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TIC THAI CUISINE AUTHEN
Family Owned and Serving Pittsburgh for 15 Years!
La Palapa {PHOTO BY HEATHER MULL} Italy’s Campi Flegrei are featured at this Downtown restaurant. The cuisine of this coastal region naturally offers seafood, but also vegetables and cured meats. Thus, a pasta dish might be laden with shellfish, or enlivened with radicchio and prosciutto. LE LA PALAPA. 1925 E. Carson St., South Side. 412-586-7015 or 412-586-4943. Among the basic offerings at this bright, colorful storefront Mexican restaurant — tamales, nachos, tacos, enchiladas — there is other less familiar fare, such as a squid and shrimp salad. And the staple dishes excel with the inclusion of expertly cooked meats, which are moist and flavorful. KF
NOLA ON THE SQUARE. 24 Market Square, Downtown. 412-471-9100. Offering a boldly refined take on straight-up, traditional New Orleans food, NOLA’s menu is an invitation to kick back, relax and savor the flavors: cheesy griddle grits with a chunky tomato sauce and green beans; oyster stew; and catfish strips paired with spicy papaya. KE
ALL LUNCHES
OISHII BENTO. 119 Oakland Ave., Oakland. 412-687-3335. Bamboo walls and a low counter with colorful cloth cubes for seating denote a place for moderately priced Japanese food, including sushi. Oishii also adds a few Korean dishes for variety and spice; those seeking a little heat might consider bulgogi, the Korean BBQ. JF www. per pa LULA. 515 Broad pghcitym .co TAMARIND FLAVOR St., Sewickley. 412OF INDIA. 257 N. Craig 749-1200. Seating at St., Oakland (412-605-0500); this informal tapas bar is 2101 Green Tree Road, Green Tree lounge-style indoors, and in (412-278-4848); and 10 St. Francis warm weather, along the sidewalk at café tables. The menu, Way, Cranberry (724-772-9191). This menu combines southern which also offers a few entrees, Indian cuisine with northern is eclectic, and suggestive of Indian favorites, including meat, Mediterranean cafés, with poultry, seafood and vegetable plenty of seafood, cured meats, curries with rice. Chief among cheeses and seasonal produce. its specialties are dosas, the Portions are adequate for enormous, papery-thin pancakes sharing, if you can bear to part that are perhaps the definitive with, say, asparagus spears southern Indian dish. JE wrapped in ham. KE
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MONTEREY PUB. 1227 Monterey St., North Side. 412-322-6535. A welcoming neighborhood bar with a menu of classic pub grub and Irish standards (such as “bangers and mash”) But there is also the occasional Asian flourish or unexpected ingredient mash-up, such as Thai red curry wings, fried green beans, an Irish-Cuban sandwich and a BLT with salmon. JE
TASTE OF INDIA. 4320 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. 412-681-7700. Yogi Berra groused about the restaurant nobody went to — because it was always too crowded. Taste of India is the opposite: Everyone goes there partly because you can always get a table. The atmosphere is almost surreally quiet, but the food is consistently good (try the paneer). Portions are ample, prices reasonable. JE
NEW HOW LEE. 5888 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill. 412-422-1888. It’s an oddly signed storefront restaurant, but this is Sichuan cuisine that rises above its peers with food that’s well cooked, expertly seasoned and fearlessly spicy. The lesstypical entrees include cumin mutton, dan dan noodles, tea-smoked duck and Chendu fried dry hot chicken. JF
YAMA. 538 Third St., Beaver. 724-774-5998. This Japanese restaurant offers familiar favorites such as tempura, sushi and teriyaki, but takes an artistic approach to authentic cuisine. Thus fried gyoza dumplings are garnished with a small tumbleweed of finely grated carrot, and an octopus salad is graced with cucumber matchsticks. KF
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Full Service Bar • Over 50 Types of Tequila! Best Homemade Margaritas in The Burgh!
DINE IN / TAKE OUT BYOB
1906 PENN AVENUE STRIP DISTRICT 412-586-4107
Northview Plaza • North Hills • 412-366-8730
LITTLEBANGKOKINTHESTRIP.COM
MON-THURS 11AM-10PM • FRI-SAT 11AM -10:30PM • SUN NOON-9PM
www.elcampesinospgh.com
The Art of Thai Cuisine Great Music!
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OPEN Monday-Saturday 11am-10pm Sunday 11am-9:30pm BYOB (no corking fee)
2 floors, the , BEST BURGERS whiskey loft, and 24 beers on tap.
Lunch specials starting at $8!
OAKLAND • 226 MEYRAN AVENUE
412-521-8989
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Monroeville evilllle eville evi le Ma Mall • 4412 Mall 412.372.5500 122 3372 722 55500 5000 15 50 1505 150 5505 05 E CCarson 05 arso ar sonn St St. • 412 41 412.904.4620 2 9900
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