EastLiberty

Lorelei Review – Bringing Alpine Cocktails and Beer to East Liberty

Lorelei is another stellar bar concept operated by the team behind Independent Brewing Company and Hidden Harbor in Squirrel Hill.

But rather than adding into their collection of bars at the corner of Forbes and Shady Avenue, this one is located in the heart of East Liberty– bringing a much welcomed addition to the neighborhood's drinking scene.

We were recently invited out by the team at Lorelei to check out the new space, and share our thoughts in this full review! (Note that this review has been updated to reflect additional visits that we made on our own as well.)

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BrewDog Review – Large Beer and Food Menu Options in East Liberty

BrewDog is an international brewery and gastropub chain that has expanded into many cities thanks to its crowdfunding system called Equity for Punks.

This crowdfunding system is a lot like a Kickstarter in that there are numerous perks for investors, such as free beers and discounts, while also retaining ownership (while shares can be sold, there is currently no open market for these nor does BrewDog appear to be going public anytime soon- so we look at it mostly as a perks system). The system has allowed the brewery chain to expand at a rapid pace and through it, they opened a Pittsburgh taproom in East Liberty in early 2020.

I visited this one shortly after opening and share a bit more about what it is like in this review!

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Two Sisters Review – Serving Up Vietnamese in East Liberty

Two Sisters Vietnamese Kitchen in East Liberty is a cute little spot for fulfilling all of your Vietnamese pho, noodle, and rice dish needs.

The menu here includes classic pho (noodle soup), bun (vermicelli noodles), co'm (rice dishes), as well as a few specials like bun bo hue and egg noodles. Side options include spring and summer rolls with different fillings, and several salad offerings.

We recently ordered takeout including bun bo hue, the pork special co'm, a grilled pork summer roll, and fish sauce wings.

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Commerce Bar Review – A Proper Speakeasy in East Liberty

After the COVID pandemic, Commerce Bar has only opened for private parties. We hope they will return to being open to the public here soon.

From the moment you arrive at Commerce Bar in East Liberty, you know you'll be getting the full speakeasy experience. 

That is because to even access this one you need to make your way to a back alley behind a popular stretch of restaurants and seek out the door to the bar. We could tell you which door, but where is the fun in that? (The end of this article will have a hint.)

Once you enter, the fun of this bar begins.

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An Attraction and Dining Guide to East Liberty

If there is any neighborhood in Pittsburgh that has changed the most in the last few years, it would be East Liberty.

The neighborhood is the poster child for gentrification and is now home to luxury lofts, numerous restaurants, and easy access to the growing tech hub in Bakery Square (in nearby Larimer).

While we could spend a long time discussing the gentrification of neighborhoods like these (we encourage it in the comments!), in our neighborhood guide series we want to take a look at what East Liberty is now and highlight the history and some of the spots we visit when exploring the neighborhood- namely the restaurants and a few limited attractions.

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Bird on the Run Review – Hot Fried Chicken in Pittsburgh

Bird on the Run is a small fried chicken joint in Pittsburgh's East Liberty that boasts late night hours, extra hot chicken, and frozen cocktails for those wanting something just a bit different with their meal.

We went to this one after having drinks in the neighborhood and are really pleased to say that this is not just another a formal sit-down restaurant!

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Honeygrow Review – Healthy Stir Fries and Salads in East Liberty

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.

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Muddy Waters Oyster Bar Review – Oyster Happy Hour in East Liberty

Oyster bars seem to be having a moment in Pittsburgh with spots like Muddy Waters in East Liberty, and Merchant Oyster Co. in Lawrenceville popping up.

We have to say, before this phenomenon we hadn't really been into oysters, but these restaurants are doing their part at convincing us that oysters are delicious and may end up becoming the next big thing in Pittsburgh.

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