Tina's Bar in Bloomfield is not your typical Pittsburgh bar. It isn't quite a dive, but it isn't an upscale craft cocktail bar either.
In fact, it is a bit of both, and if you're wondering how that would work out well together you're not alone. We wondered the same thing.
But we're happy to report that this one walks a fine line in a modern retro theme, and while that may not make much sense right now, we're going to do our best to highlight why this is truly the case!
We distinctly remember when Meat and Potatoes opened up in 2011. It was one of the first chef-driven restaurants to open in downtown Pittsburgh (that we are aware of at least), helping to spur the revival of Pittsburgh's dining scene.
We remember people were freaking out (in a good way) over the bone marrow, poutine, pate, and other appetizers and entrees that were less common at the time, as well as the craft cocktails.
Although we dined at Meat and Potatoes years ago when it opened, we figured we were long due for a return visit to see how it was holding up.
The short answer? Deliciously.
Honeygrow is a fast casual restaurant that focuses on healthy stir fries, salads, and fruit parfaits.
We originally did not give this one a second glance after hearing it was a chain, but the folks at honeygrow invited us in for a meal to change our minds and we are certainly glad we took them up on the offer.
What sets honeygrow apart from other chains is its commitment to a seasonal, locally sourced (when possible) menu that's all organic and non-GMO. Basically, the food is good for you and also good for the planet!
With all of those constraints, you might think the dishes would be boring or uninspired, but on our recent visit we found our meals had unique ingredient combinations and sauces that kept things packed with interesting flavors.
Although our bakery scene in Pittsburgh is somewhat small, the emergence of several high quality, creative bakeries over the past few years has been encouraging.
Sure, there are the big guys that have been around seemingly forever like Prantl's, Oakmont Bakery, and Breadworks, but what about little neighborhood spots where you can get a buttery croissant or a danish that's a work of art?
Fortunately, these types of artisan corner bakeries have been popping up in recent years. Everything from crusty breads to gluten free goodies to French pastries can now be found right here in the Burgh.
Lucky for you, we have no shame when it comes to bakery hopping (yes, we're making that a thing) and are here to clue you in on where to go to get your fix of baked goods.
As with most of our guides, this list is only a selection of bakeries we've visited to date. As we visit more bakeries in Pittsburgh we will update this article accordingly!
The North Side eagerly welcomed Badamo's Pizza to Federal Street in December 2017. This pie shop already has a well-established following and location in the South Hills, and as North Siders ourselves we are extremely excited to have another great pizza option in our neighborhood.
Caffe Mona La Bistro is a breakfast, lunch, and brunch spot in Bloomfield serving up cafe style food like crepes, omelets, sandwiches, and salads. There's nothing too out of the ordinary on the menu here, but if you're looking for a casual BYOB brunch spot, Caffe Mona La Bistro might just be it.
However, if you have food allergies like I do, I wouldn't recommend it as we had a misunderstanding during our visit that made for a less than ideal situation.
Bubba's is primarily a takeout and delivery restaurant in Greensburg, PA, featuring an unlikely combination of cuisines: pizza and Polish food. (Note: Their second location in Irwin has a larger dining space.)
Although this seems like a weird mix, trust us on this one. The service is extremely friendly, the pizza is unique, and the Polish food is top notch.
We visited Bubba's after checking out the light display at Overly's Country Christmas, also in Greensburg. Although the light display left a little to be desired, Bubba's came to the rescue with a delicious meal that allowed us to refuel from the cold weather.
Eighth & Hays is a premium wine bar located in Homestead, PA, just a stone's throw from the popular Waterfront shopping district.
While this one offers an array of high-end wines for sampling, the bar does a fantastic job balancing their offering with more conventional wines, beer, and cocktails- perfect for all drinking interests and budgets!
Federal Galley follows in its sister restaurant's (Smallman Galley, now closed) footsteps in that it is a restaurant incubator that features four chefs in a food hall format.
Each chef receives a small stall in which to prepare their meals and has a contract for a variable length of time that will allow the galley to rotate new chefs in and out over the years. If you were a fan of Smallman Galley in the Strip District, then this one is for you.
Much like our review for its sister restaurant, we visited Federal Galley no fewer than five times after opening and in this review will be breaking down our meals from each chef individually!
Pittsburgh's alcohol scene is growing at an incredible pace, and over the last few years we've been fortunate to have many breweries, whiskey distilleries, rum distilleries, and even a vodka distillery open and call the region home.
One alcohol style we have not been fortunate enough to have is an infusion producer. This all changed when Bella Bambini Cello opened its doors in Coraopolis in late 2017.