From the moment we walked in and a customer offered to exchange his booth for a somewhat awkward…read morebarrel table by the window, this was going to be great. I checked out the reviews in advance. Fish and Chips and Shepard's Pie for us. I was expecting good, I was not expecting GREAT. There was a sizable serving of fish, perfectly done. Am I in Ireland? Spiraled fries, pickles and coleslaw. Coleslaw was good but needed my dad's touch. The Shepard's Pie was something else. Now I don't like beer as a drink but the plentiful strings of beef were soaked in Guiness. Yum. But you have to dig under the cheese coated mashed potatoes to find it and the peas and corn. This is a winner. Previously the only Shepard's Pie I had used ground beef. Love those strings of Guinness soaked beef. As is typical, when we LOVE a meal, we surprisingly eat less of it so we can bring it home and extend the experience. I do not like their cardboard container for leftovers. You pack it yourself and it is hard to close. I do wish their drink menu was more clear with mixed drinks. No prices and I didnt know if each group was ALL the ingredients or if you chose one. So I ended up not ordering a drink which meant that I couldnt talk hubby into a Guinness. I have been coming to the North Side for years and always wanted to come here but got sidelined by buying too many pepperoni rolls in the Strip. But no more. I will be back, maybe again this week. It was FABULOUS.

Monterey Pub is such a cozy neighborhood gem. I stopped in this afternoon and grabbed a seat at the…read morebar, which honestly felt like the perfect move. The vibe is relaxed, welcoming, and very Pittsburgh in the best way. I ordered the black bean burger with a side of tater tots and a beer. The burger was hearty and flavorful with a great texture, not mushy at all, which can sometimes happen with veggie burgers. It felt satisfying without being heavy. The tater tots were crispy on the outside and soft inside, exactly how they should be. Paired with a cold beer at the bar, it made for the ideal low-key afternoon meal. The bar area has that comfortable, lived-in feel where you can actually relax and enjoy your food. Whether you're going with friends or just popping in solo like I did, it's an easy spot to settle into. Would definitely come back for another casual afternoon bite.

I was looking for a place with a hearty vegan option half-way between Toledo and New York City…read morewithout going too far off the highway and it seemed like Station 101 would fit the bill- a Black Bean Burger made in house, some tasty nacho options, and I even called ahead to confirm we could get a hearty vegan option, and confirmed it was! Yay! Unfortunately, when we arrived, the last Bean Burger had been sold and the black beans listed as a side were actually cooked in some heavy butter... so it became one of those stops where only French fries were the hot vegan option... because who wants a cold salad when it's 20°F?! In any case, the server was very nice about it and the Craft Beer was still vegan, and because we called ahead about the vegan burger option, they even comped the fries for running out. So- disappointed it wasn't as hearty as we hoped for a vegan on our arrival- but very kind to apologize with comped fries. For those who weren't vegan- the French Dip on ciabatta was on special and sooooo good. I don't like horseradish and it didn't overwhelm the flavor, so it was absolutely perfect! The pulled pork melt with crispy fried onions and bbq sauce was also excellent with a very crunchy buttered thick Texas toast bread. Excellent food when it's available- and hoping for a few more vegan options because Pennsylvania towns are a bit of slim pickings if you don't want to eat animal products!

Service was great. Food was average. Was expecting much more from thier much talked about Pub…read moreBurger. Biggest problem was a very foul odor in the restaurant like dirty mop water.