Have You Met The Headkeeper's Older Sister Yet, J Corks?

26 East Pittsburgh Street- Greensburg

If The Headkeeper is the fun, more casual younger sister, then J Corks is the more mature, sophisticated older sister.  As many of my followers know, my husband and I have been a fan of The Headkeeper & it's laid back, yet modern tapas menu & amazing beer selection since I moved to the Greensburg area in January.  For my birthday this past September, my husband and I decided to give J Corks, The Headkeeper's sister restaurant, a go.  We found that we loved the menu just as much as The Headkeeper's, but just like when you date an older sister versus a younger sister make sure your wallet is a little thicker. ;)

From top left, clockwise:

• My husband & I started our meal with the Pepper Jack Spinach Dip with Soft Pretzels & Adobo Chips.  The spinach dip itself had just the right balance of spinach and creamy cheese, and just a hint of spice.  All too often, a restaurant will serve you a spinach dip that is cheese heavy or spinach dry.  J Corks gets the balance just right.  The soft pretzels & perfectly salted blue and red chips are the ideal accompaniment for the dip.  My husband & I loved the chips so much that we had to ask for a second helping.
• For my birthday girl dinner, I ordered the Black Tiger Shrimp Carbonara.  The shrimp were tossed with snow peas, applewood smoked bacon, & a romano cream sauce over linguine.  The dish itself was a sublime balance between light and heavy.  The applewood smoked bacon brought a nice smokiness to the cream sauce.
• My husband ordered the Dry Spicy Rubbed Center Cut Pork Loin Chop with Adobo Compound Butter.  This is not a chop for the light eater.  This 2 inch thick chop was tender and juicy, cooked perfectly.  The chop itself was lightly spiced, but the spice rub was not overwhelming.  The pork loin chop was served over a generous helping of tomato basil couscous.  *It appears that this item is not on their fall menu.  J Corks does change their menus seasonally.  
• You can't have a proper birthday dinner without a dessert.  ;)  The dessert choice was a no-brainer for us.  I love gingerbread; he loves carrot cake, so went with the Gingerbread Carrot Cake with a Vanilla Bean Icing.  The cake was moist.  The vanilla bean icing went perfectly with the gingerbread and carrot cake flavors.  What more is there to say? 

What you need to know before you go:

• Parking is on the street, so make sure to bring change for the meters.
• Dinner entrees range in price from around $14-$26.  If you are wanting to try J Corks, but are looking for something a little more budget friendly, try coming for lunch.  Their lunch entrees range in price from $9-$16.  http://www.jcorks.com/Lunch-Menu.html
• To be in the know about upcoming specials (such as Wino Wednesdays) & events, become a fan of J Corks on Facebook-  https://www.facebook.com/jcorksgreensburg

For directions, hours, & menus, click here:

http://www.jcorks.com/second-home.html

A Quick (& Sweet) Bite in Suburghia- The Cupcake Shoppe

20 West 2nd Street- Greensburg

If you are in need of a quick sweet treat while in the downtown area, stop in at The Cupcake Shoppe at 20 West 2nd Street.  We ducked in for some cupcake yumminess before heading to the farmers market at the Westmoreland Art Museum to pick up local goodies.  The shoppe is cute, quaint, and very clean.  This was my first visit to the Shoppe, and I was very impressed with how affordable the cupcakes are- just $2 each! :)  (Please remember, I am girl who moved here from a larger Midwestern city & had grown used to paying up to $5 a pop for a gourmet cupcake.)

So here is the lowdown...

From left to right:

• The Cupcake Shoppe's selection of cupcake flavors changes daily, so come back often for new choices. ;)  It does seem though that the Chocolate, Very Vanilla, and Peanut Butter Cup are regular offerings.  On this particular day, the special cupcake offered was Snickerdoodle.
• My son ordered the Peanut Butter Cup, a moist chocolate cupcake topped with a peanut butter frosting that is reminiscent of homemade peanut butter fudge.
• I went with a classic, the Chocolate cupcake, mainly because it is topped with a rich buttercream frosting and sprinkles. (I am a sucker for a good buttercream!)  The buttercream was amazing.

I definitely see more trips to The Cupcake Shoppe in our very near future. ;)

For more information and for the Shoppe's hours, visit below:

http://thecupcakeshoppegbg.com/Home_Page.html

Suburghian Ladies' Evening Out- The Parkwood Inn

1002 Cribbs Street, Greensburg

People say that Twitter is for connecting with and eventually meeting new people, and Facebook is for keeping up with friends you already have.  Witnessing firsthand (and personally) the many connections that can be made through tweeting, it was the first avenue of social media that I turned to when I made my big move from the Buckeye capital to Suburghia. A girl needs some friends in her new city!  I connected with 3 lovely Greensburghian ladies, and now we meet regularly for dinner and drinks.  Thus, the birth of a new blog series for me- Surburghian Ladies' Evening Out. 

This past Wednesday we decided to meet for dinner and a few drinks, and were on the hunt for a place with a terrific deck to take in the gorgeous weather.  The Parkwood Inn won the vote.  (By the way, you can see that amazing two level deck in my pic above.) ;)

So, let's get to it.



From top left, clockwise:

• I ordered what has quickly become a Parkwood Inn fave for me- the Eva Pepper Burger.  The Eva is a juicy 1/2 pound burger topped with provolone cheese and banana peppers.  I ordered mine with the Deckers, Parkwood's homemade potato chips.  I highly recommend the Deckers, although their fries are amazing as well.
• Colleen had the Eva's Homemade Cheese Ravioli, crescent shaped pasta filled with a blend of cheeses topped with Parkwood's very own tomato sauce and a meatball. 
• Jaimie also indulged in one of Parkwood's delicious burgers.  She had the Asiago Burger- asiago cheese, roasted red peppers, and mixed greens atop a juicy all beef burger.  And she also went with the very crispy Deckers as her side.  ;)
• Amanda went with one of Parkwood Inn's famous Traditional 4 cut pizzas.  (You can't go wrong with that, right??)  She ordered her's with ham and green peppers.  She was kind enough to offer me a bite.  The crust is thin- just a little chewy with a bit of crisp. 

What you need to know before you go:

• The Parkwood Inn is very easy to get to from either direction on 30.  (In fact, you can see it from the highway.)
• Parkwood has ample parking, but when it gets busy the lot fills quickly.  You may have to park on the street if you arrive during one of their busy times.
• Plan to visit Parkwood Inn Monday through Friday from 4-6pm for their Halfly Hour- 1/2 priced drafts, well drinks, and 4 cut plain pizzas.

For hours, directions, and menus, visit below:

http://www.parkwoodinnrestaurant.com/

Hip, Big City Cuisine Right Here in Suburghia- Solstice Restaurant and Lounge

Solstice Restaurant & Lounge- 911 Green Street, Greensburg

We visited Solstice Restaurant and Lounge for the first time on a Monday evening.  We were drawn in by the promise of $2 draft microbrews.  Being a lover of all things craft beer (and being on a budget most of the time), this seemed like as good a night as any to check out the restuarant we had driven past a few times and wondered about.  Now, while we didn't receive $2 drafts (maybe they were only at certain times? Although there was no mention of that on the website), they did have an impressive draft list and amazing food. 

So, let's get to it...

From top left, clockwise:

• We very pleasantly started out our meal with a complimentary appetizer of lahvosch and 3 different spreads- Black bean, a hummus, and a mango orange mint dip.  The spreads were served on a chilled glass plate, and each of them were very tasty. 
• I ordered the Cioppino and Orzo for my entree.  They most definitely do not skimp on the seafood in their version of the classic San Francisan Italian dish.  Big, soft scallops, large shrimp, and plenty of littleneck clams and mussels all floating in a smoky, spicy tomato broth around an island of orzo which falls apart and into the broth as you dig your spoon in.  It is served with a big hunk of ciabatta bread perfect for soaking up the broth.  This is by far one of the better Cioppino's I have ever had the pleasure of eating.
• My fiance (now husband ;) ) ordered the Steak Frites topped with the Maytag bleu cheese.  It came with a side of their crispy fries with basil mayo, and a side of roasted asparagus.  The steak was cooked almost perfectly (just a tad bit overdone) and the frites (fries) were to die for.  Please do dip them in the basil mayo- you will not be disappointed.  ;)
• We topped off our meal at Solstice by sharing their Apple Crisp.  The apple slices were tender and the topping was flaky and crispy.  It was the perfect ending to our evening.

What you need to know before you go:

• The Solstice Restaurant & Lounge offers several food and drink specials, Monday through Saturday.  I would suggest confirming with your server or bartender for any possible fine print (which I admittedly should have done).  You can find their daily specials here:  Solstice Specials
• Solstice offers both small and large plates.  So you can go tapas style or full on dinner.  Most of the small plates range in price from $5 to $12.  Larger plates are a little pricier at anywhere from $15 to $24.  My Cioppino was priced at $18 and was worth every penny of it. ;)
• We were told that Solstice gets very busy on Fridays and Saturdays, and that reservations are highly recommended if you plan on visiting then.  You can request a reservation online by going here:  http://www.solsticegbg.com/contact.php

For hours, directions, menu, and catering information, visit below:

http://www.solsticegbg.com/index.php

Old World Italian in the Heart of Greensburg- Rialto Cafe

25 West Otterman Street, Greensburg

Rialto Cafe is tucked inside a more than century old stone building (circa 1796) at the corner of West Otterman Street and North Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Greensburg.  The bar (pictured above) is the original from the restaurant's opening in 1933, and the staff still serves up cold ones and libations over this bar almost 80 years later.  The Montouri family has owned the Cafe for 3 generations now.  It has become one of those places that a couple may have come to on a date, then got married and brought their children there, and now those children bring their children there.  Tradition, family, and good family recipes is what makes Rialto Cafe a mainstay (and quite literally a historical landmark) in Greensburg.

So, let's get to it.

From left to right:

• Most of the dinner entrees are served with the Rialto Cafe House Salad.  The salad itself consists of lettuce, chopped mozzarella, pickled beets, and black olives. I ordered mine with the house dressing, the Creamy Parmesan.  The salad was simple, yet different.  

• We shared the Fried Zucchini Appetizer.  I was pleasantly surprised by the cut of the zucchini.  The zucchinis are sliced lengthwise, then breaded lightly, and fried.  It is served with a side of their traditional red sauce.

• As my main entree, I ordered an Italian favorite of mine, the Cheese Raviolis.  Each ravioli was a pasta pillow filled with a ricotta cheese mixture.  My favorite part of the dish was the generous meatball spooned right into the center of the plate.  It was tender, well seasoned, and quite possibly one of the better meatballs that I have had.  The entire plate was smothered in Rialto's traditional sauce, which is a smooth red sauce.

What you need to know before you go:

• Parking is metered, so bring change!
• Rialto Cafe is a fabulous choice on a nice, pretty day.  They have a good amount of patio seating (the outdoor space was once where the dining room of one of Rialto's patriarchs used to serve his family his homecooked meals. ;) )
• There are menu choices for every budget!  The staples of the Rialto Cafe menu are their sandwiches, pasta dishes, and their pizza.

For hours and directions, call below (Yes, I said call. They do not have a website yet- so very old school.):

 724-834-8010

Helping to Make Greensburg a Little More "Green"- The Supper Club

101 Ehalt Street, Greensburg - at the Greensburg Train Station

The Supper Club is one of those places that you walk into, and you instantly wish the place could speak to you and tell you the stories of what it has seen.  The Greensburg Train Station will be 100 years old this August. And the station still welcomes passengers once daily even to this day. You can hear and feel the rumbling of the trains passing by, and even an occasional train whistle if you listen very close. The station now houses one of Greensburg's first ever farm to table restaurants.  Owner Deb Driggers told me that when her family became interested in opening a new restaurant in the train station building, their goal was to create a restaurant that they as a family would want to share meals at.  They also shared a passion for supporting local farms and businesses, investing money back into the local economy, and their menu of local offerings reflects this. The building itself evokes a connection with the past; the menu offerings evoke a connection with the community.

So, let's get to it...

From top left, clockwise:

• Since The Supper Club buys from local vendors, the menu changes seasonally as new meats and produce are offered in the area.

• Mondays are for Meatballs & Martinis! Stop in on Monday evenings for 50 cent (yes, just 2 quarters!) meatballs and $6 martinis.  We started our evening with the Swedish meatballs in sauce and the turkey meatballs served with a cilantro aioli (both pictured above). 

• The Friendship Farms Grass Fed Beef Burger is by far one of the best burgers that I have had in the Suburghia area.  Because the cattle are raised on grass, the meat itself has a clean taste.  It is seen here topped with blue cheese & black pepper bacon.

• And I couldn't leave without partaking in one of their $6 martini offerings of the evening.  I chose the Liquid Dessert- an almost sinful mixture of Irish cream, amaretto, Frangelico, Kahlua, vanilla vodka, and cream. 

What you need to know before you go:

• Entrees run from around $8 up to $34.  You can enjoy this restaurant even if you are on a tighter budget.  Plus, various wallet-friendly specials are offered Monday through Thursday:  http://www.supperclubgreensburg.com/events.html

• If you plan to visit on a Friday or Saturday evening or if you are bringing a larger dinner party, you can easily make reservations.  The Supper Club is one of the only restaurants in the Greensburg area that utilizes the online reservation system, Open Table:  http://www.opentable.com/the-supper-club-greensburg

For hours, directions, events, and seasonal menus, visit below:

http://www.supperclubgreensburg.com/index.html

Big City Tapas & Craft Beers in Suburghia- The HeadKeeper Tapas Bar

618 South Main Street, Greensburg

You would never guess from the unassuming facade of the building that houses The Headkeeper Tapas Bar that you are in for a culinary treat that you would only expect in the 'Burgh.  The Headkeeper offers an intriguing selection of tapas plates that change seasonally, and takes advantage of local offerings as much as possible. 

So, let's get to it.

From left to right:

1.  We started out with the Flash Fried Mozzarella with a Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette.  Thick slices of buffalo mozzarella are lightly breaded and fried just until crispy on the outside and slightly warmed on the inside. A hidden surprise of a lovely vinegar cucumber salad is nestled beneath the mozzarella slices.

2.  The Headkeeper offers more than 600 bottles of domestic and import craft beers in their wall of coolers. You can browse for a brew to pair with your tapas, and then bring it back to your table where your server will open it and provide you with a glass.  You can also create your own six packs to carry home. (There is a $1 discount per bottle for taking home your own hand-selected brews.)

3.  By far, one of their tastiest and most popular tapas dishes is the Five Spice Pork Tenderloin Drizzled with Chipotle Beurre Blanc.  The tenderloin is cooked perfectly- tender & moist.  The five spice rub gives the pork a spicy and sweet crust.  The chipotle buerre blanc offers just the right amount of heat to complement the sweetness of the pork. 

What you need to know before you go:

• Check the website for hours and directions, but not for menu offerings. The online menu does not seem to get updated too often.  Also, their MySpace page has not been updated since April 2010. ;)

• Their tapas are perfect for sharing!  Bring a date, a best friend, or an after work crew.  We found that 3 tapas was perfect for 2 people.  Most of their tapas are priced from $6-$13. 

• And for you Big 'Burgh dwellers, this place just might be worth the drive to Suburghia. ;)

For hours and directions, visit below:

http://www.theheadkeeper.com/

A Quick Bite in Suburghia- Original Baldy's Pizza

Last night was a let's order pizza and hunker down kind of a night.  It just so happened that we had the pleasure of meeting Angela Rullo, one of the owners of Original Baldy's Pizza and Rialto Cafe, yesterday afternoon before the first major downpour hit. 

So here is the lowdown... 
I ordered one of their signature pizzas, the Aunt Sue's Pizza.  (And yes, we did meet the actual Aunt Sue yesterday afternoon.)

The Aunt Sue is a sauceless pizza, but you don't really miss the sauce.  It comes topped with fresh tomato slices, roasted red peppers, sauteed green peppers, thick cut pepperoni, extra cheese, basil and LOTS of garlic. (Garlic fans- like me- will love this pizza!)  The crust was perfect- soft in the middle, crispy on the outside, with a little bubbly, baked cheese along the crust; not super doughy, but not really thin.  My only tiny gripe was the basil.  I was expecting leaves of fresh basil under the cheese, but the basil was actually dried flakes sprinkled over the top.  But overall, a pizza I would order again (and again, and again...). 

To order your own Aunt Sue, call 724-834-3600.  Baldy's is located at 25 West Otterman Street in downtown Greensburg.

A Warm Cup of Americana

114 North Main Street, Greensburg

Why did I pick The American Coffee Shop as my first local establishment to feature?  Well, I'll be honest.  I had a Groupon to spend. And it doesn't hurt that I am a huge fan of coffee.

So, let's get to it.

From top left, clockwise:

• I ordered the Salad Trio.  You get to choose your trio (and who doesn't like choices?)  What did I have? The garden salad, tuna salad, and the egg salad. All were excellent, but my fave was definitely the egg salad- very creamy, not dry, and made in house by owner MaryLynn Padgett.

• The entire coffee shop is decorated in Americana/Colonial period decor (thus, the name!).

• The selection of fresh roasted beans you can take home is amazing!  By far, this was my favorite thing about The American Coffee Shop.  Coffee beans are sold by the 1/2 lb and full lb.  MaryLynn keeps it local by ordering all of her coffee beans from Prestogeorge Coffee Roasting Company in the Strip District. You can't go wrong with flavors like Cinnamon Apple Pie and Chocolate Marshmallow.

• The Penny Bar!  You will have to visit the coffee shop to get the story on that one. ;)

What you need to know before you go:

• Parking is metered- bring change!
• Credit cards are accepted for purchases over $5.00 (Most lunch choices run around $5-6, so you should be safe.)
• Free Wi-fi is available.
• They serve breakfast & lunch, as well as coffees, and sweets, etc.
• Oh, and the Thin Mint Latte is delish! ;)

For hours, directions, and when music acts hit the coffee shop, visit below:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/The-American-Coffee-Shop/405122685550