SALVATORE’S PIZZA HOUSE. 612 Penn Ave., Wilkinsburg. 412-247-4848. A neighborhood pizza place and more, Salvatore’s offers something even rarer than good pizza: fast food of the finest quality. “Fresh” is the watchword, and the large, full-color takeout menu has dozens of dishes in a score of categories. Shellfish are prominently featured, and worth trying. K
{BY JESSICA SERVER}
A DIFFERENT TUNE Vegan offerings a welcome surprise on Piper’s Pub menu FROM THE sidewalk of East Carson Street, you could glance inside Piper’s Pub and assume that what you see is what you get: the tin ceiling, dark-wood bar and simple highboys of the classic English pub. You’d never guess that Piper’s is also a destination for vegan eating … unless you looked at the menu. There, expected British Isle favorites such as bangers and mash and Guinness beef stew mingle with vegetable vindaloo curry and seitan Thai chili wrap. “We don’t just slap a salad and some steamed veggies on a plate and call it vegan,” says Mindy Heisler, the general manager. “We make an effort to make our vegan offerings as good as or better than our carnivorous ones.” Case in point: the seitan shepherd’s pie, which features seitan braised with root vegetables in a rich mushroom stock, topped with browned cauliflower smash.
SAUSALIDO. 4621 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. 412-683-4575. Casual elegance is the byword at this neighborhood venue, where the fare is inspired by Northern California cuisine, with seasonal ingredients combined into New American and Continental dishes. The preparations vary widely, from ultra-traditional offerings like crab-stuffed shrimp to au courant updates like duck with orangeapricot balsamic glaze. LF SUSHI TOMO. 4812 McKnight Road, North Hills. 412-630-8666. This North Hills restaurant offers a full range of Japanese cuisine beyond sushi that is more representative of everyday fare, including various appetizers, noodle soups, hot pots and rice bowls. But, as the name suggests, there is also plenty of well-prepared sushi, including specialty maki. KE
“WE DON’T JUST SLAP A SALAD AND SOME STEAMED VEGGIES ON A PLATE AND CALL IT VEGAN.” Fifteen years ago, owner Drew Topping, whose family hails from the British Isles, longed to create an “authentic pub experience” stateside. Piper’s has been serving British Isles cuisine ever since, along with cask ales and soccer — err, football — games. Inspired by staff and customer preferences, veggie items began working their way onto the menu seven years ago. “We employ people that have all kinds of preferences and restrictions when it comes to their diets,” Heisler explains. “And we had a great customer response to the vegetarian items.” Five years ago, Piper’s added its own tradition to the mix: Vegan Tuesdays. Each week, the kitchen highlights a vegan soup and entrée special — like the recent grilled portabella tacos with savoy cabbage, salsa verde and seasoned refried beans. Popular weekly specials sometimes work their way onto the regular menu. Those options are also featured at Piper’s “Pub Chip Shop” next door — a fish ’n’ chips joint with late-night weekend hours and more unexpected veggie options. As the weather transitions, so will Piper’s seasonal menu. Starting mid-March, the Buddha Bowl (saffron quinoa, herb-roasted vegetables and a cashew tahini) will become a regular, while Tuesday nights will continue to surprise.
TEPPANYAKI KYOTO. 5808 Bryant St., Highland Park. 412-441-1610. This Japanese restaurant offers fare drawn from the menus of lunch counters, train stations and family kitchens. From salads containing burdock root and rice balls to cabbage pancakes and stir-fried noodles, this diner-style venue lets casual eaters expand beyond sushi. KE UNION PIG AND CHICKEN. 220 N. Highland Ave., East Liberty. 412-363-7675. This lively familystyle BBQ venue hews closely to tradition. The smoked meats (ribs, brisket, pork shoulder and chicken) are “dry” (with sauces at table), and the sides are well-prepared classics: macand-cheese, baked beans, collard greens and coleslaw. Prices are higher than a roadside stand, but the quality is top-notch. KE
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Best Pizza in the’Burgh!
I N F O @PGH C IT YPAPE R . C O M
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TAVERN 245. 245 Fourth Ave., Downtown. 412-281-4345. Step into this Downtown fancy-casual pub, with smart looks and tasty, updated bar fare. “The Farm” entree featured sliders made with chicken, pulled BBQ pork and steak fillet, on a potato roll with red pepper and goat cheese. The fried calamari come with a basil-garlic aioli, and the robust Yuengling beer-cheese sauce was the perfect complement to “Pittsburgh potatoes.” JE
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5860 Forbes Ave, 15217 • Squirrel Hill
412-421-9529 412-421-2238
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