422821 Thu Jul 19 13:56:16 -0700 2007 4 15 Pennsylvania 0 2765607 I've browsed some recent Pittsburgh posting re: veggie eats in preparation for a trip this weekend, but I thought I'd toss out a query with the added element of geography and the fact that I'll be with some garden-variety meat-eaters. (I'm staying at the Quality Inn University Center.) Any thoughts on places in that area with interesting veg options, but not too 'out there' for the flesh-munchers? Thanks in advance... Thu Jul 19 13:56:16 -0700 2007 14202 spyturtle008 1 2766442 Is this the one on the Boulevard of the Allies? If so, there's not much but Panera *immediately* next to you. But if you walk just a bit, over to Oakland Avenue or Atwood Street, there's a number of ethnic choices...two Indian (Spice Island Teahouse, and another), two Mexican (La Fiesta--smells like air freshener) (Mad Mex--smells like cigarette smoke), lots of pizza, some others. Oakland's not a big eating destination for me. Usually I eat at Qdoba when I'm in Oakland. If you can break away from your meat-eating buddies, try Maggie's Mercantile, a pure veg. place on Atwood St. http://www.maggiesmercantilepa.com/ There are a lot of hole-in-the-wall places on and off Forbes Avenue. You'll see them as you get closer to Pitt. Going east on Forbes, past Pitt's Cathedral of Learning, there's S. Craig Street, a restaurant row with a lot of okay restaurants--nothing great, really, but nothing horrible, either. I used to eat lunch at an Indian restaurant named Indica on N. Craig Street (between Bayard and Centre). It was 9.95 for all you can eat, and it was excellent. But someone bought it, changed the name, lowered the buffet price to 6.95. It wasn't as good anymore, so I never went back. EDIT: I just googled the new place, Tamarind. It gets a good review in the City Paper, so maybe you'll want to try it. http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A31576 Do you eat fish? Do you want to do any driving? It's fun to go to the Strip District (about a mile away) on Saturday mornings, and one of my favorite things is to get a fish sandwich at either Benkovitz or Wholey. Also, there's Kaya Restaurant in the Strip: http://www.bigburrito.com/kaya/ Thu Jul 19 18:34:11 -0700 2007 2765607 111939 Jay F 2 2766493 Also try the new Red Oak Cafe on Forbes which is reviewed in today's Post-Gazette. Thu Jul 19 18:59:00 -0700 2007 2766442 43183 Greyhoundgrrl 2 2767116 Just FYI Maggie's is closed on Atwood and not yet open in the new space on Craig. Definitely wouldn't go with the meat-eaters, of course. ;-) Mad Mex is fun, not really Mexican more like Mexican-inspired. I haven't been to that location (there are a few of them). Atwood Street stuff like this is going to be closer to the hotel than anything on Craig. Also stuff on Forbes like the Red Oak (haven't tried but also just read about it) would be similarly close. There are a few things, not too useful probably, on the same blocks of 5th Avenue. S. Craig is more of a hike. One place we like there is Eat Unique. I dunno that others do, and it's not open in the evening, closes up at 6. More of a coffee and lunch place. If you like falafel you should maybe try this Leena's place that used to be a truck and is now a shop on Oakland Ave (just the next street over from Atwood, but up near the corner of 5th) http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A25510 I dunno if anyone here has tried it. Supposed to be cheap, good hole in the wall sort of place. Depending upon what sort of dinners you're looking to have and what you can spend you might want to venture further afield to some of the other mentioned places. Kaya for example is a fun place to have a great veg and non-veg meal. (I deal with this all the time. I tend to eat some sort of meat or fish out since I don't bother cooking it at home, while my girlfriend does not eat any meat.) Mad Mex is owned by the same company, though, and runs lower in cost. Lots of stuff there can be veg. Fri Jul 20 05:28:02 -0700 2007 2766442 40162 CrazyOne 1 2766767 Tamarind Indian is fine. Very close to it on Centre Avenue is a new restaurant, with veggie options, that sounds interesting but forget the name. Squirrel Hill has more and better restaurants: Alladins (middle eastern), Bangkok Balcony (Thai) Good Pizza at Mineos. A good Deli at Smallman St Deli. in Shadyside, also close to Oakland Girasole is very good northern Italian. Strip District, downtown, Kaya. Southside/Carson Street has quite a variety!!! Enjoy check out City Paper and Pittsburgh Magazine Thu Jul 19 21:27:36 -0700 2007 2765607 23957 42duffy