Looking to try something new for lunch? These eight spots have opened in the last few months, and are open for midday meals.
Molinaro
Downtown
Market Square has a new dining destination. Molinaro quietly opened earlier this summer in the former Poros spot, serving upscale Italian dishes, including handmade pasta and chicken paillard with garden greens. The restaurant is run by the owners of Il Pizziolo, and also serves their famous Neapolitan-style pizzas. Molinaro opens for lunch at 11:00 a.m., and also features a large outdoor dining space, overlooking Market Square.
Molinaro (2 PPG Place)
Mediterra Cafe
Sewickley
After months of anticipation, Mediterra Cafe opened in June, serving beautiful breads, pastries, and freshly-prepared sandwiches, salads, toasts and meat and cheese plates. The space also houses a speciality market, with cheeses, meats, olive oils, syrups, jams, and chocolates on display. Mediterra Cafe is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Sewickley.
Mediterra Cafe (430 Beaver Street)
Pie for Breakfast
Oakland
Pie for Breakfast serves much more than just breakfast. The third restaurant in the Good Faith Restaurant Group (which includes Legume and the Butterjoint) opened earlier this summer, and has already been making a big impression on diners. Lunch is served at the restaurant starting at 11:00 a.m., and features a daily-changing list of specials, like meatloaf, pork chops, and biscuits with chicken gravy. And whatever you do, don’t miss getting a piece of their vinegar pie.
Pie for Breakfast (200 North Craig Street)
Home and Joey’s Snack Bar at Smallman Galley
Strip District
This Strip District restaurant incubator definitely isn’t new, but there are two new concepts to try if you haven’t visited in awhile. Joey’s Snack Bar, from Joey Hilty (who owns The Vandal in Lawrenceville), serves small-format dishes from a menu that changes regularly, and can include everything from bacon Mac & Cheese to pork belly tacos. The other restaurant concept is called Home, and features (you guessed it!), down-home dishes, like fried chicken sandwiches, fried green tomato BLTs, and a TV dinner special every night.
Smallman Galley (54 21st Street)
52 Street Market
Lawrenceville
After a short break and a change in ownership, the 52nd Street Market re-opened in Lawrenceville in June with an expanded lunch menu that includes deli sandwiches (with classics, like Italian hoagies and traditional Reubens) and a variety of salads, including chicken and tuna. They also recently started serving handmade arepas as a special.
52nd Street Market (601 52nd Street)
Northeastern Kitchen
Squirrel Hill
Northeastern Kitchen opened earlier this summer at 5824 Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill, featuring authentic Northern Chinese cuisine. Look for dishes like Northeastern Mung Bean Clear Noodles with shredded vegetables, Chinese cabbage & pork dumplings, and hot pot stews. The restaurant’s full menu is available online.
Northeastern Kitchen (5824 Forbes Avenue)
Azorean Cafe
Bloomfield
You can try the cuisine of the Azores at the Azorean Cafe in Bloomfield. The restaurant, which serves breakfast and lunch daily, offers a menu of traditional island dishes, including a variety of stews and seafood casseroles, along with sandwiches, and a cheese plate that features Portuguese cheese selections. They also serve traditional Azorean pastries.
Azorean Cafe (4715 Liberty Avenue)
Pittsburgh BBQ Company at Oxford Market
Downtown
Pittsburgh Barbecue Company has recently opened a stall inside Oxford Market’s downtown food hall. The barbecue company is part of the food hall’s new in-house restaurant incubator, which will feature various local restaurants on a rotating basis. For now, guests can enjoy Pittsburgh Barbecue Company’s smoked brisket, pulled chicken, and pulled pork, all available in sandwiches or by the pound, along with sides like Mac & Cheese, baked beans and cornbread.
Oxford Market (301 Grant Street)
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