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Well, my update has half of my original rating. Not because of their food, but because of the service. My friend booked her birthday party there this past Saturday night in their tavern room. When we got there, the room that was supposed to be set up for her party and guests was completely full of other restaurant patrons. She had called in advance to confirm party details and they assured her that everything would be fine. Not the case when we got there. The person she set the party up with wasn't working that night, and it took the hostess 15 minutes to find his \""note\"" that was left about the party. It took another hour for them to clear somewhat of an area for the party, which was now squeezed into the bar area. The whole area never fully got cleared out for her party, and we had to share space with people who they had sat in that hour that we had waited for it to clear out. They also put only one server on staff, which was insanity and chaos because there were 30 of us at this party. I think she got 1 out of every 4 drink orders correct. I would still go here to eat for dinner, but I would never recommend it to anyone looking to have a party or event here. | 01
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Went to Elbow Room for a nice Sunday brunch experience. It was not crowded and we were seated and served promptly. My girlfriend ordered the album pancakes while I ordered the crab Eggs Benedict. Her pancakes were absolutely inedible, with such a bizarre after taste that we had to say something to the waitress. The kitchen also forgot to put any hollandaise sauce on my eggs and it looked like a 10 year old had poached them. The asparagus was raw and there were a few bits of crab, so little I thought they had forgotten that too. By the time I got any hollandaise the eggs were cold and the whole plate was ruined. When we said something about the pancakes the waitress apologized profusely and brought out some fresh French Toast, but stated that the cooks also thought something was wrong with the pancakes - - - why did she let us order them, then?? Makes no sense.\n\nThe waitress was very nice and very attentive, but the cooking left a lot to be desired. We won't be going back there for brunch anytime soon. Worst Eggs Benedict experience I've ever had. | 01
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use to be a max and erma's and if that bar wasn't low enough it now misses the mark | 01
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I was promised a room full of elbows, and the Elbow Room seriously under-delivered.\n\nAdditionally, I was not too thrilled with the atmosphere or beer selection. When I asked our waiter what was on tap, he could not name a single choice. Its not a huge problem for me, but considering this place is somewhat of a pub, it would probably be wise to memorize a few choices. I had the Norman Rockwell Burger which was actually very good. The egg was perfectly fried and the burger was cooked precisely how I requested. If I had to nitpick, I'd say the crappy bun detracted from the burger as a whole, but overall I was happy. The fries were fairly soggy and otherwise par for the course. My lady-friend's turkey-whatever sandwich was okay, nothing to get excited over.\n\nThe food itself deserves 3 stars, but the overall environment felt strange to me, hence 2 stars. | 01
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I have continued going back to Elbow Room hoping for a different experience. No matter how many times I order from them they always leave something off my burger. I do not understand how a burger with apple, cheese, and bacon always end up missing at least one of the 3 items. I am just happy it has the burger on it. \n\nSo tired of this place. I have talked to their chefs and managers about this issue and it has never been resolved. If you get takeout from this place I suggest always opening your box before you leave to make sure it is all there. | 01
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I have dined at the elbow room twice now. First time I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich, and believe it or not, it was the worst grilled cheese I have had. I know what you are thinking......how can you mess up grilled cheese? I am still asking myself that question. I gave it another try last night because I did like the decor and the service was good. I thought maybe the cook was having a bad night. I had the Norman Rockwell burger and although it wasn't prepared as rare as I prefer, it was tasty. I was beginning to change my mind about this place until I decided to use the restroom. Walking into this place, you would never imagine that the bathroom would be filthy. The decor is nice, the service is great, the food is average, and the bathroom is undescribable. | 01
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I had brunch here with two of my friends, one of whom had brought her daughter with her.\n\nThe bloody mary was COMPLETELY disgusting. And there was no alcohol in it. It was god awful.\n\nMy friends daughter had ordered lox & a bagel, and her bagel was ROCK HARD and cold. We asked for a softer bagel, and they brought one out. It was the same bagel, they just stuck it in the microwave. \n\nMy friend ordered a salad and it was all iceberg lettuce, nothing to spectacular.\n\nI had a reuben and it was ok, but I was so grossed out by the bloody mary I couldn't eat it. \n\nThe manager could not have been nicer, he comped the bloody mary and asked me how I make them for myself when I'm at home since he didn't think his recipe was that great. \n\nI'm still so grossed out by that bloody mary i'm never going bac. | 01
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\""Bland\"" is probably the key word in describing this place. A local Applebees-type feel.\n\nI was here for dinner one night, and the sandwich I got was unbelievably bland, so was the side of cole slaw. The artichoke dip was ok, but very greasy. The pasta a bit dry and bland as well.\n\nThe reverse happy hour concept from 9PM-11PM is cool. There is an OK number of beers on tap. The service is friendly and efficient.\n\nHowever, the food is sub-par, so I won't be returning even if I were in the area. | 01
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I fully agree with reviewers who call the food bland, and overall, I think there are much better dining options for the money in the vicinity. I have tried a number of items on the menu here and found them to be all underwhelming, despite the fact that their average entree costs nearly $20.\n\nFor example, the hanger steak has come out under-seasoned and chewy, the braised short ribs tasting no better than ones you can easily make at home -- again despite being roughly $20 or more each. The starters that I have had were also very uninspiring, such as the hummus which is, at best, on par with store-bought hummus. For a restaurant at this price point, it is simply not worth the money.\n\nFor \""cheap\"" eats in the Shadyside area of Pittsburgh, I prefer options like BRGR or Dinette. At either of those locations, entrees are less expensive while much more consistent and flavorful. | 01
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Drinks are good but food sucks. I tried the food multiple times and I think only the french onion soup and salads are descent. The main courses are very low quality. | 01
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Wonderful brunch. The food and service was great. The waiters were very friendly and the food wasn't too pricey. Really a great option for brunch. | 12
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As we strolled up Walnut Street this morning we were greeted by a large sandwich board sign advertising brunch. Spirits lifted we raced inside for the sidewalk advertised breakfast glories...sat down...and were told brunch was only on Sundays. My lil heart fell. \nRegroup. I ordered the half sandwich and chili and my partner in this mess ordered a chop salad. \nThe chili should be renamed Alpo & Cheddar. The salads are better at Get Go.\nAnd direct quote upon our server checking on us..drumroll....\""From what I see I presume you are okay\"" and a quick exit stage left.\nWe shall not be returning. Even as tempting as the $10 sangria made of pure canned fruit juice appears. | 01
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It's a nice enough place with a decent selection of drinks (and a not-bad post-9pm happy hour), but I'd steer clear of the food. If the portions were large and delicious, the prices would be more than reasonable, but sadly that's not the case. I've never really enjoyed anything I've eaten here, and the downright terrible burger is what prompted me to write the review warning folks away (\""medium rare\"" came out \""well done\"" and no one noticed or even asked how it was).\n\nSo come here if you want to grab a drink with your friends on Walnut Street. But I, for one, will be going someplace else first if I want dinner too. | 01
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A couple things about happy hour- late happy hour is awesome, martini happy hour is awesome, but the happy hour menu is super limited. For such a delicious dirty martini, though, full price was ok- occasionally. Maybe they keep it off the half off menu so I don't move in. We only had dessert, so I can't comment on rest of the menu- but it all seems relatively well priced. The carrot cake was bomb, but to be fair, it's hard to mess up anything with cream cheese icing. I'll definitely be coming back to get a more rounded experience. But so far it's the bee's knees! | 12
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My wife and daughter and I walked in and were seated immediately by the hostess. We sat down and browsed the menu and made our selections. Ten or so minutes passed by as various wait staff passed by our table. At about the fifteen minute mark, without even as much as water service, we got up and left. The hostess, as well as the wait staff that we passed by on or way out the door made no attempt to engage us in any way. There wasn't much of a crowd there and I don't expect, with this type of service, business to be picking up any time soon. | 01
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Place was interesting. The decor reminds you of \""cheers\"" because of the wood. I had a salmon wrap and it was very good. It had a mustard sauce and came with fries. Prices were decent. Our waitress lacked personality and her breath smelled bad, but she got everything.food wise right. It took awhile to bring our drinks. I split the check with my friend, and she didn't divide the items correctly.I probably wouldn't come here again because it wasn't \""special\"". If I'm coming all the way from Monroeville, then I want more bang for my buck. | 01
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The drinks were fantastic... When we could get a waiters attention. However, the bar closed at 12:00 on a Saturday night. Furthermore the waiter took almost 20 minutes to sort out our tabs. I usually love the elbow room, however on this particular night it was impossible to get a drink or pay our tab . I'm not sure we will be back. | 01
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Bad, very bad. Ordered Gin and Tonic.....tonic water was as flat as water. Returned drinks and ordered wine. Wine was ok but overpriced. Ordered an omelet which was basically an egg pancake with the omelet stuff dumped on top. Home fries were undercooked. Biscuit had overpowering flavor of artificial butter. \nThe chicken on the salad was entrenched with artificial flavor. I think this restaurant does not use 'fresh' ingredients and buys a lot of things already prepared and all they have to do is 'heat things up'. So their lazy way of doing things certainly has lost us as a customer. Also....the waitress was wearing cologne or perfume...lots of it...her scent lingered on and on. NO Server should be wearing a scent at work. I would equate their food with a fast food restaurant. Not a compliment. | 01
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This place is definitely great. Any entree I have had has been excellent.. The service is great too. Bartender is very friendly and the atmosphere is very nice ! I'm going to be a regular for sure! | 12
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I have been to the elbow room a few times. The food and the service meet good standards. Do not expect a gourmet, extraordinary menu but it is serves normal American bar/restaurant food. The Sunday brunch menu is also nice (the Greek omelet is highly recommended if you are into omelets). The biggest advantage of the place is its location and the atmosphere. The new venue on walnut has a nice feel; something between a classy, upscale restaurant but at the same time casual, family-oriented. I always enjoy having a grub here and I will definitely go back many times. | 12
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Walking by on a Saturday morning, I was pleased to see that they offered a weekend brunch, and an alternative to the overcrowded and overrated Pamela's next door. I ordered an omelette for $9 and a fruit plate for $7 and my wife ordered a grilled chicken salad. My wife's salad was good. My omelette, however, was inedible -- a round, rock-hard disk smothered in cheese. In a addition, we ordered a fruit plate for $7 which was a complete embarassment of several tiny pieces of fruit strewn about a plate with a tiny souffle cup of yogurt. I hardly ever send food back or complain but this was really bad. I told the server as nicely as possible that it wasn't her fault and I didn't want to appear difficult but I just could not eat the omelette and the fruit plate was really unappealing and overpriced. She gave me an icy cold look that communicated \""You are a crazy, difficult, demanding jerk,\"" but took the food back and took it off my check. Upon reading some of the reviews here, it seems like I am not alone. | 01
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Always enjoy coming to The Elbow Room. Atmosphere is great. Food is great. Jason was our server. He did an excellent job! Highly recommend asking for Jason. | 12
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So... I would have posted pictures, but devoured everything before I could remember, lol. \n\nThe food is AMAZING! The service is great also. Salmon burger, french fries, apple crisps, regular burgers, and the list goes on! I haven't even told you the best part... THEY DELIVER!!!!! Unfortunately, this will be an overweight summer... but a happy one! | 12
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This place is hit or miss. It'll depends on who is in the kitchen, I think, and whether or not management feels like taking the job seriously. I've had good meals here, and I've had really bad ones. I've had enough bad ones that I try not to go here unless there's no other choice. I got a piece of fish once that you could drive a nail with. The Rubens are always stringy and it's impossible to take a bite out of the sandwich without dragging all the meat out in one big glob. And I don't think I've seen the same waitstaff here more than once. Big turnover. There's no pride in the service or the food at all. This place is never been truly \""good\"", things just seem to keep getting worse. | 01
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I used this place for a while, but now having moved to Shadyside, I can't see myself making the trip down to Forbes. Anyway, the biggest plus for this place (and why I went there in the first place) is that they have same-day service. In by 11am, done by 5pm. Fantastic! That alone makes it worthwhile.\n\nOn the other hand, they wrote my last name in black permanent marker on the bottom of the button seam (no clue what that's called) every single one of my dress shirts. Why?? This wouldn't be such a huge problem, but they did it on my white shirts that I don't wear tucked in! And the black bleeds through to the front. Not cool at all.\n\nSo, go here if you need a quick turn around, but ask them not to mark up all your clothing! | 12
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Took my boyfriends suit to get dry cleaned, when I picked it up I had to wait a really long time which was petty absurd because I was the only one there and they had 3 employees behind the counter but only 1 doing work. The price was reasonable but when my bf put his suit on, he noticed they had written his name in sharpie inside all the pieces - even the back of the tie. Even though the markings weren't visible, it was sill irritating. \n\nWe found a really awesome dry cleaner (Runners) which was always reasonable, the owner (or manager) was always friendly and remembered your face and name. We did a lot of business here but sadly the Greenfield location closed. \n\nFooters has so many locations in Pittsburgh in convenient locations but it is definitely worth seeking out some other place. | 01
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Such a pleasurable experience! Everyone one from Jason at the front desk, to Katherine the stylist's assistant, to Richard the stylist were sweet, attentive, and professional! I came in there with a curly mess of long hair that hadn't been attended to in 9 months, and I left with hair worthy of an Herbal Essence commercial. I couldn't have asked for better service, a better style, or a better stylist! | 12
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I'd heard great things about one of the stylists, Richard, so I booked an appointment. The wait wasn't bad, maybe 10 minutes on a Wednesday afternoon around 4. The girl who shampooed my hair was great, but sadly Richard was not. He made a point to tell me we were going to have a \""professional consultation\"" after my shampoo, which turned out to be an exercise in frustration. He went on and on about how I was a new \""guest,\"" and he appreciated this opportunity to grow the business. Then when I told him I was growing my hair out, didn't like anything flippy or layered, was willing to lose some length to clean up the back, and just wanted it to look really polished, it was like talking to a brick wall. What I got were more layers in the front, and he didn't even touch the back. Then he had a third person blow dry my hair, which turned it into the Rachel from friends, circa 1997 - huge, like a mushroom. He kept going on about how great it looked, but all I could say was, \""...It's big.\"" His response was, \""You're not used to brushwork, it's okay, we'll do it how you do at home.\"" Could not have been more patronizing. And I'm from the DC area; I've been to a few high-end salons in my time, and had a few blow-outs. It's not brushwork in general that I'm against, it's being made to look like a human lollipop that I take issue with. So a fourth (!) guy wet my hair again, then Richard put more product in, slicked it down to my scalp, and stuck me under a hairdryer machine. Then he had the shampoo girl blow dry it out for the second time. All in all a really frustrating experience - one of those haircuts where you get back to your car and want to cry. I got the impression that the salon was trying to be high-end, but they're all pretension and nothing to back it up. I wouldn't recommend Richard or the salon to anyone. | 01
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I've since had two more haircuts from Richard. The second haircut was great, but styled horribly. When I left I literally looked like I was wearing a wig from the early '90's. Once I was able to fix it myself and style it totally differently than he intended, I really loved it. The third haircut was just awful: styled awful, looked strange. I just hate it, and I'm not sure what to do about it. I'm now on the look out for a new haircutting home! | 01
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I've been seeing Richard at Dean of Shadyside for 2.5 years. There have been some awesome haircuts along the way, and a couple duds. The duds were just a bit more \""experimental\"" than I would have liked. Five years ago I might have been more okay with an edgy haircut, but now that I have a \""real job\"", I feel more inclined to have normal hair.\n\nHere's the thing, Richard is an awesome stylist if you give him a lot of leeway and let him do his thing. If you just want a simple, straight across the back haircut, go to supercuts. Richard's haircuts are best when you give just a little bit of direction and then let him do his thing. My best haircuts have been the ones where I just let him do whatever he feels like.\n\nI have fine, curly hair and Richard really knows how to handle it. He does a great job thinning it out so that it has lots of definition and doesn't look like a 'fro.\n\nBottom line, Richard is a talented stylist, but he does best when he's given some freedom. If you're willing to let go, give him a shot.\n\nAlso - Dean of Shadyside has a referral program, you get these cards which entitle new clients to a free haircut (and you get a kickback coupon in the mail). I get so many random compliments on my hair from total strangers that I've given almost all of my coupons away. That's like one random-person-compliment per haircut, and that says something. | 12
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I went into Dean of Shadyside salon to get my hair colored. My stylist was nice and friendly however that was not the problem that I encountered at this salon. My stylist rushed through the process of coloring my hair as she had another client during the same time as my appointment. In addition, my hair was just left to hang (not pulled/clipped back) while my hair was being colored making the dark hair dye smear over my ears, neck and face. The worst part was checking out. The charge for the hair color was a decent/normal price around $50.00. However this salon charges you extra if you need more color (if you have thick hair). Are you kidding me? On top on that, they also don't include the blow dry, which yes is more money. Not pleased with all the hidden costs behind my hair color service. Won't be back . | 01
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I recently took advantage of a Groupon deal that was made available for Dean of Shadyside, and let me tell you-I am hooked! My Groupon provided me with a cut, conditioning treatment, color, and mini manicure (aka polish change) for $50. How could I refuse? \n\nWhile Courtney was not as chatty as I prefer (what can I say, I like to dish...I want some witty banter in return!), she helped me pick a fabulous color toner and gave me the exact cut that I wanted. My hair feels FABULOUS. The manicure was nothing to write home about...because it was just a polish change-which I do basically every other day anyways. But my hair? Amazing. The color is fabulous. The cut is edgy and perfect. And I left with a great deal on some new products. I am already booked for my next visit at the end of the month...right on time to get sexy for New Years Eve. \n\nThey share parking with the Mozart apartment building on the corner of Centre and Aiken, and it's easy to miss. It's easy to miss, but it is right across the street from Shadyside Hospital. Hit the \""dean\"" button on the buzzer and they will let you in. Made me feel like hot stuff.\n\nSide note-be sure to bring cash for your tip-you cannot add tips onto your credit card/debit card, so you must have cash for tips. There is a generic ATM that charges $2, so be prepared.\n\nChatty or not, I have a girl crush on Courtney for making my hair look so hot. Thanks, girl. | 12
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My roommate and I refer to Courtney as \""Courtney Copperfield\"" because she is a legit magician! I gave her a picture of the haircut I wanted and it actually looked better than the picture when she was done. She also knew exactly what colors to put together to achieve the shade I wanted for Fall. Sadly, I moved out of Pittsburgh and I know it will be a struggle to find somewhere as fabulous as Dean. | 12
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If you are into crooked haircuts and terrible customer service, this is your salon. | 01
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Terrible! I purchased a groupon, but after all of the additional fees (upgrade to a higher level stylist because no one included in the groupon was available for a month, etc) I paid full price without full price service. If you make the mistake of going here, bring cash to tip your stylist. The receptionist cannot handle tips at all. They do offer a shady ATM that you can use and pay the surcharge, then put the tip in an envelope in a comment box. Haircut was ok, but certainly not near what I expected after reading the other reviews. I left extremely upset and no one cared. Terrible customer service! | 01
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Just moved to Pittsburgh a week ago and I needed a place to get a few platinum pieces weaved into my more honey-blondish locks. I know a fair amount about hair, and could have done it myself, but I love the ritual of going to a salon and having 'a girl.' Dean's was basically the only place I could get an appointment same-day that looked halfway decent. \n\nI had a Level III stylist who was nice enough, but certainly not a conversationalist. I don't think English was her first language. That's no big deal, but a little good cheer would have made it less boring. Also, I love (LOVE) my former stylist in Michigan so I have high expectations for fun at the salon. I had no fun at this salon.\n\nDean's is kind of a mid-range pricing scheme. Not too bad. I paid $60 for a partial. \n\nThe concept of the salon is very bland--nothing remotely original about the place. Judging from the name, I thought it'd be kind of funky (I was thinking Dean of Shadyside as in academic dean and thought it might have a bookish vibe). They had one interesting product line I'd never seen before, but I can't recall the name. \n\nI think I'll find a place that's a little more... me. | 01
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Love my hair! I bought a Groupon for a cut and hairline highlights because I was looking for a place that would give me a good haircut. My hair is naturally curly so I've had more than my share of bad cuts... them they try to style it and it gets worse. Not Dean of Shadyside! Ally took the time to discuss my the color of my highlights and make sure that I was comfortable with everything before she started (I have only had highlights done once before and they were bad). The end product was great! She listened to what I wanted and did it! This is the first time in a very long time that I didn't leave a salon and pull my hair back. My next appointment is already scheduled. | 12
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The first time I went to Dean, I was content with the haircut I got for about the first three weeks. A men's haircut is pretty straightforward, generally speaking. After about three weeks, though, my hair started looking as though I had just received a bowl-cut - the hair from the top of my head was longer than the hair on the sides of my head, and it was growing down over the sides! The next time I returned, I made an appointment with a different stylist. Again, great haircut at first, but after about three weeks it started happening again, albeit to a lesser degree. The next time I went in, I decided to stick with the same stylist - Erika - as she was friendly (unlike the first, rather quiet and somewhat abrasive stylist) and seemed to be eager to give me a haircut the I liked! I let her know how the previous haircut went wrong, and she actually took what I told her and made changed. Apparently my head is somewhat square-shaped at the top, and if the top is cut a different length from the rest, then it must be done with a narrower section to avoid the issue I'd been having. After all said and done, I left with a great cut that looked great for a solid two months before I went in again. I got one more cut with Erika, and then pre-booked my next cut.\n\nWhen I went in for THIS cut, I got to the front desk for my appointment time, told them I had a 12:15 with Erika, and was then told \""Oh. Erika left. Let's see if we can get you in with someone else.\""\n\nThey didn't call me to tell me that Erika had quit. They didn't even reschedule my appointment with another stylist when she did. I was lucky enough to get in with one when I showed up, but it was back to square one with another haircut-turned-bowl-cut.\n\nIt's no wonder Erika quit - she was too good for the place! Needless to say, I will not be back. | 01
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I an very happy with my haircut :) Staff are very polite too. | 12
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I've tried to like Dean's several times over the years. Because if you go there and then don't come back for 9 months they offer you a free haircut. No joke. \n\nAnd each time I've gone, my haircut has been.... fine. Not earth shattering, not life changing. But just fine. \n\nI also went to get my nails done for my wedding- because they have a nice big space and my experience there has been.... fine. \n\nBut I swear, it's like no one there considers it their job to actually make you comfortable. They go through the motions- they've got their coupons for repeat customers and they kind of offer you beverages and they take you back to your stylist- they act like customer service is really really important. \n\nBut every time I've gone, I have to fight to get someone to pay attention to me. Last time I was in (today) I walked in and there were two girls sitting at the front desk. I tried to get checked in and the girl cut me off and said \""I'll get you checked in in a minute.\"" and then told me to take off my coat and put on a service robe. Okay. So I take off my coat and go to where the service robes are, and there's an employee in there hanging up clean robes. Doesn't look at me or offer me a robe, just takes her sweet time to hang up her robes. Then she walks out without so much as looking at me. \n\nSo I go to get checked in, except there are other people at the counter and they check them out while I stand there, now late for my appointment, because no one will check me in. FINALLY one of the people waiting to check out said \""Oh, I think she was here before me\"" and the lady who initially told me to take off my coat asked my name, and the other lady took me back. \n\nI go to check out after my haircut (which was fine, by the way, Courtney is lovely and gives a good haircut- and a very relaxing shampoo)- same thing! They take my info and then do god knows what for a few minutes before telling me what I owe- which in my opinion is way too much for a haircut of this quality ( it was $25 but they took off $20 for the discount plus another $5 for my birthday which means they charge $50 for a haircut?!?).\n\nAnd then, turns out you can't put your tip on your card, which they do not indicate anywhere or tell you about at any time before you show up. By some miracle, though, I actually had cash on me, though I did have to ask the lady for change. \n\nOnce I was paid they no longer had any reason to pay attention to me, so they didn't. Which, you know, fine, but have you ever been to any place of business, let alone a hair salon, where they didn't say goodbye when you left? I was just at Great Clips with a friend and THEY said goodbye at the front desk when we left. \n\nSo yeah. Moral of the story: They will cut your hair, and it will look fine. Your stylist may be lovely. But the overall vibe is weird and the service sucks. | 01
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Given the big salon, I think your experience will be highly related to which stylist you chose. I bought a Groupon for a level 3 haircut and moisture treatment. The stylist Ken spent 5 mins for the cutting, 40 mins to blow the hair dry and chatting and forgot the moisture treatment. The technique of the haircut is so poor. There is no layer of the cutting and it is not horizontally on the same level. I think he is not serious about what he did. I will not come for the second time. MCN is much better in this sense. You should definitely try to avoid him as your stylist if you choose to go to Dean of Shadyside. | 01
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Pros: convenient location in Shadyside, sufficient lighting for the mood\n\nCons: Crowded, full of frat-boy types, bartenders would kick everyone out at closing time\n\nPerhaps, I didn't have a great experience because I got dragged here against my will.\n\nBut it was unbearably crowded and loud. The kind where it's most likely that you'll spill someone's else's drink. It was more than once that I heard glass breaking. It's a kind of place you would go to meet random people than a place you would go to just hang out with friends. \n\nMy friends enjoyed their drinks, so I grant the bar that. At closing time however, the bartender yelled that we had to get out since it was closing. They turned on the bright lights, cut the music and stopped the heat to force us out.\n\nSo I might not be the target audience. This is my friend's favorite bar. I am not sure why. The frat-boy like atmosphere may be it, but I have always preferred the low-key type bars. | 01
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Good Food, Good Beers, Better Prices.\n\nTry the Patio outback, you'll love it. | 12
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First of all the website, as I was told, \""has been down for 4 years\"" - even though it is very up. The specials and menu prices are apparently wrong.\n\nMy friends and I chose this place solely based on the fact they had advertised $3.50 20 oz Guinness. We needed a place to celebrate our graduation. With a party of 4 that grew to 6 we found the place pretty crowded and loud after awhile. Mostly we were pissed off that we were told on our 3rd round that the Guinness we were drinking was actually $5.50.\n...really, it wasn't even a full 20 oz glass, it was one of those damn plastic cups. When we ordered at the beginning of the night it was quiet and the bartender said nothing about the price. At that point we decided to go somewhere else because it really wasn't our kind of bar in the first place, and you can absolutely find much cheaper Guinness in this city. \n\nThe guy didn't even apologize for the website - it's called false advertising, and it's a dick move, Mr. William Penn. | 01
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Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde. \nPreacher Haggard/Twinkie Ted\nWilliam Pen Tavern before 10 p.m. /after 10 p.m.\n\nYes, there are two William Penn Taverns. Two personalities. \n\nOne that is a local bar with a cast of characters hanging out, reading the paper, making jokes, all on a first name basis. Good bar food. \n\nThe other is hormone fueled meat market kind of place for the under 25 crowd. \n\nAnyway, both are fine institutions, depending on your flavor. But make sure you pick the right one. \n\nI'm personally in bed by 10. I do like the \""south jersey cheese steak\"" an awful lot. | 12
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Great food and normally great atmosphere, but today thus music was the nastiest hardcore rap that was just offensive. How many F-bombs can you realistically listen to while eating lunch and watching sports. Dropped 2 stars from what I would last night whenit used to be my favorite place in shadyside. | 01
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Weirdest nights ever.\nWormhole tequila black-out.\nToo crowded/hot/cold.\n\n(b) | 01
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The waitress told us we had to leave our table right after we paid our bill (and tipped her generously) just because we hadn't ordered another drink. I have never been treated so rudely by a waitstaff before in my life. | 01
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Probably the worst bar in Shadyside to go on Friday/Saturday nights. Waaay too crowded and loud. The clientele sucks - it's people in their mid to late-20's desperately trying to cling onto their college years by being loud and obnoxious. \n\nIt does have a nice back patio that is heated during the winter and smoking is permitted, which is nice. If you are there on a week night, it might not be so bad.\n\nDrink prices aren't anything special and cocktails aren't that strong.\n\nI'd venture a guess that this is a good hang-out spot during sporting events. It feels very sports-bar oriented.\n\nI would say this is a good bar to go with a large drunk group, and that's it. If you are by yourself or in a small group, Cappy's or Mardi Gras would be much better IMO. | 01
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It's a sports bar... I've heard the wings were good, but the bad hip-hop was too loud to be worth staying for more than one glass | 01
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If you are looking for a good place to catch a game and have some pub food and drinks with a Pittsburgh flavor, this is your place. | 12
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Fries: 5 stars \nCheesesteak 5 stars\nno non alcoholic beer 0 stars\nLocation 4 stars\nInterior: 2 stars\nBonus points for service and longevity | 12
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What a great neighbourhood joint! I can't speak to the food as we stopped there after dinner - but parked ourselves at the bar to watch a baseball game and have a few drinks. We were visiting Pittsburgh from California, and popped in on our way back to the hotel. Owner Brian Carey mans the bar and keeps the casual atmosphere going with lighthearted banter. Stick around long enough and you will meet staff and owners from other local waterholes, or maybe even your local councilman. It's a great little place w/irish pub ambiance. Make sure to pop your head in for a drink or two on a Thursday night - you never know who might show up - like the Bud guy or the Jagermeister girls - it's a busy place, and a lot of fun, w/great staff and an owner who cares - this is as close to CHEERS as you'll ever get | 12
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This is a neighborhood Denny's with a bar. Small place and the meal was served on plastic plates and they used plastic mugs for coffee. At best, less than mediocre breakfast. Pamela's was closed and we were really hungry. Service was slow but they were nice about it. I don't plan to return and would choose an alternative. | 01
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Best bar on Walnut.\nGo here anytime of day,\nThey will have your fix.\n\n(b) | 12
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Can't comment on food since I was just in for beers. \n\nOkay crowd, friendly bartender, okay beer selection, but it's pretty tacky, and not really in a good way. Looks like the last time any money was put into the place was maybe 1979. | 01
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Crappy's is more like it... sorry I could NOT resist!\n\nThis place is very below average. The bar is small, good luck getting a seat, it's normally filled with regulars, who I have a sneaking suspicion drink for a reduced rate ;) Also, the food is blah; they advertise that it is healthier because it is all baked. Um, this results in super fattening foods baked.. this does not mean it is healthy by any means, who do they think they are kidding?? LOL\n\nAnyways, as other reviewers have mentioned the decor is 1975 and wicker all over. \n\nWith so many options in Shadyside, I don't see any reason to go here. | 01
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I could be considered a Cappy's regular.\n\nI love this bar and I'm a little bit obsessed with their Sonoma Turkey wrap--try it, it's very good! \n\nWednesday is Trivia Night at Cappy's at it gets PACKED. You must be in the bar by 7:30 to get a table, and even then it's iffy bc what the other regulars have started showing up that early and eating dinner before trivia. \n\nIt's not the cheapest place to drink at; it looks like a dive but it's not priced like one. the food is good, the bartender is great, and it attracts a crowd of nice people! | 12
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I was surprised how good the food was. Great service very friendly people. | 12
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How does this place survive in the middle of Walnut Street? I understand how people like to wait in line for hours for breakfast on a Sunday but I WOULD NOT do it for a place like this. Given, our first mistake was going for breakfast at a place labeled a \""dive bar\"" on yelp---but still. Perhaps the wait wasn't meant to be an hour but our waitress definitely FORGOT OUR ORDER and we sat there wondering what could be so tricky about some eggs and toast. \n\n...one hour and one complaint later...\n\nThe food arrives. Hot sauce was more difficult, took two requests before it came. Of course I arrived last and ordered 30 min after everyone else but my food came first. The food is basic and inexpensive, you get what you pay for. In summary my Shadyside friends, unless it's a beautiful day and you just want to sit outside (their only plus is they have a few outside tables), keep on going down Walnut for some better options. | 01
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Avg food, too salty. | 01
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Cappy's is a rarity on Walnut Street: it's as close to unpretentious as you'll ever get in this affluent and often snooty shopping district. As others have noted, it's a dive bar that happens to serve pretty decent food; my wife thinks that the Big Mountain sandwich is to die for (and I'd agree). The service has always been friendly, and it never seems to get as loud in here as it gets in some other places (Shady Grove, I'm looking at you).\n\nI know it might sound strange, but one of the things that I appreciate the most about Cappy's is that it treats its waitresses as waitresses, not as sex symbols. I've always found the skimpy outfits that waitresses choose to wear (or are made to wear) at some other places to be rather insulting -- these women are there to do their job, not to be ogled at by everyone in the area. So thumbs up, Cappy's, for treating your female employees with some respect!\n\nMy wife and I moved away from the Shadyside area a few months ago. Cappy's is the one thing we miss. Big Mountain forever! | 12
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I came\nHere for breakfast so When you first walk in I asked myself am I in the right place, I was .... Starters food is nothing outta the ordinary,,one funny thing that stood out was when we asked our server if they served any other meats aside from pork based meats she responded BACON! And no not turkey bacon... So clearly lil off there... Other then that we order common breakfast .. Which was ok... I had the western omelette with turkey sausage ... The peppers and the onions were not sliced small enough and were overpoweringly huge ... Lil less On that lil more on the egg,,.. Which I wonder if the eggs were made from liquid base out of a carton ... Yeah so place was ok if u wanna eat in desperation ... | 01
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In my opinion, the is a prime example of a bad Shadyside bar. It's right on Walnut, too small, always too crowded, and I feel like I'm a 21-yr old college student when I go out there. It's miserable to be there on the weekend when it's so crowded because it's such a small space. The only reason I'm giving this bar 2 instead of 1 star is because the karaoke on Fridays (if you can handle the people and the crowd) is pretty good- although there are half a dozen better places to karaoke in Pittsburgh. Furthermore, I have sat on the patio table for a nice chill happy hour once watching the craziness of Walnut Street happen in front of me- which was oddly relaxing. | 01
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Horrible service. Waited 50 minutes and had no food and had to ask continuously for more coffee. Don't come here | 01
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I'd give this joint zero stars if it was possible. This is the worst spot on Walnut St! I'm not even sure where to start. The bar is small and overpriced. I had a steak fajita wrap that tasted microwaved. The vegetables weren't even cooked. This is a place no one wants to--or should ever want to go. | 01
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Yum! I just picked up a cookie platter ($32...see photo) for a party and it looks awesome. Can't wait to have my guests drool over the buttery goodness that are Prantls' cookies. \n\nOther than the treats, this place makes some really decent bread. I've tried it a few times now, and have yet to be disappointed. If you live in Shadyside, make sure to check this place out.\n\n...oh and they sell Enrico's biscottis. Can't go wrong with those! | 12
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Come here for the jelly sandwich cookies. BEST jelly sandwich cookies ever. they're round, 2 layers, powdered sugar, and you can see the jam in a little cut out circle on the top layer. Their \""burnt almond torte cake\"" is supposed to be really famous, but i always got distracted by the cookies... | 12
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Oh. My. God. So. Good. | 12
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first, i'd like to note that i'm so ocd i had to change the name from \""prantls\"" to \""prantl's\"" because there IS an apostrophe there! now i can write my review.\n\nthe service is so-so, seeing as i had one girl who had no idea what goods they had to offer me with the keyword i gave her (cinnamon, obviously) and the cash register broke as soon as she swiped my card..adding another 10 minutes to the trip, but all in all, i'm am very pleased with what i left with.\n\none chocolate sour cream cup. different, definitely, with a nice crunch. but i wasn't too sold (i'm not really a chocolate pastry kinda person..unless it's chocolate mousse or flourless chocolate cake or has the words \""molten center\"" in its name).\n\nthe pecan tassies. OH LORD. these miniature tarts are 85 cents of pure joy. i bought three. one wasn't eaten until several days later, and even though it was cold from my refrigerator, it was just as soft as the day i bought it. perfect amount of pecan filling (and sweetness) to fluffy pastry foundation. NOM.\n\none poundcake. my biggest apprehension about buying poundcake in bakeries is the fact that sometimes they are laced with lemon flavoring. i hate lemon flavoring. this poundcake had none of that nonsense. perfectly baked, perfectly golden, and firm but moist days later.\n\nand, of course, the almond torte, which is essentially their yellow \""scrap batter\"" cake, creamy custard, and homemade buttercream formed into a little log and rolled through loads of secret-recipe-toasted almonds. it isn't heavy or too sweet at all, and holds up very well if you're traveling. in fact, prantl's is so famous for them, you can order them online! i'm a firm believer in absence makes the heart grow fonder, so i'll just wait until the next time i'm in the area to have another.\n\nthe treats here are definitely worth taking the next week off to exercise and detox on veggies (as i sit here, eating broccoli). | 12
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I'm not really a dessert person, but I was going home to visit and I always like to bring a little bit of Pittsburgh home with me so I stopped in for some goodies. I got an assortment of their mini pastries which was perfect because you get to sample a little bit of everything. Everyone was impressed. In fact, so impressed that I'm not allowed home without a Prantl's box in my hand.\n\nThe burnt almond torte with vanilla icing is simply to die for. I've had it several times and it's always been moist and an explosion of nutty goodness with every bite. Let me stop myself... this is starting to sound dirty.\n\nIn addition to wonderful pastries, they also offer a decent selection of breads and rolls which are tasty as well, but I wouldn't go out of my for them. | 12
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Yumster in my Tumster! I first got introduced to Prantl's a few years ago when I lived in Shadyside. I tried their decorative cookies and I was hooked. Since then I've tried many of their delectable pastries and some noteworthy ones include the decorative cookies, almond torte, and pecan tassies - I'm sure everything else is also wonderful!\n\nI'm so happy they recently opened up their downtown location, now I don't have to worry about hours of operation b/c I work so close to them downtown, but I still think fondly of the Shadyside location. \n\nI definitely recommend this place for a quick sugary snack or if you need to buy pastries for a group of people. It is more expensive than some other bakeries, but I think this is the type of place where \""you get what you pay for\"" is applicable. | 12
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White chocolate raspberry cup, chocolate peanut butter bar, burnt almond torte, oh my! | 12
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This is always a treat... the beloved burnt almond torte lives up to the hype and is never a disappointment. Seasonal items like pumpkin gob is enjoyable as well. Prices are affordable, though you may need to go elsewhere for the perfect coffee to pair with your dessert :D. | 12
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If you have not tried their Burnt Almond Torte you must comehere! These are like crack, get one for someone's birthday if they love almonds, they'll love you for sure! They are frozen so make sure you take it out of the fridge a little bit ahead of time before serving, it'll be a huge hit for any parties or holidays! | 12
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Wow! Their burnt almond torte is a Pittsburgh staple, and the few other things that I've tried from them have been equally delicious! I highly recommend checking out this bakery. | 12
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They have the best Burnt Almond Torte, so Good! And if you like lady locks their the best I've had also. Another of my favorites are the little cake cups they make . There are a variety, like Burnt Almond Torte, Cookies and Cream, Pumpkin cheesecake, Vanilla Raspberry, German Chocolate, and so on. Its the perfect miniature dessert!\n\nFor my daughters wedding I ordered five dozen of these for the cookie table. They were a nice addition to the cookies and display beautifully. They were a Big Hit! | 12
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Meh is right. My whole family is in love with Prantl's enough so that they convinced me to get my birthday cupcakes from there... First of all. They don't have cupcakes they have these little mini cakes that cost an arm and a leg, and are mostly fluffed up icing...bleh.\n\nThen, they aren't even that nice! My mom ordered the cakes, and I didn't know what name they were under... I understand that you have a line, but there is no reason to tell me i am wasting your time, when I am obviously buying something. MAYBE they could have know which order was mine by my telling them what was in it, but nope they needed the name. So I had to guess through a few before I got it BFD! \n\nRude, crowded, and most importantly not that great! | 01
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Prantl's is my favorite bakery. I've lived in Pittsburgh my whole life and I've always gotten my birthday cake here (well over 2 decades worth of cakes!). Prantl's always has a place in my heart. After the change in ownership, the bakery has seemed to gone downhill a bit. The most obvious was the increase in prices. Still a great place for baked goods! Try the Burnt Almond Torte if you haven't yet! | 12
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I don't even like cake, but, the best dessert I have ever had is the Burnt Almond Torte from Prantl's! It is so delicious, nothing compares! | 12
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Nothing stood out, including the famous burnt almond torte. | 01
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Nope. Sorry, I grew up in pgh. Heart of a true pittsburgher. But my gosh. One word for prantl's: crisco. Seriously, my arteries hurt after eating a desert from this place. Not half as good as a few of the French etc bakeries around. Why waste your cardiovascular health on this place--go get gelato next door and you'll be better off! | 01
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I had such a discouraging experience today at Prantl's. A girl offered to wait on me, but then walked away without filling my order. I waited several minutes, and then spoke up to get waited on. It really wasn't worth the wait. Pay attention to the other reviews on here about rude staff. I will not be returning. | 01
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Almond torte cake is way too overhyped. I ordered one after seeing an article on Huffington Post so with a description like that who wouldn't want to try it!? It's a diabetics worst nightmare, sugar overload. The filling in the middle had a bland taste, nothing special about it. Maybe it's because I ordered the cake and had it shipped to MD that it tasted bad. People raving about this cake should try middle eastern or Greek bakeries! I gave a two because they have great customer service when emailing back. | 01
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If you want to get pastries while being yelled at by the staff and treated like dirt, this is the place for you. | 01
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Prantl's very disappoints me. My favorite is the mini version of their famous burnt almond cake. They somehow compact all the flavor of their sheet cake into one little cupcake and do not skimp on the burnt almonds as well as the icing. Some of the cupcakes are too sweet for me but they please my friend so it is just a matter of preference for sweetness. | 12
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Very good doughnuts! Only purchased the glazed but if you heat it up it's oh so good. Also, the cinnamon roll was delightful. Not a fan of their cookies, but hey everything else is very good. If you have a sweet craving, this is definitely a top spot to come pig out at. | 12
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Like many others, I saw the Huffpost article calling Prantl's burnt almond torte the best cake in America. Being a pastry chef myself, I had to try it. I was not impressed. The cake itself is light, fluffy, and pleasant enough (which is the only reason I didn't go for one star), but the filling was, well, if I didn't know it had filling I wouldn't have been able to detect any from the taste. The frosting was average bakery fare (which, to me, is a below average taste). I did like that the almonds stayed crispy even through shipping. I ate one slice, and gave the rest away. Might be fine to serve with coffee, etc if you are a local, but definitely not worth the price and shipping. I doubt this is even the best cake in Pittsburgh, much less the entire USA. I wonder which Prantl's family member has a friend at Huffpost? | 01
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While I still like the almond torte, I just can't justify my original rating when the overall selections are just subpar. After trying a larger selection of their baked goods, especially the mini cake cups, I realized they all look delicious but when you bite into them, they're really dry and full of generic cake frosting. \nIf you're still tempted to get one, go with the tiramisu since it has the redeeming factor of having a strong coffee flavor. | 01
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I really wanted to like this bakery! I came in with high expectations, I'll admit, because I thought I had heard good things about it. I bought about four different pastries to sample with a friend so we could eat them with our coffee across the street. Though the presentation of the treats were lovely, every single one I picked out was sickeningly sweet and tasted the same as the next. Far too much frosting on each pastry and we only could finish one small pastry between the two of us. Overall, unimpressed. However, it probably doesn't help that I had just come back from Austria which arguably has the best pastries in the world! | 01
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So glad I popped in here! I love local bakeries and this one is tremendous! The almond torte is too die for! Also sampled the cookies and cream, red velvet and peanut butter. Ranked:\n1. Almond torte\n2. Red velvet\n3. Cookies and cream\n4. Peanut butter (wasn't anything super special, but the flavors above were superb!)\nI binge are three & didn't feel guilty. | 12
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Best doughnuts in Pittsburgh. \n\nI generally pass on other baked goods. Mediocre bread.\n\nGenerally unfriendly staff, but Walnut St. attracts pretty arrogant customers - so it makes sense. | 12
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Horrible service. I have never been treated so poorly in a cafe. The coffee wasn't spectacular, and it was fairly expensive for what it was. Head down to Starbucks or the Coffee Beanery. | 01
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I see people sitting in Jitters' chairs outside all the time and I like the decor so I really, really want to like this place but the first time was the last time. The service was horrible and their coffee didn't taste great. I waited for ten minutes at least before the two people manning the cashier/bar before I was paid attention to and serviced as they were busy chatting with one of their friends who had stopped in. After getting my coffee, they were low on the sugars and milks and other fix-ins so was not pleased even further, especially for what I paid for a small coffee. | 01
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Big fan! First time i have ever been to this place, and the milkshake I got was delicious. My mother also got a frozen coffee, and I think I wound up drinking all of it for her.\n\nThe cookies that were there also were great. I am not sure whether they cooked them there fresh or not, but they were delicious. \n\nDefiantly the best stop my mother and I had while we were on Walnut street, and i would venture back to the place in a second.\n\nPS the wait staff was also very pleasant and kind. | 12
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Best coffee on Walnut. Ice cream is excellent. Like the other commentators, I feel the service can be hit or miss, mostly because the lack of a clear location to form a line, but it is generally excellent. The venue isn't as cool as Coffee Tree, but the staff are always friendly, and again, the coffee is better. This is my go-to coffee place in Shadyside. | 12
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Awesome staff, quick and accurate service, great tasting coffee and free wifi... Umm, what else do you need? I avoid the other coffee spots on Walnut either because the staff ain't so hot or it's always jam-packed. Jitters is cozy and clean, check it out if you need a quiet little place to work or study. The baked stuff always smells delicious, but I have yet to indulge... | 12
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I generally hate flavored coffees, but I always enjoy the flavored coffees here, especially the Hazelnut and Coconut when they are featured.\n\nThe remodel makes the place much more inviting than it was in the past, and I love going in the mornings and seeing all the regulars. \n\nIt's definitely comparable to Coffee Tree Roasters a few storefronts down, and definitely better than Starbucks. Fun spot for studying I would imagine, but those days are behind me thank goodness. | 12
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This place went from awesome to worst after it changed owners. It used to be simple to buy coffee. They used to have a white mocha but not anymore. I miss the old owner of the place. \nBut still support small caf\u00e9s!!! | 01
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Pamela is a bad representation of this location! Attitude and lack of hygiene is an issue for this \""employee.\"" I will not return. | 01
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