The Dor-Stop, Pittsburgh, PA

Since we weren't able to get breakfast in the Strip District, we decided to head first to the Warhol Museum, and then grab brunch/lunch before we got back on the PA Turnpike.

Since we were driving out anyway, we figured it wouldn't be too far to go to the Dormont area of Pittsburgh, and check out a place we had seen on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

The Dor-Stop hit the spot. Redneckhunter got eggs, potato pancakes and generously buttered toast. I got banana oatmeal pancakes. Again, they don't skimp on the butter out in Western PA.

Best part, I think our meals (way too much for me to eat) were only $3.99 each.

The Dor-Stop Restaurant

1423 Potomac Ave
Pittsburgh, PA

(412) 561-9320

Strip District, Pittsburgh, PA

I had read about Pittsburgh's Strip District, the foodie neighborhood. On Saturday afternoon, we arrived just as everything was closing at 5 pm. What's with these cities where things close early? And it was way too early for the bars to get going. But we did get Primanti Brothers, and vowed to come back the next day.

Sunday morning, the Strip District was indeed hopping. Church had just let out, so the lines at Pamela's Diner and DeLuca's (2 places we had scoped out for breakfast the night before) were out the door. We settled instead for wandering and snacking.

One stop was Enrico Biscotti Company where we get the above black and white cookie and a classic biscotti with chocolate, and the chocolate dipped macaroon on the left. The macaroon was good - not quite was good as The Little Chef in Princeton - but good. I also couldn't resist getting a peanut butter and bacon biscotti that they had. It was supposed to be a dog biscuit, but I figured it was safe for people. I guess dogs don't complain when things are bland - I couldn't taste much peanut butter nor bacon.

Another great stop was the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company. Redneckhunter loaded up on all kinds of pasta, good flour, coffee. I got fresh handmade mozzarella, and some great bread.

As we wandered, we both agreed that if we lived in Pittsburgh, this would be a weekly trip to the Strip. It was really one-stop shopping. In addition to the Italian establishments, there was a Chinese market, a Vietnamese grocery, Korean, Mexican, Middle Eastern groceries, a fish market, a meat shop, a chocolate store, Penzey's Spices where you could get just about any spice you can imagine, a cooking supply store, several coffee roasters and cafes, ice cream, not to mention all the restaurants, and lunch carts we didn't get to try.

Primanti Brothers, Pittsburgh, PA

We couldn't go to Pittsburgh without eating at the famous Primanti Brothers sandwich shop. Located in the Strip District (a neighborhood of markets and other foodie delights - more on that later), the restaurant started out as a lunch stand in 1933. Apparently the lore is that they sold sandwiches to truckers on the go. One day, a trucker drove up with a load of potatoes that he worried had frozen in his truck. So Mr. Primanti fried up a few of the potatoes, determined that they were good, and went ahead and put them on the guy's sandwich. And thus the perfect trucker meal was born - an entire meal between 2 pieces of bread.

I ordered my sandwich with knockwurst and cheese, redneckhunter got pastrami and cheese. All Primanti sandwiches are served on thick slices of Italian bread, with tomatoes, french fried potatoes, and homemade cole slaw. Cheese is provolone only - no American, no cheddar - just provolone. And Italian bread only - no wheat, no rye - just Italian. For me, the cole slaw is what made the sandwich. Instead of mayonnaise, the slaw is vinegar-based, and was the perfect thing to go with salty meat and starchy potatoes.

Primanti Brothers
46 18th Street
Pittsburgh, PA
(412) 263-2142