People don't leave Jerome Bettis' Grille 36 feeling hungry. His Steelers number is a theme, but that 36-ounce steak would be a snack only for an extremely large carnivore.
Even the dozen appetizers are much bigger than a main course of nouvelle cuisine. Jerome's favorites include Ultimate Cheesy Fries ($6.95) with bacon pieces (not bits) and green onions, and Pacific Rim Tuna Rolls ($7.95), stuffed with tuna and Asian slaw, with wasabi drizzle and ponzu sauce.
The World Champion Nachos ($8.95) is a mountain of food, definitely suitable for sharing. It's made with three cheeses, Angus chili, sour cream, salsa, jalapenos, green onions, lettuce and black olives. Add chicken or steak for another $1.95. A side of guacamole is 95 cents.
Whether a burger is a snack is a matter of taste, especially since the basic Jerome's burger ($7.95) is a half-pound of Angus beef with fries, cole slaw, tomato, onion and pickle on the side. He's partial to the Turkey Burger ($7.95), which he takes with sea salt on his french fries, says sales manager Lauren Vogel. Six specialty burgers are available for $8.45, including the Spicy Spinach Burger, with sauteed spinach, blue cheese and buffalo sauce; and the Aloha Burger, with grilled ham and pineapple. By the time you get to the Italian Burger, with capicolla, prosciutto, provolone and a fried egg, you've definitely left the snack zone.
Soft drinks, tea, coffee, juice, Red Bull, milk and bottled water are served, but beer lovers are the ones with big choices. There are 36 varieties on tap and another 36 available in bottles. Draught beers range from $3.25 to $5.25 for a 14-ounce glass and $4 to $6.25 for a 20-ounce glass. Bottles of domestic beers are $3.50, premium beers are $4.75, and ultra premiums range up to Lagunitas Maximus for $9.50.
The restaurant has added a "Kegs and Eggs" menu for new morning hours on the days Pitt or the Steelers are playing a home game before 2 p.m. Alcoholic beverages are not served before noon on Sundays.
The selection of omelets ($7.95) includes classic bacon and cheddar; Greek with spinach, feta, roasted red peppers and tazaki sauce; chili, cheese and sour cream; buffalo chicken with blue cheese; and a meat lover's with bacon, ham and kielbasa.
The morning menu also includes Bananas Foster pancakes topped with ice cream ($8.95), French toast ($7.95), and scrambled eggs with hash browns, sausage and toast ($7.95).
Jerome Bettis' Grill 36 is at 393 North Shore Drive, North Side. Hours: 11 a.m. to no later than 2 a.m. every day. It opens at 8 a.m. on days of Pitt or Steelers home games that start before 2 p.m. Details: 412-224-6287 or online .
