Pittsburghers seem to like re-purposing old buildings and giving them new concepts and new lives. Maybe that's why The Abbey on Butler Street, a funeral home turned restaurant, seems to fit right in.
Not only is this a restaurant, it's also got an impressive bar as well as a cafe, all under the same roof. We recently ate at the restaurant and had a decent experience, but if we returned, we would consider going back for small plates and drinks instead of a full on meal.
Pizza Parma is a local Pittsburgh pizza shop that has been earning rave reviews from local media and has expanded to multiple locations around the city.
But is it worth your money? We just had to find out.
Sienna Mercato in downtown Pittsburgh is a brilliant three-story restaurant and bar concept with something for everyone.
The first floor contains Emporio, a casual build-your-own meatball restaurant; the second story houses Mezzo, an Italian restaurant focusing on wine, charcuterie, and wood-fired pizzas; and the third story is home to a rooftop bar called Il Tetto.
Although it is impossible to sample all three in one visit, we have returned to this one many times to try them all and were pleasantly surprised by what we found.
Braddock's Brasserie inside the Renaissance Hotel brings intensity to the hotel dining scene. With hearty, meaty entrees and a bar that could make any whiskey fanatic weep, it's safe to say that Braddock's is not for the faint of heart.
But if you're looking to indulge without going all out at the main restaurant, the Street Side bar is a perfect spot for craft cocktails and sandwiches bigger than your face.
Big Jim's is a quintessential Pittsburgh bar and restaurant in “the run,” aka lower Greenfield. A dimly lit space with wood paneled walls, the emphasis here is on huge portions of classic Italian and Pittsburgh food.
Calzones so big they take 45 minutes to bake and don't even fit on a single plate? Check.
Reubens piled a mile high with corned beef? Yep.
Burgers, hoagies, and salads topped with fries? That's so Pittsburgh.
First things first, you definitely shouldn't come here if you're on a diet or a vegan. And you should definitely expect a wait on the weekends. If neither of those things bother you, then wear your fat pants and prepare to step back in time for a true Pittsburgh experience.
Bill's Bar & Burger, located in the same building as the Westin downtown, is an over-the-top burger spot with a surprisingly delicious weekend brunch menu.
Although Bill's has several other locations in the New York area, the Pittsburgh location is developing its own character by using local suppliers and creating special menu items unique to the local dining scene.
The burgers are some of the most tender, juicy ones we've had in the city, the beer selection is pretty impressive, and the Bloody Marys at brunch are not to be missed.
When it comes to eating sandwiches at restaurants, aside from the traditional burger or a unique and gourmet oddity, odds are good we're going to defer to one of our favorites: the Reuben.
This sandwich has just about everything we could ask for in a go-to choice. A mound of corned beef, a handful of sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and a generous slathering of Thousand Island dressing is enough to make us happy if we're in the mood for our favorite sandwich.
Unfortunately, not all restaurants are equal when it comes to sandwich making, and more often than not the Reuben is the hardest to get right. But when they do, odds are good that they can make anything delicious and are a good spot worth returning to in order to try more creations.
As a result, our quest to find Pittsburgh's best Reuben sandwich was born.
Note: In the past, our quest style articles organized Reubens in various categories from below average to excellent. Since then, we have decided to remove any category style tier. That said, Reubens in this article loosely ordered by increasing preference in this article. So if you want to see our very favorites, scroll to the end!
If you think the hardy, savory flavors of Eastern European cuisine can only be achieved with ingredients like meat and cheese, take a trip to Apteka in Bloomfield and prepare to be wowed by their completely vegan menu that totally gets to the heart of Eastern European food.
The Runner Stone Mill House restaurant at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott hotel is an excellent addition to the Pittsburgh hotel dining scene. While it's relatively easy to find good hotel dining in the downtown area, as you move outside the city limits it definitely becomes trickier.
Luckily, the Runner Stone Mill House hits all the right points to help fill this void.
It's got a sleek, modern decor with different seating options ranging from high tops to more intimate lounge-style seating, and it's got a great craft cocktail list and a seasonal dining menu that uses fresh, local ingredients with lots of house-made touches.
Noodlehead in Shadyside is a casual, affordable, and delicious Thai noodle joint.
While service tends to be lacking, we give it a pass because the food is just that good. From dumplings to noodle soups to curry noodles and pad Thai, you can't go wrong with any dish on the Noodlehead menu.