I think chain restaurants thrived with the boomer generation. For them growing up dining out was strictly for special occasions, and typically the places were privately owned, the food was inconsistent and who knows how clean the kitchen was. In their eyes, places like Max & Erma's were predictable, affordable, and since they were corporate owned, they figured meals were created by corporate chefs and had quality control with food prep and cleanliness. I know a lot of people who travel a lot for work and seeing your favorite chain restaurant away from home was a sight for sore eyes. Back then there was no Yelp or Google to read reviews so who knows what that other place would be like, it would have been a crap shoot.

But that generation isn't dining out as much as they were. And as a millennial I can't think of the last time I sat down at a chain restaurant. They aren't bad, but there are a lot more unique options out there, just a click away to see other patrons feedback. It's not cheap to dine out anymore, if we're going it's going to be somewhere where I can support a local business.

Don’t

Honestly check out Bellevue and Brighton Heights. Fairly close to North Shore and it will alleviate many of your concerns about noise/safety and you’ll have a lower cost of living.

To be fair, this is one of the least safe or quiet parts of the Northside. The part of Commons Park that is closest to you is an open air drug market. East Ohio Street is being gentrified with expensive new restaurants and an expansion of the local brewery. You are directly underneath the flight path of life flight helicopters, which are insanely loud and not easy to get used to in that proximity.

I would look elsewhere—you can do much better to find a place that suits your needs as explained in your post. That said, part of the experience of living in the city is being in the middle of a living confluence of people and things. You could live here and enjoy it but I think there are quieter and safer places for you to be bad.

Totally different vibes.

I didn't live there, was just passing through taking care of some business in that area, and a little bit was enough for me (but I'll admit to being a little bit of a suburbanite who enjoys a different lifestyle than city dwellers). At least they cleared out the homeless encampment on Stockton.

Thank you, will keep this in mind. And I’m sorry about your friend-i hope she’s okay and healing.

[deleted]

[deleted]

>To be honest though I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable walking a dog alone in the middle of the night in the East Promenade of Allegheny Commons.

I'll second that. I was in that area last Fall, couple interesting characters out and about even during the day, including one person so strung-out and belligerent that 6 cops showed up to deal with her. Then, not long after that, there was that triple-shooting near the Sunoco station. Some parts of the North Side are nice, that area is definitely questionable, IMO.

Oh… I think I understand now…. Based this example.

I’ve personally found that things change a lot from neighborhood to neighborhood after living in other cities, which is why I’m asking. (Ex: homewood vs squirrel hill). Lol

Friendship is near Shadyside, 3.5 miles away. That's a long way when you live in an area that you technically never have to leave to meet your living needs.

It’s like 2 miles away? Seems pretty similar to me ? Not trying to be mean .

Thanks for the insight! How would you describe the area? We’ve heard some things about E Ohio (which would be around the corner) but not sure if things have changed

That’s exactly my point? I didn’t grow up in north side, thus, asking for advice/other folks’ experiences.

Isn’t friendship in the city and close to west Penn?? Um?

That would require our mods to actually do something.

You will get used to the helicopter quickly. Ambulances aren’t very noticeable — they might even turn off sirens when they get close, now that I think of it. To be honest though I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable walking a dog alone in the middle of the night in the East Promenade of Allegheny Commons. Evening time / dusk sure though!

Nothing is over when I get out of rehearsal anymore!

> The future is going to be counter service places including food halls and destination restaurants.

And food trucks.

They've collapsed nationwide. Soon they'll only be in a few airports... And Monroeville.

Hm cook one yourself

Weren’t they dragged on Reddit recently about their unsanitary kitchen?

Sounds like a good business.