A snowy night in Pittsburgh found us at…
A snowy night in Pittsburgh found us at Fig & Ash. The well light (free) parking lot behind the restaurant led us to the well salted walkway leading to the restaurant's front door. All staff were masked, eager to please, and knowledgeable about the menu. Social distancing & limited seating were implemented. The menu, which we scanned a QR code, had 4 appetizers, 4 entrees, and 3 desserts. The menu is constantly changing. When I placed our reservation, the host asked for any food allergies or restrictions. We had a seafood allergy & vegetarian. I had the clam chowder with a leek puree. The clam shells with the clams still attached arrived and the broth was poured over it with toasted bread. It got a little messy detaching the clams from their shells. Would I order it again? Absolutely but I would ask the clams to be separated from their shell prior to presentation. The kale salad with squash, homemade croutons, and balsamic dressing was a huge hit ... another member of the party ordered it after stealing 1 bite off the plate. I turned my head and the heirloom carrots over ricotta were gone. For dinner, the entrees had small and large portions size options. The risotto and barley was flavorful and filling. Two of us ordered the glazed double pork chop. An easily removed layer of fat allowed the pork chop to remain moist but cooked all the way through. If we had been at home, we would have gnawed on the bones but it may have been frowned upon in public. We all were part of the clean plate club. For dessert a LEMON creme brulee with blueberries and coffee cake finished off our meals. The coffee cake was more dense than I expected but when carmel/toffee sauce is generously poured over it ... I was seriously considering a takeout order. This summer, the enclosed side patio will provide additional seating. The firepits were light but the 20 degree temperatures kept us indoors. I look forward to returning and trying other items on the menu. A QR code on the bill allowed us to pay our bills and tip without our credit cards leaving the table. Nice touch.
By Mary T.