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Lots of options. The sandwiches are moderately priced and good. Avoid the cupcakes - they are dry. | 12
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It is rather unfortunate that Pittsburgh doesn't have ANY privately owned strictly bagel joints. Bagels, in my opinion, are one of the best breakfast alternatives to actually sitting down to a nice breakfast. I want this - being a student, basically full-time server, volunteering - my life pretty much requires a bagel breakfast every now and then. However, I'm in Pittsburgh, where can I go?\nEisteins? Brueggers? These place are virtually the same. Panera? I used to work here so not only do I dislike the taste, but I have a natural aversion to eating anything from this place. \nBagel Factory! Yes! No...these bagels are about the same you would get anywhere. Just as chewy, that taste of \""this is feigning fresh because it is warm and was just heated up, but it's definitely not fresh fresh.\""\nSadly, this is what Pittsburghers must settle for. I we can hope for is that one day a kind Philadelphian or New Yorker will show us the light, and bring us light, fluffy bagels of my dreams! | 01
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Best bagels in Pittsburgh. It reminds me of the bagel shops I grew up with on Long Island. \n\nThe bagels are appropriately chewy, and they've got a great selection. I've had a bunch of different types (salt, everything, sesame) and they were all delicious. They also have a selection of desserts and other foods. | 12
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I am not sure what makes a perfect bagel but after eating at Bagel Factory I am pretty sure I am darn well close to it. Don't let the drab decor of the store fool you. Bagel Factory churns out delicious perfections of bakery like no one's business and we were told that the Penguins get their bagels from here too so we know we are in the right place. I've ordered the lox sandwich, and egg ham and cheese sandwich - both on everything bagels. The lox I think is my favorite and I'd love to come back to try a Cinnamon one. Soft and fluffy with a bit of crunch. Watch out, you'll find this tasty bit gone within seconds. | 12
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The food at this location was about the same as at the Squirrel Hill location on Forbes Avenue (not bad, not great), but I thought the service was far worse. One of the male employees helping us referred to one of the females as an \""old hag\"" which I thought was extremely unprofessional and uncool. I'm sure he was joking, but that's still not something he should have said around customers. This tainted the whole experience for me and I probably won't be returning. My dining partner agreed. | 01
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I was waiting for my laundry on Ellsworth last week, when I decided to kill some time and find nearby food. A bagel sounded good and the Bagel Factory felt like an appropriate transition from the Laundry Factory. I'd never been to the Bagel Factory before, but figured they'd have decent bagels and their coffee had to be better than Crazy Mocha. \n\nThe place was kind of a mess. When I entered, I saw stacked boxes topped off with cartons of bottled water and individually packaged goodies stacked in front of the bagel case, which seemed sloppy and strange. It felt like a regular storage place for new merchandise, not a new shipment in active transit. I wondered how an establishment like this could afford to exist on Ellsworth Ave, a neighborhood that is trying to exude upper-class image. Once I looked up from the hoarded pile of shit blocking the counter, my eyes skimmed over the mass of individually wrapped frosted cookies covering the other counter. My mind was taken to the memory of an off-roading experience a few years back; those times when you're driving down the highway in say western Illinois, and you end up at some shabby mom-and-pop bakery, like this one, and you think to yourself \""I'm having a unique experience...\""\n\nGiven that I was coming from the cleanest laundry facility I've seen in my life, these first five seconds at the Bagel Factory were perhaps moderately surprising. The woman behind the counter had several projects going on and I waited for about two minutes until she asked me what I'd like. These two minutes were a fascinating two minutes, as the man behind the register was chatting up some eight to ten year old girls. They might have been neighborhood kids, or not. There was a familiarity to their conversation, which was only subtly uncomfortable as his tone was sordid at worst, belittling at best. When they got around to paying for their bagels he asked, \""are they naked or do they have cream cheese?\"" My head turned as the elder of the two said, \""cream cheese.\"" \n\nBy now I'd ordered my bagel and approach the register to pay for it and he says to me, \""got a lotta earrings there, bet you set off all sorts of metal detectors.\"" I responded with \""not really,\"" as I handed him my credit card and he handed me a coffee cup. He printed my receipt, tore it from the spool and said in a sleazy tone, \""paper trail...\"" I typically would have reacted to that, but lacked the energy after my first round of finals week. \""Be safe out there,\"" he said as I turned to walk away, which triggered a spine-tingling sensation up my back. Had i just been sexually assaulted or blatantly judged for wearing a few hooped earrings on each ear? I was wearing Abercrombie and Fitch, skinny jeans and sperries. Seriously? \n\nIn the end, it makes no difference. This guy is a creep, and my feeling is that he holds some sort of managerial role at the Bagel Factory, which leads me to conclude this place belongs out of town ten-twenty miles where this man can find animals to harass rather than little girls and college students. I generally go out of my way to support small business and family owned operations, but this place is the exception. I will never step foot in this establishment again. \n\nThe bagel with cream cheese was alright and the coffee was okay but not worth $5.19. | 01
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Don't come here from NYC looking for a good bagel and lox, stick w the ice cream. | 01
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Okay bagels though a little overpriced. Been to squirrel hill location and Ellsworth location once each. Have consistently had rude customer service. Really turns me off. Won't be going back even though the bagels are okay. | 01
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I'm not totally sure why I keep going back here. The place is tiny and dirty. It was super busy and only 2 employees were making food. The owner was on the register but kept leaving to do other things because they were so short-staffed. I felt bad for how overwhelmed the staff must have been, but they worked as fast as they could. \n\nThe food's okay and overpriced. The coffee's terrible. The seating area is crowded. The location on Craig street has had mice and roaches. \n\nThere aren't many bagel places in Pittsburgh, but Brueggers and Einstein's win. | 01
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Unfortunately, there are basically no bagel options on the east end of Pittsburgh, so we were forced to come here a few times. The food is decent and there is a large variety of bagels. However, the last few times we've come here the service has been terrible. The man working at the cash registrar at the end was shouting at his employees from across the room and made fun of us for using a Groupon. After we got our food and realized that one of our sandwiches didn't have cheese on it (which we ordered) we proceeded to tell the man at the registrar and he responded by accusing us of lying and charging us an extra .80 Cents for a slice of cheese. Unreal.. save your money and go somewhere else. | 01
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Don't frequent this business unless you want to be treated very badly. I was subjected to the rudest, most passive aggresive behavior I have ever experienced. Alison made it clear that my job was too small for them to be bothered with, and I understood, but she was disrespectful about it. Fine. I left. Then an installer called to tell me she was sending him to my house. So I went in to choose tile, and Alison was impatient and angry. The installer came. Then I went back to the store for a third time to buy the tile , only to be told \""I should shop at Lowes\"". Why would a business drive customers away and then pull them back and then insult them and refuse to do business? I told Alison she had a terrible attitude, and she said \""I know\"". Something is very wrong with this place! The employees here should stand on their feet at Lowes for a day and learn to be polite to customers....shame on them! | 01
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I went here last night with a couple of friends befor watchin' the black and gold complete the almost annual boring task of wooping' on some brownie as* in Cleveland. We were seated upstairs at a great table upstairs facing ellseworth. The view was great watching many of my fellow burghers' imbibe on a windy Sunday afternoon. The positive experience ended here. Well, maybe except for the humorous menu that made me smile. The waitress was so below average, you know the type... she is doing you a favor by taking your order. I had the pierogies appetizer which was flavorless potato filling served in a overcooked pasta shell served in vegetable oil with maybe one or two slices of onions. Come on! This is Pittsburgh. You should be ashamed. Then another server brought my burger and I made the unforgivable mistake of asking her to grab me another beer. Sorry, I know you are not the one who took my order, but you are bringing my food. I've made this mistake before and usually the person says \""okay, I'll let your server know\"", not \""Ummmm, I'm not serving you,, you'll have to talk to your server\"". Funny, I thought you might run into each other in the back. Anyways, the burger was close to inedible burnt to a crisp resembled a hockey puck. We also tried the hummus which was pretty good. I ordered a kettle one with cranberry and was brought absolut. Friends ordered a chicken sandwich and a chicken salad. They both said they were pretty good, if not a little dry. Then we had to wait 30 minutes to get our bill. If they executed the food well and had at least average service I'd be back, however they don't and I won't. | 01
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Harris has a nice patio and a decent bar, but good luck getting served. If it is crowded or the bar is just full I've always had to wait to get served.\n\nThe beer selection is decent, but not all that big. For a much larger beer selection check out Buffalo Blues a few blocks down the road.\n\nThe best part is the patio, if you want decent food and good outdoor seating, Harris is a good choice - if you don't mind waiting. | 01
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I frequent Harris Grill quite often. Whenever we need a place in walking distance I always pick them over all the other high priced or mediocre Shadyside restaurant/bars. Their menu changes seasonally and is always hilarious (more so than Mad Mex, which they poke fun at along with other local restaurants). They're surprisingly vegetarian friendly for the amount of meat they have on their menu. I have not had anything here that wasn't delicious; favorites will come and go, but I'm a fan of their HUGE salads and the eggplant lasagna (noodle free). \n\nAbsolutely go for brunch - Sundays 10 to 2. It will either be a buffet or a menu for a fixed price of $13. VERY meat heavy, but I'm sure there is always something veggie-friendly, but never expect vegan-friendly. They include two drinks and a fresh fruit plate - one of the drinks can be a bloody mary (which we got and regretted, it was very unpalatable) or a frozen mimosa (get that instead). \n\nWhat I really love, aside from the fantastic food, is the creative cocktails. These drinks are going to be on the $8.50 side, some are worth it and some aren't, but The $3 Frozen Cosmo happy hour is the best deal on Ellsworth. Even if you're a manly man, this very pink booze slushie is amazing. Go with a big group and ask for the lounge upstairs or a window booth. Service is usually either chipper and delightful or just barely okay. We don't come here for the service or the dim lights - we go for a good meal and you should too. | 12
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only a stupid, spoiled, new york shiksa such as myself would order something on the menu called a latke at a place like this (\""the boxty\""). it was disgusting and didnt resemble any latke i have ever seen. \n\nlucky me, i had about 4 bloody marys during the hour wait for my table so I was full anyway. | 01
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This place is going downhill fast. I went for the infamous bacon night this past Tuesday and wow - it sucked. First off, our waitress just wasn't good. She forgot to put our order for a basket of bacon in and we had to ask for it thirty five mins later. Bacon doesn't take that long to cook. Then, we had to ask for ranch with our wings - which we'd already requested, but she'd brought us bleu cheese instead. Oh, AND they were out of bacon wings! On bacon night! WTF. \n\nAnyways, we also had to request sour cream for the pierogies, which is normally brought out with them, plates (b/c we were sharing several appetizers), and ketchup. Why ketchup? Let me tell you. We'd ordered the sliders as well, and it was the saddest display of baby burgers I've ever seen. \n\nThey were brought out on one of the same small plates that we had for sharing our apps - like the size of a saucer that you'd put a tea cup on. And there were only TWO of them. Two! For six bucks I'll go get six non-mini burgers at freaking mcdonalds. And to top it off, they were dry as the sahara and served with NOTHING. \n\nI got the sliders at Harris about six months ago and there were four sliders to an order, and they were served on a fanciful, long plate with a selection of condiments - you know, ketchup, tomato, onion, mustard, etc. Normal things that people put on burgers every day. So, that was really disappointing. But it wasn't over.\n\nThe bacon \""baskets\"" arrived. The simple fact that they serve it in a basket seems to imply that there will be a pretty decent amount of bacon in there, right? Nope. There were literally exactly four sad little pieces. The big basket only made 'em look all the sadder. And they'd somehow managed to burn half of each slice black, while the other half was rubbery and undercooked. Yuck. \n\nOverall, I would never go back again if it wasn't for the fact that I have a gift certificate. The only things Harris has going for it right now are its patios, cleverly written menu, and nice location on Ellsworth ave. Oh, and a lot of condescending d-bags, if you're into that kinda thing. | 01
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My go to spot when I just want to relax with some friends. Great drinks and craft beer selection is coupled with very good food. Make sure to checkout the lounge upstairs during those cold winter months. During the summer grab a seat on either the front patio for people watching, or the back patio for a nice quiet and private drink. Good brunch turns great once the patios are closed, as the brunch buffet becomes a la carte. This brings about the Breakfast Smil... err, Simile. Home fries, bacon, sausage, eggs, and pancakes all on one giant plate. | 12
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Food: the food at Harris grill is the epitome of average, nothing is great and nothing is terrible, everything is mediocre, there are plenty of options for vegetarians, and they have an unnatural love of bacon here, the appetizers are more interesting than the entrees\n\nPrice: too expensive for the quality of the food, the prices aren't staggering, but considering the quality of the food it feels like you are overpaying for nearly everything\n\nDrinks: beer is one of the strengths of Harris, always a good selection of draft beers, and an extensive bottle beer list, the mixed drinks are all average to below average though and the bartenders do not mix good drinks, aside from the signature Frozen Cosmo I would stay away from everything, including the mojito\n\nAtmosphere: this is what you pay for at Harris, they have a beautiful porch for outdoor seating in the front, an equally nice back porch, and the inside decor is pleasant as well, the menus are very cleverly organized and a lot of personality was put into the presentation\n\nService: the service is average at best, we have had meals and specific orders confused multiple times, service is also slow\n\n(+): great location, great atmosphere, good beer\n\n(-): overpriced food, poor service, worse bartending\n\nWould I go back again? Only because I live nearby. | 01
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good food.\ngood drinks.\ngood patio.\nGREAT urinal. | 12
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This place just bored me.\nReally don't know what to say.\nBored, bored, bored, bored, bored. | 01
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It's a good thing Harris Grill has good beer and Bacon Night since otherwise you wouldn't have anything to occupy you for the 45 minutes to an hour it takes to get food on your table from the point in time that you order. FYI - definitely order that last round of drinks (plus an additional one) as you ask for your bill since the poor service doesn't stop when the food actually gets to your table. I wrote HG off the first time I went there, then gave them a second chance after a friend asked me. Guess what my final assessment is. | 01
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Being an outsider to Pittsburgh, I wasn't expecting much before we walked into Harris Grill. As soon as we entered, it was clear that this place had a lot more ambiance. \n\nThe Pro's:\n- The menu is funny.\n- There are a fair number of vegetarian options which are clearly labeled\n- The onion rings are amazing.\n- The portions are large, you can get more than you fill for a good price\n- They have root beer floats!\n- Our server was hilarious, you know that self-deprecating kind of humor\n\nThe Con's:\n- There were a lot of items that had run out\n- The service was a bit slow...it took forever for that root beer float to come out.\n\nOverall, I'd come back! | 12
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Appearance is best\nThe drinks and food don't live up\nTo expectations.\n\n\n(b) | 01
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The fact that this place has a bacon night has impressed me for years. I would receive fat-smudged pages of letters written at this bar, the samples of Dogfish head dripped onto dog-eared corners for me to scratch, sniff, and lick at my discretion.\n\nThe men's room alone is a reflection I would leave unchanged in my description of this place. The orange/yellow urinal and the sink are shaped in the Rolling Stone's mouth logo.\n\nNext time I visit Pittsburgh I will do brunch there with friends, | 12
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Completely surprised by this place! The drinks were good, strong & cheap. The food was excellent. For 3 vodka drinks, 2 beers, chicken & veggie quesadillas and mini burgers, we paid $35. Cute, dark, little place with outside seating. We sat at the bar. Got great service! | 12
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Visited this place three times. I never used to go because it was across the street from the original Elbow Room but three times this summer. \n\nI've usually stuck to the Baby Burgher Platter. Burgers are really tasty and just hit the spot. It's not like having a huge burger, but I've never found myself wanting more. Tonight, I think they had some new fries out. Massive improvement over the old ones!\n\nI've never ordered the entree mac and cheese, but it makes for a tasty side. My sister had the Henny Penny sandwich. Just know....it's spicy as all hell. We thought my sister was going to explode. She couldn't finish it. So, if that's your thing, go for it but be prepared. The Pulled Pork sandwich was also a hit with my family.\n\nAs for desserts....they have root beer floats. And that's enough for me. Do they take any skill? No none at all. Is it still wonderful to see one pop up on a menu? Oh yes.\n\nService has always been very efficient and polite, no complaints or rude servers. Atmosphere is nice but a little too dark and loud for my tastes. Patio usually fills up, but if you set up near the big windows, it's almost the same thing but with AC.\n\nAnd they're open late (1:30) which is a huge plus for Pittsburgh. Definitely think I'll spend some more time there. | 12
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Mmm not too happy with my recent experience at Harris grill. I visit Ellsworth ave plenty and I have been to Harris grill on numerous occasions. After working all day, and driving 2 hours to get home I was a little grumpy and wanting a good drink.\n\nMy two friends and I decided on the sangria. I've had it on numerous occasions and it can really hit the spot. The waiter suggested the caraf but HB warned us saying that they stuff it full of ice. The waiter insured us we would get around a glass and a half. We bypassed HB and ordered the caraf. Upon arrival we knew it was no bueno! The caraf was heaping full of fruit on the top followed by way too much ice. Our serving glasses also were heaped with the stuff even though we had asked for lite ice. I asked the waiter to pour for us bc I knew sangria was going everywhere. We ended up with our glasses 3/4 full and a watered down juice cocktail. We all told the waiter that it was pretty awful but he did nothing to correct the insult. Never ever order the caraf!!\n\nTo eat I had the pulled pork sandwhich and a side of mac n cheese. The flavor of the pulled pork was good and the pasta was delish. I will say the pork had some fatty bites that I didn't care for. All in all when the start of a dining experience starts the way ours did it can be salvaged with the right customer care. Ours wasn't plain and simple. | 01
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harris grill, i think your menu is trying too hard.\n\nfirst place i went on my visit to pittsburgh. menu was a little overly silly, waitress was a little underly friendly/helpful/timely, and food, while decent, was overpriced for the quality.\n\ni may be back to pittsburgh, but won't be back to harris grill | 01
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I haven't been home to Pittsburgh for a while and I was really excited to get out and explore the food scene. Although Harris Grill wouldn't have been my first pick (I try to stay away from the preppy Shadyside scene), I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere, food and service!\n\nI really enjoyed indoor atmosphere that mixed trendy decor with dim, sexy lighting. Our server was excellent and kept the drinks coming and I was extremely impressed by their craft beer selection. And I would certainly come back to enjoy their expansive outdoor patio.\n\nI got to sample a lot of different selections. We started with the Dippo de Queso con Carne, which was a spicy mix of chilies, cheese and chorizo. Served with pita bread, it was good but there are better things on the menu. And onto those, the Baby Burgers were delectable as were the 'Britney Spears' (I swear that's the real name). The Britney Spears were marinated and skewered chicken that was served with some zesty chipolte sauce and rich pesto. \n\nAfter all of this I probably would have given 3 stars. HOWEVER, the Mac & Cheese was excellent and as a connoisseur of mac-n-cheese, I know my stuff. What topped off this meal was the incredible Eggplant Lasagna (Lasagne Aubergine) that I shared with a friend. Now, I'm not one to ever order anything that doesn't have meat in it. But I would truly go back to Harris Grill JUST FOR THE EGGPLANT LASAGNA. The eggplant was breaded and fried and layered with pesto, marinara, and layers of delicious cheese. I would highly recommend this dish to anyone, whether you're a vegetarian or not. And I will certainly be going back just to check out their bacon night. | 12
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I don't really have a good review for this place. It's not that the place isn't good it's just that I don't have an accurate experience to recount.\n\nI went for bacon night. This is on Tuesdays.\n\nI saw an outside patio on my way in. On a nice day, that area seems...nice.\n\nBut the happy hour was good. And once the bacon started it kept flowing. So by far this was the best part. \n\nOh, so while I would have usually given this place 3 stars for simply existing and providing me free bacon, I knocked it down due to the really inept barstaff. I spent way too long at the bar before being acknowledged to order a drink.\n\nYeesh. Too bad I wasn't as cute as one of those girls at the end of the bar. | 01
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Two words: Bacon. Night. \n\nYes! Do not adjust your screen, you read right. They have a bacon night here. \nContain yourself! It happens on Tuesdays!\n\nI started coming here when I lived in the area a few years back, and it still has it's charm. I try to make it out for Bacon Night whenever I am in town. The other food is good too, so don't overlook it. \n\nAs for drinks, well, I became knowns as a mojito abuser overnight because of this place, and I don't care who knows it. | 12
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Meh. The Harris Grill is one more American business in a long line to have great ideas ruined by terrible execution. An entire page of delicious looking burgers? Bland and overcooked. Cool looking spaces? Can get cramped and awkward with groups, and sometimes it's hard to get a server or bartender to notice you (I've never once thought a group outing here was anywhere approaching \""comfortable\""). And what about the famed BACON NIGHT? It's not even good bacon!\n\nThey'll have to knock their game up several notches to achieve the potential contained in their great ideas. | 01
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Overcharged $19 and having a food order messed up twice, what more could you ask for? A waitress that doesn't seem to care about any of this? Wish granted!\n\nSo yeah, my food was pretty bland, though my girlfriend said her food was OK overall. Overpriced for what it really was.\n\nI may have come back if it wasn't for the first two items. Instead I'll leave them as a shining failure to customer service. | 01
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This place has changed. Just a couple of years ago, you could count on Harris for good food, good drinks, dependable service, and a great atmosphere. Those days seem like a distant memory now. \n\nMy wife and I went for dinner on Sunday (3/11/12). That was a huge mistake. The food was just bad. I had the pulled pork sandwich with fries and coleslaw. The fries were burnt and cold, the slaw was wilted, and the sandwich was mediocre at best. The worst part was that it took 45 minutes to prepare. If you're going to serve bad food, why does it take so long to make it? This was topped off by a waitress who never bothered to stop back to check on our drinks. \n\nI was really shocked by how bad everything was there. I have such fond memories of the place from just a few years ago.... There are too many other nice options in Shady Side to waste one's time at this dump. | 01
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Best vegetarian chili on the planet! \n\nI love their pierogies. The menu is unique and diverse. Alcohol selection is great too! | 12
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A pleasant enough little place for \""Hipster Yinzers\"" to engage in those unique conversations where everyone talks simultaneously and loudly and no one is heard. The fare is somewhat overpriced for minuscule drinks, meager portions and lackluster service. Oddly, everyone seems to rave about their tater tots......yeah, the same processed frozen spud you enjoyed in elementary/parochial school. | 01
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Just around the corner from my work, me and a few coworkers came looking for some play! We went early and got a cush spot on the top floor with the window. Clearly it's a hot spot in the neighborhood because it was packed by 7 pm on a Tuesday?! The outside seating area was buzzing even in the chilly fall weather. \n\nThe first quenching sip of that half-price RASPBERRY COSMO and I was sold! Add on some true \""Pittsburgh\"" food (I'm talking about putting fries in a salad, oh yes!) and other yummy munchies like a super stuffed chicken quesadilla and our fun time was complete! | 12
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I have nothing good to say about this place. I've been here on several occasions over the years and here's what I have observed:\n\n1- If the place is crowded (which it almost always is) expect terrible service from your waiter/bartender. Waitstaff has a pretty poor knowledge of their own drink menu.\n\n2- The food will be overpriced/sub par. On one occasion me and my entire party got food poisoning from their fried calamari\n\n3- You will be seated somewhere awkward/uncomfortable. The interior is cool looking but not functional, gets very congested when there are big crowds. \n\nThere are plenty of other bar/restaurant destinations in Pittsburgh that can deliver and execute the same idea in a much better way. Avoid Harris Grill. | 01
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This place offers really poor service. The waitstaff go out of their way to not help you. This has happened to many people I know multiple times. We put up with it so we could get the brunch. We stopped going after we got some serious attitude from our waiter. He was flat out rude and upset my friend so we left and won't be coming back. The food isn't that great (the tacos/fajitas are terrible and flavorless, as is the salad), the drinks are grossly overpriced, and the service as I mentioned before is slow and inept. \n\nOn the plus side the brunch is great (it just ended because of winter), the food is relatively well-priced and the location is great (if you can find parking). I recommend going elsewhere though because it just isn't worth being treated so poorly by the staff. Management should take note. | 01
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Light your torches and get the pitchforks, because I'm not shy about writing scathing reviews on some of Pittsburgh's beloved restaurants. I don't enjoy doing it. I love our city and I think our diverse restaurant choices make us a great place to live and visit. But when I hear great things about a place only to be consistently let down, I have no choice. That being said, I'm going to have to rip Harris Grill a new one. \n\nI waited a long time before reviewing Harris Grill. I've been there loads of times; happy hours, bacon night, brunch, crowded Friday nights, and not-so-crowded Monday nights. Almost every time I have been let down. \n\nI'll break it down. \n\nDRINKS: The drink menu and draft lift offer a solid list of (overpriced) choices. That's fine. What isn't so fine is that the bartending is inconsistent and I have too often received ill-concocted highballs and sangria that tastes like Franzia. Perhaps I'm just unlucky, but almost every time I'm there at least one or two beer taps \""aren't working.\"" \n\nAPPETIZERS: Nothing really wrong here. Good spinach and buffalo chicken dips, the \""Britney Spears\"" (chicken strips), and hummus are all very tasty. Thumbs up.\n\nMAIN COURSES: I guess it depends on your taste, but I am simply not enthralled by any of the entrees. The salads are overpriced for their small size, their highly touted macaroni and cheese is bland, and their chicken quesadillas are NOT quesadillas. Just about everything on the menu at Harris Grill is overpriced for the quality. $17 dollars for homemade hamburger helper? $16 for two fish tacos? \n\nI don't HATE anything on the Harris Grill menu. Their entrees are between \""ok\"" and \""good.\"" Just overpriced. I do enjoy the Henny Penny and as I said before, all of the appetizers. I'd give them a 3-star review if it wasn't for the....\n\nSERVICE: Or lack thereof. Sure, Harris Grill gets crowded, especially on the weekends. That does not excuse the waitstaff from being rude and ignoring their tables for upwards of an hour. On one occasion, our server clearly forgot about us and we watched astounded as tables seated long after us were brought their meals. When we finally did inquire about our food, the waiter made a beeline for the computer to put in our orders. No apologies, no offer to comp a side or a dessert. In fact, the check was rushed to us before we even finished our food because the restaurant had a long waiting list. Bad form, Harris Grill. What makes it worse is that I've been here many times, and have had similar problems with the service. \n\nBut truth be told, I'll probably be back. Because I really want to like Harris Grill. Moreover, my friends love Harris Grill and I love my friends. I just sincerely hope they hire more competent waitstaff. Revising their menu wouldn't be a bad idea, either... | 01
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I am giving Harris 4 stars because it is my neighborhood bar and has sentimental value to me. Minus that, it is probably a 3.5. They have a stellar frozen cosmo but the rest of the drink menu is just okay. Their food menu is a hit or miss. Their turkey burger and mac'n'cheese are great but the rest is probably just okay. Their desserts are unimpressive and it is hard to underwhelm me when it comes to sugar. So I would say, go for the atmosphere and the cosmo but not for much more. | 12
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I've visited Harris's Grill a few times over the past 3 - 4 years and every time I leave I ask myself \""Why do people love this place so much!?\"" The food is not incredible and the service is always mediocre at best. Minus the bacon gimmicks and pretentious Shadyside vibe... This place is an average bar/restaurant. | 01
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My husband and I tried Harris Grill for the first time on a Sunday night. We moved to the area in August and are moving away in June, and unfortunately decided we won't be coming back here before we leave. \n\nThere was only one very small table open in the crammed dining room downstairs when we got there. I'm not sure if there were tables open upstairs, but it didn't look like the hostess checked before seating us. Our table was facing the door, so I kept feeling the cold air every time people came in and out, and we were very close to the table behind us, beside us, etc. We eventually asked to move, but I thought the hostess should've asked us if that table was okay before seating us there - because I would've rather waited for a better one to open up.\n\nI thought the selection on the menu was pretty poor. I wanted an entree rather than a salad or a sandwich, but since I didn't feel like Mexican or a huge plate of macaroni & cheese, there were really only a handful of options. None of them appealed to me, so I ended up ordering the \""Henny Penny,\"" a chicken sandwich. I asked for the spicy chipotle mayonnaise on the side because I have a really low tolerance for spiciness. When it came, the mayonnaise was on the sandwich. I said I would try it in case it wasn't that spicy, but when I took a bite I felt like my mouth was on fire! Then the waitress asked me if I knew the chicken itself was spicy. The menu said nothing about that, so I had no idea. She suggested they re-make it with plain chicken, which was nice, and it was fine after that. I also had the sangria, which sounded like it would be amazing from the description, but I actually didn't think it was good at all :( It tasted really watered down to me. \n\nA few redeeming things: the mac & cheese that came with my sandwich was really, really good! My husband liked the fish tacos he had, and three different people checked up on me after the incident with my sandwich, so we at least felt like the staff was pretty attentive. | 01
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I had a great time. great food and cocktails. exciting ambiance, not for a quiet night out. but who wants that? :) | 12
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Zero stars for service. Zero stars for price. One star for food. \nI have been to the Harris Grill three separate times for dining. The first was happy hour - with a party of six. We waited 30 minutes for a table; we watched several tables empty out and stay un-bussed and dirty for more than 10minutes at a time. Obviously they must have been understaffed. Once seated, service was extremely slow. Our server was slow to arrive at our table to begin and take our drink order. Our drinks took even longer to arrive (approx. 20 min from when seated.) The appetizers were tasty, although overpriced. Buffalo chicken dip was very good. Service remained poor. Perhaps they were just very busy and understaffed. \n\nThe second time I came was midweek, midday, for lunch. The place was mostly empty. Surely we would get good, prompt service now? Not so much. All I ordered was the chocolate cupcake dessert. It took about 25 minutes. It looked like half a cupcake was dropped on the floor, and then attempts made at making the broken pieces look presentable on a plate. Half of it was luke-warm, half of it was cold. Terrible. WTF?\n\nThe most recent and I promise the last time I will ever go to the Harris Grill was a Sunday for brunch. Again a 30min wait for a party of 3 to be seated. I understand that - its Sunday - its Brunch - lots of places have a wait. But again we watched table after table go empty and stay dirty. Finally seated it again took 20 minutes to get our drinks - orange juice. And then the waitress only brought two of the three beverages. The third took another 10 minutes. Seriously?? Our food took an hour. SERIOUSLY OVERPRICED!! Several items on the menu were out. (We arrived at noon for a brunch that was supposed to last from 10-2pm). The menu was prix fixed at $14. $14 for two pieces of French toast with disgusted, dried out frozen tater tots. (They had run out of home fries). The eggs Benedict were dried and hardened - just plain gross. The eggs over easy had no runny yolk. The sausage was very good. They served us the wrong toast. You couldn't get worse food or service at a McDonalds run by newborn donkeys. | 01
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Came here with a party of 5 others for brunch at 11am on a Sunday. We were seated immediately but were surprised to learn that there is no brunch buffet during the winter.\n\nMy eggs benedict was good, so was my bloody mary. Don't expect vegetables and meat to go together here--they are mutually exclusive options on this menu. That said, I counted only 3 dishes with any vegetables at all. The coffee was disappointing--it came with plastic cups of half & half. Any respectable restaurant should do better.\n\nOverall, the food is good, heavy, and served in decent-sized portions. I would come here again although there are certainly better venues for brunch in the city. | 01
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Disclaimer: This review is only for their Sunday brunch. Wasn't impressed by their Sunday brunch. Didn't like the presentation of the buffet. It was in a small area and felt kind of cramped. The salad was made with iceberg lettuce and didn't look appetizing. My friends ordered orange juice and each glass was filled to the brim with large pieces of ice, which means that they really just had maybe 1/2 a glass of orange juice. In all, it's really nothing special, just very basic. It was my first time eating at Harris Grill. What seems nice is the patio and if the weather had been nice, we would've sat outside and maybe I would've given it an extra star. | 01
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The place is good for drinking but definitely not to have a meal. There're not much options on the menu. \nI tried the pasta once and it was tasteless. | 01
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Let me tell you about my experience at the Harris Grill, I know I have eaten here before, years ago. So I was in need of a lunch and off to the garden. I decided a nice salad would do the trick so I ordered the Salad de la Burgh. While I waited for my meal I was sitting in the little room right off the bar, first thing I notice is the table is a tad sticky, then I noticed the hole in the wall. After these little gems I started to scope out the place, kind of soak in the atmosphere. \""Filth\"" the joint is run down and fifthly, make matters worse was the cement block propping open the door to the patio outside ( this is the front door to the restaurant people ). \nThe restaurant was busy and my server was a pleasant enough young woman. I received my beverage and then started to check the staff out and how unkempt most of them where, jeans extremely tight and unflattering on the best figures, Harris Grill shirts were not much better trust. I long for the day when restaurants hired servers because they had mad skills not because they are young or hip. My favorite is when I realize that under the host station there were bus pans ( dirty & full ), one young employ thought nothing of maneuvering it with her foot ( disgusting it is on the floor but also the unsanitary way it was handle )\nLet me now explain the salad I got for eleven dollars and some cents. The lettuce was about a cup spring mix I think, not crisp and wilty, and kind of room temperature. The chicken was cold, so was the few fries they put on it, and a half a hardboiled egg. I think I found a few pieces of onion? Two grape size tomatoes, and two thin slices of cucumber. \""Oh\"" there was a sprinkling of mozzarella or provolone cheese on it, could not tell which ( they say both so I will go for that ). This was placed in an average soup bowl. To say I will ever go back to the Harris Grill is a definite not & I will warn others to avoid. \n\""PS\"" I did not expect the salad to be huge or grand but decent and somewhat hearty, this was subpar, could have gotten a better one at Wendy's and it would have been warm meat, and fries ... | 01
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Went for the first time today. Kitchen was just wrapping up a re-model, but they extended happy hour to accommodate and the food was pretty darn good.\n\nThe happy hour specials were a great deal and the staff was really nice. Also love that the patio is in the shade all afternoon/evening. Great summer spot. | 12
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I LOVE this place. Here's why...\n\n1.The service is awesome. Hostess jokes while seating you. Awesome. Server knows his shit and rocks at presenting it. Gave us a rundown of the highs and lows of the menu. If he didn't know about something (like a beer we asked about) he went, grabbed samples and came back fully knowledgable on them. \n\n2. The outdoor seating is baller. They have a back area that is no smoking so you don't have to get a whiff of smoke in your face while enjoying the weather and eating. They also have creative seating upstairs. Awesome.\n\n3. The food is DELISH! Try the rib tacos. They are sooooooo good. I've never had a bad meal here.\n\n4. They have a sense of humor. Menu is fun to read.\n\nBeers also aren't overpriced. WIN. | 12
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Very good short rib tacos. Long wait for food though. | 12
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I normally avoid brunch buffets as a rule; the food is never up to par and it's a cattle call. Usually a poor excuse for restaurants to make money. However, when a local friend suggested we meet here he insisted Harris Grill's brunch was legit. He had me at \""bacon trough\"".\n\nNice patio seating and friendly service! You get a frozen mimosa (and it's not overly sweet or weak; actually tastes like a frozen mimosa) or bloody mary with the $15 all you can eat brunch. Omelets made to order, lox and mini bagels, fresh fruit, trough of well done, really quality bacon as previously mentioned. There's even pre-assembled eggs benedict, which I expected to be a mess but they were perfect. \n\nI wish all brunch buffets were like this. It is a tiny bit cramped when there are several people loading up plates, but everyone was understanding and laughed off the occasional bumps. Brunch is serious business, you do what you gotta do. | 12
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I don't understand why this place is so popular. I've been there 4 times and each time the food was pretty gross. Most recently, I ordered a Del Monico sandwich and the thing was dripping with oil. The beer list is decent. | 01
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Great service, great food, great drinks. | 12
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I'm a longtime fan of the Harris Grill so please note that my review is specific to brunch only. My friends and I were lucky enough to get patio seating on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. That was the highlight of brunch- friends and the patio. \n\nThe only option for brunch is to get the buffet. They were packed and couldn't keep enough food out. The Mac and Cheese, while cheesily delicious was cold. They kept running out of plates. They never had the salmon when I went up- yet I saw it on other patrons plates. And, insult to injury, my Bloody Mary was watered down. My friend had a Bloody Mary and the olive in it tasted like chlorine. \n\nI will give props to the guy making the omelets. He had all the ingredients, was quick, and friendly. \n\nLike I said, I'm a big Harris Grill fan and will be back again - just not for brunch. | 01
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I can't properly review the food or beverage selections since I never actually got seated. I came as part of a large group, who specifically chose Harris Grill because it could handle a crowd. When we arrived, the lounge area--clearly designed to seat 15-20 people--was occupied by precisely two individuals. That's right, two people leisurely sipping drinks. The host informed us when we entered that they would be leaving soon. Half an hour later, they had ordered another drink and seemed to be making small talk with the host: clearly a friend of theirs. This begs the question: why on earth would a host seat two people in their party section? I came up with two possible answers.\n\n1. The restaurant hates money\n2. They hired the worst host in Pittsburgh\n\nI'll be returning to Harris Grill sometime this month to try their food, all of which looked and smelled amazing as it whisked past me on plates destined for tables. In response to the comment below, I wrote this review to call attention to a business practice which seems mutually detrimental to both the restaurant and the customer. I don't hold grudges and I'm willing to treat the experience as a one-off. | 01
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Holy lord Mac and cheese with pulled pork and chili. Very good man drinks, very good lady drinks. Food service and staff. I like that they don't take reservations. Nice outdoor seating area. | 12
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Great atmosphere, good food, and lots of unique cocktails. The patio is very pleasant in the summer. | 12
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stopped in the Harris Grille last night after doctor visit. Doug our server was fantastic, he was very knowledgeble on all the menu items. he could list the make up of every item. very impressive. they had a unique and interesting list of foods. Both of us had superior Bloody Mary's. I had a carnitas (pulled pork sand) on a pretzel roll with the best Gazpacho I've ever tasted. Wife had a great Flat Iron on Mac & Cheese, very, very good. We sat in the \""Mural Room\"" trying to interpret the mural with Doug. very interesting. U must go and enjoy this unique grille. It's a fun place in a cool part of PGH. | 12
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I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THIS PLACE AGAIN!!!!!\n\nWe went to Harris Grill for lunch, we ordered some entree and calamari for appetizer. It was calamari on top of some salad with Thai chili sauce dressing. Just when we almost finished the calamari, I found one entire cigaret in the salad. CIGARET!!!! I have no idea how a cigaret can be in the salad. IT IS JUST DISGUSTING. We left without having the resting of the food. | 01
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Harris Grill is a restaurant in a house that looks like The Addams Family's home, but it doesn't mean you should be afraid to eat there.\n \nYou can either sit out front or hide away in the inside OR sit at the bar with giant TV's that usually have on something more interesting than the latest game, sometimes Discovery Channel or Animal Planet.\n\nThe food is a little pricey but the quality justifies the cost. The mac and cheese is amazing and made fresh there. The presentation and plating felt high end but the place is very casual.\n\nRumor is Tuesday night is all you can eat bacon night, I'll have to make it for that. If you go or it's another day, let me know!\n\nTellem HITTofMCM sent ya! | 12
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With the wealth of breakfast and brunch offerings in the Pittsburgh area, it's great to go to one that isn't snubbing it's nose at the rest of the crowd. We were riding around, trying to find a place that didn't have a 4 day wait and would satisfy a monstrous appetite. And of all the brunch places in all the world, this one came walking into my life.\n\nHere's the deal that can't be beat: an unlimited Breakfast buffet with smoked salmon, eggs Benedict, an omelet station, and a frozen mimosa for $15. That's right kids! Add to that the great selection of beers and cocktails and you may need to move in. I was so satiated that I didn't eat another meal the rest of the day.\n\nThe bonus was that there was great outdoor seating so we could participate in some obligatory people-watching.\n\nNext time I am back in this great town, I will definitely be hitting this place up again. I just need to see where I can purchase one of those additional stomachs and an extra-stretchy pair of pajama jeans. | 12
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Great evening. \nBasics:\nGreat service, \nVery good food..hamburger Helper ( not like I remembered )\nVery good beer with pumpkin for my wife and met with her approval!\nDesert ...homemade cookie with Ice cream and whipped cream was perfect\nCheers | 12
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Very tasty! Casual, nice, medium sized bar. \n\nGreat bloody mary. Very, very good. The bartender even made us an off menu blue cheese, bacon, and egg bloody mary which was just insane basically. \n\nThe Jerk Chicken Mac n Cheese was very good too. Spicy, spiral noodles in a lightish cheese sauce. Not super decadent but that's good because it was a HUGE portion. Everything everyone in our group got looked pretty good. \n\nSlightly expensive for what it was but whatevs. | 12
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Bobby and I stopped here for dinner on Saturday to celebrate his birthday as well as the anniversary of him dealing with me for 3 years (ha-ha)\n\nFor drinks, Bobby ordered a long island (you probably could've guessed that though) & I ordered a glass of sangria (The original. They also had pumpkin sangria). He didn't enjoy his drink too much and i offered for him to try mine because it was delish! Wow, they make an amazing sangria! Bobby also enjoyed it, so we ordered a carafe of this delicious-ness.\n\nFor dinner, Bobby ordered the Thanksgiving burger. It's a turkey burger with cranberry stuffing inside. It sounded really tasty! I almost thought about ordering it before he brought it up. He originally ordered the November throwback of a pork shank, however, someone from the kitchen came upstairs to inform us that it was defrosting since they didn't think another person would order it. It would've been an extra 15-20 minutes which is why he decided on the turkey burger. For his side, he ordered the Mac & Cheese.\n\nFor my dinner, I ordered the ever so popular Henny Penny and a side of \""smashed\"" potatoes. The server informed me that the chicken sandwich was a little spicy. I honestly thought i could handle it, and for the most part i did.. but i honestly couldn't finish the last half. It was just so spicy even water wasn't helping. Bobby ended up finishing my other half of sandwich and he gave me his mac&cheese. PS- the mac&cheese is delicious and sooooooo creamy! \n\nFor dessert, we ordered \""The wrongest dessert ever\"" (Please see picture to see why it was given this name.) The dessert was on their November throwback menu and consisted of a fried twinkie, two scoops of vanilla ice cream with a raspberry sauce (maybe chocolate sauce as well).. complete with whip cream. I loved it and i don't even care if you judge me for the calorie intake that i took in at this restaurant. I have full intentions on heading back before November is over to enjoy that dessert again! | 12
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I came here with a few friends today for a late lunch after a race. The service was quick and very friendly. We ordered Totchos (tater tot nachos) to start and they were delicious! The buffalo chicken dip disappeared within minutes as it was better than any buffallo chicken dip any of us have had at a restaurant. The seasonal cocktail menu was also great- I had the rum spiced cider and a pumpkin pie cocktail. To top it off, one of the people in our group has a severe nut/bean allergy, and the entire staff was very accommodating in making sure no nuts or beans touched our food. Will come back again for sure. | 12
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I stay 2 blocks away from Harris Grill. I have been to shiloh's grill as well, a caouple of times. Harris Grill used to make awesome food an year ago..now its just boiled vegetablea..steak cut out for you..who would want that!!!! | 01
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PSA: there is a groupon for this place that is valid until May 2015!\n\nBurger was good. Mac and cheese was a little salty and not very warm but it wasn't terrible. Cookies and cream dessert was super yummy. \n\nService was very attentive and we went on a Saturday night. \n\nKinda dim and loud in there...it is a bar after all, and there is some interesting religious art work on the walls. | 12
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I really liked this place!! The atmosphere is inviting and cozy. We ate upstairs at the table facing the window and it was a nice spot to relax and people watch. It looked like they had other cozy group seating arrangements up on the second floor too. Our waiter was really nice and attentive. \n\nThe menu is great. Not so much that you get lost, but covers enough for everyone's taste....and it's full of jokes and hilarious descriptions. Lots of comfort food, and tasty twists on classics. They have a huge drink menu (...more like book) with lots of creative originals.\n\nI had the Cajun chicken mac special (the dish may have actually been titled \""Imagine the Rastabilities\""). The serving was huge, and the mac was awesome. It was a bit too spicy for me, but that's just my taste and I think it was a really cozy meal. | 12
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I LOVE Hey Betty! It is such a fun place to simply browse! I warn you though, you could blow your entire paycheck here. I play bass in a band (unfortunately, we're not as active as we once were) and most of the time I wear, well, whatever. Every so often though, I like to wear vintage clothing that I've bought here!\n\nThe collection here is certainly eclectic enough. They also have vintage accessories too. They have retro jeans, but I'm really more into vintage dresses and costume jewelry. They also have retro tee-shirts (and not the ones you can get at Target, either). My brother once bought a Pittsburgh Gladiators T-shirt and a Pittsburgh Pirhanas jersey here.\n\nSo this is the place to be in Shadyside when you want vintage. Prepare to empty your wallet here! | 12
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One of my favorite things to do is consignment shop. On a dreary day I decided to look up a few local shops to hit up and my finale trip was to Hey Betty's.\n\nHey Betty's seemed to be very organized. It was a small area, but had a lot to offer without seeming to give you a garage sale vibe. The men's clothing was next to none but I can still appreciate nice things even when they are not for my gender. There were tons of hat boxes and great jewelry pieces to pick from.\n\nThe reason for the 2 star review is the service. The woman working the counter who I'm assuming to be the owner was not friendly at all. We greeted her before she greeted us which I find rude. She did not ask us anything when we were shopping. She just sat there and read a magazine. The only time she interacted with us is when we basically forced her. It was quite the turnoff.\n\nTo me customer service is everything. If you cannot greet your customers or educate them about your items/services you're providing then that's one less store I need to go back to. I would recommend it to someone who is looking for vintage clothing but not to someone who is looking for a great customer service experience. | 01
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Although Hey Betty pales in comparison to Eons, it's still one of the best vintage stores in Pittsburgh. The place is small and narrow, but has several floors, so it's bigger than it actually seems. As other reviewers have mentioned, the selection is sometimes limited (mostly '60s-'70s), but what's for sale is unique and quality, and definitely well-priced. I once bought a leather bomber jacket from the '70s for $30! I tend to like their accessories more than their clothing: they have an amazing selection of footwear, ties/bowties, hats, jewelry, gloves and handbags on the cheap. Hey Betty is such a fun place, and definitely worth a visit if you love vintage! | 12
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Hey betty I need a poodle skirt to go with my new bangs..... or a pink mohair cardigan to match my beehive hairdo. \n\nOr.... a twenties shiffon blouse to make my bonnie and clyde outfit for halloween. No problem found it here complete with its own glass buttons. The owner was helpful in showing me where I could try it on and offered to let me look at items in the cases. \n\nCute little shop more women's clothing then mens. The owner was chatty with me or clerk whichever she was. There are two vintage stores in this area so you can check one then the other if you don't find what you're seeking on the first try... | 12
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I've had a big change of opinion after spending more time in that gym. The equipment would often break down and never get fixed. Considering how small the gym is, it's inexcusable that two treadmills would be out of service for at least a month. I also had problems with the individual TVs on machines; sometimes they wouldn't work properly or would be completely broken.\n\nThe gym was generally quiet enough in the mornings, but it would be pretty packed after work. It was hard to find a machine. The staff also didn't really enforce the 30 min time-limit policy, which caused people to have to wait for equipment longer than necessary.\n\nI was told on the phone I needed to let them know before the 25th of a given month to cancel my membership moving forward (and not be charged for the next month). I wasn't told that I had to give 30 days notice (aka pay for an extra month). Though they're technically right (it IS in the contract), I feel that their staff mislead me.\n\nIf you live in Shadyside (or nearby)... GO TO URBAN ACTIVE INSTEAD. It's cheaper and the facilities are unbelievably better than XShadyside... although I apparently have a membership at XShadyside for another month now, I am 100% done with that place. | 01
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I love this gym everybody there is soooooo nice and helpful | 12
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I love this gym. The equipment is kept up-to-date. The classes are fun with very energetic and helpful instructors (Bodypump is my favorite).\n\nThey don't supply towels, but the gyms I've been to usually charge extra for a towel fee so I always brought my own, making this a non-issue for me unlike some people.\n\nThe only negative is the lack of parking, but that happens all over Pittsburgh so I'm not surprised. \n\nA huge plus is the staff. They are all super friendly. I recently started having sessions with a personal trainer, and I have seen a DRASTIC improvement in my fitness based on the exercises he has me do. Before I couldn't even hold a plank for 60 seconds. Now he has me using bosu balls and other nifty toys to make different exercises more difficult without piling up a whole lot of weight (weak shoulders).\n\nOverall, I love XShadyside. Unfortunately, I am moving back home (cancellation process was no hassle at all like I've read on here!), but I will definitely miss having a gym like this. | 12
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I have been a member for a year. Pretty crowded, lot of machines that do not work and not open all time during week ends. Obviously, compared to a $10 membership at Planet Fitness, the choice is quick ... The reason you would stick to this gym is the classes. If you want a spin class or a yoga class, it coul dbe worth it. If you are only looking for treadmill and machines, membership cost is not worth it. | 01
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This gym offers a great selection of classes; however, there are more negatives than positives with this gym. Parking is difficult to come by, and you have to pay. The staff is not so friendly, it's expensive for the quality of equipment, and I wish someone was sitting at the desk downstairs instead of upstairs. \n\nI can't wait for my contract to end; I regret signing one now. There has to be better gyms in the area. | 01
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This place is great. We stayed 2 nights and had a very good stay. The room was very clean and comfortable - you basically get your own apartment, which makes for a very relaxing stay. The service is great - they give you muffins, coffee and juice when you check in for your room. Location is great also. We stayed in the back building which was only two blocks from the very cool Walnut Street shopping district. \n\nOverall I'd absolutely stay there again. The only downside was that the heat in the room was up pretty high and we couldn't figure out how to turn the heat down (no room controls). Otherwise a great & very reasonably priced place to stay. | 12
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Do you remember the crappy apartment you rented in college or grad school? The one with the bad a/c and dirty carpet? The one with the barely functioning electrical outlets and tiny, almost useless, kitchen? Well if you ever want to relive that experience, stay at Shadyside Inn Suites!\n\nI spent six years of my medical training in Pittsburgh and found myself with a few days off last month. Why not take my wife and young son back to my old stomping grounds in Oakland and Shadyside? We've found that when traveling with a young child, staying at suite-type hotels (with at least some sort of kitchen facilities and a separate bedroom) is very useful. The most convenient suite-type hotel to Shadyside is the Shadyside Inn Suites. Unfortunately, since this business has a virtual monopoly on the area, it must believe it can put its clients up in deplorable, nearly unsafe conditions. \n\nThese comments are based on our experience with the building on S. Negley Ave. I believe there are at least two other buildings the hotel maintains as well as \""Mansion Suites\"" which are reserved for VIP's or people staying for very long periods.\n\nGeneral Complaints:\n1. Exposed electrical and cable wiring (see pics). We tried to spend as little time as possible in the room because I didn't want our 19 month old to inadvertently touch exposed wires.\n\n2. Dirt. Everywhere. When we were getting ready to leave, I did a quick last run through the room to make sure we weren't leaving any of my sons toys behind. I made the mistake of peeking underneath the couch. Yuck. Food remnants, dirt and debris from who knows how long under there. Disgusting.\n\n3. General poor maintenance of the building and its parking lot (see pics.)\n\n4. The furniture in the rooms looks like it has been there for at least 15 years. Our dining table was strikingly similar to the one I had in college.\n\n5. No dishwashers. Not unexpected given the age of the building. But if you're not going to give your guests a dishwasher, at least give us sponges so we can wash our own.\n\n6. When you check in, the hotel bills your credit card for the entire length of the stay ahead of time rather than vice versa (completely the opposite of every other hotel in this country.) Keep this in mind if you want to leave early after seeing the condition of your room.\n\n7. Three separate keys are required to get into the building and your room. Again, completely out of date and not particularly secure.\n\nAlso, the vaunted customer service that they crow about on their website must be limited to special guests and celebrities. \n\n1. When we asked for an extra blanket to be delivered to our room, we waited for over an hour with no response. Ultimately, we had to drive back to the main office and retrieve the blanket ourselves.\n\n2. The remote to the DVD/VCR combo had no batteries in it. I had to get the AA batteries from the main office (I didn't even bother to attempt to ask them to be delivered to our room) and had to wait while the office staff repeatedly found AAA batteries for me. I was told the AAA batteries fit the flat screen TV remotes in the rooms. I had to calmly explain that we did NOT have a flat screen TV in our room, rather we had a non HD CRT TV that was at least 10 years old. \n\n3. Daily cleaning of the room costs EXTRA. Be sure to read the fine print.\n\nPerhaps some of its other buildings are more modern and in better condition. Perhaps we had the worst unit in the entire complex... but I doubt it.\n\nUnless you absolutely have to be within walking distance to a business, client or family in Shadyside do yourself a favor and find a more modern, cleaner, safer and better hotel. Shadyside Inn Suites should be ashamed of itself for the condition of its facilities.\n\n\n(6/11/10) UPDATE... Shadyside Inn refunded the charges from our stay. \n\nThey report they are adding staff and upgrading their facilities. | 01
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Update... Shadyside Inn refunded the charges from our stay. \n\nThey report they are adding staff and upgrading their facilities.\n\nIn response to the manager's comments: As I noted above, they refunded our stay. The TV cabling is exposed... perhaps not as dangerous as exposed electrical wire, but not something to be particularly proud of if you consider yourself to be a business built on customer service and the impression of luxury. \n\nThe \""ongoing\"" repairs in the hallways were not touched during our (middle of the week) stay, so one must wonder about the urgency of those repairs. \n\nThe building we stayed in was not full. Why did they put my family in the oldest, most dilapidated room? \n\nAs far as moving to a different room, any one who has traveled with children would know how difficult it is to move from one hotel (or hotel room) to another. We arrived after a 3+ hour drive at 5pm in the middle of a thunderstorm with a very tired and cranky toddler. Given the relative level of competence at the front desk at the time of check in, we weren't confident that any room we would be moved to would be any better.\n\nI stand behind my review. If I could give the place zero stars, I would. | 01
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Great location but low on amenities. HVAC system is ancient and the noise factor on Fifth Avenue is problematic. The price is nice but that's all I can say about the positive. | 01
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Our two-night stay at the Shadyside Inn involved three suites and was like a god damn roller coaster ride.\n\nFirst of all, it's a bizarre concept with a bizarre aesthetic. Our suite was essentially a small apartment in a decrepit, tacky building across the street from the main facility. After somehow making it up the steepest driveway of all time, and somehow stumbling across our rooms in the completely unmarked hallways, we actually found that they were quite nice looking. Felt very much like college dorm rooms - but they were serviceable and clean.\n\nToo clean - it turns out. After we had barely settled in, my cousin came running into our room screaming like a banshee holding out hands covered in soap. \""IT'S NOT COMING OFF! IT WON'T COME OFF!\"" Turns out every single piece of brown furniture in all of our suites was covered with furniture polish that stained our clothes and stuck on our hands.\n\nWe called the office, and were put on hold for ten minutes. Finally went over across the street, and the staff ended up being very gracious. Apologized profusely, offered to pay to have our clothes cleaned, and removed the guilty furniture from our rooms. Everyone received an apology letter explaining the oversight. We received special attention as the first guests to fall prey to this cruel trick, and received a handwritten apology from the management and two bottles of cheap merlot.\n\nEverything else went smoothly until check-out day. We were heading to a college graduation ceremony and intended to drive, but were forced to walk due to the Pittsburgh Marathon route. When we called the office to ask if it were okay for us to leave our luggage in our rooms until slightly after check out time (HALF AN HOUR ONLY), they flat out refused to allow it.\n\nAfter shit-fits were thrown and our varnish-debacle resurrected, they allowed us to leave our cars in the lot with the luggage in the trunks, which they initially tried to refuse permission for us to do.\n\nNeedless to say, we did not leave happy campers. | 01
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It's with some regret that I rank the Shadyside Inn Suites so low. We were there for just one night, and overall the accommodations appear quite pleasant. \n\nFor starters, we arrived at the office to check in and the gentleman in the office was on the phone. Although we stood there for at least five minutes while he finished, he never made any attempt to look at us, or indicate that he would be with us as soon as possible. As we waited, several other staff people passed us in the office, and never acknowledged our presence. When he finally got off the phone, he was very pleasant, but never even acknowledged the fact that we had been standing there waiting. \n\nEven though it was almost 1p, we were told that our room was not yet ready, and that it might not be available until 4p, which was the \""guaranteed check in time.\"" I indicated that we had been on the road for hours and we had an important function that evening, before which we really had hoped to catch a short nap. I asked if he could please get us a clean room as soon as possible, and he said that he could call us when the room was ready. To their credit, they did call us within about 90 minutes.\n\nOur room was essentially a small studio apartment, with a bedroom/sitting room, kitchenette and bathroom. When we entered we were practically assaulted by an overwhelmingly strong smell of some sort of floor or room cleaner - perhaps an artificial lavender scent - so strong it was like walking into a Bath & Body Works. Almost immediately my partner developed a bad head ache and we had to leave the door open for about 20 minutes to air it out. Though the scent diminished a little, it remained strong for the duration of our stay.\n\nThe furniture was modern and the room well laid out. It included an open wifi network, a rather large flat-screen tv connected to basic cable, a queen sized bed, a large arm chair, and a dining table with chairs. There were a few tacky prints on the walls that appeared to have been designed by some Thomas Kinkaide wannabe.\n \nAs it was January, it was rather cold out, and so we sought to turn up the heat, which was provided via an old radiated steam heat system in the bedroom/sitting area. There was no wall thermostat, so we had to fiddle around with the knob at the base of the radiator, but as anyone who is familiar with those older steam systems, they're touchy and hard to control. There was also a radiator unit in the bathroom, but it didn't work, which meant it was rather chilly when you stepped out of the shower. The entire evening we found ourselves trying to adjust the heat in the main room, and often opening the window just a crack, to compensate for excess heat, or closing it to allow the heat to build up again. It was bad enough that neither of us got a good night's sleep, because we found ourselves either sweating or shivering, and the temperature never evened out.\n\nI had some work to do while we were there, so after dinner, I sat down to use my computer and the wireless network, but at about 10P, the network shut down, and didn't come back. I called the main office, only to get a voicemail saying that they were closed; there was an emergency number, but I didn't feel that I wanted to go to that trouble. I kept checking periodically, but the wifi didn't come back that night. In fact it wasn't on the next morning when I woke at about 7A. I called the office again, but the same voicemail was still on, and still again at 7:30A and at 8A. Finally after I got out of the shower at about 8:30A, the wifi was back.\n\nThe final straw occurred as we were leaving. There was no elevator in the old building, so we had to use the stairwell. Apparently someone had mopped the stairs, but good, shortly before we left our room, and they were slippery and wet, but we were not aware of this, as there was not \""Caution Wet Floor\"" sign, and the stairwell was not illuminated enough to be able to see quite how wet the floor was. As a result, on the very first step down, my foot slid out from under me, and I landed hard on my backside. Fortunately I wasn't hurt, though I did spend several days with soreness afterward. When I stood up, I realized that the floor had been so wet that in the 2 seconds I was on the floor, my jeans were soaked through to my undies.\n\nWhen we got to the office to check out, the same gentleman who checked us in was attending the desk. He asked how our stay was, and I limited my comments to my recent fall. He apologized perfunctorily and made a note, but said nothing else.\n\nAs I said in the beginning, I am sorry to give this low rating, because the place looks like it could be darling. In fact, when we were checking in, we saw they had received an award in 2009 for being Piuttsburgh's \""Most Romantic Getaway\"" spot from the local independent rag. Nevertheless we experienced too many frustration, and we will not go back if we find ourselves in the Steel City, nor are we comfortable recommending it to anyone else. | 01
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My husband and I went to visit my nephew at Carnegie Mellon. It was our first time in Pittsburgh, so we wanted something close to him. The Shadyside Inn was PERFECT for our stay. We are very, very, well traveled, and are extremely selective about where we stay. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that we will be staying here again the next time we come back. In fact we tried, but the dates we wanted were completely sold out :-(\n\nThe location is perfect, and only a 5 minute walk from the shops and restaurants on Walnut Street. You don't even need a car. The Inn is a series of nicely renovated apartment buildings, so they are all equipped with well-stocked kitchens (my husband is a chef so he was very impressed by that). \n\nThe front desk person was sweet and friendly. Not only did he check us in immediately, he gave us a \""breakfast bag\"" full of muffins, juices, and granola bars! Then he told us that he upgraded us to a suite, even tho we only booked a studio. Well, when we got into our room, not only was it a suite, but it was a 2 BR suite! I couldn't believe it. It was bigger than our apartment back home. Right then and there I wished we were staying longer - like a month!\n\nThe suite had a giant flat screen TV, a big dining area, with room service menu, free wi-fi, and super comfy furniture. The bed was to die for. The only thing that didn't go was the older, un-renovated bathroom tiles & fixtures, but it really didn't bother us at all, because the shower water pressure was great. There is ample parking out back, and the service people out taking care of the gardens and rooms were friendly and courteous.\n\nWhen we checked out, they were renovating the main office, so it's nice to see that they are constantly striving to update and improve. Checkout took less than 30 seconds. I handed her my key, and they told me they would email me a copy of my bill, since I used my credit card to book. Everything went so smoothly, and the staff was so wonderful. We LOVED our stay here and would come back in a heartbeat! | 12
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Oh Shadyside Inn and suites I wanted to love you I really did, but the longer my stay got the more I just couldn't so its with a little regret that I write this review.\n\nPro's: good space for the price, and free parking. Seems like an oversight but when hunting for a middle priced hotel in pittsburgh, you would have thought by price range of the larger chains pittsburgh suddenly morphed into Paris. Major chain hotels near downtown are ridiculouly priced and mostly all cheaper hotels are out the way for dirving purposes. Also most hotels offer no free parking, Shadyside suites did.\n\nPrice seems great, but for one thing the comfort level... see further in review,\n\nFairly clean, and renovated, cheap renovations but acceptable for the price of the hotel.\n\nNo issues with service or housekeeping.\n\nNice large space in room for the price, cable tv, and fully stocked kitchen.\n\nGreat Location close to downtown, oakland and the east end.\n\nCons:\n\nNoisy, they cannot help this but the cars whizzing by on fifth ave will not allow you to sleep well in the living room. I mean you cannot even watch television there in the middle of the day well due to car noise either. The bedroom however seemed to dull car noise a little better.\n\nParking lot is a bit cramped can be hard to get in and out of depending on how others park. \n\nHot water, not much of it low water pressure as well. \n\nOk now the deal breaker the mattress: Ours was a Serta 99Z i checked because i felt along the ouside and I could feel the springs nearly poking out the side of it. Because after hurting out backs I suspected the thing had not been manufactored in this decade or possibly last decade and I was right. \n\nHave you heard of a Serta 99z? no me either so I dubbed it the 0 z and moved on, they had placed a memory foam pillow on top of it, which didn't help matters and when we complained it was too soft. We were told oh if you take the memory foam thing off that makes it less soft, and we could have asked for that. Sorry genius at the dront desk but that wont help matters. \n\nI understand hotels cannot always know your preferance of mattress firmness but they can provide sleep number mattresses, or newer mattresses. I thought at first maybe this hotel had not been in business that long, that was why they were you using a 25 yr old mattress. Then I saw the yelp reviews and see that they have been there a few years. | 01
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Once a year for the past 10+ years we've been staying here. You canNOT beat the location. You can walk to shops and restaurants and the area is safe. The staff has always been above average. A few years ago the rooms were rundown but since they have renovated and the rooms couldn't be better. A hotel doesn't give you that much room - you literally have your our own apartment. I was there last week because a family member died. We were having relatives visit us at Shadyside Inn and the staff went out of their way to deliver chairs to our rooms. Our rooms were cleaned every day and there are very few places that allow dogs - and they do! Their prices are reasonable and I wouldn't stay anywhere else while in PA. Thank you Shadyside! | 12
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I'm granting one star because there's no way to give none.\n\nAs I write this, the door to my room is open, and two burly gentlemen are drilling and hammering and drilling and hammering--I just checked, and it's going to go on all day. Evidently, the inn is installing a new lock system, and for some reason it was impossible to wait until I checked out later today. Counting on solitude and quiet, I'd brought work to do, but it's now utterly impossible to concentrate. I stayed here once before and loved it, but this lack of concern and respect sets a a new low. | 01
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We stayed at the Shadyside Inn for months and spent thousands of dollars. I really wanted to write a good review, but the experience was disappointing. \n\nThe quality of service from the staff was inconsistent. Some of them were nice and helpful while others were snarky and rude. When we provided feedback to the manager (Carol S.), she was extremely disrespectful. She was not receptive to customer feedback at all, and her response was very unprofessional, to say the least. \n\nWe also experienced no water or gas on short notice (in the middle of winter) and slippery lobby floors with no warning signs (*we had one bad fall). And the elevator did not work at times.\n\nWe will not stay at this hotel again. | 01
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Nothing special about this place. Great location but the facilities are a little tired. | 01
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I am in mood. I am reminiscing about my favorite haunts in the burgh. I live in los angeles, one of the tastiest restaurant havens in the world. And yet, i left part of my stomach in pittsburgh. \n\nI loved the calamari for a starter, the talapia in a sweet nutty white sauce, and the apple crisp for dessert. those were just my favs, but i did try other things, everything YUMMY. cool atmosphere and cocktails as well. \n\nFrom my understanding this place has been around a long time, doing their thing. Check it out! | 12
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Comfortable place that is our most frequent and favorite dining spot......if Norm and Cliff ever moved to Pittsburgh, this is where they would hang...........we like all of their food! Finding a place to park is my only complaint. | 12
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Came here for dinner on my birthday (back before I turned 21) and also when my parents were in town for dinner. The food was decent each time, but nothing really standout. I enjoyed my fish and chips, but my boyfriend didn't care much for his pasta--too rich and overwhelming. I like the homey decor a lot, though! It really feels like a neighborhood place. Coming from the suburbs, I'd never seen restaurants done like that (except tacky imitations).\n\nLuckily for students and other carfree residents, it's on the 71C route and close to the 71A! | 12
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I've been here twice and I'm just not crazy about it. Nothing is BAD, per se, just not really impressive. The service is fine and the food is certainly edible, but missing something - at least, their vegetarian food. When I ordered sweet potato fries, a lot of them came out burnt. The Big Green salad was boring and everything was in huge chunks. Their French onion soup was pretty good, but when is French onion soup not good? They have a hot vegetarian sandwich, but it sounds gross. Does hot hummus and alfalfa sprouts sound good to you? As for non-vegetarian food, my dad was very satisfied with his hot grilled chicken salad.\n\nI wouldn't mind coming back for brunch. Since it's just around the corner from my new apartment, I'm sure I'll end up going here with my parents fairly often. I'm not crazy about it, but if they're paying, I'm not opposed to it. | 01
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Been there twice in the last year. The service was mediocre once, and embarrassingly bad the second time. The food is good; it's Meatloaf-Centric American. It's a place you'd take your conservative parents.\n\nThat said, the first time I was in, some of the regular customers were being ridiculously outgoing about politics, and decided to group-hate some things I find pretty reasonable. Didn't seem reasonable to argue with a large group of folks in their regular spot, so, ah, that's that.\n\nIf you can't find plain-to-upscale American food in Pittsburgh, you're really not looking very hard. Reading another review, I'd be baffled trying to figure out why anyone would take the bus here. | 01
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Extensive wine menu and average service. They have an in-house wine specialist that helps you with your wine selection - impressive. The food is the high point of this place. They always seem to have a great selection of seasonal foods - gnoochi stuffed with sweet potatoes and topped with goat cheese and cranberries. \n\nWhen warm weather gets here, stop by and check out the outdoor patio. It's a nice place for a summertime date. | 12
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Great place to have a relaxing lunch / dinner outside in the middle of the hot summer or cool fall - the food is good and the prices are reasonable. I'm a big fan of the steak salad, although the fact that it has fries in it really does weird me out. It is most likely just as fattening as a burger, but it sure does taste good and gets me craving it to come back!\n\nThey also have a great wine selection that is worth checking out. In a pinch (or during snowpocolypse) they will also sell bottles to-go, but they do have to de-cork it for you before you leave, which is midly annoying, but better than nothing. | 12
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I met a group of girls here for dinner last night, and my initial first impressions were very positive. The space was attractive, with a nice bar area and bottles of wine decoratively placed on display. Some of the wine was reasonably priced, and the wine list included descriptive words below each type, like \""dry, food-friendly, hints of pear.\"" Very helpful to a wine ignoramus like me. There was only one bartender at 730 pm, and he was quite busy so it was difficult to get his attention. One of my friends also was given a dirty glass with smudges on it at first, but as soon as we managed to signal the busy bartender, he fixed it quickly.\n\nOur server was very friendly and cheerful. She didn't rush us, and made good wine recommendations. We had to ask for water, which I thought was a bit weird since the table was pre-set with empty water glasses. I just assumed someone would be round with a pitcher, but that was not the case.\n\nWe started with the artichoke dip, which was pretty good - your usual creamy dip with artichoke hearts and spinach. It was served with some little slices of french bread, and was a pretty decent appetizer. For my entree, I got the Danish burger, and here's where things took a major tumble. The burger supposedly had \""herbed caper relish and bleu cheese.\"" Now tell me - how flavorful does that sound? It sounds pungent, sharp, and just what I was in the mood for. What I received was one of the most bland burgers I had ever eaten. Seriously. What. Was. The deal?\n\nIt was cooked the way I asked, and taking the bun off revealed that there was indeed caper relish and bleu cheese on the burger. But there was a very small amount of it - when I ate a crumble of cheese by itself it was delicious, but on the burger, the flavor just vanished. The burger was just a big slab of flavorless ground beef. I couldn't taste salt, pepper, garlic, anything. I had to put ketchup on it! KETCHUP! Normally that's not weird, but on a burger with bleu cheese and caper relish, I shouldn't need other condiments.\n\nI lost interest in it very quickly, and focused on eating my sweet potato fries. I should say that those were pretty tasty, and I was happy to spend my time gobbling them up. I took most of the burger home, and fed it to my boyfriend, who agreed that it was a super boring burger.\n\nMajor bummer. I considered giving this place a 3 since it's a cute restaurant, the service was good, we enjoyed our wine, my sweet potato fries were hot and crispy, and the appetizer was all right, but UGH that burger! I can't with that burger.\n\nThat being said, I'd go back for wine and I'd hesitantly try something from another part of the menu, but I'm done with their burgers. Their burgers are dead to me.\n\nThe hunt for a decent burger in Pittsburgh goes on... | 01
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This was my first time at the Elbow Room at their new location on Walnut Street (previously located on Ellsworth Avenue.) My friend and I met for a low key Friday night dinner, but when we arrived at 6:30pm, to our surprise - it was PACKED!! It was really nice to see it so lively and bustling with a ton of people. It was a 30 minute wait for a table, and in that time we grabbed a drink at that bar. By the time we did that, our table was ready. After we ordered, our appetizer, salads, and entrees were all out within 15-20 minutes. The service was amazing, from our waitress, to even the owner coming out to make sure everything was ok. We ordered the fried zucchini for an appetizer, which was good but I thought the breading as a little bland, a great side salad, and I had the mediterranean pasta for my entree. Everything was better than I had expected it to be and I will definitely be returning for happy hour and dinner, hopefully very soon! 2 thumbs up! | 12
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