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Tuesday, April 30, 2019

La Palapa Revisited


Taco Time
I'm a huge supporter of La Palapa. I've been rocking with them since they were located a little further down Carson Street and we even stopped by last year for a magical happy hour.

I was overjoyed to hear that they were hosting a new Monday night event featuring all you can eat tacos and some of the best DJs in town. For $10 you seriously get entertainment and unlimited tacos. Certainly there is no better time to be alive. (They also rock $3.50 Coronas and $6.00 Margaritas for taco night.) You may purchase tickets in advance or pay at the door.

So the taco selection changes monthly and one taco changes weekly. The selection features one meat, one vegetarian and one special taco. The event is so new that I cannot really give you much guidance on what to expect other than when I visited the options were chicken, pork, and bean and mushroom. They will only allow you to order three tacos at a time.

I had one of each and really enjoyed all of them. My only complaint was that they are placing a lining of rice in each taco, presumably to help keep their costs within a reasonable margin. After all,  they can't possibly be making money by offering unlimited tacos for $10.

Instead of rice they should just give guests the option of lettuce, tomatoes and onions or serve tacos that are a little less filled. I like a bit more roughage in my tacos and I don't think it would significantly affect their margins to give us some vegetables.


I only managed to eat three tacos so they probably made money on my ass or at least broke even. My friend Eric went for five, I think he regretted his decision.



This is TJ, he is your host for this event and also a great dude. I saw him eat four tacos, what a badass.

Now when it comes to taco strategy, TJ had a solid theory. He mentioned that patrons are ordering their tacos sans shells in order to really capitalize on protein. Bold move folks! Maybe those people are the reason we are getting rice in our tacos. (Jerks.)


Photo Compliments of BC1

Possibly the best part of unlimited taco night, SICK DJs!!! This is Tom, he's a pretty cool dude. Overall, this is one of the best events taking place in Pittsburgh on Monday nights. I highly recommend stopping by.



La Palapa Cocina Gourmet Mexicana Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Burn


The decor of Burn doesn't really make a ton of sense in comparison to the rest of the establishments on the North Shore. Just about every bar on the North Shore is going for some type of sports theme or something centered around whimsical knickknacks, like a Pirate themed TGI Fridays or a Hockey Steeler themed Shenanigans.

Then there is Burn by Rocky Patel. If words could describe Burn, those words would be, "an art deco style bar designed by a Vegas whore with limited taste and loose morals." In other words - I loved it.

I don't think there is a single place in Pittsburgh that looks more like Vegas. Some of the other great benefits were awesome live music, $5 wine and $7 cocktails and 25% off of Johnny Walker spirits for happy hour. (Heads up to bars, having a special where you describe a spirit as being 25% off is not very helpful to patrons.)




When I asked Eric what he thought about the pizza he said, "the pizza adequately represented pizza." It was fine, but for the price it could have been better/bigger or they at least could have used a little more sauce. 

I highly recommend checking out Burn, especially if you like a good cigar.  The service is great, but we found some of the cocktails to be a little sugary and watered down.


Monday, April 22, 2019

Soju


Soju is one of the more interesting Pittsburgh restaurant openings from the last year. The space is warm and intimate and features a beautiful bar with lots of that wood paneling that is currently fashionable. Pictured above are the kim-chi pancake, fried tofu, rice cakes and bibim bap.

I genuinely enjoyed all of the food I sampled during happy hour. The tofu and pancake were two of my favorites and the beef I managed to snag off of some stranger's plate was also remarkably good. I was not a fan of the Korean rice cakes (Tteokbokki), but that's because I just don't like rice cakes.

Korean rice cakes have an extremely glutinous texture that could be compared to super soggy gnocchi. They really don't have much flavor on their own and rely heavily on the accompanying sauce. I would compare chocking down Korean rice cakes to chewing on some old flavorless bubble gum that has been left out in the sun to decompose and then covered in a spicy red sauce. Gross.

In general, the prices were fantastic for happy hour. You can expect $2 soju shots, half off craft beers and a discounted specialty cocktail that rotates daily. Most of the food was reasonably priced as well with the exception of a side dish of kim-chi, which I believe was $6. (I can get a whole jar of kim-chi for that price, or even better make a whole gallon of it!)




The cheesecake was also quite interesting, it was light and airy, somewhat different from the traditional New York style cheesecake to which I am accustomed. I feel obligated to point out that the bartenders were extremely nice and accommodating to us, but this place really isn't ideal for larger groups due to their size. Go check them out in addition to Pittsburgh's annual Korean Food Bazaar which should be coming up sometime in May.

Sunday, April 14, 2019

5 New Cocktail Destinations in Pittsburgh

Sponsored by Party Bus Pittsburgh PA

Bartenders at Spirits and Tales

Here are five new fantastic destinations for drinks to consider checking out in and around Pittsburgh. Remember, safe transportation is inherently important any time you decide on drinking with friends. For more information on transportation options, check out Party Bus Pittsburgh PA. In the meantime, read on for more details on these fresh establishments in the area.

Alta Via
Italian American cuisine
46 Fox Chapel Road in Blawnox
This newly opened Italian restaurant in Blawnox has an intimate atmosphere as well as high quality food and drinks that all will enjoy. From classic Italian cocktails like the Negroni and Basil Margarita to an extensive wine list, there's quite a lot to take in when it comes to the drink menu.

Wolfie's Pub
Traditional pub
274 Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh
Come enjoy the low key environment and welcoming staff at this new pub in downtown Pittsburgh. We're sure you will love their inventive drinks here. Don't leave without trying their "Grandma's Liberation Libation" which is a draft beer of your choice, a shot of whiskey, and a piece of hard candy.

412 Brewery Taproom
Taproom
847 Western Avenue in Pittsburgh
While the brewery itself is located in McKees Rocks, this newly opened taproom near the North side is a smaller establishment with an industrial vibe. Why not enjoy a flight of awesome brews at this taproom? The orange IPA is extremely tasty and the perfect addition to any day with the warmer weather.

Spirits & Tales
Cocktail bar
5130 Bigelow Boulevard
This cocktail bar is located inside of the Oaklander Hotel. You are sure to be impressed by the ambience as soon as you walk in. Their hand crafted cocktails are made with local spirits, so you can feel good knowing that you're supporting local businesses when you come here for some drinks with friends.

Kingfly Spirits
Distillery
2613 Smallman Street in Pittsburgh
This craft distillery, cocktail bar and event venue is making a splash over in the Strip District. Seemingly every detail has been thought out here, down to their ice cubes adorned with their butterfly logo. Tasting pours are $4 for an ounce, and their cocktails are very affordable at $9 when you consider the size.

Brought to you by Party Bus Pittsburgh PA