Over Memorial Day Weekend, I got to visit Pittsburgh for the first time in about a year and a half. I did make a couple trips to see my family in New Castle over the past year, but given the situation with Covid, I did not venture past my parents’ house. This time, we made a trip into the Strip District in Pittsburgh for some casual browsing. We hit up bakeries, produce stand, and a couple markets. It was a cold and rainy day, so a comforting brunch seemed like a good idea to break up our activities.
We ventured into Cafe Raymond, and everyone found something on the menu to meet their tastes. You order at the counter, and then they bring the food to your table, so the atmosphere is rather laid-back. Cafe Raymond serves all day breakfast and also has an assortment of burgers, sandwiches, and salads.
As soon as I saw the brisket hash on the menu, I knew I had to have it. The brisket is house smoked, and the hash is topped with two over-easy eggs, bbq sauce and served with toasted ciabatta on the side. The eggs weren’t as runny as I would have liked, but I still did get a little bit of that sauciness to mix into the hash. The brisket was very right and flavorful, and the bbq sauce did go well with the hash. Also, the ciabatta was chewy and satisfying.
My sister ordered one of the specials, a quinoa bowl with spinach and sweet potatoes topped with a crispy fried egg and served with toast and chimichurri on the side. This was a wholesome, earthy meal that was brightened with the chimichurri sauce.
My mom ordered the bacon, egg, and cheese croissant. She said the bacon was cooked exactly how she likes it, crispy but still chewy. The croissant was buttery and flaky. I ate the part she didn’t finish. This is a good croissant. It’s not a proper croissant if you don’t make a mess of crumbs eating it.
My dad got the smoked gouda and turkey wrap with bacon, roasted red peppers, baby spinach, and chipotle aioli. My dad tears out the inside part of his wraps, so I got to try the tortilla. It was so soft and not dry like you often see with wraps. The potatoes were also cooked and seasoned well.
I was very pleased with this dining experience. I think my mom probably ordered the winner this time, but I still really liked my dish. Now I am going to dream of croissants tonight.
*This post reflects my honest views. I did not receive any compensation or other incentives to post this review.
Cafe Raymond
2009 Penn Ave
Pittsburg, PA 15222
(412) 281-4670
Catie Cooks 