Italian Beef in Pittsburgh - Yovi's Lives!
I finally made it dahn-tahn to verify if Yovi's was open, and it was well worth the 2 month ordeal.
The Italian beef was as good as I remember from Chicago, though it's been five years since I was there. A generous portion of sliced roast beef on a good French roll topped with sweet peppers for around $4. I got an extra cup of gravy-juice as I'm not a fan of dunking the whole sangweech in the juice, but you could get it that way if you want. They also had the beef/Italian sausage combo or just sausage, which I'll go for next trip to the 'burgh.
The Chicago hot dog was also top notch (love that freakish green relish) though I left off the raw onions. The tiny 'sport' peppers were hotter than the hinges of Hades and I could only stand a tiny nibble. Vienna beef hot dogs are among the best and I've always liked those poppy seed rolls.
Yovi's also serves fresh cut fries that were excellent. I don't know that I'd say they were as good as Potato Patch, but then again Yovi's isn't near the Jackrabbit.
Yovi's is only open Mon-Fri 9-5, and parking can be haphazard, but he (Yovi?) told me between rush hours, just park out front and they'll keep an eye out for you.
Lots of Chicago memorabilia on the walls, with some 'Burgh stuff as well. Yovi's is on 643 Liberty and the phone number is 412-628-4943.
Yovi's would be a great stop if you go early to a Pirate game, or anytime youre downtown during the week. It's a fantastic "Little Bit of Chicago".
Thanks,
K
