Pittsburgh Breakfast

I also have been to Kelly O's on 2 occasions and both times were very unsatisfactory. The 1st time I had a hot turkey sandwich. The turkey was dry, the potatoes were like paste and the gravy was mediocre. The 2nd time I went, the gentleman I was with complained about the hash browns and was screamed at and told to leave. The owner was very unprofessional. She even came out to the parking lot yelling! I will never be going back there!

moos4u1-
I am sorry to hear that you have had such bad experiences at Kelly O's. So far, I have only been there the one time, but the food was quite good and they couldn't have been nicer. I certainly wouldn't go back if I experienced what happened to you.

I go to Pittsburgh for Steelers game every year and I've found the Strip District to be the best bet. You can get breakfast at DeLuca's, Pamela's, or JoJo's (there's also that biscotti place.) DeLuca's and Pamelas are only 2 blocks or so apart so if one has a long line I check the other. DeLuca's is a top quality diner place. Pamela's has some of the best pancakes I've had. Then you can grab a sandwich and some beers to go at Primantti's and walk down to the tailgate areas for pregame.

I had a short stack with grilled chipped ham at Islay's in West View this past weekend. I'd say the pancakes were as good as Pamela's. Great breakfast!

kozel-
As good as Pamela's? That is hish praise! I have never thought of eating at Isaly's for breakfast, but I will have to reconsider. By the way, love the idea of grilled chipped ham for breakfast!

I'm not from Pittsburgh so I've only been to Pamela's a couple of times. What stood out for me was the flavor of the pancake. Islay's is very close and no line or crowd. I really enjoyed it. And, how could you not have chipped ham in some fashion at Islay's?

This is a great breakfast town. I'd say it is their best meal by far. Jo Jo's has been known for their breakfasts for at least 20 years. I love Pamela's, too. Their crepe like pancakes are wonderful.

I don't know if these two places were the originators of their signature items (Jo Jo's takes fresh Italian sausage and makes their own great sausage patties and serves them with all sorts of eggs and with toasted Italian bread.

Pamela's makes these incredibly thin crepe like pancakes that I've never had anyplace else. Well, the 49'er pancakes served by the Original Pancake chain are close....

No doubt the Sterns loved Jo Jo's. Their kind of place.

My girlfriend and I ate at the Gab 'n Eat this morning and had the usual excellent breakfast. She called her pancakes "perfect". One of my favorite things to get there is the Louisiana Home Fries

This morning, my girlfriend and I decided we wanted to try someplace new for breakfast. After picking up some subs from Triangle Grill, we headed for Square Cafe.

One of the reasons I haven't eaten here before and really explored the Regent Square area very much is because parking is such a hassle. But lady luck was with me this morning as a spot opened up in front of the place just as we were approaching.

They are very popular and we ended having about a 15 minute wait. No problem, we drank delicious mint hot chocolates to kill time. Once seated, we looked around and noticed what other tables were eating and almost everyone was eating the pancakes. So that is what Bonnie ate and she really enjoyed them. I went for one of the specials which was an omelet with spinach, goat cheese and sundried tomatoes. The bacon was ultra thick and crispy, while the home fries were crunchy on the outside and had a creamy interior.

As you can guess, by the food and location, this is more of a yuppie type place than a workingman's joint. But the food and service were well above average, so no complaints. My girlfriend informed me we will definitely be coming back!

Oddly enough, one of the items available on the menu was that Rhode Island specialty, Johnnycakes. I don't think I have ever seen them anywhere else on a menu in Pittsburgh.

http://www.square-cafe.com/

A very nice piece about Mr. Buster's recommendation of CC's in Mt Lebanon....

http://www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/10_17_Lori_Cook_Carolyn_Christman_pix

quote:

Originally posted by kozel

A very nice piece about Mr. Buster's recommendation of CC's in Mt Lebanon....

http://www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/10_17_Lori_Cook_Carolyn_Christman_pix

Actually not to pat myself on the back, but I'm the one who recommended it to "Mr. Buster"

I stand corrected. I've come to think of Mr. Buster as Mr. Pittsburgh so it was an honest mistake.

kozel-
Thanks for the compliment.

I know I have been called much, much worse!

GeoNit-
I finally made it to one of your recommendations. My girlfriend and I ate at Rea's in Coraopolis this morning. We originally tried to eat at Junior's, but they aren't open for breakfast on Saturdays.

My girlfriend got the french toast, made with Mancini's bread and she loved it. I got my usual ham & cheese omelette and was quite happy with it. My bacon was also perfectly done. The service was very friendly. My girlfriend informed me that we will be coming back to this place.

Thanks for the tip!

The best Pittsburgh breakfast is just nearby in Mckees Rocks, PA.

Marge's Place, 719 Broadway St, Mc Kees Rocks, PA

You can't beat this place for home cooked breakfast entrees, reasonable prices, and terrific, friendly "HON" service.

apteafan-
Thanks! Now I know where to go Saturday morning.

wanderingjew-
I thought you would enjoy seeing this article, since it talks about your old stomping grounds when you lived in Pittsburgh. CC's Homemade Foods gets some much deserved love.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08199/897425-242.stm

They don't even mention the new Pamela's that recently opened in that area.

quote:

Originally posted by buffetbuster

wanderingjew-
I thought you would enjoy seeing this article, since it talks about your old stomping grounds when you lived in Pittsburgh. CC's Homemade Foods gets some much deserved love.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08199/897425-242.stm

They don't even mention the new Pamela's that recently opened in that area.

BB
I'm looking at their description of "The Lucy" 2 eggs, ham, pancake, toast and homefries or potato pancake. Can you believe I used to be able to eat all of that???

I've been to Uptown Coffee and also tried Aldo Coffee for the first time when I was back in the Burgh in 10/06 for my friend's wedding in "Punxy" I still think my favorite coffee house is the local chain- Coffee Tree Roasters.

Buffet Buster
My Niece is starting at Duquesne this fall. Any good CHEAP breakfast joints in that area?

sorry..I already commented on Jo Jo's

There are no recommendable joints of any kind in the immediate vicinity of Duquesne. If you are willing to travel a little bit, the cheap joints are:
Picklebarrel - on the South Side. More a sandwich place, but they do serve breakfast. It's cheap and some people love it. (I have never been there early enough for breakfast.)
Nick's - open on the weekdays downtown in the Grant Building. Typical old style coffee shop which serves a very cheap, adequate but otherwise unremarkable breakfast.
Steel City Diner - Downtown on Liberty Avenue. The breakfast is bigger and slightly more expensive than Nick's.
None of these three are open on Sunday.
Other choices within a ten minute drive from Duquesne that have been mentioned here are Pamela's (Oakland), and two in the Strip District, DeLuca's (my favorite) and Jo-Jo's.

quote:

Originally posted by Kenny Joe

There are no recommendable joints of any kind in the immediate vicinity of Duquesne. If you are willing to travel a little bit, the cheap joints are:
Picklebarrel - on the South Side. More a sandwich place, but they do serve breakfast. It's cheap and some people love it. (I have never been there early enough for breakfast.)
Nick's - open on the weekdays downtown in the Grant Building. Typical old style coffee shop which serves a very cheap, adequate but otherwise unremarkable breakfast.
Steel City Diner - Downtown on Liberty Avenue. The breakfast is bigger and slightly more expensive than Nick's.
None of these three are open on Sunday.
Other choices within a ten minute drive from Duquesne that have been mentioned here are Pamela's (Oakland), and two in the Strip District, DeLuca's (my favorite) and Jo-Jo's.

Thanx for the reply. She won't have a car. Sounds like an opportunity for an entrepreneur if you could find a location close to the campus. College Kids always have the munchies, if you know what I mean!!

Foodbme, I don't have a car either, but I get to each of the places I mentioned fairly regularly. The downtown places aren't a bad walk from Duquesne, but neither one is frequented by the college crowd. Oakland, which in addition to Pamela's has many many places frequented by students, is an easy 5 minute bus ride from Duquesne. Pitt and CMU students receive free bus passes, but I don't think Duquesne hands them out.

Duquesne recently opened a new restaurant supposedly good enough to attract nonstudents, but it doesn't look like its open for breakfast: http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A49413

Foodbme-
Sorry, I missed your question the first time around, but it sounds like Kenny Joe came through. There is really is not much available real close to the campus. I will look around though and let you know if I come up with any good suggestions.

quote:

Originally posted by buffetbuster

Foodbme-
Sorry, I missed your question the first time around, but it sounds like Kenny Joe came through. There is really is not much available real close to the campus. I will look around though and let you know if I come up with any good suggestions.

THANX! BB

The previously mentioned Tower Grille in downtown is closing after 50 years in business.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_580319.html

I was born and raised in 'da Burgh. I now live in New York City. I had the pleasure to spend this past week in Pittsburgh, my wife was defending her dissertation. To celebrate her Doctorate, we went to DeLuca's for breakfast.

She had the "Funky Monkey"(Double Chocolate Banana Pancakes, French Vanilla Ice Cream, Bananna Slices, Whipped Cream, Chocolate Syrup and nuts. I had the Steel City Breakfast of Champions.

Another morning we went to Pamela's in Sq. Hill and of course the old stand-by Eat N' Park was visited (Who doesn't LOVE Grilled Stickies a la mode?!?)

NYC has some lovely places for brunch, but Pittsburgh totally blows them away when it comes to a real,hearty, super affordable breakfast.

At affordable prices..For sure! Can you imagine what Jo Jo's breakfast would cost you in Manhattan?

quote:

Originally posted by buffetbuster

wanderingjew-
I'm a big fan of the Gab 'n Eat. Unfortunately, my girlfriend, who lives in Scott Twp., practically across the street from the place won't go there.

Dump the Chick!!!

AtticusEats-
Welcome to Roadfood! And congratulations to your wife! Thanks for telling us about your breakfast stops while you were in da 'Burgh. I have only had the funky monkey at De Luca's one time and I was all wired up for the rest of the day. A unique dish for sure, but a little too much for me. Did either of you get the strawberry hotcakes at Pamela's?

Foodbme-
I did get her to start going to the Gab 'n Eat, but we did eventually break up. Just not over that. Now, if she refused to go to Jo-Jo's, then I would have never started dating her in the first place!

Baah Ben-
I often have out of towners marvel to me at how cheap most everything here is. We here have a tendency to take it for granted. I'm guessing the Jo-Jo omelette would cost $15.00 in Manhattan.