Mola in East Liberty is a sushi-focused restaurant, although the Asian menu has much more than just sushi if that's not your thing. The menu also includes small plates, bao, and rice bowls. We recently tried takeout from Mola and were very impressed with the food and that they executed a wide variety of dishes so well.
Year: 2020
Sheetz Launches Project Hop Dog Beer with Neshaminy Creek
The wheels of change seem to move slowly in Pennsylvania, at least where alcohol is concerned. But recent changes to our state's liquor laws have led to some rather amazing developments like the availability of wine in grocery stores and beer in select gas stations.
Local convenience store chain Sheetz was part of the initiative to change these laws, and to celebrate they are partnering with Pennsylvania-based breweries for a special collaboration beer series to sell exclusively at their stores!
The latest beer release for spring 2020 is entitled Project Hop Dog which is a collaboration with Croydon, PA-based Neshaminy Creek Brewing. Sheetz reached out to us to see if we wanted to try the beer in advance of its release on May 21st, and naturally we were interested in sharing more!
This article was sponsored by our friends at Sheetz. All opinions are our own.
Hiking Dead Man’s Hollow for Factory Ruins and Nature
Dead Man's Hollow near McKeesport is a 450-acre park with approximately 8 miles of hiking trails. While this one could be considered a beautiful green space on its own right, there are actually a number of highlights you can see here when hiking as well!
We visited this one on a beautiful spring day and had a rather amazing time out in nature.
Carmi Express Review – Soul Food Returns to the North Side
Carmi Express closed in 2025.
Long a North Side institution, Carmi Soul Food was previously located on Western Avenue, relocated to South Side, and now has opened a second location dubbed Carmi Express back in the North Side (on Federal). Although Carmi Express is a takeout only joint, it still satisfies our cravings for chicken and waffles, barbecue, and other classic soul food.
Shelly Pie Review – Large Pizzas in Turtle Creek
Whenever we share our Pittsburgh pizza roundup post, we often receive a ton of recommendations of where to go next. This is not surprising as Pittsburgh has one of the highest concentrations of pizza shops per capita of any metro area in the country. Naturally, this means our to-do list is quite large on the pizza front.
One shop that came up time and time again was Shelly Pie in Turtle Creek (just east of the city) and we decided to visit as quickly as possible to see why this one is so popular.
Little Bangkok in the Strip Review – Thai Cuisine With Ample Portions
Little Bangkok in the Strip is a stalwart Thai restaurant that serves up a wide variety of noodles, curries, stir-fries, soups, and appetizers with classic Thai flavors executed perfectly. We recently ordered takeout from Little Bangkok and were pleasantly surprised with the high quality and well-balanced flavors.
Learning Gardening Online With Phipps Conservatory Classes
Phipps Conservatory has recently launched online classes where you can learn about a wide variety of gardening and horticulture topics all from the comfort of your own home. We recently attended a seed starting class where we learned tons of helpful tips specific to starting seeds in Pittsburgh, left with a great slide deck of information, and benefited from a helpful Q&A session at the end of class.
Online Wine Classes in Pittsburgh with Adam Knoerzer from Burghundy
Not being able to get out to a wine bar in Pittsburgh is rough. We get it. Drinking at home is sometimes not as enjoyable as tasting your way around a menu in a unique setting. But you know what the next best thing is? Learning about new wine regions online!
Thankfully, our friend Adam Knoerzer of Burghundy has you covered with his online lecture series featuring growing regions from around the world!
Big Shot Bob’s Review – Wings, Wings, and More Wings
Normally when we think of getting fried chicken wings, we think of heading to a gastropub where we can enjoy a dozen or so along with a few pints of beer from Pittsburgh breweries. We do this mostly because of the availability, but also because ordering wings for takeout was never really something on our radar.
That is to say, until we tried Big Shot Bob's House of Wings. After having these, there may be no going back.
Mi Empanada Review – Empanadas and Sandwiches in Lawrenceville
Mi Empanada has been on the Pittsburgh food scene for a few years now slinging their Argentinian empanadas at local events and brewery pop-ups. Now they have their own storefront in Lawrenceville where you can order takeout empanadas, sandwiches, and sides.
We were well-acquainted with Mi Empanada having tried them at several of their pop-ups around town over the past few years. At events they always had long lines and it's no secret why – their empanadas have a rich, tender dough and the fillings are a mix of traditional and creative options, including a lot of vegetarian options as well.
Needless to say, we were ecstatic to learn they were opening up a storefront in Lawrenceville. The spot is takeout only, but they offer ready-to-eat empanadas or a “take and bake” option which we haven't tried but also sounds delicious. Sandwich options include a steak or chicken milanesa, and they also offer sides like salads, rice, and polenta.