Hal's Bar and Grille - Babcock Boulevard

Hey All....I want to apologize for being M.I.A the last few months, my new bakery business 2 Local Girls got busy very quickly and although we are still very busy with full-time jobs and our bakery, I have become more organized and begun to manage my time better so I can still find great eateries and blog about them!! Let's get back in to it..

Hal's is a great place to watch a sporting event or even to join a corn hole league and get out of the house a night a week. My business partner and best friend, Stephanie Symosko started going to Hal's when we decided to join a corn hole league. We play in the Fall every Tuesday night. It's a nice way to break up the monotony of the work week while we wait for our dart league to start in the winter! Anyway, when we would go for corn hole, the times would differ every week so there were times that we decided to order appetizers. All the items on the menu are reasonably priced and are very tasty. Our favorite, aside from the usual appetizer favorites; calamari, nachos and chicken fingers, are the BBQ Pork Or Chicken Quesadilla. We always opt for the Chicken! These are different than any other quesadilla you have ever had. Onions, chicken, sour cream, pico de gallo and, of course the BBQ chicken. DELICIOUS!!!!

Next time your craving that Sport's Bar theme with a twist on the typical Bar fare, try Hal's Bar and Grille on Babcock Blvd in the North Hills...you won't be disappointed!!!

2 Local Girls...Sweet and Savory Treats

Hey All,

Today I am writing about my new business venture: 2 Local Girls. My best friend, Steph Symosko and I recently started a sweet and savory dessert business that provides for birthday parties, charitable organizations or just to satisfy your sweet tooth. We recently catered to The Relay for Life in Waynesburg University to support Breast Cancer and Hodgkins Lymphoma. Our Facebook page is www.facebook.com/2LocalGirlsPgh....we have a lot of desserts posted such as: cake balls, Cream cake, Pumpkin Pie, and of course cupcakes, not to mention other delicious desserts. I have been told that our cupcakes 'melt in your mouth!' You can order through facebook or at 2LocalGirlsPgh@gmail.com. In the upcoming months, there is Cinco De Mayo, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Graduation Parties, Weddings, Father's Day, etc. Let us cater your next event, hope to see you soon!


Here is a photo of desserts we created for Relay for Life:




To check out other desserts please visit our Facebook page!

Luke Wholey's - Strip District

Hi All,

So I went here for my friend, Jason's 30th birthday. In theory, it was a completely great idea; however, in reality - EPIC FAIL. I really wanted this place to be good but it just wasn't. Don't get me wrong the atmosphere is fabulous and I will definitely return for drinks, especially in the warmer months as they have garage doors that open to the outside but I don't think that I will return for the food.

First, service. The staff was incredibly slow. Knowing that a party of 10-12 has been reserved, you would think that they assigned the right number of staff members. For example, we were supposed to have our own bartender - did not happen and we had one guy, who seemed like it was his first night. I felt bad for him but all those little kinks should have been worked out. It took 30-35 minutes for one drink so, like if we were at a crowded bar, ordered multiple at a time. And, the dining room wasn't bust at all. Moreover, the waiter not only spilled a glass of red wine on the birthday boy's jacket but then tartar sauce on his fiance's jacket and scarf all while having stains of his own on his white shirt.

Second, food. My friend, Katie, ordered oysters to be brought out once everyone arrived and they did. There were two different kinds, regular and Japanese. I am not an oyster fan; however, I did attempt both flavors. The regular I couldn't get down and the Japanese were a little firmer, like a mussel, and tasted like the beach. Not bad! My friend, Katharine ordered Cajun grilled peel and eat shrimp. These had great flavor but I am biased to peel and eat shrimp because it takes work to get to the food, ha! Now the entrees....the fish and chips and the shrimp po' boy were really good along with the blackened Ahi Tuna sandwich. If I were ever to go back for lunch or dinner, these would be the dishes that I would consider getting. The lobster roll was sub-par. If you're craving that, head to Roland's. I got the shrimp and scallops over rice with a side of zucchini. The shrimp and the scallops were pretty good but the rice was drowned in soy sauce and the zucchini shavings, although sprinkled with parmesean cheese out of a canister, had no flavor at all. Overall, not good.

If you like oysters, this is a cool spot! Also, like I mentioned above, in the warmer months the atmosphere will be awesome for casual or formal drinks! Let me know what you think!

Monterey Pub - Northside

Hi all, hope you are having a great start to your week! Place to try - Monterey Pub in the Northside for great pub-style food.

I went to Monterey Pub with two of my good friends, Katie Berger and Katharine Rummel. It had a great atmosphere and was surprisingly large for a side street on the North side. Very quaint and cozy and the staff was very friendly. None of us were interested in anything heavy so we decided to get three different flavors of wings. We got: Buffalo, Blue Cheese and Garlic Parmesean. For starters, I am always skeptical of wings because they usually arent crispy enough. So when we ordered, I forgot to ask for them extra-crispy. However, each and every one was prepared with just enough cripsiness and the flavors in general were very good.

Bleu Cheese. Now, although I am a fan of bleu cheese itself, I use ranch when eating wings. Crazy, I know! Anyway, the wings had great bleu cheese flavor without being overpowerful. Even the chunks of bleu cheese that topped the wings didnt create an abundantly cheesey flavor. And again, wings cooked just right!

Buffalo. When ordering a large amount of wings with different flavors, you have to get the traditional buffalo wings. The sauce wasnt too mild nor too hot and the flavor itself was more than the average Frank's Red Hot and butter.

Garlic Parmesean. Typically, I do not order this flavor of wings because it is usually a ton of garlic chunks and fake parmesean cheese. Needless to say, I figured that I would just eat the buffalo or the bleu cheese and stay away from the garlic parm. When they came out, it wasn't the usual sight. They had been cooked in a falvorful garlic oil with real shreds of parmesean cheese...soooo good!

Next time you are in the North side and looking for some great pub food at a quaint, little place, you must go to Monterey Pub. Let me know what you think!

Marty's Market - Strip District

Lunchtime in the strip district with my fellow blogger friend, BeezusKiddo! We both got the $20.13 lunch special; the beet salad, beef bourguignon, and the chocolate pudding. The salad was overtaken with beets and the salad dressing was very good. The pasta (beef bourguignon) was homemade and the beef was tender and well-seasoned. The setting was inside the marketplace and all the ingredients were fresh. Pricing wasn't too bad and the staff was very friendly. There was also a separate coffee bar. The one flaw for me was that there was no real pop/soda. Well, that could have also been a good thing!

Also, you can watch the chef's carve the meats and cheeses and if you need to grab something from the store, it's right there are your disposal. Fresh, organic food - a nice, little change from the surrounding fast food eateries.

Here are pictures of the pasta and the dessert. Marty's market is definitely worth checking out for a healthy, fresh lunch without breaking the budget.

The Common Plea - Downtown Pittsburgh

Next up, The Common Plea Restaurant in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Now, I went for lunch so I was unable to get the fixed-price menu. However, I did get the Common Plea burger with carmelized onions and basil mayonnaise and french fries.

Service was good, I sat in the bar section and it was a little past lunchtime so noone was in the bar, which freed the bartender to be able to be attentive to my table as well as the bar; Food, not bad. The burger came without cheese and actually to add cheese and bacon, it would have been an extra $3. Obnoxious! But the carmelized onions were good and so was the mayo; doesnt compare to the basin mayo from Point Brugge, but it was still good. The french fries were good - nice and crisp.

Then, for dessert, the Sabayon (French) with fresh berries - Delicious!! For many of you that may not be familiar with a Sabayon, it actually, (in Italian), which from the menu, it seemed that was the path that The Common Plea was headed, is called Zabaione or Zabaglione. It is made from egg yolks, sugar, and a sweet wine usually Marsala wine. Typically, the egg yolks are not necessarily cooked, they are whisked until frothy over a double boiler with all the other ingredients until it firms up - like a hollandaise sauce; however, more recently, it starts as a custard. Either way, soooo good! If not for lunch or dinner, head down for a night out for drinks and dessert and let me know what you think!

End of Restaurant Week - Bar Marco

As Pittsburgh Restaurant Week comes to a close, I was able to get to a few more places. Five more in total: Bar Marco, The Common Plea, Marty's Market, Six Penn Kitchen, The Carlton, and Braddocks. First up: Bar Marco!

Bar Marco - 20-Yolk Pasta with Oxtail Ragu; Roast Quail, Field Peas, Dried Cherry Demi; & Apple-Raisin Strudel w/ Goat Cheese-Balsamic Ice Cream. Wines included. Also, braised short ribs with kale chips.

Let me just say, Amazing! The atmosphere was very artsy and very strip district/Lawrenceville. Bar Marco is located in the building where Firehouse Lounge used to be. The staff is very friendly and very attentive and not in an annoying way. Also, the menu changes at most weekly and even some of the items on the menu change daily! They are a farm-table restaurant and everything is fresh and homemade. Definite return trip and may just become one of my staples!!!

Ibiza Tapas & Wine Bar

This was my first time dining at Ibiza. However, my friend has been to Spain and vouched that it was not authentic in anyway.  It was more an Americanized version of the spanish tapas, especially the portions. As a food critic/blogger, I ordered many different items from the menu, including: Bruschetta, Crab Cakes, Four cheese lobster ravioli, Spanish meat and cheese plate, and the Patatas bravas, along with the initial bread and hummus. The bruschetta was the best thing that I ate; however, not sure that it originated in Spain and the bread and hummus was equally delicious. The crab cakes had entirely too much spanish mint in the batter, which overpowered the crab. The four cheese lobster ravioli was underdone; even under al dente. For an establishment that portrays high-class, noodles should be one of the easiest things to make. Also, the four cheese sauce was too dense and too thick; it did not complement the lobster at all. Then, there is the meat and cheese plate. There was such an abundance of balsamic marinated olives, that the balsamic ran into the meats and cheeses and that flavor was absorbed into everything. Finally, the patatas bravas. This was, by far, the worst dish on the menu. In fact, just looking at the menu online, it is no longer indicated as an item. It was pretty much chunks of potatoes with Frank's Red Hot poured on top. There was no developed flavor of the sauce. Unless, there is a coupon or special advertised, I will not be returning to dine at Ibiza.

La Casa in Shadyside has a more authentic tasting Tapas and Casbah & The Wine Loft have incredible meat and cheese plates.

Moreover, the service was awful. The waitress was training someone and he was just following behind her like Lurch from The Munsters. He did fill my water glass, but that was only once. Even with two people working the tables on the back porch/patio,   it took a little while for them to return to the table. No where near good tapas.

Let me know what you think or if there is another hidden Tapas gem!

Steakhouse Must-Try!

So if you're in the mood for a good steak and don't know which steakhouse to try; here is a great special from Morton's that will give you an amazing experience without breaking the bank!

Now through August 31st, 2012 - 3 course menu for just $45 per person.

*Everything below that is bold, I recommend because I have had them at the restaurant.

First Course: (choice of one)

Caesar Salad - With Classic Dressing
Morton's Salad - Morton's Blue Cheese Dressing, Chopped Egg, Anchovies
Chopped Spinach Salad - Warm Bacon Dressing

Main Course: (choice of one) with a choice of one side (Caramelized Onions)

6 oz. Filet Mignon
Jumbo Shrimp Alexander - With Beurre Blanc Sauce
Chicken Bianco - With Lemon Butter, Tomatoes, Capers and Artichokes

Dessert: (choice of one)

Individual Soufflė
Individual Chocolate Mousse
Scoop of Raspberry Sorbet

I love love love Morton's. It is absolutely my #1 favorite Steakhouse in Pittsburgh. The great, fixed-price menu specials are one of the many many reasons why. I've only experienced this at one other steakhouse (Hyde Park) and it helps give you the same quality food and the same fine dining experience on more of a budget. Let's be honest, eating out is expensive in and of itself already, you could spend $30 or more at Applebee's or TGI FRiday's for a lesser quality steak or whatever you decide to have for dinner. Why not pay the few extra dollars and have one of the best steaks and culinary experiences in the city!

Hands down, best caramelized onions I have ever eaten and probably ever will eat. For the dessert, I always get the Creme Brulee so I cannot recommend anything on this particular menu, but maybe ask for a substitution with an added price; you won't be disappointed.

Please post comments and let me know what you think! Enjoy!!!!

Las Velas Mexican Restaurant

Holaaa,

     When I was in Queens, New York visiting friends, I experienced the best, most authentic steak tacos this side of the border. Very simple with a bold flavor; corn tortillas, onion, cilantro, spicy sauce and marinated steak. So I headed to Las Velas Mexican Restaurant located in Market Square. Now, I have been to El Campesino and Emiliano's and, while they claim to specialize in authentic Mexican food, they both are more of chain restaurants and I was looking for more of a straight from across the border flavor.  Boy, was I not disappointed.

     Not only was the food amazing but the service was very accomodating. For one thing, I did not get there until 9:45pm and they close at 10pm. To be polite, I wasn't going to stay but they were adamant that it was perfectly fine and that the kitchen was still open. I sat at the bar and began reading the menu. There were so many options but I knew that I wanted to try the tortilla soup and hopefully find tacos that rivaled the taco vendor from Queens.

     The tortilla soup. I am in love with the tortilla soup from Max 'N Erma's; its creamy and hearty and just the right spicy. But, Las Velas tortilla soup is the complete opposite. It is broth based and light but the tortilla strips were crispy, it has just the right spice and there was chunks of avocado. Delicioso!!!

     The tacos. I ordered the Tacos De Arrachera: A must try! Three tacos with marinated hanger steak (a special cut), onions and cilantro, and salsa (mild or hot). Served with rice or beans. Aside from no homemade spicy sauce, this is exactly what I was looking for. The flavor profile was the exact same; soft corn tortillas, juicy, flavorful steak and fresh, crisp onions and cilantro. The extra bonus with Las Velas; you not only get three of these wonderful tacos but also a heaping serving of soft, Spanish rice. It took me immediately back to the taco truck that was parked on the side of Queens Boulevard.  Also, the added lime wedge really brings out the flavor in the steak and I don't even like limes.

     
     The Quesadillas. Traditional cheese Quesadilla with chicken. Served with lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream. This Quesadilla was huge and was stuffed to the gills. It was cheesy and meaty all at the same time. The fresh, homemade salsa and guacamole paired amazingly with each bite of the Quesadilla. With the portion size of this selection, you will not go home hungry but maybe with yummy leftovers.

     So, if you're looking for the flavors from south of the border, Las Velas is where it's at. 'Til next time, adios amigos!!!!

The Modern Cafe

The North Side of Pittsburgh is really making a comeback.  The Modern Cafe re-opened in April 2010 and has been a local favorite to customers since. It's updated and provides a great escape from the outside stressors. From beers to a full food menu, its a great spot to just have lunch, a beer or catch any sporting game.

I just went there yesterday with my friends for lunch, now I have been there a few other times and have not been disappointed. Recently, The Modern Cafe won Runner-Up for the Best Sandwich in the North side - The Spartan.

Here are the details: Steak, Gyro meat, Provolone & Feta cheese, onions, tomato slices with our special steak seasoning & dressing topped with tzatziki sauce on a 6” hoagie. Now, my co-worker that got this sandwich, does not like the tzatziki sauce so he opted for balsamic vinegar. Still, very good. The balsamic was very flavorful and not too oily to make the bread soggy. However, my only complaint would be that the bread was toasted a little too long. I don't really like hard bread. Losing only to a grilled cheese sandwich from The Bistro to go, it is definitely a worthy contender in the sandwich world beating out sandwiches such as the Roethlisberger from Peppi's.

I decided to get the Turkey Extreme with egg; and, if you know me, I add egg to every sandwich. Here are the details for this great sandwich: Roast Turkey, Cheddar cheese, coleslaw, lettuce and tomato on Wheat (hot or cold). I opted for white bread.

Anything on the menu is tasty though. Even if your just going in for a drink, you will have a great experience. The owners are very friendly and love to talk to everyone and are very excited about their space. They truly want you to love your experience and will attempt to make that possible. The Modern Cafe should be your next stop for a great sandwich and experience.

Ditka's steakhouse

I have been to a lot of the popular steakhouses around the city, i.e. Morton's, Capital Grille, Ruth Chris, Hyde Park and now Ditka's. My friend, Jill, once told me that the best steak that she has ever eaten was at Ditka's so I felt compelled to make my way there. First, I started with the soup; Tortilla Soup vs. Crab Bisque. Winner: Crab Bisque. Although there were a few shells in the soup, overall, it was very flavorful and warm and creamy. The tortilla soup was not thick and there was way too much corn that the corn over powered the flavors of the cheese and the chicken. When asked which soup was better, I indicated the Crab Bisque and the reasons why (too much corn and thin broth) and the waiter brought over a second complimentary cup of the Crab Bisque. Goes to show you, when asked how you like a meal, don't be too shy to state the truth; but in a nice tasteful way and you never know how you can be rewarded...in my case, it was an extra cup of yummy crab bisque.

Next, the main course. Now, all the steakhouses in the city are ala carte when it comes to side dishes. However, Morton's and Hyde Park have special dining promotions. These include side dishes and desserts for a special fixed price. Ditka's did not offer any special dining promotions. I got the filet Oscar, which indicates Filet Mignon topped with a Bearnaise sauce and lump Crab meat.

As for my side, I got the garlic green beans and grilled onions. The steak was very tender (mine was Medium Rare, as how a steak should be cooked) and flavorful, along with the crab; however, the Bearnaise sauce had a not so appetizing taste. A hollandaise sauce would have been a much better paring in my mind. What's the difference, well not much; a Bearnaise is more meaty and used for steaks. The ingredients are similar in both sauces: butter and emulsified egg yolks but with a hollandaise sauce there is lemon juice and the Bearnaise sauce uses herbs like tarragon instead of the lemon juice. I'm not a particular fan of tarragon, which has a licorice flavor so I will always choose Hollandaise over Bearnaise.

The garlic green beans were average, they were sort of soggy but there was good flavor. As for the grilled onions, it was one slice of onion and charred with a few grill marks. It was basically raw once you cut into it and it did not pair well with the steak. I would have loved to have had the caramelized onions from Anthony's Coal Fired paired with my steak!

Finally, the dessert. By this time, I am beyond full. But it is my duty as a food blogger to find the 'best of the burgh' so I pushed on and ordered the Creme Brulee. The custard was cooked too long, it was not as warm and creamy as I am used to; the flavoring was a little bland and definitely did not compare with the Creme Brulee from Morton's or Capital Grille, which is still too close to call as to which is the 'best.' Final Grade: Not worth the money and you can definitely get a better tasting steak dinner that is more satisfying and doesn't break the bank!!!

Welcome Foodies!

Have you ever went to a restaurant and had this intense craving for a certain food but then once it was served to you, it wasn't what you were expecting. I feel like that happens more often than not. Each week, there will be a certain food or foods and by the end of that same week, I will have gone in search for the best i.e. wings in the city. Suggestions/Questions/Comments are encouraged.
There have been countless time that I have gone to a restaurant/bar craving a certain food and then when it arrives in front of me it's A. not very appetizing and B. not as good tasting as I was hoping. Or, when I'm caught between multiple options and I ask the waitress/waiter which I should choose and he/she either has never had the dish or he or she says 'its sooo good, etc' and its actually quite the opposite. I'm not a professional chef...Yet, but I am huge foodie and self-proclaimed wine connoisseur and for someone like myself that LOVES food, I decided that I was going to cut out all of that mess and find the 'Best Of the City'. I want to share my love for great food and great wine plus, where you can find the best, most authentic food in Pittsburgh! From Bloody Mary's to wings to desserts to wine to fruity fun cocktails, I will locate and experience the best food/drink around the city and help guide you to finding the best option for your personality. While on my journeys each week, I will also discuss different recipes and tips to create the exact experience you are looking. There are a lot of options out there and it could get frustrating, not to mention time-consuming and expensive to find that wonderful, amazing meal that you had in mind. There are a lot of places and a lot of choices so that's why I'm here; to help you have an amazing experience every time you decide to dine out! Also, I will share my tips and recipes in case you want to have an amazing, restaurant quality meal in...the possibilities are endless!!!!!
June 4, 2012 will be the first week I actually get started on my journey. Please provide me with any and all suggestions and I can begin my search for the....'Best Of Pittsburgh'