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| - Oh how I had hoped this place would great, for if there's one thing Pittsburgh lacks, it's small, casual bistros serving great food at a good price. My girlfriend and I decided to give it a go on a Friday evening...
First, the decor... we ate inside, which was a bit bland despite the attempt to add some European culture to the walls. The room was small, about half full, with a small bar towards the back. I normally enjoy a cozy room, but the sound was very active, and the conversation between the bartender and his patrons could be overhead by everyone. Our table, which sat parallel to the bar, was too deep for the space, resulting in constantly feeling as though I would be run into by the wait staff. The tables and chairs felt cheap and generic. The place mats, chincy. And our table was not well cleaned.
Second, the food... we each ordered the caprese to start. The tomatoes were average at best, with bland mozzarella and dry, tasteless basil that seemed as though it was two weeks past its prime. For some reason the outer rim of the plate was covered in fine ground pepper -- perhaps to hide the water spots and stains on the poorly cleaned plate.
Our entrees were served over an hour hour after we arrived. I ordered the duck special, which was a half roast duck, orange sauce and potatoes. For some reason the server asked me how I'd like my duck cooked... clearly it didn't matter, as my duck was cooked to the same temperature as the other half delivered to some other patron. Overall the meat was overcooked, unseasoned, and uninspiring. The sauce was OK, but barely present. The potatoes were bland, and again, completely unseasoned.
A half roast duck is no easy task... they clearly should have sectioned the duck to better control the cooking. It was also impossible to fully break down and eat at the table without running the risk of a bone flying across the room. A big disappointment for $36.
My girlfriend ordered the creamy risotto with mushrooms and cheese. Long story short, it was almost completely tasteless, and the mushrooms were nowhere to be found.
Lastly, the service. The staff was friendly enough, but our server lacked any enthusiasm. Everything was slow. We chose not to order wine, but our glasses were left for most of the meal. Our fork and knives were set incorrectly. And the staff was often milling around the bar, talking -- a problem for such a small place. None of these things on their own really matter, but when added up, it made for a rather unpolished experience.
This place had potential, but thus far, isn't bringing it. Save your money... you can easily find a better meal.
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