It’s been a busy time in the Pittsburgh restaurant industry, with dozens of new spots (and some second locations of old spots) opening in the last few months. From a classic burgers-and-fries joint to a Detroit-style pizza restaurant, these 20 new restaurants in Pittsburgh are worth trying.
MoonLit Burgers
Dormont
Get excited: MoonLit Burgers is officially open in Dormont! The smash smash burger pop-up from co-owners Mike McCoy and Derek Stevens has gained a massive following in Pittsburgh since they first started slinging burgers last year, offering double-patty burgers that have been smashed on a griddle and topped with sliced Vidalia onion – and now they’ve opened their very own brick-and-mortar. In addition to burgers, the restaurant also offers loaded Fries, fried chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders and more. The restaurant is open for indoor dining on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. MoonLit Burgers (1426 Potomac Avenue)
täkō Bakery Square
East Liberty
It’s been more than a year since the Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group announced plans to open a second location of their much-loved Japanese-Mexican fusion restaurant, serving tacos, tortas, and lots of tequila in a newly-designed space in Bakery Square. Their latest täkō location opened last month, with a similar menu to their downtown location (you’ll find favorites like Spanish octopus, carnitas and mushroom tacos), but this time, they’re operating as a first-come-first served restaurant (with no reservations!), and boast an expanded outdoor patio area. täkō (120 Bakery Square Blvd.)
Farmer x Baker
O’Hara
Farmer x Baker’s original café overlooking the Allegheny River at the Allegheny Rivertrail Park in Aspinwall is nearly perfect… except for one thing: It’s a seasonal restaurant, meaning that during the cooler months, we can’t enjoy owner Jen Urich’s farm-fresh salads, sandwiches and breakfast dishes. But now, she and her team, including executive pastry chef Dianne DeStefano, have opened a brand-new market in Fox Chapel, offering all of their famous dishes to go, along with a variety of prepared meal, plus from-scratch baked goods, including bagels, sticky buns and more. Farmer x Baker (1101 Powers Run Road)
Driven PGH
North Side
Tucked inside the Federal Galley on the North Side is Driven PGH, a new addition to the food hall, serving some seriously good Detroit-style pizza. Chef Jake Stewart serves deep-dish pies loaded with toppings, like the Buffalo Chicken (topped with Buffalo chicken dip, Ranch fries, cheddar and mozzarella), the PBR (with pepperoni, banana peppers, and hot honey), and the classic Red Top, with three kinds of cheese, plus basil and a marinara topping. Other menu items include a meatball plate, burrata and tomato jam, and garlic bread. Driven PGH (200 Children’s Way)
G’s on Liberty
Bloomfield
G’s on Liberty opened a few days ago in Bloomfield, offering a “seasonal American menu,” with appetizers (like Kataifi Lamb Meatballs, Fresh Beet & Smoked Goat Cheese Terrine and house-made Shrimp Agnolotti), sandwiches (the Lobster Grilled Cheese and Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich are standouts), and hearty entrees, including Mac & Cheese Cavatappi, Mediterranean Lamb Meatloaf, house-made Potato Gnocchi, and a Braised Short Rib. The restaurant, from owner Grainne Trainor (who previously owned Blue North in Allison Park and The Mighty Oak Barrel in Oakmont), is open for dinner on Mondays through Saturdays. G’s on Liberty (5104 Liberty Avenue)
Baby Loves Tacos
Oakland
When one door closes, another door opens. Baby Loves Tacos has recently closed their Millvale spot (their original Bloomfield location is still open!), but another iteration of the beloved taco shop is now open in Oakland. Baby Loves Tacos ‘Thunderdome’ in Oakland is owned and operated by Gary Musisko, who has worked at the Bloomfield location for two years, and is serving the same tasty tacos and burritos as the original location. Baby Loves Tacos Thunderdome is open Mondays through Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Baby Loves Tacos (116 Meyron Avenue)
The Market Exchange
Market Square
Newly-opened The Market Exchange offers a new option for lunch or dinner in Market Square, with a menu that includes wood-fired pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and entrees, including Papparadelle with Short-Rib Ragu, Pickle-brined Fried Chicken, and a steak with Bourbon-Peppercorn butter. The restaurant leans heavily into its stock market exchange theme (with beer prices fluctuating based on demand) and offers a weekday happy hour from 4:30 to 6:30, weekend brunch, and a speakeasy bar area. The Market Exchange (24 Market Square)
Gordo’s Tacos & Tequila
Mt. Washington
With a full menu of unique taco options (Nashville Hot Chicken, Cheeseburger, and Roasted Carrot are just a few choices), Gordo’s Tacos & Tequila is now open on Mt. Washington. The restaurant boasts a two-story dining room and a full bar with lots of tequila and margarita options, and is currently serving a limited menu while they ramp up to full service. Gordo’s Tacos & Tequila (131 Shiloh Street)
Dancing Gnome
Sharpsburg
Popular Pittsburgh brewery Dancing Gnome has opened a new, expanded brewery and taproom in Sharpsburg, just down the street from their original location. The new Dancing Gnome features 16 DG beers on tap, and expanded indoor space, and an outdoor garden for warm-weather drinking. A rotating list of food trucks are regularly at the taproom, including Blue Sparrow and Alberta’s Pizza. Dancing Gnome (1025 Main Street, Sharpsburg)
Dagny’s Eatery
Carnegie
Dagny’s Eatery is a small restaurant in downtown Carnegie that serves homemade breakfast and lunch, with a small core menu that features breakfast options like avocado toast on sourdough, Everything bagels with lox, and an ever-changing quiche. Lunch items include sandwiches (try The Ray, with hot soppresata, ham, Genoa salami, pepperoni and provolone) and salads, and special items are added weekly. Dagny’s Eatery (114 E. Main Street, Carnegie)
M.O.B.
Mt. Oliver
Kevin Sousa’s latest restaurant is M.O.B., a small restaurant and wine bar that “serves simple dishes inspired by the change of season and nostalgia.” The menu features thick-cut pizzas (including the McKees Rocks Pie, topped with red sauce, cacio cavallo and pecorino), and Executive Chef Jonah Frazier’s take on Italian dishes, like Arancini (with delicata squash), Fagiole, and Chicken Parm. M.O.B. (225 Brownsville Road)
Bocadillos Bar
Brighton Heights
This small Brighton Heights spot recently opened, serving cocktails, housemade wines, craft beer and hard cider. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the restaurant’s “cold kitchen” concept menu will feature cahrcuterie and cheeses, Scandinavian smoked fish, Italian antipasti and more. Bocadillos Bar (2827 California Avenue, Brighton Heights)
Cafetano
Strip District
Honduran coffee shop Cafetano opened last month in the former Gaucho Parilla space in the Strip District, serving a café menu that emphasizes quality, fresh-brewed coffee. Owner Mirko Cuculiza operates five Cafetano coffee shops in his native Honduras, and has brought his expertise to Pittsburgh. The menu features a wide variety of hot and cold beverages, including hot coffee, cold brew, lattes, smoothies, chai and hot chocolate, and the food menu features breakfast and lunch options like waffles, paninis, and wraps. Cafetano (1601 Penn Avenue)
Madsen Donuts
Castle Shannon
A beloved Ohio doughnut shop has opened a store in Pittsburgh – and it’s a must-try. Madsen Donuts has been an institution in Geneva-on-the-Lake on the Lake Erie shoreline in Ohio since 1938, and opened their Pittsburgh shop earlier this year. The from-scratch doughnuts are made fresh every day, and the menu includes their best-selling Cream Sticks (raised dough filled with Marshmallow-based cream and topped with chocolate), Jelly Sticks, and classics like Glazed, Cinnamon Sugar and Chocolate Round doughnuts. Madsen Donuts (3609 Library Road, Castle Shannon)
Shah’s Halal
Oakland
Quick-service Halal restaurant Shah’s Halal is officially open in Oakland, serving gyros, Mediterranean platters, sandwiches and salad bowls, made with “authentic halal beef, lamb and chicken paired with rich, lip-smacking, flavorful condiments like white sauce, barbeque, and special green chutney.” This is the first Pittsburgh outpost of the small chain, which also has locations in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Shah’s Halal is open seven days a week for lunch, dinner and late-night. Shah’s Halal (412 Semple Street)
Margaux
East Liberty
Margaux, a “café by day and cocktail lounge by night,” is one of the new restaurants in Pittsburgh that opened this summer on Penn Avenue in East Liberty. During the day, the restaurant serves coffee and espresso, plus a menu of light breakfast options, including a Yogurt Parfait, breakfast sandwich, avocado toast and ricotta toast. At night, you’ll find an inventive cocktail menu and small, snackable plates, like Smoked Salmon Rillette, Sage Bread Pudding, Spanish Chorizo Croquettes and Baked Ricotta. They also feature a selection of (absolutely gorgeous) desserts by Harrison’s Fine Pastries. Margaux (5947 Penn Avenue)
LeoGreta Wine Bar
Carnegie
During the pandemic, Carnegie restaurant LeoGreta opened a takeout-only pizzeria in the space next door, which was originally slated to open as a wine bar. Now that diners are returning to restaurants, the wine bar is offiially open. LeoGreta Wine Bar features an original handmade oak bar, specialty cocktails, wine and draft beer, and offers bites from LeoGreta’s menu. LeoGreta Wine Bar (301 West Main Street)
The Lab at Armen’s Barrels
Washington
Head south to visit the newly-opened Lab at Armen’s Barrels in Washington, PA, a new restaurant, bar, winery and distillery that just opened in a former roller skating rink. The restaurant produces their own wine, along with their own vodka from grapes (they say that they’re one of the only distilleries in the world to do so). On the menu you’ll find options that range from Crab Cakes and Crispy Pork Belly to Roasted Chicken and a selection of Wagyu steaks. The Lab at Armen’s Barrels (10 McCoy Lane, Washington, PA)
Treat
Shadyside
Treat opened this summer in Shadyside, offering locally-made ice cream and fresh-made Liege waffles – two things that pair absolutely perfectly together. Ice cream flavors rotate regularly, but include Chocolate Chip, Pistachio, Cheesecake, Black Raspberry, Strawberry Pretzel and the super-popular ‘Pittsburgh Pride.’ Treat (735 Copeland Street #1A)
Caliente Pizza & Draft House
Sewickley
The newest Caliente Pizza & Draft House location has just opened in Sewickley, in the former Sharp Edge location. This is the sixth location for the Pittsburgh-based chain, and will feature a menu with pizza, calzones, hoagies, burgers and draft beer. Caliente Pizza & Draft House (510 Beaver Street, Sewickley)
Know of any other new restaurants in Pittsburgh that we missed? Let us know in the comments – or send us news and tips at [email protected]
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