Next week’s pleasant weather forecast coincides with the summer edition of Pittsburgh Restaurant Week.
With temperatures forecast in the high 70s to low 80s for the week of Aug. 12-18, it’s a perfect time to dine outdoors.
More than 50 restaurants are participating in the semi-annual event. Chefs have created menus and pricing specific to Restaurant Week — some dishes are available for a limited time. Look for food and drink specials as part of an early access this weekend.
Pricing is available for dine-in only. Some restaurants may honor the special price when ordering online or takeout.
It is recommended to make reservations, especially if you want to eat al fresco.
There are more restaurants than last summer, said Brian McCollum, who started the event in 2012. This time of year they are using fresh produce and fruits and vegetables you can’t always get in the winter.
“Outdoor dining is the perfect time to enjoy great food and cold drinks and soak up some sun,” McCollum said.
A full list of restaurants can be found at pittsburghrestaurantweek.com.
Café Notte
Located in Emsworth, Café Notte (which means night café) will be part of the event for a second time.
Co-owner and executive chef Jerry Santucci has been working on fresh made menu items, said his wife and co-owner Debbie Santucci. She said her son David Mielnicki is creating a cocktail just for restaurant week: Galaxy Lemonade, made with Union Forge vodka and crème de violette and Chambord liqueurs.
“It’s fun and it’s seasonal and it’s refreshing,” Mielnicki said. “It will be a great drink while sitting out on the patio on a summer night.”
The concrete patio can seat 45 guests. Inside offers plenty of seating and a bar.
“It is a cool place to eat outside for sure,” Debbie Santucci said. “We love Restaurant Week because we see our regular customers who we definitely appreciate and we also get to meet new customers.”
The Italian four-course meal is $45.24. Start with lobster bisque, hummus dip with pita chips or bruschetta.
The second course is a house salad or Caesar salad. The third course is chicken Romano, blackened mahi mahi, lasagna or short ribs. And dessert is strawberry shortcake, black forest cake or Italian lemon cake.
Hours are 4 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Cafe Notte is located at 8070 Ohio River Blvd. in Emsworth.
Details: 412-761-2233 or cafenottepgh.com
The Library on Carson
For its first time doing this event, The Library on Carson chef Earl Bustamante has created three options based on TikTok trends, each $30.24.
The Girl Dinner — a meal a woman makes for herself when dining alone — starts off with a dirty gin martini dip. It’s a briny, cheesy dip served with pita and a Caesar salad with a choice of chicken, shrimp, or steak, and truffle fries.
The Muckbang is steamed or fried pork dumplings, pork belly, a steamed bun and tonkotsu ramen (a pork-based soup).
Euro Summer is a charcuterie board, margherita pizza and Aperol spritz cheesecake.
Cocktails are available for an additional price and items can be purchased a la carte.
“We are excited about this,” said Keresty Kelly, owner and manager. “Our outdoor patio is super cute and a little more private.”
Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for brunch and 3 p.m. to midnight Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for brunch and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
The Library On Carson is located at 2302 E. Carson St. on the South Side.
Details: 412-742-4346 or thelibrarypgh.com.
The Porch
The name says it all. The Porch at Schenley in Oakland and The Porch at Siena in Upper St. Clair both have outside seating and are offering barbecue pork shank with couscous corn salad and cherry-caramel jus for $20.24.
The Oakland restaurant is in Schenley Plaza, which is operated by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. There is a nearby greenspace of a one-acre lawn visible from the outdoor dining area and the PNC Carousel, a Victorian-style merry-go-round that has a menagerie of animals.
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The Porch at Schenley is at 221 Schenley Drive in Oakland.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Details: 412-687-6724 or theporchatschenley.com.
The Porch at Siena is at 120 Siena Drive in Upper St. Clair.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Details: 412- 833-5385 or dineattheporch.com.
Over Eden
A rooftop is a unique spot for outdoor dining. Experience that at Over Eden located on the fifth floor of the TRYP by Wyndham, a boutique hotel in Lawrenceville. Located in the former Washington Education Center and known for its multicultural dishes, the restaurant’s first course will be a salad followed by duxelles porchetta (pork roast) and lemon meringue tart for dessert for $38.24.
“This has such a great view of the city,” said Hannah Judkins, director of marketing for Century Hospitality, which manages the hotel. “It’s very relaxing. We did the winter Restaurant Week and it was a big success. I think with the good weather we think people will want to get out.”
Hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. There will be a happy hour from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Aug. 15 to raise money for cystic fibrosis.
Over Eden is at 177 40th St. in Lawrenceville.
Details: 412-785-7825 or overeden.com.
Revival on Lincoln
A regular at Restaurant Week, Revival on Lincoln will be serving a first course of a choice of Caesar salad, grilled shrimp, gumbo or tomato mozzarella and basil. The second course is a choice of Chesapeake-style crabcake, roasted herbs de Provence breast of chicken, north Atlantic salmon, a 10-ounce grilled New York strip, angel hair pasta or a seasonal vegetarian bowl.
Dessert is cheesecake, chocolate mousse, or key lime pie for $45.24.
Revival on Lincoln is located at 366 Lincoln Ave. in Bellevue.
Hours will be 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
Details: 412- 223-5715 or revivalonlincoln.com.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.