Detroit-style pizza$$strip-district
Iron Born Pizza in the Strip District bakes crispy-edged Detroit-style square pizza in Pittsburgh. A pan-pizza specialist that grew out of a stall.
Signature: Detroit-style pizza, Pepperoni square
Order: A Detroit-style square with crisped cheese edges and pepperoni.
Tip: Different from the Pittsburgh-square style; this one is Detroit pan. Squares sell out.
German Alpine$$east-liberty
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.
New American$$$oakland
Spirits & Tales atop the Oaklander Hotel serves New American plates with a rooftop view in Pittsburgh. Seasonal cooking above the university district.
Signature: Seasonal plates, Rooftop cocktails
Order: Share seasonal plates and a cocktail on the rooftop at sunset.
Tip: The rooftop is the draw in warm weather. Reserve a terrace table ahead.
Italian$$downtown
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.
Food hall$$north-side
Federal Galley on the North Side is a food hall of rotating chef concepts in Pittsburgh. Four kitchens and a bar across from the Children's Museum.
Signature: Rotating chef stalls, Bar plates
Order: Graze across the four rotating stalls and grab a cocktail at the central bar.
Tip: The stall line-up changes; it incubates new chefs. Good for groups who can't agree.
Pizza$$lawrenceville
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.