Foster’s

At the Holiday Inn Select – University Center

110 Lytton Ave.

(412)… Foster’s

At the Holiday Inn Select – University Center

110 Lytton Ave.

(412) 682-6200

$$

No Panther Funds

For a drink and some dancing, Foster’s is a relaxing place to visit.

Located at the Holiday Inn just off Lytton Avenue, Foster’s is the hotel restaurant and bar. The classily decorated location is a quiet place to get some American-style food at the restaurant or a glass of wine at the bar.

The Pittsburgh Jazz Society also meets here on Sunday nights, and it’s not uncommon to see members of the city’s jazz community show up to scat. On a rare night, it’s possible to hear the amazing vocals of Etta Cox in an impromptu performance.

Fosters is definitely a place for cool cats.

– Leslie Hoffman

Maggie’s Mercantile

320 Atwood St.

(412)-688-0608

$$

Panther Funds

Most South Oakland restaurants don’t come with a mission statement, but most South Oakland restaurants don’t offer mock chicken, mock duck, tofu, tempeh and edible flower garnishes. Maggie’s Mercantile, a casually swanky, BYOB bistro settled in the heart of the South Oakland restaurant strip on Atwood Street, has the meat-and-milk-free fare for the health conscious and hippy-crunchy crowd.

Maggie’s has the bulgher wheat and lentils most would expect from a vegan restaurant, but rounds out their menu with new spins on standard fare like veggie pasta, bean burritos and spinach-artichoke dip with a faux-cheese sauce. And it’s all in a smoke-and-cruelty-free setting.

– Sydney Bergman

More

214 N. Craig St.

(412) 621-2700

$$$ – $$$$

No Panther Funds

While walking along North Craig Street, it’s not hard to miss the small awning jutting out from below a tall, white-faced building. This unassuming location, however, belongs to More restaurant, a hidden culinary treasure of Pittsburgh. More caters to a variety of tastes with plates such as filet mignon, chicken marsala, veal romano and a wide variety of pasta dishes, prepared by More’s Chef Louie.

In addition to these entrees, the dessert menu is equally enticing with several varieties of cheesecake, Louie’s cannoli and a pecan ball. The atmosphere is pleasant for a dinner with friends or family and perfect for a romantic meal with someone special as you sit surrounded by wood paneling, Italian statues and dim lighting.

– Mike Boyles

Pamela’s

3703 Forbes Ave.

(412) 683-4066

$

Panther Funds

Often voted best breakfast in the ‘Burgh, customers are sure to encounter a line outside Pamela’s on weekend mornings. Famous for their eggs, potatoes and pancakes, Pamela’s is worth the wait – even as the wind blows down Forbes Avenue on a cold winter morning.

Pamela’s is open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Beyond the egg-and-potato standard, Pamela’s offers some of the best pancakes in town – both traditional-style and crepe-style. Served with a huge dollop of butter, the crepe-style ones are not to be missed by any pancake fan.

Pamela’s also serves a variety of lunch foods, including soups, salads and sandwiches. As one looks around the restaurant, though, it’s no surprise though Pamela’s is a breakfast joint – even well after noon, the majority of customers will plate-up to eggs and potatoes or pancakes.

Certainly Pamela’s caters to this reputation, even serving a platter called “the morning after.” Served with coffee, for around $5 customers can get Pamela’s own hangover helper, served with all the greasy breakfast food they want.

Pamela’s regulars know to bring cash, because the restaurant doesn’t take credit cards. But it’s worth the extra stop at the ATM to satisfy a craving for Oakland’s most famous breakfast.

– Megan Smith

Union Grill

413 S. Craig St.

(412) 681-8620

$$

No Panther Funds

The Union Grill walks all sorts of lines.

Settled halfway to Carnegie Mellon University at the base of South Craig Street, it’s positioned closer to more sedate restaurants like Lucca and the Thai Place Cafe. But there is also a healthy dose of college and 20-something bar to the Grill, which has drink specials that rival any in town.

One of the most appealing of those specials is the affordable wine list, which, as the name implies, features several bottles of wine at little more than one could expect to pay at the state store. Try a bottle of the Columbia Crest Chardonnay with their teriyaki-grilled salmon, or dine outside on a warm evening and have a light bottle of Johannesburg Riesling with one of their Caesar salads.

But the Union Grill also has its share of meat-and-potatoes fare. Any Pittsburgh native will appreciate the pirogis or the steak salad, slathered with onions and meat. The burgers are not to be missed either, as they rank with the best in the ‘Burgh.

– Greg Heller-LaBelle

Wing Pitt

424 Semple St.

(412) 681-8608

$

No Panther Funds

As the name suggests, the Wing Pitt features tons and tons of wings. With 17 varieties of wings ranging from Cajun ranch and Jamaican jerk to traditional mild and traditional barbecue, Wing Pitt provides wings for a range of tastes.

Students can order sizes ranging from a pound of wings to a bucket of 50, with free delivery to most areas. If wings aren’t your style, Wing Pitt also offers a variety of other foods, many with a Greek influence. There are a number of different gyros and salads that come with warmed pitas.

Although many people opt for delivery from the Wing Pitt, there is also limited seating inside the restaurant. Patrons can sit at the traditional red counter with the metal stools covered in red vinyl, watch the grilling, and breathe in the greasy smells of comfort and party food.

– Lauren Unger

Wing Zone

3901 Baum Blvd

(412) 621-ZONE (9663)

$$

Panther Funds

No longer are students confined to only hot or mild Buffalo wings.

Tucked away in North Oakland on Baum Boulevard, the Wing Zone offers 25 flavors of Buffalo wings, chicken fingers, chicken sandwiches and half-pound hamburgers, all of which can be picked up or delivered right to your door.

Platters of five to 500 wings can be dispersed between multiple flavors, the more wings you order. Choose one flavor of wings for portions of up to 15 wings, two flavors for those up to 30 wings, three for orders up to 75 wings and five flavors for orders of more than 100.

For the lighter eater, there are chicken fingers, available in various portions and barbequed flavors, or fresh chicken Salads with four types of dressing available. You can also choose from a number of sides, including wedge fries, cheese fries and the ever-popular beer-battered onion rings.

For the chicken-wing lover, there is no need to shuffle off to Buffalo, but only to Baum for the ‘Burgh’s best wings.

– Geoff Dutelle

Wyndham Garden Hotel Restaurant

3454 Forbes Ave.

(412) 683-2040

$$$

No Panther Funds

One word that describes the Wyndham Garden Hotel Restaurant is immaculate. The restaurant is set up to please the customer with beautiful linens and fine china. The menu delights the taste buds with an exotic array of salads, soups and dishes. Close by is a stocked bar with a fabulous selection of wines and cocktails.

Start off a meal with appetizers such as shrimp cocktail, calamari and crab cakes. The lunch menu consists of Terra-nova club sandwiches, Wyndham burgers, grilled chicken quesadillas, as well as a variety of salads. The main meals include a wide selection of seafood, red meat and lighter meals such as grilled salmon, linguini pimodero, and New York sirloin strip steak.

Wyndham Garden Restaurant will surely win over the hearts of anyone you choose to take out to eat.

– Meghan Dowdell