Primanti Brothers Review (Especially if your new to town) (Pittsburgh: house, to live in)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by ncielieska

Drover, I'm the guy who wrote the review and I tried to convey that the Primanti sandwich and food is unremarkable.. what polarizes the Pittsburgh market (or markets outside) is the hype or publicity. Which cannot make a sandwich great but its interesting that it tries.

I appreciate that you find Primanti Brothers underwhelming, and that's not an uncommon sentiment. I'm just saying Pittsburgh is hardly alone in being associated with a food item that is unremarkable in the grand scheme of things, and for that reason most people understand that such an association does not represent the "pinnacle" of the respective cities' culinary offerings.

[Copanut]

I'm curious as to the culinary background of the OP. And get a spell check.

[nuwaver88]

Originally Posted by ncielieska

Drover, I'm the guy who wrote the review and I tried to convey that the Primanti sandwich and food is unremarkable.. what polarizes the Pittsburgh market (or markets outside) is the hype or publicity. Which cannot make a sandwich great but its interesting that it tries. Thanks for the feedback on the other points.

I remember that same hype when Krispy Kreme Donuts opened their first Pittsburgh area location in Cranberry about a decade ago. People traveled from all over the tri-state area to get them. I mean, they are good, but no better and often not as good as other places. I prefer Dunkin' Donuts. It was the hype and tooting their own horn that caused the hoopla.
I work at a major hotel Downtown. Guests are always asking me about Primanti's. I guess every single web site about Pittsburgh culture unfortunately considers it a "must do" while visiting Pittsburgh. When I am asked what I think about it, I simply answer "A lot of people rave about it' I do not want to give my personal opinion that it sucks and is overrated because the guest may have been looking forward to the experience, which it is. If people want a good experience and a far superior sandwich, I send them to Fat Heads.

[grimacista]

Originally Posted by nuwaver88

I remember that same hype when Krispy Kreme Donuts opened their first Pittsburgh area location in Cranberry about a decade ago. People traveled from all over the tri-state area to get them. I mean, they are good, but no better and often not as good as other places. I prefer Dunkin' Donuts. It was the hype and tooting their own horn that caused the hoopla.
I work at a major hotel Downtown. Guests are always asking me about Primanti's. I guess every single web site about Pittsburgh culture unfortunately considers it a "must do" while visiting Pittsburgh. When I am asked what I think about it, I simply answer "A lot of people rave about it' I do not want to give my personal opinion that it sucks and is overrated because the guest may have been looking forward to the experience, which it is. If people want a good experience and a far superior sandwich, I send them to Fat Heads.

Yikes. Imagine the disappointment of an out-of-town visitor who was looking forward to eating at Primanti's when they discover what their food actually tastes like.

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by grimacista

Yikes. Imagine the disappointment of an out-of-town visitor who was looking forward to eating at Primanti's when they discover what their food actually tastes like.

Which is not much. I only go there with out of town guests, but I'm always surprised how bland Primanti's sandwiches are.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

Which is not much. I only go there with out of town guests, but I'm always surprised how bland Primanti's sandwiches are.

Ya gotta throw that hot sauce on it!!!

[Love2Golf09]

Originally Posted by ncielieska

Drover, I'm the guy who wrote the review and I tried to convey that the Primanti sandwich and food is unremarkable.. what polarizes the Pittsburgh market (or markets outside) is the hype or publicity. Which cannot make a sandwich great but its interesting that it tries. Thanks for the feedback on the other points.

I wouldn't say unremarkable. It just depends on what you like. Personally, I don't like cole slaw, so I don't go there too much. I love the idea of fries on top of the sandwich though. Pretty much any place that has been around for 70 yeards or whatever will eventually be locally famous. That's all there is to it....start a small joint, create a weird signature sandwich, then 50 years later, if you're still in business, you're considered a "must stop" place for anyone visiting the area.

[greg42]

Take out of towners to get Pamela's pancakes, not Primanti's.

That's my new theory anyway. ;-) I also tell anyone who has gotten a Primanti's rec or thinks they want to go there to not go unless it's 2am after bar hopping.

[ncielieska]

Take out of towners to get Pamela's pancakes, not Primanti's.

That's my new theory anyway. ;-) I also tell anyone who has gotten a Primanti's rec or thinks they want to go there to not go unless it's 2am after bar hopping.

+1 Pamela's is great.. nice call

[fleetiebelle]

Primanti's has been all over the Food Network and the Travel Channel in the past few years though, and that's why out-of-towners want to go there. They like Pamela's, but it hasn't been on their teevee.