This Monday marks the beginning of the “most delicious time of the year” in Pittsburgh – Summer Restaurant Week! There are an impressive number of restaurants participating and sharing exclusive deals.
And if you’re going out for a fancy dinner, you might as well make a night of it! We rounded up a few of our favorite Restaurant Week deals, and paired each with a fun activity.
Here are some Good Food Pittsburgh “Date Night” ideas that you should reserve now!
Pirata Caribbean Cuisine x Rum Bar and a Pirates Game
Pirata, located just off Market Square Downtown, specializes in food influenced by South American and Caribbean cuisine. For this date night, have a back-to-back pirates experience with dinner at Pirata, followed by cheering on the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
For restaurant week, Pirata is giving guests a taste of Jamaica, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Sample dishes like Jerk Chicken, Beef Piccadilla, Arroz con Pollo, Tres Leches, Pollo Fricassee, Bistec de Encobellado. Finally, top off this special meal with a drink from their rum bar, which features over 200 rum varieties. PNC Park is a 10 minute walk over the Roberto Clemente Bridge from Pirata.
Bill’s Bar and Burgers and Kayaking on the North Shore
You’ve seen them from land, and you’ve definitely seen them by bridge, but have you ever experienced Pittsburgh’s famous rivers by kayak? For less than $20 an hour, Kayak Pittsburgh rents kayaks from their outpost under the 6th Street Bridge on the North Shore, right next to PNC Park. In the summertime, it is possible to stay out until 8:00 p.m. on the rivers – a great pre-dinner, date night activity.
After working up an appetite on the river, head over to Bill’s Bar and Burger, where they are serving an special Restaurant Week deal. Choose from appetizers like chips & queso or crispy jalapeño cheddar bombs, followed by a burger or sandwich. For dessert, Bill’s is serving one of their decadent milkshakes.
Ember and Vine and the Penguin’s Practice Facility
Believe it or not, but one of our favorite hidden gems in Pittsburgh is located inside of the DoubleTree Hotel in Cranberry. Ember & Vine serves up fresh dishes, crispy pizza, and, best of all, innovate and well-crafted cocktails.
For restaurant week, Ember & Vine is serving a three-course dinner. Guests can enjoy a heirloom tomato and watermelon salad, handmade pappardelle pasta with short rib ragu, and, for dessert, brown sugar & blackberry cake with vanilla angelaise.
Either before or after the meal, it is worthwhile to check out the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, which is located less than 10 minutes from Ember & Vine by car. This is the primary practice rink for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Lemieux Sportsplex usually hosts free skate on the weekends, and guests have the chance to skate on the same ice as the Penguins! The complex itself is only a few years old and stunning, boasting one of the best Pen’s gear shops in the city.
Le Lyonnais and the Pittsburgh Cultural District
Although their Restaurant Week menu is yet to be released, Le Lyonnais is perfectly poised for a meal in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, followed by a show downtown. Pittsburgh’s Cultural district isn’t just the Benedum Center (although the Benedum is great), and there are shows happening across Downtown Pittsburgh in several theaters during restaurant week. Included are “Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating, & Marriage,” “Pittsburgh Improv Jam,” the “European Tour Send-Off Concert,” and more.
Spoon and a Movie at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater
The longtime East Liberty restaurant Spoon will also be serving up a special menu for Restaurant Week. Located on the corner of Highland and Center, Spoon is known for their sleek interior, terrific gin menu, and “New American” dining style. Guests can check the menu for example of what dishes will be like during restaurant week. Some customer favorites include the “Carrot Pierogi,” “Spoon Burger,” and the “Pork Belly-loin Chop.”
Just a few blocks from Spoon is the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, named in honor of Pittsburgh natives and performing art legends, Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn. The theater brings in a unique selection of both local, and touring acts.
The theater has several movies showings occurring during Restaurant Week, including Star Wars, the Wiz, and Chicago.
Station and Allegheny Cemetery
We know what you are thinking – a cemetery on a date? If you’ve never taken a stroll through the Allegheny Cemetery, which stretches between Garfield and Lawrenceville, you’ve got to trust us on this one.
The Allegheny Cemetery is 300 acres, and is sixth oldest rural cemetery in America, built in 1844. In addition to being a sprawling green space in the center of the city, the area is known for its intricate, and sometimes bizarre headstones and mausoleums. Visitors should keep their eyes out for headstones shaped like sharks jumping out of the water and a mausoleum styled after an Ancient Egyptian crypt. There are also many mausoleums with Art Nouveau designs, and Tiffany-stained glass, and a trail that includes stunning hillside views.
For restaurant week, Station is serving a three-course dinner for $35.17. Guests can choose from several menu options, including “Chicken Liver Mousse,” “Summer Vegetable Porridge,” “Medium Rare Short Rib,” and “Lavender Pound Cake” or “Popcorn Panna Cotta” for dessert.
There are over 50 Pittsburgh restaurants participating in Restaurant Week, including many located in the same neighborhoods as the ones featured above. Be sure to checkout the full listing, and find something special for a night out.
If you do decide to do out of our “Date Nights,” we would love to see! Tag us – @goodfoodpgh and #goodfoodpgh – on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!
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