Red Orchid (West View)

The past few months have been some of the busiest I have ever been, as can be seen by the dwindling number of posts since August!  I have had little time to try out new recipes at home, and at times, I have even resorted to takeout.  But...my aversion to Americanized Chinese food makes the most obvious takeout option out of the question.  As luck would have it, I had recently heard of the opening of Red Orchid, so I figured I might as well get my takeout there.

I have since ordered takeout from Red Orchid a few times.  This means I have had the opportunity to try a number of their dishes, and they are all excellent, with hotness levels measured on a scale that is a bit spicier than one might expect.  I share below photos of just a few of the dishes I've had, but the dishes I did not photograph - Pineapple Fried Rice with Pork, Duck Curry, Wild Curry with Beef, Lad Nah, Pumpkin Curry with Tofu - were also very good.

While I can't comment on the service, the food at Red Orchid certainly makes it great addition to the North Hills; it is the kind of quality Thai restaurant that has been sorely missing in the neighborhood.  I'm looking forward to dining in sometime!

Red Curry Land

Penang Curry Tofu

Drunken Noodles with Pork

Spicy Basil Fried Rice with Beef

Black Sticky Rice with Pumpkin

Restaurant info:
Red Orchid
5439 Babcock Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237
(412)837-2527
Bonus: BYOB


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Sunday Brunch at Tamari (Warrendale)

I maintain a restaurant wishlist on Urbanspoon which currently stands at 159 restaurants, 99 of which are in the Pittsburgh area.  Clearly, it is going to take me a really, really long time to get to them all!  So earlier in the summer I created a mental wishlist of the top 5 Pittsburgh eateries I'd like to hit up before the end of the year, and Tamari was one of them.

As luck would have it, R.'s step-uncle was in town several weekends ago and staying in Cranberry Township.  He wanted to meet up on Sunday, so we met at Tamari's Warrendale location for brunch.  Located in the Strayer University complex near where I-79 and I-76 cross over, Tamari occupies a comfortably large space and offers a mouthwatering brunch menu featuring a wide variety of options, including Latino or Asian twists to standard brunch items (e.g., Chorizo Biscuits and Gravy, Bulgogi and Eggs).  I, however, had been dying to try Tamari's sushi, so that's exactly what I went for: a Tamari Roll, featuring white tuna, crab meat, a sriracha aioli, topped with scallops, scallions, caviar, and panko flakes.  It doesn't look very hefty, but this roll actually has eight pieces, so it is quite filling.  I wish I had the stomach space to try another sushi item, because the Tamari Roll was fresh, tasty, and left me wanting for more, but alas, a girl can only eat so much in a single sitting!

Tamari Roll ($18)

R.'s step-uncle had a Curried Burrito, with pork belly, potato confit, ancho mole, and a fried egg and chives on top.  He was nice enough to let me snap a photo and take a bite, too.  Delicious!

Curried Burrito ($9)

I didn't get a photo of R.'s meal, but he loved it.  His Corn Pancakes with ancho syrup and raspberry compote was a "small plate" item, but actually came with three pancakes.

We all enjoyed our food and had a lovely time catching up.  Ahhh...what more can you ask for?

Restaurant info:
Tamari
701 Warrendale Village Drive, Warrendale, PA 15086
(724)933-3155
On the web: http://www.tamaripgh.com
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tamari-Warrendale/128044107313971
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tamaripgh


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Tyma'z Mediterranean House (West View)

UPDATE (11/25/12): Tyma'z is now closed.

Some time ago I had the opportunity to check out Tyma'z in West View.  Tyma'z is a small, unassuming Middle Eastern eatery that sits along a stretch of Rochester Road where you wouldn't necessarily expect to find a restaurant.  Honestly, I didn't even know it existed until my dining companion suggested it, and I might have completely driven past it on my way there had my GPS not confidently directed me to its whereabouts.

Tyma'z is your casual, no-frills neighborhood spot.  The decor is simple, maybe even a bit dated, but inviting.  Tyma'z doesn't try to pretend to be anything other than a solid place to grab a bite of fresh, homemade Middle Eastern food.  My Beef Shawarma was tender and perfectly spiced; it is a "house favorite" for a good reason.  I also enjoyed the complimentary hummus, the Falafel appetizer, and a bite of my friend's Vegetarian Bazila.  The service was friendly as well.

It's hard not to draw some immediate comparisons between Tyma'z and the nearby Mediterrano, though there are some important differences between the two.  Mediterrano has a stronger focus on Greek cuisine, while the chef-owner of Tyma'z is from Syria which is reflected in the menu options.  In addition, the atmosphere is completely different; Mediterrano is the more upscale and Tyma'z the more down-to-earth between the two.  This is also reflected in the price points of the two restaurants.

In sum, I had a good first impression of Tyma'z and I think it is a good option for Middle Eastern food in the North Hills.

Complimentary Hummus

Falafel ($5)

Beef Shawarma ($17)

Vegetarian Bazila ($13)

Restaurant info:
Tyma'z Mediterranean House
96 Rochester Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15229
(412)931-9005
On the web: http://www.tymaz.com


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Mediterrano (Millvale)

Confession: I am not a big fan of lamb.

I have always found lamb to have a distinctively odd taste that's really difficult to describe in words, but whatever that taste is, I find it rather unpalatable.  As such, I typically pay little attention to lamb entrees on a menu since I'd hate to waste good money on something I might not like.

So when Señorita Cibulka and I went to Mediterrano a little while ago, I wasn't planning on ordering lamb.

But the special just sounded soooo good:  Sugar and clove crusted lamb chops from a local farm, served with a fig balsamic glaze and root vegetable medley.  Our waiter talked it up, too, so I was tempted.  Besides, I have had some surprisingly positive experience with lamb recently, and Mediterrano had come highly recommended to me, so I figured it was probably worth the gamble this time.

And that was the story of how I ordered lamb for the first time in my life.

Lamb Special

My entree was good.  Very good, in fact, even though I could still detect a bit of the "odd" taste I dislike in most lamb, but the meat was tender and cooked to absolute perfection.  It was a strange combination of "I don't like this weird taste in the lamb but I really like this dish so I'm going to eat it."  I cleaned my plate.  And could have eaten more.

Señorita Cibulka also ordered a lamb dish: Arni Souvlaki, or grilled lamb skewers with onions and peppers with rice and pita.  I had a bite of this for comparison, and surprisingly it had none of the "odd" lamb taste (and it was delicious).  I'm not sure what the difference is, whether it's in the cooking method, the cut of meat, or the individual lamb, but the lamb in this dish was definitely different from the lamb chops I had.

Arni Souvlaki

In any case, we both agreed that Mediterrano served up a tremendous meal, and the decor is cute and warm as well.  Honestly, Señorita Cibulka and I have never had a bad meal together, and I hope our good fortune (and friendship) continues for years to come.

In the meantime, I will look forward to my return visit to Mediterrano.

Mediterrano

Read Señorita Cibulka's thoughts on Mediterrano here, where she also addresses the unusual parking situation.

Restaurant info:
Mediterrano
2193 Babcock Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15209
(412)822-8888
On the web: http://www.mediterranocuisine.com/
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mediterranogreekcuisine


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Franklin Inn Mexican Restaurant (Pittsburgh): Take Two

One of my favorite pasttimes is trying new restaurants.  Many of these restaurants I end up liking a lot and vowing to return, but with 124 restaurants currently on my wish list, 86 of which are in the Pittsburgh area, it often takes me a little while to go back to a restaurant I had been to and enjoyed, despite the best of intentions.  (*blush*)  Franklin Inn is one restaurant in this category.

Franklin Inn holds a special place in my heart as it was the restaurant featured in my inaugural post on this blog back on February 28. It had been on the back of my mind as a place I needed to revisit, and I finally had the chance a couple of weeks ago when a friend and I decided to meet up for dinner and the North Hills area was a convenient location for both of us.

Announcing to the public that you're about to visit a restaurant means people will chime in about that restaurant.  Danina from Bite Bistro recommended the Chorizo Burrito at Franklin Inn, so I figured I couldn't go wrong with that!  The chorizo inside this burrito is a special blend made for Franklin Inn, and it came with tomatoes, onions, and cheese.  For the sides I opted for a side salad and the black beans and corn.  I had heard some complaints about the chorizo burrito being too cheesy, but mine was perfectly fine.  Everything tasted great.

Chorizo Burrito ($11.95)

And then, because I couldn't resist (as usual), I got a dessert.  I was oscillating between the Fried Ice Cream and the Caramel Flan (made from a special family recipe), and ended up choosing the Fried Ice Cream with chocolate sauce.  I was quite pleasantly surprised by this.  The ice cream had the flavor of natural vanilla beans and the crust wasn't thick and hard like some other fried ice cream I've had in the past.

Fried Ice Cream ($4.95)

It was another enjoyable meal at Franklin Inn.  I'll be back again. :)


Restaurant Info:
Franklin Inn Mexican Restaurant
2313 Rochester Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237
(412)336-4140
Website: http://www.franklininn.net/ 
On twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/FranklinInn
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FranklinInn


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Coffee Buddha (West View)

When Mike Witherel said he was "trying to sell atmosphere" with his new coffee joint, he wasn't joking around.

Many people don't know this about me, but I consider myself a Buddhist.  So when I found out about the impending opening of a coffee shop named Coffee Buddha, I was naturally intrigued.  I closely followed the news of Coffee Buddha's progress on Twitter and Facebook, and when it finally opened the week after 4th of July, I promptly added it to my to-do list.

Somehow, it took me nearly two months before I finally made my first trip there, though it has quickly become my office away from my office.  And it's not just because of the Buddha theme (or the free wifi).  Sure, there are statues and wall paintings of Buddha.  There is even a Buddha bust inside the fish aquarium in the the front room.  But there is so much more than that that I like about Coffee Buddha.  Let me count the ways...

First, the beverages.  Another thing that many people find surprising about me is that I don't typically drink coffee, espresso, or espresso drinks (e.g., lattes).  Long story boiled down to a nutshell, I simply don't like the bitter taste.  (Same reason I don't drink beer.)  My only source of caffeine comes from a morning cup of tea, and after 2 pm or so, any further caffeine intake would keep me up at night.  My first visit to Coffee Buddha occurred after 2 pm on a Wednesday afternoon so I played it safe and got a caffeine-free Tangerine Ginger herbal tea, which was delicious.  But I was intrigued by the Four Noble Truths - four lattes known as Dalai Latte, Peanut Buddha Latte, Enlighten-Mint, and Mexi-Mocha - and vowed to come back in the morning someday to try them, especially after owner Mike so nicely offered me samples of the delicious homemade Vietnamese Spice and Peanut Curry Caramel that are mixed into the Dalai Latte and the Peanut Buddha Latte, respectively. As I mentioned earlier, I don't normally drink lattes, but I'm a woman of my word and have since returned to try both the Dalai Latte and the Peanut Buddha Latte.  Of the two, I personally prefer the Peanut Buddha, because I absolutely love the peanut + curry + caramel combo, but I found the Dalai Latte interesting and tasty as well, with the tangy Vietnamese spice that's just a little bit spicy.  I plan to complete all Four Noble Truths soon.  I want to achieve nirvana.

Dalai Latte

Tangerine Ginger Tea

Of course, being a coffee shop, Coffee Buddha sells a variety of coffee.  Owner Mike is very passionate about his Trifecta single-serving coffee machine.  I don't know enough about coffee brewing to comment, but I did try a coffee sample which I had black - shocking, I know; R. couldn't believe it when I told him! - and I can see why coffee drinkers would like it.  I might even go for a full cup someday.  But, baby steps...

The second reason I like Coffee Buddha is the munchies.  Coffee Buddha serves a limited selection of salads and wraps from Pure Cafe and pastries from Lincoln Bakery.  I was initially a little concerned about the freshness of the wraps - after all, you have no idea how long they've been sitting in the refrigerated display case, but my Thai Chicken Wrap, with free range chicken, lettuce, cucumber, carrots, and spicy peanut sauce was pretty fresh and the flavor combo did not disappoint.  I had been to Pure Cafe before and had the Veggie Lovers Wrap there, and both times I've found the wraps to be simple and healthy.  Just what you'd expect from a neighborhood cafe housed inside a gym.

Thai Chicken Wrap from Pure Cafe

Lincoln Bakery, on the other hand, I had never been before, but I thoroughly enjoyed the Coconut Cream Pie, Pumpkin Muffin, and the Walnut Square I've partaken in at Coffee Buddha.  Owner Mike spoke of bringing in a microwave to warm up some of the baked goods, which I think would be a great idea.  The cold muffin was a little odd, even if tasty.

Coconut Cream Pie from Lincoln Bakery

Pumpkin Muffin from Lincoln Bakery

Walnut Square from Lincoln Bakery

The third reason I like Coffee Buddha: good service.  Owner Mike and the rest of the staff are always friendly, not just to people but to dogs as well - as evidenced by the pooch-friendly front porch and the gourmet dog treats available for sale.  Not that I've ever felt unwelcomed at any coffee shop, but when I walk into Coffee Buddha, I feel like I'm visiting a friend's house and not a business, which leads me to the fourth reason why I like - no, LOVE - Coffee Buddha:

Atmosphere.

Coffee Buddha's exterior

Coffee Buddha is essentially an old house converted into a coffee shop, and thus feels very cozy.  The inside is full of brightly colored walls which is totally my style - you're talking about someone who painted her kitchen red and her powder room orange after all.  Coffee Buddha's decor is exactly how I would decorate my coffee shop if I owned one.  Despite the intense colors, it is also a place that feels relaxing - probably because it has the layout of a house.  The second floor has rooms slated for different purposes - a couple of rooms with sofas and armchairs, one with a table in the middle suitable for doing work, and one featuring a foosball table in the middle.  There's even a meditation room and talks of using it for massages.  Most of the rooms also feature large flat-screen TVs.  There's not a single inch of this place that's not been carefully designed and decorated.

The front room you see as soon as you walk into Coffee Buddha

The counter
(LOVE the red walls!)

One of the rooms upstairs

Another room upstairs, with posters from Venice

Yet another room upstairs

Connected to the other "green room" is a room featuring a foosball table

The Meditation Room

Even the bathroom decor is well thought-out

In addition to the warm interior design, owner Mike clearly has a good, quirky sense of humor that I appreciate.  Almost everywhere you go inside and outside the shop, you'll find something goofy that'll make you laugh:

Sign by the window inside the front entrance

Parking sign. I guess I'd better become a coffee drinker.

The only minor inconvenience for me is that if I'm trying to get work done at Coffee Buddha, I do try to go when I know there would likely not be many people around.  Unlike your typical coffee shop, there is only a handful of tables at Coffee Buddha where you can really lay out your stuff (as I do when I work) and be productive.  Also, even though you are separated by walls, conversations from one room do carry to other rooms in the "house."  When I'm trying to concentrate, I don't need to be eavesdropping on a lively conversation between two clearly very bright high school students about the universities they're looking into, which incidentally included my own alma mater IN CANADA - ha! (Boy these kids think global - good for them!)  But really, I didn't need to hear all that.  It wasn't a problem my iPod and some jazz clarinet music couldn't fix, but it is something I have to consider depending on what I'm trying to accomplish when I pay Coffee Buddha a visit. Coffee Buddha was clearly designed with the goal to make it a place to hang out rather than to do serious work, and I think that is totally fine.  It just means it may not always be a good time for me to be there.

Overall, I do love Coffee Buddha.  I am definitely sold on the atmosphere.  And then some.

Restaurant info:
Coffee Buddha
964 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, PA 15237
(412)559-4352
Bonus: Free wifi
On the web: http://www.thecoffeebuddha.com
On twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thecoffeebuddha
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/coffeebuddha


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Yum Frozen Yogurt (Wexford)

After lunch at Forgotten Taste Famous Pierogies, I went next door to Yum Frozen Yogurt for dessert.  Yum, a self-serve froyo shop, is fairly new, and was voted Favorite Frozen Yogurt by readers of Whirl Magazine earlier this year.  On this visit, I picked the strawberry and the cupcake flavors for my frozen yogurt, and topped it up with some fresh strawberries, pineapple chunks, and coconut flakes.  The strawberry frozen yogurt was not too bad, but the cupcake was definitely the better of the two.  I have been to Yum a few times in the past, and they do whip up some good froyo.  I distinctly remember their Green Tea and Irish Mint flavors being quite tasty.  Of course, like many self-serve froyo shops, Yum rotates its flavors, so you never really know what you're gonna get on a given day.

I think the quality of Yum's froyo is comparable to the fabulous Razzy Fresh, which means it is awesome.  Personally, Razzy Fresh is still my favorite in town only because I prefer the options they have over Yum's, which is not a knock on Yum at all.  If you happen to be in the Wexford area and craving frozen yogurt, Yum is a brilliant choice.

Strawberry and Cupcake Frozen Yogurt
with strawberries, pineapples, and coconut toppings

Restaurant info:
Yum Frozen Yogurt
11978 Perry Hwy, Wexford, PA 15090
(724)934-1000
On the web: http://www.yumfrozenyogurt.net

Forgotten Taste Famous Pierogies (Wexford)

Forgotten Taste Famous Pierogies is a curious little shop.  I have never seen a restaurant more unassuming than this place, where the only sign above the restaurant says "pierogies," with the actual name of the restaurant nowhere to be found.  In fact, I had driven past this place on a number of occasions, assuming it was just a simple take-out place.  I mean, what restaurant doesn't have a name?  Well, Forgotten Taste does take-outs, but there is also seating available for dining in.

So how did I find out it was more than a take-out shop (and that it has a name)?  Well, a review of by Kelly Burgess came out in the Pine-Richland Patch last Friday, concurring that it is the best pierogies in Southern...er, Western Pennsylvania.  I happened to be looking for lunch options, so within two hours, I was at Forgotten Taste, thinking I could then go right next door afterwards to Yum for some froyo.  Perfect plan. :)

"Pierogies"

The atmosphere is pretty minimalistic with several tables on the inside.  There is a patio out back overlooking Rt. 19, but no seating.  There are, however, two small tables at the front of the restaurant facing the parking lot.  You order from the cashier, and your food is served on styrofoam plates on a red plastic food court tray.

Based on Burgess' recommendation, I ordered the Hot Sausage Goulash over Pierogi.  The goulash was as good as Burgess had promised.  The pierogies were also cooked to perfection; the wrapper tastes fresh and perfectly al dente, unlike some soggy versions I've had in the past (there is nothing worse than overcooked pierogies!), while the cheese and potato filling was also fabulous.  This place really does serve up some tasty pierogies.  It wasn't until I had already placed my order that I saw the sign saying that they can either boil or deep fry the pierogies.  Next time, I'm trying them deep fried, though I must say the boiled version was a lot better than I had expected.  Also, if you happen to be in the area on Monday and Wednesdays, you can get a meal for a discount price of $4.99, which is a great price for great food.  There is also another location in Cranberry and a take-out location in Moon Township.

Hot Sausage Goulash over Pierogi ($7.49)

Restaurant info:
Forgotten Taste Famous Pierogies
11978 Perry Hwy, Wexford, PA 15090
(724)940-2277
On the web: http://www.forgottentaste.com

Bella Frutteto (Wexford)

Last Sunday, my bridal party congregated in Pittsburgh for a day of dress shopping.  The trip was a success, but all that shopping left us very hungry so we headed to Bella Frutteto in Wexford for dinner.  Bella Frutteto is located in a strip mall just off of the I-79 Wexford exit, at the opposite end of where Eat 'n Park is located.  It's a pretty cozy and comfortable restaurant, probably a bit more upscale than one would expect given its location.  I was intrigued by the Apple Ravioli, described as "Granny Smith apples sautéed with amaretto, golden raisins, and balsamic-roasted figs in a fresh sage butter sauce atop jumbo cheese raviolis."  I loved the tart, fruity combination and it was a refreshing way to lighten up the flavor of heavy cheese raviolis.  Very summery.  I only wish it was less greasy.

Apple Ravioli ($18)

I wouldn't call the food at Bella Frutteto phenomenal, but it was pretty good and my dining companions all enjoyed their meal as well.


Restaurant info:
Bella Frutteto Restaurant
2602 Brandt School Road, Wexford, PA 15090
(724)940-7777
On the web: http://www.bellafrutteto.com

Zuppa's Deli (Wexford): Take Two

This is a long overdue second post on Zuppa's Deli in Wexford.  I had raved about Zuppa's Veggie Sammy in one of my early blog posts and have since visited Zuppa's several more times (even turning a few friends into Zuppa's fans in the process).  R. had the Veggie Sammy himself when I took him there a few weeks ago and concurred with my assessment, and my sister tried a bite of my Veggie Sammy on another visit and gave it a two-thumbs up.  Nonetheless, in my more recent visits, I have ventured beyond my favorite sandwich of all time and tried some of the other items on Zuppa's menu, one of which was the meatabulous Meat Loaf Panini, with applewood smoked bacon, asiago cheese, housemade meatloaf and mashed potatoes, topped with Zuppa's own BBQ sauce and fried onion straws:

Meat Loaf Panini

The Meat Loaf Panini, opened

On another visit I checked out their Tomato Basil Panini, with oven roasted tomatoes, housemade basil pesto, and fresh mozzarella:

Tomato Basil Panini

Both sandwiches were fantastic and highly recommended, though the Tomato Bisque really takes the cake.  This slow-roasted tomato soup with a touch of cream and sherry made me sad when I finished my last bite:

Tomato Bisque

If you haven't checked out Zuppa's yet, you most definitely should!

Restaurant Info:
Zuppa's Delicatessen
10850 Perry Highway
Wexford, PA 15090
Phone: (724)934-4700
Website: http://www.zuppasdeli.com