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Saturday, October 10, 2009

Dining on a student's budget

I just got a request to print some suggestions for those of you that may be new to the area and need some ideas as to how to stretch your food dollar. Reader Pat mentioned that her "Darling Nephew" had just started at Duquesne and could sure use some ideas! Well, I don't know how helpful I'll be, but I'll try! I think that we can keep this post as a "work in progress". I'll start with a couple of places and just continue to add from there when I think of new ones or when any of you make suggestions. We can start a list here and I'll try to pay a visit and do a more thorough review of some of them.

Let's just start with a famous one:

The Original Hot Dog Shop in Oakland. Also known as "The Dirty O"...You'll see why, but your college student won't care. Good dogs, with heaping orders of greasy fries at great prices.

Mike and Tony's Gyro's, Downtown on Liberty and on Carson St in the South Side. For less that $5.00 you get one of the best tasting food values anywhere!

Pamela's, several locations but ya gotta go to the Strip. Great crepe type pancakes. These are the pancakes that our President loves. They are thin like crepes with crispy edges but they don't taste like crepes, they taste like pancakes. For under $5.00 you get three cakes that are each about a foot around.

Pack's & Dogs, Shiloh Street on Mount Washington. While this is not as easily accessable to students as Oakland is, students from Duquesne can take a quick walk across the Smithfield St Bridge and a nice ride up the Mon incline to get to Packs & Dogs. It's also a great trip with the parents in tow. When you exit the incline, go 1/2 block to Shiloh St. If you have the Parents with you, forget Packs Dogs and stop at the Shiloh Inn to eat. If you are on your own budget, pass the Shiloh and continue to Packs & Dogs! First of all this place was a diner and still looks like it. It's not a bar atmosphere, but you can get a good brew with your dog if you like. They have over 200 varieties of beers on hand and the hot dogs are all named after dogs. The Chihuahua is a chili dog with cheddar cheese and onions. The Irish Setter has coleslaw and fries and there are several other good choices.

Yo Rita, I can't skip this one, Pat started this topic by commenting on my review of Yo Rita on the South Side. Kevin Sousa has put in place a great menu (you can read more below) at great prices. Gourmet tacos starting at $4.00. He's leaving there, so I don't know if the great quality will last, but for now it's the best value in the Burgh!

The Original Oyster House, Downtown in Market Square. This is an old (since 1870) place that has great cheap eats. The crowd can vary from those on their way to a show in the Cultural District to some that may really need to eat on a budget...The huge fish sandwich and oysters are a pretty good bet for the money.

3 comments:

Pat said...

Ha Ha! Pat here. Thanks so much for taking up the challenge of keeping Steve (otherwise known as DN) informed of the best cheap college eats. He's probably in his dorm right now getting rett up for a trip to the Dirty O.

future SLP said...

I'm a student at University of Pittsburgh. We like Veracruz on Forbes for cheap burritos, India Garden on Atwood St. between 4 and 5 for half price chicken and vegetable dishes, and Antoon's on Atwood for $5 late night pizzas. Sushi Boat is also delicious and you get a lot for the $$. Stay away from Szechuan Express though, which is right across the street but there is no reason to subject yourself to that.

My brother goes to Duquesne and I'm sure they have their own array of cheap eats down there that you don't have to ride the bus for, just take on the South Side Steps, which are hell, apparently. The things people will do to get to a bar.

Dave, The BurghFeeder said...

Pat, I live right across the river up on Mount Washington and can see the Duquesne campus from my kitchen. If ya want, I'll keep an eye on the DN for you!

Speech student, thanks for the great suggestions. Now I have to make a couple of trips to Oakland to try some of those places!