Balvanera is a fine-dining restaurant in Strip District, Pittsburgh.
Balvanera on Smallman Street in the Strip District serves Argentine asado in Pittsburgh. Chef Fernando Navas runs the wood grill in a 1920s warehouse.
Must order: Empanadas, a grilled cut with chimichurri and a Malbec.
Tip: The dining room takes reservations; the bar and bodega are first-come.
Address: 1660 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
DiAnoia's Eatery in the Strip District serves chef Dave Anoia's house-made pasta in Pittsburgh. A corner room often voted the city's best Italian.
Order: Whichever hand-rolled pasta is on the board, with a cocktail.
Tip: Open early for breakfast; dinner books up on weekends. Reserve ahead.
Siempre Algo in Deutschtown serves a New American tasting menu and cocktails in Pittsburgh. A small North Side room ranked among the city's best for 2026.
Order: Let the kitchen run the set menu, paired with house cocktails.
Tip: Small and reservation-driven. Book ahead for the counter and dining room.
DiAnoia's Eatery in the Strip District serves chef Dave Anoia's house-made pasta in Pittsburgh. A corner room often voted the city's best Italian.
Order: Whichever hand-rolled pasta is on the board, with a cocktail.
Tip: Open early for breakfast; dinner books up on weekends. Reserve ahead.
Pusadee's Garden on Butler Street in Upper Lawrenceville plates fine Thai in a courtyard garden in Pittsburgh. A family-run room with a James Beard nod.
Order: A whole-fried fish and a curry built on the daily market vegetables.
Tip: Reservations open one day ahead at 07:00 on Resy. The garden patio is the seat.
One by Spork on Penn Avenue serves a single tasting menu at an 18-seat chef's counter in Pittsburgh. Christian Frangiadis runs one of the city's best for 2026.
Order: There is one menu: the chef's tasting, with the optional beverage pairing.
Tip: Doors at 18:00, dinner at 18:30. Book the counter weeks out; the pairing is worth it.
Gi-Jin on 6th Street downtown serves sushi, hand-rolls and an omakase counter in Pittsburgh. A DeShantz raw bar pairing gin, sake and Japanese whisky.
Order: Sit at the counter for the omakase, and order a flight off the gin list.
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday from 17:00. Reserve ahead; the counter seats fill on weekends.
Altius on Grandview Avenue serves contemporary American cooking with the skyline view from Mount Washington in Pittsburgh. A special-occasion room.
Order: Book a window table at dusk and let the kitchen run the seasonal menu.
Tip: The skyline window seats book first; ask when reserving. Smart but not jackets-required.
