Readers often e-mail or call asking for dining suggestions. Some simply want to know what Indian/Chinese/French/Pre-theater/etc. restaurant I recommend, but many are simply stymied by logistics. They want to go out for a birthday on Monday, or find a nice place to eat dinner with a friend who is flying in late.

Finding any old restaurant to fit time or geographic constraints isn't all that difficult, but a little information can help you avoid compromising on taste. These restaurants won't answer every question about odd-hours dining, but they're a good place to start. For even more options, check out the expanded version on the Web.

Though Sunday and Monday are still nights that fine dining restaurants are traditionally closed, Pittsburgh diners have many choices available. Sunday and Monday can be especially good nights for large parties or special requests, since restaurants are likely to have more time and energy to focus on one table.

Downtown

Bigelow Grille -- Local, seasonal American cuisine

One Bigelow Square, Downtown; 412-281-5013; www.bigelowgrille.com; Monday-Sunday, 6:00 a.m.-11 p.m; bar menu only 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Capital Grille -- Classic steakhouse

301 Fifth Ave., 412-338-9100; www.thecapitalgrille.com; Open Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday, 5-11 p.m.; Sunday 5-9 p.m.

Morton's Steakhouse -- Classic steakhouse

625 Liberty Ave., 412-261-7141; www.mortons.com; Monday-Saturday 5:30pm-11pm; Sunday 5pm-10pm.

Opus -- Classic American fine dining

107 Sixth St., 412-992-2005; www.dineatopus.com; Lunch, Monday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Dinner, Monday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse -- Classic steakhouse

6 PPG Place, 412-391-4800; www.ruthschris.com; Lunch, Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; Dinner, Monday - Thursday, 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m., Sunday, 5-9 p.m.

Six Penn Kitchen -- American Bistro, refined comfort food.

146 Sixth St. 412-566-7366; www.sixpennkitchen.com; Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-12 a.m.; Saturday, 3 p.m.-12 a.m.; Sunday Brunch, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Sonoma Grille -- California cuisine, extensive wine offerings

947 Penn Ave., 412-697-1336; www.thesonomagrille.com; Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; bar menu only, Monday-Saturday, 3-5 p.m., Sunday, 2-4 p.m.

Strip District

Eleven -- Contemporary American; seasonally driven

1150 Smallman St.; 412-201-5656; www.bigburrito.com/eleven; Hours: Lunch, Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; dinner, Monday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m., Sunday, 5-9 p.m.; tavern menu, Monday-Sunday, 2 p.m.-close.

Kaya -- Caribbean, Latin American

2000 Smallman St., 412-261-6565; www.bigburrito.com/kaya; Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday, 12-9 p.m.

Lidia's Pittsburgh -- Rustic, regional Italian

1400 Smallman St.; 412-552-0150; www.lidias-pittsburgh.com; Hours: Lunch, Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; brunch, Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; dinner, Monday-Thursday, 5-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5-10 p.m., Sunday, 5-8 p.m.

Mount Washington

Isabela on Grandview -- International influences, luxury dining

1318 Grandview Ave.; 412-431-5882; www.isabelaongrandview.com; Hours: Monday-Saturday, 5-10 p.m., CLOSED SUNDAY

South Side

17th Street Cafe -- family friendly, creative Pittsburgh-Italian

75 S. 17th St.; 412-381-4566; www.17thstreetcafe.com; Hours: Lunch: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; dinner, Monday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m., Friday, 4-11 p.m., Saturday, 4-11 p.m., Sunday, 4-9 p.m.

Cafe Allegro -- American cuisine with Mediterranean influences

51 S. 12th St.; 412-481-7788; www.cafeallegropittsburgh.com; Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m.

Mallorca -- Spanish, emphasis on seafood

2228 E Carson St.; 412-488-1818; www.mallorcarestaurant.com; Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m., Sunday, 12-10 p.m.

East End

Casbah -- Elegant, creative Mediterranean

229 S. Highland Ave., Shadyside; 412-661-5656; www.bigburrito.com/casbah; Hours: Lunch, Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Sunday Brunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; dinner, Monday-Thursday 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5-11p.m., Sunday, 5-9 p.m.

Richard Chen Pan Asian Cuisine -- Upscale pan-Asian cuisine

5996 Penn Circle South, East Liberty; 412-924-0080; Hours: Dinner, Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m.; brunch, Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. [GRAND OPENING AUG. 12]

Soba -- Upscale pan-Asian cuisine

5847 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside; 412-362-5656; www.bigburrito.com/soba; Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m.; bar menu, Tuesday-Saturday 10 p.m.-12 a.m.

South Hills

Bistro 19 -- Ingredient-driven American Bistro

711 Washington Rd., Mt. Lebanon; 412-306-1919; www.bistro19.com; Lunch, Monday-Saturday,11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday Brunch, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; dinner, Monday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 4-11 p.m.

Il Pizzaiolo -- Wood-fired pizzas, authentic pastas

703 Washington Rd., Mt. Lebanon; 412-344-4123; www.ilpizzaiolo.com; Hours, Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Hyeholde -- Ingredient driven, upscale country cooking

1516 Coraopolis Heights Rd., Moon; 412-264-3116; www.hyeholde.com; Hours: Hye Tea, Monday-Friday, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.; dinner, Monday-Friday, 4-9 p.m., Saturday, 5-10 p.m. CLOSED SUNDAY

Robinson

Pittsburgh Chop House -- Classic Steakhouse

5305 Campbells Run Rd.; 412-787-2525; www.pittsburghchophouse.com; Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 4-10 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 4 p.m.-midnight, CLOSED SUNDAY.

Ohio Township

Andora -- American Cuisine

1616 Mt. Nebo Road, Sewickley; 412-749-5245; www.andorarestaurant.com; Hours: Lunch, Monday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; dinner, Monday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 4-11 p.m., Sunday, 4-9 p.m.

Willow -- American cuisine

634 Camp Horne Road, Ohio Township; 412-847-1007; www.willowpgh.com; Hours: Lunch Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; dinner, Monday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 4-11 p.m., Sunday, 4-9 p.m.

Don't get me wrong, I love brunch. But for a taste of what a restaurant can do, at a pleasantly lower-price lunch is a better bargain. Though dining out Monday through Friday is always a nice break from work, there's nothing so pleasant as a long lunch on a Saturday or Sunday.

Abay Ethiopian Restaurant -- Ethiopian cuisine

130 S. Highland Ave., East Liberty; 412-661-9736; www.abayrestaurant.com; Hours: Lunch, Tuesday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, 5-10 p.m., Sunday, 5-9 p.m.

Bigelow Grille -- (see above)

Bistro 19 -- (see above)

Cafe Du Jour -- American bistro, French influences

1107 E. Carson St., South Side; 412-488-9695; Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Pangea -- Globally-inspired fine dining.

736 Bellefonte St., Shadyside; 412-621-3152; www.pangea-shadyside.com; Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-12 a.m., Saturday-Sunday 12 p.m.-12 a.m.

Sonoma Grille (see above)

Tana Ethiopian Cuisine - Ethiopian Cuisine

5929 Baum Blvd., East Liberty; 412-665-2770; www.tanaethiopiancuisine.com; Lunch: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Dinner: 5-11 p.m. CLOSED MONDAY

Tusca Mediterranean Tapas -- International small plates

2773 Sidney St., South Side; 412-488-9000; www.tuscatapas.com; Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.- 12 a.m., Sunday, 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.

Typhoon -- Upscale Thai

242 S. Highland Ave, Shadyside; 412-362-2005; Hours: Lunch, Tuesday-Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; dinner, Monday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m., Sunday 5-9 p.m.

There are plenty of reasons to be hungry late at night, but sometimes it seems like the only options are chains, diners or 7-Eleven. Don't despair. Though the number of options definitely depend on your geographic location, an impressive number and variety of restaurants are open after 10 p.m., even on weeknights.

Downtown

Original Fish Market -- Fresh seafood, menu changes daily, sushi bar

1001 Liberty Ave.; 412-227-3657; www.originalfishmarketpgh.com; Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m., Saturday-Sunday, 4 p.m.-1 a.m.

Seviche -- Latin American tapas, lots of ceviche-style dishes.

930 Penn Ave.; 412-697-3120; www.seviche.com; Hours: Monday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m. CLOSED SUNDAY

Six Penn Kitchen (see above)

East End

The Elbow Room -- American food, burgers, fresh fish.

5744¹/₂ Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside; 412-441-5222; www.b2restaurants.com/theelbowroom; Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (bar open until 1 a.m.), Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-12 a.m. (bar open until 1 a.m.), Brunch, Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Fuel and Fuddle -- American food, Brick Oven.

212 Oakland Ave., Oakland; 412-682-3473; www.fuelandfuddle.com; Hours: Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. (bar open until 2 a.m.)

Gullifty's -- Eclectic menu with an emphasis on pies and cakes.

922 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill; 412- 521-8222; www.gulliftysrestaurant.com; Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-12 a.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m., Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-12 a.m.

Mad Mex -- Mexican flavors, American palate

370 Atwood St., Oakland; 412-681-5656; www.madmex.com; Hours: Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. (for other locations and hours visit www.madmex.com).

Orient Kitchen -- Extensive Chinese menu and sushi bar.

4808 Baum Blvd, Shadyside; 412-682-3311; Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Pangea (see above)

South Side

Doublewide Grille -- American bar food and barbecue

2339 E. Carson St.; 412-390-1111; www.doublewidegrill.com; Hours: Sunday-Wednesday, kitchen open 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m; weather dependent, late night grill Thursday-Saturday until 2 a.m.

Ibiza -- Internationally inspired tapas

2224 E Carson St.; 412-325-2227; www.ibizatapasrestaurant.com; Hours: Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-12 a.m., Friday-Saturday, 4 p.m.-1 a.m. CLOSED SUNDAY

Paparazzi - Italian

2100 E Carson St.; 412- 488-0800; Sunday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-12 a.m. (bar open until 2 a.m.), Friday-Saturday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m.