 
|
|||||||
              
|
ROOMS WITH A VIEW
Line up a dinner date at a restaurant with a view of the Point and the Three Rivers, and you've got a sweet seat for this weekend's Three Rivers Regatta finales. The air shows and the fireworks are spectacular from ``restaurant row'' on Mount Washington. The higher you go, the better. Look out the restaurant window, and you seem to be on the same level as the planes. But you can also watch much of the action from the Top of the Triangle, Downtown, and from riverside eateries from Station Square to the Strip District. Not all of the regatta water events can be seen from all riverside restaurants. But there will be so much activity on the water today, tomorrow and Sunday, you'll have plenty to watch if you choose your restaurant, the time - and your table - carefully. This is a sampling of restaurants with river views. Call for reservations, and other details, such as hours. Some are open for both lunch and dinner.
River View Cafe (237-3417) Dine for as little as $1 (for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich) and get a superb view of regatta activities in the air and on the water. This is the restaurant inside the Carnegie Science Center on the North Side, with big windows overlooking the river and some outside seating. The food selection is mostly fast-food specials such as hot dogs and hamburgers with fries. Check out the daily specials, which usually range from $4 to $5.25 for a well-rounded hot meal. Today the cafe is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (when it closes for a private party). Tomorrow it will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Gateway Clipper Fleet (355-7980) Sail on one of the regularly scheduled cruises and get a close-up view of the river activity as a bonus. The Majestic, Liberty Belle and Party Liner adjust their routes so they don't interfere with regatta activity, but there is still plenty to see. Today there's a luncheon cruise on the Majestic, noon to 2:15 p.m., featuring Flapper Fannie's Flamingo Review and a buffet ($20.50). From 7 to 10 p.m., the Party Liner's Captain's dinner dance cruise will have live music and a buffet ($29.50). From 11 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., the Majestic sails into the moonlight for dancing and a Tex-Mex buffet ($9). Tomorrow, the entire fleet has been chartered out for regatta activities. On Sunday, the brunching starts as early as 10 a.m. on the Party Liner, if you want to board early. Then the boat sails from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., as the eating continues. Price: $18.50. Later on Sunday, the Liberty Belle will be on the river from 7 to 10 p.m. for another Captain's dinner dance cruise, 7 to 10 p.m., $28.50. For an inside tip on what's best in all those buffets, consider these recommendations from Suzanne Gradisek, Gateway Clipper's director of marketing and special events: On the dinner cruises, stuffed shells, ham, chicken and cakes; for brunch, the pastas, waffles and desserts; for lunch, the apricot chicken, buttered baby carrots and the rice. Or, in the best Pittsbugh buffet tradition, try everything and go heavy on desserts. The Gateway Clipper's dock at Station Square is a good place to eat and gawk, too. Grab a seat and have a ``Shirley burger'' (also known as a hamburger), ice cream, or other fast food.
The Boardwalk This nightclub on the water off Smallman Street in the Strip is a bit removed from most regatta events, but there is still plenty of action. Boat activity near the Boardwalk increases about ten-fold during the regatta, according to Gary Gray, general manager at Crewsers restaurant. In addition, the Boardwalk will have live music and contests throughout the weekend, and fireworks at 10:30 p.m. today. Buster's Crab at the Boardwalk is closed, but Crewsers on the River (281-3680) serves some of the favorite dishes from its former sister restaurant. Recommended dishes at Crewsers: backfin crab cakes, linguine seafood supreme and the fish steak of the day, which is usually grilled swordfish. Most dinners are in the $10-$20 range, and lunch entrees are $7.95 to $9.95. Sunday brunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., is $15.95 for adults, less for children. Biggest bargain at the Boardwalk (and perhaps in all Pittsburgh) is the 6 to 8 p.m. Friday buffet for $1 at Donzi's. The night we dug in it was salad fixings, fresh fruit, vegetables with a dip, rolls, green beans, potatoes, fried chicken, meatballs and pasta. The fried chicken was good - or considering the price, exceptionally good. We never got to try the meatballs. As fast as the cooks brought out a new batch, the hungry moved in and scooped them up.
Cliffside, 1208 Grandview Ave. (431-6996) Regatta days are busy days at this small (50 seats) white tablecloth restaurant, with everyone trying to get a window seat. Most dinners are $16 to $23. Recommended dishes: veal Lafayette, chicken Dragina and seafood diablo. On Friday and Saturday nights, the restaurant opens the upstairs dining room, which has an even better view of regatta activity. Cliffside just recently started serving Sunday dinners. Georgetowne Inn, 1230 Grandview Ave. (481-4424) ``We can see it all - the boats, the planes flying by on a level with the restaurant, the fireworks,'' says Nadine Herd, dining room supervisor. Dinners are $13 to $23, lunches (today and tomorrow, not Sunday), $7 to $12. Recommended dishes: charcoal-broiled swordfish, prime rib, veal and shrimp maison. Grandview Saloon, 1212 Grandview Ave. (431-1400) Go in shorts, if you like. This is the most casual of all the eateries on Mount Washington's restaurant row. They don't take reservations, and the crowds pour in. Two popular outdoor decks are fine regatta-watching spots. The view from the top deck is especially good. Price range: $8.95 to $20.95. Recommended dishes: tomato basil linguine, shrimp scampi, and any of the whole meal salads. Le Mont, 1114 Grandview Ave. (431-3100) ``Balloons, laser shows, every bit of the regatta'' can be seen from his restaurant, says James Blandi II, adding: ``We can see who wins, too.'' The price range for dinner at Le Mont is $17.95 to $34.95. If you want a fine wine with your dinner, keep adding. Recommended dishes: salmon Raphael, roasted raspberry duck and hunter's quarry. Pasquarelli's, 1204 Grandview Ave., (431-1660) The view from the wall of windows is right down to fountain at the Point. Diners can see the air shows, fireworks, whatever is happening. Northern Italian dishes are the specialty, with prices in the $9.95 to $15.95 range (unless you want to go all out and have surf and turf). Favorite dishes: jumbo shrimp and lump crabmeat scampi, veal osso bucco, and the 20-ounce porterhouse steak with Pasquarelli sauce. Tin Angel, 1200 Grandview Ave. (381-1919) A small, intimate restaurant with a good view of the regatta activity. Complete dinners range from $28.95 to $47.75. That's for the Tin Angel's traditional lineup: appetizer, vegetable tray with homemade clam dip, entree, dessert, coffee, and chunks of fresh pineapple dipped in creme de menthe. Favorite dishes: land and sea (two lobster tails and a five-ounce medallion of beef), the Black Forest filet, which President Clinton ordered, and the ocean platter, with lobster tail, crabmeat, sea scallops and shrimp.
Top of the Triangle (471-4100) From this window-lined restaurant atop the USX Tower, Downtown, diners can see the entire Point area, water races and air events. For the most spectacular view of all, try to snag table 54, my favorite. Entrees are priced mostly from $19 to $27. Recommended dishes: the large crab ravioli appetizer, sauteed veal medallions and peppered jumbo Gulf shrimp. Top of the Triangle has a recently expanded wine list, featuring more California wines, and a special menu of light summer dishes.
Grand Concourse, Station Square (261-1717) The River Room at this big restaurant has a good view of the Monongahela, but it's so far from the Point, you can't see much of the regatta action. Still, there is plenty of other river activity to watch. Most dinners are in the $20 range. The popular Sunday brunch is $16.95. Three good dinner choices: salmon in parchment, Maryland crab cakes and shrimp Danielle. Waterfall Terrace, Sheraton Hotel Station Square (261-2000) ``We can see it all,'' says Tom Ortlieb, a manager. The hotel restaurant, lined with windows, is right on the riverside. Dinners are in the $10.95 to $22.95 class. Recommended: the daily shrimp special, chicken Sheraton or a filet. Sunday brunch, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is served in the nearby Reflections room, which also has windows overlooking the river. It's an array of breakfast and lunch foods. Price: $12.95, half-price for children. -- Review by Woodene Merriman, Post-Gazette Dining Critic
|
||||||
From the North
Side