The Porch at Schenley is a relatively new fixture across the street from the Cathedral of Learning in Oakland.  Schenley Plaza is actually one of my favorite places to go for an afternoon, especially in the spring and summer.  Before I was really only limited to the food stands that are there, but now I can sit down and really relax and enjoy great food in a great atmosphere.

Atmosphere, that is something I really did enjoy about this place. The building has a very modern look to it and upon doing some research I found out that more than 50% of the building is made of glass and recycled materials were used in its construction. Because of all the glass along with the high ceilings it is nice and bright inside. On one side of the building are large garage doors that of course were open since it was nice outside. There is a nice outdoor dining area as well, complete with a fireplace.

I came to The Porch with my friend Katherine for lunch. The way they have things setup for lunch is pretty cool. You go in, pickup a menu and order at the front desk. They give you a number and you go sit where you like. In no time they bring out your food.

I decided to go with the chefs special for the day, which was Brisket with green beans and taters ($10).

It was extremely good and I was a bit worried because many places do not cook brisket that well. It was cooked perfectly and the seasoning on it was perfect. The taters and green beans were good as well.

Katherine went with the Margherita pizza ($11).

It comes out on a tray atop parchment paper with a small portion of parmesan cheese and oregano on the side. The pizza was good as well and you could really taste the homemade mozzarella cheese.

The Porch is a great addition to Schenley Plaza and I plan on being there a lot this summer! Oh by the way the do serve both beer and wine! Remember to follow me on Twitter to see what I’m up to.