I'm a Dork. With Pizza.
I am a dork. Just to make sure we're clear, I AM a dork. There's no need to tell me, I already know. I.am.a.dork.
Moving on . . .
I LURVE Pittsburgh. I really, really do. I love everything from the trees to the crazy accent to the hills to the fairly decent weather (Go ahead. Argue with me on that point. I will ship your arse to Buffalo for a REAL snow storm, down to Texas to feel what hot and humid can really do to your hair, and then to North Dakota for a taste of -20F and I'm pretty sure you will come to understand that Pittsburgh weather? Ain't all that bad.) There's just one little thing about the town that could stand for some improvement. (OK, two things considering the drivers here are sucktacular. The slowing down for a tunnel thing? Nearly kills me every time.)
What we need is a few dozen good franchises/chains. I don't know why, but Pittsburgh is lacking a lot of really good shopping and dining extravaganzas. We don't have World Market. We only recently sprouted a Stein Mart. And the food? Oh, there's a long list of fast-food restaurants we are missing out on here. Recently many of my Twits have been lamenting some of the specific places we are in need of, and one of those was Donato's.
I love Donato's.
I will stand at the top of a mountaintop and blast my full support and dedication for just about all pizza, but Donato's holds a special place in my heart (shh . . . don't tell me that the "special place" is my right ventricle that Donato's is single-handedly clogging).
Unclecrappy, a local blogger who is far from being a crappy uncle, just couldn't shoosh with his "we're going to Columbus and I'm going to eat Donato's." I couldn't quit with my, "YOU SUCK!" And then? A small miracle happened.
Unclecrappy offered to bring me back some Donato's after a recent trip to Donatoland.
Looky! Looky! Isn't it beautiful?
It brings a tear to my just remembering the moment I first held that splendid little box . . . Oh, and this?
Was nirvana. Sweet, sweet nirvana. Notice how I couldn't even take a photo without snaking a piece first? That is true love right there.
So, thank you UncleCrappy. You made the entire Burgh Baby family very happy that day.
So, anybody up for a White Castle/Carl Jr's/Tim Horton's/Culver's/In N Out Burger/Swensons/California Pizza Kitchen/Macaroni Grill run?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Reader Comments (65)
Pizza=good!
Save some for me, I'll bring the White Castle:P
First!!!
My sister went to college north of Columbus. I loved visiting her... partially because of the 45 minute detour to go to White Castle!! And I randomly found a Tim Horton's in Buffalo or Rochester a few years ago... Now I just have to wait for the rugby team to have matches in those cities. Boo.
I have NO idea what you are talking about. But you trying to tell me that your weather rocks and never even once comparing to the West coast just means you don't know how bad you have it! ha ha!! (from a former East Coaster....)
YOu don't know how good you have it, we don't even have a target here (honest)!
Ya know what? I've been here for a little over a year and the weather really isn't that bad.
The winters are surprisingly mild. The snow was pathetic and it was swooped up quickly. The summers don't get that hot. Rarely humid. It's almost not hot enough to go swimming, really. I like a good 95 degree day at the pool so I don't freeze, but those don't seem to happen here.
The drivers are crazy, but so are the roads! WHAT THE HECK is with the Fort Pitt bridge? Changing lanes so many times to stay on 279? It gives me a heart attack every time.
And the restaurants. Big disappointment. The chain selection is ok, but you're right--it could use some help.
I've had bad luck at some of the local restaurants I've sampled. Oh well.
You just HAD to say Swenson's, didn't you. There is currently a menu in my glove box, just waiting for that once a year event when we get somewhere near one.
Now, Sonic is my downfall. I went through some serious withdrawal while I live in the OH without it.
I did forget to mention that Pittsburgh is cloudier than many other cities.
At first, i thought it was just my imagination. Then, I saw stats that proved my theory.
So, I'm pretty sure I just read that you want to move to San Diego.
Am I right?
Hello??? YOU SUCK!!! I'm on a diet...but just for you, I'll cheat...I can cover Culvers, California Pizza Kitchen and Macaroni Grill!!!
Thank you for recognizing the agony that those of us in Texas must endure all. summer. long. Care for some 105 degree days? I didn't think so.
But, for all that, we do have a lot of good restaraunts around. Not that I'm familiar with Donato's. And my husbdan mourns the lack of White Castle. hmmm, maybe we aren't so well off.
I don't have any of those. Not even one. Nothin'
I need to move . . .
PS--we don't even have a Target or Starbucks. Nope. Not lyin'. I got a Shoney's and a Sears. Will that work?
Oh, yeah. Really happy for you. Seriously. You go and enjoy that pizza. Don't worry about me.
I'll bring you some Macaroni Grill but frankly I think it's overrated.
I could eat Carl's Jr. right now.
i've got the in-n-out run.
although i will say that the fries just don't travel well.
To heck with the pizza, your daughter is adorable!
We have all the sucktastic weather (hot/humid in the summer, ridiculously cold and snowy in the winter) but we don't have ANY of the fast food franchises you mentioned. But we are also about 1/100th the size of Pittsburgh. And, I believe we have the cheapest people in America so stores are always coming in and then closing up shop when they realize people around here like to keep their money in their mason jars and not spend it on new fangled gadgets like e-lec-tricity.
That looks so yummy. I have never had it. Maybe UncleC would like to bring some up my way.
i LOVE California Pizza Kitchen! we don't have one here either. Or a Chic Fil a... Or a Bucca Da Beppo... Now I am incredibly hungry for stuff that I can't have. *sigh*
I have never heard of Danatos... Guess I am missing out, eh?
I moved from Walla Walla WA to Pittsburgh. Walla Walla has 300 sunny days a year on average. Yeah, it gets to 108 in the summer but the humidity is around 5%. It DOES TOO make a difference. But Pittsburgh is okay. Not as much ice as Walla Walla and no fires.
I send greetings from Maine, where there are two Dead Timmy's (Tim Horton's) in my hometown, a place that doesn't have much of anything. No clue how that happened. May have to get me some Tim Bits today, now that you've reminded me.
I'll join you on the Tim's, but there's not many pizzas that can compare to Mineo's. *swoon*
As for chains... I'd sooner they stay away (other than Tim's) and let the indies pop up. Whoever said they haven't had good luck ought to get in touch. I'll send them to some amazing food.
Donatos? Really? I've never been a fan actualy, although, I do love pizza. Maybe it's because every time there's a corp function, they insist on getting Donatos. I'm more of a Papa Johns girl!
Let me try to stop you in your tracks...we don't even have a Target nearby!! The closest one is an hour away. And food? Well, there are a lot of local places that are, in fact, quite good, but there are some chains I'd like to see around here. *sigh*
I'll bring you Macaroni Grill :)
And that pizza? Looks heavenly.
OK, OK. The 'burgh definitely lacks some of the finer chains. But where else can you get a Primanti's samich in just about every section of town? And how about Mineo's pizza? Or Beto's (which I haven't had since I quit working dahntahn, 'n 'at)? That's class, right there.
I'm concerned. You LOVE foods, yet you hated living in the dining out capital of the USofA?
Macaroni Grill?? Yeccck. You def. need more places to eat in the Burgh.
Donato's is the only pizza I will not eat. Blargh.
I wish we had a Sonny's BBQ here, and when the Bahama Breeze closed, I actually cried.
I'll do a Macaroni Grill or CPK run for you should I ever go to the Burgh.
What I need is for someone to do a Sonic/Las Margaritas/Tikki Bar and Grill/Kidd's (marionberry shakes....droool)/Mr. Mafungo/or La Bombanera (that last one is not a chain, but I could seriously go for their little guava cakes right about now...with an Old Colony Pina soda and a side of genepas) for me!
OMG! That pizza DOES look good. Unfortunately, I can't help you with any of those other franchises because we don't have them either. There's a Macaroni Grill in Atlanta, but I'm pretty sure by the time I got to the 'Burgh that it probably wouldn't taste very good.
White Castle (shudder)
Now I strangely want pizza.....
Thanks, now I am hungry for pizza at 9:30 am. That sucks!
That pizza looks delicious! But your daughter? Even more scrumptious!!
Don't you at least have California Pizza Kitchen pizzas in your grocery's freezer section? It's not the same, but it's at least close.
If you want your fix of Macaroni Grill, I just found that Wally world carries a line of their pastas that you only add the chicken, not exactly comparable to the restaurant itself but pretty close.
http://www.restaurantfavoritesathome.com/
I'd offer to share that pizza but I'm a hog and you'd not get any.
I do miss me some In N Out Burger from living in Cal for a while. Badly. In fact, I am craving it while I'm all knocked up and stuff. That company needs to hurry on up and keep moving eastward. I think they got as far as Phoenix.
And you ain't see lack of certain food places until you come to the ghetto known as New Orleans. It's pitiful
Do you have Tim Hortons? Oh I just might become your best friend and trade you some White Castle for some Tim Hortons.... I love me some Timmy's. I swear they put crack in the stuff. We moved from Canada a year ago and anytime we have friends come back in town, we have them bring us some Timmy's.
KEEP BELIEVING
Being born and raised here, I've never even heard of Donato's. But that pizza? Makes me want to lick the screen. Look. At. That.
*wipes drool*
EWWWW White castle??? NASTAY!!!We have Hardees which is the same as Carl's Jr. Yum.
Oh and we have California Pizza. Double yum.You do know that they sell them in the grocery store now? They are actually pretty good.
So Donato's is a chain? I've never heard of it! Now I feel like I'm missing out too!
I love Macaroni Grill! The first time I had been to one was in Alabama. Then one opened up about 40 min. from where I live. I haven't been there yet. I think I need a date night :)
I admit I'm missing out on all those East Coast chains Donatos, White Castle...but I got the West Coast covered!
Good for you! Happy WW!
You're welcome. You may be a dork, but you have excellent taste in pizza.
I promise, if I ever come to the Burgh, I'll first take your order for California Pizza Kitchen. Don't know how it will all taste after 7 hours in the trunk, though.
Okay.....something is freaking me out here with the way that pizza is cut. It's just not natural, ya know!
And I feel ya.....we are up to our eyeballs here with Philly cheese steaks. Really...I just don't think I could eat another one.
You don't have CPK???? That's inhuman!!!!
Does your SuperTargets not carry the frozen CPK pizzas? Because the margherita is practically as good as it is in the restaurant, I promise you!
We are missing out on some artery clogging Sonic here in Chicago. Oh how I long for a Sonic Burger and a Strawberry Limeaid.
I've never heard of this Pizza Joint! And I LOOOOOVE pizza. I can OD on pizza!
Hhahahaha at CC's comment! I agree with her and respectively (**or not, snort!**) disagree with you. PA's weather SUCKS compared to some places. ;-)
I can help you with Cali Pizza Kitchen and Macaroni Grill. and the Dunkin' Donuts, baby!!!
I would also like to make a plea for some White Castles!!! PULEEEEEAAAASSEEE!
And while I loved you for your mac-n-cheese (still waiting on the recipe!!!) and Farmers Market fruit salad, I think I hate you for taunting me with that pizza. Seriously. I grew up in a major pizza town and what I've got left as choices to eat here is crap and I can just tell through the computer that your pizza, though it traveled quite a ways to get to you, probably still smells and tastes better than anything I can get hot and fresh. *drool*twitch*
We have most of those places here in Cleveland so come on over! I just had Swenson's on Monday! Donato's is 10 min. away. When can I expect you?
I don't know if we have a Donato's here. If it is as good as you say it is, I may have to find out. Thanks, now I want PIZZA!!
White Castles. I secretly ate some of these when I was pregnant. My husband was all, "Don't feed those to our baby! Please!" I had a weird craving. They are ridiculously good---
hehe, my husband says I plan our vacations around my favorite foods...Cincinnati for Cinci chili, etc.
We're planning a trip within the next year or so to visit Pittsburgh and all its glory. I'll let you know when we're coming and will bring you whatever you want. All those things you mentioned? I have them all, Baby!!