Dining Guide

Pittsburgh’s Best Bites: Eating Your Way Through the Three Rivers

Breakfast

Get your day started right with Pittsburgh’s best breakfast spots, all conveniently located near the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Check out Five Points Artisan Bakeshop, with flaky, perfectly laminated chocolate and almond croissants, danishes, tarts, and more. If you’re vegan, the oatmeal cranberry walnut cookie is waiting for you. Easy to grab and go before a day of lectures.

Pane è Pronto is a classic Italian bakery – grab one of their specialty puff pastries, sweet with mascarpone and seasonal fruits, or savory ham and provolone. The bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit looks like a winner, too. Like a heartier breakfast? Sandwiches are on the menu too (with fresh baked bread, of course).

If you’re a fan of a sit-down breakfast experience, Kelly O’s Diner in the Strip checks all of the boxes. A local favorite for over 46 years, order your pancake stack loaded with blueberries or chocolate chips, an omelette with all the fixins’, and of course a piping-hot coffee on the side. Family-friendly!

The Speckled Egg is a well-loved brunch spot, with mouth-watering brown butter french toast, and a fitting variety of egg-tacular options from poached eggs in Moroccan tomato sauce to quiche du jour. For lunch, may we suggest a grilled cheese with broccoli pesto or an all-local BLT?

Lunch

Let’s talk lunch! These options are calling your name.

Original Oyster House is Pittsburgh’s oldest bar (153 years, to be exact!) and a one-of-a-kind experience. The fish sandwiches are iconic, and the oysters are always fresh and ready by the dozen. Bring your favorite colleague, or dine solo with a seat at the bar, with a view of all the famous patrons the place has welcomed over the years.

You haven’t visited Pittsburgh until you’ve tried the pierogies, and that’s a fact. The city has a rich Polish immigrant population that made these tasty dumplings central to the local food scene. Pierogies Plus serves up some of the very best in an unassuming spot designed for takeout. Grab your bounty and head on over to a local park to enjoy.

Visiting the Carnegie Museums? Stop by The Porch, a family-friendly restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating. Savor classic American fare – burgers, soups, salads, pizzas, and heavier entrees like duck confit and oven-roasted chicken.

Madonna’s is a local Mediterranean favorite, with casual but no-less authentic fare like falafel, shawarma, and baba ganoush. Enjoy the generous portions and don’t forget the baklava!

Pizza, pizza! There is stiff competition for the “best pizzeria” crown in this city, but we think Pizza Lupo is taking it. I mean, focaccia breadsticks? Come on! Order a classic margherita pie or go a little wild with specials like the Tropic Thunder – bacon and pineapple goodness.

Dinner

Enjoy a night out with a taste of Pittsburgh’s fine dining scene.

Alla Famiglia is highly recommended, home to traditional Italian dishes with an old-school flair. Yes, they’re bringing out the parmesan wheel for the cacio e pepe. Order the mussels diavolo to start, follow with the braised lamb with a glass of red (or the branzino if you really want a taste of the Mediterranean), and if the raspberry tiramisu is on the dessert, don’t skip it! And because everyone is family here, portions are reminiscent of grandma’s house, too.

Looking to impress your colleagues with a hip local spot? Make a reservation at Umami Izakaya, a Japanese sushi bar with an inventive cocktail menu and a menu with classic Japanese street food favorites like takoyaki, sushi a la carte, and hot (and cold) noodle dishes like ramen and soba for the non-seafood-lovers.

Dinner and a show – yes please. Head on over to Con Alma, a restaurant and jazz bar. Catch a jam session on Tuesday night and pair it with Peruvian staples like lomo saltado (beef stir fry) and arroz con chaufa (chicken fried rice). Whatever you choose, don’t forget the maduros, sweet plantains that are essential to every latin table.

Family-style, Sichuan cuisine at this Beard-nominated restaurant in Squirrel Hill, Chengdu Gourmet. Don’t be too shy to order off the special Sichuan menu, staff are happy to help you craft a perfectly balanced meal. We’re eyeing the spicy duck, cold noodles, shredded pork in garlic sauce, beef tripe, and grilled whole fish.

Pusadee’s Garden is a Thai restaurant nestled within a beautiful outdoor setting with fresh dishes like grilled giant squid with lemongrass sauce, green mango salad, grilled shrimp in savoury panang curry, and decadent beef cheek soup.