The Dish on Dish: Ye Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe

Chips on ye old block.

by Michael Vivar

The North Side is a-flurry with holiday spirit.  It seems that one can’t walk down the street these days without being offered some cider, mulled wine, or egg nog. It’s a time when we can indulge in camaraderie and gluttony.  While a period of joy it also feels like a period of constant transit. Time is a valuable commodity as we scurry off to a party or to cook for a party or to shop for people we’ll see at a party. Any pause that can be gleaned during the holidays is a welcome one. Ye Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe provides such a respite.  After a long night before, Katie and I were happy to appreciate it with Mr. and Mrs. Dish.

Nestled in a corner on Western Avenue in West Allegheny, the restaurant provides a spacious dining area that belies its modest storefront.  It was filled with a crowd very representative of the neighborhood. Despite the amount of people that filtered in and out, it never became claustrophobic. We were served by a pleasantly gregarious waitress who calls everyone “hon,” and offered to smack me around.That’s something for which I usually have to pay extra.

For our meal we were presented with generously proportioned sandwiches.  Mrs. Dish had a reuben ($5.95), and she was surprised to find turkey along with the corned beef. This was an interesting addition that served to give the sandwich a milder flavor.  Slightly disappointed by their selling out of the roast beef special (it had gravy!), Katie settled for the plain roast beef sandwich ($5.50), whose meat was rare and juicy.  Mr. Dish satisfied his hunger with the Dagwood ($5.95). It was so stuffed to the rafters with a variety of meat and veggies (No cheese. Such is Mr. Dish’s Achilles Heel. Remember this, future despoilers of his meals) that it would make Mr. Bumstead proud.  I ordered the cracked black pepper burger ($5.50), medium rare. My sandwich was decidedly well done, but my mouth was pleased by the sporadic bite of peppercorns.

Each dish came with thick beefsteak french fries and among us we shared an order of golden onion rings. We relished this and, with each bite, silently laughed at our compatriots in New York who have been cowed by their junk science of “clogged arteries” and “high blood pressure.”

In the midst of your holiday rushing about, you’d do well to rest your feet and refuel yourself at Ye Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe.  The name even sound kind of yule-y. While you're in the area, you might be able to find a unique gift in one of the fine stores that keep popping up on Western Avenue such as Kharisma.

822 Western Avenue, Corner of Rope Way, 412-322-4797