Best dishes and drinks in Pittsburgh right now
Here, found by our intrepid staffers across the city and the region, are the week’s scene-stealing dishes and drinks.
Kao Soy Egg Noodle, Maenam Thai, Blawnox
It was a raw and rainy spring evening, and I was craving something warm and wonderful. And something Thai. I found it in the fragrant Northern Thai curry noodle soup, kao soy ($11.95), which was served steaming hot.
It comes with protein options, and I went with chicken, which was cooked until tender in a coconut-based yellow curry and combined with springy egg noodles, pickled mustard greens, bok choy and scallions. The dish finally was garnished with plenty of cilantro and a mound of addictive fried onions. Redolent with turmeric and ginger, the hearty noodle dish was creamy and vaguely sweet, but yet had a spicy jolt. The kao soy had successfully introduced me to a range of Thai flavors I was seeking, and delivered the deliciousness. 330 Freeport Road, Blawnox. — Arthi Subramaniam
Maibock, Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh, South Side
This is a special bier any year — a traditional German seasonal release that actually is brewed in Germany, going back to 1614, and shipped to Hofbrauhaus’ Pittsburgh bier hall. This maibock is deep gold in color, sweetly malty, hoppy and strong — 7.2% alcohol by volume.
When the first keg was tapped at 7 p.m. April 24, however, it was a little more special, as it was a toast to Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh’s 10th anniversary. And a half liter ($8) was delicious — say, with a wurstplatte ($10 all day) of grilled bierwurst, bratwurst and frankfurter served with mashed potatoes and German sauerkraut. 2705 S. Water St., South Side. — Bob Batz Jr.
P.S. Another traditional German May-welcoming beverage on our radar this week: The Maiwein or May wine punch, at Kingfly Spirits in the Strip District, where Colin Anderson’s take flavors a Mazza Bare Bones White with violet-infused house orange liqueur and brandy tinctured with spruce tips, then tops it with Red Ribbon Bitter Lemon Soda ($6).
Major Tom pizza, Driftwood Oven, Lawrenceville
Friday night is made for pizza, and if you don’t mind a wait, it doesn’t get much better than the artisan pies at Driftwood Oven. We split a 16-inch Major Tom ($24), and it’s easy to see why it’s a best seller.
Made without tomato sauce, it comes topped with mozzarella and herbed ricotta and paper-thin slices of a fennel sausage known as finocchiona. Garnishes include fresh basil and a smoky morita chili oil. But the real star was the sourdough crust. Light and chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, it’s insanely delicious. The cans of Duquesne Pilsener we washed it down with? Not so much, but hey, can’t beat the $2.50 price tag. Driftwood Oven, 3615 Butler St., Lawrenceville.
— Gretchen McKay
Sardine alla Griglia, Dish Osteria, South Side
Dish fans are thrilled for its reopening. I missed the place so much I went twice in one week. There aren’t many places around town to get Southern Italian-style grilled seafood such as the plate stocked with calamari, scallops, Gulf shrimp and sashimi-grade yellowfin.
But my favorite are the sardines, little fish with silvery skin, dressed in pine nuts, raisins and caramelized onion. I understand your skepticism, but to me, it’s beautiful. 128 S. 17th St., South Side.
— Melissa McCart