täkō

When it comes to my food palate, I am typically pretty boring and plain. I get nervous to step outside of the box so I was hesitant to visit täkō even though it had amazing reviews. However, the band-aid needs to be ripped off at some point! 

First of all, if you plan to visit - make a reservation! Seating seems fairly plentiful with tables and a bar when you walk in, seating on the second floor, some tables outside, and a handful of bar stools at the chef's table. However, seating seems to always be full, which is great for the restaurant.. bad for guests without reservations. You are able to put your name on a waiting list, but depending on how many people are in your party, the wait might be lengthy. 

When you walk up to the restaurant, there is a large open space looking into the small kitchen. Walking into the restaurant gives the vibe of an underground night club with dim lighting and unique decoration. There is a huge painting of the Last Supper, another huge painting of an octopus with octopus sconces incorporated into the design (täkō means octopus in Japanese), and chandeliers made out of recycled bicycle chains.

Love the open kitchen concept. 

The food and drink menus were very intimidating to me. I didn't (and still don't fully) understand what a lot of the ingredients were. However, instead of looking everything up like I normally do, I just went for it!

Strawberry Yuzu Margarita: Corralejo Blanco, Strawberry, Yuzu, Stellina Prosecco

For those of you who don't know (I was one of them), yuzu is a citrus fruit originating in East Asia. This made for a very light and refreshing drink. It was so delectable and the perfect start for my täkō  experience!

Queso Fundido: poblano, housemade chorizo, shishito, chihuahua cheese, warm flour tortillas

This dish is what will keep me coming back. It was ridiculously enjoyable! Again, for those of you who don't know, chorizo is a pork sausage and shishito is a sweet East Asian pepper. This dish comes with four flour tortillas so we had to get a basket of tortilla chips because we had so much queso left. The queso was so rich with cheese, but extremely flavorful with the right amount of spice. The flour tortillas are homemade and so soft and delicious. Must order dish! 

Baja Tacos: tempura white fish, lime aioli. white cabbage, white onion, radish, jalapeno relish, cilantro

These are not your typical tacos! I cannot even begin to explain how fresh and amazing this fish was. The tempura breading was perfectly fried and the fish wasn't "fishy", so you know it's so fresh. The combination of the flavorful ingredients and texture of each bite was so unique. Every taco order comes with two tacos, so they are perfect for swapping with your friends to try more than one! 

Have you tried täkō yet? What was your favorite dish?

Eat Well & Sparkle!

Carmi Soul Food Restaurant

Caution: You will be come addicted after visiting Carmi Soul Food Restaurant.

For some reason, I became obsessed with chicken + waffles. Maybe it is because I think I should be from the south. I’m not sure. But as soon as I realized I had an obsession with them, I had to actually try them. We first had them at Founding Fathers in Washington DC, which is a farm to table restaurant. They were AMAZING, but not traditional. When we came back from DC, we looked up local restaurants that had chicken and waffles and found it. The hidden gem. Carmi Family Restaurant. Located in the North Side, they are a soul food restaurant, so we figured they had to be pretty authentic if they were closely related to southern cooking. We were right.

There is a sign inside the restaurant that says the food might take longer than expected due to everything being cooked when it is ordered. Everything was well worth the wait and tasted even better knowing it wasn’t just sitting in a warming dish and heated when ordered.

I ordered the chicken and waffles as well as a side of mac and cheese due to other reviews on Yelp. I wasn’t prepared for what I was about to experience. Both were UNBELIEVABLE. The breading on the fried chicken was light, crispy, and extremely flavorful and the chicken itself was so moist. You even get to choose which part of the chicken you would like – breast, thighs, or legs. The waffle was thick, crispy, and sweet. I went with the syrup route and left off the hot sauce. I’m not brave enough to step outside of the box yet and try it the traditional way. The mac and cheese was bursting with cheese and just tasted “homemade”, which is how mac and cheese should taste!

Our friend, Jennifer, came for a visit a couple weekends after we first went, so naturally we had to take her. She was quite skeptical at first, but we didn’t stop talking about how great they were and how she had to try them. Win! She loved them and we all left completely stuffed!

The prices are incredible for the quality and amount of food you get. The ambiance of the restaurant was diner-ish and dim, but the staff was friendly and on-point. They also have catering! I can't wait to go back for more chicken and waffles and to try the shrimp and grits! 

Eat Well & Sparkle!

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!

Favorite Friday - Narcisi Winery

I used to not like wine, until I tried Moscato. Then, after a while that became too sweet so I tried more dry wines and loved them. Then, I became a complete wine-o. Merlot to Chardonnay to Sangria - I love it all and do not discriminate. So when I friend told me about Narcisi Winery, I had to try it!

 

As soon as you walk in the doors you are greeted by a tasting bar where you can taste three complimentary wines. I love this so you can figure out what three bottles you would like to buy ;)
Hands down, my favorite Narcisi wine is the Black Raspberry. I could drink bottles of this stuff. It's fruity and summery and goes down so smooth. The Peach, Sangria, and Niagara are also some of my favorites. When doing a tasting, I highly recommend everyone in your party gets a different wine to taste so everyone can take a sip. Love: If you don't finish your bottle of wine at dinner, they will re-cork it for you so you are able to take it home (believe me, you won't want to waste a drop!).

After you taste the wines, you can be seated inside or outside. We've sat both inside and outside and whereas the inside is nice, I just love the ambiance of the patio more, especially at night. There is just something about sitting outside on a beautiful summer night drinking wine with your closest friends.

The food. Oh, the food. I have a really hard time trying something new when I absolutely love a dish. And I LOVE the Lobster Mac and Cheese. There are huge pieces of lobster and the cheese mixed with the campanelle pasta is perfection. The pesto bread crumbs give the dish a great complimentary crunch. I love that it doesn't have a "fishy" taste. I also usually start with the Lobster Bisque. Lobster on lobster... winning. Shaun loves the Shrimp Diavola. Caution: it is extremely spicy, yet delicious.

I love that they also have a pavilion area where you can either bring your own food (with the purchase of wine) or order from the restaurant. You are also able to rent the pavilion which is perfect for a bridal shower, baby shower, corporate picnic, family reunion, etc. During the spring/summer/fall, there are also live music events on the weekends. There is no cover fee, they only ask that you purchase some wine (which isn't a problem!).

They also have a gift shop where you can purchase bottles of wine, wine glasses, apparel, and a large assortment of wine themed gifts.

If you have a love of wine, I highly suggest visiting for a nice dinner paired with your favorite wine at Narcisi Winery!

Eat Well & Sparkle!