The Porch on a Sunday Afternoon

Yes, that's a bird above his head.

Feeding the Lorikeets

IPA-hole and I were running around the city on a Sunday afternoon.  We took the kiddos to the aviary, which is always good fun.  If you've never been there, its great because all of the birds are free in the different rooms, so you're basically walking around in their world.  If you pay attention to the schedule, there are plenty of opportunities for the kids to do hands-on activities, mostly centered around feeding the birds.  Get in line early and buy the cup of nectar for $3 to feed the Lorikeets!  Yeah, I know, some of you think its creepy for birds to walk all over you, but c'mon, the kids think its great - these particular birds are very friendly.

Penguins!

We're getting hungry after all that bird-feeding and trying to think of a kid-friendly option while loading the car on the north side isn't coming easy.  I can think of a whole bunch of spots that I'd like to wander into, but with BigBrother and BabyGray in tow, ain't no way.  There was a time when they would eat whatever we put in front of them, but right now - as every parent dreads - they're in the (use your best child whiney voice) "I don't liiiiike it" phase where everything's taste value is based on how it looks to a 3 year old. And they're hungry and tired.  Awesome.  Find some pizza.  Fast.

Double Dip French Fries

Thank God for smart phones.  What we did before them, I can't recall - the dark ages.  The Porch at Schenley wins in a complex matix analysis of google searches, mental maps, urbanspoon app shaking, and that deck of cards that you could buy on living social a few months ago.  Yup, marketing works on me.

We walk in during that weird time between lunch and dinner.  Winning - there are other kids in the restaurant.  Losing - you can't get the dinner menu for another 40 minutes.  Pizza:  the goal is pizza, stay focused!  But pork belly, cassoulet, and truffle whipped potatoes...  ah, there's the kids' menu. 

To start:  Double Dip French  Fries (w/ parm, truffle oil, garlic aioli) & a Caesar salad

Bianca Pizza

IPA-hole: Beef Burger
Me: Bianca Pizza (Fig, goat cheese, truffle oil, arugula)
the Kids:  Pepperoni & Plain Pizza

Beef Burger

Our server is friendly, the atmosphere is light and airy. It really does feel like you could be sitting on someone's porch. The beer menu looks good - flights, floats - IPA-hole is satisfied, and with his burger & taters as well.  In his words, "simple, not over-engineered."  Everybody likes the fries and I think all fries should have truffle oil and then garlic aioli.  Kids are happy with pizza, not a tough crowd here.  I learned something new: I like figs, I like goat cheese, I like black truffle oil.  Please put them on a wood-fired pizza and we have a sweet and savory combination that just works.

It was a simple and casual meal, down to the lemonade.  The food was good, the restaurant itself was so bright and open, and everything was tasty.  I'll be honest, the big win here is the kids menu.  There aren't tons of choices that have great menus and kids menus.  I mean, my kids will order the cobia or lobster tails if offered, but sometimes I just want them have  pizza and lemonade.

 

Kid's Pizza

~ CDO

Kaleidoscope Cafe

Kaleidoscope Cafe

Per usual, we keep looking for new or little-known restaurants to try.  I've been pushing for Kaleidoscope Cafe for quite sometime.  I figured it's in Lawrenceville, where a lot of hot spots are right now, and they show on their website an attention to vegetarian and gluten free options.  So on trend, and important to some members of the entourage, that we figured it'd be worth trying.

Industry Public House

Well, its winter and its cold outside.  And not knowing, we pull into a parking lot on Butler St, while Kaleidoscope is quite a few blocks off of Butler - so park in their lot.  Anyway, we have some time before our reservation and we are waiting on some members of our party.  We first walk into Tender for a drink.  No room at the Inn - they turn the 4 of us away for drinks.  This is not the first disappointment for me at Tender, but I was surprised, being that we were only there for a drink.  They don't allow people to congregate around the bar - you have a seat or you don't get a drink, apparently. 

So we run across the street to Industry, which hasn't let us down yet.  Their drink menu is extensive and it truly is fun to watch the bartenders work.  Rhuby Rhuby Rhuby was sweet and light - good for just about anybody.  The Menlo Park was delish and fun to watch him make.  We had Carnegie Cucumber, Tesla's Coil, and for entertainment, order a Smokestack or a Kentucky Holiday.  I don't know how they taste, but fun to watch them being made.

Oven Roasted Salmon

So we walk for what seems like forever down to Kaleidoscope.  When you walk in, it's awkward - with a glass counter and a little room that make you feel like you walked into a deli or something.  We felt like we were in the wrong place, which isn't a good start for a restaurant at 7pm on a Saturday night.

We get our table - the dining room is small, cluttered,  and dark and the decor gives an eclectic and homemade vibe.  The stand-out here are the tables which have been created by local artists and are for sale.  But the walls need to be painted, the layout is uninviting, and the homemade fabric covered triangles on the wall are tired. 

So what did we eat? 

Apps: Duck Cannoli, Deep Fried Gnocci, Chicken Apple Sausage

Saute of Chicken Apple Sausage

Duck Cannoli

Deep Fried Gnocci

The Cow Jumped Over the Blue Moon Pasta

Dinner:  The Cow Jumped Over the Moon Pasta
     Chicken Pot Pie
     Sweet Potato Tagliatelle

Sweet Potato Tagliatelle

     Oven Roasted Salmon
     Scallop Beurre Noisette  
  

Chicken Pot Pie

 I wish a I could, but I can't rave about the food.  I think the Cow Jumped Over the Moon Pasta was the best, with Gorgonzola cream sauce.  Everything we tasted had great elements to it but nothing was quite perfected - and seemed to be missing something.  Brie was key the Sausage appetizer.  The tagliatelle had a cool twist - it wasn't pasta made with sweet potatoes, but the sweet potatoes were made to be the pasta.  This had a great texture and flavor, and was surprisingly good.   The scallops were also very tasty, but again, were just missing a little something to make the restaurant worthy, especially in this city with so many choices.  Chicken Pot Pie and Salmon were not exciting at all. Same with the cannoli and the gnocci.

Scallops Beurre Noisette

While the whole experience was good, it wasn't great.  From the descriptions on the menu and the artsy-funk decor, I guess I was expecting some more pizazz.   We didn't get it in the food.  It seems like Kaleidoscope is going for homey and familiar, but missing the mark a bit.  I can see how this is a good place to have lunch delivered at work, but other than that, I wouldn't make a night out of it.

Ten Penny - meh, not a 10

I've tried to get to Ten Penny on 3 separate occasions.  For the record, don't try to get there during the Pittsburgh Marathon.  It won't happen.  I guess the 4th time was a charm.

So you hear its new, its hip, the location is great and brunch is catching on in Pittsburgh. The name is perfect - on 10th and Penn.  Clever.  But, while the concept, ambiance and decor were fantastic, the food was just good.  With so many great and outstanding options in the area, its going to be difficult for us to recommend Ten Penny for dinner over other restaurants.

We went before a Penguins' game.  The restaurant was full of people heading to the game, so the attire was relaxed.  There is a valet - it's $10 and takes a while, so if you can park across the street it might be worth it.  My car was too big for the valet kid to handle, but that's another story.

Duck Breast

There were six in our party, so we were able to try quite a few different appetizers and dishes and they were good, however, nothing knocked us out.  For everything we ordered, I think I can quickly name another restaurant close by that does it better.  I truly wished it would have offered some gems because the restaurant itself is very cool.

Seared Sea Scallops

On the table:

 ~ Mega Meatball app
 ~ Pork Belly app
 ~ Duck Breast
 ~ Lamb Shank
 ~ Ahi Tuna
 ~ Seared Scallops
 ~ Stuffed Chicken Breast

Lamb Shank

Everything was good - it was.  It was prepared well, had tasty flavor combinations.  I don't think any of us would have turned our choices away if you put them in front of us again, but I'm not running back. Our server was attentive, the drinks were great, the wine list was decent, beer selections were good.   Nothing knocked my socks off.  I think it'd be a great place to grab a drink or two and an appetizer.  When you're positioned to compete with the likes of Butcher and the Rye (better Pork Belly), Meat and Potatoes (better duck), Emporio (better meatballs), Six Penn (same name play, better lamb) - I could go on - kick it up a few notches.

Bummer.  I guess we'll have to try brunch and see what happens.  Meh...

 ~ CDO