Pittsburgh restaurant recommendations
March 1, 2013 5:40 AM Subscribe
I would like your help brainstorming the perfect Pittsburgh restaurant(s) to suit the needs of my local group. Special requirements (of course) inside.
The local professional group that I'm a member of will be hosting a "dine around" later this month. I've never actually attended one, but they're defining this as "meals with different hosts at various restaurants around the city scheduled at the same time on the same night." Our members can then pick which host/restaurant they want to dine with that night, for networking and fellowship.
Usually when I eat out, it's just the two of us, and we stick with our favorite haunts. (It's not that I'm not willing to try new places. It's just that I love Piper's Pub that much.) So truthfully coming up with a venue that can meet the requirements (below) is stumping me.
1) Most importantly, a place that takes reservations. We're probably looking at four or five different places that can seat six to eight people at the dinner hour. We're leaning towards a Tuesday or a Wednesday, so we're not fighting weekend crowds.
2) I'd prefer local, not chain.
3) Vegetarian friendly.
4) A place that isn't going to balk at splitting checks. This is minor, but would be a perk.
5) Relatively affordable. A large chunk of our membership are graduate students on a budget.
6) With good food. And drinks.
7) Geography isn't important. We're mostly in the city, as a whole. I'm fairly certain that one of my CMU/Pitt colleagues will host in Oakland, and someone else has claimed dibs on Kaya (the Strip). I'm most familiar with the South, but as I said, flexible.
The local professional group that I'm a member of will be hosting a "dine around" later this month. I've never actually attended one, but they're defining this as "meals with different hosts at various restaurants around the city scheduled at the same time on the same night." Our members can then pick which host/restaurant they want to dine with that night, for networking and fellowship.
Usually when I eat out, it's just the two of us, and we stick with our favorite haunts. (It's not that I'm not willing to try new places. It's just that I love Piper's Pub that much.) So truthfully coming up with a venue that can meet the requirements (below) is stumping me.
1) Most importantly, a place that takes reservations. We're probably looking at four or five different places that can seat six to eight people at the dinner hour. We're leaning towards a Tuesday or a Wednesday, so we're not fighting weekend crowds.
2) I'd prefer local, not chain.
3) Vegetarian friendly.
4) A place that isn't going to balk at splitting checks. This is minor, but would be a perk.
5) Relatively affordable. A large chunk of our membership are graduate students on a budget.
6) With good food. And drinks.
7) Geography isn't important. We're mostly in the city, as a whole. I'm fairly certain that one of my CMU/Pitt colleagues will host in Oakland, and someone else has claimed dibs on Kaya (the Strip). I'm most familiar with the South, but as I said, flexible.
Response by poster: Sure - BYO would probably work, as long as we advertised that in the write up for the location. I'd want to inform people in advance of that though.
posted by librarianamy at 5:51 AM on March 1, 2013
posted by librarianamy at 5:51 AM on March 1, 2013
I would go for the Hofbrauhaus, which is awesome. It is technically a chain but it is one of the two sister restaurants of the real Hofbrauhaus, Royal Beer House, in Munich. The food is delicious, the beer does not taste like a canoe, and especially for what it is the prices are quite reasonable.
posted by Blasdelb at 6:02 AM on March 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Blasdelb at 6:02 AM on March 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
While the Grand Concourse at Station Square is pricey, the Gandy Dancer (in the Bar) is less so with Happy Hour specials. The bonus is that the station is so beautifully restored. You can even ride the funicular up to Mount Washington. (Watch the Westinghouse sign change shapes).
Here's a list of places at the top of Mount Washington. Tin Angel has been there forever.
Here's a list of places in Shadyside.
I think that's a good place to start.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:05 AM on March 1, 2013
Here's a list of places at the top of Mount Washington. Tin Angel has been there forever.
Here's a list of places in Shadyside.
I think that's a good place to start.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:05 AM on March 1, 2013
Best answer: Church Brew Works is a cool place, and I'm pretty sure they do reservations.
posted by specialagentwebb at 6:16 AM on March 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by specialagentwebb at 6:16 AM on March 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Jozsa Corner involves a Hungarian man cooking you what he feels like.
Any of the other Big Burrito Group places would be a good pick and sure to be vegetarian friendly.
Dell's in Bloomfield is not a 5 star establishment, but my less food-snob family members equate it with a pretty nice dinner.
Pho Kim on 88 in the south hills has an excellent pan-Asian selection.
Tamarind is regularly rated as the best Indian in the city for a reason, and Indian is very vegetarian friendly.
If you have grad students from out of town, you have to put Primanti's in the mix. Steak and Lube also has all-you-can-eat wing night on Tuesdays.
The Sharp Edge restaurants have the best selection of Belgian beers in the city, and a pretty comprehensive menu.
Yo Ritas in the south side is pretty awesome.
May be back with more later.
posted by bfranklin at 6:31 AM on March 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Any of the other Big Burrito Group places would be a good pick and sure to be vegetarian friendly.
Dell's in Bloomfield is not a 5 star establishment, but my less food-snob family members equate it with a pretty nice dinner.
Pho Kim on 88 in the south hills has an excellent pan-Asian selection.
Tamarind is regularly rated as the best Indian in the city for a reason, and Indian is very vegetarian friendly.
If you have grad students from out of town, you have to put Primanti's in the mix. Steak and Lube also has all-you-can-eat wing night on Tuesdays.
The Sharp Edge restaurants have the best selection of Belgian beers in the city, and a pretty comprehensive menu.
Yo Ritas in the south side is pretty awesome.
May be back with more later.
posted by bfranklin at 6:31 AM on March 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
I thought about Steak and Lube, as it's one of my faves, but I thought it wouldn't be foodie enough.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:36 AM on March 1, 2013
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:36 AM on March 1, 2013
Best answer: I lived in Pittsburgh for the better part of a decade, and only left last year. I ate out too much.
Fuel & Fuddle - Cheap food, good beer, vegetarian options
I second Sharp Edge.
Smiling Banana Leaf - It's small, but they take reservations, and the food is outstanding (if you all like Thai).
Pusadee's Garden - another Thai place, it takes reservations, and it's bigger, a very close #2
Blue Dust - This is one of my all-time favorite places in the 'burgh. They have a great beer selection, great, cheap food, great service, and they'll probably take a reservation (you won't need one on a weeknight though). Because it's in a bit of a no-man's land between the waterfront and munhall/homestead, it's never too crowded. They have a daily vegetarian option.
Industry Public House - all around goodness, and they take reservations.
Meat & Potatoes - ditto here, but a little pricier. They take reservations too.
Burgatory - another personal favorite about 15 minutes from Oakland by car. I think they take reservations.
Abay - Ethiopian, can be a great communal meal, they take reservations.
The Library - I have to add this because of your name, and it's a good option. I have had reservations for a large party there before.
Piper's Pub - I don't know if it fits the criteria, but it's good enough to be worth a mention.
I think all of these joints will and do have a vegetarian option. I can list more if you want, but those are most of my favorites.
posted by wildeink at 7:20 AM on March 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
Fuel & Fuddle - Cheap food, good beer, vegetarian options
I second Sharp Edge.
Smiling Banana Leaf - It's small, but they take reservations, and the food is outstanding (if you all like Thai).
Pusadee's Garden - another Thai place, it takes reservations, and it's bigger, a very close #2
Blue Dust - This is one of my all-time favorite places in the 'burgh. They have a great beer selection, great, cheap food, great service, and they'll probably take a reservation (you won't need one on a weeknight though). Because it's in a bit of a no-man's land between the waterfront and munhall/homestead, it's never too crowded. They have a daily vegetarian option.
Industry Public House - all around goodness, and they take reservations.
Meat & Potatoes - ditto here, but a little pricier. They take reservations too.
Burgatory - another personal favorite about 15 minutes from Oakland by car. I think they take reservations.
Abay - Ethiopian, can be a great communal meal, they take reservations.
The Library - I have to add this because of your name, and it's a good option. I have had reservations for a large party there before.
Piper's Pub - I don't know if it fits the criteria, but it's good enough to be worth a mention.
I think all of these joints will and do have a vegetarian option. I can list more if you want, but those are most of my favorites.
posted by wildeink at 7:20 AM on March 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
Seconding Abay. MadMex in Shadyside is always a reliable choice.
Does Over The Bar Bicycle Cafe take reservations?
How about the new Franktuary location in Lawrenceville?
posted by buttercup at 7:21 PM on March 1, 2013
Does Over The Bar Bicycle Cafe take reservations?
How about the new Franktuary location in Lawrenceville?
posted by buttercup at 7:21 PM on March 1, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks everyone. We've decided to put this off until April, but I'm fairly certain I'm going with either Church Works or Sharp Edge. Really appreciate everyone's recommendations!
posted by librarianamy at 5:49 AM on March 12, 2013
posted by librarianamy at 5:49 AM on March 12, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by punchtothehead at 5:46 AM on March 1, 2013