It’s the greenest grass in all of Oakland—
the “Emerald Lawn” of Schenley Plaza.
And now there is a new vantage point
from which to appreciate it.
The Porch—the latest in dining concepts
from Eat’n Park Hospitality Group—was
designed specifically for the Pittsburgh Parks
Conservancy, which maintains the five-acre
plaza in partnership with the City of
Pittsburgh.
Mark Broadhurst, director of concept
development for Eat’n Park Hospitality
Group, describes the restaurant as a neighborhood
bistro where the food is unpretentious
and draws on a variety of influences, including
freshly prepared American cuisine. Serving
Oakland’s campuses, hospitals, offices, residents,
and visitors year-round, the restaurant
seats 150 guests inside, while another 40
patrons may be accommodated outside on the
terrace, weather-permitting.
When Broadhurst was first approached
by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy a few
years ago about developing a full-service
eatery at Schenley Plaza, he would often
drive by the park, thinking it was the perfect
location for a restaurant. There are four
kiosks for takeout food on the plaza, including
an outpost of The Bagel Factory, and
copious picnic space, but no other sit-down
eateries.
Broadhurst and Andy Dunmire, Eat’n
Park Hospitality’s vice president of design
and construction, then began to adapt a
prototype concept they had already been
working on, believing it could serve the
diverse population that flows through
Oakland. “I spent a lot of time sitting on
the grass in the plaza, seeing how people
come and go, imagining how the restaurant
could best blend in with the environment,”
Broadhurst recalls.
To that end, a majority of the windows at
The Porch open to the outside, exposing a
fresh, white interior. The exterior architecture
incorporates the same cedar materials seen in
the adjacent kiosks, along with a limestone
façade to reflect the character of its historic
neighbors like the Cathedral of Learning and
the Hillman Library.
A water tower made from reused barn
wood collects rain water to irrigate the green
roof composed of a vegetable and herb garden,
traditional sedum covering, and long wild
grasses. Other features include living walls, an
outdoor fireplace, and a small amphitheater
for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to host
children’s programming.
Chef Kevin Hermann, a graduate of the
Culinary Institute of America and previously a
chef at Gigi Trattoria in New York’s Hudson
Valley, joins The Porch from Parkhurst Dining
Services, a division of Eat’n Park Hospitality
Group. Beer, wine, and signature cocktails are
available, as well as fresh juices and housemade
sodas.
In addition to seasonal dishes, salads, and
pizza, diners can enjoy delicious menu options
from the rotisserie and hearth. Lunch is in the
$8 to $12 range, with dinner in the mid-teens.
A walk-up, carry-out window will open for
breakfast.
As for the origin of the name, Broadhurst
recollects a small group in the office brainstorming
about what evokes positive emotions
in the summertime.
“We imagined ourselves sitting out on the
porch, having a drink with some friends, relaxing
and being ourselves,” he says. “And we
thought ‘The Porch’ works, because we now
have the lawn at Schenley Plaza as our backyard.”
For more information, call 412-68-PORCH or
visit www.theporchatschenley.com. |