Bistros, trattorias and the everyday rooms where Pittsburgh actually eats.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Pittsburgh actually eats.
Primanti Bros on 18th Street is the 1933 Strip District original in Pittsburgh. The sandwich with fries and vinegar slaw stacked inside the Italian bread.
Signature: Almost Famous sandwich, Capicola and cheese
Order: An Almost Famous sandwich with grilled meat, slaw and fries packed inside the bread.
Tip: This is the original location, open since 1933 and late into the night on weekends.
Piccolo Forno on Butler Street in Lawrenceville serves Tuscan wood-fired pizza and pasta in Pittsburgh. A neighbourhood Italian room locals book on Tuesdays.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, House pasta
Order: A wood-fired pizza or the daily fresh pasta, with a glass of Chianti.
Tip: Small and popular; reservations help on weekends. BYOB nights vary, call ahead.
The Original Oyster House on Market Square has served fried fish and oysters in Pittsburgh since 1870. The city's oldest bar and seafood counter.
Signature: Fish sandwich, Oysters
Order: The giant fried fish sandwich and a plate of oysters at the old bar.
Tip: Cash-friendly old-school counter. The fish sandwich is famously bigger than the bun.
Mineo's Pizza House on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill has run a Pittsburgh-style square pizza since 1958. Tangy sauce, crispy crust and a long local loyalty.
Signature: Square cut pizza, Pepperoni pie
Order: A pepperoni pie cut in squares, the Pittsburgh-style way.
Tip: A long-running rivalry with nearby Aiello's; locals pick a side. Counter and dining room both.
Aiello's Pizza on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill runs a thin, crispy-crust pie in Pittsburgh. The other half of Murray Avenue's long-running pizza rivalry.
Signature: Thin-crust pizza, By-the-cut slices
Order: A thin-crust pie whole or by the cut, crisp at the edges.
Tip: Sits a few doors from Mineo's; locals argue which is better. Quick counter service.
Tram's Kitchen on Penn Avenue in Bloomfield serves Vietnamese pho and bun in Pittsburgh. A long-running BYOB room many call the city's best Vietnamese.
Signature: Pho, Bun
Order: A bowl of pho and a vermicelli bun plate; bring your own beer.
Tip: BYOB and cash-friendly. Small room; expect a short wait at peak hours.
Banh Mi & Ti on Butler Street in Lawrenceville serves crusty banh mi and Vietnamese coffee in Pittsburgh. A quick, cheap counter on the renaissance strip.
Signature: Banh mi, Vietnamese coffee
Order: A classic pork banh mi and an iced Vietnamese coffee.
Tip: Counter service, good for a fast lunch. Cash and card both fine.
Nicky's Thai Kitchen on Western Avenue on the North Side serves curries and pad thai in Pittsburgh. A long-running BYOB room in Allegheny West.
Signature: Curries, Pad thai
Order: A coconut curry and pad thai, ordered at your preferred heat.
Tip: BYOB and casual. The North Side original is the location locals recommend most.
Driftwood Oven on Butler Street in Lawrenceville bakes sourdough pizza and bread in Pittsburgh. A food-truck-turned-bakery with naturally-leavened pies.
Signature: Sourdough pizza, Naturally-leavened bread
Order: A naturally-leavened pizza and a loaf from the bread counter.
Tip: The sourdough crust is the point. Pies sell out late; bread goes early.
Max's Allegheny Tavern in Deutschtown serves German tavern food in Pittsburgh. Schnitzel, sauerbraten and steins in a North Side corner room.
Signature: Schnitzel, Sauerbraten
Order: Schnitzel or sauerbraten with spaetzle and a German beer.
Tip: A nod to the North Side's German immigrant roots. Good for groups.
Slice on Broadway in Beechview runs an award-winning by-the-slice pizza in Pittsburgh. A local chain that has won national pizza competitions.
Signature: By-the-slice pizza, Specialty pies
Order: A specialty slice or a whole pie; the crust is the draw.
Tip: Quick counter pizza with several locations. The Beechview shop is the original.
Kaya on Smallman Street in the Strip District serves Caribbean cooking from big Burrito in Pittsburgh. Jerk, plantains and rum cocktails in a bright room.
Signature: Jerk plates, Plantains
Order: A jerk plate, fried plantains and a rum cocktail.
Tip: A big Burrito Group room good for groups. The brunch and rum list are draws.
Noodlehead on South Highland Avenue in Shadyside serves cash-only Thai street noodles in Pittsburgh. A big Burrito room built around bowls and bold spice.
Signature: Street noodles, Curries
Order: A bowl of street noodles and a Thai iced tea.
Tip: Cash only and no reservations. Quick, loud and good value; expect a wait.
Iron Born Pizza in the Strip District bakes crispy-edged Detroit-style square pizza in Pittsburgh. A pan-pizza specialist that grew out of a stall.
Signature: Detroit-style pizza, Pepperoni square
Order: A Detroit-style square with crisped cheese edges and pepperoni.
Tip: Different from the Pittsburgh-square style; this one is Detroit pan. Squares sell out.
Lorelei on South Highland Avenue in East Liberty serves German and Alpine bar food in Pittsburgh. Schnitzel, pretzels and a deep German beer list.
Signature: Schnitzel, Pretzel
Order: Schnitzel and a soft pretzel, with a German lager or hefeweizen.
Tip: A bar-leaning room good for beer and groups. The patio is the seat in summer.
Spirits & Tales atop the Oaklander Hotel serves New American plates with a rooftop view in Pittsburgh. Seasonal cooking above the university district.
Signature: Seasonal plates, Rooftop cocktails
Order: Share seasonal plates and a cocktail on the rooftop at sunset.
Tip: The rooftop is the draw in warm weather. Reserve a terrace table ahead.
Sienna Mercato on Penn Avenue downtown is a three-floor Italian marketplace in Pittsburgh. Meatballs at Emporio and a rooftop beer garden up top.
Signature: Meatballs, Rooftop pizza
Order: Build-your-own meatballs at Emporio, then a beer on the Il Tetto rooftop.
Tip: Each of the three floors is a different concept. The rooftop fills before shows.
Federal Galley on the North Side is a food hall of rotating chef concepts in Pittsburgh. Four kitchens and a bar across from the Children's Museum.
Signature: Rotating chef stalls, Bar plates
Order: Graze across the four rotating stalls and grab a cocktail at the central bar.
Tip: The stall line-up changes; it incubates new chefs. Good for groups who can't agree.
Pizza Lupo on Butler Street in Lawrenceville serves naturally-leavened pizza and natural wine in Pittsburgh. A pizzeria and bar on the renaissance strip.
Signature: Naturally-leavened pizza, Antipasti
Order: A naturally-leavened pie and a glass off the natural wine list.
Tip: Pairs pizza with a serious natural-wine list. Walk-in friendly midweek.
Umami on 38th Street in Lawrenceville serves izakaya skewers and ramen in Pittsburgh. A lantern-lit room with a koi pond patio off Butler Street.
Signature: Yakitori, Ramen
Order: A spread of yakitori, a bowl of ramen and a Japanese highball.
Tip: The koi pond patio is the seat. Late kitchen on weekends; walk-in friendly midweek.
La Palapa on East Carson Street in the South Side serves regional Mexican cooking in Pittsburgh. Mole, tacos and margaritas on the bar strip.
Signature: Mole, Tacos
Order: A plate of mole and a round of tacos, with a margarita.
Tip: Good before a South Side night out. The mole is the standout; reserve weekends.
Point Brugge Cafe in Point Breeze serves Belgian moules frites and bistro food in Pittsburgh. A corner cafe near Frick Park with a deep Belgian beer list.
Signature: Moules frites, Belgian beer
Order: Moules frites and a Belgian ale on the corner patio.
Tip: No reservations; put your name in. The patio near Frick Park is the seat.
Senti on Butler Street in Lower Lawrenceville serves seasonal Italian cooking in Pittsburgh. Handmade pasta and a garden patio on the renaissance strip.
Signature: House pasta, Seasonal Italian
Order: A fresh pasta and a seasonal main, with a bottle off the Italian list.
Tip: The garden patio is the seat in summer. Reserve for weekend dinner.
Ineffable Ca Phe on Penn Avenue in Lawrenceville serves banh mi and Vietnamese coffee in Pittsburgh. A relaxed cafe with a small, sharp sandwich menu.
Signature: Banh mi, Vietnamese coffee
Order: A grilled-pork banh mi and a Vietnamese egg coffee.
Tip: Cafe by day; the Unspeakable speakeasy operates from the same address by night.
Burgatory on the North Shore serves build-your-own burgers and spiked milkshakes in Pittsburgh. A homegrown chain near the stadiums and rivers.
Signature: Build-your-own burger, Spiked milkshakes
Order: A build-your-own burger and a hard milkshake.
Tip: Handy near the North Shore stadiums. The spiked shakes are the gimmick worth trying.
The Pub Chip Shop on East Carson Street in the South Side serves British fish and chips and savoury pies in Pittsburgh. A pub kitchen on the bar strip.
Signature: Fish and chips, Savoury pies
Order: Fish and chips wrapped in paper, or a savoury meat pie.
Tip: Deep-fried British comfort on the South Side. Good ballast before a night out.
Spak Brothers on Penn Avenue in Garfield serves pizza and hoagies with deep vegan options in Pittsburgh. A neighbourhood counter loved by plant-based eaters.
Signature: Vegan pizza, Hoagies
Order: A vegan pizza or a seitan hoagie; the meat versions are good too.
Tip: One of the city's best for vegan pizza and subs. Quick counter and delivery.
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery in Squirrel Hill serves Laotian and Thai cooking in Pittsburgh. Larb, sticky rice and northern curries in a small room.
Signature: Laotian larb, Khao soi
Order: Laotian larb with sticky rice, and a bowl of khao soi.
Tip: Ask for the Laotian dishes, not just the Thai standards. Small room; reserve weekends.