Best Italian eatery: Joe Mama’s.

Of course there are other places to eat, but no… Best Italian eatery: Joe Mama’s.

Of course there are other places to eat, but no one does it like Joe Mama’s. Just saying that sounds funny.

There are only two things to really take note of, when it comes to Joe Mama’s, though: half-price after 11 and all-you-can-eat pasta on Mondays. The pasta deal is the best because their spaghetti marinara is delicious.

The house salads, free with the order of pasta before 11, Monday through Friday, are usually a great way to start a meal.

The portions are more than generous. Sandwiches are usually stacked so thick, a hungry patron may have trouble. The pasta portions aren’t as robust, but they are filling.

The location is what makes this restaurant so popular, though. Right on the corner of Forbes and Oakland Avenue, it sticks out like a tourist in the Cathedral.

– Seth Amitin, staff writer

Best Chinese food: Lu Lu’s Noodles

During relentless Pittsburgh winters I’ll brave the walk to Craig Street, but only for Lu Lu’s.

To defrost icy bones, enjoy any one of their satisfying soups. Lovely ceramic bowls brimming with noodles and crispy fresh veggies suspended in broth will fill the hollow depths of any tummy. Lu Lu’s offers Asian-influenced cuisine with just the right amount of bohemian pizazz, and pretension has no place in this student- (and wallet-) friendly noodle factory.

To satisfy a ‘small eats’ appetite, sample their traditional, Japanese Gyoza, which are delicate pan-fried potstickers accompanied with a tangy soy dipping sauce. Or, test a classic such as Lu Lu’s vegetable lo mein, with subtle flavors and crispy, fresh vegetables. If you adore the food, but prefer more formal dining, bring a favorite wine. It’s no fluke that Pitt students voted Lu Lu’s No. 1, so travel to Craig and enjoy pleasant service and a satisfying meal.

– Katie Brinton, staff writer

Best Indian food

Whether you go for the excellent variety of Indian food, the half-off menu after 11 p.m., the smorgasbord of a lunch buffet or the Bollywood movie-Indian pop music mix, India Garden is your favorite place for Indian food in Oakland.

Although the floors stopped shaking at night when Pub I.G., the basement club beneath the restaurant, moved out, the dim evening lighting, the gaudy music videos and the mismatched music give India Garden an atmosphere that you won’t find anywhere else in Oakland. Meals are reasonably inexpensive – particularly if you can wait until the half-price deal slashes the cost of most of the items on the menu.

Offering a variety dishes that feature pork, beef, chicken and seafood, India Garden also has a large vegetarian selection. Although many of their dishes aren’t vegan-friendly, the menu can still satisfy almost any desire.

Just don’t be surprised if the conversation falters when your group becomes enthralled with the big-screen entertainment.

– J. Elizabeth Strohm, News Editor

Best Mexican food: Mad Mex

Mad Mex, with its eclectic and innovative take on Mexican cooking, is the best place to satisfy your south-of-the-border cravings – and lay waste to your sobriety.

This legendary Oakland eatery, located on the scenic corner of Bates and Atwood, has a menu to satisfy any palate, from the timid to the adventurous. While the salads, enchiladas, chimichangas, wraps and sandwiches are all muy bien, you really gotta try a burrito: a “piggie-sized” hulking mass of goodness heavy enough to crush that annoying little Chihuahua into a whimpering pulp. In addition to basic, no-frills burritos, Mex serves up such creative choices as the Thai curry burrito, the chick pea chili burrito and the Yinzo burrito – the perfect Mexican tribute to Pittsburgh, chock-full of steak, fries, lettuce, tomato and coleslaw. And to the delight of many a veg-head, Mex offers portobello mushroom and tofu as substitutions for meat, as well as soy cheese and tofu sour cream.

But what’s a burrito without a bangin’ margarita? Luckily, Mex serves up the headiest in town. Its 20-ounce concoctions – priced at a laughably affordable $5 during happy hour – will have you speaking fluent Spanish before you’re out the door.

– Jonathan Check, senior staff writer

Best Japanese food/sushi: Sushi Boat

On a sunny, fall day in Oakland, when the leaves are blowing across campus and you are suddenly inspired to have a late-season picnic on the Cathedral Lawn with your honey, Sushi Boat provides the perfect light meal to spread out on the grass.

On the other hand, if it’s a blustery, cold, rainy afternoon and you have an unexpected craving for pickled ginger, Sushi Boat still provides the perfect meal for you. The little Oakland eatery offers dine-in and dine-out options. The upstairs dining room is warm and inviting, with windows that look out onto the bustling Oakland Avenue.

Don’t worry if raw fish isn’t your thing. Try a vegetarian or California roll. Even their rice bowls are to die for.

Sushi Boat is the sushi place in Oakland with something for every discerning, or not-so-discerning, palate.

– Christian Schoening, Managing Editor

Best Thai/pan-Asian food: Spice Island Tea House and Thai Place Cafe (tie)

Thai Place Cafe is an eatery perfectly at home on South Craig Street – quaint, quiet, and clean. It offers some of the best Asian food in all of Pittsburgh, with a variety of noodle and rice dishes, as well as some more typical Chinese-style dishes, including the best General Tso’s Chicken you’re likely to find anywhere. Their appetizers are also incredible, and the duck noodle soup is a must-have.

Spice Island, on the other hand, seems very much out of place on Atwood Street. Its atmosphere – hipper, more aesthetic, and more ornate than Thai Place’s, is more Greenwich Village than South Oakland, and it would make an excellent little spot for a date. The food is less oriented to spiciness and sweetness than many other Asian restaurants around. Instead, varied textures and flavors are strengths here. Their expansive vegetarian selection is noteworthy, as are their delicious skewers. A wide array of tea selections, both hot and cold, also makes Spice Island a fitting alternative to your typical coffee spots around campus.

– Dan Richey, staff writer

Best Middle Eastern food: Ali Baba’s and Baba D’s (tie)

Few things are quite as satisfying as good Middle Eastern food, and Oakland is lucky enough to have two shining examples of such. For a no-frills, inexpensive, yet magically delicious Middle Eastern meal, Baba D’s is your best bet. Their baba ghanouj is among the best I’ve ever had, their falafel is excellent, and their gyros are filled with the thickest-cut, juiciest, and best-seasoned meat I’ve ever had in a gyro. For more elaborate dishes in a classier ambiance, go to Ali Baba’s. Though pricier than Baba D’s, you can’t be disappointed with their wide selection of delicately spiced dishes. Don’t miss their mohomara and mujaddara appetizers. Their roasted eggplant is a belly-rubbing delight, as well. If you have yet to sample either of these restaurants, I command you to do so forthwith.

– J.P. Fridy, columnist

Best half-price menu: Fuel and Fuddle

“Greg, feel like going to Fuel?”

“We’re at Fuel.”

“For real?”

“Yes. We’ve been here since noon, and made quite some headway on our resplentib … recenchive … res … respective Beer Cult lists.”

“Beer count?”

“We just did. You had 61.”

“Oh. Like Rogimer Maris. But mine doesn’t have an asper … asterimisk. Asterimisk. Little star-lookin’ bugger. Is it 11 p.m. yet?”

“Why, do you have a date?”

“No. Half-price. Half-price!”

“Calm down, man. It’s not like you didn’t have their fabillus Buffalo wings last night.”

“I was here last night? And I ordered the Buffalo wings? Damn me. I wish I had instead opted for the Bayou Blues or Kingston Jerk variety.”

“You had those, too.”

“How would you know? You weren’t there.”

“Yes, I was; I had an amazing salad, and some of their heart-warming chili.”

“How do you know which ones are half-price, when they don’t have a list?”

“It’s very simple. Some is half-price, and some isn’t. But whatever you order, your friendly server will tell you if it isn’t.”

“So how about the Grilled Psychedelic?”

“Yes, it’s half-price, so are all of the delicious Live Fire Pies, except for the South Philly, because it has steak. Nothing with steak is half-price. Or seafood. Or meatloaf. Or the Dive Diner Fries.”

“Since the food was half-price, Greg, did the both of us eat for less than eight dollars, including tip?”

“We sure did, Marky, Mary, ol’ pal. We sure did. An’ we both drank for less than a hunnert dollars.” – Marty Flaherty and Greg Heller-LaBelle

Best deli: New Atwood Deli

Feel like doing some people-watching but don’t wanna do it on an empty stomach? Head over to the New Atwood Deli for some grub, and then take a load off on the green step-bench by the door to watch South Oakland walk by. The place is snugly positioned between two liquor providers, so there’s always something to see.

While you’re there, don’t forget to try the pizza. According to Deli prep cook Bob Cheek, the white style is popular among customers, followed closely by the five-topping bella style. If you’ve got a craving for a sandwich instead, try the Italian hoagie, with ham, pepperoni, salami, and cheese for $5.25, or the Capacolla, with provolone, lettuce, tomato and Italian dressing for $5.00.

A short walk off Forbes Avenue down Atwood Street, the New Atwood Deli is open after midnight most days and has a variety of take-away food options that includes fried chicken, spare ribs, lasagna, fresh salads, seafood and ethnic dishes, with plenty of soda, chips and other snacks to fill up your innards. The best deal for your money is the daily combination special, where you can get a sandwich with a soda and soup or small salad for $5.95, which, like everything else on the menu, you can pay for with cash, credit cards, Pitt Funds, or a Steel City Meal Plan. – Christian Niedan, staff writer

Best food to cook in a dorm: Ramen Noodles

You’re broke, you’re hungry and you’re tired of eating at KenTacoHut. How are you going to settle that growling stomach? For starters, don’t go to C-Side and definitely don’t eat that moldy sandwich in your refrigerator. Instead, break open a pack of ramen noodles. That’s right, ramen: that brick of noodles accompanied by packets of flavoring, most commonly chicken or beef.

In order to indulge in this culinary masterpiece, you need the following items: water.

Oh yeah, you need a microwave, a bowl and a spoon, too, but if you didn’t know that, you don’t belong in college, my friend.

By the way, if you ever get tired of ramen noodles, don’t worry, they have plenty of alternative uses. Why not use a brick as an exfoliating sponge or as a scouring pad for pots and pans? And why not use a few bricks as a set of bookends? On second thought, if you’re living off ramen, chances are you can’t afford books. Scratch that idea. – Ben Greiner, staff writer

Best subs: Subway

Subway sandwiches are good. Damn good. Is it because of the fresh-baked bread? The fresh toppings? Is it because the kind folks who work there, running around like chickens with their heads cut off, prepare the sandwich right there while you watch? Oh, wait. It’s got to be because that Jared guy lost a boatload of weight eating Subway’s low-fat sandwiches.

Maybe it’s those things, but it might also be the wallpaper. What other fast food place can you go to and look at fresh vegetables on the walls? Not Wendy’s, even if they have crisp vegetables on their burgers, and definitely not McDonald’s.

Nope, only Subway can get away with this. And they know it, too. After all, that Jared guy lost all that weight from eating the fresh veggies on Subway’s excellent subs. But more than that, their subs taste that much better because of how fresh every ingredient, from the bread to the dressings, is.

And it doesn’t hurt that their subs taste great before all those vegetables get added to them. – Dante A. Ciampaglia, Assistant A’E Editor

Best place for a date: Joe Mama’s

So it’s Friday night, and your girl has informed you that one more night featuring MTV and a Pabst Blue Ribbon case race with your buddies will result in your permanant retirement from boyfriend position. What’s a guy to do?

When you decide that it’s time for a bona fide date – considering the fact that us po’ folk we have the luxury about once a year – you don’t want to be herded into and out of just another local restaurant/bar/fight club/vomit repository. When you have to go somewhere that’s got atmosphere, friendly service, and a little privacy, Joe Mama’s is just the ticket.

With a traditional southern Italian menu (one which, appropriately, affords you no dressing other than house Italian) and a private yet lively setting, Joe Mama’s offers all of the necessities for your table of two: excellent food, a variety of wines, and the ever-faithful tiramisu. Just so long as you avoid the garlic – indeed a challenge, considering their incredible garlic mashed potatoes – you’ll succeed in treating your sweetheart to such a nice dinner that she may forget all those times you dragged her to your buddy’s place on Semple. – Dan Richey, staff writer

Best coffee: Starbucks

Negative thoughts on corporate America can’t compare with delicious Starbucks coffee. They offer drinks for all seasons: hot coffees and teas for winter; iced versions of the same drinks are refreshing in the summer. And what would fall be without hot apple cider? Starbucks’ comes complete with caramel.

Though the drinks can be a bit pricey, it’s worth every penny. If you are hungry as well as thirsty, splurge on some of their tasty pastries. Starbucks’ definition of the macchiato may be different than those of other coffee shops, but it is definitely the best out there. Their fast and friendly service also helped to put them on top of the coffee-bean stalk on campus.

If you aren’t a coffee person, they have a variety of teas, hot chocolate and creme drinks to choose from, as well. – Katie Mavrich, A’E Editor

Best wings: The Wing Pitt

They serve gyros, they serve hamburgers, they serve cheesesteaks, but they made a name for themselves – literally – with their wings.

Eighteen varieties of wings await you at the Wing Pitt: your standard hot wings, barbeque wings, honey mustard wings, hot garlic wings, and – of course – the ever-dangerous atomic wings. Whereas other establishments produce wings that have been rolled around in a weak, runny sauce, Wing Pitt wings express their character through their rich, potent seasonings, replete with fresh-ground pepper and herbs that distinguish them visually from every other wing in Oakland.

A pound (around ten wings) will cost you only about $6 and comes with bleu cheese for dipping, as well as some cucumber slices to help you cool down. If you don’t feel like hiking down to their Semple Street location, just browse their online menu at www.wingpitt.com and phone in your order – they’ll deliver to most of Oakland. – TJ Condon, staff writer

Best vegetarian food: The Marketplace (C-Side)

C-side! Light of my life, fire of my guts, my sin, my soul …

I first encountered the vegetarian bar at The Marketplace (C-Side) my freshman year. Tofu addict that I am, I hungered for the quivering tofu, which glistened under the sterile cafeteria lights, its bland, white, cubic form concealing its true nature. And then came the salad bar, replete with baby corn, beets and mushrooms, all the fixings for my patented demon-breath salad. And then came the faux Chinese food, endearingly soggy and in endless supply. I was limited only by what my stomach could carry. And then came the hush puppies, puffy Northern interpretation of a Southern trademark, given the true Pittsburgh treatment with a coating of ketchup. And then, and then – the list continues, the tip of my tongue taking a trip down the steps to The Marketplace. – Sydney Bergman, Assistant Opinions Editor

Best sandwich: Primanti Bros.

The Primanti’s sandwich is a Pittsburgh institution. The combination of meat, french fries and coleslaw sandwiched between two slabs of bread makes for a joke to some, a tasty meal to others.

But what can’t be denied is its uniqueness. A Primanti’s sandwich isn’t something that can be bought at other sandwich places, like Panera. A turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato? Please. That is so boring. Put some hefty fries and tangy slaw in the mix, then you have a sandwich.

Sure, it’s messy to eat, and the size of the sandwich makes those with small mouths the messiest of eaters. But that’s all part of the charm.

With a sandwich landscape dominated by clean, normal sandwiches, Primanti’s sticks out like a tasty, sore thumb. And what’s normal anyway? Thin slices of meat, anemic toppings and thinly sliced bread? Not for real Pittsburghers. Normal is Primanti’s – fries, slaw, mess and all. – Dante A. Ciampaglia, Assistant A’E Editor

Best vending truck: Scotty’s

If there is one thing great about Pitt, it’s that you can always find a nice hot and juicy wiener to wrap your lips around. And the best place to get one of these steaming-hot delicacies is from Scotty. Scotty runs the grill outside of Hillman Library and has been cooking up great food ever since I have been here. Whether you want hot dogs, chicken or just a Coke, he is the man to contact. He will be serving up his delicious grub rain or shine, afternoon and night. The buns are warm and the sausage is always bursting with more flavor than one could fathom. You’ll find me talking to him at lunch while I get a hot dog with mustard and relish. Even if you don’t get food, he’ll always have a nice word to say and some wisdom to share. So stay out of the cafeteria and go visit Scotty. – Josh Ferris, columnist

Best meal under $5: McDonald’s

So you kind of like the girl in your astronomy class, and you kind of want to ask her out to dinner. This level of commitment clearly does not merit a deadly blow to your wallet.

If you want to take someone out but you’re not really interested enough to spend a lot of cash, McDonald’s is the perfect destination for a cheap date.

Some dates might scoff at the vast dollar menu from which you can patch together an infinite number of meal combinations. You wouldn’t want to keep that kind of date, anyway. If you prefer the thrifty sort who can appreciate simple pleasures – like a 99-cent ice cream cone – you won’t want to bother with the schmoozing and splurging that accompanies an expensive restaurant.

Even if you’re not trying to weed out high-maintenance dates, McDonald’s is the best place to get a meal for less than five bucks. All the allure that could tempt a happy couple is also available for those who are flying solo. Stop in and fill up without emptying your wallet.

And for those McDonald’s connoisseurs, the two-story building on Forbes might create an added enticement. Good food, thrifty prices and a second-story view – who could resist? – J. Elizabeth Strohm, News Editor

Best pizza: Antoon’s

If you’re ever looking to get your hands on a great pie at a great price, then look no further than Antoon’s Pizza. Conveniently located on Atwood Street, Antoon’s offers students a chance to fill their guts without emptying their wallets. There aren’t too many places where three friends can share a large pizza and throw in only about $1.50 a piece.

“We have the cheapest pizza in Oakland, and it’s good pizza too,” one Antoon’s spokesperson said.

The other great aspect this fine pizzeria has going for it is its service. Every time you call, the wait is never longer than 15 minutes. This place runs like a well-oiled machine!

Every day is the right day to stop by Antoon’s Pizza. They’re open seven days a week. If you’re looking for a way to bond with a friend, what better way than to ask, “You wanna share an Antoon’s?” – Ryan Walker, staff writer

Best ice cream: Dave ‘ Andy’s

When walking past Dave ‘ Andy’s, you will be lured inside by the aroma of freshly made waffle cones. You won’t be able to resist treating yourself to a creamy, cold dessert even on the harshest of winter days. Dave ‘ Andy’s is that good, so it’s no surprise that it was voted the best place to get ice cream for the umpteenth year in a row.

In the summer, the lines have stretched out the door and onto the street, but patrons patiently wait for their taste of homemade goodness just the same. And you don’t have to worry about your flavor of choice dripping onto your clean clothes – the M’M in the bottom of the cone prevents that.

Ice cream isn’t the only thing on the menu here – try a tasty birch beer float or a thick milkshake. Who needs 31 of the same flavors, when the choices at Dave ‘ Andy’s change all the time? – Katie Mavrich, A’E Editor

Best french fries: The Original Hot Dog Shop

Midnight carb cravings scream for a heaping bag of greasy yet completely satisfying Original french fries. One small-sized order from the notorious O will treat two, even three, Pittsburghers to a fat-filled smorgasbord, but could be a nightmare for any cardiac patient.

Fresh potatoes are machine sliced right in front of the ‘fry’ line and sizzled in vats of grease to unrivaled perfection. This artery-clogging treat is not recommended for any health-conscious dieter and should include a Surgeon General’s warning, but “O,” what a treat. This Pittsburgh staple will cause a riot on any palate. – Katie Brinton, staff writer

Best Bagel Shop: Bruegger’s

No other bagel shop around comes close to the perfection that is Bruegger’s. They easily have the widest selection of bagels, spreads, sandwiches and soups for a shop in this genre.

Their cream cheese is the creamiest around, with fresh chunks of veggies, nuts, salmon, salsa or other ingredients. Bagels are baked fresh multiple times each day, and if you are lucky enough, you will get them fresh out of the oven. If you walk in during the lunch rush to a long line, never fear: Bruegger’s has one of the fastest and friendliest staffs around. If you are like me and eat there almost daily, it won’t be long before they know your order just by looking at you.

And probably the best thing about Bruegger’s for a college student on a budget -it’s cheap enough to do all the time. – Katie Mavrich, A’E Editor

Best Breakfast: Pamela’s

You partied too hard last night and your stomach hates you. Your parents are in town and you’ve slept through their last eight calls. You had a quiet, romantic night with your girlfriend – until your roommates and 11 of your closest friends showed up.

Whatever the cause for your morning trouble, a good breakfast can lift you out of the pit of scorn that you tunneled into since yesterday’s dinner.

Pamela’s Restaurant serves the kind of breakfast that can turn your lousy morning into an amazing day. With unusually fluffy pancakes that cover your plate and more varieties of Belgian waffles than the Belgians, Pamela’s serves the kind of food you can’t make at home. If sweet dough, syrup and fruit don’t make you happy, you can also get more typical diner breakfast fare like eggs, ham, bacon and toast.

If your disgruntled stomach, parents or girlfriend are greeted with cornflakes and souring milk, you’d better get comfy in your hole. But if you treat your target with a breakfast at Pamela’s, you’ll earn plenty of points to get you through the next night. – J. Elizabeth Strohm, News Editor

Best Juice Vendor: Freshens

Plain, old juice is dead. The new generation embraces an updated standard when making their fruit drink choices: “Give me a smoothie, or give me death!”

Gone are the days of the juicing machine, which turned carrots, beets and even celery into something that you’d drink once, hate, and wonder where your money went. Now, all you have to do is make your way down to Schenley Cafe, head back to the Freshens booth in the corner, and choose from a varied selection of fruit blends. Each one is made to order and blended before your very eyes, with or without yogurt.

Not only do they have fresh fruit-smoothies, they also have a wide variety of frozen yogurt treats in a plethora of forms. Served by the cup, in a cone, in a parfait or blasted with candy, Freshens yogurt is always there to cool you down on a hot day – or to trick you into thinking it’s actually July out there, despite your watch reading Dec. 1. -T.J. Condon, staff writer

Best place to eat on campus: Cathedral Cafe

This was my fine dining escape back in the day when I lived on campus … and still is as I commute from Shadyside and am held hostage in the Cathedral of Learning for long meetings in the first-floor, gothic study hall. Who would have thought that the basement of the cathedral would be the best place to escape? What a way to spend an afternoon eating a Chik-Fil-A sandwich and conversing in the Cathedral Cafe with friends, professors and, hey, this could be a nice place for a date! With the painting on the wall of a boat scene with sailors, and various delectable wraps, soups, pasta salads and candy-coated pretzels, the Cathedral Cafe comes up as numero uno for the best campus eatery. Don’t forget, your sandwiches can be grilled, there is frozen yogurt and also a balanced-meal option for those of us who still follow the trustworthy pyramid. – Ashley Ruszkowski, staff writer