In the spirit of last week’s feature on trying new restaurants I recently tried a new restaurant (to us) with a friend. It was Vallozzi’s on Fifth Avenue across from the Fairmont Hotel. As we got close to the location we were immediately aware of a very crowded Fifth Avenue, I attributed it to the valet parking for Capital Grill. It was a Saturday night about 45 degrees, no snow, no rain, not a bad night to hang out.
We parked the car in the Fairmont Hotel parking lot and made our way to the restaurant, the area was buzzing, we could see heads moving in Market Square, but we were almost late for our reservations so we made haste to the restaurant. It is a beautiful space and we were seated quickly. We now have menus and water and we’re waiting, waiting, waiting for a server. We finally summoned one and they took our order.
I had the crab cakes and my friend had the lamb chops. Both were good, but mine was by far better. The crab cakes were melt in your mouth mounds of crab with sautéed spinach and corn, I just needed more corn. I had bread pudding with caramel sauce for dessert. All I can say is OMG.
I will go back; the only complaint is our service seemed slow compared to the other patrons around us. I also noticed for most of the evening we were the only people of color being served. The ladies that greeted us were Black as well as two members of the kitchen staff.
After having a good meal we decided to see what was going on in Market Square—this is when we were sure we had been jetted to another city.
Market Square has been transformed into a Holiday Market with wooden booths that look like small houses. There was lots of jewelry, ornaments, candles made of beeswax, hand made African animals and jewelry made of car parts.If you make a donation to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank you can get a photo with Santa.
The atmosphere was so much fun and what a great place to buy something unique for a friend. The market will be open daily through Dec. 23 and some of the vendors are what they call visiting vendors and will only be there until Dec. 7. If you work in town, check this out on your lunch break but I say come back Downtown in the evening when you can enjoy all of the lights and the beautiful trees.
Many of Pittsburgh’s big players are involved in this great space: Peoples Natural Gas, BNY Mellon, Highmark, Macy’s, Fifth Avenue Place, One Oxford Centre and PPG Place are sponsors. There are lunchtime concerts and free parking every holiday Saturday in the Pittsburgh Parking Authority garages. Before we left the area we checked out the ice skating rink, it was packed. Yes people this is Pittsburgh, put on a coat, a hat and gloves and get out and have some fun.
(Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com)
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