CHiKN was among the many restaurants that took part in the week long event
02/07/2019
Claudia Hardy | staff writer
Good quality food for a cheap price? Now that is a college eating hack.
Oakland Restaurant Week returned for the annual winter edition with 16 restaurants that offered $6 menu items for six days, Jan. 28 through Feb. 2.
Whether you were in the mood for pierogies – a Pittsburgh classic, or a burger or maybe something you’ve never tried before, like a Mount Fuji chicken roll, this week featured a wide variety of menu items.
Students on a budget had the
opportunity to ditch regular-priced food for something new on Forbes or Fifth Avenues for an inexpensive price, welcoming traffic from throughout the entire Oakland community.
“I had heard about this event for a while now but never had the opportunity to check it out,” Duquesne student Morgan Keys said “There were so many people up in Oakland doing the same thing that I was – eating some good food for a discounted price”
This event was funded by the Oakland Business Improvement District (OBID) with additional support by Sustainable Pittsburgh.
Through the Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurants Program, diners were able to enjoy a Meatless Monday as well. According to sustainablepghrestaurants.org, these eateries are “designated restaurants that are good for people, the planet, the restaurant industry and our economy.”
This six-day event included restaurants that are appealing to diversity; there was something for everyone.
Participating restaurants included CHiKN, Fuel & Fuddle, Golden Palace Buffet, Hanami, Hello Bistro, Nellie’s Sandwiches, Original Milano Pizza, Pamela’s Diner, Pie Express, Prince of India, Sciulli’s Pizza, Sorrento’s Pizza, Sree’s Foods, Stack’d Oakland, Sushi Fuku, The Garden Grille and Bar, Thirsty Scholar and Top Shabu-Shabu & Lounge.
OBID has organized Restaurant Week in Oakland for several years now and has been working to integrate both the restaurants and retail stores surrounding the neighborhood.
Customers who participated in this event were able to enter to win free lunch for one month as well as other prizes from participating Oakland restaurants.
Prizes from past years have included Bluetooth headphones donated by T-Mobile and cookbooks donated by the Pitt bookstore.
OBID’s advertising must not have reached as far as Duquesne, as many students were unaware that this event even took place.
“I’ve never heard of Oakland’s restaurant week,” student Allyson Bonnoni said “I wish I had because it would be a nice break from campus food.”
“This sounds like something that would be perfect for Pittsburgh college students,” Lee Melendez said, “I wish they had done more advertising for it because my friends and I would have definitely checked it out!”
Hopefully next year more Duquesne students will take the opportunity to participate in this event, as it is a great way to get off campus and try something new at an affordable price.
