$14 for a great, HUGE, fish sandwich, coleslaw and fries or mac and cheese! Wholesome atmosphere…read moreand sweet volunteers. Reasonably priced desserts. Can't wait to go back.

---Fish fry review---…read more I stopped by the fish fry at Sacred Heart in Shadyside last Fri. with a friend. I'd originally planned to visit one in Polish Hill, but I had an appointment after 5 and they stop serving at 6, so we decided to try Sacred Heart, which runs until 7:30, instead. As usual, I called in my order ahead of time, and it was taken and fulfilled with no hassles. When we showed up at 6, our food awaited us, so we paid and grabbed a seat. Both of us ordered the fried fish dinner ($9 each). Both came with sides of cole slaw, and I ordered mac and cheese as my second side, whereas my friend ordered fries. Like the fish fry at St. Raphael, the fish dinners here come with a dinner roll, but not as a sandwich. In terms of quality, the fish here was a cut below the fish at the last fry I attended (at St. Maria Goretti in Bloomfield)--it just wasn't as fresh. My friend said that he found the fish moister than the fish at the last fry we attended together (at Epiphany Uptown), and while this may have been true, freshness is the most important factor to me when judging the quality of fish. As for the sides, the cole slaw was of the creamy variety and was rather sweet (disclaimer: I'm not much of a fan of cole slaw in general), and the fries and mac and cheese were of average quality and were a bit scant in quantity. The one major redeeming factor of this fish fry--believe it or not--was the desserts. Although they were no doubt pre-made, they were presented very nicely, and were a cut above the lousy desserts at St. Raphael's. I had a slice of lemon meringue pie and my friend had a slice of blueberry ($2 each), and we both enjoyed them. For me, this was the high point of the meal. The environment and clientele of this fish fry reminded me a lot of St. Raphael--it's held in an elementary school cafeteria, and most of the clientele consisted of families with young children who probably attend the school. The priest came around and greeted all of the diners, including us, which was a nice touch. For me, this fish fry was just A-OK. If it's convenient in terms of location, then it's worth a try--otherwise, I'd recommend skipping it to try a better one, such as Swissvale VFD's.

I've met several of the teachers, students, and administrators, and this school has a lot going for…read moreit. It's a holistic approach with a goal of not just developing good students, but also good citizens. The curriculum focuses on traditional subjects but also an appreciation for the Natural World. Great academics, good discipline, and many opportunities to apply critical thinking.

I've been at ECS for around 3-4 years (since 5th grade) and it's been a great experience. Great…read morelearning environment, friends & awesome staff/teachers!