You Need To Eat This: Restaurant Week Summer 2014

Pittsburgh Restaurant Week is back!

The biannual let's-celebrate-local-restaurants-and-eat-our-faces-off time is here again.

Summer 2014 Restaurant Week runs Aug. 11 through Aug. 17.

As I've explained in the past (if you're unfamiliar), it's often a great way to try pricier restaurants for less money – or try something you can't usually get at one of your favorite places! Most restaurants offer multiple course menus for around $20 or $30, but you can check the prices here.

A lot of the same restaurants that have taken part in Restaurant Week in the past are here again, but there are also a few new and favorite ones that I'm excited about, including:

Altius (Mt. Washington): This is a great new restaurant along Grandview with a killer view of the city. The restaurant is in what used to be the Georgetown Inn, but has been completely redesigned with a sleek, modern dining room and (what appears to be) a lot more windows for a panoramic view. As for the menu, my mouth is watering as I'm reading squash blossom risotto. They are also featuring bison tartare, balsamic shallot glazed black cod and a "half-baked" brownie, among other things. $39.14.

Proper Brick Oven & Tap Room (Cultural District): This is a newer wood fired pizza place on 7th Street, in the heart of the cultural district. I just tried this place for the first time recently and had the most satisfying pizza with a perfectly light, but chewy crust. The restaurant is dimly lit, cozy and warmed by the brick oven featured right in front. During restaurant week you can choose from one of two meat and fruit pies: fish and fig or pig and peach, plus starter and dessert. $30.14.

The Porch (Oakland): This Restaurant Week menu sounds like a heavenly blend of a summer feast. Having been able to visit the restaurant's rooftop garden in the past, I can imagine how fresh and succulent the heirloom tomato salad will be. In addition, you get a BBQ short rib dish with smoked onion puree and a Meyer lemon sponge cake to finish. I'm drying to try this cake served with honey made by bees on their roof and candied bacon. $35.14.

Meat & Potatoes (Downtown): No, M&P isn't new, but for Restaurant Week, they're offering a new take on Southern cooking. Their multi-course menu features dishes such as fried green tomatoes, catfish, pork belly and butterscotch pudding (I have yet to find a sub-par dessert -- or anything -- here). $35.14 -- and an additional $10 for a craft cocktail pairing.

Be sure to check out the full list of restaurants here.

You can also check out my recommendations from the last Restaurant Week here.

What will you be trying during Restaurant Week?

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