Pittsburgh Foodies Thread (pleasant, weekly, surprise)

[RonSantoRules]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Not high cuisine by any means, but Franktuary permanently closed their Market Square location (which was barely two years old) on August 19th. I was a bit surprised, because it seemed fairly busy when I stopped in their for lunch, but considering the business model was probably based upon expectations of alcohol sales, if they didn't get the happy hour/dinner crowd they projected it might have been non-viable.

Honestly, the last time I went to Franktuary in Lawrenceville (which was our first time in there in a bit over a year) it seem weirdly empty considering it was a Saturday evening (albeit early). They were also advertising discounted lunch specials. Perhaps their whole business model is failing.

Their location there was not ideal -- crammed on the side street (Forbes) next to Market Square, so unless you had reason to walk that way, you wouldn't know it was there.

[PghYinzer]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Not high cuisine by any means, but Franktuary permanently closed their Market Square location (which was barely two years old) on August 19th. I was a bit surprised, because it seemed fairly busy when I stopped in their for lunch, but considering the business model was probably based upon expectations of alcohol sales, if they didn't get the happy hour/dinner crowd they projected it might have been non-viable.

Honestly, the last time I went to Franktuary in Lawrenceville (which was our first time in there in a bit over a year) it seem weirdly empty considering it was a Saturday evening (albeit early). They were also advertising discounted lunch specials. Perhaps their whole business model is failing.

About a month or two ago I was on my way to Round Corner on a very nice Saturday night. Windows were up at the Larryville spot, and like you said, it was pretty much empty.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Not high cuisine by any means, but Franktuary permanently closed their Market Square location (which was barely two years old) on August 19th. I was a bit surprised, because it seemed fairly busy when I stopped in their for lunch, but considering the business model was probably based upon expectations of alcohol sales, if they didn't get the happy hour/dinner crowd they projected it might have been non-viable.

Honestly, the last time I went to Franktuary in Lawrenceville (which was our first time in there in a bit over a year) it seem weirdly empty considering it was a Saturday evening (albeit early). They were also advertising discounted lunch specials. Perhaps their whole business model is failing.

The only time I have ever seen Franktuary busy when we are walking by is when there is a charity event or corporate event going on. We have been living in Lawrenceville for just over a year and haven't been there once.

[Paul2421]

Originally Posted by WhoIsStanwix?

The only time I have ever seen Franktuary busy when we are walking by is when there is a charity event or corporate event going on. We have been living in Lawrenceville for just over a year and haven't been there once.

really no reason to go. i wasn't impressed and the price point needs to be high for them to be profitable i'm guessing and they are a little high for what you get. they were in a weird spot in market square competing with sit down restaurants and fast casual places. they weren't quite fast casual and it isnt a place business people would go. plus you wouldn't really think of going down there at night as a destination place like city works (terrible food - this place might shut down after the hype) and the other spots like perle.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by WhoIsStanwix?

The only time I have ever seen Franktuary busy when we are walking by is when there is a charity event or corporate event going on. We have been living in Lawrenceville for just over a year and haven't been there once.

We used to go there pretty frequently the last year or two we lived in Lawrenceville, because it was one of the only kid-friendly and vegetarian-friendly places to eat in the neighborhood. It was quite packed at times back in say 2014. We stopped going frequently both because we moved out of the neighborhood, and because our kids got pickier and wouldn't always eat the food they ordered.

The weird thing is neither the food nor the service seemed worse when we were there recently. I can't think of any reason it would have dropped in popularity besides perhaps newer trendier places having snapped up the market.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Originally Posted by eschaton

We used to go there pretty frequently the last year or two we lived in Lawrenceville, because it was one of the only kid-friendly and vegetarian-friendly places to eat in the neighborhood. It was quite packed at times back in say 2014. We stopped going frequently both because we moved out of the neighborhood, and because our kids got pickier and wouldn't always eat the food they ordered.

The weird thing is neither the food nor the service seemed worse when we were there recently. I can't think of any reason it would have dropped in popularity besides perhaps newer trendier places having snapped up the market.

I think there are just too many competing options in the neighborhood and a "what have you done for me lately" mentality of eating out these days, which isn't at all unique to Pittsburgh.

[Paul2421]

Originally Posted by WhoIsStanwix?

"what have you done for me lately"

what do you mean by this?

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Originally Posted by Paul2421

what do you mean by this?

I just mean that if a restaurant isn't new within the past year, they better be winning awards or otherwise pumping the marketing circuit hard to remain fashionable. It seems like the trends ebb and flow very quickly these days.

[Paul2421]

Originally Posted by WhoIsStanwix?

I just mean that if a restaurant isn't new within the past year, they better be winning awards or otherwise pumping the marketing circuit hard to remain fashionable. It seems like the trends ebb and flow very quickly these days.

o yeah i agree. i tend to avoid those places sometimes though.

[DaisyDaisy]

Just read that a new "Fast, Casual Indian BBQ restaurant" coming to Centre in East Liberty. Choolaah opens sometime this fall.

from article: "We're taking arguably one of the most complex cuisines and putting it into a fast casual concept," he said.
Each restaurant displays four 700-degree tandoor ovens through a glass wall so customers share in the cooking experience.
The menu offers barbecue chicken, lamb and salmon dishes along with vegetarian and vegan options. The ovens cook the food in four minutes, Nesbitt said."