Visiting Pittsburgh we will have the opportunity for several off-train meals. Since we arrive into town around the 8 PM hour on Wednesday 7/15, I would assume everyone will have had something on the Pennsylvanian and will just go to their respective hotels for the night.
On Thursday 7/16 we have a very long day. Breakfast for those who want it usually is to be had at the hotels, so those staying in the same place can arrange to dine together if need be. Lunch comes shortly past 12 Noon at the South Hills Village shopping mall, a short walk across a parking lot from the light rail station of the same name. As is customary I choose such places because their food courts offer everyone a variety of eateries but we can still dine together in the middle.
That brings us to Thursday dinner. This is being introduced publicly one month in advance. The idea here is to bring this to a worthwhile discussion so that we may arrive at several decisions. I would like to avoid the last minute rush that developed for the WARF event in Washington this past January. We can discuss this here, and try to come either to an agreement of where to eat, or an agreement to split up and eat in different places. If we don't speak up here and voice opinions ("I will do whatever the group does" is NOT an opinion!), then irrevocable decisions will be made.
We have no serious time limit to dinnertime since we don't leave Pittsburgh until midnight. The way I see it, there are three general options for us:
- Station Square (link to their site)
- Rivers Casino (link to their site)
- Downtown
Station Square is a touristy attraction. It sits at the base of the Monongahela Incline (and a major stop on the "T" light rail), so we will already be there upon completion of our round trip on the Incline. Station Square (link to my restaurant list) has a number of different restaurants, some fast food and several sit-down type as well. It is conceivable that we could split into smaller groups and dine at different places, and then meet again later if we could not agree on one particular place.
Rivers Casino is an attraction on the Ohio River just west of the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers. We have done casino buffets before in New Orleans and Reno, and like food courts they offer the customer the ability to eat what and how much they want. Besides the buffet there are 4 other restaurants in the casino complex. So if one does not wish to get stuffed by a buffet there is the option of a waited table where one is served. Rivers Casino (link to my restaurant list) is a short walk from the Allegheny endpoint of the "T" light rail by the stadiums.
Downtown restaurants are still being explored. While we have to return downtown sometime anyhow to get our luggage and head for the train station, eating downtown could serve to minimize our steps and light rail fares. My concern is that Pittsburgh rolls up the sidewalks early when the workday crowd goes home, except on nights when there are sports events.... but there should not be any during our visit. So outside of hotel restaurants the pickings may not be plentiful or suit our tastes nor budgets. But again this is still being investigated.
So I look forward to an active dialogue among those who will be present in Pittsburgh. Those who aren't need not be involved. Minneapolis/St. Paul and Chicago will be in separate threads.
