TastyBurgher

Eat’N Park
Everywhere and all the time.
Check: http://www.eatnpark.com/index.asp

So today, worlds collided: my coworker Rich W. discovered that I write TastyBurgher, and I discovered that he reads it. Hurrah! I love to meet my TastyReaders! I asked him for all kinds of feedback, and he wondered why, with all the other Pittsburgh-centric reviews, had I not managed to complete a blurb about Eat‘N Park. Well, I have thought about it all afternoon, and I think the main thing that has been holding me back is the Baked Scrod. I mean, come on – nothing sounds more unappetizing that Baked Scrod – Blarg! Seriously, couldn’t they name their dishes something a little less unfortunate? But no, they have all kinds of scrod-ular dishes. There’s Baked Scrod, Broiled Scrod, Baked Scrod Scampi, and Nantucket Scrod. Then there’s my personal favorite, Florida Scrod (also known as Senior Baked Scrod on some menus). Eugh…That just makes me picture a wrinkly old man’s you-know-whats. By the way, did you know that the highest rate of STD contraction in the US is within the retirement communities in Florida? It is true, my doctor friend told me it is a serious new problem. Our friend Rich P. (another Rich) posits that it is the result of a perfect storm of post-menopause and Viagra. Think about that next time you call Granny in Sarasota…. So, YUM - are you all ready to go to Eat‘N Park now?!?! Yeah, me neither….but Eat‘N Park has its place and time (mostly in the wee hours of the morning) and it’s a real Pittsburgh fixture, so put on your Smiley faces and lets talk about Eat’N Park! (more…)

Leena’s Food
“World’s Best Falafel”
121 Oakland Ave
Oakland, 15213
412-682-1919
M-F: 10-10; Sat 10-? (will close early if it’s slow)

Let me ask you: How often is there truth in advertising? Especially when the advertisement is so in your face? I mean, Gullifty’s doesn’t really have the best desserts, Thighmasters don’t really shape your legs, and Exxon isn’t really environmentally-friendly, no matter how many smiling fish they put in their commercials. Believe me, no flounder, polar bear, or sea lion on this planet is happy for Exxon’s existence. They aren’t swimming around saying “geez, I sure was mad those couple of times when they spilled toxic matter into my house, but now? ….well, I just love those guys.” Nope, it’s all a sham. It always is. You just can’t trust ‘em, whoever ‘ey are. So when I saw Leena’s “World’s Best Falafel” sign, I took it with a grain of salt. “Everyone thinks they’ve got the best something,” said jaded old me. I didn’t even try it right away, despite the fact that I love falafel even when its crap. It took me years to even give it a go. But I finally did, and I cannot even believe I was missing out this whole time! I was a die-hard Open Flame fanatic, but now I realize that that was just plain old falafel. This is Fa-lafel! (more…)

Mexico City
111 Smithfield Street
Downtown, 15222
412-391-2591
M-F: 11-8pm; Sat: 11-4pm

Just as I was prepping to write about Taco Loco — along comes Mexico City. You’ve all heard me complain about the abysmal state of affairs in regards to the availability of tasty Mexican food in Pittsburgh. It is no surprise to me that Post-Gazette polls of Pittsburgher’s favorite Mexican restaurants put Chi-Chi’s and Don Pablo’s out in front. I say it is no surprise, but still it is a total disappointment. If nothing else, we’ve got Mad Mex, La Fiesta, Taco Loco, Fajita Grill, and El Campesino to stuff our faces with, before we have to resort to those big box feeding troughs. But alas and alak, though they are all pretty good eats, none of them are seriously authentic (portions of the menus at my personal favorites, La Fiesta, Taco Loco, and Fajita Grill, come close). Well, Mexico City changes all that. This downtown, mostly lunchtime eatery brings a whole new region of Mexico to Pittsburgh, El Distrito Federal! (more…)