In the first week in Pittsburgh, every Uber driver recommended me Pamela’s Diner as a “must-go” diner in PITT. As a people who insist eating breakfast every day, I am happy to say Pamela’s Diner is a nice place to go. It was featured by the Wall Street Journal in a “What to Do in Pittsburgh”[1], and it’s one of the most prominent and popular diners in Pittsburgh in social media. Interestingly, Barack Obama visited Pamela’s Diner during the United States presidential election in 2008 [2]. Pamela’s Diner is an attractive place for local people, and it’s a valuable sign of Pittsburgh. Locations are opened in Strip District, Oakland, Millvale, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, and Mt. Lebanon. I have gone to the one in Oakland and Shadyside, and I think it’s a wonderful place to go.
Food I ordered
My friends and I like egg combos, with Lyonnaise potatoes, toast, two eggs, and meat. They offer double smoked, thick-sliced bacon, hand-carved ham, sausage links, and turkey sausage patties. I prefer to eat fish in the morning, and here I cannot give an advice on meat. The amount of food is too much for me, and I doubt this amount is for two adult or a hungry teenager. Again, as an Asian, my food intake might be different. Every time my friend and I only order one egg combos, with fruits and drinks. I also tried corned beef hash: delicious, but high in cholesterol, saturated fat, and sodium [3].
Advantages
Inner Decoration
The decoration is related to the location, and I like this idea a lot. In Oakland, walls are embellished by old posters, board games, and painting. Crowed but energetic. In Shadyside, walls are painted in blue, with portraits of people in different careers. The place is bright and quite.
Pancake & Hotcake
In yelp, most of comments are about pancake in Pamela’s Diner. People are amazed by the fluffy pancake and its crispy edges. Sorry to say I have not try pancake or hotcake in Pamela’s Diner, but it worth a try. (Update: I don’t like pancake in Pamela’s Diner. Too oily.)
Menu
There are multiple dishes in the list, from egg combos, omelets, to sandwiches. I think it could meet most people’s taste, and it is an optional place for groups.
Disadvantages
Wait in line
In the 500 comments of Pamela’s Diner in Oakland, more than 200 comments are about waiting. The waiting time is from 20 to 40 minutes, longer on weekends. Some people think food in Pamela’s Diner worth 30 minutes in line, and some wait for a short time. For customers who give a low score, they mainly believe that it’s not reasonable for waiting for 40 minutes. They also mentioned the food is not worth for the waiting time. For me, I understand how they feel since I will not wait for breakfast.
Mediocre taste
Pancake and hotcake in Pamela’s Diner earn a high score in all social media, but there are few positive voices about other meals. My friends complained to me about the terrible omelet and eggs, and I agree on the part about eggs. It’s just cooked food, not delicious. I think the high population shortens food preparing time. On the other hand, more than ten comments are about their disappointing on the greasy pancake. All in all, I recommend pancake and hotcake in Pamela’s Diner, and it’s friendly for groups.
Tips:
Cash only. No Wi-Fi.
Official website: http://www.pamelasdiner.com/
Panther Eats 