Baum Vivant

5102 Baum Blvd.

(412) 682-2620

$$$$

No PittFunds

Sooner or… Baum Vivant

5102 Baum Blvd.

(412) 682-2620

$$$$

No PittFunds

Sooner or later you are bound to be confronted with an evening that has to be absolutely perfect. Whether it be a birthday, anniversary or first date, you will need to step out and splurge. For these occasions, you may want to visit Baum Vivant.

Make no mistake, this is not a restaurant for those on a tight budget. You don’t swing by for a bite before the game. But it does offer an elegant, intimate atmosphere that is a sure pleaser when you are out to impress. This Shadyside restaurant is owned by Toni Pais, who is also the chef. He specializes in French, Northern Italian, Portuguese and American flavors. Take your next date to Baum Vivant for a romantic evening, but don’t forget to dress up, and be sure to bring some extra cash.

– Eric Miller

Carnegie Cafe

4400 Forbes Ave.

(412) 622-3225

$$$

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Whether you’re looking for a restaurant to cap off a trip through the Carnegie Museum of Art or are just looking for a place to eat without the hustle and bustle of places more central to campus, the Carnegie Cafe is for you.

Offering a variety of daily specials and regular menu items ranging from dinner-sized salads to sandwiches to “Pittsburgh’s best omelet,” the Carnegie Cafe has something to appeal to everyone.

But it’s the atmosphere that sets it apart from other restaurants. Situated at one end of the CMA, restaurant-goers will find the lack of congestion in the dining area of the Carnegie Cafe refreshing.

Flanked on one side by the artistic fountains near Forbes Avenue and facing the entrance to the CMA, which includes a piece of modern art, patrons are treated to a unique dining environment that gives culture along with the entree.

– Dante A. Ciampaglia

Cafe Sam

5442 Baum Blvd.

$$-$$$

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Trying to find a nice restaurant with affordable prices can be quite a task these days. Cafe Sam, with its romantic atmosphere, delicious food and reasonable prices could be just the restaurant you’ve been searching for.

The dimly lit restaurant has a gourmet, classy feel without being overly formal. The menu includes more than 100 appetizing options, including many steak, chicken, fish and pasta delicacies. Dinners are usually dished out in large portions accompanied by tasty optional sides. If big helpings aren’t you’re thing, Cafe Sam’s lunch menu offers many of the same enticing foods in smaller portions.

Service is prompt and polite, making Cafe Sam a perfect place to take almost anyone. Your date will love the pretty atmosphere and the complementary cookies at the end of the meal, and your parents will love the wide variety and economical prices. Cafe Sam is an appropriate restaurant for almost any occasion.

– Rachael Dizard

Charlie’s

4632 Centre Ave.

(412) 681-8450

$

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South Oakland has Uncle Sam’s, Primanti’s and the Wing Pitt. And North Oakland has Charlie’s. Located smack in the middle of North Oakland at Melwood and Centre (just behind Mitchell’s bar), Charlie’s has the low-key decor of a place where the focus is good, greasy food. In particular, their cheesesteaks are the best this side of Harrisburg – as Philly emigres will be happy to hear. No deli-style meat and evenly applied cheese slices here – we’re talking beef or chicken sliced and diced, smothered in gooey cheese perfection. Whether you’ve got the beer munchies or a case of eastern-Pa. homesickness, any night’s a good night to stroll on over and treat yourself to a good old-fashioned sandwich, North Oakland style.

– Heather Bowlan

Duranti’s

128 N. Craig St.

(412) 682-1155

$$

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Duranti’s decor is large, comfortable and reminiscent of something out of your grandfather’s study. The rich carpeting and the dark wooden bar in the corner of the room suggest the use of hushed voices and best manners.

Order a cup of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich to go with your cup of tea. Entrees such as fish and chips and roast beef and mashed potatoes can be found on the menu as well. Order a cup of tea and a slice of lemon meringue pie to top it all off.

Sit and talk and relax, letting the outside drift by – it’s OK, you’re warm and cozy drinking your spot of tea.

– Leslie Hoffman

Foster’s

At the Holiday Inn Select – University Center

110 Lytton Ave.

(412) 682-6200

$$

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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 restaurant 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. One 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

Fuel ‘ Fuddle

214 Oakland Ave.

(412) 682-3473

$$

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The definitions on the menu of the restaurant define fuel as something that is consumed, or something that heightens or maintains the level of activity, and fuddle as a state of confusion usually associated with intoxication. Fuel ‘ Fuddle definitely provides adequate amounts of both words.

With a large range of selections on the menu, featuring names like Rosemary’s Breasts and Heartburn Heaven, the restaurant offers unique combinations that fit almost any person’s desire for fuel. The drink selection also echoes the name, with sufficient varieties of alcohol to get even the most tolerant person “fuddled.” There are 10 types of beer on tap and more than a hundred types of beer from around the world offered by the can or bottle.

If food cravings strike you late into the night, the extensive half-price menu is always an option between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. The atmosphere of casual busyness with brick walls and loud crowds is upped on Tuesday nights when a live band performs in the restaurant and on Saturdays when the featured act is live acoustic guitar.

– Lauren Unger

Hemingway’s

3911 Forbes Ave.

(412) 621-4100

$$

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For the college student on a limited budget, Hemingway’s is the perfect place for both food and alcoholic relief. A recently expanded half-price food menu is available twice during the day – first from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and then from 9 p.m. to midnight. Hemingway’s also offers drink specials with a different option for each day of the week. On Fridays, a Yuengling draft is just a buck.

Another popular choice is the 20-ounce mixed drinks such as the Jolly Rancher and Bahama Mama that come adorned with a candy necklace or ring pop. Hemingway’s is also appealing because it is one of the few places that can accommodate a large group with its spacious back room.

– Karen Bielak

LHAS Coffee Shop

UPMC Montefiore, 7th floor

3459 Fifth Ave.

(412) 648-6725

$

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When you were a kid, getting bug-bitten and sunburned at summer camp, didn’t you love the bi-weekly tomato soup-and-grilled cheese lunch extravaganza? Whenever you try to make grilled cheese sandwiches at home, they just aren’t as satisfying as the ones you devoured at camp.

Short of driving back to Maine or Maryland or Montana, order up the delectable sandwiches from the LHAS Coffee Shop at UPMC Montefiore and recapture a bit of your youth. If you love the crunch of a well-grilled grilled cheese and the most exquisitely crispy, delicious fries, the Montefiore coffee shop will not disappoint.

But the Montefiore coffee shop doesn’t just make fantastic grilled cheese sandwiches. There’s also fresh salads of all kinds, a selection of soups every day and a number of hot entrees if you aren’t a grilled cheese kind of person.

But you really should have a grilled cheese.

– Clare Perretta

More

214 N. Craig St.

(412) 621-2700

$$$ – $$$$

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While walking along North Craig Street, it’s hard to miss the small awning jutting out from below a tall white-faced building. This unassuming location, however, belongs to More, 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

$

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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 that Pamela’s is a breakfast joint – even well after noon, the majority of customers will plate-up some 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 good ol’ greasy breakfast.

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

Peter’s Pub

116 Oakland Ave.

(412) 681-7465

$$

PittFunds

When Friday night rolls around, Pitt students with proper ID typically grab some friends and head out to hop among the many area bars. Some are too trashy, some are too classy, some are too crowded and others are painfully empty. But every now and then, you’ll find a bar that’s just right.

At the top of this category sits Peter’s Pub, located conveniently within walking distance of the greater South Oakland residential area. If college bars released a brochure, Peter’s Pub could grace the cover. Its classy but not over the top atmosphere is ideal for hanging out with friends, and it’s also a nice place to swing by for a sandwich. Whether you want to drink or just get some quality food, Peter’s Pub deserves consideration.

-Eric Miller

Pittsburgh Cafe

226 Meyran Ave.

(412) 687-3330

$

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For a relaxed atmosphere with reasonably priced food, Pittsburgh Cafe is a safe bet for students looking for a new place to eat or drink. The menu consists of items ranging from hoagies and cheese fries to chicken salad and nachos. And don’t forget the Cafe’s famous 32 oz. iced tea.

Pittsburgh Cafe is open every day until 2 a.m., and with outdoor seating and drink specials every day of the week, such as $1 Coors on Monday, you can’t go wrong.

– Karen Bielak

Ritter’s Diner

5221 Baum Blvd.

(412) 682-4852

$

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It might be a bit far from campus, but its Baum Boulevard location certainly isn’t too far when a comfort food craving hits. A short 71A bus ride away, Ritter’s Diner – on the border of Oakland and Shadyside – offers customers homey foods at cheap prices.

Ritter’s is a traditional diner. It’s the sort of place where grandmotherly waitresses call customers “hon.” It’s the sort of place where caffeine-deficient studiers can set up camp during finals week and always find a cup of hot joe. It’s the sort of place where the smoking section is twice the size of the nonsmoking section.

No matter what the hour – Ritter’s is open 24 hours – someone with a breakfast craving can find satisfaction. Eggs any style and home fries fit the bill any time of day. No wonder there’s always a morning-after contingent on weekend mornings.

More than comfort breakfast foods, Ritter’s serves all the traditional diner fare, from burgers and fries to soups and sandwiches. In a relaxed setting, with low-key service, Ritter’s is Oakland’s diner-destination.

– Megan Smith

Union Grill

413 S. Craig St.

(412) 681-8620

$$

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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 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 Guaranteed $10 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 Ceasar salads.

But the Union Grill also has its share of meat-and-potatoes fare. Any Pittsburgh native will appreciate the pierogies 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

$

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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

Wyndham Garden Hotel

3454 Forbes Ave.

(412) 683-2040

$$$

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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 ranging in price from $7.50 to $10.25. 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. The price range of these mouth-watering choices is from $11.25 to $22.

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

– Meghan Dowdell