We are always of the mindset that Pittsburgh needs more wine bars and bottle shops, and, thankfully, our wine scene is improving with each passing year.
In 2024, Lawrenceville's wine scene got a new addition- Solera Wine Co.
Not only is this one a wine bar offering an array of wines by the glass, but it also offers an on-site bottle shop, small bites, and a modest cocktail program, too!
Go for a glass, leave with a bottle? We're okay with this.
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.
In Pittsburgh, if you hear the word Battleship, your first thought may not go to a war-time vessel of the seas, but, instead, a loaded hoagie full of cold cuts.
But the Swissvale-based Triangle Bar does not just offer any hoagie. True to its name, the famous Battleship sandwich clocks in at over two feet in length and joins other naval-themed sandwiches for an impressive lineup of exceptionally large sandwiches.
After driving past this one on many trips over to Kennywood, we decided to stop and see what the tirangle-shaped bar and deli is all about.
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.
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.
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 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!
Since publishing our original review, Toma and Leona's have left Lawrence Hall and new concepts are coming soon. We have not updated this review since the change.
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!
If you've frequented Market Square in recent years, you may be familiar with the Wine Bar at the Market Street Grocery. This little hangout spot tucked away in the back of the (now-closed) 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.
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!