Up Modern Kitchen

Who doesn't love a good view?

People think I bought my house because it overlooks Kennywood.  Uh, no.  I bought my house because it was in my price range and not far from the rest of my family, thank you very much (not to mention that it takes me 2 minutes to drive to work - but that was a bonus, because I didn't get hired until after I had put a bid on the house).

A restaurant with a great view often receives accolades - but the food will speak for itself.  It doesn't matter if the scenery is good, the food is what matters.

Up Modern Kitchen

Up Modern Kitchen (or ^Up Modern Kitchen - I'm supposed to work an arrow in there, somewhere) has a great space, on the 2nd level of the popular shops on Walnut Street in Shadyside.  The space itself is awesome - the view of Walnut Street below, the double-sided space (dining room to the left, bar area to the right), the dark colors - you couldn't ask for a better space for a restaurant.

But how is the food?

James and I went for their Sunday brunch, mostly because our friend David Roth has taken his jazz stylings to that location.  He formerly tickled the ivories (well, the keyboard "ivories") at Bar Marco, where we had also gone before for their brunch:

David Roth, Jazz Man/architect

Looking over the menu, I could see that there were many pork-ridden dishes.  Knowing that my body would hate them, I tried to find something that wasn't going to kill me later.  However, James and I met the chef, and James decided to let him choose our fate, forgetting to tell him about my pork problem.

Uh oh.

Every dish that was sent out had pork in it - Eggs Benedict with ciabatta, poached eggs, hollandaise, and...capicola; Dippy Eggs with crispy potatoes, onions, and....kielbasa; and the Giant Meatball Sandwich on brioche with mozzarella...and the meatball was beef and pork.

Eggs Benedict

Dippy Eggs

Giant Meatball Sandwich with potato salad

I was disappointed that I wouldn't be able to enjoy the full meal - which was not the fault of the chef or restaurant itself - but I will say that what I COULD eat was delicious!  I had both types of eggs, the ciabatta, the potato salad, and the potatoes, and they all made for a very satisfying meal.  In addition, David's jazz music blended in PERFECTLY with the atmosphere - laid back, relaxing, and not at all intrusive.  In fact, one woman sitting near us returned from the restroom, looked at David, then returned to her seat, exclaiming to her dining partner, "I didn't even realize someone was playing that music live!"

Oh, but wait - what MORE than made up for the abundance of pork was...dessert.  Upon hearing that there were cannoli, we had to place an order:

Cannoli

Ohhhhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyyy goodnesssssssssssss.  Talk about an indulgence.  I could have eaten these alone and been completely elated.  Sooooooo yummyyyyyyyy. 

I will go back to Up Modern Kitchen, for brunch, lunch, or dinner - not for the view, but for the food - and know to order for myself...


Up Modern Kitchen
5500 Walnut Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Website: http://www.upkitchen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UpModernKitchen
Twitter: https://twitter.com/eatupshadyside