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| - Shhh... Food Hounds.... Brimstone here to tell you about a spot deep in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that can NOT be kept a secret! I'm talking about a restaurant that quickly made their way into my personal Top Ten Tidbits of all time... the James Street Gastropub & Speakeasy! Meanwhile, the history behind the location is fantasmic! This building was actually an extremely popular speakeasy during the prohibition where patrons could eat, drink, engage in sexual activities and simply be merry without being caught by the authorities. Set in a predominantly residential neighborhood, James Street is ultimately a hidden prize off the beaten path; but one WELL worth seeking out!
The ambiance of the main floor offers a throwback to the old Louisiana Blues clubs; but with a modern swagger while downstairs... a full blown jazz/blues club complete with a bar, stage and talented group of instrumentalists. As far as the food is concerned, the menu is vast and eclectic; there is something for everyone... and then some! They even have a full menu for the little ones (Kids eat FREE on Monday's after 4pm). We started out with a variety of items from the choice of appetizers. The Crab Cakes were HUGE, extremely tasty and not overly fishy - while the lemon pepper remoulade does not overpower this solid piece of heaven! Cajun Oysters were Jumbo Oysters with a Cajun spiced breading that were cooked to perfection - leaving each morsel a flaky, tender and outstanding work of art! Mild spices from the seasoning work in delicious harmony with the BOSS of a creamy horseradish sauce.
Then there were the Pipe Bombs... a crispy wonton stuffed with flank steak, jalapenos and pepper jack cheese! WIN! The flavor behavior was insane and when paired with their Guiness steak sauce, they exploded with deliciousness. The Suds & Spuds is great for a group to nosh on. Consisting of thin beer soaked Idaho potato chips with tomato relish, cheddar sour cream and get this... spicy BACON ranch dipping sauce - a spicy-kick with a hint of smokey bacon which fared very well with the tasty, lightly seasoned chips. If you didn't know already, the Cheddar Sour Cream is Award Winning; thick, creamy, Mmm CHEESE! We chose 3 different styles of their Wings. The Peanut Butter, Beer & Molasses was a kiss of pb with just a hint of everything else; made a great combo. The Habanero Jelly was kick-a$$! Sweet spice and not over sauced, perfect. As for the Cajun Dry Rub wings... the seasoning was fabulous and the wings themselves were crunchy on the outside and juicy within.
We then had a burger known as Sweet Meat; quite possibly the BEST burger I've ever tasted mostly due to its incredible uniqueness! Let me break this down for all of you reading at home... a thick, juicy burger with a creamy sweet onion mayo - nestled between the most incredible 'DONUT BUN' which was more doughy than cakey - then adorned with CANDIED BACON. If that weren't enough, more bacon is laid carefully on the top for good measure along with a light glaze of icing that would ultimately assist this creation of love down my wanton gullet!
Next was the Double Trouble; a two 8oz patty mountain of juicy meat-a-tarian love topped with a fried egg, crispy bacon, onion straws, chipotle mayo and buckets of yumm! We had the Pulled Pork which literally melts in your mouth. The insane flavor behavior that comes from the lightly seasoned pork accentuates the sweet and slightly smoky taste of the sauce. The Triple Fried Fries would be the death of me if I lived nearby... freshly cut fries done crispy without losing the natural flavor of the potato itself, lightly salted and very pleasing to the pallet. Onion Rings, beer battered in a homemade batter blend - hefty portion of LARGE onions; fantastic. The Chicken Fried Steak was a largely portioned platter with a moist, hand breaded filet of meat wrapped with peppered bacon and doused with their delicious gravy. Meanwhile, the gravy had a hint of cheddar cheese with yet again thick chunks of bacon in it.
Mac & Cheese was thick, creamy, cheesy and very satisfying! The Twisted Chicken was served on a pretzel bun and is an incredible meal. Juicy chicken with combined flavor of bacon, candied sweet red onions and drizzled cheddar cheese - it creates a stupendous salty/sweet combo. We topped off the dining experience with their Singing the Blues Burger... a thick Black Angus burger topped with gorgonzola and crispy bacon on a light and fluffy bun. The Angus is so tender that it melts like butter in your mouth; tender, succulent and salty.
As if we could move after all of the food, out came dessert! Made from scratch, the Carrot Cake was possibly one of the best I've ever had. The Crème Brulee was simply heavenly and was a perfect end to an amazing meal - very rich and creamy; there was a kiss of yummy in every bite! All in all, it would be a shame for anyone to miss out on this incredible location.
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