $14) looked promising; a different take on a classic dish. I wasn't at all disappointed, but you'll learn something else about me quickly: I consider cucumber a cop-out. Though refreshing, to me it's less of a flavorful component and more of a cooling agent. I've rarely found it to be particularly appealing in use in salads, sandwiches, kabobs, and especially not tartar. While I do appreciate the palate cleansing affect it has on odorous raw fish in some Maki, tuna is far from an odorous fish. I personally feel the crunch and cool of the cucumber took away from the overall texture and taste of the tuna, avocado and sirachi. Some, especially those who have a greater appreciation for cucumber, may disagree. However, pieces were easy enough to navigate around and the remaining tartar was fresh and flavorful. Another thing I love about ordering tartar at different restaurants is seeing how creative they can be with what to serve with it. In this case, we were served large crispy wonton chips. As I'd suspected, we ran out of chips before we ran out of tartar, but our waiter was quick to bring us more (without us even requesting them) and I was pleasantly surprised!
And finally the main course.
This took us a while on our own accord. Our waiter was very patient, continuously allotting us more time to read the menu (repeatedly) and answering every question we had. I tend to ask for a waitstaff's opinion only if I deem them a reliable source. PID and I both agreed that ours was "normal like us" and thus, reliable enough. After asking us about our tastes and mood, we both, surprisingly, went with his recommendations. PID ordered the Lamb Osso Bucco for $23, and I the Willow Shellfish Trio (entree version) for $25 (what can I say, it'd been a fishy couple of days).
Sadly, after all the hemming and hawing over my abundance of delicious looking options, I was brought the wrong order. The waiter admitted the mistake was his and not the kitchen's -- which I very much respected -- and promised to put a double rush on my replacement. I encouraged PID to dig in, and so he did.
I ordered another glass of the Reisling while I waited.
His meat instantly fell off the bone which we learned was because it had been braised for 5 hours. He was so kind as to let me try a forkfull. I thought the herb demi-glace complimented the salty meat perfectly. He admitted he could have used a bit more meat and potatoes (he's a man, what do you expect), but overall seemed genuinely satisfied and pleased with the meal.
When my originally ordered meal arrived, I had been so pleased with the service, wine, atmosphere, appetizer and PID's delightful company that I'd barely noticed my 8-10 minute wait (or was it longer?). I dug right in and immediately realized it was worth the wait, however long it was. I was half tempted to ask for the recipe right then and there of the Korean BBQ Sauce in which they marinated the shrimp, and the red onion caper sauce was a perfect complement to the all natural crab cakes. Bravo to Chef Rudman and his very apparent 22 years of experience.
We decided against dessert as we're amidst a rigorous diet plan (yes -- this past Saturday was our cheat day, hence the pasta and Panna Cotta) and called it a night.
Cliffs notes:
Groupon: 1 @ $20
Drinks: 2 Reisling @ $8
1 Merlot @ $11
Appetizer: 1 Hawaiian Tuna Tartar @ $14
Meals: 1 Lamb Osso Bucco @ $23
1 Shellfish Trio @ $25
Tax: @ 7% (in Allegheny County) $5.67
Tip: @ 20% for excellent service $17
Groupon discount: - $40
TOTAL FOR TWO: $78.67
In my less-than-professional opinion:
I was thoroughly delighted with our entire dining experience in both taste and setting. I'd not only recommend it, I'd recommend it to people who owe me dinner because I plan on coming back sooner than my wallet might allow it. Though PID and I are far from wrecking the planet by reproducing, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the restaurant offers a separate children's menu, making this a family friendly destination (though I'd still recommend your first visit to be of the 1:1 date variety).
I don't even think PID minding me forcing him to miss a Monday Night Raw...
I hadn't heard much about this place, to be honest the first I'd heard about it at all was the moment I received my daily groupon e-mail alerting me of the 50% off deal. But the moment I clicked on the link which drove me to their website, I was intrigued. I'm in PR. A good website speaks volumes to an overall first impression and ultimately impacts your potential diner's decision making process. At least that's what happened with PID and me. I was sold on the general appearance and Chef Rudman's rap sheet before I'd even glimpsed at a menu. I will say I've been fooled by magical photography and/or Photoshop in the past, but let me assure you that Willow uses no such trickery. The website gallery barely comes close to doing justice to the ambiance at Willow. It's truly a beautiful atmosphere.
As the website promises, the restaurant is nestled safely in a bed of trees, hidden from commercialized society and free from the chaos of evening traffic. Though we opted to forgo the seemingly beautiful patio due to the cold front and drizzle, we could tell upon walking in that things tended to remain quiet regardless of it's proximity to I-279. Though I can't speak to it directly, I'd definitely suggest taking advantage of outside dining here during the summer.
We had made reservations on www.opentable.com and the hostess was waiting for us when we arrived. She showed us through a few rooms (though the restaurant seats up to 300, it maintains an intimate setting by hosting multiple dining rooms, all with a different yet equally appealing feel)...
...until we reached our destination. PID and I were seated by the fireplace, but not before first being asked if it suited us. It did. We sat.
And so it was time for the wine.
When our waiter arrived with water in hand, he was slightly nervous, but extremely friendly. He reminded me of a friend from college and made both PID and I feel comfortable and welcome. I ordered a stem of one of my favorite vices, Rhein River Reisling for $8, while PID went for the Chilean Veramonte Merlot for $11. We were overly pleased with the wine list. We had the option of ordering by the glass, 1/2 bottle or full bottle and the choices went on for 12 pages. There was also a reserve list at which, sadly, we couldn't even afford to tease ourselves by taking a peek.
Then came the bread.
Always an exciting amuse bouche. Though I only indulged in a half a slice, we were quite pleased with the oil and herbs. But that's not what I came for.
Then on to the appetizer.
I'd been excited about this for a while. Without boasting, I would like to shamelessly proclaim that I consider myself a connoisseur of tuna tartar. It is, by far, my favorite dish. You'll learn quickly that if tuna tartar is on the menu, I will order it and tell you what I think, whether you like tartar or not! Willow's Hawaiian Tuna Tartar (for $14) looked promising; a different take on a classic dish. I wasn't at all disappointed, but you'll learn something else about me quickly: I consider cucumber a cop-out. Though refreshing, to me it's less of a flavorful component and more of a cooling agent. I've rarely found it to be particularly appealing in use in salads, sandwiches, kabobs, and especially not tartar. While I do appreciate the palate cleansing affect it has on odorous raw fish in some Maki, tuna is far from an odorous fish. I personally feel the crunch and cool of the cucumber took away from the overall texture and taste of the tuna, avocado and sirachi. Some, especially those who have a greater appreciation for cucumber, may disagree. However, pieces were easy enough to navigate around and the remaining tartar was fresh and flavorful. Another thing I love about ordering tartar at different restaurants is seeing how creative they can be with what to serve with it. In this case, we were served large crispy wonton chips. As I'd suspected, we ran out of chips before we ran out of tartar, but our waiter was quick to bring us more (without us even requesting them) and I was pleasantly surprised!
And finally the main course.
This took us a while on our own accord. Our waiter was very patient, continuously allotting us more time to read the menu (repeatedly) and answering every question we had. I tend to ask for a waitstaff's opinion only if I deem them a reliable source. PID and I both agreed that ours was "normal like us" and thus, reliable enough. After asking us about our tastes and mood, we both, surprisingly, went with his recommendations. PID ordered the Lamb Osso Bucco for $23, and I the Willow Shellfish Trio (entree version) for $25 (what can I say, it'd been a fishy couple of days).
Sadly, after all the hemming and hawing over my abundance of delicious looking options, I was brought the wrong order. The waiter admitted the mistake was his and not the kitchen's -- which I very much respected -- and promised to put a double rush on my replacement. I encouraged PID to dig in, and so he did.
I ordered another glass of the Reisling while I waited.
His meat instantly fell off the bone which we learned was because it had been braised for 5 hours. He was so kind as to let me try a forkfull. I thought the herb demi-glace complimented the salty meat perfectly. He admitted he could have used a bit more meat and potatoes (he's a man, what do you expect), but overall seemed genuinely satisfied and pleased with the meal.
When my originally ordered meal arrived, I had been so pleased with the service, wine, atmosphere, appetizer and PID's delightful company that I'd barely noticed my 8-10 minute wait (or was it longer?). I dug right in and immediately realized it was worth the wait, however long it was. I was half tempted to ask for the recipe right then and there of the Korean BBQ Sauce in which they marinated the shrimp, and the red onion caper sauce was a perfect complement to the all natural crab cakes. Bravo to Chef Rudman and his very apparent 22 years of experience.
We decided against dessert as we're amidst a rigorous diet plan (yes -- this past Saturday was our cheat day, hence the pasta and Panna Cotta) and called it a night.
Cliffs notes:
Groupon: 1 @ $20
Drinks: 2 Reisling @ $8
1 Merlot @ $11
Appetizer: 1 Hawaiian Tuna Tartar @ $14
Meals: 1 Lamb Osso Bucco @ $23
1 Shellfish Trio @ $25
Tax: @ 7% (in Allegheny County) $5.67
Tip: @ 20% for excellent service $17
Groupon discount: - $40
TOTAL FOR TWO: $78.67
In my less-than-professional opinion:
I was thoroughly delighted with our entire dining experience in both taste and setting. I'd not only recommend it, I'd recommend it to people who owe me dinner because I plan on coming back sooner than my wallet might allow it. Though PID and I are far from wrecking the planet by reproducing, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the restaurant offers a separate children's menu, making this a family friendly destination (though I'd still recommend your first visit to be of the 1:1 date variety).
I don't even think PID minding me forcing him to miss a Monday Night Raw...
Monday, May 17, 2010
Date Night, Revisited
This Saturday, my boyfriend and Partner-In-Dine decided it was time we revisited our once-weekly outing known as "date night." We used to look forward to "date night." We'd alternate weeks of covering the check so neither of our bank accounts went overly depleted in the course of a month.
Recently we let the tradition slip through our fingertips as unexpected expenses such as break pads, 4 new tires, gutter replacements and vet bills popped up to surprise us. For over a month we ate salads and Giant Eagle sale steak on the grill as we patiently waited for paychecks which we didn't immediately have to sign over to someone else. We looked at each other this past Friday night -- as we sat on the couch in sweatpants sharing a bottle of Jacob's Creek Cabernet Savignon (which I also purchased on sale for a whopping $6.99) -- and said "it's time."
So we did a bit of research and considered a few friends' suggestions and landed on an outing to DISH Osteria and Bar located on 17th and Sarah Streets in Pittsburgh's historic South Side. The place had always appeared cozy and appealing from the outside, and according to the 11 reviews on pittsburgh.CitySearch.com, this place was a can't-miss.
We'd decided to meet each other there, given that it's almost exactly half way from each of us. I wound up being 12 minutes late -- but not because I didn't get there on time. Finding parking at 6:30 on a Saturday evening in the South Side proved nearly impossible as I passed PID waving on the corner about 13 times during my dismal and redundant search for a spot. When I finally arrived, we made our way through a quaint barroom...
...to get to the dining area where I experienced my first surprise.
Warning: Diners seated at these tables are much closer than they appear. The seating you see above, plus possibly 2 or 3 more tables behind the photographer and one in the bar area, is it. The setting is very intimate which can occasionally work to the advantage of the diner offering more personal service. But in our case, it was a deterrent. To be truthful, I was not overly interested in the educational path that the newly enrolled Duquesne student was describing to her oh-so-proud family of 6 directly to my right.
We, had reservations, but wound up seating ourselves after awkwardly hanging around the doorway in wait of a hostess. Once we sat down it was about 10 minutes before anyone acknowledged our existence, another 5 before our waitress took our drink order, and another 10-15 before any food was ordered at all. Throughout the course of the meal our waitress was repeatedly neglectful. I drink a lot of diet soda (I mean, A LOT of diet soda) and my glass remained empty over half the time we were there. To me? That's not OK.
But I digress. First came the wine.
The menu was very Italian which we'd expected this thanks to our culinary confidants. Our server was, in the very least, accommodating when it came to "translating" and telling us exactly what to expect. I'd been very excited to try authentic Italian wine, but was admittedly ignorant when it came to anything that I couldn't find in my Brentwood State Store. I asked our server what she would recommend to pair with a seafood dish and what might satisfy someone who likes an oakier aftertaste. She looked at me like a deer in headlights, and settled on recommending me the House red: Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo Citra 07 for $6.50 a glass (which wound up being delicious for being the cheapest wine on the list, I will say).
Then came the bread.
When she brought out the bread and oil, I was in heaven. I have to say this was my favorite part of the entire experience. Normally I'm a one-two slice kind of girl, but I'll admit it. I asked for more bread. The herbs infused in the oil were completely perfect. I was salivating while waiting for the next plate!
Then it was on to our appetizer.
I had heard great things about their Calamari alla Griglia (aka grilled calamari, for $8) and so PID and I ordered it right away. Let me start off by saying one of my favorite things about eating is not so much the eating part. I love the smell of freshly cooked food. The aromas produced by grills, herbs, marinates, fats, or even wine corks gets me all tingly (PID has taken note of this and has absolutely capitalized on it when he is the cook of the evening. God bless him). So I was slightly disappointed when the calamari came out and all I could smell was char and strong lemon. Although the calamari didn't appear to be overcooked, it smelled as though someone had left them on the grill a bit too long and attempted to cover up the burn by squeezing an entire lemon all over the plate. To quote PID: "I dont think it was burnt so much as it tasted like it was cooked with a bic lighter." This then translated in to my overall enjoyment of the dish, which was far less than I would have hoped. If all I smell is char and lemon, then all I'm going to taste is char and lemon. CASUAL DINER BEWARE: this is not your run of the mill calamari. It is run of the grill. That means no cocktail or tartar sauce for dipping and no crunchy core. There are no "squiggle pieces" (as the tentacles are so lovingly called in my family). It is, to the untamed eye, a slimy, floppy miniature squid prepared lightly grilled (or in our case, overly grilled) just for you. I wasn't completely disappointed. It was a unique culinary experience and the spinach was remarkable. I feel I can't chalk my whole opinion up to one potentially improperly cooked attempt.
Then it was on to our meal.
Not that we're exactly the same or anything, but PID and I just happened to be in the mood for the exact same dish. So the exact same dish we both ordered. This doesn't happen often. We typically order two different things and share (which I'm sure would benefit my readers giving them more options and opinions), but tonight we were both very hungry (given our wait) and that night, we were both very hungry for what DISH calls Linguine ai Frutti di Mare (which translates to Seafood Linguine, for $18.50). Personally I loved this meal.
I immediately made a comment to PID regarding its perfect portion size. I've been to so many restaurants that give you so much food and you're tempted (and thus attempt) to eat it all. You leave either feeling stuffed with a strong desire to unbutton your pants, or you leave with an inconvenient doggy bag. When I order seafood pasta and get a huge portion, I want to throw it at the wall. On a sidenote: if you are one who reheats your seafood pasta PLEASE share with me the wisdom of your ways. I've never once enjoyed a restaurant leftover reheat involving seafood or pasta. So, back to my story. At DISH, they portion it perfectly. Not too much, not too little. But keep in mind this is my opinion and mind alone. PID was left wanting. He's a growing boy (and by growing, I mean those muscles of his) and he wanted substance. The plate was a medium sized bowl without much depth placed atop a typical dinner round. PID pointed out that, though smaller portions may be better, we're still paying $18.50/plate for 1 mussel, 2 scallops, 3 shrimp, a calamari ring or two and I think there may have been a clam in there. Well played, PID.
Then it was on to our dessert.
I promise that next time I'll take photos of my meals on my CrackBerry... but for now you'll have to trust me that their Panna Cotta was not only delectable, but quite aesthetically pleasing as well. For $4, PID and I shared the dessert that, in both size and shape, was strikingly similar to that of a hockey puck. A single leaf of mint rested atop the gelatin tart. Their vanilla bean cream recipe was filled with a light but delicious raspberry coulis (strained, pureed fruit) which oozed out beautifully behind every spoonful. It was so light and fluffy yet full of flavor that I literally felt like I was eating heaven...and I wasn't sure whether or not to feel bad about it.
Cliffs notes:
Drinks: 1 House red @ $6.50 (I'm a lush and drank alone)
2 diet Pepsis @ $2.50
Appetizer: 1 Calamari alla Griglia @ $8
Meal: 2 Linguine ai Frutti di Mare @ $18.50
Tip: (around 17% for highly disappointing service) $11
TOTAL FOR TWO: $75.74
Overall opinion?
DISH did not live up to my expectations. Given the reviews I'd read and heard, I had expected a much better overall experience. But though I was slightly disappointed, I was not remotely appalled. The wine, portion size and dessert were fantastic in my eyes! However, for the price, parking difficulty and generally small size of the dining room, I will not revisit. I can't say I wouldn't recommend it. Many of the negatives I experienced could be one-time flaws. You may not have our server, the calamari may be cooked properly, and you just might be more like me than PID and appreciate smaller portions if the taste is worth the price. So here you have it. My less-than-professional opinion (I have decided to scale on 5 stars, not 4):
BUON APPETITO, Ciao!
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