text: I took my wife here for our one year anniversary and it couldn't have been a better choice. Since I don't live in Pittsburgh anymore and it was her first time visiting, I really wanted her to eat atop Mt. Washington. After speaking to my friends (who are hardcore foodies) and reading reviews on tripadviser and yelp, it became clear that Altius was the place to go. Making a reservation was painless and I asked for a window with a view since it was our anniversary. Making no guarantees, they said they would try their best to accommodate. \n\nWhen we arrived, the valet (I think it was $6-8) was polite and quick. Since we arrived about 15 minutes early, our table wasn't ready, but they did seat us in the bar. They had an excellent choice of wines, cocktails and craft beers. I ordered a wheat beer and my wife ordered a cocktail. The bartender gave us some crunchy snacks that were well-flavored. After five or so minutes we were seated along the window (as requested) and it was an AMAZING view. The maitre d' brought over our unfinished drinks as the server was brining their signature flavored popcorn appetizer (complimentary). \n\nFor appetizers my wife ordered the oysters and I ordered a creative gourmet take on a caesar salad that utilized kale, thick cut bacon pieces, hand shaved fresh cheese, duck egg and fresh anchovies. Everything had proper texture, flavor and the portion sizes were just right. The oysters came with an angel hair, cucumber melody that was slightly sweet. A great compliment to the saltiness of the oyster. \n\nFor the main course my wife had the duck duck goose, while I ordered lamb and pom frites. All the meat was savory, well-portioned and cooked to proper textures. While it came with sauce on the side, the infused seasoning and quality of the meats made them delicious and well enough to stand on their own. The duck, duck, goose was paired with polenta and kale. We also added a side of grilled asparagus that were done right. My rack of lamb had wonderful saut\u00e9ed mushrooms, a garlic risotto and carrots to accompany, all of which were top notch. The added pom frites came with ketchup, aioli and a foie gras-based sauce. \n\nFor desert, we coconut fruit plate and souffl\u00e9 were outstanding. They were not overly rich or fatty tasting but fresh, light and just the right amount of sweetness to finish a meal. I also had a cup of the house coffee which was rich and flavorful. \n\nThe service was wonderful. Our server was polite, moved quickly and made excellent wine recommendations. He also made sure our table always had enough free space and our water glassed full. The best touch of all? They surprised us with \"Happy Anniversary\" written in chocolate sauce on our dessert plate. We actually ended up staying about 20 minutes past closing (on accident) and not one time did we feel rushed or that the staff was annoyed. Very classy move by Altius.\n\nThe restroom was five star quality with artistic fixtures, scented candles and real hand towels. The overall decor was modern, minimalistic and clean. It was not old and stuffy like some of the other older restaurants on Mt. Washington. The crowd was relatively younger professionals but not too young. \n\nWe had a great time and though expensive, it was worth every penny.