There are a ton of unassuming barbecue joints in the region, and one you've likely passed by several times but never stopped at is Mitch's BBQ on Perry Highway in Warrendale, PA.
A friend of ours gave us the recommendation to go here and we are quite happy that we finally made the stop to check this one out!
Willow closed to become an event space in 2019, but was acquired by new owners and re-opened later on. This review is from before the changes and may not reflect the current menu adequately.
Willow is one of those restaurants that consistently makes all the “best of” Pittsburgh lists year after year. We visited a few months ago to celebrate our anniversary and have to agree that if you're looking for a reliable nice dinner out, this spot fits the bill.
La Casa Narcisi is a beautiful winery in Gibsonia that's more than just a tasting room.
It's more like an estate, complete with a restaurant, outdoor seating area, and stages for concerts. In our opinion, there isn't much better than sitting on the patio on a warm summer night, listening to live music with a bottle of wine and a classic Italian meal.
Burgh'ers is a local burger joint that began with their first location in Zelienople, PA (about 30 minutes north of the city).
I had been eating at this one for years but never had the ability to write a review. So when they opened their second location right in the heart of Lawrenceville, I knew I'd finally get my chance to share my opinion of this growing, locally sourced restaurant.
As I expected, the new location did not disappoint.
As far as sports are concerned, Pittsburgh is home to most of the conventional ones you would want to watch or even play yourself.
But in late 2017 a new sport came to Millvale- axe throwing. And at Lumberjaxes, you are sure to get your fill through a lane rental or tournament!
The Todd Nature Reserve in Sarver, PA, is a 175 acre forest and wildlife sanctuary managed by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania.
The land once belonged to W.E. Clyde Todd, a passionate bird watcher and Curator of Birds at the Carnegie Museum in the early 1900s who used to bird watch on the property. In an effort to keep the land a wildlife sanctuary for generations to come, Mr. Todd donated the land to the Audubon Society in the 1940s and they have managed it to date.
With many hiking trials, a beautiful pond full of frogs, bird watching, and spring wild flowers, there is truly a lot to see at the nature reserve bearing Mr. Todd's name!
St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Millvale was built in the early 1900s as a place of worship for the large Croatian population in the region. In 1921 the church was devastated by a fire, and was rebuilt in 1922.
In the years that followed the congregation worshiped in a church that was relatively devoid of imagery, and in the late 1930s the church commissioned acclaimed Croatian artist Maxo Vanka to adorn the walls with his work. He was given significant creative control in his art, and the resulting murals are nothing short of a masterpiece that is often referred to as his “gift to America.”
Since then, the murals been appreciated by countless parishioners and visitors, and in the early 2000s a comprehensive restoration effort began in order to ensure they survive for generations to come.
Royal Myanmar in West View is one of the only places we know of in the city to get traditional Burmese food. As we had never had Burmese food before eating here, we can say that this place is a great introduction to the cuisine.
The restaurant itself is a tiny hole-in-the-wall type place where service is friendly and everyone knows the regulars – it's almost like what I would imagine a Burmese diner to be like.
In February 2020, Boyd & Blair Vodka stopped offering their Saturday tours and tastings as mentioned in the below article. Instead, the distillery is moving towards offering ticketed cocktail classes and other events that will give guests a chance to tour the property and try their spirits. We will update this article accordingly once we take a class to share what the experience is like.
Most everyone in Pittsburgh knows about our resident whiskey distillery, Wigle Whiskey. For those who are even more into local spirits, you may know about our resident rum distillery, Maggie's Farm Rum. But did you also know that Pittsburgh is home to a vodka distillery as well?
Located just outside the city limits in Glenshaw, PA, on route 8 is Boyd & Blair, a distillery that has been gaining a reputation over the last decade as one of the finest vodka producers in the state- if not the country.
What do you get when you take a historic house in Harmony, PA that is said to be haunted, add in a German-inspired restaurant, and put on a draft beer list from one of the region's most acclaimed breweries? The Harmony Inn, that's what.
Although its location about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh is a bit of a drive for most, those who make the journey will be rewarded with an amazing dining experience that we go back time and time again to enjoy.