Labad's Mediterranean Cafe and Grocery is a restaurant in Strip District, Pittsburgh.
Why locals love it: A tiny Mediterranean cafe and grocery on the quieter end of the Strip, easy to miss between the bigger market names.
Tip: Eat a gyro at the counter, then buy olives and spices to take home. Locals rate the baba ghanoush.
Address: 1727 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Why locals love it: A small Squirrel Hill room serving Laotian dishes most Pittsburgh menus skip, hiding behind a more familiar Thai list.
Tip: Ask for the Laotian larb and sticky rice, not just the Thai standards. Small room; reserve at weekends.
Why locals love it: A quiet corner cafe on Polish Hill, up the hill from the Strip's crowds and known mostly to neighbourhood regulars.
Tip: A calm spot for coffee and pastries away from the tourist routes. Pair it with a Polish Hill walk.
Why locals love it: A Squirrel Hill room where a glass-walled team pleats soup dumplings by hand, a quiet draw away from the marquee restaurants.
Tip: Watch the dumpling team through the window. Order xiao long bao and hand-pulled noodles; expect a wait.
Why locals love it: A century-old German tavern tucked in Deutschtown that survives the North Side's changes, off most visitors' radar.
Tip: Order schnitzel or sauerbraten with a German beer. A nod to the North Side's German immigrant roots.
Why locals love it: A community-minded cafe and restaurant up on Troy Hill, a steep North Side neighbourhood that few food visitors reach.
Tip: Go for coffee by day or a seasonal dinner by night. The Troy Hill setting is half the appeal.
Why locals love it: An Argentine-rooted winery tasting room on the North Side that few realise makes Malbecs with a family link to Mendoza.
Tip: Try the Malbec in the tasting room. A low-key alternative to the city's beer-heavy drinking scene.
