EastLiberty Archives - Discover the Burgh

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!

Mola Review – Sushi, Bao, and Rice Bowls in East Liberty

Mola in East Liberty is a sushi-focused restaurant, although the Asian menu has much more than just sushi if that's not your thing. The menu also includes small plates, bao, and rice bowls. We recently tried takeout from Mola and were very impressed with the food and that they executed a wide variety of dishes so well.

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.

Whitfield Review – Locally Sourced Steaks and More in East Liberty

Located inside the trendy Ace Hotel in East Liberty, Whitfield is more than just a hotel restaurant. With James Beard award-nominated chefs at the helm, an emphasis on farm to table cuisine, and a killer brunch, Whitfield is a dining destination.

We recently stayed at the Ace Hotel and of course had to check out Whitfield for both breakfast and dinner. As the restaurant and hotel are located in an old YMCA building, much of that character and vibe still remain. It gives the hotel an ultra-hip feeling but feels a little incongruent with a fine dining restaurant like Whitfield.

Tana Review – Ethiopian Cuisine Done Right in East Liberty

Tana is an Ethiopian restaurant in East Liberty serving up lots of delicious traditional vegetarian and meat stews piled on top of injera, an Ethiopian flatbread. It's a great restaurant for groups as you can basically order a little of everything on the menu and share it all for a traditional feast.

Ace Hotel Pittsburgh Review – A Trendy Stay in East Liberty

In a way, The Ace Hotel in Pittsburgh's East Liberty is a reflection of the neighborhood itself. It is trendy, modern, and is located in a beautifully restored YMCA building (a mark of gentrification if there ever was one).

That being said, this hotel offers some pretty comfortable rooms, a good night's sleep, and one of the best restaurants you'll find in the entire neighborhood. To us, this is all we need for a great stay!

Chrismukkah Review – Federal Galley Offers Holiday Libations for a Cause

We have to be a bit honest in saying that the concept of a pop-up bar is becoming a bit overdone these days. In 2018, we had no fewer than six holiday pop-up bars in Pittsburgh and 2019 looks to be no different.

Thankfully, the new bars coming into the pop-up scene this year are being led by some of the city's finest bartenders. Chrismukkah in East Liberty is one such bar as it is managed by the team behind the bar program at Federal Galley (one of our favorite restaurants in the city).

Naturally, we went to this one as soon as they opened!

Commerce Bar Review – A Proper Speakeasy in East Liberty

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.

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.

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!