Good places to eat in Pittsburgh?

[Joemonkey]

Since this thread received such underwhelming responses, I figured I'd just ask for some good places to eat. Money is not an issue, my job has no true "per diem" I just have to keep each meal under $75 because if it is over $75 I'm required to submit a receipt.

Anything that isn't a chain worth going to? I'm staying at the Springhill Suites on Federal Street. I am renting a car, but something within walking distance would be ideal

Also, are there any good places to get cheap Steelers gear? Seems in my previous experiences that when you go to a city where a sports team plays that their gear is MUCH more expensive than everywhere else.

 

[vshah]

i'd be down to meet up, i must have missed that earlier thread (i now see i was mentioned in it..haha). there's a bunch of pretty good restaurants, but if you want something unique to pittsburgh, I would recommend the church brew works. its an old cathedral converted into a microbrewery and a yummy restaurant...good beer and good food, and the setting is interesting as well.

i should be free any of those nights to grab a beer. work might jump in at the last minute though :-/

 

[sao123]

many people go to the waterfront plaza for good eats... theres a number of excellent places there.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?c...79.9165&geocode=STREET

 

[Q]

Go here and CTRL+F search "pittsburgh"

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: vshah
i'd be down to meet up, i must have missed that earlier thread (i now see i was mentioned in it..haha). there's a bunch of pretty good restaurants, but if you want something unique to pittsburgh, I would recommend the church brew works. its an old cathedral converted into a microbrewery and a yummy restaurant...good beer and good food, and the setting is interesting as well.

i should be free any of those nights to grab a beer. work might jump in at the last minute though :-/

unique to pittsburgh is exactly what i'm looking for, i don't want to hit up like a milton's or ruth's chris or something. Church brew works sounds interesting, i'll have to check it out. What kind of food is even "native" to pittsburgh anyway? Does Pittsburgh have Pats and Genos as well so I can get a true philly cheese steak? I know how to order based on what I've seen on food network

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: Quintox
Go here and CTRL+F search "pittsburgh"

holy shit! thanks for that page, my whole family is a big fan of the triple D, we had no idea there was a page dedicated to it all

 

[Wuffsunie]

For lunch, I recommend Primanti Brothers. Nifty concept, tasty, well priced food.

 

[vshah]

and for breakfast you need to go to Pamela's

 

[kranky]

Church Brew Works is an excellent choice, and kudos to you for looking for places that aren't chains.

Consider Del's in Bloomfield (not that far from the Church Brew Works, actually) if you are in the mood for italian and make sure you try the tiramisu for dessert.

Soba Lounge in Shadyside (Ellsworth Ave) if you want Asian.

Best burger in town is at Tessaro's in Bloomfield (a couple blocks from Del's). I'm glad I don't live closer or I'd be there all the time.

Thai Gourmet in Bloomfield (yes, Bloomfield again) if you want Thai.

Johnny's Place on N. Craig St in Oakland if you are in the mood for a Teriyaki Cheesesteak. Truly "authentic" Philly cheesesteaks I have not found here. But if you want a pretty good substitute, go to Rudy Martino's House of Submarines on Monongahela Ave in Swissvale. And don't let the appearance bother you. It's a dive. If you want a great sub, right down the street from Rudy's is the Triangle Bar and Grill, which is even MORE of a dive, but their subs are great. Try a Destroyer if you are pretty hungry.

Fathead's on E. Carson St. (on the South Side) if you want a great sandwich and a beer. They must have over 100 different sandwiches on the menu and almost as many beers. Never had a bad meal there.

I used to recommend the Pittsburgh Steak Company also on E. Carson, but on 2 of the last 5 visits it wasn't that great. Seems hit or miss, but when they are on, it's great.

If you want to try some legendary Pittsburgh restaurants, do Primanti Brothers (strip district location only) or the Original Hot Dog Shop on Forbes Ave in Oakland.

BTW, you'll be staying in walking distance of the Andy Warhol museum and the Carnegie Science Center, both are worth visiting.

 

[chuckywang]

Primanti Brothers?

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
Primanti Brothers?

about the only "pittsburgh unique" place in town...

they put coleslaw on every sandwich.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
Primanti Brothers?

this

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: vshah
i'd be down to meet up, i must have missed that earlier thread (i now see i was mentioned in it..haha). there's a bunch of pretty good restaurants, but if you want something unique to pittsburgh, I would recommend the church brew works. its an old cathedral converted into a microbrewery and a yummy restaurant...good beer and good food, and the setting is interesting as well.

i should be free any of those nights to grab a beer. work might jump in at the last minute though :-/

QFT. Church brew works has good food. They're birch beer(kinda like root beer) was good too. I think there's a brewery across the street that used to do Samuel Adams.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: Wuffsunie
For lunch, I recommend Primanti Brothers. Nifty concept, tasty, well priced food.

^^ My first thought.

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: Quintox
Go here and CTRL+F search "pittsburgh"

I hope you realize all the places Guy goes to probably paid to get on that show and that they're not always the shit like Guy makes them all out to be. I would use City Search, find the city, then the restaurant, and look at what the actual customers have to say about the place.

 

[wkabel23]

Originally posted by: Baked

Originally posted by: Quintox
Go here and CTRL+F search "pittsburgh"

I hope you realize all the places Guy goes to probably paid to get on that show and that they're not always the shit like Guy makes them all out to be. I would use City Search, find the city, then the restaurant, and look at what the actual customers have to say about the place.

Any evidence of that, or are you just here to shit on triple d?

 

[mrblotto]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: chuckywang
Primanti Brothers?

this

yet again, this

 

[Joemonkey]

ok so one night i'm going to Primanti Brothers for sure then same for church brew works. What's this someone posted about Pamela's for breakfast?

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: Baked

Originally posted by: Quintox
Go here and CTRL+F search "pittsburgh"

I hope you realize all the places Guy goes to probably paid to get on that show and that they're not always the shit like Guy makes them all out to be. I would use City Search, find the city, then the restaurant, and look at what the actual customers have to say about the place.

I personally know the owner of a place that was on DD&D (Kelly O's) and she did not pay a dime. Since I'm already aware that you never seem to know what you're talking about, I'm only replying to inform others who might not realize it.

 

[Joemonkey]

Ended up going to Primanti Brothers in market square for dinner, wasn't all that impressed. Got the Primati cheesesteak and honestly the extra pound of fries and cole slaw ON the sandwich was just not all that appetizing. Price was amazing though, got the cheesesteak, a pickle, a jack & coke, and three 23oz coors lights for ~$15. I told the guy it seemed WAY too cheap and he told me no, that was right...

Hope to hit up Pamela's on Forbes for breakfast (if i wake up in time) and church brew works for dinner tomorrow

 

[Joemonkey]

church brew works was awesome! thanks again for the recommendations.

 

[vshah]

Originally posted by: Joemonkey
church brew works was awesome! thanks again for the recommendations.

good stuff :thumbsup:

what did you try?

did you make it to pamela's?

 

[Bucks]

Nice, I am a University of Pittsburgh student and eat a Pamela's almost weekly for breakfast. Wish I could meet up, but just had surgery and am out of commission for a few weeks. You can also try Hofbrauhaus, which is in Southside, behind the Cheesecake factory. I have yet to go there as it opened just a few months ago, but it is similar to Church Brew Works and I hear all good things about it.

 

[Jeffg010]

If your looking for Pittsburgh sports gear there is a store call All About You. It is located in brentwood by the Giant Eagle. It is back in that plaza.

 

[2Xtreme21]

Go up and eat at Bella Vista Restaurant on Mount Washington (take the incline up) if you like Italian food. Expensive, but nothing like sitting and looking at this while you eat. Make a reservation and go in the later evening... they'll give you a table right next to the wall-spanning windows.

Pamela's is great. Used to eat there almost every Saturday morning when I was at Pitt. As Bucks recommended, Hofbrauhaus is nice, and check out Sharp Edge (there's one in Shadyside and one in Crafton) for the best Belgian beer I've ever had outside of Belgium.