Social at Bakery Square

Social: relating to or involving activities in which people spend time talking to each other or doing enjoyable things with each other

This definition could not be more of an accurate way to define Social at Bakery Square. This is an awesome place to grab a table and have a good time with friends. I definitely recommend sitting outside! Reservations can be made for groups of eight or more which is great, especially when visiting on the weekend.

The staff, atmosphere, food, and drinks are all wonderful! I think of Social as more of a place to visit with friends for drinks and appetizers or even for lunch, than a place to visit for dinner. It has such a modern, fun vibe that makes you want to keep drinking and being "social".

Some tried + true libations and dishes:

social punch: vodka, ginger ale, cranberry juice, pineapple juice 

 This was amazing!! We started with the Jacked Arnold Palmer (jack daniels, lemonade, iced tea), but it tasted much different than what we were expecting. It wasn't as sweet as we thought it was going to be and the Jack Daniels was very strong. The Social Punch tasted like a punch and not alcohol which is dangerous, but delicious!

black bean quesadilla: cuban style black beans, pepperjack cheese, and avocado crema 

I didn't personally eat this dish, but the table loved it! 

 

social sticks: mozzarella, provolone, & smoked gouda with marinara 

Droolworthy. At first I thought these were mozzarella sticks, but I'm so glad they weren't. The cheese was melted so perfectly together on the fresh dough. Prepare to be addicted. 

luis' spicy chicken dip

I feel like buffalo chicken dip is a hit or miss with me. It can't have celery or onions and I prefer that it does not have blue cheese. This dip was a home run. It was so smooth and cheesy with the perfect amount of spice. The tortilla chips had a flavorsome seasoning which paired well with the dip. I will definitely order this again and again. 

fried chicken & waffle sandwich: served with cheddar cheese and maple aioli served with fries

I did not get the cheddar cheese on my sandwich because I wasn't sure how I felt about it and I think I made the right decision. This sandwich was so so good. I thought the maple aioli was tasty on it's own, but I think the fried chicken overpowered it. If I ordered this again, I would ask for a side of maple dressing to dip/drizzle on the sandwich (which would also be great for the fries!). 

 bbq chicken pizza: bbq sauce, smoked gouda, red onion, scallions 

Shaun ordered this dish. When asked what he thought of it he replied "it was unreal!". He is a man of many words my friends. 

Other menu items I cannot wait to try are:

-any of the grilled cheese 

  *three cheese: aged cheddar, fontina, provolone

  *fried egg: provolone, parmesan, basil 

  *cheesy bacon: apple bacon & smoked gouda

  *chunky monkey: peanut butter, bacon, banana, cream cheese 

-pierogi pizza: garlic aioli, roasted red potatoes, aged cheddar, caramelized onions, bacon, scallions 

-brunch: anything. if you know me, you know I love brunch!

-build your own salad: amazing. so many different choices for lettuce, toppings, meats/seafood, veggies, nuts/cheese, and dressings. so many possibilities! 

Have you been to Social yet? What has your favorite dish and drink been? 

Eat Well & Sparkle!

Favorite Friday - Carnivores

I have always heard people talk about Carnivores in Oakmont, but I was never actually there myself. My brother's 21st birthday was on a Monday, so not many places were open on Sunday night for him to get a midnight celebration beer. I consulted Yelp for bars open past midnight and Carnivores was one of few, so that's where we went and I am so glad we did!

I love the feel of the open restaurant/bar and outside area. They have a ton of beers on tap and have a bottle shop with over 600 various beers. You can order by the bottle or build your own six-pack. Since I don't like beer, I love to build our own six-pack to take with us so I can get the malt beverages I like and Shaun can get his beer. I also LOVE that they typically have Not Your Father's Root Beer in stock every time I am there! I don't like beer, but I LOVE that stuff!

A service they offer that is quite genius is beer DELIVERY. Mind. Blown. They have quite a few monthly drink specials such as Shot of the Month (with a Carnivores shot glass to keep!), Glass of the Month (with a Carnivore's pint glass to keep!), and Craft Bucket of the Month as well as weekly beer specials.

I have been here a handful of times already this summer and have tried to sample the menu, but some dishes were so good I've repeated them. My reviews so far:

*Fried Pickle Chips - love!

*Zucchini Planks - these were really delicious too!

*Boneless Wings - O.M.G. My favorite boneless wings, ever. I know some people say that boneless wings aren't wings, they are chicken tenders. Tomāto, tomaato... these are amazing! I have had mild and parmesan + garlic. I liked them both, but the parmesan + garlic were unbelievable!

*Buster Fries/Tots - with either choice of potato, this dish is amazing. The cheese sauce is evenly distributed, topped with bacon, and comes with ranch. Usually the ranch is on top, but I get it on the side. They are so addicting!

 

 

*BLT Wedgie - I couldn't believe I ordered this because Fox's Pizza BLT Wedgie has been my favorite for 10+ years. However, I am jumping ship. This wedgie was one of the best things I have ever tasted. It is HUGE. One portion is enough to fill you up, so you have three more sections for leftovers. I'm obsessed!

 

I'm so glad to find somewhere local that we both love. The staff is extremely friendly, the prices are so great for the amount of food you get, and the atmosphere is awesome. Whether we are going out with friends for a night or just want to grab a quick bite to eat, this is our new go-to spot!

Eat Well & Sparkle!

Favorite Friday - Rose Tea Cafe

Rose Tea Café is by far one of my favorite spots in Pittsburgh. The dining area is not very large, so we usually end up going here on a whim instead of planning a night out with friends. Each time we visit there typically isn't a wait, but the café is full which is always a good sign that everyone else loves the food too! I don't have much to compare this food to, but I think it is the best!

I will admit... the whole time I have been loving this restaurant I thought it was Thai food. Until recently when I Googled the difference between Thai food and Taiwanese food.

• Thai = Thailand (country in southeast Asia known for their beaches... look it up, GORGEOUS!)
• Taiwanese = Taiwan (small island east of China governed by the Republic of China)

If you knew that, don't judge. My geography knowledge and IQ are not that great. If you didn't know that, you're welcome!

Now that is cleared up, back to the delicious food. I have been trying to broaden my palate more, but when I come here I have to get the same thing because it's that good. Religiously, I order a vegetable spring roll and chicken lo mein. I haven't strayed and I don't plan on it. The prices are extremely reasonable for the portion sizes you receive.

The spring roll is so crisp on the outside and each bite leaves you wanting more. The dipping sauce is a must! It isn't too small like other spring rolls I've seen and it isn't huge. The perfect portion for an appetizer.

The lo mein is seriously the best I have ever had. I order it other places and am disappointed every time that I have stopped ordering anywhere else. It is so flavorful and the pieces of chicken absorb the flavor and are so juicy. The portion size is huge, so I only end up eating half and save the rest for lunch the next day. Winning!

Shaun has ordered the shrimp fried rice which is also very delicious and a large portion. There are onions in the fried rice so I don't eat much of it, but the bites I have taken are so good. They don't skimp on the shrimp and they are decently sized pieces.

Shaun also went thorough a couple of months were he was extremely obsessed with fried dumplings, so we have ordered those as well. Again, a pretty nice sized appetizer and they were delicious!

Other reviews of this place are fantastic for the dishes I have not tried. I'm not sure if I will ever be ready to try another dish from here or not. I also have heard their bubble tea is unreal, but I haven't been brave enough to try it for myself. Have you tried bubble tea? What are your thoughts and favorite flavors?

Eat Well & Sparkle!

Sunday Brunch: Square Café

If there is one place I could go every weekend for brunch, it would certainly be Square Café. I cannot say enough wonderful things about it from the staff to the food to the atmosphere. The outside speaks for itself when you arrive and there are a ton of people waiting for a table. No matter how long the wait is, it is worth it. They do not take reservations, but the wait goes pretty quickly. My suggestion is to grab a menu and decide on what you are going to order so you are ready when you are seated. There is also a coffee bar, so you can order a coffee or latte while you are waiting.

From the moment you arrive until the moment you walk out the door, the staff is extremely helpful, diligent, efficient, and friendly. Something so rare when a place is as busy as they are. Everyone seems to truly love their job and customers.

Now to the food. Oh gosh, the delicious, mouthwatering food. I haven't had one dish I dislike! However, I HAVE to get a pancake with whatever I get. They are seriously that amazing. I love how the menu changes with the seasons so you always have different options. It is especially helpful since everyone seems to be a regular!

Breakfast Sandwich on a Bagel

Veggie Omelet and a Pancake with Strawberries and Walnuts

Square Breakfast (two eggs, choice of meat, with a pancake or home fries, and toast) with a Lemon Blueberry Pancake (seasonal)

Oreo Pancake (seasonal)

 

Cinnabun Swirl Pancake (seasonal)

 

The coffee is also good and served in a really fun mug and the specialty coffee drinks are unique and delicious. I love the Sunny Latte (cinnamon + caramel) and my BFF loves the 100 Gold Stars (caramel + coconut).

They also use local vendors (one is Bella Christie and Lil' Z's... holla!) which is great.

I HIGHLY recommend going to Square Cafe at least once every weekend :)

Oh, did I also mention... they cater! Contact catering@square-cafe.com!

Eat Well & Sparkle!