Reviewing Restaurants: Bad PR or Be Polite?

Tuesday night was Pittsburgh Restaurant Week's bi-annual Blogger Dinner, this time featured at Sausalido in Bloomfield {thanks for the delish wine, Pittsburgh Winery!}. An interesting topic was brought up among the blogger folk:
When you have a somewhat bad to really terrible dining experience, do you go ahead and blog about it? 

A few fellow bloggers were on the fence, but several said they would not blog about it period, quoting everyone's proverbial mom, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it!"  I do remember my own mom telling me this, then proceeding to ignore it and say what I please. The claim Tuesday night was that you wouldn't want the negative comments coming back and reflecting negatively on you, as a professional, parent or community member. Perhaps because I do not hail from PGH, this isn't a solid issue for me, but I completely understand this for others.

As someone who frequently writes food reviews, I believe in letting them know if they've done something... unsavory, let's say, so they may try to fix it. I'm not a prestigious Pittsburgh food blogger with hundreds of readers, but I'd hope someone would read the review and take something useful from it. In a weird way, choosing to not post a review seems a tinge dishonest.

Readers, what do you think? Would you rather read the good, bad and ugly of a restaurant experience, or just read positive reviews? Is relying on word-of-mouth sufficient for hearing about bad restaurants?
Restaurant folks, what are your thoughts on bloggers writing a negative review?

Summer Pittsburgh Restaurant Week Picks!

It's here again! The week that is all about discounted delicious food around PGH - Pittsburgh Restaurant Week. This summer it's held during August 12th through 18th, and there are few new faces in the lineup of participating restaurants - however, I'm disregarding those for a handful of places with menus that put them on my short list.

My top choices {tune in Husband!} for this PRW edition:

Lidia's {Strip District - $35 Four-Course Fixed Price Meal}

Via Lidias-Pittsburgh.com

Insalate

Caprese Salad {Local Heirloom Tomatoes, House Made Mozzarella, Red Onion, Basil & Aceto Balsamico} Or Insalata di Barbabietole {Roasted Red and Gold Beets, Apples, Fresh Goat Cheese,  Frisee}

Primi

Cacio e Pere Ravioli {Cheese and Pear Ravioli with Cracked Black Pepper Butter}

Secondi

Pollo al Limone {Scallopine of Chicken Breast with Roasted Lemon, Capers and Olives} Or Saltimbocca alla Romana {Pork Scallopine, Fresh Sage, Prosciutto San Danielle and Wilted Spinach and Arugula Salad}

Dolci

Lemon Basil Crostata

Lola {Northside -$30 Three-Course Fixed Price Meal}

Via www.pghcitypaper.com

1st course

House made goat milk ricotta and sweet pea ravioli

2nd course

Lomo mix salad. {Mixed greens, Dijon oyster mushrooms, pickled red onion, hazelnuts}

3rd course

Portuguese seafood stew {Saffron fume, heirloom tomatoes and peppers, fingerling potato, bruschetta}

James Street Gastropub & Speakeasy {Northside - $30 Three-Course Fixed Price Meal}

via jamesstreetgastropub.com

Salad

House Salad with Fresh Garden Vegetables,

Peppered Bacon and Candied Onion Or Spinach Salad with Toasted Almonds, Craisins, Fresh Apple

Entrée

Chicken Breast with North Side Farmer’s Market Peaches {Balsamic Basil Cream Sauce, Jasmine Rice} Or Cajun Grilled Shrimp & Grits {Black Tiger Shrimp, Creamy White Cheddar Grits, North Side Farmer’s Market Seasonal Vegetable}

Dessert

Crème Brulee Or Strawberries & Cream Cake

My picks aren't  'new restaurants,' but the menu choices just drew me in.  Lemon basil crostata? Goat Milk ricotta and sweet pea ravioli? White cheddar grits? Yes. If these three don't start your stomach rumblin', check out the full listing here.

What are your choices for this summer? Any surprises on your list?

PGH Dining: Penn Avenue Fish Company: Downtown

During Pittsburgh Restaurant Week this summer, Husband and I were only able to hit up a few places because of our busy schedules. We stopped by Penn Avenue Fish Company in Downtown on Friday night to have a laid-back dinner. 

Penn Ave Fish Co.'s interior.

{PRW} Blogger Dinner at The Porch at Schenley

For Pittsburgh's second Restaurant Week, bloggers from the area were invited to have dinner at The Porch at Schenley.  I'd been to The Porch before on a bright summer day, back when my best friend was visiting from Texas.  During that visit, we'd just walked around the University of Pittsburgh campus when we stepped into The Porch for late afternoon meal. 

 We ordered the farm bread, served with homemade strawberry jam, apple butter and honey butter.  Starting off a meal like this is perfection to me. Have I told you how much I love bread?

Pittsburgh Restaurant Week: Summertime Edition!

Last night at my spin class, I reminded my classmates that this week is Pittsburgh's summertime Restaurant Week.  I looked around, and saw blank faces.  Evidently, not everyone knows this is the week of fabulous restaurants around town featuring a special menu for a great price!

This is Pittsburgh's second Restaurant Week for the year {and ever!}, and I've had the chance to go to a Blogger Dinner on Tuesday night at The Porch at Schenley {post forthcoming}, and have other dinner plans for later this week.

The list of restaurants goes on and on, and there is a selection of two types of 'special deals': 1.} Select the prix fixe menu of three courses for usually around $20-$40; or 2.} Select the $20.12 special menu, and get a meal for that price. Of course, you can always order from the regular menu, but why pass up the specials? This week only comes twice a year!

What are your plans for Pittsburgh Restaurant Week?  Where have you already eaten?

Photo Blink & Tying Loose Ends

At some point today, I knew I was going to make time to post. Life has been incredibly busy since I last sat down to update {ADOS}. Mainly, I'm talking about all of the jobs I've been applying for and the house repairs we've been having. I mean, it is a house built in the early 1900s. You'd expect for it to have some shortcomings, especially after a huge renovation and overhaul. AND, it was 5 degrees on Friday, causing our kitchen sink pipes to freeze. Who ever heard'a frozen pipes?! This girl hadn't.

Anyway, I've been knee-deep in job applications and repair people for the last several days, and haven't had time for the lovely blog. I do have my priorities!

As sort of an update and tying up loose ends, Husband and I got busy {not like that, people!} and weren't able to enjoy the remainder of Pittsburgh Restauarant Week. We had intended on visiting both Meat & Potatoes and Frantuary, but life got in the way. I'll put those two high on the list for February. {Can you believe we're only a week away!?}

Finally, here's a blink at the last week or so, in photo form.

Another masterpiece from Espresso a Mano.

There's a review coming shortly for a favorite madeline stop - La Gourmandine!

There's also a post coming on a certain mans-wear for the winter.

I used our new XiaoXing rice wine to steam fish fillets in my bamboo steamer. Yum!

I made these Lasagna Cupcakes for dinner, and Husband adores them!

We purchased these gorgeous free-range eggs.

These are the lovelies Sephora sent me for my birthday!

Now that I've promised future posts, you know they'll happen. 

It's now time for me to go sweep & mop my dirty floors! {Who knew that snow and salt mixtures would be so tough to clean!?} Happy Wednesday, y'all!


P.S. - Only 5 more days to vote in my poll! Do it!

PGH Dining: Food Blogger Dinner at Braddock's American Brasserie

Pittsburgh is steadily growing into one of my favorite cities of all time. This week, it got a good foothold, and is rising in the ranks. For the second time ever, Pittsburgh is having a Restaurant Week, January 16-22, but you wouldn't be able to tell it's so green. More than 30 restaurants are participating! I was lucky enough to be invited {after putting my name in the hat, of course!} to the Food Blogger dinner last night at Braddock's American Brasserie. Being a lifestyle blogger primarily, I was happy to be included. Food is a passion of mine, after all. {Could you tell?!}

via tablemagazine.com on Facebook

Table Magazine was there to cover the event, and happened to snap this photo of Husband and me. {Prior to the lipstick coming off, thankfully.} We started the meal with drinks {a scotch for Husband, and a Malbec for me}, then moved on to a chef's tasting of three items: kielbasa with sauerkraut, a short rib-stuffed pierogi, and potato gnocchi with lobster claw. What a welcoming sight! 

I particularly enjoyed the pierogi, even though it was more like a meat pie. 

The lobster claw was cooked perfectly, and went nicely with the creamy sauce from the gnocchi. 

As for the kielbasa and sauerkraut pairing, I was somewhat apprehensive in trying. I don't like sauerkraut. There's something about the fermented taste of the cabbage that doesn't sit well with me. However, this set from Braddock's was nice because it only tasted lightly pickled, rather than other krauts I've had. 

Gorgeous plate!

 Then, I was able to talk with the other bloggers around the table, over some bread and coarse salted butter. 

I met Heidi from The Steel Trap, a brother {Adam} and sister {Alissa Matthews of PASA}, Lou of Pittsburgh Happy Hour, and the gentleman who brought us Bloggers together, Brian of Pittsburgh Restaurant Week and The Pittsburgh TasteBuds. It was wonderful to meet you all!

After the chef's tasting, Husband took the 'high road' and ordered a soup and a salad. Smart man. I, however, was not so wise, and ordered the prix fixe menu.    

Husband's Onion Soup

Braddock's American Brasserie Prix Fixe Menu

First

Warm Goat Cheese Tart with Grilled Vegetables & Balsamic Reduction

Second

Grilled Petite Filet over Whipped Potatoes, Buttered Asparagus & Herb Demi-Glace

Third

New York Colossal Cheesecake with Fresh Raspberries 

Goat Cheese Tart 

 My second course was preceded by a delightfully heavy knife, and I {HAD} to post a photo. Good choice, Braddock's!

 

Yes, I was "That Girl" and took a photo of the knife.

 Husband's salad came out, topped with seared scallops. The dressing was the perfect combination of tart and creamy. Success.

 My {MAN}steak was cooked perfectly to order, a deep pink medium rare. Just how this Texan likes it. 

  For dessert, I was scheduled to have the colossal cheesecake. And they weren't kidding. 

 I couldn't even think about finishing my half, and Husband did his best to eat his portion. Across the table from me, Adam ordered the apple crumble. How adorable is this plating!?

The meal ended on the cheesecake, which was not the best dessert on the table. The show-stopper was the apple crumble, and the taste winner was the peppermint white chocolate creme brûlée. 

My favorite dish was of course the chef's tasting, and the rest of my meal was very good. Husband wasn't overly thrilled with his meal, but he couldn't find anything specific to critique. {I think he was just jealous of my choices!} Braddock's American Brasserie offered a great meal and I loved briefly meeting the Chef de Cuisine, Brian Volmrich. He and his team did a great job!

 Afterwards, I coerced Husband into taking outfit photos of me, citing all of my readers. I knew y'all would want to see what I wore! {Again, forgive the romantic restaurant lighting!}

Necklace: Modcloth | Sweater: Merona/Target | Skirt: J Crew
Belt: Target | Tights: J Crew | Heels: Steve Madden

It was a fun night, and I'm so glad we were able to go! I can't wait for the next one!


Tweet