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| - We had a Groupon for Pittsburgh Rare, which is probably the only reason we went here. I kind of have a thing against hotel restaurants, even if it's a hotel I'm staying in, so I don't know that we would have made the trip down here without a coupon.
That said, we had an enjoyable night, but I don't know that we'd return (with or without another coupon). The place was far from crowded, but the service was so spotty and odd. And the food was good, but it wasn't like, AMAZING, and for the price, you can get an an even better view and better food for just the tiniest bit more up the hill at LeMont.
First of all, when we were seated, the waitress gave us a wine list, and once we'd picked something, she said, "Well, actually, we're out of everything but like 3 bottles." Umm, I know I'm kind of a wine snob these days, but really? You're a steak house without a full wine selection??
That was just so strange to me. However, as luck would have it, there was one decent bottle 'left' in their wine cellar (I mean, the wine list was only a single page to begin with, how do you run out and just not send someone to the dang store in Shadyside to get more??), so we got that.
Our waitress was super peppy and nice, but she would just disappear at times. One recommendation she made that I really appreciated was that if we wanted salads, to split one instead of each ordering our own. We split a casear salad, which was still big as a half size. It was really good, not too creamy or sopping wet with dressing.
We also got the "Pittsburgh potato pancake," which was truly the highlight of the meal. This thing was as big as a full plate, covered in green onions and sour cream, and lined along the bottom with onions. My arteries were probably so mad at me after eating that, but it was well worth it.
The steaks themselves were really good. We both ordered the filet, and it was really tender and juicy. The mashed potatoes were also quite good, even the next day as leftovers. However, I got the crab-stuffed shrimp with my filet, and I really didn't like it all that much. The shrimp felt like it was cooked to a weird texture, so I kind of wish I'd gone with just the filet.
All in all, the food was pretty decent, but it just wasn't spectacular. If I'm going to spend $150 on a meal, I want each and every part of it to stun and awe me! :) You do get a pretty excellent view of the Mon and the buildings across from Station Square (Oxford Plaza and the Steel Building show up nicely, as does the Smithfield Street Bridge), but still, it doesn't top Mt. Washington.
If you're staying at the Shearton Station Square and don't feel like leaving the building, then Pittsburgh Rare is fine. But if you walk a tiny bit, you'll get to the Grand Concourse, which is so much better, with similar views and prices.
Also, it took us about 25 minutes between asking for the check and actually getting it. And like I said, the place wasn't busy. There were maybe five tables and two waitresses. I just don't get it.
The more that I think about it, I might go back, if it was a pretty night, just to have that potato pancake again. But just for that potato pancake ;)
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