Apteka has long been one of our favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh, so when they added another day of the week to their business hours, we jumped for joy. We were even more excited to learn that there is a twist to their service on this extra day.
On Thursdays Apteka transforms into Vinoteka, offering a more focused food menu with casual bites like sandwiches and salads, with an expanded, carefully curated wine list. It's Apteka's even cooler, even more chill, wine-focused little brother.
Senyai Thai Kitchen in Shadyside is a modern Thai spot serving up classics as well as lesser-known dishes in a comfortable atmosphere. Although you'll of course find popular options like pad thai and curries, we'd recommend sticking with dishes on the Chef's Recommendations section of the menu for more unique flavors.
Be sure to snag a reservation if you want to sit inside the converted house with clean, modern decor, or walk in and enjoy patio seating.
As big fans of all things Japanese cuisine, we have been thrilled to see many higher-end restaurants open up in the city serving sushi and other regional specialties.
Okane in downtown Pittsburgh is one such restaurant, and focuses on a prix-fixe omakase experience with 16 to 20 courses. We have had many omakase dinners like this during our travels in Japan, and it is one of our favorite dining styles to try chef-curated bites over the course of an evening.
So we booked a reservation for my birthday and made our way downtown to try this one out shortly after it opened!
Titusz in Lawrenceville is an Austrian-Hungarian restaurant serving up comforting but elevated cuisine in an inviting atmosphere. With classic dishes, seasonal specials, and an outstanding wine and cocktail menu, there's a lot to love at this highly anticipated spot. The attention to detail here in everything from the decor to the printed menu itself seals the deal and makes Titusz an all-around gem.
If you've been following the Pittsburgh dining scene over the past decade, you're well aware of Chef Csilla Thackray's past success at beloved restaurants like The Vandal and Legume Bistro. So it should come as no surprise that the buzz around Titusz's opening was real. The spot finally gives Thackray a chance to showcase the food of her Austrian-Hungarian background.
Cork and Crust is a high-end Italian restaurant inside The Oaklander Hotel in Oakland, featuring shareable dishes, pasta, and flavorful pizzas made by a James Beard-nominated chef, plus a large cocktail and wine program to go along with it.
We were fortunate enough to check this one out as a guest of the restaurant shortly after they opened (partially hosted), and had a pleasant evening out with some delicious pasta and pizza.
But while we enjoyed this one and are particularly glad to see more chef-driven hotel restaurants opening in Pittsburgh, the menu prices gave us pause. This one really is premium dining in Pittsburgh through and through.
In recent years, there has been a rise in higher-end, themed all-you-can-eat Asian buffets opening in the Pittsburgh metro area.
In Gibsonia, 8 Star Cuisine came onto the scene with immediate popularity, and naturally, we had to go check it out with our friends Alex Eats Too Much and The Indian Somm for a lunchtime feast.
Although this one doesn't stray too far from the popular buffet mold, the ample variety of cuisines and a reasonable lunchtime price point made for a delicious meal out, with a few dishes standing out as favorites.
Fry Bar in the North Side is a bit of an unassuming restaurant on Galveston Ave- just a few blocks north of the Western Avenue business district.
Although its name suggests that the restaurant is a spot to visit for French fries, which they do have in abundance, this one offers a rather large menu beyond that, including fried and smoked wings, sandwiches, and more that you absolutely should not miss.
To say this one surpassed all expectations is an understatement, and their wings may be our very favorite we've had in the city to date.
Yes, they're the real deal.
Senza in Etna is an intimate wine bar and restaurant with a focused menu of plates perfect for sharing. You may remember the original Senza in this location – we loved the former Senza concept and were sad to hear the owners left the area for a new opportunity elsewhere.
But, we were thrilled to learn the folks behind Bar Marco swooped in, keeping the vibe true to the intent of the original concept, while bringing all the best things we love about Bar Marco.
Park House in Pittsburgh's North Side is a historic bar in the city as it is often thought to have received one of the first licenses to serve alcohol after Prohibition ended.
For many years, Park House was a favorite neighborhood bar of many thanks to having food, regular live music, and more. But, sadly, like many businesses, this one closed in 2020 and only reopened in late 2025 after a several-year hiatus.
Naturally, we were thrilled that this staple bar has returned, and have visited a few times since reopening.
Park House is back and better than ever!
When looking for a new restaurant to visit downtown before a Pittsburgh Penguins game, Yaba's Middle Eastern Street Food, just across the street from PPG Paints Arena, caught our attention.
A fast casual, build-your-own bowl and wrap concept focusing on Middle Eastern flavors? All at a reasonable price? Sign us up!
As it turns out, this restaurant, tucked away on the second floor of an assuming building near the stadium, packed a punch. If you're in the mood for a quick and reasonably priced Middle Eastern meal while downtown, Yaba's is worth the stop.