Argentine grill$$$downtown
Gaucho Parrilla Argentina on 6th Street downtown grills Argentine meats over a wood fire in Pittsburgh. A counter-order room with a citywide following.
Signature: Wood-grilled meats, Chimichurri
Order: A grilled cut with chimichurri, plus the grilled provoleta cheese.
Tip: Order at the counter; lines form at lunch. The room moved to 6th Street downtown from the Strip.
American grill$$bloomfield
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.
Signature: Hardwood-grilled burger, Steaks
Order: The hardwood-grilled burger, cooked over the open fire behind the bar.
Tip: No reservations; put your name in and wait at the bar. Cash and card both fine.
Cantonese$$lawrenceville
The Parlor Dim Sum in Lawrenceville serves Cantonese dim sum and barbecue in Pittsburgh. Chef Roger Li's room plating dumplings, buns and char siu.
Signature: Har gow, Char siu bao
Order: Har gow, char siu bao and whatever Cantonese barbecue the kitchen is running.
Tip: Small and popular; weekends get a wait. Dim sum is the whole point, order broadly.
Seafood$$$east-liberty
Muddy Waters Oyster Bar in East Liberty serves a raw bar and Gulf-leaning seafood in Pittsburgh. Oysters, po'boys and one of the city's long happy hours.
Signature: Oysters, Po'boys
Order: A dozen oysters and a po'boy, with a cocktail off the happy-hour list.
Tip: The oyster happy hour is the value play. Walk-in friendly; bar seats face the shuckers.
Korean$$bloomfield
Soju in Garfield serves Korean-American cooking and soju cocktails in Pittsburgh. A small family-run room plating fried chicken, bibimbap and banchan.
Signature: Korean fried chicken, Bibimbap
Order: Korean fried chicken, a bibimbap and a round of the soju cocktails.
Tip: The soju and craft cocktail list is half the fun. Reserve for weekends; the room is compact.
Northern Italian$$$east-liberty
Alta Via in Fox Chapel serves Northern Italian cooking from big Burrito in Pittsburgh. Wood-fired pizza, handmade pasta and a strong by-the-glass list.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, House pasta
Order: A wood-fired pizza, a fresh pasta and a glass off the Italian list.
Tip: There is also a downtown Alta Via location. Reserve ahead for the Fox Chapel original.