New dining options include region’s first shipping container restaurant
New restaurants have gotten decidedly more casual as Pittsburghers continue to dine out often. They allow more of a comeasyou- are vibe with lower per- person check averages than restaurants opening in the area, say, five years ago. Here’s the newest crop.
GET READY FOR SUPPER IN THE STRIP
Supper in the Strip is about to officially open any day now, the New American brick- and- mortar spot from Vincent Perri, formerly in Federal Galley on the North Side. The 50- seat restaurant debuts in what had been Crystal on Penn at 1211 Penn Ave., serving lunch and dinner.
The holdup, Mr. Perri says, is the final plumbing inspection from the city.
Mr. Perri’s menu features “bites” like seared scallop for $ 5, stuffed smoked tomato for $ 3 and “snacks” such as poutine ($ 11) and tofu scramble ($ 10). Among “sandwiches,” there’s a seitan banh mi ($ 13) and a BLT ($ 13), which come with duckfat or chickpea fries, or a salad. Bigger “plates” include cavatelli with chicken ($ 20) and yellowfin with shrimp and scallops ($ 30).
The menu is attentive to gluten- free and vegan appetites, with labeling in front of each item. For example, the falafel pita can be both vegan and gluten free, served with roasted garlic hummus, romaine, tomato, mint yogurt on an optional house pita ($ 12).
Down the road, Mr. Perri says he wants to serve as an all- day cafe, with breakfast options, too. “There’s a lot going on in the area, from the hotels to the [ David L. Lawrence] convention center,” he told the PostGazette.
Before he opened Supper, Mr. Perri worked in Miami at Daniel Boulud’s DB Bistro Moderne; in West Virginia at Jackson’s Restaurant; and in Pittsburgh at Revel and Roost, Downtown. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, with a 10 a.m. opening on Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant serves alcohol.
REGION’S FIRST SHIPPING CONTAINER RESTAURANT
The O’Hara/ Aspinwall corridor is seeing some action when it comes to restaurant openings, with the debut of Alta Via and the second location of Mercurio’s, both in O’Hara, and another location for Mad Mex in the Waterworks Shopping Plaza.
With a fine view courtesy of Aspinwall Riverfront Park, Farmer x Baker Cafe is now open, a farm- centric daytime restaurant from Jennifer Urich behind Root and Heart Farm in West Deer.
It’s the region’s first restaurant in a shipping container: From SnackBox in Times Square, New York, to El Rey in Washington, D. C ., this eco-friendly up cycling option has become more commonplace around the country as real estate prices continue to climb. Not only has Ms. Urich claimed a prime spot with a waterfront view, she did it for under $ 100,000 which is becoming unheard of in the Pittsburgh region.
“This is the craziest thing I’ve ever done,” Ms. Urich says. She had been shopping the idea of a shipping container restaurant around to other chefs for a while with no success and so she decided to open it herself. When she came across the Aspinwall Riverfront Park location, she says she was “hit by a lightning bolt.” Having grown up in Michigan by the Great Lakes, she’s drawn to the water. “And if I’m going to spend all my time here, I wanted to love the location.”
Plans started in earnest in November, with the shipping container delivered to the location by June. The board of the Riverfront Park has been super supportive, she said, having helped her by raising thousands of dollars. She opened in July and has intentions to serve food through December. Fire pits and space heaters should help her prolong the season.
Ms. Urich says she sources all ingredients “except for salt and olive oil” locally from places like Chantal’s cheese shop in Bloomfield, Tiny Seed Farm in Hampton and her own farm; look for a breakfast menu of homemade bagels with local ham, egg and cheese ($ 9), gluten- free waffles dressed with peaches and cream, shakshuka and farm greens ($ 10), and a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast pie ($ 8). Lunch ushers in a selection that includes Romanstyle tray pizza slices ($ 5), chicken pita sandwich ($ 10), as well variations on a baguette ($ 11). Closed Monday and Tuesday, hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m ., with a new 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday dinner. It’s a dog-friendly, BYOB restaurant.
TEQUILA- AND- TACO SPOT REPLACES PALLANTIA
Tocayo has opened at 810 Ivy St. in Shadyside in the former Pallantia. It serves lunch and dinner.
The new spot is a sibling to Totopo Mexican Kitchen and Bar in Mt. Lebanon, with the new place offering drinks like spicy watermelonor frozen mango margaritas ($ 1012) as well as sangria, mojitos, an extensive tequila menu and booze- free drinks like horchata and watermelon agua fresca.
For snacks, Consider go- to chips and guac or queso fundido with roasted poblanos folded into the cheese. Burritos are also an option, along with tacos al pastor, carnitas and octopus among fillings, as well as vegetarian-friendly beets or cauliflower mushroom. Dishes range from $10 to $16. Tacos come two to an order with an option of soup or salad. The restaurant hours are listed as 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.