Red Oak Cafe: You Can OTY Me Anytime

If you're familiar with Pittsburgh's "other" downtown, Oakland, then you're probably familiar with the  Red Oak Café. If you're not, it's time to get hip. This little joint caters to vegphiles, college students (it's located right in the heart of the University of Pittsburgh's urban campus), and the UPMC doctor crowd.

This restaurant is my savior when I’m desperate for fast, quality food. It’s within walking distance of my office building, and is the location-of-choice for nearly all of my weekday lunch dates.

The prices here rival those of the nearby Panera, but the menu offers an extensive selection of fresh and interesting food items. The seasonal menu features rotating blue plate specials (of both vegetarian and omnivorous varieties), a broad range of vegetarian options, and organic and natural prepared foods and beverages. They will even cater to a vegan diet upon request!

They serve breakfast all day, and sell a trademark OTY Smoothies (Oatmeal Tea and Yogurt Smoothies) in numerous iterations. The OTY is so popular (or at least so extensively marketed) that you can even get an OTY t-shirt. The ambiance is cute when it’s not super crowded: tables are decorated with flowers, herb plants grace the windowsill, and there are pictures of Pittsburgh everywhere!

My Red Oak Café Lunch Favorites Are:

The Vegetarian Chili and Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwich

The Michelangelo (a breakfast sandwich piled high with of spinach and mushrooms on multi-grain bread) and Fresh Fruit

The place gets pretty packed during lunchtime, so beware. However, if you're hungry in Oakland, check it out. Red Oak will provide a much needed alternative to the other heavy, greasy options of Forbes Avenue.