Taste of the Weekend: May 13 to 16

There are a handful of places in Pittsburgh that make you feel anywhere but the city: the gorgeous courtyard enclosed by Pusadee’s Garden, the red, deeply-lit and pleasantly loud dining room of Umami, the downstairs climb to delicious eats at Jian’s Kitchen.

This weekend, we’re in the mood for a destination. We’re on the hunt for places that take us out of the city for a minute, seducing with museum-like artwork, fresh, enticing flavors, and of course, fabulous food.

Hyeholde Restaurant

hyeholde.com

A castle awaits diners at Hyeholde which, if Chef Chris O'Brien didn’t make such fantastic food, could function as a museum. The massive space – the first half built originally in 1931 – goes on forever, boasting ornate dining rooms full of artwork and furnishings fit for royalty. A massive garden wraps around the backyard, covered neatly in towering trees.

O’Brien is full of flavor, filling the menu with American-inspired, French-educated eats. Seasonality plays a big part in the bill of dishes; currently, find a juicy, earthy rack of lamb and a rich elk loin as stars of the menu.

COBRA

cobrapgh.com

Though unimpressive from the outside, the inside of COBRA – if it wasn’t clear from the slithering snake door handles – is a completely different world. Futuristic, neon lights stud the karaoke dance floor, leading to a darkly-lit bar and their Korean barbecue-fitted dining room, a long line of booths fit with their own grill.

Perfectly-fatty cuts of short rib and thin, rich strips of zabuton are some of the many choices to barbeque, partnered by a series of delicious banchan. If grilling isn’t your style, find fusion snacks – burgers, kimchi carbonara, and more – on the bar menu.

Café du Jour

cafedujourpgh.com

I’ll never forget my first trip to Café du Jour. The dining room (without including their blooming courtyard) extended the length of a row house, with tables crammed neatly in any space that would hold them. Looking at the kitchen, I wasn’t expecting much; it seemed too small to crank out their long menu of Euro-style eats.

The two chefs quickly proved any of my reservations wrong, delighting with a pecorino and artichoke dip and a sweet finish, the blueberry-spiked, syrup-drenched croissant bread pudding.

Spirits & Tales

spiritsandtales.com

There’s got to be at least one view on this list, and Spirits & Tales doesn’t disappoint. Their top-floor spot in Oakland puts the neighborhood on display with giant, ceiling-to-floor windows. Though brilliant in the day, I favor Spirits & Tales at night; the windows, paired with their modern vibe, bring a cozy, urban feel to the university zone.

In my eyes, formal dining service takes a backseat to the restaurant’s casual-cool bar seating, fit with a wine list to match every need. Order snack after snack and drink through their top-notch cocktail list.

Khalil’s II

khalilsrestaurant.com

History is the heartbeat of Khalil’s. The Middle Eastern eatery, founded in 1972, is now run by children of the original owner. On their walls, find family pictures; on their shelves, find gorgeous gold wares and ornate decorations; on their menu, find family recipes and flavors that can’t be found anywhere else in the city.

Their signature mazza, a spread of hummus, smoky baba ganough, fresh-tasting medumas, and savory-sweet, red-bell-pepper-based mahamarra, is not to be missed. Follow your smorgasbord starter with their falafel or earthy, rich lamb kebab stacked on rice pilaf.