goldy12's Profile
Restaurant Websites - At this point they should pretty much be mandatory [moved from General Topics]
Ouch! Just Tute may or may not be young and may or may not have travelled extensively doesn't make his opinion any less valid.
I interpret the point of the original post to be that websites on the internet are taking the place of looking up a restaurant in the yellow pages, calling the restaurant to find out their hours, and getting directions to the location. Having this information readily available at minimal effort to the consumer is an easy way to help customers make dining decisions. Not having this information readily available on a website may not deter all would-be diners, but may steer some towards a second choice where the information is available via website.
True, wonderful experiences await for those who go with their gut and try a place on a whim, just as there are frustrating experiences who decide to try a place on a whim only to find out they don't open till noon and it's 11:30 right now.
Beans for breakfast
Ha ha! When I saw the title of this post, my first thought was the breakfast I had in London. Not my personal taste, but a very easy and straightforward way to incorporate beans into breakfast.
Bad granite job?
Hi Tags,
It's hard to tell from your photos (mostly all I saw was the flash reflection), but I do agree on the large scratch photo and the faucet off center. In your story it also seems odd to me you didn't get to select your exact slab. Hindsight, I'm sure you're thinking that should have been red flag #1.
If your efforts to resolve with the installation company go nowhere, I'd recommend following up with the BBB. At least then if it remains unresolved there is a paper trail for future customers to beware.
Good luck!
IKEA cabinets with 9.5 inch high base radiators problems
2nd Pedr0's suggestion. We had the same issue with a kitchen remodel 2 yrs ago and had a toe kick heater installed. Worked like a charm.
Pittsburgh Steaks
Funny, as I was reading the post my first thought was Tessaro's too! It will definitely fit the not too formal bill (or formal at all) , but still makes a good steak.
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Tessaro's Restaurant
4601 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
looking for good places - Robinson Twp, west side of Pittsburgh...
If you try Clarks, just beware when you enter turn right to the dining room. We went there for lunch one time and went to the left to eat quickly in the bar not realizing they allow smoking still (caught us off guard, wasn't expecting a smoking bar where you could still order food). Yuck! Honestly my only memory of the place was the overpowering smoke. It was so bad we asked to move halfway thru lunch to the dining side.
My usual rec for the west side is, of course, Armstrong's. Also off the Thorn Run exit, in the shopping plaza next to the post office.
Bocktown is good bar food, I agree with all who have recommended it.
Sweet potato fries at Uncle Sam's (in shopping plaza across from the former Barnes & Noble) are a sweet deep-fried treat.
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Barnes & Noble
1 Campus Dr, Mont Alto, PA 17237
Pittsburgh North Shore - any good dinner options?
Second Atria's @ PNC park. It's where we eat when we're eating over there. Usually we eat on the downtown side, though.
Homestead Waterfront
Tough question. I'd recommend heading up to Squirrel Hill, plenty of non-chains up there. Even with traffic it's not much more than a 10 min drive.
Pittsburgh favorites
I did not know anything about the owner's social viewpoints. I just stopped in one Saturday because I was hungry and I love donuts.
Sorry.
Pittsburgh favorites
Near the airport I have to fecommend Armstrong's in Moon. Take Bus. 376 to Thorn Run Rd. It's in the shopping plaza next to the post office. Not fancy by any means but a family, homey place.
My latest obsession in the Strip is the Peace, Love and Little Donuts on Smallman St. They have all sorts of crazy donut toppings but my favorite is just the classic sugar. You can't go wrong with a warm sugar coated donut! (or 1/2 dozen of them... just saying)
Has Food Network "Jumped the Shark"?
That's so funny, I was just thinking this same thing this morning as I was trying to watch it. It just doesn't hold my interest like it used to. I don't know if the programming has been downgraded per se, or if my cooking skills/knowledge have improved and the programs aren't as interesting to me anymore. Honestly I'm finding more inspiration out of cookbooks and the internet now. It's been years since I've downloaded and used a recipe off of FN.
Local meat farms near Pittsburgh?
Went to the E Lib farmer's market 2 weeks now. Found the prices VERY reasonable and the people were very helpful and friendly. Also, big bonus they take credit/debit cards so if you're short on cash that's not a problem. It is true they run out of meat early. The first week I went at 8am and the selection was already limited. This week I went at 6:30am and there was a full selection (and it was less crowded so I felt less rushed). All in all I was very happy with it!
Hound-worthy restaurant near Monroeville?
This may be a little casual for what you're looking for, but every time I'm in Monroeville around meal time we always go to DeNunzio's (Rt. 48/Mosside Blvd. near Gateway HS). We usually get pizza, but the pastas are also good. Word of caution- the alfredo is super-rich and I don't have enough self-restraint and always overeat and make myself sick. ;-)
Local meat farms near Pittsburgh?
Thank you! These places look amazing! I have been out of town for the past 2 weekends so I haven't had a chance to check them out yet- but it is definitely on my list. I will report back and let you know how it went!
Local meat farms near Pittsburgh?
Thank you for the advice. I get that you need to buy the larger animal 1/2 or 1/4 at a time, we were just concerned about freezer space in getting that much meat at once! I have seen the meat vendors at the farmers @ the strip but was scared away by their prices. I will check out the East Liberty farmer's market, I live nearby and I know exactly where you are talking about. Thanks for the help!
Local meat farms near Pittsburgh?
I am looking for a meat share near Pittsburgh. For example, I have a friend (not from the area) who has a poultry share where she gets 1 chicken a month from a local farmer. I'm looking for something like that. The types of meat we are looking for are beef, pork, and chicken. We live in the east end of Pittsburgh, but are willing to travel up to an hour in any direction to pick it up. Organic, grass-fed, etc are not important to us (I know it should be, but it's not). Price is important, though. We are willing to pay a little more to get locally sourced, fresh meat, but it needs to be in the same ballpark of the general prices at Giant Eagle. Does anyone have a local meat source they don't mind sharing?
Gourmet Food Stores in Pittsburgh
I agree on the Strip. The only thing I don't buy there is produce, except when the farmer's market is in season. I've found the produce in the stores to be less than first quailty, generally speaking.
Another place to try is the East End Food Co-op for local products.
What NOT to miss in Pittsburgh?
Wow- for not living in the city for very long this is a really complete list- you certainly get out alot!
My favorite places to bring visitors are in no particular order:
Tessaro's (mentioned above)
Girasole (mentioned above)
Murray Ave Grill (Sq. Hill)
Union Grill (Oakland)
D's (Regent Sq.)
Gulifty's (Sq. Hill)
Pamela's (mentioned above)
Walnut Grill/Shady Grove (Shadyside)
Bangkok Balcony (Sq. Hill)
My tastes tend to lean more towards casual. When we do go for higher end dining we usually just go to Ruth Chris, but that's just a regular chain.
Oh don't forget Klavon's (Strip District) for an old fashioned ice cream parlor treat!
Pittsburgh wedding cookie table revisited
That's so funny! I remember the first Pittsburgh wedding we went to. Unfamiliar with the cookie table tradition we were in awe of both the volume of cookies and the amount of cookies people took!
where are the best burgers in Pittsburgh besides...
There are about 100 other reasons to visit the Point Brugge, but if you go and are in the mood for a burger, the burger offered there is quite good. I like Murray Ave. Grill and Atria's for burgers too.
Nominees for Best Thanksgiving Movies & TV (showcasing food)
I forgot about Pieces of April. I liked that movie alot.
My favorite Friends thanksgiving episode is a tie between the trifle episode (I refer to it as the "truth day" episode) and the season before where Joey gets a turkey stuck on his head. Truthfully I love all their thanksgiving episodes.
roasted sunflower seeds
I roasted sunflower seeds for the first time and they turned out... okay, not great but okay. I soaked the seeds in a salt water solution of 1/2 cup salt to 2 quarts water overnight and then roasted for 40 min in a 300 degree oven. They didn't turn out as salty as I would have hoped. Has anyone else made seeds? To get them more salty should I just up the salt content of the water or soak them longer?
Looking for safe dinner for 8 in Pittsburgh
I agree with the Atria's recommendation. They usually have some sort of fall special that would be very home-cooked like. I think the nearest Atria's to Sq Hill is in Fox Chapel and they're pretty good at handling large groups, I had a group of 10 there last spring for a graduation dinner. The Union Grill in Oakland is also home-y but also more compact so I don't think it's as conducive to groups over 4-6 people.
Hidden gems in Robinson/Oakdale area of Pittsburgh?
There is a farmer's market a few miles off the route 30 Clinton exit, past the airport as you are heading out of town. http://janoskis.com/index.html
In Robinson, I like All Star (across from the mall) for happy hour/bar food. Bocktown (across from Target) also has good sandwiches. I second Armstrong's in Moon- delicious.
Pittsburgh Recommendations
I have a different opinion on dinette. I went there for the first time after reading all the rave reviews and was sorely disappointed. My husband and I each got a pizza and a soft drink. Our bill was just over $40 and I was still hungry after I left! The food wasn't terrible, but I definitely didn't feel like it was worth $40. I appreciate the local and sustainable aspect of the restaurant but I felt the price/value relationship wasn't worth it.
Upcoming kitchen remodel: what to eat for 3 weeks?
Agree with all responses that suggest counting on an extra 2 weeks from the stated time. Once the kitchen is installed you have seriously cleaning and organizing to do before you're ready to do serious cooking. I seriously just finished, like an hour ago painting my kitchen which was the final piece of our remodel. We mostly ate out, and grilled. Disposable plates and silverware were a lifesaver. Congratulations on the remodel- in the thick of it, it won't feel like it but it is toally worth it in the end!
Menu suggestion...what to make with Swedish Meatballs and Potato cakes
I just made Swedish Meatballs on Wednesday! I served sauteed Broccoli with olive oil, s&p, and red pepper flakes. Provided nice contrast to to the creaminess of the gravy.
How do you store your family recipes?
My mom actually made a family cookbook for me and my sisters a few years ago for Christmas using a method similar to janniecooks. She typed up a bunch of old family recipes and then printed them out and used the page protectors to put them in the binders. I can only imagine the time it took for her to go through all the recipes and type them but now they're stored electronically and can be easily reproduced if something happens to the cookbook. My only complaint is the binder is getting too full! I need a second one. The original recipie cards were divied up amongst us and included with our books in some recipe card holders I think she bought at Michael's or a store like that.
