Best dishes and drinks in Pittsburgh right now
It’s our third year of best dishes and drinks — and we’re starting anew. From Brookline to Bloomfield, Shadyside to the Strip District, here are the week’s scenestealing orders:
Tagliatelle Bolognese, Mambo Italia, Sewickley
My sister and I were probably crazy to venture out for dinner Wednesday of last week, it being the coldest night of the recent polar vortex. But she was only in town from North Carolina for a couple of days, and my drafty kitchen was too freezing for a proper gabfest. Bundling up, we ventured to Mambo Italia in Sewickley to reconnect over thick slices of flash-fried zucchini served with marinara and Parmesan ($9) and a huge bowl of tagliatelle with rich, meaty bolognese ($18). Radiant heat from the wood-burning pizza oven and glasses of BYOB Sauvignon blanc made the meal feel extra cozy. 424 Broad St., Sewickley. — Gretchen McKay
Rum cocktails and smoked eggplant dip, Kingfly Spirits, Strip District
I couldn’t wait to sidle up to the bar at Kingfly Spirits after reading Bob Batz’s recent story on the Strip District craft distillery and cocktail bar. Now, I can’t wait to go back. It was a little crazy on opening day, but it’s such a cool space and I can honestly say the drinks were worth the longish wait. I’m not sure which rum-based cocktail I liked better — the spicy Dark ‘n Stormy or tropical, coconut-y Painkiller. (And yep, I had both.) Crafted with its house-made rum, both went down waaay too easily, especially at just $9 a pop. The silky smoked eggplant dip ($3) that came with crispy crostini ($3) as an appetizer was topnotch, too. 2613 Smallman St., Strip District.
— Gretchen McKay
Chinese New Year feast, Sakura, Squirrel Hill
Chinese New Year began Tuesday, with celebrations for the Year of the Pig in full force at Chinese restaurants around Pittsburgh. Among dishes to usher in the New Year, dumplings signify wealth, while whole steamed fish with some leftover after the meal indicates surplus for the year ahead. I’ve started the celebration at Sakura in Squirrel Hill, which, like many of the area’s Chinese restaurants, will be offering a special menu for the holiday season. Be sure to ask for it. 5882 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill.