Providine Goes (back) to Pittsburgh, part 2

I don't generally like to write about restaurants that I only dine at once, but given the lack of bits here recently, and the likelihood of getting back to Bistro 19 in Mount Lebanon any time soon, I thought it would be good to practice my typing. (eating is always pretty well practiced)

Bistro 19 is an upscale restaurant on the main drag of Mount Lebanon, just south of Pittsburgh offering America fusion cuisine. An extensive wine list is available, categorized not just by color or type, but also by dominant flavor characteristics, such as spicy and bold, refreshing, etc. We opted for an inexpensive Spanish Rioja.

Salads were a mix of interesting and standard. For the slightly unusual, a pear and beet salad was offered and good, well balanced with a not overly sweet vinaigrette and candied walnuts. Other salads that we tried were the Caesar, spinach and mixed green salads.

Many items on the menu are locally sourced, where possible, but the menu does not maintain a slavish adherence to this, offering tilapia, basa, shrimp and other items from outside the area. I chose the Black Tiger Shrimp entree, which were butterflied and "stuffed". Served with an excellent Risotto, creamy and flavorful, that coupled extremely well with the rich wilted spinach and sauce of the base of the dish. I thought the shrimp and stuffing to be somewhat bland, with the rest of the dish being excellently prepared and thought out to provide very complementary flavors.

My companions ordered the duck breast entree, pumpkin ravioli and crab cakes. While no one was willing to let me taste their dishes, everyone was extremely happy with their entrees. I could see that the crab cakes were compose primarily of lump crab meat, with very little filler added to their very generous sizes. Easily 3 inches across and over an inch thick and served with smashed potatoes.'

While dessert was on offer, with such options as pumpkin creme brulee, with a pumpkin pie waiting at home, we gave these selections a miss.


Salads; $5, Entrees: $15-$30, Wine: $8-$14/glass, $30+ per bottle.

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Napa Valley Grille

Napa Valley Grille
111 Providence Place
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401.270.6272





This review is likely to become dated very quickly, as this restaurant changes its menu seasonally to reflect currently available produce. Also featured is a weekly Prix Fixe three course dinner menu composed mostly of items not found on the menu, except for the desserts, though the dessert selection also varies.

Located in Providence Place mall, this is probably the most upscale restaurant in that facility. The food is very good, though possibly not quite as good as the prices would indicate. The atmosphere is pleasant as well, mostly quiet, but tables are too closely placed for an intimate dinner. When a friend and I were first seated, I felt as though I was participating in the conversation of the table adjacent. And later in the evening, an acquaintance of my dining companions sat at the same table. It was easy to have a conversation with her and her companion without even slightly raising our voices.


Both my companion and I found the salads to be lackluster. Hers was a simple organic greens salad sprinkled with a few sunflower seeds and a maple vinaigrette. Mine was a similar salad, but served with candied pecans and a quarter of grilled and chilled radicchio. For my case, I found that mostly the greens were of the bitter variety, without much variation in flavor. The candied nuts were a nice contrast, but easily were overwhelmed by the greens, as was the very mild Atwells Gold cheese.

For entrees, we had the Grilled Chicken Penne off the main menu and a Lamb Sausage and White Bean dish from the weekly menu. The first comment that my friend made about her dish was that it was comfort food. An assessment that I agreed with for my dish as well. Mine reminded me of a French cassoulet in look and flavors, and combined with the excellent lamb sausage, made for a very satisfying meal. I only sampled a small bite of the Penne, but the sauce was delicious, the pasta perfectly cooked, and an extremely generous portion, easily enough for two meals.

Initially I thought the portion size on the cassoulet looked small, and I found myself wanting a few more bites, but really it was the right sized serving for the three course menu.

We shared the dessert from my selections, the Strawberry Shortbread Cheesecake. I am typically a cheesecake "purist", not choosing flavored or topped cheesecakes, but in this case, I was happy with the amendments. A white chocolate cheesecake topped with whipped cream served on a thick shortbread cookie and a strawberry coulis on the plate instead of the cake itself. The cheesecake was very light (a friend of mine would probably call it a Jell-o cheesecake), and very flavorful. The thick, airy and not too-dry shortbread was a nice twist over the traditional graham cracker crust.

At $36 for a three course meal, and featuring items not on the menu, it was a good choice, and the most economical. Combined with an inexpensive glass of Chardonay (I know, bad pairing decision), my portion of the bill was $45.

Price Range: $8-10 appetizers/salads, $20-35 entrees, $5-15 desserts.

Recommended? Yes, the food is excellent, atmosphere a little crowded for a romantic evening, though the food quality is up to par. Excellent variety of wines by the glass.

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