Restaurants

Arepittas Review – Delicious Venezuelan Arepas Downtown

Arepittas on Cherry Way in downtown Pittsburgh is one of those blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of spots.

Part of this is because it is on a less frequented stretch of downtown Pittsburgh outright, but the main reason is that it is tucked on the first level of a large parking garage. So much so that it feels almost like it is inside the garage properly. 

So when we drove down this road and saw the small Venezuelan street food restaurant, we had to do a double take. But after hearing many glowing reviews from others who have visited before us, we knew we had to get in right away.

To put it bluntly- Arepittas may be the best cheap eats in downtown Pittsburgh.

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La Bodega Taqueria Review – A Surprising Find in South Side

La Bodega Taqueria is one of those places that we absolutely love to discover in Pittsburgh.

We did not know this one had opened up right on the heart of East Carson Street in South Side, and only stumbled upon it while driving to meet friends for drinks at Acacia a few blocks away.

In the brief seconds it took us to drive by, we knew where we had to end up for dinner after, and a short while later we made our way down the block for some delicious, delicious Mexican food.

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Senza Review – An Inventive Dining Experience in Etna

Senza is a cozy and welcoming restaurant in Etna serving up seasonal, scratch-made dishes during regular dinner hours on the weekends as well as during Sunday brunch and ticketed dinner club events.

The dishes here are comforting, the flavor combinations are unique, and the hospitality is off the charts. The environment is so welcoming that a meal here feels like dining at your best friend's house- if that friend was a creative, talented chef, of course.

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Golden Gai Review – Premium Japanese Dining in Bakery Square

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.

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Beercode Review – Gastropub With Local Beer at PIT

We've often wanted more local options at Pittsburgh International Airport, and whenever a business with a local connection gets announced, we visit it as soon as we can the next time we're at the airport.

Beercode was no different, and this gastropub took over the former Bar Symon space right in the heart of the airside terminal.

True to the name, this one is focused on all things beer and has a rather impressive lineup of local brewers alongside some national favorites.

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Triangle Bar Review – Massive Deli Subs in Swissvale

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.

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Braddock Public House Review – A Food and Beer Delight

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.

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JJ Poke Bowl Review – Fast Casual Poke in Oakland

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!

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Alberta’s Pizzeria Review – Pizza and More in the North Side

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!

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