Gaucho is an upbeat Argentinian restaurant located in the outskirts of the Strip District.  Gaucho has quite a hype, and the food there lives up to it. The restaurant is known for their savory cuts of beef and long lines. In the past, I have seen lines that have wrapped around the building with people just waiting to get in and order. I would highly recommend going early for dinner; we went to Gaucho at 3:30, and we still had to wait in line to order. The line is well worth the wait because the food is fantastic.

The way Gaucho works is you order at a counter and then are seated, and you wait for your food to arrive. This system worked well, and people kept moving quickly through the line. They have the very large menu on a chalkboard for patrons to see. The actual restaurant space has a front and a back seating area; the back seating area is larger, but both places are open and welcoming. Gaucho offers different cuts of meat and seafood, as well as starters, sandwiches, and sides. Pricing varies between dishes, but the portion sizes are fair compared to their prices.

The menu at Gaucho was very large and diverse.

We got three side dishes along with our main courses. Everything came out together, which made the table a little crowded, but all of the food was good, so that wasn’t really an issue. Our first side was the Verduras Gaucho, which was ratatouille. This dish was nothing special; it did taste good, but I wouldn’t get it again. Nothing really stood out in the dish, and it was all the same flavor. Although the ratatouille was disappointing, the other sides made up for it. We also got three empanadas; we ordered the vegetarian, chicken, and steak. The crust on the empanadas was light and flaky, and it did not get soggy from the filling. The different fillings were all good in their own way. The steak was well-seasoned and flavorful; this was our favorite empanada. The vegetarian empanada was very good and the flavors of the vegetables were present, but they did not have a distinct flavor; however, it was still good. The chicken empanada was our least favorite because the chicken was dry. Although it was well seasoned, the dry chicken was a let down. The flavors of the empanada were still good, but the chicken was disappointing. Our favorite side was the Papas Dulce, which had mashed sweet potatoes, caraway seeds, and vanilla. The different combination of the potato, the seeds, and the vanilla tasted amazing. I had never had something like this, but I am happy I tried it. I would highly recommend this side; no flavor was too strong and the potatoes had a slight kick to them, adding another dimension of flavor.

The three empanadas.

The Papas Dulce and the Verduras Gaucho.

For my main dish, I got the Cordero, which had wood-fired lamb chops, a blackberry sauce with peppercorns and thyme, toast, and a tossed salad. The meat was very smoky and tender; it was also not overcooked or undercooked. The blackberry sauce added a touch of sweetness to the meat; although I was hesitant about the sauce, it added a nice touch to the dish. I have to say something about the bread because I could taste the smoky flavor, and it was a great addition to the dish. I got the half portion, which felt small, but with all the sides, I was not hungry when I left Gaucho. For my mom’s main dish, she got the Camarones, which was seared shrimp with rosemary, garlic, and lemon. The rosemary was very present in the dish, but it did not overpower the other flavors. The shrimp was cooked well, but there were not that many pieces of shrimp (she got the small). Due to the fact that there were not that many shrimp, my mom ordered a salad after we were seated, which the server was happy to get. For my brother’s main dish, he got the Bite de Gaucho, which was a ribeye steak. The meat was cooked perfectly and was well-seasoned. The dish also came with the same bread my dish came with, as well as a small side salad. The meat was smoky and had a nice crust to it. Out of all of our main dishes, I would recommend all of them; they all were cooked perfectly, and they each had their own unique flavor.

The Bite de Gaucho

The Camarones

The Cordero

The wait staff at Gaucho was very nice and understanding. We had never been to Gaucho before, and we did not realize that the patrons got their own sauce and silverware before they got seated; our server was kind to explain what to do and where to go to get what we needed. We also needed an order to take out with us, and they were good at remembering the bring it to us instead of us having to ask. When my mother also wanted a salad after we ordered, they put an order for a side salad in for us and got it to my mom quickly.

The side salad my mother ordered after we were seated.

Gaucho is located on the outskirts of the bustling Strip District, which is outside of Downtown. I would highly recommend trying Gaucho; although they did not have many options for vegetarians, meat-eaters would enjoy what they have to offer. The Strip District has many shops and restaurants, and it is a great place the spend the day.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Location: 1601 Penn Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Telephone: (412) 709-6622

Hours: 11am-9pm (Tues-Thurs) 11am-10pm (Fri-Sat) Closed (Sun-Mon)

Accepts: Credit cards, cash

Parking: Street

Pricing: $$

Noodlehead is a casual noodle shop located in the outskirts of Shadyside, toward East Liberty. Noodlehead offers inexpensive noodle and soup options in an industrial-style restaurant. I went to Noodlehead on a Friday night, and I had to wait about 5 minutes for a table. Business picked up quickly, and there were many people waiting when I left; there were so many people that they were almost out the door. My advice would be to get there early on weekends because it got very busy very quickly.

The restaurant was very intimate with dim lighting and casual seating. Service moved quickly even though there were many people there. There were tables and bench tables, as well as bar seating and stools at tables. Noodlehead serves lunch and dinner, and their main focus is on providing good noodles at an inexpensive price. The restaurant is very family friendly and has many options for everyone. All soups at Noodlehead only cost $6 and all noodle dishes only cost $9.

The menu had a variety of options.

To start, we had the sweet potato triangles and the pulled pork belly steamed buns. Both dishes were fantastic and set the bar high for the rest of the night. The sweet potato triangles were perfectly sweet and crispy. They were not greasy at all, and they had a light texture. They reminded me of sweet potato fries with an Asian flare and better than normal sweet potato fries. They came with a dipping sauce that provided a savory twist that helped tone down the sweetness and provide a nice contrast.  I would very much recommend these. The pulled pork belly steamed buns were fantastic, and I could have eaten them for the rest of the night. The pork and the sauce that were on the bun provided a nice mix of savory and sweet flavors while the pickled cucumbers added a bitter taste in a good way; all of the different flavors added up to a fantastic dish. The steamed bun was perfectly stretchy and delicious. The starter only came with two, which I was disappointed by because they tasted so great, and I could have had more. After having the starters, I had high expectations for our main dishes.

Our starters were fantastic, and the pulled pork steamed buns were our favorite.

For my main dish, I got the sukothai, which was a soup with rice noodles, pork, cilantro, peanuts, green beans and a hard boiled egg. The different combinations of flavors all tasted great together, and the noodles were cooked perfectly. The soft noodles, which were not chewy, were contrasted by the crunchy green beans. The hard boiled egg added a nice touch of protein along with the pork, which were in the shape of little meatballs. I have to say that it was difficult to eat at times, and I did have to use both a fork and a spoon for my soup, but it was definitely worth it to order. The flavors of the pork and the broth along with the noodles tasted great, and it was our favorite main dish. For all the main dishes on the menu, except for the curries, the customer can choose the level of heat, ranging from 0 to 5 (0 being the least spicy; curries can only go from 1 to 5. I got my soup at a 0 because I can’t handle spice).  My mother got the Chiang Mai curry, which had egg noodles, chicken, mustard greens, bean sprouts, and crispy shallots all in a curry coconut milk sauce. The portion of the noodle was very generous for only $9. All of the flavors were present in the dish, including the coconut milk in the curry sauce, which was great because it added a nice touch of sweetness. The crunchy shallots added a different texture that kept the dish interesting. The amount of the curry was hard to finish because the portion was so large, but it was definitely worth it.

The soup was great and inexpensive.

The curry had a large portion and tasted great.

The wait staff at Noodlehead was extremely nice. We needed a noodle dish to take out, and they got that for us quickly. While we waited for our table, the hostesses were very kind and friendly. Our server was mindful of us, despite the restaurant being busy. He asked if our meals were good, and our table was cleared quickly between starters and our main dishes.

Noodlehead is located in the outskirts of Shadyside, near East Liberty. There are many restaurants and shops in this area. My favorite ice cream shop, Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream, is right next door to Noodlehead. I highly recommend Noodlehead to anyone who is looking for inexpensive, but good, lunch and dinner option in a modern space.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Location: 242 S Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Hours: 12pm-10pm (Sun-Sat)

Accepts: Cash only

Parking: Street

Pricing: $

Ali Baba is a local Middle Eastern restaurant in Oakland. The restaurant is not far from the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History. Ali Baba, a local favorite in Oakland is a casual and quick place to stop for great food. The small and cozy restaurant is focused on providing Middle Eastern food in the city of Pittsburgh.

The menu at Ali Baba had many options.

Ali Baba is as intimate space but typically there is not a wait. Many locals go to Ali Baba because the restaurant is known for great food at a casual place. The restaurant’s look is simple, as the main focus is on the food and sharing the time with others. Ali Baba offers lunch and dinner on weekdays and dinner on weekends. The menu includes traditional Middle Eastern foods, such as grape leaves, moussaka, and tabouli. There is a large selection on the menu, with options for vegetarians and vegans.

When we were first seated, we did not have any silverware or water. For about five minutes we waited, but once our server arrived at our table the problem was fixed quickly. This issue might have been because they were busy, but they were moving quickly, so we did not have to wait long for the problem to be fixed. As our starters, we got the hummus and baba ghanouj, which came with pita. The hummus at Ali Baba is our personal favorite, and I would highly recommend getting hummus and baba ghanouj to share with the table. The hummus is perfectly seasoned, and the baba ghanouj has a great texture and flavor. The hummus and baba ghanouj also come with free refills of pita bread, which is great because the dish comes with a lot of dip but typically not enough pita to finish it all. This dish is definitely something to share with the table, and we typically get the large size, so there are leftovers to take home.  With my parents’ main dishes, they got a small side salad, which was nothing very special, but it did help start the service of the main dishes.

The side salad was very simple.

The baba ghanouj had a great flavor.

The hummus was classic and great.

The main dishes were traditional and tasted great. For my main dish, I got the grape leaves, which were very traditional, and they were made nicely. The grape leaves also have a vegetarian option, as they come with lamb. The filling of lamb and rice was perfect and was not overwhelmed by the strong flavor of the grape leaves. This dish is a very classic and simple dish, but  I do recommend it, as Ali Baba makes them very well. I feel as though the small portion of the grape leaves is not enough, as they are typically pretty small, so I would recommend getting the larger portion, which comes with twelve. For my mother’s main dish, she got the shiek el mahshi, which is a roasted eggplant with lamb and onions, topped with tomato sauce. This dish came with a large portion that was hard to finish, but the taste was very good. The texture was soft, and toward the end, the dish became slightly mushy, but overall, it was a solid dish. The lamb was seasoned well and the eggplant was not overpowered by the tomato sauce. There was quite a lot of tomato sauce, which made it hard to eat at times, but it did add additional flavor. For my father’s dish, he got the lamb shank, which was amazing. The meat was very tender and fell off the bone. The flavor of the dish was great and the taste is classic. This is a dish worth getting. It comes with a side of rice, but the main focus is on the lamb shank because of the great flavor. It was cooked to perfection and was not dry. I highly recommend this. To finish off dinner, we had the baklava, which was classic and great. The pastry was flaky and crunchy, and the honey provided a nice flavor.

The grape leaves had a classic flavor.

The mix of eggplant, lamb, and tomato sauce was great.

The lamb shank was amazing.

The wait staff at Ali Baba was very kind, and when we had the issue of not having silverware or water at the beginning, they were quick to fix it. They stayed on top of our order and the food was brought out quickly. Service moved quickly, and our server checked in on us to ensure that our food was good. We were in and out of Ali Baba quickly, making it a great place to stop for a quick bite to eat.

Ali Baba is located in Oakland, right by the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History. This restaurant would be a great place to visit after going to the museum or sightseeing in Oakland. I would recommend Ali Baba to anyone who is looking for great food at a casual place.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Location: 404 S Craig St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Telephone: (412) 682-2829

Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Mon-Fri), 4pm – 9:30pm (Sat), 4pm – 10pm (Sun)

Accepts: Credit cards, cash

Parking: Street

Pricing: $$

The Vandal is a modern cafe located in Lawrenceville that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The small restaurant has a clean and minimalistic feel with simple colors that really put the main focus on the food. The room is bright and open, as there are only around 8 tables and 6 counter seats. Although there is limited seating, the food is definitely worth any wait.

The brunch menu at The Vandal had a wide selection of great food.

The Vandal has a hipster vibe to it and customers can get coffee to go or sit down and enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner on weekdays, and breakfast, brunch, or dinner on Saturdays. I went to The Vandal on a Saturday, anticipating a lunch menu; however, I was given the brunch menu. Although I was disappointed at the beginning, the amazing food soon turned around my disappointment. The brunch menu ranged from a fried chicken sandwich to classic eggs to tea cakes. Selecting was hard, but it is hard to go wrong with any dish on the menu.

The lattes we had were some of the best we have ever tasted.

To drink, I had a chai tea latte, which rivaled some of the best lattes I have ever had. There was a significant layer of sweet, spiced foam. The drink was not too sweet and there was a good flavor of spices. It was the perfect temperature and was a great addition to my meal. My mother had a latte, which also rivaled some of the best lattes she had ever had. It had significant foam and a cool design on top that made it picture-worthy. The taste was super smooth and we got some lattes to go. As our starters, we got the tea cake and the rice pudding. The tea cake was topped with a whipped cream and oranges and had an almond batter. The cake melted in our mouths and the almond did not get lost and was a strong flavor throughout the dish. It was very light and fluffy and the oranges added a change in flavor to the cake and whipped cream. The presentation of the dish was clean, but the main focus was on the tea cake. The rice pudding was amazing. It was topped with apple jam and crushed hazelnuts, which were a great combination. The pudding was smooth and not runny. The pudding itself was not too sweet and the apple jam added a nice touch of fruity sweetness to the pudding. The starter was the perfect amount and was not too much that it overwhelmed us. From this first impression, we had high hopes that were met with the main dishes.

The tea cake and rice pudding were amazing. I highly recommend both of them.

For my main dish, I got the soft scramble that came with chives, ricotta, rye bread, and an arugula salad. At multiple restaurants, I have gotten useless side salads that are just there for filler and add nothing to the dish. However, this was not the case. The salad tasted great with the eggs or rye bread and it added something to the dish. The flavor of the eggs was really good and I could taste the chives that were in the eggs. The portion size was very generous and I could not finish it all. The presentation was clean and simple but the dish itself was not as plain. The toast, salad, and eggs all tasted good together, and the different combinations of eggs, toast, and salad added variety to the dish. Overall, this dish was great and I would recommend it to anyone. For my mother’s main dish, she got the red potato hash with onion, squash, brussel sprouts, jalapeno, and sour cream. The dish had a slight kick to it because of the jalapenos, but it was nothing too spicy that overwhelmed the overall taste. The potatoes were cooked perfectly and were soft and not too starchy. It was a good portion of food that was easy to eat. The brussel sprouts in the dish added variety to it by mixing up the textures so potato was not the only taste or texture in the dish.

The soft scramble had amazing flavor combinations.

The potato hash had great textures and flavors.

The wait staff at the Vandal was very kind and they kept the food moving. Although we had multiple servers at the beginning, the servers became consistent and we got in and out of the cafe quickly. We did not have to wait long for our drinks or our food and everyone was nice about us taking the time to pick out what we wanted.

The Vandal is located in Lawrenceville, which is a very popular destination for restaurants and shopping. I would recommend The Vandal to anyone, really. There was something on the menu for everyone (although the gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan options seemed limited).  The food and feel of the cafe were great and well worth any wait.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Location: 4306 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Telephone: (412) 251-0465

Hours: 8am – 9pm (Wed-Sat), 8am – 2pm (Sun)

Accepts: Credit cards, cash

Parking: Street

Pricing: $$

Conflict Kitchen is a take-out restaurant located next to the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History, right in the heart of Oakland. I went to Conflict Kitchen on February 4, and we were the only patrons waiting, as it was very cold that day. The outside of the kitchen was very colorful and easy-to-spot. There was seating outside along the park next to the kitchen for patrons to sit and wait for their order, or to eat their food. I, however, did not eat outside because it was cold, so I ate in my car instead. However, during the summer, going to Conflict Kitchen would be a great idea to grab a quick bite to eat.

Conflict Kitchen is located right next to a park. The outside was colorful and designed with patterns of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

I arrived at Conflict Kitchen at noon, and there were no other patrons when we got there because there is no indoor seating and it was very cold that day. However, someone did stop while we were there to grab something to drink. For my mother and me being the only patrons there, the service felt slow and from the time we placed our order to the time we got it, it had been about 15 minutes, which felt even longer because we were standing in the cold. However, our attitudes quickly turned around when we got out food.

The Wadesai’dö:ndak had a sweet maple flavor.

The Onädatgos had a unique sour flavor.

The food was great, and I have very few complaints about it. The ability needed to master and make dishes from different cultures every few months is admirable. Conflict Kitchen, when we went, was serving food from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, which is made up of Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. On the menu, there were multiple options for gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan diets. All of the menu options were either fitting to one of those diets or multiple, which is great for those who want to try new foods but are limited in their dietary needs. To drink, my mother got the Okdeahgi’, which is a hot root tea. I tasted it and the flavor of the tea reminded me of chai tea because it had a hint of spices. It was something I had never tried before, but I would order it. I had the Oya:gi’ to drink, which is a chilled wild fruit drink. It was very sweet and fruity; the overall taste was raspberry and it was very refreshing. I had also never had this, but the taste reminded me of raspberry lemonade. Overall, both were very good and I would get both again.

For a small plate, I got the Wadesai’dö:ndak, which was sweet maple baked beans with salt pork. The maple flavor really came through and was not overpowering. However, the salt pork was hard to find in the dish and there could have been more of it. The portion size was generous, however, and I was unable to finish it in one sitting. My mother got the Onädatgos, which was a salad of wild greens with cranberries that was lightly dressed with a blueberry vinaigrette. My mother and I were both anticipating a sweet salad, but, to our surprise, the salad was sour because of the cranberries. After we got over our initial shock that the salad was not sweet, we enjoyed the different flavors of the cranberry and blueberry. However, in the dressing, it was hard to get a lot of blueberry flavor as the sour of the cranberries overpowered the dressing. We also got the Ganya’hji’da’, which was a small  plate of corn tamales stuffed with mushrooms and corn truffle. The corn had a very sweet flavor in the tamales and the taste was great. I had never had this style of tamales and I’m happy I have tried it. The tamales were a little hard to eat as they fell apart easily, but their great taste was too hard to ignore.

This was a traditional fry bread that came with my chili.

The Ganya’hji’da’ had a sweet corn flavor.

For the main dishes, I got the Onyöhsowa:nes, which was a pumpkin and Iroquois white corn chili. The serving size of the chili was very generous and the ingredients made the dish very filling. The taste was great and had some spices added to it that enhanced the flavor of the pumpkin and corn. The overall appeal of the dish was warm and hearty. It also came with a traditional fry bread that reminded me of funnel cake because of its texture. My mother got the Oshöwe:’ for her main dish. It consisted of a crispy Iroquois white corn mush cake with a root vegetable hash. This was one of our favorite dishes from Conflict Kitchen. The root vegetables had an almost sweet taste and the white corn mush cake was soft but not too soft that it wasn’t good to eat. The taste was great and the dish was very colorful. The portion of this dish was big and my mother could not eat it all in one sitting.

The Onyöhsowa:nes was a chili with pumpkin and corn.

The Oshöwe:’ had many different flavors.

The service at Conflict Kitchen was good. Even though the food took a while, the people taking our order were very kind and helped us pronounce the names of the dishes. Conflict Kitchen is located in Oakland, which is a great spot for visiting and sightseeing in Pittsburgh. The restaurant itself was not far from the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History. The idea behind Conflict Kitchen is to serve food from places the United States is in conflict with. They also style the kitchen with designs from those places and play music from the cultures, too. We also got a sheet of interviews from people from the confederacy that had problems with the United States to read as we waited for our food. This new idea turns out perfectly at Conflict Kitchen because of the great food and atmosphere.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Location: 221 Schenley Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Telephone: (412) 802-8417

Hours: 11am – 6pm (Mon-Sat)

Accepts: Credit cards, cash

Parking: Street

Pricing: $

Nancy’s East End Diner is a traditional diner located in Wilkinsburg. I went to the diner on January 28, and it was quite busy for being one of the few restaurants in the town. The diner is exactly how a diner is imagined: booth and counter seating, a window to the kitchen, and a bell for when the food is ready. The menu had traditional diner options, too.  The diner had a strong community vibe, with pictures of past patrons hanging on the walls; the diner seemed to be a keystone of the community.

The strong community vibe was easy to see in the diner. Pictures of past patrons were hung on all of the walls.

I arrived at Nancy’s at 9:42 and our order was taken at 9:50; although it took a while to get our order taken (it seemed as though our waitress forgot), we got our food 10 minutes after placing it. We left around 10:30, so service moved quickly as people shuffled in and out. The waitstaff was extremely kind and took great care of us while we were there. They checked in on us multiple times once we had our food and were quick to solve any problems.

This was our breakfast set up – lots of classic homestyle food.

The menu had classic American diner options, including grits, pancakes, and omelettes. The menu was not very adaptable to different diets, however, but there were breakfast options for those with gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian diets, such as egg breakfasts. However, they didn’t have pancake or french toast options for those different diets. To drink, I had a coffee- a classic in any diner. The taste was classic, and one plus was free refills on the coffee and cream. For my starter, I had a pancake, which was done perfectly. It had a great flavor that was not too sweet. The crunchy ring on the outside was contrasted by the fluffy, soft center on the inside. The pancake was perfect for any toppings, like syrup or jam. My mother had the challah french toast, which was done in a similar fashion to my pancake. It had a crunchy outside but then a fluffy, soft inside. It didn’t get soggy after putting syrup on it; overall it had a classic taste and was done to perfection.

A classic pancake with a great texture.

The challah french toast was traditional and delicious

The menu had traditional options, but it did have some surprises, like the main dish I got. I ordered the grilled havarti and apple breakfast sandwich, which is not something that is typically on small town diner menus. The sandwich was loaded with havarti cheese, apples, and apple butter, but no flavor was too powerful or overwhelming. It was served on Mancini’s raisin bread- a local favorite. The sandwich was toasty at the beginning but got slightly soggy toward the end and the cheese was more toward the middle of the sandwich, so the corners missed out on all the sandwich had to offer. However, the flavor was unique and the dish diversified the menu. For my mother’s main dish, she got the smoked gouda and ham omelette. The taste was great with the smokey flavor of the cheese contrasted by the ham. The omelette was quite large as the portions were very generous. The dish came with toast, making it even harder to finish it all! However, the gouda did not get the chance to melt in the omelette, so there were only slices of ham and gouda; some parts of the omelette didn’t have any ham or gouda, which was disappointing because the taste was great.  My mother also got a side of grits, which far exceeded our expectations. The grits were smooth and not runny. They had a classic flavor that allowed anything to be out on them, from syrup to jam to butter. The presentations of all the dishes was very clean and classic, but nothing special- the main focus was on the food.

The havarti and apple breakfast sandwich diversified the menu.

The smoked gouda and ham omelette was classic and tasted great.

The grits were great tasting and had a perfect texture.

Nanacy’s East End Diner is located in Wilkinsburg, which is located east of Pittsburgh. The neighborhood of Wilkinsburg used to be very popular and busy; however, today, there are very few restaurants and shops around Nancy’s East End Diner. Wilkinsburg is in need of some love and a great way to give some love is to support local businesses. I would recommend Nancy’s Diner to anyone who is looking for a classic, homestyle meal and a great community and family vibe.

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Location: 616 South Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15221

Telephone: (412) 242-3447

Hours: 7:30am – 2:30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am – 2:30pm (Sat), 9am – 2pm (Sun)

Accepts: Credit Card, Cash

Parking: Private lot and street

Pricing: $

Geppetto Cafe is a small local French cafe located in the heart of Lawrenceville. I went to Geppetto Cafe on January 21, and I had to wait for about 5 minutes for a table, but patrons were moving in and out quickly. Geppetto Cafe had a Pinocchio theme, as Geppetto is the name of Pinocchio’s father in the fairytale. The cafe had a small and cozy feel, but tables were very close to one another, making standing and sitting challenging. There were books hanging from the ceiling, along with umbrellas, and Pinocchio dolls. The overall feel was very eclectic and charming. I could also see the kitchen where the food was being prepared, but this made the noise level in the cafe above average.

The books hanging from the ceiling added a nice touch. This unique design is something I have never seen before.

The Pinocchio theme was a constant throughout the cafe.

I arrived at Geppetto at around 1:00 and I left around 2:10. Service moved relatively quickly, although I felt like it look a while for our orders to be taken and for the food to come out. Once our food was out, the waitress did not check in on us often (maybe because it was hard to get to our table because tables were right next to one another?). The waitstaff was nice when they were talking to us, but it was very typical for any restaurant.

The chai latte looked pretty but its taste was subpar.

The Cafe Ole was amazing and had a rich, smokey flavor.

The menu at Geppetto Cafe has dishes ranging from crepes, to waffles, to salads, and sandwiches. They have a build your own crepe or waffle, which can accommodate vegetarian and vegan diets; however, I did not notice any crepe or waffle options for gluten free diets. A salad could be an option for a gluten free diet, but they would miss out on getting a crepe or a waffle. To drink, I had a chai latte, which I believe was subpar to many other chias I have tried in the past. It was not very sweet and you could not taste the chai flavors at all; the only standout flavor was cinnamon. There was lots of foam, but the chai latte seemed more like milk with cinnamon added to it. Overall, I would not recommend this to anyone. My mother got the Cafe Ole, which had a smooth, rich flavor, and it had lots of foam. There was a nice balance of milk and coffee, which allowed for the smokey flavor of the coffee to come out. This was probably the best latte I have had since the start of my project. However, there was an issue with the timing if the drinks. The chai latte came out about 5 minutes before the cafe ole, which I consider to be a large difference when it comes to drinks.

The Geppetto Signature Crepe had a sweet flavor and could also be made into a waffle.

The Chicken and Gruyere Crepe had a delicious spicy sauce.

For the main dishes, Geppetto Cafe offered many options; their menu didn’t really consist of any starters, so all of it was geared toward a main dish. Options included sweet and savory crepes, waffles (any sweet crepe can be made into a waffle), build your own crepe or waffle, salads, and paninis. For my main dish, I got the Geppetto Signature Crepe, which had nice flavors to it, but there were some improvements that could have been made. The crepe had caramelized apples, a cream cheese glaze, and caramel sauce; so overall, lots of caramel. The apples tasted nice and they had lots of cinnamon; however, they were sliced, which made the crepe harder to eat. There was a very sweet flavor, but it was the same flavor throughout the crepe, so I got bored of the taste quickly. Overall, it was a nice crepe and it had nice presentation, but it was nothing special. For my mother’s main dish, she got the Chicken and Gruyere crepe, which is offered as a savory crepe.The crepe can with a spicy sauce the enhanced the flavors of the gruyere cheese and the caramelized onion. However, in some bites, the caramelized onion overpowered the other flavors in the crepe and overall, there was not much to the dish. The crepe did come with a side salad and the presentation looked nice. We also got the Turkey and Avocado BT panini, which had turkey, avocado, bacon, and tomato. This panini was nothing special and lacked a standout flavor. The taste was typical, but it really only tasted like a BLT. I could not taste the avocado at all, which was disappointing because the avocado drew me to this panini. After the crepes that we had, the panini was a letdown. I would not recommend it to anyone because it is very typical and there are better options on the menu.

The panini tasted good, but it was very typical. I couldn’t taste the avocado which was disappointing.

Geppetto Cafe is located in Lawrenceville, which is a hotspot for many restaurants and shops. However, I would not recommend this restaurant to visitors who are looking for something unique; the food was good and is good for a quick bite to eat, but it is nothing special. However, I do recommend a trip to Lawrenceville for the shops, restaurants, and coffee shops that are all really great.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Location: 4121 Butler St. Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Telephone: (412) 709-6399

Hours: 9am – 3pm (Mon-Fri), 9am – 4pm (Sat- Sun)

Accepts: Credit, cash

Parking: Street

Pricing: $$

Square Cafe is a popular breakfast destination for those visiting Regent Square. I went to Square Cafe on January 14, and when I arrived there were very few seats available- I actually got the last open seat in the restaurant, and I was seated at the counter. The cafe was very open, but it felt like we were seated on top of other people. There were so many tables that if there was a wait, you had to wait outside because there was no room inside. The cafe was colorful on the inside and had local art on the walls, and overall, it had a very artistic feel. The cafe had a diner vibe in which service was quick and the flow of customers kept moving. They also had T-shirts, mugs, cups, and water bottles available for purchase.

This was the protein pancake I ordered. The taste was great, but the plate was too small to hold the pancake.

I arrived at Square Cafe at 9:10 and left around 10, as service was quick. I got all of my food at 9:30, which was impressive considering the number of patrons at the restaurant when I was there. The waitstaff was quick to get our order and bring out the food; however, once we got our food, they only checked in on us once to see how everything was, so it felt as though they gave us our food and dropped us to move on to other people. I would definitely make sure that if you plan on going to Square Cafe that you get there early, and if you arrive later, anticipate a wait.

This was the crepe my mother ordered. The presentation looks nice, but the overall taste was lacking.

The food was nothing special compared to other breakfast places I have been to in the past, but overall, it was good. The menu was large and diverse, which was a little overwhelming. They also had gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan options for different dietary needs. To drink, I had a chai latte, which was very sweet and creamy. It had a good taste to it but was nothing particularly special in my opinion. However, it did come out quickly after I placed my order. My mother got a skim latte, which was nothing special. It was a typical latte and is comparable to a Starbucks latte. Although it tasted good, there was nothing that set it apart from other lattes that I have had in the past. For my starter, I had a single protein pancake. The pancake had a good taste and flavor. It had cinnamon in the batter, which was easy to taste. The chocolate chips added a nice sweet touch to the pancake. However, I thought the the plate it was served on was too small, which made the pancake hard to eat at the beginning. The presentation was clean but typical. The overall taste of the pancake was very good. My mother got the nutella crepe with banana as her starter, which had a good taste but could have been better. The crepe only had the banana inside, so the nutella did not get the chance to melt at all. The crepe was also cold when it came out because the nutella was not keeping it warm because it was on the outside. The presentation was nice, but it was very typical to how crepes are often served. Overall, both of our starters were nothing special and there was room for improvement.

This was the Vegster Bene that I ordered. It looks nice, but there was very little flavor, and I could not taste the hollandaise sauce.

For the main dishes, I got the Vegster Bene, which was a vegetarian eggs benedict, and my mother got the crab and portobello bene, which was eggs benedict on a portobello mushroom with crab. The Vegster Bene had lots of vegetables with a small side salad on the plate. It started with an eggs benedict base with mushrooms, zucchini, tomato, and leafy greens added. It was all placed on toast; however, the problem with this was that as I continued to eat the dish, the toast got soggier and soggier until it reached the point where I could no longer pick up the toast cleanly. I also could not taste the traditional hollandaise sauce on the benedict, which was disappointing because it is a fundamental part of the dish. It did have a clean presentation, though, and the portion was quite large, so the dish was very filling. Overall, this dish could have been greatly improved. My mother’s benedict could have also been improved but for different reasons. The dish had a good flavor and the combination of crab, tomato, eggs, and portobello was unique but good.  The dish also had roasted red peppers throughout, which overpowered all of the other flavors in the dish. It wasn’t until my mother removed the red peppers that she could taste the other flavors, like the tomato. Again, the same issue was faced where the hollandaise sauce could not be tasted. The concept of the dish was good, but the proportion of flavors could have been improved. Overall, this would not be my first choice for breakfast in the Pittsburgh region.

This was the crab and portobello bene that my mother ordered. She faced the same issue of not being able to taste the hollandaise sauce.

Square Cafe is located in Regent Square, which is a quiet neighborhood located east of Pittsburgh. There are multiple restaurants near Square Cafe that are great to stop in and support. Regent Square is an example of a neighborhood that needs some love, and supporting local businesses is a great way to do this.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Location: 1137 South Braddock Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15218

Telephone: (412) 244-8002

Hours: 7am to 3 pm (Mon – Sat) 8am to 3pm (Sun)

Accepts: Cash and credit

Parking: Street

Pricing: $

Coca Cafe is a small, local breakfast and lunch eatery in Lawrenceville. I went to Coca Cafe on January 7, and although I anticipated it opening at 8, as the website I used to research said, it actually opened at 9 (warning if you do research before visiting places- sometimes there are fake websites!). Coca Cafe has a cozy, eclectic feel to it, with two rooms for seating and dining. Both rooms are open and inviting, and they can accommodate larger parties in the main room.  The restaurant is very kid friendly, with community coloring sheets and a small game on each table to keep guests entertained while waiting for the food. Overall, Coca Cafe has a strong community vibe.

This is the back room at Coca Cafe. The cafe had a diner feel and was very colorful. There is also a larger main room with bigger tables to accompany larger parties.

I arrived at Coca Cafe at 9:10 and did not leave until 10:10. At the beginning, service was relatively slow, even though there were not as many patrons there as when I left.  However, once I placed my order, the food came out quickly. However, there were issues with our starters, which did not come out at the same time as the other person. The restaurant become crowded around 9:50, and when we left at 10:10, there was only one table left open- so get there early!

To drink, I had a latte, which I think tasted better than a Starbucks latte. However, Coca Cafe only offers whole, almond, and soy milk.

The food was amazing! Their menu was very adaptable to many different diets, such as gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian. There were multiple options for each diet, so the menu was not limiting (There were at least 15 items that were either vegetarian or vegan or could be altered to fit those diets). To drink, I had a latte, which I believe tasted better than a Starbucks latte, which I tend to drink a lot. However, they only offer whole milk, almond milk, and soy milk, which can be a problem for those who tend to drink skim milk. For my starter, I had the avocado toast, which I would highly recommend. The toast had a nice, clean presentation, the flavors of the bread, avocado, and local honey mixed well together. However, my only concern was that the toast was soft and rivaled bread more than it did toast. This may have been because they were running behind on my starter, which came later than my mother’s starter. My mother got a basic, but great tasting quinoa bowl. The unique flavors of the goji berries and dark chocolate added a new twist to an otherwise bland grain. The quinoa was cooked perfectly and the overall appearance was clean, but it lacked presentation and style.

This is the avocado toast. The presentation is unique (the long slate plate did get in the way, though), and toast was amazing.

This is the quinoa bowl. Although the presentation is plain, the flavors of the goji berries and the dark chocolate made it an amazing dish.

For the main dishes, Coca Cafe offered a wide variety of options, ranging from classic pancake-style breakfasts to savory, Asian-inspired dishes. For my main dish, I got the breakfast bowl, which had Asian-inspired tastes, with soy sauce and sesame seeds. There were good flavor and texture combinations, with a mix of quinoa, lentils, greens, and sweet potato  topped with two poached eggs. This bowl was extremely filling and the portion was generous. However, my only concerns with the dish was the overall lack of presentation and style when presented. There was nothing unique about the way it was served. The dish also consisted of the same flavor in each bite- there was no way to add a new combination, so the dish got old, quick. This became an issue because the portion was so generous and its filling nature and flavor caused me to get bored of it easily. My mother got the challah french toast, which was a twist on a classic favorite. The toast had a fig jam with a chunk of brie in the corner of each slice; this unique flavor combination made every bite different, and I myself have never seen this done before. Coca Cafe used fresh berries on top of the toast, which added changes in texture to the bread and over strengthened its appeal. My mother and I both agreed that it did not need the maple syrup offered because it was already so sweet. The presentation of this dish was typical, but clean.

This is the breakfast bowl with sweet potato, eggs, quinoa, and vegetables. The overall taste was good, but it was the same flavor throughout the entire dish.

This is the challah french toast, and it was amazing. Probably the best dish we ordered that day.

The wait staff at Coca Cafe was extremely kind to us. They checked on how our dishes were about every five minutes to ensure that we were enjoying what we were eating. They apologized when my starter came out late, and when we wanted soup to-go at 10 in the morning, they kindly got it for us (the soup was very good, by the way). Although the service was slow at the beginning from the time were sat down to the time we got our first starter, it picked up after that, and I seemed to be drowning in all of the food at our table. The serving times were a bit off, but overall, they were extremely kind and treated us well while we were there. Even when we showed up at 8:45, expecting it to be open (which was what the fake website said- again, another warning when researching places), they were nice in telling us that they were opening at 9.

Coca Cafe has a large menu, with many options for different dietary needs.

Coca Cafe is located in Lawrenceville, which is an up-and-coming neighborhood outside of Pittsburgh. There was a coffee shop down the street from Coca Cafe where my mother and I spent our time while we waited for Coca Cafe to open. There are many shops surrounding the restaurant, and Lawrenceville is a great way to spend your day, with many great places to go to, including Coca Cafe. I would highly recommend Coca Cafe to anyone who is looking for a nice, cozy place to grab a bite to eat during breakfast or lunch.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Location: 3811 Butler St Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Telephone: (412) 621-3171

Hours: 8am to 3pm (Tues-Fri), 9am to 4pm (Sat), 9am to 2pm (Sun)

Accepts: Credit cards, cash

Parking: Street

Pricing: $$