Peppi's

          Okay, I have to start off by saying this is one of my favorite dive spots ever.  I have been going to Peppi's since I was in high school and the quality and price haven't changed much.
           My wife and I were down in the Strip the other day and we stopped in to get a bite, our usual Peppi's is the one in Point Breeze but this is the one I first went to back in high school.  When you walk into any of their locations it doesn't look like anywhere that you would want to get a bite to eat, I have had friends that I had to convince to eat there but after they got their food they always want to go back.  The location in the Strip has old church pews and old wobbly tables, and the one in Point Breeze in an old beat down diner car.  They are just not places you would look at not knowing what it was and say "hey let's get lunch there".
          We walked in and placed our order at the counter, I got the Big Wheeler (steak, hot sausage and provolone) and my wife got the Big Nate (chicken, steak and provolone), we both got drinks and we shared a small fry.  The total for our meal was $21.00.  The fries are fresh cut and a small is enough for two people and a large could probably satisfy four.  They also offer a sweet potato fry in the Strip which I have had before they are good but I would stick with the regular ones.
          Our fires came out and they were great, hot out of the fryer, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  After we finished our fries our sandwiches came out.  The sandwiches are about 10 inches long and are piled up with meat and toppings straight off the flat top.  The bread is what makes the subs the best around, they come fresh from Mike and Daves everyday.  You can tell the bread is fresh because of how soft the bread is and it has a nice crust too just enough that it doesn't let the juices run out everywhere.  The bread just absorbs all of the juices from the meat and makes it so much better.  Without the bread the sandwich would be good but nowhere near what it is. 
          They have 50+ sandwiches to choose from and 16 hall of fame sandwiches which are a little more money but they are all worth it.  They also have salads and wraps there too if you are looking for a lighter option.
          Overall like I said at the beginning this has been a favorite of mine for over 10 years.  If you are looking for a good, cheap meal and your not really watching your wasteline this is the place for you.  The decor isn't very pretty but the food will get you past that.

Overall 9 of 10

Food 9 of 10

Service 5 of 10(basically self-serve)

Price 10 of 10

Peppi's

1721 Penn Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA

Smiling Banana Leaf

          So the other day I didn't feel like cooking and I have been wanting to try this place for awhile now so I suggested we go there for dinner.  My wife and I went around 6:30 on a Saturday.  Every review I have read about this place says it is really small and there is always a wait.  When we got there we were seated right away and there was no line or tons of people getting take out.  It seemed weird right away after reading all the reviews on all the websites.  The atmosphere was very nice and well laid out, very inviting.
          We place our app order, fresh shrimp spring rolls $5 for 2 and then our entrees, I got the Red Chicken Curry $10.25 and my wife got the Sweat and Sour Chicken $10.00.  They ask how spicy you want it there and I like spice but I asked how spicy a 7 would be and the girl said spicy but not too bad if you like spicy things.  I said fine give me a 7 and my wife got a 2 because she doesn't like anything that has heat on it. 
          We got our spring rolls and they were really good, the freshness of everything was great, they were crisp and refreshing.  They came with a side of peanut dipping sauce that was also good.  The sauce didn't overtake the rolls like some sauces will, it was light and really complimented the rolls.
          Our entrees came out and they were huge, believe me you are not going to leave hungry.  My wife's meal was good it tasted like sesame chicken but the veggies and fruit were a lot fresher and crisp than you will get at any other place like this  for the price.  My curry, my first time trying curry, was very hot.  I feel there is a difference between spicy and hot.  Spicy is a lot of powerful flavors that make the dish come to life, and hot is lets just add so much chili powder they could be eating cardboard and wouldn't know the difference.  This dish was on the verge of un-edible.  I didn't want to be the guy that sends back his own mistake so I dealt with it.  I was eating it all together with the bamboo shoots and veggies in the curry paste and coconut milk and I just wanted to try the chicken by itself, it was flavorless, nothing at all no salt or pepper or anything at all.  My wife's chicken was the same if you didn't have sauce and veggies in the same bite it was nothing. 
          After all was said and done I feel like every review I ever read about this place was wrong.  The food was okay at best the prices were good but there are so many places at that price range that are better in the city.  Maybe it was just one bad dinner or Thai food isn't my thing but I don't think I would ever go back to this place.

Overall 5 of 10

Food 3 of 10

Service 6 of 10

Price 7 of 10

Smiling Banana Leaf

501 Bryant St.

 Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Meat and Potatoes

          I have been wanting to go to this new restaurant since I found out when it was going to be opening.  My wife and cousin, who also loves good food, just couldn't get their booked social calendars to match up until last weekend.  So the one person who really wanted to go, me, had to wait for two months.
          The restaurant is in a prime location right in the heart of the cultural district, across the street from Heinz Hall and a walk across the bridge from PNC Park.  I was very surprised that at 6PM on a Saturday it was not packed.  Our waitress we had was very nice but not as knowledgeable about the food as you would like, but she made sure to get answers to all of our questions from the kitchen staff.  It was just very surprising that she didn't even know what was in the succotash, you would think the waitress would know the basics.
          We ordered our appetizer and my wife and I got the San Marzano flat bread ($10) and my cousin got the Tuna Crudo ($12).  The Crudo was pretty good but my wife and cousin were not pleased with the surprise of chili peppers on top that were not listed on the menu. (Maybe payback for all the questions, lol)  Our flat bread was pretty good as well, it tasted like a pizza with no sauce. 
          We placed our entree orders and I got their Pub burger ($14), my wife got the roasted chicken ($17) and my cousin got the Kobe Flat Iron steak ($24).  My burger was excellent, it was cooked to a perfect medium topped with a horseradish cheddar cheese, pork belly pastrami and a fried egg it also came with a side of fresh cut fries.  This burger didn't need catsup or any other topping other than the special sauce and egg, they were so creamy together.  To top it off it came on a housemade bun so soft but full enough that it didn't fall apart.  My wives chicken was okay, nothing out of this world, it was two chicken thighs and legs roasted with herbs.  I must say though that it was some of the moistest chicken I have ever had.  The highlight of her meal to me was the garlic mashed potatoes, they were so flavors and had a great not-too-chunky not-too-smooth texture, the kind I can never make at home.  The succotash was good too it was a mix of peas, carrots and corn mixed with a butter sauce.
          My cousins flat iron steak was cooked medium-rare and had good flavor, it came with fried plantains and a cilantro puree.  Those flavors didn't sound like they would work to me but they did.  The plantains were covered in cinnamon and rum reduction and fried, they were so good if you put them on a plat with some whipped cream they could have been a desert. 
          Overall for a nice night out under $60 it was really good.  The atmosphere was very nice and welcoming, the food was pretty good from a chef with a good reputation and the location was great.  I just don't get why there were open tables the whole time we were there, this place should be one of those place you need to reserve a table to get in.  I would go back for sure.

Overall 8 of 10

Food 8 of 10

Service 7 of 10

Price 7.5 of 10

Meat and Potatoes

649 Penn Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15222