Pittsburgh: Europe Meets Midwest

Overview

When people think Pittsburgh, they still think steel mills, meat and potatoes, and Iron City beer. But today, the last steel mills have long closed down, and while any Steelers fan can tell you that we still guzzle IC Light and chili by the gallon from time to time, any Pittsburgher can also tell you that our town has so much more to offer in the way of food and drink. A rich history of immigration has left Pittsburgh with a vast and various array of local cuisines. The bottom line: though you might never have guessed it, Pittsburgh is a great place to eat--and a great place to get New York-quality cuisine at decidedly un-New York prices.

Quick Tips:

Great minds think alike, and the best (and most unique) restaurants have tended to cluster in a few distinct areas near downtown. On weeknights, most places will be able to seat you without a reservation--don't be afraid to stroll down E. Carson Street, say, and pull up a chair anywhere that looks like the kind of place you'd like.

Best Way To Get Around:

The PATransit streetcar/subway system runs out from Downtown through the South Hills neighborhoods, and bus service is available for areas not served by the "T." In most cases, though, driving is the best way to get around, provided you have the detailed directions necessary to navigate Pittsburgh's notoriously tangled streets.

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Mallorca

Restaurant

Some of the best Spanish and Portuguese cuisine this side of the Atlantic can be found, believe it or not, on E. Carson Street in Pittsburgh's South Side Neighborhood, which is itself a well-known mecca for locals who really love to eat. The decor is rich, dark, and distinctly continental—and the same can be said for Mallorca's roast goat, an ossobucco-style entree that is, in this reviewer's opinion, the restaurant's most extravagantly mouth-watering dish. I haven't gone wrong with anything I've ordered, from standards like grilled Portuguese sausages and paella, to twin lobster tails in a champagne-apple sauce. A menu is available online at www.mallorcapittsburgh.com. Lunch prices offer a considerable discount for smaller-portioned variations on the normal evening fare, plus some lighter just-for-lunch concoctions. Don't pass up Mallorca's great selection of fine aperitifs!

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by justin121883 on April 17, 2006

Mallorca
2228 East Carson Street Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203
(412) 488-1818

Monterey Bay Fish Grotto

Restaurant

Don't let Monterey Bay's goofy name fool you--this place is super-high-class, with aerial views of the downtown skyline that are absolutely stunning. Fresh fish is the feature here, flown in daily from around the world, and the menu features a wide variety of continental-European, pan-Asian, Caribbean, and contemporary-American preparations, from rich stuffed flounder in cream sauce to pan-seared, rare tuna steaks. Prices and availability vary according to the market, and the menu encourages guests to match their choice fish with any available preparation, though the menu does offer some suggested pairs. This reviewer is particularly fond of the Ahi tuna tempura appetizer, and Monterey Bay's otherworldly crab cakes are an absolute must. With its spacious contemporary dining space, Monterey Bay is also very adept at serving large groups--and all the tables have wonderful views. The final verdict? Expensive, but worth every penny, and a great place to impress a guest or a date.

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by justin121883 on April 18, 2006

Monterey Bay Fish Grotto
1411 Grandview Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15211
(412) 481-4414

Il Pizzaiolo

Restaurant

Tired of the same old Americanized Italian fare? Il Pizzaiolo, located in one of Pittsburgh's southern suburbs, offers a taste of pure, unadulterated Neapolitan cuisine in a cozy storefront setting on Mt. Lebanon's main drag. The light, fresh brick-oven pizza will reveal the inadequacy of every pizza you've eaten in the last 10 years. The recipes are all inspired by the owners' families, honest-to-god Neapolitans; the ingredients are always flavorful and fresh. Though the pizza is clearly the centerpiece of the menu, Il Pizzaiolo's creative pastas and sandwiches offer delicious alternatives (and in deceptively huge portions--you might want to share). Coupled with an extensive wine list, great salads, and beautiful courtyard seating out back, Il Pizzaiolo is the perfect summer spot for lunch or dinner. Which is why you will need to arrive early: when the weather is pleasant, the wait will grow long. Luckily, "Uptown" Mt. Lebanon is a great place for a stroll. It's a 10- to 15-minute drive from Downtown Pittsburgh.

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by justin121883 on April 18, 2006

Il Pizzaiolo
703 Washington Road Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15228
(412) 344-4123

Penn Brewery

Restaurant | "Penn Brewery, The"

Some of the best German beer outside of Germany is brewed and served right here on Pittsburgh's North Side, by the historic Pennsylvania Brewing Company. Its present incarnation dates from 1986 (making it one of the forerunners of the modern microbrewing movement), and the Penn Brewery (as the Eberhardt and Ober Brewery) has been making beer since 1848, using Bavarian recipes that originated with the purity laws of 1516. The beer is classic German through and through, and it's a rare opportunity to taste such brews on tap this side of the Atlantic. The winter-season St. Nicholas Bock is a tried-and-true award-winner, and the Penn Weizen and Oktoberfest varieties are two of the purest examples to be found in the States. But really, you can't go wrong with any of Penn's brews. The food itself, sad to say, is unspectacular, as German fare in the States tends to be. Luckily, it's also fairly inexpensive: the sausages, roasts, and schnitzels are all pretty safe bets, as is the goulashsuppe (a rich, paprika-laced beef stew). But the beer alone is more than enough to make the Penn Brewery an absolute must.

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by justin121883 on April 18, 2006

Penn Brewery
800 Troy Hill & Vinial S Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233
(412) 237-9402

Church Brew Works

Restaurant | "Church Brew Works, The"

Located in a renovated church, with functional brew works in place of the altar, the Church Brew Works takes a super-classy approach to the traditionally lowbrow craft of beer. It's continental-and-Asian-infused menu is all-around superb, and includes some local gestures such as traditional (and nontraditional!) pierogies and Polish-style vinegar coleslaw. This reviewer is particular fond of their buffalo steaks. The beer is not quite as good as, say, the Penn Brewery, though it does represent a wider geographical variety of brews, ranging from German-style Penn knockoffs (decent) to British-style porter and stout (better, and a better match for most of the menu). A counterpoint to the Penn Brewery, really: here, the beer isn't the focus—it's the food. Word of caution, though: the dining area is also an active brewery during the day, so lunch diners may get a strong whiff of yeast with their meals, and the smell of brewing yeast is kind of an acquired taste.

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by justin121883 on April 18, 2006

Church Brew Works
3525 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15201
(412) 688-8200

Sharp Edge Creekhouse

Restaurant | "Sharp Edge Creekhouse, The"

Believe it or not, this sleepy little corner Pittsburgh, PA, is home to a world-renowned beer mecca that the Petit Fute Belgian Beer Guide called the "Best Belgian Beer Bar in the USA." And it doesn't stop there: in addition to a huge (we're talking almost two dozen) selection of Belgian beers--and that's just on tap! The Sharp Edge offers a considerable selection of German beers, British beers, and American microbrews on tap, as well as scores of bottled brews from around the world. I mean, the beer list is thicker than the menu--it's like they brought in a whole specialty distributor just for their guests. And the beer, as wonderful as it is, is not the Creekhouse's only draw. The food itself is very good, standard new-American pub fare, with a few continental or seasonal twists thrown in (in the fall, for example, they whip up a great Oktoberfest menu). And the building itself is wonderful--a huge old Victorian house converted to a multi-level pub and restaurant overlooking Chartiers Creek. Bonus: the Creekhouse is a short drive away from the airport. More info, plus directions to the Creekhouse and to Sharp Edge's slightly-less-cozy downtown location, can be found at www.sharpedgebeer.com. Verdict? The Creekhouse may very well be this reviewer's favorite restaurant in town.

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by justin121883 on April 18, 2006

Sharp Edge Creekhouse
288 West Steuben Street Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15205
(412) 922-8118

Amel's Restaurant

Restaurant | "Amel's"

Fans of Mediterranean food craving some good hummus or a nice kebab would do well to seek out Amel's in Baldwin, one of Pittsburgh's southern suburbs about 10 to 15 minutes from downtown. The menu is pretty standard Turkish-style fare (though the restaurant calls itself Middle Eastern, the selection is more Anatolian-Greek), reasonably priced, and quite good. The atmosphere is a little bland--the decor is ho-hum and Amel's is located in a small strip mall--but it's still probably Pittsburgh's best bet for Eastern Mediterranean food. Plus, Amel's low-key vibe makes it extremely family-friendly, and the menu has enough conservative selections that almost anyone can find something to like. This is a good bet for families who want something a little more exotic than usual, but who don't want to go too far out on a limb. It's also a good place for low-pressure business meals.

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by justin121883 on April 18, 2006

Amel's Restaurant
435 McNeilly Rd. Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15226
(412) 563-3466

Grand Concourse/Gandy Dancer Saloon

Restaurant | "Grand Concourse, The"

The name says it all. This elegant restaurant occupies the lavishly renovated concourse of the old Pittsburgh and Long Island Railroad terminal, and its Titanic-esque decor conjures images of the 19th-century steel barons who helped make Pittsburgh what it is today. The menu, which focuses on fresh seafood, features a wide variety of Continental preparations favored by the rich and famous of days past. The oyster bar is a well-known attraction, and the salmon in parchment is a simple but beautiful feast. The Grand Concourse will put a big dent in your wallet, but when it comes to power lunches or dinner dates, no place in Pittsburgh will impress your guest more. A longtime Pittsburgh classic.

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by justin121883 on April 18, 2006

Grand Concourse/Gandy Dancer Saloon
1 Station Square Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
(412) 261-1717

Good Wood Grill

Restaurant

The Good Wood Grill features a delicious and eclectic menu encompassing New American, Pan-Asian, and contemporary Continental/French-Italian cuisines in a cozy, out-of-the-way setting tucked back in a steep valley just outside Bridgeville. Though finding the place can be a bit of a chore, the Good Wood Grill is well worth the effort, especially since the food is so much better than its lower-end-upscale price! The menu runs the gamut from gamy Continental-style duck dishes to German-inspired roast pork tenderloin with a brown mustard sauce to Pan-Asian tuna dishes and classic American steaks. The Good Wood Grill is also remarkably family-friendly, and patrons are sure to find something for everyone. A substantial selection of wines and a slightly less substantial selection of beers rounds out this cozy neighborhood favorite. All in all, it's a great place to sit, relax, and enjoy some excellent food.

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by justin121883 on April 18, 2006

Good Wood Grill
928 McLaughlin Road Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15017
(412) 257-9663

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Pittsburgh: Europe Meets Midwest