The Happy Wanderer

Review - Eat Unique in Oakland

When my friend told me about a little eatery in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, I was excited by it's name, "Eat Unique".  Then she told me that there was a White Turkey Chili on the menu that was fabulous.

I thought, "Hmmm.  Cute name and unusual chili, I have to check that out."  The travel friend and I met for lunch on Tuesday, October 28th.

The place is a pretty little establishment and I saw people lining up to buy soups, sandwiches and an assortment of cookies.

One problem I had with the restaurant was the lack of clear signs.  If they truly serve unique food, I couldn't find any listing of what they had for sale besides a couple of small signs near a busy register.

My white turkey chili was spicy.  If you look closely at the picture to your left, you can see the giant flakes of pepper drifting in the soup.  My Travel Friend assured me that this was just an off day.  The soup was tasty, it just required large quantities of sprite to put out the fire in my mouth afterwards.

Do you have any local restaurants that serve unusual food?  Do you know an easy recipe for white turkey chili?  Let me know your thoughts and have a happy traveling weekend.

Venturing Over to Edgewood

Let's face it, when it rains on Saturdays, it's easy to just stay indoors and watch movies.  On October 25th, the Travel Boyfriend and I braved a cool drizzle and traveled to a neighborhood we rarely visit.

Edgewood is a classic Pittsburgh mix of small cozy houses, a few local businesses filling out a quiet main street, a busy roadway, and a shopping center.

I liked the spots of color and character I saw dotting the roads and lawns in Edgewood.  From a multicolored MOOSE Lodge sign to this unassuming little gazebo, there was a cute quality on display to charm a happy wanderer.  I could imagine living quite contentedly on one of the sleepy side streets.

Food wise, I didn't see too many Mom and Pop restaurant establishments, but I did get a bite to eat at the local Arby's.  Curly fries, hmmmm, my favorite.

Something else I noticed about Edgewood that was quite pleasant:  When I stood in line, strangers talked to me.  Is Edgewood more casual or more friendly?  I'm not sure.  But I did see at least three charity organizations camped out in front of K-mart. 

Makes me feel warm and fuzzy towards the volunteers giving their weekend for a good cause.

If you know more about any Edgewood highlights I missed, please tell me in the comments section below.