Table 9 replaced The Wharf in - wait for it - the Wharf District. I now work in the Wharf District, so any new restaurants are openly welcomed. Because it is so close, I ended up going here four times total before getting around to writing this review. Four. Not on purpose - just happened that way. So I probably have a fairly well-rounded take on this place.

The interior is nice, with some cool colors and a neat ceiling. Two sitting areas bookend the restaurant, and art dons the walls. They have a huge viewing area, so you can watch as people walk the rail trail, and they have local beer available - so that's cool.

My first visit was just for happy hour when we realized they opened and couldn't wait to try it. I ordered a Chestnut Brew Works Nate's Nut Brown Ale - lovely. Absolutely lovely. A co-worker ordered a few of their snacks:

• Garlic aioli and Sriracha fries - exactly what you'd think. Fries with a little hot sauce. The garlic aioli was nice, and there was a pretty good size serving here for the $5.

• Devils on horseback, pepper jam - probably the most creative snack we had. But because we split them up among six people when there were only three, it's hard to get a real good taste of it. It was a date with chocolate and bacon. I appreciate the creativity but wasn't a huge fan of the execution. $6.

• Fried ricotta, roasted tomato jam, garlic olive oil - my favorite of the trio. But who doesn't like fried cheese? I really liked the tomato jam it was sitting on.

Second Visit: We went for lunch. Their lunch menu has a list of regular sandwiches, and the dinner focuses more on tapas - small plates that you share. The lunch menu has some salads a few different standard sandwiches, nothing that really jumps out at me: hot Italian sandwich, BBQ pulled pork sandwich, a pulled pork sandwich (sans bbq, but instead with onions and swiss), a fried fish sandwich, grilled chicken, skirt steak, buffalo chicken, roasted turkey, grilled cheese and burgers. They also have specials written on a chalkboard-type of wall in front of the kitchen.

The one that was the most different to me was the pulled pork sandwich. Mostly because I haven't really seen a pulled pork sandwich that wasn't slathered in BBQ. Nope - this one had pickled red onions, Swiss, cilantro aioli and ciabatta.I opted for the side salad rather than fries.


But this is where things took a turn for the worse for me here.

I was with about five or six of my coworkers, and my friend Tony and I received our plates first. We waited patiently while the other members of our party waited to receive their plates. I adjusted my sandwich to get the best light. We continued to wait. A few minutes passed, and a waiter who was on his way to another table said he knew he made a mistake. I looked at my plate, and I thought it could've been what I ordered, but didn't pay it much attention. Then, the waiter picks up my plate and my coworker's plate and delivers them to another table.

I kind of sat there in disbelief. Oh no. I think I touched that sandwich. I think I touched that sandwich that is now going to an unsuspecting patron. After that plate sat in front of me for about five minutes. This wasn't - oh, set the plate down, realize mistake, pick it back up. This sat in front of me - unsupervised - for minutes. I was just thinking, man, if the waiter picked up another plate from another table and gave it to me, I'd be furious.

Yes, they're new. Yes, they're learning. But this is basic, basic stuff. I'm not in food service, but I've eaten at restaurants and could tell you I'd be pissed if I was served a meal from another table. That's weird. And gross. And worrisome.

Sigh.

But I ate my sandwich, and it wasn't bad. I actually liked it. But I couldn't get over the service. What else do they do back in the kitchen that I'm NOT seeing? I just don't like that. It bothers me.

Credit to them for doing a pulled pork sandwich in a different manner. I appreciated the cheese and pickled red onions were awesome. The garlic sauce on top was pretty good, too. It didn't blow my mind, but it was an OK lunch sandwich. The salad's house white balsamic dressing was kind of flavorless. Oily. But not in a good way.

Third time: WHY did I go back a third time? Well, because we're strapped for lunch options in this area. OR, I'm a glutton for punishment. Probably the latter. I went in a different direction and tried the cheddar burger. I also got the fries this time.

Burger was ordered medium well. But it really ended up being well-done and dry. They also mixed up two of my coworkers' orders, who also got burgers.

Anyway. Burger was not the kind of quality I thought it would be. Maybe because juice and flavor had been cooked out, but it didn't have a lot of flavor. Dare I say, it could've been frozen? Just not anything I'd expect at a restaurant - from my freezer, perhaps. But not a huge fan. And the fries were okay - they had some sort of different seasoning that I couldn't place. But another coworker had a totally different type of fry. Confused.

Fourth trip: Dinner. Finally went for dinner this time with two good friends for a celebration. And it was a much different experience. First of all, the menu items are much more creative and different. They are much more expensive, though. Too expensive. I'll do a quick run-down of all the different things we ordered:

Snacks:
-Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Hollandaise $5

Small Plates:
-Blackened Tuna, Picked Cucumbers, Corn, Radish, Horseradish $15
-Prince Edward Mussels, Bloody Mary Mix, Celery, Tomato, Hot Sauce $13
-Grilled Lamb, Salted Yogurt, Eggplant, Zucchini, Red Pepper, Pickled Red Onions $14
-Pan Seared Filet, Roasted Cauliflower, Chimichurri9, Pea Tendrils $15
-Scallops and Risotta (special of the day)  $18

Desserts:
-Olive Oil Cake, Blackberries, Whipped Goat Cheese, Salted Almonds $5
-Buttermilk Panna Cotta, Pear, Mint, Almond $5

We each ordered a couple different small plates and passed them around. If you're looking to get a full tummy, this probably isn't your place. If you're looking to try something a little different and share the experience with all your friends, this may be more your style. The small plates on the menu get heavier as you make your way toward the bottom.

But by heavier, it doesn't really mean you're going to be full. I had a little bit of everything, but I was still kind of hungry when I left. I wasn't starving, but I didn't feel totally full, and that feels like robbery when you drop $50 on a meal and you still want more.

However, I appreciate the creativity that goes into this. We had the devils on horseback, since I didn't really get much of a taste of them before. I'm still not super crazy about them. It's an odd gummy texture with the date plus lots of dark chocolate, which overtook the flavor and a piece of bacon. If the bacon had been extra salty and crisp, I think it would've done wonders. Because otherwise it's this odd mixture of mush. The pepper jelly on the bottom was lovely, though, and there definitely needs to be more of that.

The Brussels sprouts - tasty. Vicki discovered she actually likes Brussels sprouts. Instead of a sulfur taste you can get with a not-so-great batch, these were like mini cabbages, fresh, buttery and with a touch of lemon.

The Tuna was one of the standouts, I think. The spice rub was flavorful, and the thick chunk of tuna was of good quality. Not mushy. Fresh, somehow. The bits of cucumber, corn and radish on top added a cool, sweet flavor.

The mussels weren't bad, but I'm not a huge mussel fan. Brittany discovered she loves mussels. The sauce was this sort of marinara, bloody mary mix, so it was different. Just not my exact  cup of tea, though the others raved about it. 

Brittany's grilled lamb was good, but it was pretty rare. I appreciated the yogurt sauce, which made it like this deconstructed gyro. It was a thicker portion than some of the other dishes, so that's nice, too. And it had a side of the pickled red onions, which I loved.

The filet was cooked much, much better than my burger. It's like they knew what medium meant this time. The inconsistency worries me, but at least there was a little bit more flavor this time. It still needed some extra spice - I don't want to have to rely totally on the sauce to get that extra flavor. The meat  should have a little bit more going for it. But the quality was better than the burger.

Scallops and risotta. For $18, I got three scallops. If they were divine, this might not be an issue. They were good. But three? Three? Meh. I get the idea of tapas, and I like it, really. But if you want people to buy multiple dishes, they need to be cheaper than $18. The scallops were seared nicely. The risotto left a little something to be desired. It had this gravy flavor, almost, instead of lighter taste.

One thing that kind of bothered me was that service was just kind of clunky. Our waitress was nice, but they kept switching out plates for "courses" - which there aren't any courses. Just bring everything out at once. They're all teeny tiny. So I had plates switched at least three times, which was annoying. It was awkward and clunky and slow, and we were trying to have a conversation. Then they'd place the plates like off to the side. I just kind of wanted them to set the plates at the end of the table and let me do it. Goodness.

When it comes down to it, I'm not a huge fan of the lunch. It's mediocre, plain and uninventive. And service always seem to be an ordeal. Dinner was a much better experience because I enjoyed trying a little of everything, and it was more of an adventure, rather than a meal. But the prices are just entirely too steep. I enjoyed my experience at dinner, but I still had a snack when I left because when it came down to it, I had four small strips of filet, three scallops and a bite or two of other things. The waitress suggested ordering about two dishes because their small plates are 4 oz. I did, but if you want me to order more than that, prices need to come down. I've had scallop dishes with more substance for $18. Make this happen.



I want to mention that Vicki finished off their bottle of Mossback Pinot Noir and loved it - all three glasses at $10 each.

Oh, there was dessert! Panna Cotta, which was so light and fluffy with some pear, mint, almond and candied apples. It was pretty good. And for $5, it was less offensive.

The olive oil cake was deconstructed with blackberries, whipped goat cheese and salted almonds. They even smeared a caramel "Congrats" in the dish, which was really quite sweet. The cake wasn't super flavorful, but the tart berries and goat cheese made up for it.

I think some of the kinks may get worked out. But for it to succeed, prices really need to come down. And you know me, I'm willing to pay money for good food. I like the creativity and I like the experience, but it's too pricey to make a full meal.

Grade: B

Just as Jay's Daily Grind changed to The Grind WV, former Jay's Getaway changed to Apothecary Ale House and Cafe. I'm not sure who Jay is, but it seems as though he's sold both of the restaurants in town that bear his namesake. Jay must be a hipster, because both of his places are great. And luckily, they both seem to be doing well even after the trade.

Rumor has it that a previous bartender took over Apothecary, so that would be a good thing. Always nice to have people who know what they're doing running the place.

So Apothecary isn't much different - from what I remember - at Jay's Getaway. It's still a super cool, laidback vibe with friendly bartenders. Have no idea what you're doing and want to try something new? Ask them. They're not judgey, so it's the best place to learn about craft beer.

Speaking of, they have one of the best selections in town. The beer menu is pages long. I've had a bunch of different kinds, including the Rogue Farms Pumpkin Patch Ale most recently. Yum. They even give you which fancy glass accompanies your beer. I won't try to pretend like I know the difference, but it makes me feel hip.

The crowd here is what makes it for me, I think. Not like most of the other bars downtown. Rather, it's mellow. And a little older than undergrads. And I appreciate that. 

There's a board showing what they have on tap, and it changes regularly. Also, they have a set of index cards that you can create one iwth your name on it and document all the different kinds of beers you've had. The ones with the most are showcased on a leaderboard. So, that's cool.

There's a very limited food menu which consists of a few appetizers and paninis.Appetizers include things like an olive, pepper and cracker platter, a pepperoni roll, basket of kettle chips, pretzel with beer cheese and pretzel with mustard or bleu cheese. Their kitchen seems to be this teeny, tiny corner of the bar, so it's nothing extravagant.

Paninis include a three cheese roast beef, a turkey bacon melt, a pepper sandwich, a gouda sandwich and a Cuban sandwich. They're all essentially lunch meat on New Day Bakery Bread, with chips, dip and a pickle.

I ordered the three cheese roast beef was pleasantly surprised with my panini. It had roast beef and onions, melted swiss, pepper jack, and cheddar cheese and mayo. It's simple, but it was actually tasty. And I wouldn't really put mayo on roast beef, but I will from now on. I also love love that the chips have dip with them. Otherwise, they probably would've gone to waste. Fairly solid, simple sandwich.

For specializing in beer, these sandwiches are not to be overshadowed. They're good and are a perfect addition to any beer. Maybe that's supposed to be the other way around .. Nah.




Grade: A

Jay's Daily Grind has switched ownership and is now known as The Grind WV. It's my understanding that one of the employees at Jay's bought the shop, which makes sense why it's in many ways the same as the previous restaurant -- but in other ways, totally different.

The Grind WV is located right off WVU's campus and is an easy walk for students. For those of us who have to drive there, it's a little more treacherous - though two small short-term lots are directly behind the building. Good luck finding parking there during peak hours, though.

I have to say - it's worth it.


It's a small, but cozy inside. You order at the counter and take a seat to the right (where there are a dozen or so tables) or left (just a table and the trash area) and wait for your name to be called. This is just like Jay's.

What's new, you ask?

Well, they take CREDIT CARDS. YES. CREDIT CARDS. This is revolutionary, people. They also have wifi and extended hours!

They also have a little bit more creativity going on. Daily soups are a new thing, as are a few prepared hummus and pita sandwiches at the front. They have specials on their Facebook that include baked goods and other delicious items.

That's what drew me in. I saw a photo on their Facebook about a tomato bisque, and a friend texted me to tell me about it. Tomato bisque with candied pecans, reggiano parm and local rendered bacon. Good. God.

I also grabbed a hummus sandwich and sat at the window to people watch.

Let's just start with this sandwich. As simple as it sounds, it is so, so good. It's a delicious hummus with delicious pita and delicious red peppers. I don't know if it's homemade or not, but I know if I bought all these at the store, I couldn't even assemble it as good as this. I was kind of amazed at the flavor of a small sandwich. And I've had some very meh hummus. This was tasty.

This soup. I hope for your sake that they offer it again because wow.

So silky smooth, and creamy and amazing. The bacon and cheese and candied pecans are not something you get in most tomato soups. Just so, soo good. Please put this on as a regular item, because I'm not sure what to do without it in my life. Now, serve up a grilled cheese and heaven.

Grade: A

The secret is out.

I finally visited Secret Sandwich Society, a Fayetteville restaurant I've been coveting a visit to for months now - ever since I first heard about it. Just the name of it incites some sort desire. Secret Sandwich Society - it sounds like a collection of elite individuals who are part of the secret. Like a speakeasy. They're in the know.

That "know" in this case is some damn good sandwiches.

Secret Sandwich Society is located in Fayetteville, a super cool, super hip little town that I've kind of fallen in love with. I have driven through Fayetteville countless times on my trips to southern West Virginia, but I've only stopped here two or three times. Once was to try the original Pies & Pints. This visit was much more deliberate - I drove from Morgantown to meet my friend Carl here, and we spent a few hours exploring the town, too.


The restaurant is located on Keller Avenue, next to the park at the corner of Keller Avenue and Court Street. The restaurant is on the bottom floor of the building, so it was a little hidden from view.

After taking the stairs down the bottom level, it's clear this small restaurant can get packed judging by the number of stools outside on the deck that folks could use for a waiting area. On this particular day, we were immediately seated. Only a handful of tables inside and a few outside, too.

Like any good foodie - if I dare call myself that, and I know I'll catch hell for it since I don't cook - I studied the menu and read tons of reviews before going. The menu features some appetizers (like fries), some soups (like their soup of the moment), salads (which are all women's names - more specifically, first lady names - Lucy, Martha, Eleanor), burgers and sandwiches - the shining star.

Most of the sandwiches are named after presidents. And they're not your deli store sandwiches. Take that and turn the sophistication way up with delicious combinations. The Ulysses has roasted pork loin, peach jam, swiss and greens. The Polk has roasted chicken breast, their signature bacon jam, aioli, lettuce, tomato and onion on a toasted hamburger bun. The Quincy has seasoned and seared roast beef, balsamic onions, roasted garlic aioli and pepperjack cheese. The Lincoln is a create-your-own, and the Truman has turkey, peach jam, blue cheese spread and crispy onions. Mouth watering yet?



I ordered the McKinley - homemade meatloaf, their signature bacon jam, aioli and crispy onions. All sandwiches are toasted on a hoagie roll (unless otherwise stated) and come with Society chips and a homemade pickle.

They have local beer on draft - Bridge Brew Works! - as well some cool import bottles. And other beverages include natural soda, sweet leaf organic iced tea and coffee.

Interior was simple, but fun. They actually have a design and stick to it. You can see that in their website design - beautifully done. Unique, but comfortable environment here.

Our server was super cool and attentive. He was laidback and took the time to rattle off some of his favorite sandwiches when I inquired - instead of the canned "I love everything!" which doesn't help the customer at all. It's clear they put some consideration into the individuals they hire. Because he nailed it.


This sandwich: Comfort food with a fancy twist. Meatloaf was moist with a hint of heat. It had a bit of a different flavor to it in the best way possible. It was like my mother's homemade meatloaf with an extra dash of spices. The bacon jam acted as a nice sweet and smokey layer, and the aioli added that hint of garlic. Crispy onions perfect for the texture. Bread had a nice crunch to the top but soft inside. Delish.

Their homemade chips are a liiiittle thicker than store-bought, which I love. Thicker chips are the way to go. Decent flavor. Wish I had some extra sauce to use with them, though.

The pickle is homemade and has a different sort of sour. Very crisp and interesting. Unlike anything you'd buy in the store.

Carl got the Polk sandwich and thought it was really good. He was also a fan of the natural root beer pop. Root beer isn't my thing, but if it's yours, go for it. He seemed pretty pumped.

Can't remember how much the total bill came to, but both of our sandwiches were around $10, so it's not bad for the delicious dinner and cool atmosphere.

I've heard they do a fancy macaroni and cheese theme on Mondays, which would be amazing. And I've been dying to go to one of their Supper Clubs. If I knew exactly how this worked, I'd probably have a better shot at it.

Apparently it's a sort of special dinner that brings together a group of 12 people for a multi-course meal at a flat rate. I think it's held once a month, and they allow the first 12 people who email the restaurant or respond via Facebook to attend. After 12, you're put on the waiting list. How fun does this sound? The last time I saw them post it was in July, and I emailed but didn't hear back. So not sure the current status on it, but I want it. So. Bad.

I've been told it might be a little weird at first, but everyone bonds over the food and wine, and I waaaant it.

Secret Sandwich Society is open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (CLOSED TUESDAY) and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Check them out on Facebook, Urbanspoon, and Yelp.

There are a number of other restaurants here I want to try, including Diogi's, Cathedral Cafe, Dirty Ernie's Rib Pit, Gumbo's Cajun Restaurant, Swirl ... and more. I'll definitely be back.

Grade: A

Helluva burgers. Heavenly shakes.

I've had a few friends try Burgatory (get it? Purgatory, but with burgers?) and report back to me with amazing reviews - "You MUST go!" "Best shakes ever!" "Burgers to die for." So it's been on my radar for quite some time, and just recently was I able to dine at the heaven and hell-themed restaurant with Afton.


Burgatory has three locations - all of which are in Pittsburgh: Robinson, Fox Chapel/Waterworks, and the Consol Energy Center. Because we were heading up on a Friday evening, we went to the Robinson location thinking it'll be the least crowded.

The parking lot was swarming, so we knew we were in for a wait. Luckily, when you go inside, you give them your name and phone number, they'll give you an estimated time and text you when your table is ready. Genius. They told us we'd have about a 60-70 minute wait, so we went to a nearby plaza for some half-priced books (my fav!).

We were only gone about a half hour before I got a text saying the table was ready and we had 10 minutes to get back. Panic sets in. We weren't far, but traffic was a little iffy. It only took us about five minutes to get back, so no worries there.

We were seated at a fairly small table against the corner. This place gets packed tight, so be prepared to get to know your neighbor. Ours was a lovely couple who enjoyed their meal. It's kind of dark and cool inside. Very modern and hip.

After careful consideration of the menu, I first put in an order for a milkshake. Tell me this doesn't sound like heaven: caramel pretzel ($6). Classic combination of sweet and salty. They also have alcoholic milkshakes, but I passed on that this time.

It is a large helping with a thick straw suitable for sucking up all the crunchy goodness in that shake. They even give you the cup with the extra in it.

Okay, delicious. It's kind of like this shake was made for me though with caramel and sweet/salty. The caramel was the dominant flavor, but the pretzel had its moments throughout. Chunky pretzel and smooth, luxurious ice cream. Mmm.

We ordered an appetizer of truffled gorgonzola fries. Super good. Lots of gorgonzola all throughout - not just on top - and melty to the salty fries. Yum.

Okay, onto the main course. You can make your own burger with a custom creations menu. But Afton and I both chose something off the menu. I went with the Meat Your Maker ($13.5) - "Dry Aged Wagyu Beef with Sweet Onion Crust, Aged Gruyere, Roasted Tomatoes, Organic Field Greens & Truffled Shallot Aioli. So good you’ll think you died and went to heaven."

And it was pretty good. One of the best burgers I've had. It's clear they put some time and consideration itno the ingredients on each burger. Because this had a beautiful blend. Everything melded together seamlessly to create a fresh, hearty, tangy, well-balanced burger. I loved the onion crust paired with fresh veggies. The aioli and cheese topping the burger were savory. Burger was juicy - I got mine pink. You can get it red, pink, or cooked through. All in a well, a great burger and a much better option over Five Guys or other burger chains.

Afton got the Morty's Steakhouse, which was my second option I wanted. It was "Peppercorn Crusted Beef Burger with Horseradish Cheddar, Haystack Onions & Cabernet Sauce. Like the greatest steak dinner you’ve ever had reincarnated as a burger."

Hers was good, but I didn't taste the sauce as much. The dominant flavor was definitely the burger, and everything else kind of took a back seat. Not that that's a bad thing, but I liked that mine had a little more depth.

And at the end - you get a fortune cookie, of course.

Grade: A