In The News

Attention, sandwich junkies.

Surprise discoveries at the Carnegie Science Center include the downstairs River View Cafe -- a handy North Shore oasis for build-your-own creations.

Your wish is the cook's command when craving a hearty grilled ham and cheese or tuna melt, say, with tomatoes.

Would you like that on cracked wheat, marble rye, deli rye or Italian bread? A kaiser roll or flour tortilla wrap? Breadworks supplies all the freshly sliced loaves of artisan breads.

Feel free to eat in or carry out your custom lunch. No need to pay museum admission.

Optional fillers for a "Build Your Own Sandwich" ($5.60) include baked ham, roasted or smoked turkey breast, capicolla, roast beef, Genoa salami, and chicken and tuna salads, plus American, Swiss, pepper jack, provolone or cheddar cheese. A pickle accompanies each sandwich, plus coleslaw, pretzel nuggets or chips.

Specialty sandwiches ($5.60) -- served hot or cold -- include the "Rachel," made with turkey breast, Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Thousand Island dressing; the "raspberry ham," served on a pretzel roll with sun-dried cranberry and black pepper Dijon mayonnaise; and the "roasted vegetables" sandwich on a wheat roll with a sun-dried tomato spread.

Other daily selections include chicken sandwiches ($4.85-$5.05); burgers ($2.85-$4.60); grilled cheese and portobello mushroom sandwiches ($2.45-$4.60); hot, jumbo, corn and veggie dogs ($2.10-$2.60); and an "uncrustable" peanut butter and jelly sandwich ($2.45).

The cafe works, looks and feels like a carpeted school cafeteria, especially when visiting children routinely fill the square blue tables and bright red chairs.

"Our top seller is chicken fingers and fries," says Rino Lindsey, manager of the cafe for Parkhurst Dining Services of the Eat 'n Park Hospitality Group.

You carry your food to a cashier, then help yourself to flatware and packets of condiments. All of the cafe's plates, spoons, knives, forks, straws, bowls and napkins are biodegradable, at least, if not compost-able, Lindsey says. Two or three times per week, the cafe ships its food scraps to a compost heap in Washington County, Lindsey says.

The River View Cafe also offers daily "comfort food" specials ($6.95 with a 20-ounce drink) -- such as meatloaf, stuffed cabbage or peppers and chicken breasts -- plus, a daily fresh vegetable. "We buy at least 20 percent of our produce from local farmers," Lindsey says.

Also available daily: help-yourself vats of chili and homemade soups ($2.50-$2.70); pre-packaged tossed, Caesar and chef salads ($3.50-$6.95); and fruit cups, pudding, yogurt, cottage cheese, carrots and celery sticks, hard-boiled eggs and Jello ($1.50-$2.95).

Other side dishes include onion rings ($3.45) -- made with whole slices of onion -- and freshly cut french fries ($2.05-$3.45). "Our potatoes are fresh, like Kennywood," says Mimi Dean, cafe supervisor.

The cafe's staff makes all the dough and sauces for its plain, pepperoni or white pizzas ($1.90-$2.40 per slice). Also available: calzones stuffed with ham, salami, pepperoni and cheese ($4.95); and stromboli stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese ($4.95).

Dessert choices include Robo-Smiley cookies ($1.25), ice cream bars ($2.50) and a changing array of pies and cakes baked by the cafe's pastry chef.