Apr 30 2009
Mia Madre Trattoria Cafe opened last month at 649 California Avenue in Avalon. According to owner and Chef Alex Nicholas, Romano dishes are particularly popular, both the veal and chicken ($14.95) which come with a choice of pasta and soup or salad.
He describes Mia Madre as an old-world Italian restaurant. "When you walk through the door it feel like you’re back in the ‘30s and 40’s."
Apr 30 2009
Richard Chen in East Liberty has closed. You can read the details about the closing here, but like any restaurant closing, we'll never really understand why it happened or whether it could have been prevented. While the restaurant had plenty going for it, such as a big-name chef with a national reputation, an award-winning restaurant design and lots of positive press, it also had plenty working against it. For on thing, the restaurant opened just a month or so before the bottom dropped out of the economy.
One thing to learn from this high-profile closing is that critical reviews can help a restaurant, but they don't make or break it. As much as I loved Richard Chen (and I did love it, the four star review was a work of real pleasure for me), I still hadn't managed to make it back into
the restaurant since my last review visit. I can blame my busy reviewing schedule and my journalist's salary, but I'm probably a good example of why the restaurant didn't make it. Restaurants don't exist on praise. They exist on diners.
While East Liberty is often singled out as one of Pittsburgh's most up-and-coming neighborhoods, I think that there's still a negative perception that may have hurt a restaurant relying on a very well heeled clientele.
A larger bar area might have helped attract more customers, not just for drinks but also for the flexible style of dining that can make a restaurant more attractive to different dining sets. I don't know if I would have felt comfortable sitting at a table and just ordering appetizers, or ordering one main course to share.
Many of my favorite dishes were actually the least expensive ones: Hot & sour soup, seafood rice noodle soup, crispy scallop, bean curd sheet, and many of the noodle and rice dishes. As much as I wish I'd gotten another chance to go the restaurant, and as much as I'll miss it, I can't help but be excited to see what they decide to do with the space.
Apr 28 2009
The Firehouse Lounge in the Strip District welcomes a new boutique cocktail bar with a speakeasy feel. The bar is located on the first floor and specializes in pre-Prohibition era cocktails made from the finest ingredients. It's named Embury, for David Embury, author of "The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks" first published in 1948 and still readily available today.
Behind the bar you'll find Freddie Sarkis whose experiences include working as an opening bartender Quartino in Chicago, creating the cocktail and wine list for Il Mulino in Chicago and acting as head of mixology for Douglas Rodriguez restaurant DeLaCosta in Chicago.
There's a menu with some delicious options posted on-line, but you'll have the most fun if you put yourself in Sarkis' hands. On a recent Thursday evening, I was in cocktail heaven, trying everything from an old-fashioned made with Buffalo Trace bourbon (I generally prefer bourbon to rye but both are available) 
to a Yellow Rose of Texas, made with tequila and yellow chartreuse.
Sarkis puts his own spin on many cocktails--for example, he uses simple syrup made from agave nectar rather than sugar in the Yellow Rose of Texas cocktail, and he flamed the bitters (angostura, I believe) as the final touch to a pisco sour.
While part of me longs to keep this place to myself, hopefully Sarkis and Warren will show bartenders, bar-owners and restaurateurs around Pittsburgh that we're willing to pay and wait for drinks when they're made as well as these.
Apr 23 2009
Eleven Contemporary Kitchen in the Strip District has received the AAA Four Diamond 
award for the fourth year in a row. According to the press release:
"AAA Four Diamond Award winners such as Eleven, consistently deliver premier experiences, complete with superior personal service, superb cuisine and impressive surroundings," said Jim Lehman, Senior Vice President for AAA East Central. "We are delighted to present Eleven with its fourth award," he added.
And more: "We are honored to be recognized as a AAA Four Diamond establishment," said Michelle LaValle-Denk, general manager, Eleven. "At Eleven, we are committed to providing a premier dining experience to all of our guests by consistently exceeding expectations. This award acknowledges the hard work and dedication of our staff."
There are only 19 restaurants in Pennsylvania with the Four Diamond award, including Aqueous at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Le Mont on Mt. Washington.
Apr 23 2009
Welcome to the First Bites blog, the place to look for news of openings of interesting new restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, specialty shops and more in the Pittsburgh area. We'll also track changes at existing establishments, such as new chefs and menus, dishes and products. Please chime in with your own thoughts and tips about new or undiscovered places in your neighborhood.
Apr 23 2009
The 61C Cafe in Squirrel Hill is now offering French Press coffee service, in addition to their usual brewing methods. The change allows them to make all of their coffees available each day. "If someone comes in and wants Costa Rican coffee, I only brew it once a week, but this way they can get any one they want," explained manager Keith Kaboli (at left), "plus you get it as fresh as possible."
A 16-ounce French Press is $2.95. The 61C sells coffee roasted by La Prima in the Strip District and Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea in Branford, CT.
Keep up with the Pittsburgh coffee scene each week with The Buzz on the PG Food page.