Take an appetite to the 'Burgh

Diets be damned for a night on the town in Pittsburgh. The Steel City serves up tempting cuisine accompanied by spectacular views. Add a dollop of jazz music to end the evening on a high note.
Before indulging in culinary revelry on top of Mount Washington, ascend the steep hill on a historic working museum, the Duquesne Incline, located on Carson Street near Station Square.
About the incline: The incline climbs 800 feet at a 30-degree angle to the top of Mount Washington. Built in 1877, it was repaired and restored as a community project in 1963. Hand-carved cherry panels line the inside of the bright red painted cable cars. The cable drum and wooden-toothed drive gear are part of the original installation. According to a brochure, "the massive machinery has operated in perfect condition since 1877, although it is now driven by electricity instead of steam."
From the view from the Upper Station observation deck, look across the river to recently finished Heinz Field and PNC Park as well as the city's skyscrapers.
Sightsee at dinner: Don't worry if you haven't absorbed all the sights before dinner reservations -- the view from the Le Mont restaurant is spectacular. The expansive wall of windows allows diners to watch the transformation from dusk to city lights. Throughout the evening, a pianist plays show tunes and popular music.
Many patrons enter the restaurant carrying gifts. The restaurant remains a local favorite for engagement, anniversary and birthday celebrations. Saturday nights can see up to 250 patrons.
The 40-year-old establishment recently received a $3 million dollar face-lift. Dark brocades have been replaced with cream and gold furnishings. New owners Edward and Anna Dunlap have emphasized attention to service. There seemed almost as many servers as patrons on a busy weekend evening.
In addition to tried and true favorites of filet mignon, rack of lamb, roasted raspberry duck and salmon dishes, Le Mont has some new entrees. It offers seasonal choices and daily specials.
Pace yourself: Plan to pace yourself during each course. Unusual appetizer choices include baked brie with apple, pear chutney, raspberry coulis and warmed sliced ciabatta or a seafood strudel with shrimp, lobster, crab and scallops wrapped in French puffed pastry with spiced marinara and white wine sauce.
Besides the classic Caesar salad, you can opt for a roasted mushroom salad that includes Crimini, oyster and button mushrooms roasted with a hint of tamari, fresh herbs and garlic over mesclun field greens.
Fall dinner specials include a sampler of filet, lamb, chicken and shrimp, certainly enough food for two. Vegetarians can savor a vegetable strudel, a welcome option from the usual pasta primavera fare.
It's hard to resist the dessert sampler, which includes a small creme brule & acute;, Key lime pie and chocolate nut raspberry torte.
After dining, continue a celebratory evening at Dowe's on 9th. On Saturday nights, owners Al Dowe and Etta Cox perform jazz classics accompanied by a seven-piece band.
The menu includes six types of Manhattan drinks, American recipes and "down-home" soul-food-inspired side dishes like collard greens, fried green tomatoes and macaroni and cheese.
Patrons fill the dance floor, including one regular, a 90-year-old gentleman, clad in a white suit and top hat. He roams throughout the crowd to persuade several "young ladies" to be his partner on the dance floor.
For breakfast: Prolong the getaway with one more meal. A substantial appetite is an essential ingredient to enjoying breakfast or lunch at DeLuca's. If Le Mont caters to Pittsburgh's finest dining, DeLuca's diner revels in the city's more humble origins. Located in the Strip District, it is so popular that the faithful often wait patiently in a line that spills onto the sidewalk.
Breakfast burritos are a specialty as well as ingenious dishes like breakfast hotcake sundaes, including the chocolate chip strawberry. The thick-sliced cinnamon french toast is worth the calories.
The aroma wafting from the Enrico Biscotti Company across Penn Avenue from DeLuca's is just too good to pass up, even with rapidly expanding waistlines. Sort through the tough choices of chocolate marble, cinnamon sugar or cranberry nut biscotti. After all, you'll need a warm dozen for the ride home.