Kyuramen Review – Popular Asian Chain Comes to Pittsburgh

Kyuramen is a fast-casual lunch and dinner spot in East Liberty, serving up ramen and other Japanese food like omurice and yakitori. Although the chain has dozens of locations around the US, the location in Pittsburgh was the first in Pennsylvania. With casual vibes, a great price point, and Instagram-worthy dishes and decor, it's easy to see why this is a popular spot that often has long waits.

So we put our name into the virtual queu, spent some time at Tous Les Jours, a French-Asian bakery chain located around the corner, and waited until our table was ready. 

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Uncorked Review – Music, Wine, and More in Sharpsburg

Uncorked is a wine bar and restaurant featuring live jazz, located in the main business district of Sharpsburg. With prohibition-style cocktails, a full food menu, plentiful wine options, and live music, this intimate spot is a great addition to the neighborhood. Although the noise level on our visit made it somewhat difficult to have conversations with our table, we appreciated the cocktails, homemade pasta, and small plates.

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Esquina Cantina Review – Cocktails, Tacos, and a Patio

Esquina Cantina (formerly known as Round Corner Cantina) has been a Lawrenceville institution for more than a decade, serving up tacos and other Mexican fare plus cocktails utilizing Mexican spirits and ingredients. The interior bar has a great cantina vibe, but there's nothing like sitting out on the cozy patio with outdoor bar on a nice summer night.

So whether you're a regular of the former Round Corner Cantina, or simply want to check out a new-to-you spot in Lawrenceville, check out Esquina Cantina!

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One by Spork Review – A Prix Fixe Delight in Pittsburgh

One by Spork is a bold new restaurant concept in the former Spork space at the border between Garfield, Friendship, and Bloomfield. The dining experience consists of a roughly 10-course tasting menu with drink pairings (and many additional welcome bites) where diners are seated around a circular chef's counter.

We visited One by Spork shortly after opening and were intrigued by the inventive techniques and ingredients being used in both the food and drinks here. While some of the courses were more cohesive than others, we think One by Spork is ambitious and exciting, and hope that it kindles more creativity in the Pittsburgh restaurant scene.

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Wei Lai Dim Sum Review – Go For a Feast

There are precious few places to get Cantonese dim sum in Pittsburgh, so we were thrilled when Wei Lai Dim Sum opened in Ross Township. With its friendly service and wide variety of dim sum dishes at an affordable price, this spot is one we will gladly return to again and again.

We are not generally fans of McKnight Road or strip malls in general, but we can get behind the recent trend of excellent Asian restaurants opening in these types of areas. Wei Lai is one such place in McIntyre Square, a shopping area in flux with several empty storefronts. Their bright orange sign beckons you to come in for dim sum, and we did just that.

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Spirits & Tales Review – Elevated Dining With a View in Oakland

Spirits and Tales is a modern brasserie-style restaurant on the top floor of The Oaklander hotel. The restaurant holds it own, though, and is more than just a place to eat while staying at the hotel. With craft cocktails, seasonal house made pasta and entrees, and stunning views, it's a destination in its own right for some solid upscale dining in the Oakland neighborhood.

We have dined at Spirits and Tales a few times, but most recently when we were staying at the hotel as guests of the property. On a week night during the Christmas holiday season it was packed full, so we ended up sitting at the bar. A reservation is a good idea here, especially on the weekend and during the holidays.

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Senza Review – An Inventive Dining Experience in Etna

Senza is a cozy and welcoming restaurant in Etna serving up seasonal, scratch-made dishes during regular dinner hours on the weekends as well as during Sunday brunch and ticketed dinner club events.

The dishes here are comforting, the flavor combinations are unique, and the hospitality is off the charts. The environment is so welcoming that a meal here feels like dining at your best friend's house- if that friend was a creative, talented chef, of course.

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Golden Gai Review – Premium Japanese Dining in Bakery Square

Golden Gai brings an izakaya-type dining experience to Bakery Square, complete with sushi, hot dishes, craft cocktails, and an extensive sake menu. As a sister restaurant to downtown's high-end sushi spot Gi-Jin, Golden Gai brings a slightly more relaxed vibe while still delivering the same great flavors.

We dined during opening week and were especially excited about the delicious noodles and grilled dishes that reminded us of our time in Japan just a few days prior.

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Braddock Public House Review – A Food and Beer Delight

Braddock Public House is the newest venture from the folks behind Brew Gentlemen, a local brewery also based in the Braddock neighborhood. Located just down the street from their original taproom, Braddock Public House brings approachable yet elevated bar food with a Pittsburgh-Asian slant, along with their world class beer.

We visited during opening week and were so thrilled with the space, the friendly vibe, and the beer, but what surprised us most was the excellent food.

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