Cafe Phipps

After a long day of walking through Phipps Conservatory, looking at all the flower and plants, you're bound to get hungry. So where will you eat? Fortunately, Phipps has a pretty little cafe right in the entry where you can get sandwiches, soups, pizzas...even beer and wine, if that's what you're in the mood for. It's convenient, but not "fast food" because everything is made fresh.

The Scene

Cafe Phipps is located just to the right as you enter Phipps Conservatory, across from the gift shop. The walls are currently lined with photos of orchids and the general impression given by the layout and food is clean, eco-friendly, and trendy. Plenty of windows offer views of the outdoor gardens.

The Food

Cafe Phipps offers a small breakfast selection and a fair kids' menu. For lunches there are salads, soups, wraps, paninis and small personal pizzas. Most of the ingredients are organic and originate from local or regional growers. All of the food is prepared fresh when you order it, so be prepared to wait a bit - but in general the food is worth the wait.

Drinks

Cafe Phipps offers several kinds of bottled beer and wine by the glass. There is a selection of standard fountain sodas plus a cooler filled with all sorts of unusual waters, juices, teas and so forth. Cappuccino and other coffee drinks are available, and are quite good for a place that doesn't specialize in coffee.

Sustainable Resources

An important emphasis for the Cafe at Phipps, understandable given the environmental orientation of the conservatory, is on using recycled or recyclable materials. Local suppliers are preferred, thus reducing transportation costs and pollution. Utensils are biodegradable. Ingredients are organic. If you are looking for a way to eat out that carries a minimal environmental impact, Cafe Phipps is probably a good choice.

Dining at Cafe Phipps

The grilled chicken quesedilla was filled with far more vegetables than is usually the case with quesedillas - great if you love vegetables, not so great if zucchini and squash aren't your favorite things. The guacamole that came with the quesedilla was far spicier than guacamole usually is. The salsa was mildly spicy and had a strong but not overwhelming cilantro taste - a bit above average.

The wild mushroom melt was made with Gruyere Cheese and had a mild, but very engaging flavor. It, too, came inexplicably with some salsa and chips. I wouldn't think of salsa as an appropriate side to go with a mushroom & cheese sandwich.

The wild mushroom pizza also contained tomato sauce, black olives and goat cheese. It was quite tasty, though the goat cheese gives it a very different flavor from typical pizzas. The butternut squash soup was pleasant with a touch of sweetness and a hint of cinnamon and other spices.

Overall the value for the food at Cafe Phipps is fair and the taste decent. I don't know if I would go out of my way to eat there if I weren't spending time at Phipps already, but if you're there, it's probably worth dropping by for a bite to eat before proceeding on through the rest of your day.

Cafe Phipps is operated by the Big Burrito Restaurant Group, which owns area restaurants including Mad Mex, Soba, Kaya and Casbah.

Prices: $6 - $7 for most lunch entrees

Hours: Open daily 9:30 am to 5 pm; until 9:00 pm Fridays

Location & Contact Information

Cafe Phipps
Phipps Conservatory
One Schenley Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15213