Brian D
Google
I stopped by The Wooden Nickel today for a casual lunch with my mom—not for a big Easter celebration, just a quiet meal together. Upon arrival, we were handed an abbreviated Easter menu, which I can only assume was meant to ease the pressure on the kitchen during the holiday rush.
We started with the shrimp cocktail and fried zucchini appetizers. Both were fine and pretty much what we expected—no complaints there.
I ordered the glazed ham entrée, especially since it had been a while since I’d had a good ham dinner, and this place is known for its elevated food. The menu described it as glazed ham with pineapple salsa and roasted red potatoes, which sounded great on paper. But when the plate arrived, I was caught off guard. Instead of a composed dish, everything was tossed together—pre-cut ham, potatoes, and the salsa—more like a warm, chunky salad than a thoughtfully plated entrée.
Maybe it’s just that glazed ham has always felt like a traditional, comforting Easter staple to me, but this missed the mark—especially from a spot with a reputation for quality.
Add in the perceived holiday pricing and an automatic 20% gratuity on every check, and we left feeling more disappointed than satisfied.
So, Wooden Nickel, making it to the top tier of Pittsburgh dining is no small feat—but that’s exactly why staying there means never getting too comfortable.