Restaurant Recommendation Needed (Pittsburgh, Liberty, Bloomfield: school, restaurants, prices)

[bmd1206]

I need a restaurant recommendation for a nice b-day dinner - any cuisine, nothing too crazy price-wise, but I don't want Applebees either. We'll be in town early June and staying downtown. TIA

[nuwaver88]

Try Six Penn Kitchen Downtown.

http://www.sixpennkitchen.com/menu.aspx (broken link)

or Sonoma Grille.

http://www.thesonomagrille.com/Website2/dinner.php#signature (broken link)

Both restaurants are in the 15-30 dollar range for dinner entrees, which is less than other fine dining establishments Downtown. You mentioned Applebees. Our Downtown does not have many of these restaurants Downtown anyway except for Max and Ermas. Downtown Pittsburgh for dinner is mostly upscale, pizza shops, and fast food. There is a demand for the 10-20 dollar dinner entree family place. For that you can head over to Station Square or maybe even to the North Shore to Jerome Bettis' place.

[BrianTH]

Six Penn and Sonoma Grille are both good suggestions. I also like Tonic and Seviche:

Tonic Bar & Grill | 412.456.0460
Best Pittsburgh Happy Hour and Tapas Restaurant | SEVICHE

In The Strip, which is right next to Downtown, you could look at Eleven, Kaya, Sushi Kim, or Lidia's:

ELEVEN CONTEMPORARY KITCHEN (http://bigburrito.com/eleven/eleven.shtml - broken link)
Kaya * Island Cuisine in The Strip District
main
Lidia's - Pittsburgh

[mhustle]

Depending on your tastes, I would recommend two of my favorite places, both downtown (next to each other on 6th St.) -- Christos and The Lemon Grass Cafe (Greek and Cambodian, respectively). The issue with those places, though, is that while the food is excellent and of special-dinner quality (and at Christos, they make their own wine and have a specialty homemade dessert that's fantastic), the atmosphere / wait staff inside both isn't going to be as antiseptic and innocuous as a Six Penn. Christos looks like it's been built into some old man's kitchen, and while The Lemon Grass looks pretty inside, sometimes its wait staff and management are a little . . . underimpressive. However -- love them both. My girlfriend and I had our two-year anniversary at Christos, with red wine and flaming cheese and the Jackie Onassis custard cake. Divine.

[Little Mizz Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by bmd1206

I need a restaurant recommendation for a nice b-day dinner - any cuisine, nothing too crazy price-wise, but I don't want Applebees either. We'll be in town early June and staying downtown. TIA

You like Italian? I'd suggest Alexanders Italian Bistro. Its a locally owned small restaurant, in Bloomfield, which is called Pittsburgh "Little Italy" and its been voted best Italian restaurant in Pittsburgh before. The food is good, you'll be nice and full, and their prices aren't outrageous at all. They have outside seating, too, if you prefer to eat outside. Here is their website and menu. Bloomfield is about 5-10 minutes from downtown by vehicle. Straight shot up Liberty Avenue so there is no way you should get lost.

Alexanders Italian Bistro

[BrianTH]

Alexanders is great--my favorite non-pizza Italian place in Pittsburgh.

[Mr. Mon]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Alexanders is great--my favorite non-pizza Italian place in Pittsburgh.

Better than Piccilo Forno? Yes, I know they do have pizza.

All of the Downtown places mentioned are good. I think Six Penn is probably the best "nice" suggestion for the money. Tonic is great for happy hour, but I find the food overpriced for the taste and the atmosphere. Nine on None, and Habitat are both very good, but also a good bit more expensive.

[wpipkins]

If you preferr lunch, try the pittsburgh culinary school restaurant in the Clark Building on Liberty Ave. For $11.00 per person, you get a three course lunch with white table clothes!!!!