Terry Kish
your guide to great food in the Pittsburgh area
While it sometimes seemed liked the construction at Sienna at St. Clair would never end, with the recent opening of several shops and restaurants in the complex, the wait has been worth it. One new little gem is “Hello Bistro”, part of the Eat ‘n Park Hospitality Group.
Clean and fresh were the words that first popped into my mind when we walked through the door. Menus are in a holder on the wall, next to a board listing the day’s specials. After making your choices, smiling employees are there to answer questions and take your order. If you’re ordering from the menu, you receive a table number and your meal is brought to you; if you’re creating your own salad, the staff leads you through the process.
With 13 salads listed on the menu under “Salads by Us” (which included tempting selections like Apple Almond Crunch, Rockin’ Moroccan Caesar Salmon, and Caribbean Shrimp) and an almost overwhelming number of topping for “Salads by You”, it wasn’t surprising to see one of these beauties on almost every table. Hello Bistro offers 55 salad toppings, and except for added protein, the price is the same whether you have five items or 20. The ingredients were beautiful and the portions were huge – easily enough for sharing or lunch the next day.
In the interest of full disclosure, neither I nor my husband had a salad, opting instead for burgers. My honey’s choice, the John Wayne BBQ Burger, was piled with bbq, bacon and onions, and spring mix. (He especially liked the touch of heat in the bbq sauce.) Paired with a generous side order of crispy hand-cut fries, it was a great meal.
I went with the Original E‘nP Superburger, no cheese, and a cup of E’nP chicken soup. When my food arrived, there was cheese on the burger, and because I’m allergic to dairy, it went back. The staff were very helpful, even checking to make sure there were no other ingredients that might be a problem. The burger was delicious – the meat hot, the lettuce cool and crisp, and just the right amount of special sauce!
Also on the menu were some very interesting grilled “sam’iches”, like Italiano Grilled Cheese (provolone, pepperoni, and marinara sauce) and Dad’s Pot Roast Melt (shredded pot roast, pepper jack cheese, and Dijon horseradish mayonnaise).
Rounding out the menu were sides; the previously mentioned E‘nP soup (chicken noodle and potato every day, as well as seasonal varieties), hand-cut French fries, mixed greens, and an E‘nP Mini Smiley® cookie.
Prices at Hello Bistro range from $4-$6 for the grilled sam’iches, $5-$6.50 for burgers, and $7 and up for the salads, depending on toppings.
While there is ample seating at the restaurant, including outdoor seating, Hello Bistro also appeared to be doing a brisk take-out business. For those who order online, just follow the signs to the take-out area and pick up your order – what could be easier?
So, the next time you’re ready for something fast, fresh, and delicious, say “hello” to Hello Bistro!
For more information, visit hellobistro.com.
