Balvanera is an argentine parrilla restaurant in Strip District, Pittsburgh.
Editorially verified May 28, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Grilled steak, Empanadas
Must order: Empanadas to start, then a grilled cut with chimichurri and a Malbec.
Tip: The dining room takes reservations; the bar and bodega area are first-come walk-ins. Parking lots sit behind the Terminal.
Address: 1660 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Eleven in the Strip District is big Burrito Group's flagship in Pittsburgh. Contemporary American cooking and a longtime special-occasion address.
Signature: Seasonal tasting, Composed mains
Order: Let the kitchen run the seasonal menu; pair it off the deep cellar list.
Tip: The dressiest of the city's big rooms. Reserve well ahead for celebrations and ask about the chef's counter.
Dish Osteria on the South Side serves Sicilian-leaning Italian in Pittsburgh. A small candlelit room locals have booked for special nights since 2000.
Signature: Sicilian pasta, Seafood
Order: A seafood pasta and whatever Sicilian special the kitchen is running that night.
Tip: Dinner only, no lunch. The room is small and books up; reserve ahead for weekends.
Duo's Taqueria on Penn Avenue in East Liberty serves house-pressed tortillas and tacos in Pittsburgh. A bright room the city ranks among its best taquerias.
Signature: Tacos, Salsas
Order: A spread of tacos across the meat list and an order of the house salsas.
Tip: Casual and quick; good for groups.
Eleven in the Strip District is big Burrito Group's flagship in Pittsburgh. Contemporary American cooking and a longtime special-occasion address.
Signature: Seasonal tasting, Composed mains
Order: Let the kitchen run the seasonal menu; pair it off the deep cellar list.
Tip: The dressiest of the city's big rooms. Reserve well ahead for celebrations and ask about the chef's counter.
Hey Babe in East Liberty serves seasonal small plates and a serious cocktail list in Pittsburgh. A bar-forward room ranked among the city's best.
Signature: Seasonal small plates, Cocktails
Order: Small plates to share and whatever the bar is mixing off the seasonal cocktail card.
Tip: Bar seats hold space for walk-ins. The cocktail program is the draw as much as the kitchen.
Poulet Bleu in Lawrenceville serves a Parisian bistro menu in Pittsburgh. Richard DeShantz's French room sits next door to Morcilla on Butler Street.
Signature: Roast chicken, Steak frites
Order: The roast chicken for two, or steak frites with a glass off the French list.
Tip: The room runs full-on belle-epoque French. Reserve ahead; the bar takes a few walk-ins.
Fig & Ash in Deutschtown serves wood-fired American comfort food in Pittsburgh. A North Side room built around an open hearth and a strong weekend brunch.
Signature: Wood-fired mains, Brunch
Order: Whatever is cooked over the wood fire, and a cocktail or a brunch plate at weekends.
Tip: Brunch is the locals' pick. Reserve for weekend evenings; the bar takes walk-ins.
