It’s been a very good year for diners who are looking for new restaurants in Pittsburgh. These 50 restaurants, from a North Side food hall to an old-school luncheonette in Bloomfield, opened their doors this past year. How many have you tried?
Federal Galley
North Side
The Galley Group opened Federal Galley, their second Pittsburgh food hall, earlier this month on the North Side. The four restaurant concepts include Provision PGH (American cuisine with a great burger), El Lugar (Southwestern and Mexican-inspired dishes), Supper (a New American menu with a heavy selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes) and Michigan & Trumbull, serving Detroit-style pizza.
Federal Galley (200 Children’s Way)
Banh Mi and Ti
Lawrenceville
With its bright, colorful decor and tasty banh mi sandwiches and bubble tea, Banh Mi & Ti has been a welcome addition to its Lawrenceville neighborhood this year. Not only is it completely Instagram-worthy, but the shop serves a seriously good lunch, with rice bowls and summer rolls rounding out the menu.
Banh Mi & Ti (4502 Butler Street)
Burgh’ers
Lawrenceville
Gourmet burger and fries restaurant Burgh’ers already had a huge fan base thanks to their location in Harmony when they opened a new spot in Lawrenceville in March. The restaurant features burgers named after Pittsburgh neighborhoods (and one of the best fried chicken sandwiches in the city), plus fries, pierogies, and a full bar.
Burgh’ers (3601 Butler Street)
Threadbare Cider & Mead
North Side
The folks behind Wigle Whiskey have another North Side venture up their sleeve. Just down the road from their barrelhouse in Spring Garden, the Wigle team has opened Threadbare Cider & Mead. Inspired by the legend of Johnny Appleseed, Threadbare is a family-friendly cider house. Guests can enjoy Threadbare’s unique ciders while munching on charcuterie plates and homemade, sourdough pizza.Currently, Threadbare is only serving cider and local beers, but homemade mead will soon be available.
Threadbare Cider & Mead (1291 Spring Garden Avenue)
Colony Cat Café
Downtown
Want to cuddle up to some cute cats while you enjoy a cup of coffee? Pittsburgh’s first cat café, Colony Cat Café, opened in February just around the corner from Heinz History Center. The café serves coffee, light snacks, wine and cocktails in a separate area downstairs. Upstairs, guests can schedule time with the adoptable cats, which all come from Animal Friends. Since Colony Cat Café opened, more than 50 cats have been adopted.
Colony Cat Café (1125 Penn Avenue)
or, The Whale
Downtown
or, The Whale is the main restaurant in the new Distrikt Hotel downtown, and features a surf-and-turf menu from chef Dennis Marron, and an Argentinian-style wood-burning grill. The hotel also houses Evangeline, a café and cocktail space that includes a raw bar and a seriously good cocktail menu.
or, The Whale (463 Boulevard of the Allies)
Merchant Oyster Company
Lawrenceville
Dennis Marron’s second stellar restaurant to open in Pittsburgh this year is Merchant Oyster Company, a small spot in Lawrenceville that features a raw bar with an excellent oyster selection, four kinds of chowder, and menu that makes you feel as if you’ve just come in from the coast.
Merchant Oyster Co. (4129 Butler Street)
Piazza Talarico
Lawrenceville
With homemade wine on tap and a big patio area, Piazza Talarico is bringing a little taste of Italy to Lawrenceville. The family business has been open for only a few weeks, and the menu features Italian favorites, like pizza and pasta, along with Talarico family recipes, including the “Grandma’s Sauce,” pasta and “Baked Macceroni,” a rigatoni dish with pepperoni, cheese and boiled eggs.
Piazza Talarico (3832 Penn Avenue)
Red, the Steakhouse
Downtown
Cleveland-based steakhouse group, Red, the Steakhouse, opened a new Pittsburgh location in the U.S. Steel Tower downtown this October.
This is the fourth location for the restaurant group, which has four other locations in Ohio and Miami. The high-end steakhouse is known for their dry-aged steaks, fresh seafood, extensive wine list, and decadent sides. Acclaimed by a number of national publications, it’s a great location for celebrating a special occasion, or having a business meal.
Red, the Steakhouse (600 Grant Street)
Ki Pollo
Lawrenceville
The owners of Ki Ramen have been busy! While their new Butler Street ramen restaurant only opened in August, they have already opened the doors to a sister restaurant project.
Ki Pollo, located only a few doors down from Ki Ramen on Butler Street, is a Korean fried chicken and empanadas restaurant. The owners were so eager to bring this new concept to Pittsburgh, they had to work on Ki Ramen and Ki Pollo simultaneously.
The restaurant dubs itself ‘fast casual,’ and guests can dine in or carry out. The menu consists of friend chicken, tossed in various sauces. The empanadas are made fresh in-house, and include a myriad of flavors from chicken to pumpkin.
Ki Pollo (4407 Butler Street)
fl 2
Downtown
The Fairmont Hotel opened a redesigned restaurant space in October called fl. 2 (pronounced Floor 2), which replaced Habitat. The new restaurant includes a gorgeous, circular bar, and a menu that includes fresh and locally-sourced ingredients paired with items like chicken, roasted on the kitchen’s brand new rotisserie.
fl.2 (510 Market Street)
Mac & Toz Alehouse
Every once in a while, something really, really great happens. Like a Mac & Cheese-centric restaurant opens in your town, with six different kinds of gourmet macaroni and cheese. And burgers topped with macaroni and cheese. And deep-fried macaroni and cheese balls. That kind of great. And that’s what happened when Mac & Toz Alehouse opened this spring in Bridgeville, making all of our Mac & Cheese dreams come true.
Mac & Toz Alehouse (500 Washington Ave., Bridgeville, PA)
Union Standard
Derek Stevens’ first solo project has been a success. The chef/owner of Union Standard spent more than a decade working for the Big Burrito Restaurant Group before striking out on his own with a project attached to downtown’s Union Trust Building. And it’s stellar. The restaurant features an open kitchen, a raw bar, and one of the best bar menus in the city.
Union Standard (524 William Penn Place)
Bae Bae’s Kitchen
Downtown
Bae Bae’s Kitchen may be a new restaurant in Pittsburgh, but it already has quite a reputation in downtown dining scene. At lunch time during the week, it’s not unlikely to see a line of people waiting on the sidewalk for some of Bae Bae’s Korean-inspired health food.
Everything at Bae Bae’s is made fresh daily. The spot opens at 11:00 a.m. and serves food until they run out. Another ‘fast casual’ spot on the list, dishes are build-your-own. Guests start with a base of rice, noodles, or a salad. They can then add a protein (such as ribeye, Korean fried chicken, pork belly or tofu), as well as sides and extras.
Bae Bae’s Kitchen (951 Liberty Avenue)
Acorn
Shadyside
Shadyside welcomed a new restaurant to Walnut Street late this summer with the addition of Acorn, a joint effort between chef Scott Walton, Chicago restaurateur Jason Akemann, and Pittsburgh developer Brian Singer. The restaurant features Modern American cuisine made with local, seasonal ingredients. On the menu, you’ll find dishes like Mushroom Rigatoni, Rainbow Trout with pine, smoked maple, and tapioca, and a Rib Eye for two, with marrow popover.
Acorn (5528 Walnut Street)
Bitter Ends Garden & Luncheonette
Bloomfield
Bitter Ends Garden, the popular garden-to-breakfast stall at the Bloomfield Saturday market, has opened a permanent location on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield. The spot, called Bitter Ends Garden & Luncheonette, is in the space formerly occupied by DJ’s Sandwich Shoppe. Guests can expect the same fresh, vegetable-forward dishes they came to love at the Saturday market, but instead with regular hours and brick walls.
The spot will also be serving pies, doughnuts, breads and other baked goods.
Bitter Ends Garden & Luncheonette (4613 Liberty Avenue)
Bier’s Pub/ War Streets Brewery
North Side
Benjamin’s Western Avenue Burger Bar is now Bier’s Pub. Other than the name change, not much is different with the space or the menu. However, one big addition is the restaurant’s draft list. War Streets Brewery is now housed inside of Bier’s Pub.
War Streets Brewery has been struggling to open on the North Side of Pittsburgh for the past few years. Finally, the brewery found a home at Benjamin’s, and the entire project was renamed Bier’s Pub. Guests can now get War Streets beer on tap at Bier’s Pub, along with the burgers that made Benjamin’s famous.
Bier’s Pub (900 Western Avenue)
Onion Maiden
Allentown
Vegan fans, rejoice. Popular pop-up Onion Maiden opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Allentown, serving an eclectic menu with an emphasis on “comfort food with an Asian-American twist,” as owner Brooks Criswell told us when they opened in March. The menu features veggie hot dogs, salads, and a full ‘Tots & Nachos’ section you won’t want to miss. One thing to keep in mind: They’re cash-only.
Onion Maiden (639 E. Warrington Avenue)
Bar Frenchman
East Liberty
One of the newest restaurants to open in Pittsburgh is Bar Frenchman in East Liberty, a casual French brasserie from the owners of the Twisted Frenchman. Previously located on Highland Avenue, the Twisted Frenchman announced earlier this year that it would not only be moving to a new space, but it would break into two separate restaurants (with two separate kitchens) under the same roof. Bar Frenchman’s menu currently includes dishes like coq a vin, smoked duck, ratatouille and escargot and grits, plus a chilled seafood bar and an innovative cocktail menu.
Bar Frenchman (2925 Baum Boulevard)
Eleventh Hour Brewing
Lawrenceville
Eleventh Hour Brewing has been in the works for a long time – but now, they’re officially open. The Lawrenceville brewery is family-friendly and dog-friendly, and features a rotating lineup of their house-brewed drafts, including their famous jalapeno brew.
Eleventh Hour Brewing (3711 Charlotte Street)
Ki Ramen
Lawrenceville
Two awesome Pittsburgh chefs came together for one awesome Pittsburgh restaurant. Umami’s Roger Li and Piccolo Forno’s Domenic Branduzzi teamed up to open their own ramen shop in Lawrenceville, featuring ramen made with handmade noodles. The three-level space also includes a kitchen area with a chef’s counter and a bar.
Ki Ramen (4401 Butler Street)
Plate & Bowl
Highland Park
Highland Park is home to a healthy new restaurant. Plate & Bowl opened this summer in the former e2 space, serving American fare with Asian infusions. The restaurant, which is owned by the owners of Smiling Banana Leaf, is part-café, part-restaurant, and serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, in addition to coffee, juices and smoothies. On the menu, you’ll find ‘Buddha Bowls,’ made with fermented grains and topped with meats or vegetables, and various daily specials.
Plate & Bowl (5904 Bryant Street)
Chevere
Downtown
It would be easy to pass by Chevere, a tiny lunch counter downtown that took over the former Primanti Brothers location on the lower level of the old Kaufmann’s parking garage. But you won’t want to miss it. They serve Venezuelan specialties, like arepas, along with tacos, empanadas, rice and beans, chimichurri and salads. Stop in for a quick, filling (and cheap) lunch on the go.
Chevere (412-428 Cherry Way)
Ineffable Ca Phe
Lawrenceville
Ineffable Ca Phe, once a motorcycle auto body shop, is now a spacious café in Lawrenceville, serving authentic chicory coffee, bubble tea, banh mi sandwiches and other Vietnamese dishes. The café offers plenty of room for visitors to work or relax (and USB outlets at each table), and is open every day from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Ineffable Ca Phe (3920 Penn Avenue)
Pittsburgh Poke
Downtown
Downtown diners got a new lunch spot this past June with the opening of Pittsburgh Poke. The poke restaurant (which serves raw fish salad, similar to ceviche), offers a menu of customizable poke bowls and sushi burritos, made up of a base (like rice or mixed greens), a protein (like tuna, tofu, or grilled chicken), and a number of mix-ins, plus one of their house-made sauces.
Pittsburgh Poke (500 Liberty Avenue)
Casellula
North Side
The second location of New York City-based cheese and wine bar Casellula opened this past February as part of City of Asylum’s Alphabet City literary center on the North Side. The menu features a number of cheeses, paired with accompaniments (think brown-sugar fudge), and a selection of appetizers and entrees that pair well with cheese (of course). Casellula also employs a no-tipping policy.
Casellula (40 W. North Avenue)
Cinderlands Beer Co.
Lawrenceville
Brand new to Lawrenceville is Cinderlands Beer Co., a brewery and restaurant. Located in the former Roasted Barrelhouse and Eatery space, Cinderlands offers craft beer brewed in-house, and an elevated menu that features brewpub favorites (a Diner Burger, a Fried Chicken Sandwich), paired with dishes like Brassica with Thai curry and Smelts & Chips.
Le Lyonnais
Downtown
In a big move earlier this spring, chef-owner Yves Carreau closed his downtown restaurant Sonoma Grille… then, almost immediately reopened, with a new name and concept. Le Lyonnais serves French comfort food with an emphasis on cuisine from France’s Lyon region (where Carreau is from). You’ll find classic, simple French dishes on the menu, like Beef Bourguignon and Steak au Poivre, and they have one of the best happy hour menus in the city.
Le Lyonnais (947 Penn Avenue)
Superior Motors
Braddock
It has been a long time coming, but Kevin Sousa’s Superior Motors finally opened its doors this summer in Braddock. The restaurant (funded in part by a super-successful Kickstarter campaign) sources most of the ingredients on its menu locally, and has a partnership with Braddock Farms and Grow Pittsburgh, along with their own greenhouse and garden. The menu is eclectic and elevated, and cocktail program is especially stellar.
Superior Motors (1211 Braddock Avenue, Braddock, PA)
Needle & Pin
Dormont
Pittsburgh has got itself a new gin joint. Needle & Pin opened in May in Dormont, boasting a 76-bottle gin menu, and a food menu that places an emphasis on British and Indian cuisine. You’ll find dishes that meld both cuisines, like Tikka Grilled Cheese with Curried Coconut Tomato Bisque, Curried Chicken Pot Pie, and Fish and Chips with house naan crisps. And, of course, an insanely good (gin-heavy) cocktail menu.
Needle & Pin (3271 W. Liberty Avenue)
La Gourmandine
Hazelwood
Popular French bakery La Gourmandine opened its third Pittsburgh location earlier this year, this time in Hazelwood. The bakery production facility and retail shop sells all of La Gourmandine’s fresh-baked treats, including croissants, cakes and tartes, breakfast pastries, breads, and savory lunch specials.
La Gourmandine (5013 Second Avenue)
City Works Eatery & Pour House
Downtown
This one is for the beer fans. City Works Eatery & Pour House opened in Market Square earlier this year, with a draft list of over 90 craft beers, including a large portion of drafts coming from the Pittsburgh area. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner, and has a special happy hour menu, which features their monster (1.5 lb!) Bavarian pretzel.
City Works Eatery & Pour House (2 PPG Place)
Mesa
Oakland
Though there was lots of sadness when news broke that Conflict Kitchen, the nationally-acclaimed restaurant in Schenley Plaza, would be shutting down, we were cheered when we found out what would be taking its place. Mesa features New Mexican cuisine, like Green Chile Stew, Tostadas, and Sopaipillas, “warm puffs of fried dough, drizzled with honey.” Yes, please.
Mesa (221 Schenley Drive, Kiosk #4)
Millie’s Homemade Downtown
Downtown
You know Millie’s, you love Millie’s. And now, you can get Millie’s downtown! The cult-favorite ice cream company opened another scoop shop this summer, which features many of their classic flavors (like Chad’s Vanilla), along with some exclusive downtown-only ones, too.
Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream (246 Forbes Avenue)
Southern Tier Brewing Company
North Side
It’s been open since the beginning of the year, but if you haven’t yet been to Southern Tier Brewing Company on the North Shore, you’re in for a treat. The brewpub (which is the first STBC satellite location for the beer company) features about 30 drafts on tap, including selections from STBC partner Victory Brewing, as well as a full food menu – and soon, they’ll be opening an outdoor patio.
Southern Tier Brewing Company (316 North Shore Drive)
Yuzu Kitchen
Downtown
Yuzu Kitchen joined the list of new restaurants in Pittsburgh when it opened this past July. The ramen and robata restaurant is located downtown, about a block east from PPG Place. The menu features a variety of ramen, as well as noodle and rice dishes, plus cocktails, beer, sake, and an awesome selection of Japanese whiskey.
Yuzu Kitchen (409 Wood Street)
The Porch at Siena
Upper St. Clair
Upper St. Clair has a new spot for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. The Porch at Siena opened this past June at the Siena at St. Clair shopping complex. Much like its sister restaurant at Schenley Plaza (both restaurants are owned and operated by the Eat’n Park Hospitality Group), the Porch at Siena serves a Mediterranean-influenced menu featuring salads, sandwiches, burgers and hand-tossed pizzas baked in a stone-fired oven.
The Porch at Siena (120 Siena Drive, Upper St. Clair)
Safi Juice
Garfield
Safi Juice is a one-stop health shop that opened this fall in Garfield. The juicery offers fresh juices, smoothies, protein bites, granola and lattes with (homemade) almond and coconut milk, perfect for getting in a healthy bite when you’re on the go.
Safi Juice (4919 Penn Avenue)
Duck Donuts
Upper St. Clair
Highly-anticipated Duck Donuts opened its doors earlier this summer in Upper St. Clair, and we haven’t been disappointed. The shop features vanilla cake doughnuts that are made fresh in front of guests, then hand-dipped in icing, and completely customizable, thanks to a huge selection of toppings, from fruit syrups to chocolate sprinkles. And the best part? The shop features a waiting area with a window to the kitchen so you can see your doughnuts being made in front of you. This location of Duck Donuts also features breakfast sandwiches, coffee, tea, juice and doughnut sundaes.
Duck Donuts (100 Siena Drive, Suite 220)
Stuff’d Pierogi Bar
Downtown
An entire restaurant for… pierogies? It’s a Pittsburgher’s dream, and it’s a reality at Stuff’d Pierogi Bar downtown. The restaurant features a full menu of platters of fresh-made pierogies, all with different fillings and toppings (think Breakfast Pierogies, Mac & Cheese Pierogies, and Cheeseburger Pierogies). Plus, they have dessert pierogies, too.
Stuff’d Pierogi Bar (130 7th Street)
Mindful Brewing Company
Castle Shannon
If you’re looking for a brewery, restaurant and bottle shop, Mindful Brewing Company is just the place. The brewery opened in Castle Shannon at the beginning of the year, serving about 20 of their own beers, and a food menu that features classic brewpub fare, like burgers, fried chicken, salads and more. They also feature wine and mixed drink taps, and more than 1,000 different bottles and cans of beer, along with bottles of wine and spirits to go.
Mindful Brewing Company (3757 Library Road, Castle Shannon, PA)
Smallman Galley
Strip District
Technically, Smallman Galley isn’t a new opening. But, with a brand new crop of chefs taking over the kitchen space at the restaurant incubator, it feels like a completely different experience compared to last year. This batch of restaurants includes Iron Born, serving Detroit-style (super thick crust) pies, Colonia, with a diverse mix of Latin American cuisines on their menu, Bahnmilicious, serving Vietnamese street food, and brunoise, offering elevated, fine-dining dishes. Additionally, Smallman Galley also just introduced a second bar, called the Anchor Bar, located in their dining room.
Smallman Galley (54 21st Street)
Gluten Free Goat Bakery & Cafe
Garfield
Though Gluten Free Goat has been selling gluten-free and vegan snacks around Pittsburgh since 2014 (most notably in the Pittsburgh Public Market), they just opened their first brick-and-mortar location in Garfield in February. Expect to find gluten-free treats, including their famous gluten-free doughnuts, along with other baked goods and daily brunch options.
Gluten Free Goat Bakery & Cafe (4905 Penn Avenue)
Taco Diablo
Mt. Lebanon
From the team that brought you Cafe io in Mt. Lebanon comes Taco Diablo, a fast-casual taco restaurant on Beverly Road. The restaurant features a small menu with daily taco specials (like Spicy Pork Belly Tacos and Roasted Cauliflower Tacos), and usually a burrito or nacho offering, too.
Taco Diablo (300 C. Beverly Road, Mt. Lebanon)
Talia Cucina & Rosticceria
Downtown
The hallmark of the kitchen at downtown’s Talia Cucina & Rosticceria is a custom-built rotisserie, made for slow-roasting the meats that are featured prominently on the restaurant’s menu. You’ll also find classic Italian dishes like pasta, pizza, fish and antipasti, as well as an extensive wine and amari list.
Talia Cucina & Rosticceria (425 Sixth Avenue)
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
Downtown
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood is part of a small restaurant chain, with locations in Florida, Arizona, California, Illinois, Missouri, Texas and Virginia, and features classic steak and seafood house dishes. Pittsburgh’s location, which opened in March, is on the first floor of the Union Trust building, and seats 274 guests – and has live jazz music every night.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood (501 Grant Street)
Glazed & Confused
Washington
Doughnuts and ice cream sandwiches? We’re so in. Glazed & Confused recently opened in Washington, PA and creates custom glazed doughnut and ice cream sandwiches, with a variety of fun toppings, like Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles, Oreos and Cookie Crisp cereal.
Glazed & Confused (900 Wildflower Drive, Suite 105, Washington, PA)
Friendship Perk & Brew
Friendship
Before opening, the sign for Friendship Perk and Brew dangled next to Friendship Avenue for months, tantalizing passerby into wondering when the space would open. After years of work, the cafe finally opened their doors to the public at the end of September. The space is a combination cafe, coffee shop and beer shop. Guests can enjoy a menu of breakfasts dishes, appetizers, and homemade sandwiches. As the name alludes, the shop also has a robust coffee menu, and a selection of craft beer bottles.
Friendship Perk and Brew (300 S. Pacific Avenue)
Condado Taqueria
Downtown
It’s taco time. Condado Taqueria opened this March downtown, serving build-your-own tacos and margaritas. Guests can choose between seven different tortillas, hard shell and soft shells, and ten different protein options, from pulled pork to braised beef brisket. Condado also offers a number of different salsa, queso and guacamole options, too.
Condado Taqueria (971 Liberty Avenue)
Alida’s Woodfired Cucina
Lawrenceville
Alida’s Woodfired Cucina is an Italian restaurant in lower Lawrenceville (right next to the Roberto Clemente Museum) that serves wood-fired pizzas and classic Italian dishes. The new restaurant in Pittsburgh also features 16 different beers on tap, and is open for lunch and dinner.
Alida’s Woodfired Cucina (3345 Penn Avenue)
Know of any restaurant openings we missed? Let us know in our comments!
Stu Wilson says
Curious if you plan on a review of Iceburgh’s Bistro in Irwin, Pa. We keep hearing good things about them and were there when they first opened but they were very crowded.