Chaykana is an Uzbek restaurant in the West End offering delicious traditional Uzbeki cuisine in a small, cozy space with friendly service. This spot joins a growing number of Uzbek restaurants in the greater Pittsburgh area, introducing Pittsburghers to the comforting richness of this cuisine.
Eat & Drink
JJ Poke Bowl Review – Fast Casual Poke in Oakland
Oakland is becoming a hub of excellent fast casual dining for the large college student, hospital, and office crowd in the neighborhood, and we're always finding new gems on every visit.
JJ Poke Bowl is one such restaurant and focuses on all things poke and Taiwanese bubble tea with large portions, great flavor, and, perhaps best of all, a rather attractive price point!
So if you're looking to feast on seafood for less, don't overlook this great little restaurant right in the heart of Oakland!
Alberta’s Pizzeria Review – Pizza and More in the North Side
Alberta's Pizzeria is a wood-fired pizza shop offering small plates, salads, oysters, pizzas, and more on a stretch of Western Ave. in the North Side that has seen a flurry of new business development in recent months. After operating a successful food truck for several years, Alberta's brings their experience and delicious pies to their first brick and mortar location with a lovely traditional Italian pizza shop feel.
We have been dedicated followers of Alberta's food truck for years, sometimes planning our days around which breweries they were parking in front of. The dough of their thin-crust pies has great flavor complexity and beautiful leopard spotting, and their toppings are flavorful but simple, as all good wood-fired pies should be. It always impressed us that they could execute such deliciousness with a mobile setup, too.
One of Alberta's frequent brewery stops was Four Points, located on Western Ave., which just so happens to be right next door to Alberta's new brick and mortar spot. It's a match made in heaven!
Lawrence Hall Review – A Superb Food Hall in Lawrenceville
Lawrence Hall in Lawrenceville is a modern food hall with multiple dining stalls and a bar serving up a variety of cuisine styles, drinks, and desserts. The two-story space is a historic building from the late 1800s, and lots of the character of the space was preserved in the remodel.
With QR-code system for ordering both food and drinks from the comfort of your table (or directly from the vendors if you so choose), combined with the variety of food choices and the large space, this spot a great option for everyone- from solo visitors to group outings!
10 Great Places to Drink and Eat Outdoors Near Pittsburgh
We love a beautiful day in Pittsburgh, and when the weather decides to cooperate, our first thought is to all of the great spots we can eat and drink outside.
So in this one, we thought we'd share some great places for outdoor drinking and dining in Pittsburgh (and nearby) that we cannot get enough of. Some make this one for their epic views, others because the food or drinks are incredible. Some have proper patios with permanent infrastructure, whereas others may simply be picnic tables and chairs outside.
As such, it is worth re-iterating that we're taking a broad look at all things outdoor drinking and dining in this one and, as always, keep in mind that outdoor seating at many of these locations may only be available seasonally or during periods of good weather. So please reconfirm any outdoor options prior to visiting.
Looking for more great places to eat and drink outdoors? We discuss this topic with our friends at City Cast Pittsburgh on a podcast recording at the previous link!
The Aperitivo Club Showcases Italian Flavor Downtown
If you've frequented Market Square in recent years, you may be familiar with the Wine Bar at Market Street Grocery. This little hangout spot tucked away in the back of the small grocery store offered an assortment of Italian wines in a relaxing ambiance.
In 2024, the Wine Bar underwent a rebranding and expansion to become The Aperitivo Club. While still offering a stellar selection of wines, this one added on an impressive collection of cocktails featuring Italian amaro, spirits, and more, small bites, and more!
Naturally, we had to check out the cocktail side of this bar shortly after opening.
Cobblehaus at the Falls Brings Beer to Springfield Falls
Is there anything better than having a beer outside on a gorgeous day? What about having a beer next to a waterfall on a gorgeous day? Well, at Cobblehaus at the Falls in Mercer, PA, you get just that with a gorgeous view of Springfield Falls!
So if you are looking for a different kind of brewery experience on the next nice day in southwest Pennsylvania, put this gem on your radar and make the trek about an hour north of the city to check them out!
Stunt Pig Review – The Pig Rig Finds a Home in Squirrel Hill
For those who follow Pittsburgh's food truck scene like we do, you're probably familiar with Stunt Pig.
Since coming on the market with their mobile “pig rig” with iconic branding featuring a pig wearing gear that looks like it's about to be blasted out of a cannon (you know, a stunt pig), the truck was building a small army of die-hard fans that would chase them around the city for their exceptional sandwiches.
We were one of them.
So when the crew behind Stunt Pig announced they were exchanging the keys to the pig rig for a brick and mortar store front in Squirrel Hill, we were incredibly excited. All the glory of Stunt Pig without having to chase them around the city at area breweries and events? We were in, and naturally had to visit on day one.
Love, Katie Distilling Brings Spirits to Sharpsburg
Sharpsburg-based Love, Katie Distilling may not occupy the largest space by distillery standards, but it packs a punch with its beautiful decor, large spirits portfolio, and even larger cocktail menu.
This one is a love letter through and through, and not just in the name. As a woman and LGBT-owned business, Katie dedicates the space to her partner and opens it up to all those looking for a good space full of love!
So, with great anticipation, we visited the distillery to check out a spread of their cocktails.
Golden Gai Review – Premium Japanese Dining in Bakery Square
The Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group has been making an interesting move in recent years by turning its conventionally high-end restaurants in the Cultural District into fast-casual concepts in Bakery Square.
First was Tako Torta, which brought back tako's acclaimed (and often infrequently available) torta menu alongside classic dishes like the namesake tako taco serving up some of the city's best octopus in a tortilla.
So when the second concept, Golden Gai, was announced as an izakaya-style expansion of the sashimi and nigiri restaurant Gi-Jin, we were in, and were one of the first to place an order on opening day.
While the restaurant was only open for takeout to start, this one was everything we love about Gi-Jin- all without the multi-week wait to enjoy a reservation!