Lawrenceville, PA has everything I love about Pittsburgh right in a row. Cupcakes at Dozen, pizza at Piccolo Forno, vintage gems at the several thrift shops and great art in a collection of galleries. I lunched at a new eatery today, Coca Café and can safely say it is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Just a few doors down from Piccolo, Coca Café sits comfortably on the corner with a trendy red and blue paint job. The specials were written on the sign outside and my eye went directly to the pumpkin bisque, YUM! The eclectic chairs and tables made the shop just funky enough without trying too hard. I ordered the chicken and artichoke wrap, which was a great combination of warm and toasty yet light and fresh. Of course, I had to do a cappuccino and biscotti afterward. I couldn’t decide what kind to get, so I had our lovely server choose her favorite, which turned out to be vanilla apricot, YUM again! The music was just loud enough to get you groovin’ in your seat without inhibiting conversation. And something I love about local places; they accept local artwork that they display, which gives them an extra gold start in my book. Yet another Pittsburgh gem that dazzled me to the point of blogging, check them out online!
Tag Archives: Lawrenceville
Thanksgiving Comes Early at Dozen Bake Shop
Nothing like some early tryptoph turkey! Dozen Bake Shop in Lawrenceville hosts two prix fixe Thanksgiving dinners this weekend (menu and info below). Hope to see you there! This also reminds me how many great places there are to go around town to eat a communal meal and meet some new folks. One of my favorite places in Pittsburgh, Enrico’s hosts First Friday dinners each month, as well as a bread-baking class that includes an awesome antipasto breakfast and, of course, fresh baked bread.
Pizza and Other Pittsburgh Lunch-time Offerings
I work downtown and one of my favorite parts of the job is deciding where to have lunch every day! My co-workers and I started keeping tabs of all the great eateries in Pittsburgh last year and have hit up quite a few of them since then. I’ll admit, most of my favorites are places that offer pizza… because I am simply obsessed. Our latest lunch-time outing was to Piccolo Forno in Lawrenceville. We had been there a few times before but this time I was due for pizza. I love the atmosphere of Piccolo Forno, it is bright and airy throughout with brick walls, high ceilings and modern lighting. It isn’t very big, which I like… it gives you the feeling you are in a huge city and you are just thankful you get to be a tiny part of it! The staff is super friendly and you can watch them making your pizza in the fire oven right in front of you. It can be a place to go for a quite, relaxing lunch or somewhere to hang out with friends after work. You can even bring your own bottles of wine. How great is that? This trip, I ordered a pizza and I am not ashamed to admit I ate the WHOLE thing (don’t judge). I can’t wait until I get a craving for pizza again, or tiarmasu or panninis or a great salad (need I go on?) because I’ll be right back at Piccolo Forno enjoying every second of my meal. Stop by Butler Street and take a seat. Then be sure to let me know how you liked it… also, I’d like to know if I’m the only one who finishes an entire pizza BY MYSELF!
Links Worth a Look – October 1st
Here are some links/articles/blog posts that are worth a look:
- $5 Kayaking for College Students in October! – College students will be able to kayak for $5 with their student ID and Kayak Pittsburgh coupon (pictured right) on weekends throughout the entire month of October.
This college student discount is offered as part of Pittsburgh Connections, a project sponsored by Venture Outdoors, Richard King Mellon Foundation and the American Eagle Foundation
- Good Night States at WYEP – FREE SHOW – Thursday October 16, 2008
- Sierra Club Allegheny Group » Dudley Edmondson Nature Photography Show – Oct 8 – This looks like a great event with a great lineup of panelists for a discussion of the challenges and benefits to the minority community of expanding participation in outdoor activities.
- Equita – Essentials for Ethical Living – Pittsburgh Shop – Congratulations to Equita – this award winning Pittsburgh shop is moving from the Ice House to a new retail location on Butler Street. Sustainable shopping just got easier. Equita also has a full online shop. Look for the new shop to open Oct. 1, 2008.
Click here to see more links we like.
How Many Cupcakes Can You Eat?
Image via WikipediaIt is Cupcake Week at Dozen Cupcakes! Dozen Cupcakes is located in Sq. Hill and they also have a bakeshop in Lawrenceville where they serve lunch, brunch and other treats.
They have been celebrating the cupcake all week and on Friday they will host a cupcake eating competition at the Dozen Bake shop in Lawrenceville.
Friday, September 26: How many cupcakes can you eat? The cupcake eating contest, benefitting the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will take place at 7 p.m. at Dozen Bake Shop with the winner receiving a dozen cupcakes a month for one year and a whole bunch of other prizes from other area businesses and the honor of being named Dozen’s Official Cupcake Contest winner. Want to be a contestant? Email to let us know why you should be a contestant!
Check it out: Dozen has one of the top cupcakes in the country by MSN city guides. Read more here. Continue reading