We Are Back !!!

 It's been almost 4 years since my last review. Photobucket decided to hold all my previous pictures hostage, unless I payed them an exorbitant amount of money. Apparently their was such an outpouring of disgust at photobucket that they decided to allow people to have access to their photos again (however with a big photobucket water mark on them). So most of my older reviews are now working, and I will be working on new reviews which in the past have served as the gold standard of food bloggery.

Bob's Sub

  A lot of competition out there recently, when it comes to Hoagies aka subs, grinders,etc. The latest to branch out into the Pittsburgh area is Bob's Sub. Bob's is an institution in the college towns of Slippery Rock and Clarion just North of Pittsburgh. A few years ago a couple of young guys bought the stores and started to expand south into the Pittsburgh area. So lets see how they stack up.

   Bob's subs come in three sizes. The largest being the senior which measures in at 13" at a modest $7.95. All the subs come on locally made Stagnos rolls, which are also nicely toasted.

 My wife tried the cotton candy shake which was surprisingly good. The pretzel stick adds some needed saltiness to the sweetness.

  The Roast Beef Sub was very good. Loaded with roast beef and fresh veggies. If you get the sub "Bob's Way" it comes with Italian dressing, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion, and provolone cheese. Word of warning, they love to slather the mayo on their subs. While I love mayo, even I found the amount to be a tad excessive. So I recommend asking them to be light on the mayo. The crusty Stagnos bread is an excellent delivery vehicle for all the meat and veggies.

  Bob's Cheesesteak was just as good. You can customize your toppings, and my wife added pepper rings and mushrooms to her sandwich.

TOP VIEW

  Having been to Bob's twice now, I must say that I was impressed with both the value and quality. Why the hell anyone would even consider going to a Subway when you have places like Bob's , Dibellas, and Jersey Mikes, is beyond me.

 So give Bob's a try, its one of the best sandwich places going.

( The Bob's I went to, is brand new and located at Pittsburgh Mills in Tarentum)

 My friend and Pittsburgh DJ legend, AJ, brought to my attention that this is not owned by the original shop in Slippery Rock and that there is a lot of legal wrangling going on. An older article explaining the situation.     http://triblive.com/news/butler/3429820-74/shop-bob-sub#axzz3p26g0zaU


RATING     8/10 

BJ's Brewhouse

BJ's is new to the Pittsburgh dining scene, having just opened a new restaurant at McCandless Crossing. They are a chain based out of California, and are know for having a large menu, and making their own craft beers.
 We arrived around 8PM on a Saturday and were told that there would be a 45 minute wait. Around 35 minutes later we were seated. To start we ordered a few beverages. Mrs.Yinzer ordered a house made Berry Burst Cider, which was fruity with a dry finish, not overly sweet.

Berry Burst Cider $5.75

 I ordered the Tatonka Stout, which was in the style of an Imperial Stout. Not at all like Guiness, this stout is very rich, sweet, and with a high alcohol content.                            

Tatonka Stout $6.25

 For an appetizer we ordered the California Club Flatbread. This was an excellent start to the meal. Cracker thin crust covered with tomato, chicken, avocado, bacon, garlic aioli, and diced avocado. The combination of ingredients worked well together and I absolutely loved the paper thin crisp crust. This would make an excellent entree for someone as well.

California Flatbread  $9.75

  Then our entrees came. Mrs.Yinzer ordered the Mediterranean Chicken Pita Tacos, Little Yinzer ordered a small (9") BJ's Favorite Deep Dish Pizza, I ordered a Bacon Cheeseburger.

Mediterranean Chicken Pita Tacos $9.25

    These were meh. Chicken, feta, cilantro, tomatoes, and a greek yogurt sauce. Tasted like a little chicken gyro. Good but nothing spectacular. The cheddar mashed potatoes were equally uninspired.

BJ's Favorite Deep Dish Pizza $15.25

  Little Yinzer loved this pizza, while I thought it was a mixed bag. The crust was near perfect for a deep dish style pizza, however the quality of the toppings could be better. The crust was a  golden brown morphing in with the browned cheese which made it a great base for the pie. The toppings which included olives, pepperoni, onions, sausage, green peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes, were average. The sausage comes to mind first as something that would be the topping found on a frozen pizza. You did so well with the crust, why buy precooked generic Italian sausage to cover it with?

Bacon Cheeseburger $10.95

  The Bacon Cheeseburger was pretty damn tasty. It was cooked a perfect medium. It also was charbroiled which gives it that outdoor off the grill taste. The bacon was crisp, and BJ's signature burger sauce added some tang to it. The fries were very thin and crispy. All in all, a good solid burger.

 Oh and I almost forgot. Try one of their home brewed sodas. The Cream Soda is a real delight with notes of vanilla and butterscotch.

 By and large our meal at BJ's was a good experience. Service was good except when the waitress asked me how everything was while I had a mouth full of food, hate that. Prices are a little high for the quality and quantity. Huge beer selection to keep even the snootiest of beer snobs busy.

RATING: 7/10

BJ's Brewhouse
8970 Covenant Ave
Pittsburgh, PA  15237Phone: 412.748.1470

Cheeburger Cheeburger (CLOSED)

 Cheeburger Cheeburger is a chain of restaurants specializing in you guessed it, hamburgers. They go for a 1950s diner vibe, with lots of neon and stainless steel. We went to the location in Cranberry which I believe is the only location in Western PA. Cheeburger Cheeburger is all about customizing your burger. First you choose the size of your beef patty (anything from 5.5 oz to a whopping 20oz). They also have salmon, turkey, and veggie burgers. Then you pick from a myriad of toppings. Check out their complete menu HERE

  My order consisted of the 1/2 pound burger with American cheese, lettuce, mayo, onion.  It was definitely a full 1/2 pound and was cooked a perfect medium. Everything tasted fresh. My only complaint being that I did not think the beef was as juicy and flavorful as I have had at other places (5 guys, BRGR, Burgatory).     

 We also shared a side of sweet potato fries which were sweet and crispy.

    Cheeburger Cheeburger also has a huge selection of hand made shakes, which are thick and indulgent. 

  All in all I thought Cheeburger Cheeburger was ok.. It has reasonable prices, and is a good place to take kids. However I am not sure that I would choose their burger over any of the competitions. Let me know what you think. 

 RATING: 6/10 

HOT NEWS

Hot News from the Arsenal Cider House:

Special Announcement! We will be opening a second tasting room & production area at Soergel's Orchards in Wexford! We are taking over the Amish Furniture Store right behind the Market. Stay tuned for more details!

   If you have not tried some of the excellent Cider from the Arsenal Cider House, head down there and try some. You will be amazed at the variety, as well as the complexity in tastes from the different ciders. 

The Oven Pizza Company

   So after trying Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza the weekend before. My girlfriend and I went to check out The Oven in Wexford. She was excited because the owner had a pizza place previously that she had thought was very good on Banksville Rd. The Oven's claim to fame is that they cook their pizzas in a big ass wood fired oven, which puts out a lot of heat for a crispy crust. The wood also imports some flavor into the pizza as well..

 Ordering is a little confusing the first time you go to The Oven. You go up to the counter and tell them what you want . The menu is on a chalkboard above the counter. After that, you go and find a table and wait for them to call your name.They have a selection of bottled beers for your consumption as well.

My girlfriend and I shared half of a pizza. Half sausage, half Margarita topped with fresh mozzarella and basil.

 Just like Anthony's Coal Fired Oven Pizza, the star of the show is the crust. It is thin, with a perfectly crisp bottom. Not quite as dark/burnt as Anthony's. The toppings were all fresh and tasty. The sausage tasted homemade letting the porky goodness shine through. However, just like Anthony's the sauce was used just a tad too sparingly in my opinion.

All in all though, a very good pie. If you like a thin crispy crust, this is definitely a place you should stop and try.

Finally, The Oven is owned by a local Pittsburgh family, and you should all be behind supporting your locally owned businesses.


RATING: 8.5/10

Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza

 The girlfriend and I headed out to Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza the other day. Coal fired pizza used to be almost exclusive to New York City. It's known for using high heat coal ovens to make a very crisp crust with some charring.
We were seated immediately on entering the restaurant. We ordered the meatballs for an appetizer and a large pizza topped half with sausage, and half with prosciutto.

  The meatballs came out looking impressive. Served with two slices of  focaccia bread, a dollop of ricotta, and fresh basil, the plate presentation was very nice looking. The meatballs however while quite tender, were also quite bland. The flavorful sauce and ricotta helped add some needed flavor. The focaccia was a nice accompaniment to place the meatballs on.

   The pizza was a mixed bag of awesome and WTF? First off the crust was perfect. Thin, crunchy, with a little blackness on the edges, it was one of the best crusts I have ever had. The cheese was nice and bubbly. The sausage was good, being not overly seasoned. The sauce was also very good, too bad it was used so sparingly. The prosciutto was my WTF moment. It was long pieces, just layed over top of the pizza. It definitely needed to be chopped a little finer, and to be cooked with the pizza. Overall though, if you take away the ridiculous prosciutto presentation, you are left with a pretty damn good pizza.

 All in all I liked Anthony's. While there were some missteps such as the prosciutto and minimal sauce, they still have one awesome crust to build off of. Will be heading back to try out some of their other menu items soon.

RATING:  6/10 

Modern Cafe

  Just had lunch at the Modern Cafe in the Northside of Pittsburgh, and ate one of the best sandwiches ever. Modern Cafe has won best sandwich at the Northside Sandwich Week festival two years in a row, and now I know why.

The Spartan $7.50

   I give you THE SPARTAN. Steak, gyro meat, provolone, feta, onions, tomato, seasoning, and taziki sauce, all on a 6" hoagie roll. Holy crap was this thing good. Why bother getting a gyro somewhere, when you can get this.
 So get off your butt and get down to Modern Cafe pronto. You do not want to miss this sandwich.

Modern Cafe Spartan Sandwich   10/10

Aladdin's Eatery

  For Lunch the other day, my girlfriend and I decided to try out Aladdin's. There are 6 around the Pittsburgh area, and word of mouth has been pretty positive. We settled on going to the Aladdin's on Mcknight Rd in the North Hills.

  The dining area is small and well kept. It's decorated in a modern Mediterranean fashion. We were quickly seated and attended to.

 The menu is obviously heavily influenced by Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. Check it out HERE. Lite and healthy is also a theme.

Tropical Storm Smoothie

 We started off with some Tropical Storm Smoothies which are blended mango,guava, pineapple,yogurt, and honey.  It was blended to order and was quite refreshing. Could have used some rum in it, but lets not be petty.

                                                                         Kibbie

  Three lean beef and wheat shells, stuffed with spiced ground beef, onions, and pine nuts, then deep fried. Served with yogurt and Lebanese salata.
  The Kibbie was like eating a spiced meatloaf with a crunchy shell. The taste of cinnamon and other spices permeated the Kibbie. The little salad was flavorful, with tomatoes, cucumbers, and green pepper, tossed with mint leaves, vinegar and oil.

                                                                  Rolled Pita

  For our main course we decided on getting rolled pitas.

                                                            Shish Kabob Rolled

   Char-grilled tenderloin, feta cheese, greens,tomato, and onion, with Aladdins sauce rolled in a pita. My girlfriend ordered this and it was quite good. The steak was flavorful and tender enough that you could bite right through it. The feta and sauce added some nice zing.

Beef Kafta Rolled

      Ground beef mixed with onions,parsley, herbs, and spices. Chargrilled with tomato, onion, and tahini yogurt dressing. Like a middle eastern hamburger, the beef had just enough spice to make it interesting. Also the beef was quite lean with barely any grease. The other toppings accompanied the beef nicely . A good change of pace from your typical american style burger.

 Aladdins is a great little restaurant. Almost everything on their menu is under 10 dollars, so the price is right. Lots of healthy choices are to be found if you are watching your waist line. It is a great change of pace from your typical American restaurant. You wont find fries with cheese and bacon, or mozzarella sticks. you will find original dishes at a good price, with a Mediterranean influence.

 From what I can gather there are 6 Aaddins throughout the Pittsburgh area. Go and check them out.

Aladdin's Eatery
Rating:  8/10 

Bella Ria's

 

Everyone should have a greasy spoon/diner that can be their go-to place for good cheap eats. Well Bella Ria's is mine. Bella Ria's is not a whole lot to look at. Hell, its in the same building as a drive-thru beer distributor. The interior is sparsely decorated with the highlight being a nice framed picture of Led Zeppelin smoking and drinking coffee.

 But you know, I am not here for fancy ass decor. I'm here for a good meal at a good price. This is where Bella Ria's Delivers.
 The service is quick, attentive, and friendly. Most of the time you will be waited on by one of the owners daughters.

Blueberry Pancakes $6.50

 For breakfast you cant go wrong with any of their variety of pancakes.Big, light, and fluffy, with a generous amount of blueberries, the blueberry pancakes were top notch. They came accompanied with perfectly cooked crispy bacon.




Corned Beef Hash $7.99

  This corned beef hash is definitely not from a can. Its tender cooked pieces of potato,corned beef, and onion, topped with 2 eggs cooked to your liking. This has to be one of my favorite breakfast dishes. The flavors mesh so well, and everyone who tries it says "I am getting that next time".



Chicken Panini $6.99

   For lunch you cant go wrong with any of their sandwiches. The chicken panini is a great place to start. Grilled chicken, spinach, mozzarella, sun dried tomato, and red onion in between a grilled piece of focacia bread. The chicken was tender and juicy, while the sun dried tomato added flavor complexity and some tang.




Royale with Cheese $7.50

   John Travolta would be proud of this burger (Pulp Fiction reference). Now I don't say this lightly, but this burger is one of the best in Pittsburgh. It's a 1/2 pound burger, crispy onions, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and special sauce. Mine was cooked perfectly medium as requested. This burger is juicy, tasty, and big enough to satisfy a very hungry appetite.

 So if your in the area stop in Bella Ria's. They also have tasty dinner specials. The crab stuffed salmon dish I had the one time, was probably the best salmon dish I ever had. Located on RT 19 right above North Hills High Schools Martorelli Field, make sure you don't miss this hidden gem.

RATING:

Bella Ria's   8.5/10