Customer Reviews
What You'll Get
People eat three times a day to prevent mouthy mouths from brashly blurting out their distaste for the rest of the digestive system. Today's Groupon prevents inner-system quarreling by subduing chatty cheeks with creative gourmet fare: for $20, you get $40 worth of gourmet New American eats at Sausalido in Bloomfield.
With fresh ingredients and local produce fueling its seasonal menu, Sausalido infuses its gourmet bistro cuisine with New American flavors. Fans of all things fair and fowl can satiate salivary glands with the goat-cheese-stuffed chicken breast with roasted zucchini risotto ($22) or the sliced, marinated duck breast with sugar-snap risotto ($26), which arrives doused in a mint-julep glaze to remind it of the day it languidly soared over Churchill Downs, wing-in-arm with the coyest debutante. Those who prefer a swimmable feast can delight in the Asian-inspired, coconut-encrusted Ahi tuna, served with buckwheat soba noodles and stir-fried vegetables ($21), while porcine-inclined palates can revel in the pan-fried pork loin with Vermont cheddar and scallion grits ($22). In keeping with the Bloomfield eatery's friendly vibe, all meals are accompanied by locally baked bread with the house dipping sauce, a Sausalido side salad, and a hot stock tip from one of the friendly servers.
Enjoy a post-meal palate-pleaser in the form of decadent coconut crème brûlée ($6) or Sausalido s'mores ($5), while taking advantage of the eatery's BYOB policy (a $2 corkage fee applies). Between the contemporary wine-country vibe and welcoming service, Sausalido provides frenemies with a much-needed respite from the tedious habit of fish-slapping.
Reservations are required on Friday and Saturday nights.
Reviews
Sausalido grabs favorable reviews from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and the Pittsburgh City Paper. Gayot gives it a 13/20 rating, six Yelpers dish an average of four stars, and 82% of more than 230 Urbanspooners recommend it:
- Appetizers work their magic. At the top of the chart is the Venezuelan Lump Crab Stuffed Shrimp ($12), three oxymoronic giant shrimp with a lightly put together crab mixture. – Sally A. Quinn, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- Sausalido has an intimate appeal that derives directly from the people-pleasing personalities, not to mention talents, of its youthful owner and chef. – Angelique Bamberg and Jason Roth, Pittsburgh City Paper
- The kitchen takes its lead from California’s concern for fresh ingredients and seasonality, with a menu reaching beyond those of other restaurants in this area called Little Italy. – Gayot
- Of all the risotto was the most outstanding, but all of the dishes were equally tasty. It was very hard selecting an entrée since all sounded delicious. – Brian G., Yelp
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires Jan 8, 2011. Amount paid never expires. Limit 2 per person, may buy multiple as gifts. Limit 1 per table of 2, limit 2 per table of 6 or more. Limit 1 per catering order. Reservations required for Friday and Saturday nights. 24-hour cancellation policy or Groupon is forfeited. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Sausalido
Under the leadership of owner Nicholas Mineo and executive chef Michael Simpson, the experienced culinary team at Sausalido concocts an ever-changing array of New American– and European-style dishes from a wealth of local produce. Though Chef Simpson's menu changes seasonally, he always pairs seafood, pasta, and meat entrees with salad, locally baked rustic bread, and a white bean and fresh rosemary dipping sauce whipped up in-house.
Sausalido’s main dining room evokes the aesthetics of the Napa Valley with soothing jazz music and acrobatic sommeliers dangling from grapevines, while still incorporating work from Pittsburgh artists to remind the walls where they come from. The expanse hosts up to 40 diners who can BYOB, while upstairs, a private party room fits up to 30 guests. Along with hosting in-house celebrations, Sausalido feeds guests at offsite soirees with catered cuisine from its 12-page catering menu.