Pittsburgh - Restaurant recommendations

[gncorman]

I surprised DH last night with tickets to a Penguins game for our 10th anniversary. The game is on a Thursday and our actual anniversary. We live about three hours from Pittsburgh. We will get there around noon on Thursday and have 24 hours. The game is at 7pm. We are staying downtown, near the Strip District about 0.5 miles from the stadiums.

 I would like restaurant recommendations for lunch, dinner and breakfast. We love craft beers, cocktails, gastropub, creative food. It can be a dive bar to a fancy place. Willing to walk and/or drive within the city.  While the game is the focus, we know Pittsburgh has improved their restaurant scene and am excited to try some places out. Any other fun places to check out is great too. TIA!!

[librarygirl]

EDIT-Sorry epic reading fail...I totally missed about the whole coming into town on Thursday which would mean breakfast on Friday. One breakfast spot I'd recommend is the Coca Cafe in Lawrenceville. On the South Side (across the river) however, there is a place called Waffles Incaffeinated, huge waffles in every type of culinary set up imaginable. Other than that, I really only know brunch


I first came out to Pittsburgh in 2003, and yes, the dining scene has improved significantly since then...

For breakfast/brunch my favorites are
-Meat & Potatoes (downtown, not sure if it's your thing but they do a bloody Mary bar at brunch)
-Bar Marco (Strip)
-Ten Penny (downtown, I've only been once but really enjoyed it)

I'm guessing that since you only live three hours away, you've probably done the Pamela's/De Luca's scene...I'd skip anyways

Lunch/Dinner
-Meat and Potatoes (seriously, you can't go wrong with this place)
-Butcher and the Rye (downtown-it's owned by the same people as Meat and Potatoes, even better if you ask me, huge cocktail offering)
-Grit and Grace (downtown, haven't dined there yet but it's gotten great reviews)
-Kaya (Pittsburgh's attempt at classy Caribbean fare, the food is good, just nothing authentic I feel)

If you're willing to drive about 10-12 minutes from the Strip, Lawrenceville (going east) has such a great dining scene. It's one of my favorite neighborhoods for food.
-Industry Public House (amazing food, also big on the spirits section, you can get smoked whiskey etc)
-Tamari (fulfills the creative food requisite)
-Piccolo Forno (really good authentic Italian fare)
-Tender (Prohibition ambiance, good cocktail list too)
-Franktuary (great cocktails, neat spin on "hot dogs" sounds better than it is, trust me)

And I totally forgot Church Brew Works which is technically in Lawrenceville but more border line Strip. The food is okay but people love the beer.

I have a slew of reviews on my blogs for many of the restaurants I mentioned above. The only thing this city really lacks are Latin (non-Tex Mex) restaurants. I'd kill for a Cuban place, sigh.

www.theredheadedtraveler.com/pittsburgh-restaurant-reviews

Have fun!

[littlemisssunshine]

Waffallonia! That's all I got, but it's the best waffle you will ever eat topped with strawberries and whipped cream.

[jennybee1018]

Not super close to the Strip, but I love Square Cafe in Regent Square! Their breakfast is one of my favorites.  While you're in Regent Square, stop at D'z Six Packs and Dogs for an awesome hot dog and the best beer selection! And an awesome beer cellar for takeaway :-)

Bagel Factory in Squirrel Hill is another favorite breakfast spot - the challah french toast is the best!!

Church Brew Works has good beer for sure - sit on the bar side (left hand side), and try the specialty pierogie of the day, and the pizza :-)

One of our favorite hangout spots is Harris Grill on Ellsworth in Shadyside - great food, beers and frozen cosmos :-) Depending on the weather, you may be able to sit outside on the patio. Seriously, we spend every Friday happy hour here when I lived in Pgh!

One of my favorite date spots is Girasole on Copeland Street in Shadyside. Best homemade italian food and cozy, rustic atmosphere. You won't regret this meal! While you're in Shadyside, stroll down Walnut street and do some shopping. Prantl's is an amazing bakery to stop by :-)

For a fantastic burger, go to BRGR in East Liberty! They have awesome boozy milkshakes as well :-) 

For Mexican, I'd recommend El Campesino. Best tamales in the burgh! I'm missing Mexican food right now and would love some! It's not in the city, but worth the drive.

I've been away from Pgh for 5 years, but I also hear amazing things about the food scene!

I basically want to try every restaurant on this list :-) Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh 2014

From this list, I've been to and can recommend Point Brugges (get the mussels!), Umi for sushi, Kaya (which is right in the heart of the Strip District), BRGR, and Eleven. You can't go wrong with any of the ones on this list!

I'm sure I'm forgetting things...I'll come back and add other places as I remember!