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| - For real?? Did this place REALLY open up in the heart of Oakland, Cathedral of Learning adjacent??? Never in my life did I want to reapply to Pitt and become a student all over again so I could experience this place every day. How lucky are these guys?!
When I say smack in the middle of Oakland, I mean it. So much so that I actually drove past it, thinking that it would be off the cut a bit. The style/vibe here is casual, do-it yourself, easy eating. 1. You Pick up a Menu. 2. You Order and Pay. 3. You Grab a Seat. 4. Your Food is Delivered to you table. WOW, what a concept! The seating inside is very ample, from cozy booths that overlook the lawn and library, to bistro tables in the center. There are even larger tables for families. They also serve wine and beer. There are two green glass water coolers, one labeled H20, the other "fancy" water- infused with lemon and mint! Is it normal that I was getting excited about the water before I actually consumed anything?
The food came out quickly, nice and hot. I ordered the Farm Stand Vegetable burger with greens. The patty was chock-full of colors: carrots, bell peppers, red peppers. Nice texture, DElish. It was topped with kalamata olives, lettuce, tomatoes, and a type of sun dried aoli. My two dining pals ordered the Chicken Roti, with pear, pesto, Swiss cheese and aoli (um, YUMMM?? I could eat this sandwich every day of my life) and Grilled Cheese with Almond soup. OH, and I cannot forget the POTATOES. They are phenomenal- crisp and savory on the outside and soooo tender on the outside. all the way down to the cumin ketchup. Unfortunately I did not have a chance to try the Almond Soup, as my friend was lapping it up at warp speed. A clear sign of deliciousness.
As much as I loved my veggie burger, I had a slight bit of buyers envy over the Chicken Roti. The flavors are SO clean and unique.
I'm not sure whose brilliance is behind the launch of the Porch, but they deserve many kudos. It is the perfect addition to the campus, and inexpensive! Its nice to know that students can now eat wholesome good food at a good prices. It seems like it would be a great place to bring parents when they are out of town as well. Parking could be tough, but it's worth the extra effort to find a spot (or, jump on the bus, as all of them pretty much drop you off a block away).
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