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| - Early in our relationship, Belle confessed to me that she didn't like tacos or meatloaf. This was, of course, a serious problem. Some homemade pulled pork tacos later one of the hurdles was cleared, but the meatloaf issue continued to vex me. Enter Avenue B.
First off, don't let the largely unfinished web site turn you off. Avenue B has a much more expansive menu that what you'll find online. Thankfully, the above-mentioned meatloaf is a mainstay (although its exact composition changes seasonally). You'll find ~6 starters and ~6 entrees on the chalk board menu, most of which are made, to one degree or another, to highlight local and seasonal fare. Quick aside: assuming you remember your own wine, this is a pretty good place in terms of menu and atmosphere for a date. Just know that they don't give you menus, you have to rely on the chalkboards. Not every seat has a great sightline to the boards, so don't make your date sit in a chair so she has to awkwardly crane her neck to figure out what she wants to eat. And for God's sake don't (as I did) forget your glasses and resort to having your date read to you. Belle was understanding, but for an early date, I was hoping to come across as something other than quasi-literate.
All the meals I've had at Avenue B have been very good. The cook obviously knows what he's doing; his previous spot (the Red Room) really took off under his guidance. That said, the menu is not going to blow anyone's mind when it comes to pushing the envelope with unusual preparations and/or ingredients. Take a closer look at the menu picture from the yelp profile and you'll see:
Roast Chicken
Braised Short Ribs
NY Strip Steak
Falafel and Tabouleh
Seared Scallops
BBQ
-not pictured, but also on the menu:
Fish and Chips
Meatloaf.
Not really very vegetarian-friendly and not really separating itself from the crowd. There are, of course, excellent reasons from a financial standpoint to play it safe when it comes to Pittsburgh menus, but I think the city's tastes are slowly changing and I hope Avenue B steers its obvious skill in more interesting directions down the line. All that said, if you like these things (and I certainly do), Avenue B does an excellent job with them. On visit 1, I ordered the meatloaf and loved it--it was probably the best meatloaf I've ever had (with apologies to my father). After much cajoling, I convinced Belle to have a bite. On our most recent visit, Belle ordered the meatloaf for herself, which stands as testimony to how well Avenue B executes the "new American bistro" catalog.
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