kidsburgh!

Yesterday I got an email from Eat 'n Park. They wanted to let me and my readers know about their summer specials for kids.

I wasn't sure if I should do it. Eat 'n Park may be a Pittsburgh tradition, but I haven't personally set foot in the restaurant in years, so I can't provide a very authoritative review. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Eat 'n Park is directly responsible for the free-wheeling lifestyle I enjoy today, so I figured maybe I owe them a favor.

This story dates back to the summer of 2002, when I was pounding the pavement of Murray Avenue, with a moderate amount of optimism and a CMU degree that was still fairly fresh. I worked my way further and further down the street, filling out applications with less and less enthusiasm and a growing sense of inevitability as I passed one boutique after another and inched ever closer to the striped awnings of the Eat 'n Park franchise. Finally, I found myself filling out a standardized application test with a number two pencil and returning home to wait by the phone for the call I was sure would soon arrive.

Two weeks later, I had learned a couple of important things: there is never, ever an acceptable reason to be late for work (or at least, you should never admit it in a job application), and apparently I was more or less unemployable. Three weeks later, I had started to look seriously for freelance work, and I've never looked back. So thanks, I guess, Eat 'n Park.

Anyway, their summer specials start today and last until the end of July. There are lots of kids' meals available for 99 cents, and all include free goody bags and smiley cookies for kids under ten. For more information, see this website.

When it comes to kid-friendly food, it's hard to go wrong with pizza. In fact, when we used to live on Penn Avenue near Spak Brothers, this particular pizza was the only thing my toddler would reliably eat. No matter how you slice it, pizza is hardly health food, but the Spaks do have a commitment to using natural and local ingredients when possible. The pizza itself tastes great, with tangy sauce and a chewy crust. There are also plenty of other menu options, from hoagies to salads.

Spak Brothers has a friendly atmosphere, with pinball, graffiti murals, punk music, and local art. It's a great place to take kids or guests for a quick and casual meal, and especially appropriate for groups with vegetarian tendencies, as vegetarian meat alternatives and vegan soy cheese can be substituted for most items.

details:

Located at 5107 Penn Avenue. Open until 10 or 11 most nights, closed Sundays. Generous slice of pizza for $2, most items $5 to 10. Limited seating is available, but it's really more of a takeout place. Menu and more information at Spak Brothers Pizza and More.