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| - So after going a whole semester of being poor and eating at home, I was super excited to finally try out a new restaurant again. The Fire Side Public House, a tucked away spot behind the East Liberty Target which opened a few weeks ago, and a spot I could not wait to get my hands on it.
My friend J and I went on Monday evening before he takes off to South America for the holidays. Even before you enter the location, you get a bright invitation illuminating from its door, being covered in blue/white holiday lights around the roof and windows. I'm not sure if this is seasonally intended or just for sake of brightness, but either way I was happy to see it lit up.
Inside, your eye is immediately guided to the center of the restaurant, taken up by the large vent with Fire Side Public House proudly displaying over the wood fire island cooking station. From side view, along the length of the restaurant it's set up as follows: Left [front] is the large board of beers and cocktails, middle [under the vent] are the open prep, cooking/grilling and plating stations where you get a grand view of your food being charred and assembled, while you take in the intoxicating smells of the burgers and the skillets. On the right [back] there are a few tables for parties larger than two. The entire cooking island is ringed by bar space, always my favorite place to sit. Above you, there is breathtaking art of our favorite Steel City from various angles and in various sizes. It's easy to miss until you follow up the vent and see where it leads. I much like that they are able to use the otherwise neglected ceiling and altogether it leaves you with a comforting feeling of sitting around a big fireplace.
The beer list is sizable for this small space with local, regional and national microbrews on tap and in the bottle. On the other side of the drink menu you get a whole listing of seasonal specialty cocktails. Naturally right now they are holiday styled. I was really tempted to get the "Santa, I know him!" just for the name but I was trying to constrain myself as it was Monday. The menu is sleek and simple, but considering that I had prime view of everything that was being served, my mouth watered at everything. J and I had a skillet each, mine the Chicken Pasta, his the Blue corn shrimp and grits. Each looked great. The chicken sausage was hearty and the pasta done just right. Two mentions: The consistency was a little bit off for me, the basil infused cream was a bit on the milky side, having the effect of "washing" the pasta, rather than coating it as a sauce should. Also, it came off too delicate. The basil flavoring a bit lost and it definitely needed salt. I'm sure they skimped on the salt in favor of the basil and the sausage, but as none of the ingredients bonded together [not even with the help of the grated fontina cheese], I was definitely missing a bite.
The blue corn shrimp on the other hand looked awesome, and I was experiencing food-envy. It was served with three massive prawns and the grits were served good and hearty. I will be checking that out for next time. I hear it was good, despite him attempting to ruin it by drenching his food in hot sauce. [Sigh, that man cannot eat any food without hot sauce]
Lastly, it is very well priced for the quality and portion of food that you get. I'm happy to have walked away with a full but not overloaded feeling as even a carby pasta dish came off light even with a beverage you should be under the $20 dollar mark which is refreshing for the location and the fact that pittsburgh's more recent places are getting out of hand. [see other reviews]
All in all I am very pleased with my experience at FSPH, especially as it's close to my new home. I will definitely be coming back to try everything else on this menu and hopefully still before the the "Santa, I know him!" disappears from the menu.
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