Eleven - Pittsburgh on an Expense Account

For those of you (like me), who find themselves in Pittsburgh on business, a short walk from the downtown (business) area to the Strip district will take you to Eleven, a well-regarded restaurant with a mildly trendy vibe. For me especially, it's a welcome alternative to the clubby steak and fish joints which cater exclusively to business accounts and serve wholly predictable and unexciting, if consistent, food.

Eleven's menu runs the gamut - veal, fish, lobster, chicken, pasta, beef (2 choices in fact). I think it's influences are distinctly Italian although you would not, by any stretch, describe it as an "Italian" restaurant. These influences are apparent on the appetizer menu, which includes an antipasto plate and a ravioli.

Having been to Eleven twice in the past two weeks, I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that, during that time, the menu changed.

The food is ambitious and generally executed well, although not all the accompaniments to a dish hit the mark. Any slight misses in the entrees by the kitchen will be made up by the pastry chefs. Desserts here are outstanding. I had a deconstructed banana cream pie which was garnished with bananas in a luscious caramel sauce.

If I had to truly quibble with one thing about this restaurant, it is the wine list. It attempts to be varied, however, some of the offerings are from mainstream makers (i.e., Penfolds) and priced highly even taking into account standard wine bottle markups. A careful scrutiny of the lengthy wine list, however, will unveil a bottle worthy of a restaurant of this caliber without breaking the bank.

It is a place that, although intended to be trendy (it's located in a converted warehouse), you will feel comfortable taking business associates of any age. Along that same vein, even picky eaters will do well. It's entree prices run between about $18-$42.

So, if you're meandering in Pittsburgh someday, consider Eleven.

1150 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA
(412) 201-5656

Nice to hear about this place. The Strip is slowly adding interesting higher-end places to its already compelling salt-o'-the-earth desirables.

They most likely can't help themselves much on the wine list. The Pennsylvania wine cartel is state-run. It is probably no less corrupt than the Pgh parking authority. I once interviewed the director of the state liquor agency, who straight-facedly told me that 'no, we somehow never manage to make a profit.' Indeed.

So restaurants have to buy through the state. Prices are fixed. And I mean that in all possible ways. Just be glad that nowadays, it's at least possible to get a decent wine in Pgh at a state store. Used to be your only choice was to make a run to Ohio.

BTW, if you like sushi, it is absolutely worth your time to go over to Benkowitz fish (in the Strip, by the big cathedral) mid-day and have the guy make you some of this and that. It is spectacularly good eats.

Wow, must have been fun the last couple of days in Da 'Burgh!! I heard there were 250K folks dahntahn for the parade yesterday...

Geo

Geo wrote:They most likely can't help themselves much on the wine list. The Pennsylvania wine cartel is state-run. It is probably no less corrupt than the Pgh parking authority. I once interviewed the director of the state liquor agency, who straight-facedly told me that 'no, we somehow never manage to make a profit.' Indeed.

So restaurants have to buy through the state. Prices are fixed. And I mean that in all possible ways. Just be glad that nowadays, it's at least possible to get a decent wine in Pgh at a state store. Used to be your only choice was to make a run to Ohio.

Didn't realize it was so regulated. That should explain the lackluster offerings.

Geo wrote:Wow, must have been fun the last couple of days in Da 'Burgh!! I heard there were 250K folks dahntahn for the parade yesterday...

I just missed the parade. Had I arrived a couple hours earlier, I think I would have had a nice view from my hotel room. Caught enough of it during the endless news coverage of it, though . . .