This past weekend was really fun and I got to again, go to my favorite places in Pittsburgh!
Saturday night, Eric and I went to Avenue B for an early dinner.
Avenue B, located on Centre Avenue, right near Market District is a great place for some new and inventive dishes. Although the menu isn't posted online, most of their dishes are written on the wall on a large chalkboard- which changes seasonally! (sometimes even weekly/daily- thanks Pragna!)
Eric and I have been to Avenue B for Sunday Brunch a few months ago and it was absolutely delicious. So naturally, we were even more excited to try out dinner!
*I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures- I had to take it on my phone as Eric lost his camera. Boo.*
For our appetizers, Eric got the Arugula Salad with walnuts and goat cheese while I got the Pear and Gorgonzola Flatbread.
The flatbread was amazing. Crisp and warm from the oven, the tangy sauce paired with the salty goronzola and crisp pears was a delight! Portioned perfectly and not too heavy of a dish, I was ready for my main entree! I would say that my flatbread was the winner and Eric was most definitely jealous.
Although, I don't have a picture of the Arugula Salad, my flatbread won the show (at least the appetizer show) by far so you really don't need to see the salad anyway ;)
As for our main entree's, Eric got the Fresh Fish and Chips while I got the Mushroom and Butternut Squash Pot Pie.
I really didn't know what to expect out of our main dishes- they sounded very simple. But once the dishes hit our table, we were astonished by the creativity of the preparation as well as the beautiful presentation!
Eric's Fish and Chips
So Eric's fish and chips was not your ordinary run of the mill fried fish filet with french fries. First off, the chef gives you the option of having the fish pan-seared or tempura fried. The server recommended that he get it pan-seared as the skin of the fish already makes the fish crispy and you can appreciate the flavor of the fish more this way.
A huge portion of pan-seared fish on top of lightly fried homemade potato chips, topped with a drizzle of aioli sauce made the dish perfect. But not as perfect as my pot pie.
When I think of pot pie, I immediately think of a small pot/bowl, however, this dish was any thing but!
When getting my main course, I was pleasantly surprised by the presentation. Two large puff pastries on top of a bed of arugula and a creamy blend of wild mushrooms and butternut squash- I couldn't wait to dig in.
The creamy wild mushroom and butternutsquash mixture was out of this world. The nutty mushrooms were perfectly cooked and were well complimented by the sweet squash. The arugula gave the dish a bit of crunch while the puff pastry took it to a new level. Flakey and crispy and super buttery and light, the pastry (with a bit of balsamic glaze drizzled over top) was such a great addition to this dish and really pulled everything together. (And is also a great sauce dipper, I might add).
Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, we thought we'd try some dessert. We got the coconut cream cheese flan.
I'm not flan expert, but the creamy cheesecake like consistency was not what I was expecting. More like a very soft and light cheesecake, this dessert was also amazing. Creamy and sweet, paired with fresh pineapple and orange bits, the dessert was the perfect end to the perfect meal.
I was, not only insanely happy from the meal, but very impressed by chef Bonfili! His creations are truly unique, and I can say that I am very happy that he has opened a place in Pittsburgh (although I am no longer living there- boo)
What do I not like about Avenue B? The location/view (or lack thereof). First off, located right in front of a bus stop, you can't help but be distracted by the individuals waiting in the cold for the bus to arrive. In fact, when looking out the window, all you see are the buses/cars and run down buildings. Although pretty and elegant on the inside, Avenue B's location makes it anything but on the outside. If you want to submerge yourself into a truly great dining experience, I would say avoid the window seating and try to get a table way in the back.
Besides that, the service and food are great and now I can't truly mean it when I say that I miss Pittsburgh!
Food: A+
Ambiance: B+
Service: A
Price: $$$
