Italian$$$lawrencevilleTue-Thu 17:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-22:00; closed Sun-Mon
Senti on Butler Street in Lower Lawrenceville serves seasonal Italian cooking in Pittsburgh. Handmade pasta and a garden patio on the renaissance strip.
Signature: House pasta, Seasonal Italian
Order: A fresh pasta and a seasonal main, with a bottle off the Italian list.
Tip: The garden patio is the seat in summer. Reserve for weekend dinner.
Vietnamese$lawrencevilleMon-Sun 08:00-15:00
Ineffable Ca Phe on Penn Avenue in Lawrenceville serves banh mi and Vietnamese coffee in Pittsburgh. A relaxed cafe with a small, sharp sandwich menu.
Signature: Banh mi, Vietnamese coffee
Order: A grilled-pork banh mi and a Vietnamese egg coffee.
Tip: Cafe by day; the Unspeakable speakeasy operates from the same address by night.
Burgers$$north-sideMon-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00; Sun 11:00-21:00
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.
British$$south-sideMon-Thu 11:00-22:00, Fri 11:00-03:00, Sat 09:00-03:00, Sun 09:00-23:00
The Pub Chip Shop on East Carson Street in the South Side serves British fish and chips and savoury pies in Pittsburgh. A pub kitchen on the bar strip.
Signature: Fish and chips, Savoury pies
Order: Fish and chips wrapped in paper, or a savoury meat pie.
Tip: Deep-fried British comfort on the South Side. Good ballast before a night out.
Pizza$bloomfieldTue-Sun 15:00-21:00; closed Mon
Spak Brothers on Penn Avenue in Garfield serves pizza and hoagies with deep vegan options in Pittsburgh. A neighbourhood counter loved by plant-based eaters.
Signature: Vegan pizza, Hoagies
Order: A vegan pizza or a seitan hoagie; the meat versions are good too.
Tip: One of the city's best for vegan pizza and subs. Quick counter and delivery.
Thai$$squirrel-hill
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.