1534 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Introduction: With its bright blue facade nestled among red brick near Pittsburgh's Mexican War Streets, ShadoBeni is filled with an uplifting atmostphere and delicious vegan cuisine. Whether you practice a vegan diet or are looking to expand your pallatte, there is something that everyone is sure to love. The Owner:
On our trip, we had the opportunity to sit and chat with Ulric and his experience owning a restaurant. Ulric is originally from Trinidad and came to the United States to attend college. He eventually started teaching at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) as an art professor for over 15 years. During this time, he lived in Pittsburgh, commuted to Maryland for a few days at a time, and would return back to Pittsburgh. During his time as a professor, he encountered events which were personally challenging and misaligned with his values. This led him to take a step back from teaching and pursue other career options. Ulric said he always had a strong passion for cooking, and with his families encouragement, he decided to open ShadoBeni. He's also extremely involved with the Pittsburgh community. He purchases produce from local vendors, participates in farmers markets, and donates leftover food to a local men's shelter. The Restaurant: ShadoBeni is located in a residential area in Pittsburgh's North Side, isolated from other restaurants. The Vibrant, light blue paint and fluorescent, purple lights stood out against the surrounding brick buildings. This deliberate choice in location served a purpose; Ulric wanted to be located in a food desert. He wanted to address the issue of limited access to quality food in areas where it's challenging. Inside, you're immediately hit with a warm, friendly energy. All around you'll see hand-painted artwork and Trinidadian flags along the walls. It's a small space, there are only five tables. Though small, it has an open kitchen concept, so you get the opportunity to watch the chefs prepare food throughout the day. The Food & Member Reviews:
Haley: I had a wonderful time at ShadoBeni! The staff were all super sweet and it had amazing food. I ordered their Crispy Oyster Mushroom Sandwich with a side of Spicy Pickled Veggies. I also had a few bites of the Macaroni pie that one of the girls ordered. Everything that I had tried exceeded my expectations. Having Indian, European, African, and Chinese influences created such a unique blend of flavors that I haver had before. The Crispy Oyster Mushroom Sandwich was made of house-made coconut bake (traditional Trinidadian bread), fried oyster mushroom, pickled slaw, and mango pepper sauce. This was probably the best thing I had all of January. The sandwich was slightly sweet from the coconut bake, crispy and umami from the fried mushrooms, then the acidity from the slaw and mango pepper sauce balanced out the meal very well. The Spicy Pickled Veggies were also amazing, they were slightly sweet, sour, with a tiny bit of spice. The Macaroni Pie was unique but also amazing! It's hard to describe what it taste like, but it had a lot of spices and was a little sweet. This is definitely something that I would love to order again. Jackie: I don't eat a vegan diet, but I'm always looking to try vegan-friendly options. Sometimes plant-based food can be a hit or miss, but everything I had was an absolute hit! I started my meal off with the cold pressed juice. On our trip, they had apple juice. It was crisp and refreshing and paired perfectly with the rest of my meal. I got the Doubles as my meal. They are a classic Trinidadian street food described as a "sloppy sandwich." They had curried chickpeas and a pickled slaw on top. It had the perfect amount of kick to it and was the perfect portion size. It came with a side of pickled veggies, including cucumber, cauliflower, garlic, and peppers. It was a perfect tangy accompaniment to go with the rest of my meal! I ordered their mushroom wings tossed in smoky buffalo sauce to-go for dinner. They were great! It still felt like I was eating boneless wings, and there wasn't an overwhelming mushroom taste. The buffalo sauce had a nice kick and the smokiness took it to another level. I can't wait to go back and try more of their menu! Ean: Whether you have aspirations or not to go to Trinidad, you will be transported with every bite you take. The concoction of culture and flavor is ever so evident in each dish that the menu of ShadoBeni boasts. I decided on the Buss Up Shut in an effort to try as many things as I could per dollar. Coming with three sides and a sauce to go along with the Buss Up Shut itself (a tattered and smashed up bread) was absolutely delicious. I had the curried chickpeas with potatoes, spinach, and okra. Each side seamlessly worked with one another, and it was elevated with the spicy pepper sauce to finish the bite. Sophia: This was a vibrant and delicious meal! I ordered the Crispy Mushroom Sandwich with plantains and sorrel. The sandwich was amazing and unique. I was in awe of the coconut bake, which I never would have guessed is vegan and I think it should be used as the bread for all sandwiches...always. The plantains and pepper sauce were super tasty. I will definitely be returning to ShadoBeni! Vatsala: The food, the ambiance, and the people, everything was amazing at ShadoBeni! The staff were very friendly and they were happy to answer our questions and give their recommendations. I also really loved the "hole in the wall" vibe that the restaurant had, it felt very homey and personal. The food was the best part! It was vibrant and colorful and I never would have guessed that it was vegan. I ate their Mac and Cheese meal that came with barbecue "chicken" and pickled vegetables. The mac and cheese was very flavorful. It was cheesy, but had a little bit of heat to it. The combination of the barbecue chicken and pickled vegetables tasted absolutely amazing as well. I will definitely be going back to try more food. |