Being a college student, you can work up quite an appetite, especially when it comes to breakfast. After all, breakfast is coined the most important meal of the day for a reason. Luckily for Pitt students, Oakland and the surrounding areas have an extensive list of places that can serve up a great breakfast. Listed below are four of our favorites.
1. Pamela’s Diner
Our personal FAVORITE, Pamela’s is located at 3703 Forbes Ave in the heart of Oakland. For starters, it’s super convenient since it’s located in the middle of campus (at most a 12-minute walk from nearly all campus buildings) and they accept off campus dining dollars as a form of payment. From our personal experience, the quality of the food is consistently good, and the service is out of this world. The staff are very friendly and make you feel welcomed! Price wise, everything is under $10 unless you add extra toppings or sides. They’re specialty hotcakes (which they are known for) are amazing with the perfect amount of sweetness and include many toppings to choose from such as strawberries, blueberries, bananas, chocolate chips and walnuts. We usually get The Morning After Breakfast Special which includes two eggs cooked whichever way you like, choice of meat (ham, bacon or sausage) and two hotcakes. We also just tried their new breakfast option (egg, sausage and cheese on a bagel) and let us tell you – it was the best breakfast sandwich we have ever had! It was cooked to perfection and mouthwatering. On top of the incredible food and service, the diner has a very fun aesthetic. Every inch of the walls is decorated with different game boards, and they have vibrant paintings which give a very different and unique look to the place. If you’re ever in Pittsburgh you need to stop by, you won’t regret it.
2. Square Cafe
On the topic of aesthetically pleasing, if you like visiting Instagram capturing breakfast places, then this is the place for you. Located at 134 South Highland Ave right by the Super Target, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and ALDI, Square Cafe has loads of options that taste amazing! The restaurant is massive with it taking over two buildings plus an outside dining area. They have small dishes such as the Greek yogurt, oatmeal and Cinnamon Dough Poppers. For vegan options they have many such as The Very Vegan Breakfast Burrito, Very Vegan Scramble, Very Vegan Avocado Toast and The Very Vegan Peanut Butter Banana Pancakes. They also have many added protein options such as the protein pancakes for those who hit the gym and want to get their extra protein in. We usually get the Square Breakfast which comes with two eggs of any style, choice of protein, and choice of home fries, toast or one buttermilk pancake. However, instead of the buttermilk, we replace it with one protein pancake. Everything tastes amazing and the quality of their food never fails to amaze us. Their prices are a little bit more expensive than Pamela’s, however the experience makes it worth it. If you want to get breakfast or brunch with family or friends, we recommend that you visit here.
3. Cafe Moulin
Bonjour and welcome to our third best option for breakfast in Pittsburgh. Cafe Moulin is a very cute and cozy place, located in Shadyside at 732 Filbert Street. Surrounded by many shopping places such as Lulu Lemon and Sephora, this crêperie is perfect for those who want to awaken their French side and eat wonderful fluffy crêpes. They have many options to choose from based on three categories: Sweet, Savory, and Omelet Crêpes. Based on what we’ve tried, our vote is to for the Ottawa and Nutella crêpes! The Ottawa is a three egg omelet topped with melted brie and a side of bacon and fruit all sitting on top of a crêpe. The Nutella has a Nutella filled crêpe topped with whatever toppings you choose such as bananas, strawberries, berries, raspberry compote, and non-dairy whipped cream. Speaking of non-dairy, if you live a vegan lifestyle or just want a vegan breakfast, all the crêpes have vegan ingredients that you can have as an alternative to the original ingredients. The prices aren’t bad with the most expensive item being $12 and the whole experience is always an amazing one. If you’re feeling in a French mood and want something either sweet or savory, this is the place to eat at.
4. Cafe Raymond
Our final recommendation for breakfast places in Pittsburgh is in the Strip District at 2009 Penn Ave. With an extensive menu to choose from, Cafe Raymond’s breakfast is fantastic. The portions are massive, and the quality of the food is phenomenal! They have many Vegan and Vegetarian options such as the Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes, the omelets and Yuriy’s Breakfast which contains two eggs with sautéed spinach, feta cheese, tomato and wheat toast. Their menu also features french toast, egg and cheddar croissant, power grain bowl and their Vegan quinoa bowl. We had the Ciabatta and Lox which contains house cured salmon, cream cheese, capers, tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions all served on ciabatta bread. We also enjoyed the Guy’s Breakfast which contains two eggs any style, your choosing of ham, bacon, or sausage and a blueberry ricotta pancake – both didn’t disappoint. Every ingredient was cooked perfectly, and the quality of the ingredients were outstanding. Again, the price of each meal isn’t too high with the highest being $12.99. Since it’s located in the Strip District, they’re many things to do after your meal. Every Pitt Panther should be sure to stop by Cafe Raymond for a morning delight!