Stepping into Butterjoint, both Sarah and I were shocked about 1. how packed it was and 2. how absolutely delightful it was. We shouldn’t have expected anything less of Trevett, chef and owner of both, and his team.

We cozied up to the bar and looked over the menu (you can choose from the smaller Butterjoint menu or the full Legume menu).

I have a first-time visit theory called “sit at the bar.” Sitting at the bar of a restaurant provides a whole new perspective of the joint. You feel like you’re part of the vibe and you get insight from the bartenders. I think it’s really a testament to how the establishment functions whether you leave feeling frantic and unorganized or relaxed and calculated.

If you didn’t know, I love cheeseburgers. It’s hard for me to not order one whenever it’s offered. So naturally I ordered the cheeseburger. I have, or should I say had, a favorite Pittsburgh burger. A burger I used to dream about and gush to strangers about. I now have to change my tune because Butterjoint’s burger surpasses my former love by a longshot.

Most good burger joints either grind their own or bring in freshly ground beef every day. Butterjoint is no exception. They do it in-house on the daily. The difference is the source: Jamison Farm. Maybe they put crack cocaine in the burger or maybe it’s just that Jamison Farm is better at all things meat, but this burger was a little piece of heaven.

The burger comes with lettuce, onion, and tomato and you can add a variety of cheeses (blue, American, cave-aged gruyere). I went with cave-aged gruyere because I am fancy. The burger is also served with duck fat fries which are never a bad thing in my book. The bun was soft yet held up to the the beefiness (no bun intended) of the patty. And unlike some local burger makers, this burger was cooked exactly how I asked.

While I was devouring my burger, Sarah was doing work on a plate of pierogies.

Sarah: “HOLY HELL, these are some of the best pierogies from a non-Polish Church basement I have had in this city.

Inside: Light and fluffy potatoes mixed with farmer’s cheese. On the outside: A smothering of caramelized onions. Typically pierogies can be greasy, dripping in butter, (which I do not hate one bit), leaving you feeling full, bloated, and just down right gross. These on the other hand were not one bit greasy and left you feeling just the right amount of full. But let’s be honest, I could have housed another order without even thinking twice. Housemade sausage and sauerkraut can add ons to the pierogies you might want to take advantage of. I didn’t, so now I must go back ASAP to do so.”

Beet Margarita at Verde

this. was. insane.

Verde also has lots of other great marg options. Check out their current menu!

They cook everything after you order… and you can stand there and watch. None of that behind the scenes business. None of the prepared and warmed up business either. We love that.

Here were a few of our favorite things about Thin Man. The drinks made with Pittsburgh Seltzer Works. BOMB.COM. I had the ginger (with tiny flakes of actual ginger floating around) and Julie had some special blueberry business that isn’t on the menu anymore. Sorry!

Sweet Ginger bev with Pittsburgh Seltzer Works

We loved the fact that their menu is pretty basic. Not overwhelming, yet interesting and unique. They have a few specials that change so always check to see what’s new!

We loved that you had the option of sides other than chips. Soup, veggies and salad. And we loved that their soup was served in a BA bowl with a lid that featured their equally BA logo.

Potato Kale Soup with Garlic Puree

We recommend the Sauteed Shrimp sandwich on a Challah Roll with smoked cauliflower puree and rosemary vinaigrette. Ooo and the Potato Kale Soup! And seltzer.

Sauteed Shrimp Sammy, Blueberry Seltzer and Sweet taters/beets

TWO.

Maybe today, I’ll try for a third. But as I contemplate my lunch plans, let me tell you about the falafels I’ve already had this week:

Monday: Ali Baba, Craig Street, Oakland

Falafel #1: Ali Baba

This.was.my.first.falafel.ever. Can you believe that? Believe it. And, I thought it was solid. It was huge, falling practically off the plate, and priced a little over $5 ($5.30 to be exact with tax). The pita bread was fresh, the falafel wasn’t greasy, and the tahini sauce had just the right amount of zing.

I’m certain I thought I could eat this falafel every day… until…

Tuesday: PGH Taco Truck, posted up outside WQED Studios

Farro/Asparagus Salad with Corn Salsa | Beef taco | Falafel Taco with Vegan Tzatziki Sauce

Falafel #2: In taco form from guest PGH Taco Truck chef, Keith Fuller, of Root 174.  This special falafel taco ($4) was left over from Keith’s 15+ hour taco tour on the truck on Monday. And thank heavens there was plenty on the truck on Tuesday, because THIS might seriously be the best falafel, the best taco, and quite possibly the best thing I have ever eaten. I’m totally disappointed I only got one. Should have gotten three. The combination of the griddled corn tortillas, spicy falafel, and ever so zingy tzatziki sauce was a total party in my mouth. And, worth the 1.5 hour wait for tacos.

With all this falafel talk, I definitely need to get more. Where should I go Pittsburgh?

Sometimes, I just want a sandwich. Nothing over the top fancy, just a simple sandwich. That’s when I head to Food For Thought on North Craig Street in Oakland.

Here, they got all sandwiches…

Egg Salad on a Croissant:

You know how hard it is to find a solid egg salad sandwich?! So hard. And this one is totally legit.

Chicken Salad Triple Decker with Bacon:

Cause everything is better with bacon, right?

Turkey Reuben with a side of fresh cut fries:

So yum!

So many sandwiches, so little time…. Which one will I get next?!

Beans and Greens with Shrimp:

All those shrimps!

This Antipasti dish comes in only one size: huge. And, it can be ordered with sausage instead of shrimps. Savory and ever so slightly spicy, this dish hit the spot on a cold afternoon.

Bruschetta:

nom, nom, nom, nom, nom

Please.Let.Me.Tell.You.How.Amazing.This.Was. This bruschetta was made of crusty, thin sliced bread, creamy herbed goat cheese, ripe tomatoes, and a balsamic glaze drizzle. Absolutely amazing. I would eat this every single day of my life. I can tell you I cleared the entire plate of these and the accompanying salad.  My only critique of this dish is that the presentation was messy. But, the deliciousness made up for that.

This new spot to the ‘hood is definitely worth a visit. There’s a bar and some tasty Italian treats. I’ll definitely be back to try more (or just order all the bruschetta they have!)

You are also going to get a huge helping of soup, no matter which dish you choose, either from the basic or specialty list. I ordered the Wonton-Men with the Shoyu base (the original soup base) and fried garlic. The Wonton-Men included a solid number of pork dumplings (which I efficiently speared with the chopsticks) and bamboo shoots.

Wonton-Men

My dining partner ordered off of the specialty list: Curry Ramen. Good stuff.

Curry Ramen

Not my fave? The starter of Chicken Karage. Deep-fried chicken, which was mostly dark meat. Just not my jam.

Chicken Karage. Eh.

But no worries. The soup was great and perfect for a cold evening out.

This gem on Bryant Street in Highland Park serves up Japanese dishes sans sushi. The signature dish here being the Okonomiyaki – “Japanese pancake” – and the Hiroshimayaki — the “pancake” with a fried egg on top and noodles. This isn’t your typical short stack, folks. This is a creation that tastes as lovely as it looks:

hello lovely!

The fish flakes sprinkled on top were literally dancing when my plate was set in front of me. Gorgeous! I tried the Kyoto mix Okonomiyaki which included corn, tofu, and a Japanese rice cake mixed into the cabbage “pancake” base. I added on beef, because why not? The meat addition proved to be my favorite part of the dish — deliciously seared. All of the flavors on the plate were distinct but didn’t fight each other. Which is good, because I’m a lover, not a fighter.

Make sure to sit at the counter (if available), and you can watch the chefs prepare your meal. The chefs carefully craft the layered pancake masterpieces on a hot metal surface. It is definitely an interesting pre-dinner show.

We also had the gyoza (dumplings). Look at these tasty treats:

A row of dumplings.

You will be greeted warmly as you enter. As you exit, you will receive a “good bye” and “thank you.” Anyone know how to say “see you real soon” in Japanese?

Mineo’s Pizza House

I had all the best intentions of trying out Aiello’s Pizza in Squirrel Hill this past weekend but I just couldn’t go through with it. Mineo’s is my hands down favorite and I felt so guilty with it being just a few doors down. I love spending less than $5 on two, large, super greasy slices of pie. I love that I know it’s going to be consistently delightful. I love that I live a few blocks away….

One day I’ll finally try something else.

What are some of the best pizza places in the burgh?

11:00 am: Breakfast cupcakes from Prantl’s:

We ate all of them… every last jimmy.

2:30 pm: OJ, champagne, and lunch takeout from Spak Brothers:

Hefty takeout for four.

Small pizza (with extra cheese, pepperoni, olives, and green peppers), curly fries (x2), Fried Chicken Hoagie, Buffalo Chicken Hoagie, Garden Salad, and plenty of blue cheese and ranch dressing to go around.

5:00 pm ish: Dessert at Oh! Yogurt:

That’s just some of the local eats we had this past weekend. What did you eat?