Tuscan Italian$$lawrenceville
Piccolo Forno on Butler Street in Lawrenceville serves Tuscan wood-fired pizza and pasta in Pittsburgh. A neighbourhood Italian room locals book on Tuesdays.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, House pasta
Order: A wood-fired pizza or the daily fresh pasta, with a glass of Chianti.
Tip: Small and popular; reservations help on weekends. BYOB nights vary, call ahead.
Seafood$$downtown
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.
Pizza$$squirrel-hill
Mineo's Pizza House on Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill has run a Pittsburgh-style square pizza since 1958. Tangy sauce, crispy crust and a long local loyalty.
Signature: Square cut pizza, Pepperoni pie
Order: A pepperoni pie cut in squares, the Pittsburgh-style way.
Tip: A long-running rivalry with nearby Aiello's; locals pick a side. Counter and dining room both.
Pizza$$squirrel-hill
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.
Vietnamese$$bloomfield
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.
Vietnamese$lawrenceville
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.