Smokin' Toad's BBQ is located in Sarver, PA, just under an hour northeast of Pittsburgh, and is one of those places we've driven by a number of times but never quite made it in to try.
It was only when visiting the now closed Cellar Works Brewing (formerly next door) that I was able to put in an order from the menu.
While a robust menu with a number of options, I left wishing I was able to sample a bit more.
Strange Roots (originally founded as Draai Laag) is one of the oldest breweries in Pittsburgh, and is certainly one of its most unique.
And to be completely honest, they're one of our favorite breweries in the region as they focus on wild fermentation that produces an array of stellar sour beers!
When Hitchhiker Brewing Co. first open its doors in Pittsburgh (in Mt. Lebanon), we thought their beer was decent but were not overly blown away. But after their rapid expansion with a second facility in Sharpsburg, PA, did we notice that the brewery had vastly improved into what we believe is one of the finest breweries in Pittsburgh.
Harmony, Pennsylvania (30 minutes north of Pittsburgh) is one of our favorite boroughs for a number of reasons. It is quaint, historic, and is home to one of the best restaurants in the region- Harmony Inn.
When it comes to the history, Harmony is rather unique. To celebrate it, the borough has a robust museum that we were really excited to check out.
Burgh Bits and Bites is a popular food walking tour company in Pittsburgh with numerous tours throughout the city's neighborhoods.
But this company is also expanding to include tours outside the city limits, and one of their first of this style tour is in the historic borough of Saxonburg- located about 45 minutes northeast of the city.
We were guest of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau on this tour, and share our thoughts of the day out in this one!
Grist House is a popular brewery in the Pittsburgh suburb of Millvale (located just across the Allegheny River from Lawrenceville) that serves up an array of beer styles ranging from the hoppy IPA to fruited sours and everything in between.
Even better? This stunning spot features a gorgeous outdoor beer garden and is dog friendly!
Dancing Gnome in Sharpsburg, PA, just east of Pittsburgh, is known for their love of hops and their passion to produce some of the region's best IPAs and pale ales.
Even if you are not a fan of this style of beer, Dancing Gnome may be the spot that converts you.
They did for us!
One type of attraction we haven't covered much of on this site has been abandoned locations.
This is mostly by design as we are not comfortable recommending readers to trespass, break-in, or perform illegal activities in order to check a spot out. (Likewise, we do not do these ourselves either).
But at Yellow Dog Village in Worthington, PA (near Kittanning), with advanced permission and payment, you can visit an abandoned site that is quite the interesting spot to see!
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.