St. Patrick's Day: Joey's The Edge

After our visit to Rivertowne on St. Patrick's Day we ended up at a place called Joey's The Edge in Export, PA for a quick drink and a bite. I normally don't venture out on St. Patrick's Day, I look at it like it's the evening of The Purge. You're more than welcome to participate in the shenanigans, but if something goes wrong, you were kinda asking for it! I didn't see much harm in stopping by a small neighborhood spot. It wasn't very crowded at first, but more people poured in as the evening progressed. They have a small bar area with a few high tables and stool seating, a pool table and an area where bands perform. Beer and cocktail specials were listed for the evening. At the end of the bar a young woman was boasting that she had been there celebrating St. Patty's Day since breakfast. (Kegs and eggs I guess) It was around 9pm, so Cohort and I assumed she was joking. After a few long islands I headed to the ladies room. As I walked to the end of the bar I could see the young woman in full view. She sported flannel white pajama pants with colorful peace signs and a fitted night shirt. It was at that moment that I realized she was completely serious. Not only had she been at the establishment since early that morning, she didn't even bother getting dressed! LET THE EVENING BEGIN! I LOVED this place!

Burger and Chips

The people are friendly, laid back and just want to have a good time. The menu was limited due to the fact that they don't have a fryer. They did have burgers, Italian sausage, B.L.T. ect. Cohort ordered a burger with chips, I decided on the Italian sausage with chips. Nothing fancy, more like being at a friend's house and they decide to throw some burgers on the grill. And let me tell you, every bite was good! The old neighborhood bar with a back room kitchen is a dying breed and that saddens me. Growing up everyone in the city knew if you wanted a good fish sandwich the place to go was the Triangle Cafe in Mount Oliver. The Triangle is long gone now, as are many other neighborhood bars. If the neighborhood bars across the city don't continue to get support they will all be gone. Some people may think this is a good idea, that Pittsburgh needs upscale establishments all around the city, but riddle me this, who wants to spend every weekend paying $12 for one drink? Who wants to get dressed to the nines just to grab a quick bite? If you can't sport your flannel jammy pants to the local neighborhood watering hole, than where can you sport them?!?!

Italian Sausage and Chips

I say people of Pittsburgh pick a month and in that month only venture out to small local neighborhood establishments for eating and drinking. Take a break from the high end affairs and just relax. Go out and enjoy yourself without a care in the world, because at Joey's The Edge the people don't care - about what you look like, how you're dressed, how much money you have or where you came from. They're just there to enjoy themselves. I would like to visit Joey's again on an evening when the band is playing. According to their Facebook page it makes for a damn goodnight! Hopefully I'll run into Jammy Pants Girl...she clearly knows how to have a good time! (Rock on Jammy Pants Girl....ROCK ON!)  http://www.coroproservices.com/joeys/index.html

PROS: Good food. Happy hour specials. Live music. They even have S.I.N. (service industry night!)
CONS: A bit of a drive unless you're local,  but if you decide to venture to Rivertowne Brewery, you're right around the corner! They also still allow smoking. (This isn't really a CON for me. I don't mind, but it may be for others.)

This One Is For The Ladies!: Bobby Hendrix

Maple Apple Spiced Rum Runner and White Grape Mojito

Located in the South Side on East Carson St. Bobby Hendrix is one of Pittsburgh's newest hot spots. It's less restaurant, more lounge. The large bar area takes up most of the space with high tables used for additional seating. The decor is chic and trendy. There is something about this place that says, "Ladies night out!" It's a place to go for fabulous drinks, and since you're already there, throw in some fabulous food! Everything we ordered was amazing. I wish I could post a photo of everything we ate. (but then you would know how MUCH I ate...that would just be wrong.) We ended up ordering a few favorites recommended by co owner Todd. One of those favorites being the House Cut Fries. These are not your ordinary fast food fries! Just imagine large planks of potatoes seasoned with salt, pepper, and parsley accompanied by a malt vinegar aioli dipping sauce. (yes, I licked my fingers....I'm not ashamed.) Bobby Hendrix also won 1st place for Best Burger in the Burgh 2012 & 2013. The "title" belt actually hangs on the wall. Cohort ordered the Yeungling infused sliders. You get 3 per order and they offer 3 different varieties. We ordered one of each. Very tasty! I can't wait for the next girls night out. I know just the spot! http://www.bobbyhendrixpgh.com/

Cajun Honey Fried Chicken

PROS: Nice cocktail menu. Drink specials. Solid food menu. Friendly staff.

CONS: Parking in the South Side can be a nightmare!

OTB Bicycle Cafe North Park

Old Firehouse Dip

Like most good things, a good eating streak can't last forever! On Saturday my cohort and I ate at the OTB (Over The Bar) Bicycle Cafe located in the North Park boathouse. It has a nice bar, comfy dining area, and additional seating outside. I think it's an ingenious idea to open up a new watering hole in a familiar spot. Unfortunately, everyone else thought the same thing! It was jam packed, standing room only. I'm not sure why it would be this busy when it was still early in the evening. We stood around drinking until seats opened at the bar. The couple behind us stood for an additional 30-40 minutes waiting for a table. The bartenders are friendly and know how to hustle through a busy period. The 1st round of drinks were good. The 2nd round was just so, so. (I think it depends on the bartender) We had the Old Firehouse Dip which boasts fresh jalapenos, cream cheese, shredded cheddar, green onions, and crispy bacon served with tortilla chips. I was waiting for a spicy explosion of flavor in my mouth. In the end, it simply tasted like warm cream cheese with tomatoes on top. I ordered Henry's Fish Tacos for my meal. Another miss. They were overloaded with a pineapple salsa that consumed the entire dish. On a more upbeat note, my partner in crime let me taste his burger. It was called the Wheelmill. Extremely tasty! I was jealous. Around this time, Cohort noticed that the restaurant had suddenly cleared out. It was around 8:30pm. (he said everyone was rushing home to pay the babysitter!) If you decide to try it out, be prepared that it may be overcrowded. Another tip? This is not the time to get fancy. Keep it simple...... just get a burger. http://www.otbbicyclecafe.com/

PROS: It has a nice view and friendly staff.
CONS: After all the wait, 2 out of 3 dishes were a bust.
 

Sunday Brunch: Grand View Buffet

Mimosa

I'm not a huge fan of buffets, EXCEPT during Sunday brunch. If I can find one with unlimited champagne, all the better! The Grand View Buffet, located at the top of Rivers Casino, takes it one step further. They offer your choice of unlimited champagne, mimosa or bloody mary, all for one reasonable price! The buffet has 5 different stations loaded with choices like prime rib, stuffed flounder, cheese blintz, frittatas and more. They also have separate stations for desserts and salads. I never skip the bread pudding. It's a mixture of a moist, sticky, pastry covered with a cinnamon glaze. I always add a scoop of ice cream, because I'm fancy like that! The restaurant itself overlooks the Ohio River and has outside seating during warmer weather. Remember that the key to eating at a buffet is to get there early. That way everything is fresh. Let's face it, when it comes to food, fresher is better! They also offer special discounts and promotions for patrons holding players cards. Please review the casino website for details. http://www.riverscasino.com/pittsburgh/dining/grand-view-buffet/

PROS: The choices are endless, they have something for everyone. Unlimited champagne is always a plus! The parking garage is huge and they offer valet.
CONS: It's located inside of a casino, so leave the kiddies at home!

Post New Years celebration: Notion

Scallop

East Liberty fine dining has arrived! Notion. I LOVED this place. A very intimate fine dining experience. (the restaurant only holds 26 patrons) Let me forewarn, it's BYOB. With that out of the way, let's get to the good stuff. Your choices are: 4 courses that you choose at a fixed price, or a 6-8 course tasting chosen by Chef David Racicot. My suggestion? Toss the menu aside and let Chef Dave do his thing! You will not regret it. In addition to our 6 course experience, we received what I like to call "bonus rounds" of  tastings that the kitchen just invented on the fly! My favorite was the Scallop. Cooked to perfection, it had a side of apple chutney with a curry sauce. (if I close my eyes, I can still taste it....) They also have a true Tartare, which seems to be difficult to find around these parts. At the end of the meal we were invited into the kitchen to meet Chef Dave. An attractive man, younger than I expected .....but I digress. Don't let the price or the fine dining label scare you. They have somehow managed to put together a fine dining restaurant with a casual, comfortable feel. 2 thumbs up. If I had additional thumbs, it would get those too!
http://notionrestaurant.com/index.html

Beet

PROS: Bonus rounds during tastings. Meeting the Chef, who is not hard on the eyes! Fine dining without feeling "stuffy."
CONS: BYOB, so, just pick up a bottle of your favorite wine along the way!

!!!!!!!!!!!!I REGRET TO INFORM YOU THIS RESTAURANT IS NOW CLOSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pre New Years celebration: One Eleven

Aviation and Gatsby

I ate at an amazing place called One Eleven (111) located in Greensburg. A very chic place for an early New Years celebration! We ate in the lounge area across from the bar. Very cozy, very romantic. They have an event called Mangia Monday. In addition to their regular menu, they offer an antipasti, 5-6 main courses, and a dessert at an incredible value. We mixed and matched, ordering from the main menu, as well as the specialty menu. I had the Fettuccine with Smoked Salmon. A large portion of tender pasta in a pink alfredo sauce with chunks of flaky smoked salmon. It was topped with roasted red onions and cherry tomatoes. The menu has a fresh new take on Italian. They even have a wonderful wine list.(Not that we would know, considering we never got past the craft cocktails!) Each one was more divine than the last. Looking to impress your date on a boring Monday night without breaking the bank? This is your spot! http://www.oneelevengreensburg.com/home

Beet Salad

PROS: We were seated quickly with no reservation. Mangia Monday menu is offered at amazing price for high end food.

CONS: Mangia Monday menu changes weekly, so you never know what they have.
 

The Start: Bar Symon

All great adventures start somewhere. Why not start at the Pittsburgh airport? Recently I learned that one of the best places to grab a bite to eat at the Pittsburgh International Airport is Bar Symon. Brought to us by Iron Chef Michael Symon, it does not disappoint! The menu is full of local foods with bold twists. Appetizers are huge and could easily be substituted as an entree. I've eaten here a few times and everything I've had is quite tasty. My all time favorite is the Lola burger. It's topped with a fried egg, pickled onions, cheddar cheese and bacon. Oh, yes....bacon! They have a full bar, a nice beer selection and a list of specialty cocktails. With choices like baked mac n' cheese, pierogis, and french fries to die for, your options are a-plenty! I highly recommend, the next time you're at the airport, stop on by.                                  

 PROS: Friendly service. Great atmosphere. Some genius put outlets underneath the bar!
CONS: It's located in the Pittsburgh airport. 
http://www.unitedconcessionsgroup.com/barsymon.html                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

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