5 out of 5 stars  

Fat Sandwiches, Beers in Abundance

FatHeads is probably a must-see on anyone's Pittsburgh visit. While the wait can take a while, my group didn't mind because it gave us a chance to sample some of the 100 or so reasonably-priced beers on tap and sidle in at the crowded bar. My friends mentioned that this is one of those bars that gets crowded earlier in the evening (dinnertime) and not so much late-night.

Read the rest of this entry »

4 out of 5 stars

My visit to Pittsburgh was not complete without a visit to Pamela's. When I lived here I frequented the one in Oakland, but we visited the Shadyside location on this trip.

The major bummer was the wait. We arrived late on Sunday so we caught the church crowd, arriving around 1PM. (Yes, quite a late breakfast I know.) We were told a wait of 25 minutes, but the wait turned out to be twice that. I don't appreciate that practice. The manager knew it would take longer than that but lied so we wouldn't walk away.

Even after the excruciating wait, and the waitress neglecting our cream when the coffee was delivered, the hotcakes were pure bliss. Not the really fluffy kind, but a little more crepe-like in their thinness. Buttery and slightly crisp and indescribably good. Partly this may be attributed to not eating a thing until 2PM. I am unsure. But I am craving more of those delightful cakes at this moment so that says something. My husband's homemade corned beef hash was also very good.

Crepe like cakes from Pamela’s

Sausage was standard but at least fresh, not dried out like you often see. Bacon consisted of thick slices. Home fries, which I had remembered as particularly good, didn't hold up to my memory of them, but were still better than the average home fry- slightly creamy somehow, with softened onions and not browned or crispy but with a hint of flavor.

This place is worth the trip, but aim to get there earlier. And take the wait estimate with a grain of salt.  They have other locations on the Strip and in Oakland.

Our escorts, Shaft and Aaron.

View Larger Map

4 out of 5 stars

Dive with cheap drinks, pool, ping pong, darts

Yes, when I first stepped in here, I was a little concerned. I mean it looks pretty run down. Not to mention I am the worst at pool. But drinks are freekin' cheap (especially by South Florida standards) and relatively stiff and the crowd was cool.

Read the rest of this entry »