40 mid-range places in Pittsburgh, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good restaurants in Pittsburgh, with real cooking and no surprise on the bill. All Pittsburgh food.
Primanti Bros (Strip District original) ★ 4.8
strip-district · 46 18th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Primanti Bros on 18th Street is the 1933 Strip District original in Pittsburgh. The sandwich with fries and vinegar slaw stacked inside the Italian bread.
Tip: This is the original location, open since 1933 and late into the night on weekends.
Driftwood Oven ★ 4.8
lawrenceville · 3615 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Driftwood Oven on Butler Street in Lawrenceville bakes sourdough pizza and bread in Pittsburgh. A food-truck-turned-bakery with naturally-leavened pies.
Tip: The sourdough crust is the point. Pies sell out late; bread goes early.
Commonplace Coffee ★ 4.8
squirrel-hill · 5827 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Commonplace Coffee roasts in Larimer and pours across Pittsburgh, with this cafe on Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill. A community-minded roaster since 2003.
Cinderlands Warehouse ★ 4.8
strip-district · 2601 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Cinderlands Warehouse in the Strip District is the brewery's big taproom in Pittsburgh. Hazy IPAs, saisons and a serious kitchen in a brick warehouse.
Tip: The Warehouse has the full kitchen; Long Story Short on Butler is the smaller taproom.
Primanti Bros (Strip District original) ★ 4.8
strip-district · 46 18th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Primanti Bros on 18th Street in the Strip District serves its fries-inside sandwich late in Pittsburgh. The 1933 original runs to 2am on weekends.
Pierogies Plus ★ 4.8
north-side · 342 Island Ave, McKees Rocks, PA 15136
Pierogies Plus is hand-made pierogi out of a former gas station in mckees rocks, run by a polish-born owner; few visitors make the short drive.
Tip: Order a mixed dozen to take home, or eat the boiled-and-fried ones at the counter. Worth the drive.
Apteka ★ 4.7
bloomfield · 4606 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Apteka on Penn Avenue in Bloomfield is an all-vegan Central and Eastern European restaurant in Pittsburgh. Handmade pierogi and a James Beard nod.
Tip: Cafe-style ordering; reservations only for parties of four or more. Open Thursday to Sunday.
Piccolo Forno ★ 4.7
lawrenceville · 3801 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Piccolo Forno on Butler Street in Lawrenceville serves Tuscan wood-fired pizza and pasta in Pittsburgh. A neighbourhood Italian room locals book on Tuesdays.
Tip: Small and popular; reservations help on weekends. BYOB nights vary, call ahead.
Tram's Kitchen ★ 4.7
bloomfield · 4050 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
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.
Tip: BYOB and cash-friendly. Small room; expect a short wait at peak hours.
Iron Born Pizza ★ 4.7
strip-district · 1806 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
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.
Tip: Different from the Pittsburgh-square style; this one is Detroit pan. Squares sell out.
Umami ★ 4.7
lawrenceville · 202 38th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Umami on 38th Street in Lawrenceville serves izakaya skewers and ramen in Pittsburgh. A lantern-lit room with a koi pond patio off Butler Street.
Tip: The koi pond patio is the seat. Late kitchen on weekends; walk-in friendly midweek.
De Fer Coffee & Tea ★ 4.7
strip-district · 2002 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
De Fer Coffee & Tea roasts in small batches and pours in the Strip District on Smallman Street in Pittsburgh. A cafe and roastery with a deep tea list.
The Church Brew Works ★ 4.7
lawrenceville · 3525 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Church Brew Works in Lawrenceville brews beer inside a deconsecrated 1902 Catholic church in Pittsburgh. The brewhouse sits where the altar once stood.
Tip: The brewhouse on the old altar is the photo. Pierogi and a German-leaning menu pair with the beer.
Umami ★ 4.7
lawrenceville · 202 38th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Umami on 38th Street in Lawrenceville runs a late izakaya kitchen in Pittsburgh. Yakitori, ramen and Japanese highballs on the koi-pond patio into the night.
The Parlor Dim Sum ★ 4.7
lawrenceville · 4401 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
The Parlor Dim Sum on Butler Street in Lawrenceville serves Cantonese late on weekends in Pittsburgh. Dim sum, char siu and dumplings to midnight on Fridays.
Tram's Kitchen ★ 4.7
bloomfield · 4050 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Tram's Kitchen is a plain byob room on penn avenue in bloomfield that locals quietly call the city's best vietnamese, while tourists walk past it.
Tip: Bring your own beer and cash. The pho and bun are the order; the room is small, so go early.
Everyday Noodles ★ 4.7
squirrel-hill · 5875 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Everyday Noodles is 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.
Chengdu Gourmet ★ 4.6
squirrel-hill · 5840 Forward Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Chengdu Gourmet in Squirrel Hill serves chef Wei Zhu's Sichuan cooking in Pittsburgh. A James Beard nominee with a separate, fierier Sichuan-specialties menu.
Tip: Ask for the Sichuan menu, not the standard American-Chinese one. Cash and card both fine; expect a wait at peak.
The Original Oyster House ★ 4.6
downtown · 20 Market Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
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.
Tip: Cash-friendly old-school counter. The fish sandwich is famously bigger than the bun.
Mineo's Pizza House ★ 4.6
squirrel-hill · 2128 Murray Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
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.
Tip: A long-running rivalry with nearby Aiello's; locals pick a side. Counter and dining room both.
Kaya ★ 4.6
strip-district · 2000 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Kaya on Smallman Street in the Strip District serves Caribbean cooking from big Burrito in Pittsburgh. Jerk, plantains and rum cocktails in a bright room.
Tip: A big Burrito Group room good for groups. The brunch and rum list are draws.
Redhawk Coffee Roasters ★ 4.6
lawrenceville · 1019 N Canal St, Pittsburgh, PA 15215
Redhawk Coffee Roasters started as an espresso truck and now roasts in Sharpsburg near Pittsburgh. Bright, single-origin coffees and cafes around town.
La Prima Espresso Co. ★ 4.6
strip-district · 205 21st St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
La Prima Espresso Co. roasts Italian-style espresso in the Strip District in Pittsburgh. An old-school counter where the produce trade gets its caffeine.
Penn Brewery ★ 4.6
north-side · 800 Vinial St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Penn Brewery in Deutschtown is Pittsburgh's oldest brewery, set in the 1800s E&O Brewery building. German lagers and a beer hall on the North Side.
Tip: Order the Penn Pilsner and the German plates. Oktoberfest is the big event here.
Dancing Gnome ★ 4.6
lawrenceville · 1025 Main St, Pittsburgh, PA 15215
Dancing Gnome on Main Street in Sharpsburg brews hop-forward ales near Pittsburgh. A taproom built around big, juicy IPAs with lagers and stouts alongside.
Tip: Hop-forward is the house style; cans sell out fast. The taproom keeps a few lighter pours too.
Gooski's ★ 4.6
polish-hill · 3117 Brereton St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Gooski's on Brereton Street in Polish Hill runs late and cheap in Pittsburgh. Pierogi, cheap drinks and punk shows in the old steelworker neighbourhood until.
Gooski's ★ 4.6
polish-hill · 3117 Brereton St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Gooski's in Pittsburgh: A Polish Hill dive above the Strip that serves cheap pierogi and punk shows; off the tourist map and proudly cash-only.
Tip: Cash only, loud and late. Go for the pierogi, the cheap drinks and a band if one is playing.
Madeleine Bakery & Bistro ★ 4.6
regent-square · 609 S Trenton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15221
Madeleine Bakery & Bistro is a serious french bakery on a quiet wilkinsburg corner near regent square, away from the better-known lawrenceville patisseries.
Tip: Go early for croissants and kouign-amann before they sell out. The namesake madeleines are the buy.
Noodlehead ★ 4.5
shadyside · 242 S Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Noodlehead on South Highland Avenue in Shadyside serves cash-only Thai street noodles in Pittsburgh. A big Burrito room built around bowls and bold spice.
Tip: Cash only and no reservations. Quick, loud and good value; expect a wait.
Pizza Lupo ★ 4.5
lawrenceville · 3611 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Pizza Lupo on Butler Street in Lawrenceville serves naturally-leavened pizza and natural wine in Pittsburgh. A pizzeria and bar on the renaissance strip.
Tip: Pairs pizza with a serious natural-wine list. Walk-in friendly midweek.
Point Brugge Cafe ★ 4.5
regent-square · 401 Hastings St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Point Brugge Cafe in Point Breeze serves Belgian moules frites and bistro food in Pittsburgh. A corner cafe near Frick Park with a deep Belgian beer list.
Tip: No reservations; put your name in. The patio near Frick Park is the seat.
Allegheny Coffee & Tea Exchange ★ 4.5
strip-district · 2005 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Allegheny Coffee & Tea Exchange roasts on site in the Strip District in Pittsburgh. Beans roasted in-house plus over 40 varieties of loose-leaf tea.
East End Brewing Company ★ 4.5
east-liberty · 147 Julius St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
East End Brewing in Larimer is one of Pittsburgh's pioneering craft breweries. A taproom with a casual kitchen run with chef Scott Smith's crew.
Tip: The Larimer taproom has a casual food program. East End helped start the city's craft scene.
Tessaro's ★ 4.5
bloomfield · 4601 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Tessaro's on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield runs a late bar and grill in Pittsburgh. The hardwood-fire burger and a drink at the bar into the night.
Butterjoint ★ 4.5
oakland · 208 N Craig St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Butterjoint on North Craig Street in Oakland runs a late bar near the universities in Pittsburgh. Classic cocktails, a strong burger and house pierogi.
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery ★ 4.5
squirrel-hill · 5846 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery is 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.
Scratch Food + Beverage ★ 4.5
north-side · 1720 Lowrie St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Scratch Food + Beverage is 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.
Tessaro's ★ 4.4
bloomfield · 4601 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Tessaro's in Bloomfield grills its burgers over a hardwood fire in Pittsburgh. A neighborhood bar widely argued to make the city's best burger.
Tip: No reservations; put your name in and wait at the bar. Cash and card both fine.
Aiello's Pizza ★ 4.4
squirrel-hill · 2112 Murray Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
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.
Tip: Sits a few doors from Mineo's; locals argue which is better. Quick counter service.
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery ★ 4.4
squirrel-hill · 5846 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Kiin Lao & Thai Eatery in Squirrel Hill serves Laotian and Thai cooking in Pittsburgh. Larb, sticky rice and northern curries in a small room.
Tip: Ask for the Laotian dishes, not just the Thai standards. Small room; reserve weekends.