Info needed for upcoming visit

[fleetiebelle]

For Mexican, try Mad Mex (Mad Mex dot com!) which is a local Cal-Mex chain. I'm also a fan of Taco Loco on the South Side (Home) It may not be authentic, but it's run by Mexicans, and there are usually Latinos eating there, which is good enough for me. For Thai, I like Bangkok Balcony in Squirrel Hill (Bangkok Balcony in Pittsburgh, PA - AOL City Guide)

As for organic, I know the East End Food Coop has a cafe (Cafe - East End Food Co-op, Pittsburgh, PA: one of Pennsylvania's finest organic, vegetarian cafes) and you might also want to try the Quiet Storm (The Quiet Storm | 5430 Penn Ave | Pittsburgh | Great Coffee | Vegan & Vegetarian Food).

Other places I take visitors:
- Sharp Edge Beer | America's #1 Belgian Beer House !
- The Church Brew Works
- Welcome to Max's Allegheny Tavern - A Fine German Restaurant in Pittsburgh, PA
- Kaya * Island Cuisine in The Strip District
- Piper’s Pub » Welcome to Piper’s
- D's SixPax & Dogz, Six Pack Beer Shop in Regent Square Pittsburgh
- and I would say Harris Grill (Harris Grill - A Cafe - Ellsworth, Pittsburgh) but they haven't reopened after the fire

Hope that helps!

[FromGA]

... different cultures, try the East End neighborhoods of the city like Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, Regent Square, Highland Park and Point Breeze. A lot of the professionals who work at the universities, medical complexes and tech ccenters in Oakland live in those areas...

Of the areas mentioned above (as multi-cultural areas around Pittsburgh), which ones would rank high in terms of desirability for raising a family (low crime, family-oriented neighborhoods, etc ..)

[jhprentiss]

Some areas of each of those neighborhoods are great for raising families. They're close in to everything, near beautiful parks and museums, restaurants, cultural activities, and for the most part safe. The problem (for us) was the schools. If you'll look on greatschools.net it gives you ratings for the schools in those areas. It isn't pretty.

[Geeo]

The families that I know of in the East End areas send their kids to the public schools that feed into Taylor-Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill, and all the kids are high-achievers and college bound. I think it's a fallacy that if your kids go to city schools, they are doomed. The parents I know are all involved and everything works out fine. There are also many families in these areas who afford themselves the option of sending their kids to the many private schools in the area. The kids I've seen in both have the advantage of growing up and being schooled in neighborhoods where they also take advantage of the cultural amenities that are available within blocks of where they live. They have the advantage of getting to know kids of different races and cultures and they have a better idea of the real world.

[FromGA]

Thanks to all of you I have tons of information for my trip. I will process all this info, make my trip, and post again on this forum in 2008 when I get back! Meanwhile if anyone adds any more useful information to this thread, I will be reading... Thanks again!

[chloride1]

Originally Posted by FromGA

Thanks a lot for this info. Good to know this diversity can be found in the city. (I was expecting it would be in some specific suburb.) I am originally from India. Any points of interest to Indians -- such as restaurants -- that you are aware of in this area?

Perhaps someone already pointed this out (I haven't read the entire thread): Indian friends/students have mentioned this Temple:

Welcome To Hindu Jain Temple

[chloride1]

I've heard that Mexico City on Smithfield street has very good authentic Mexican food.