Bluebird on the Wing

Let's just say that a little birdie chirped the news to us about the Bluebird Kitchen. Now we'll tell you that the Bluebird Kitchen is on 221 Forbes Avenue. But the easiest way to find the Bluebird Kitchen is to look up for its sign — a welcoming circular fixture with a tiny bluebird on a nest of woven twigs in the center.

Open for just two weeks, the Bluebird Kitchen is the creation of Mt. Lebanon native Liz Moore. After 11 years of living in New York City — where she worked for a "monster" of an IT company— Liz returned to Pittsburgh to live out her dream of owning a small cafe and bakery. After looking at spaces in other parts of the city, Liz landed the Bluebird Kitchen near the Square — a decision based on Market Square's renovation and new office and hotel building construction nearby.

Thanks to windows that stretch nearly from floor to ceiling, natural light brightens the butcher block counters that offer a perfect perch to view the workday world rushing by. And when you open the door at the Bluebird Kitchen, chances are that Liz will greet you with a smile and take your order at the register. Once you say hello, it's time to check out the menu on the four giant chalkboards behind the counter, which lists breakfast items from fried egg sandwiches topped with cheddar and Gruyere cheese, with a side of house-made sausage, to organic steel cut oats. Of course, you can window shop the baked goods and decide on a muffin or doughnuts fried on the premises.

Liz promises a core lunch menu of tasty treats such as the "croque monsieur" sandwich, a French twist on the classic ham and cheese, plus an ever-changing selection of daily specials. While she handles the "front of the house," a creative young staff is busy in the kitchen. Whether it's a nutter butter cookie or the ciabatta bread on your roast beef sandwich, the Bluebird staff prepares everything in house from scratch. Even the meats served are cured and cooked in house. Running the show in the kitchen, executive chef Steven Thompson — who honed his skills at Downtown's Nine on Nine and Oakland's Lucca — stays busy whipping up new culinary surprises that are sure to delight. Open Mondays-Friday from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., the Bluebird Kitchen (412-465-0330) is one winged thing that will always be welcome in the Square.

From bluebirds to "hogs," the Square will be roaring with Harleys and other motorcycles roll into the Square Thursday evening for the first "Iron City Bike Night."  If you were born to be wild, you can get your motor running every Thursday starting at 6 p.m. through August 30 as the Market Square Merchants Association welcomes easy riders of all stripes to enjoy free music by local bands— along with food and beverage specials — all summer long.