Elements

          Last Saturday my wife and I went to Elements for dinner.  We had reservations for 5:30 and when we got there the place was pretty empty, but I figured better safe than sorry.  I knew this place was going to be upscale but I am so glad my wife made me change into a button down shirt.  Everyone there was dressed in suites and dresses.
          We were seated and our waitress came over and took our drink orders, she also told us the daily specials.  I knew this place is known for the cured meats and imported cheeses so we asked the waitress for her suggestions on a meat and cheese platter.  She told us to stay away from the lardo unless thats something you like and try the pierre robert triple cream cheese.  We got the 6 selection platter and we chose the venison salami, duck speck, blackstrap ham and guanciale for the meats and we got the pierre robert and cypress grove midnight moon cheeses.  I would get the full platter next time and call it a night, that's how good these were. 
          The venison salami was almost like a jerky and it was spicy while it had a sweet after taste.  The duck speck was a smoked duck breast that was sweet and it had a layer of fat on it that just melted in your mouth.  The blackstrap ham, the best way I could explain it would be a prosciutto with a smokey sweet finish.  To finish the off the meats, the guanciale came out wrapped around a slice of apple drizzled with honey.  The meat was again like a prosciutto but this was much sweeter and the apple gave it a nice crunch. 
          Now the cheeses, the recommended Pierre Robert was a creamy cows milk cheese.  The texture of this cheese was that of a very soft cream cheese and the rind was also edible.  It was tangy and paired very nice with the sweetness of the guanciale.  My wife picked the Cypress Grove and I must say she hit a home run, this was a hard goats cheese with more of a nutty sweet note that paired great with the duck and venison.  The tray came with toasted bread, pickles, Dijon mustard and chickpeas to pair with the meats and cheeses.
          My wife also got the special soup of the day, the seafood chowder.  The waitress brought it out with an extra spoon because she said I would want to try this.  She was right, the chowder had huge chunks of tuna, walleye and salmon in it.  It was so creamy and the fish just fell apart in your mouth.  The potatoes were fork tender and everything went so well together with the cream base.
          Our entrees came out and looked delicious, my wife got the salmon and I got the veal cheek.  The salmon was on top of a bed of polenta and had roasted baby summer squash and baby leeks with it.  It was cooked to medium and was fork tender and delicious.  It had a a tomato vinaigrette over top of it and you could really taste the tomatoes in the meat of the salmon.  The polenta was nice and creamy and the vegetables were seasoned perfectly.  Everything just went together so well on this plate.
          My veal cheek was far out of my comfort range but I got it on the suggestion of our waitress.  I must say it didn't look too bad when it came out but it did lack any color.  The cheek was fall apart tender and the oyster mushrooms had a great earthy and woody flavor.  Everything was over top of a carrot puree which didn't really serve much purpose other than color on the plate and to add a little sweetness to the plate.  I can't really explain the taste of the cheek the closest would be that of a roast.  It had the texture of a roast also.  There were pine nuts and capers scattered around the plate which added that nutty and salty touch to the plate.  The only item that didn't seem to fit on the plate was the cipollini onion.  It was the size of a silver dollar and was tough and just didn't flow well with the plate.  It was good don't get me wrong just seemed out of place on the plate.
          Overall this place was excellent.  Like I said in the beginning I would go back just to get the meats and cheeses.  I don't know if I would get the veal cheek again but it was great, there were just other things that looked better.  The salmon was some of the best I have had along with the chowder.  This place for sure isn't for every day eating being that our bill was...$115.00, yes a shocker.  That being said if you go get everything on the menu you want because its that kind of place you only go to once a year and you don't want to miss anything.  This place seemed to be the special occasion or business dinner place for sure.  Will I go back?  Sure the next time $100.00 is just laying around lol.  If you want to impress whether it be a significant other or a business partner this is the place to go.  Oh, and remember dress up to fit in.

Overall  9.5 of 10

Food  10 of 10

Service 10 of 10

Price 8 of 10

Elements

444 Liberty Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

McCormick & Schmick's

          I got a gift card awhile back for McCormicks so this past Saturday my wife and I went down to the one in the South Side Works.  We had reservations for 6 and when we got there we were seated right away. 
          The first thing you notice is the restaurants atmosphere it almost seems like two different places.  The bar had what seemed like every college football game that was being played that day.  The actual dining room was very nice and quiet (but you could still see the games always an A+).
          Our waiter came over and told us the daily specials, one was a Wild Blue Marlin and the other was a Grilled Pork Tenderloin.  He took our drink and starter order and we decided to get the Crispy Buttermilk Fried Oysters ($9).  They have a really nice selection for their raw bar if that's what you are into, I haven't gotten that brave yet.  He came back with our drinks and we were ready to place our entree orders I got the Marlin special ($23) and my wife got, surprise surprise, the Buttermilk Fried Jumbo Shrimp ($20). They also have a seasonal menu that changes all the time.
          They oysters came out and looked great, there were four of them over a bed of coleslaw drizzled with a poblano tartar sauce.  This was my first oyster experience and I must say they were very good.  The tartar sauce tasted almost like a honey mustard sauce and the oysters had a nice salty ocean flavor.  When the oysters were paired with the tartar and slaw it really all came together, the oysters were creamy and salty the tartar gave it a sweet hint and the slaw gave it that nice crunch. 
          Our mains came out and my wives meal looked like any fired shrimp you could get at Chili's, 6 jumbo shrimp over a bed of fries with a side of cole slaw.  The shrimp were good and fresh, the fries were crisp and hot and the slaw was almost a Primanti's slaw just vinegar and cabbage.  My marlin was great and I am not a fish guy.  I wanted to try something new, and the waiter said this is a good fish to try if your not a huge fish person.  The fish was about an inch thick and it was grilled and topped with a chipotle BBQ sauce.  The sides for my dish were green beans and mashed potatoes.  The star of this dish was the fish for sure, it was very moist for a grilled fish and didn't have an overbearing fish taste and wasn't overly oily.  I would recommend this kind of fish for anyone that wants to start out trying fish.  The BBQ sauce had a nice balance of heat and sweet, just enough heat to get you in the back of the throat after you get done eating.  The sides weren't anything special, the green beans were steamed and were screaming for some type of flavor there was nothing it needed something.  The potatoes were velvety smooth but they were nothing over the top. 
          Overall if you want fried shrimp the quality is better than anything I have gotten out to eat, but the bar down the street will give you it for half the price but the quality will be less than half as good.  If you are looking for a nice fresh piece of fish I haven't had much better unless you go to Wholey's and cook it yourself.  Would I go back?  For a special occasion yes, just for a night out probably not.  The price is just a little high for just a random night out.  But hey this is coming form someone who's first choice is never fish.  If you are a fish person this is the place to go.

Overall  8.5 of 10

Food 9 of 10

Service 9 of 10

Food 7 of 10

McCormick & Schmick's

2667 Sindey St.

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

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

Piccolo Forno

          I went to Piccolo Forno last Saturday with my wife.  We were very excited to try the pizza because they are one of the very few around here with a wood burning pizza over and that is what Piccolo Forno is known for.  When we arrived I was very surprised to get a 40 minute wait because I have read that it is usually 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  The restaurant called us about 30 minutes later and we were seated.
         
          We placed our drink orders and when the waitress returned she said "sorry we are out of pizza dough because we are going to be closed next week so we didn't want to make too much".  At this point she let us look at the menu some more because we had no idea what we wanted then.  I was a little mad because I wouldn't have waited if I had know that we couldn't get the pizza.  I figured whatever we were here now so lets make the best of it.
          I ordered the Stracotto di Cingiale con Fettucine (Braised Boar and vegetables over fettucine $16) and my wife ordered  the Pici e Gamberi (Shrimp, crushed tomatoes , galic, onions and herbs over pici $14).  The Boar came with ticke fettuccine and a light sauce with big chunks of vegetables.  It was very tender and the sauce paired with the boar very well.  My wives meal was a big hit, I tasted hers and I don't think there is a better pasta dish around her for the price.  The shrimp were cooked corrrect and the sauce had just the right amount of herbs that didn't overpower the shrimp and pasta.  If I had to choose between the two dishes I would say my wife got the better dish and that doesn't happen very often, but either would be a great choice.

          I am glad I didn't know about the pizza issue untill we sat down because I would have missed out on a great meal.  Would I go back for the pasta?  For sure.  But the next time I go back I am going fot the pizza, I hear its the best around.

Overall 8 of 10

Food 9 of 10

Service 7.5 of 10

Price 8 of 10

Piccolo Forno

3801 Butler Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Molly Brannigans

           I went to Molly Brannigans last Saturday on a recommendation of a friend.  I must admit I was pleasantly surprised when I got there.  They have a special on Saturday's, buy one appetizer get one free.  I like to try new things so I got fried pickles with a honey mustard dipping sauce, my wife the adventurous eater got fried cheese sticks with marinara sauce.  The pickles were great I don't know why I have never tried these before.  They were very hot and still had that nice snap you would expect from a fresh pickle.  The cheese sticks were good but you could find them in the freezer section of a grocery store.

           For our entrees I got the Purcell's Fish and Chips ($11.99) and my wife got the Turkey Melt ($7.99).  The fish came out and was about a foot long over a bed of french fries.  The fish was very hot and the tempura batter was great not too thick.  The fish itself was firm but fork tender and just fell apart.  It also came with a side of coleslaw that was good not too much vinegar like some places.  My wife’s sandwich was up to par for her, she gets either a melt or a club whenever possible, and she said what set it apart was the pretzel roll.  The sandwich comes with fries which my wife substituted for sweet potato fries and she said they were great. 

           All in all for Pub food it was very good. We got two appetizers, two entrees and two drinks all for under $30.  I have to admit I wouldn't drive the 45 minutes to go there again, but if I were in the neighborhood I would stop back for sure.

Food 7.5 of 10

Service 7 of 10

Price 8 of 10

Overall 7.5 of 10

Molly Brannigans

660 Washington Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15228

Been Awhile

Sorry guys I was trying to figure this all out and I got discouraged that I didn't get any comment or any followers.  But I want to do this even if no one reads it.  I will be posting again soon, I hope you come back to read about my cooking adventures.

NP

Lidia's Pittsburgh

1/3/11

          When you enter Lidia's you feel like they know what they are ding there.  The hostess asked us if we wanted to check our coats, and there was no wait to find or reservation we went straight to our table.  The atmosphere at Lidia's is very rustic charm, there is a fire place and a huge chandler made of blown glass.  You can tell that the building used to be a warehouse just by looking at the ceiling because its about 40 ft high and has huge heating ducts running along the roof, but it adds to the charm of the building. The place is just so welcoming.

          There is an open kitchen so if your seated at the bar you can watch what is going on in the back of the house.  Also the bathroom was A+ clean.

          Now on to the food, we started with the Polipo (Octopus $9.50) and Brodetto di Gambei e Astice (shrimp and lobster in a brodetto sauce over polenta $12.00).  The octopus was cooked perfectly, it was tender and the potatoes and capers paired great with it.  The shrimp and lobster was very good with the polenta. 

          For our main courses my wife ordered the Pasta Trio Dinner (comes with Cesar salad and desert $29.00) and I ordered the Osso Bucco di Maiale (Pork shank w/Barley Risotto $25.00).  My wife loved the Pasta Trio(which changes daily), her trio was a ricotta filled ravioli with a garlic herb sauce, shrimp and Pena with a red sauce and a fetachini Alfredo.  I tried them too and I would have to say the ravioli was my favorite.  As for my main course the pork shank, it was very, very good.  The shank cam out with a sauce of the meat dripping mixed with orange zest cornstarch and herbs.  It was placed on a bed of barley risotto, which was cooked perfectly.

          Desert, was a Torta di Ciocolata con Castagne(Chocolate Torta, chestnut mousse, milk chocolate mousse, bitter sweet chocolate ganache and a brown sugar coco ice cream) included in my wives trio meal.  I am not a chocolate fan at all and I am not big on over spending for a desert at a restaurant at all.  Beleive me they spend $10 on ingredients to make the desert and then sell it at $7.50 a slice (7.50 x 8 est slices in a small cake)= $60 a profit of $50.  That's a little overpriced.  Anyways, enough ranting on costs.  This cake was awesome, I could have eaten a whole cake right there.  Like I said I'm not even a fan of chocolate.  It was so moist and there were so many different textures with the ganash, cake and mouses.   WONDERFUL.

          Overall, we had a great evening with a good friend.  The food was great, service great, price high but worth every penny.  If you are looking for a nice place to take a date or for a special occasion this is high on the list to go to.  Would I recommend Lidia's to anybody that asks? Yes, I would over and over.

Overall: 9 of 10

Food: 9 of 10

Service: 10 of 10

Price: 8 of 10

Lidia's Pittsburgh

1400 Smallman St.

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Shogun, Monroeville PA

So this will be my first ever so give me a break if its not up to par yet. 

My wife, myself and my in laws went to Shogun for NYE dinner.

          First, when we arrived there was absolutely no parking what-so-ever.  We had a handicapped person in the car and there wasn't even a handicapped parking spot open.  So we dropped him off and then parked farther away.  Needless to say our experience didn't start off well.
          We got inside and it was 8 PM our reservations weren't till 9 so we had to wait around for awhile for our table to be ready.  So we headed to the rest rooms and let me tell you if it wasn't NYE and there wasn't anywhere else to go we would have left right then and there, they were disgusting, but I overlooked it because it was NYE and they were very busy.
          So, we got seated early at 8:30 which was nice they got us in early.  We place our orders, we started with a California Roll (4.99), my wife got the Hibachi Chicken w/Yaki Noodles (17.99) and I got the Hibachi Shrimp and Chicken w/rice(21.99). 
          This was the first time we ever got sushi so we started with the California Roll, it was good.  The Hibachi chef came to out table and he was very friendly and energetic.  He started cooking and put on his show with the flaming grill and flipping the shrimp tails up into his hat.  The food was average it was nothing special.  It was a little too salty for my taste maybe less soy sauce would be good.

          Overall, I feel that the price was a bit high for the quality of the food received.  If you go there you are just paying for the show that they put on.  If you are looking for a nice quite dinner this is not the place to go.  If you are looking to have alittle bit of fun sitting at a table of 8 no matter how many people you go with, then this is the place for you.

OVERALL: 6 of 10

FOOD: 5 of 10

SERVICE: 6.5 of 10 

PRICE: 4.5 of 10

Shogun

8 Tech Dr.

Monroeville, PA 15146