Downtown Pittsburgh's Vibrant Restaurant Scene: 2 Restaurant Rows & Market Square
By John Valentine
Pittsburgh has something most cities can only dream about, two restaurant rows in our Downtown- that doesn't even include Market Square. The 900 block of Penn Avenue and Sixth Street between Ft. Duquesne Blvd. and Liberty Ave. have both become destinations with hard-to-reserve tables.
Downtown dining is varied so it's hard to categorize. The restaurant scene is dominated by high-end steakhouses and fast food and not really confined to any particular street. Market Square, for instance, doesn’t really play by the restaurant row rules. Plus, obviously, the work-from-home trends of the pandemic have been extra difficult, with fewer office workers to support a fast-growing restaurant scene.
Yet one of Pittsburgh’s best restaurants, the Argentinian meat paradise Gaucho Parrilla Argentina, has moved to the old Six Penn Kitchen space making this possibly the tastiest crossroads in the city.
Sixth Street in the Cultural District also features some of the DeShantz culinary empire’s best: Butcher and the Rye, täkō, and gi-jin, a Japanese hand roll and gin bar. Along with Con Alma, this area might be the hottest ticket in town at the moment, judging by how hard it is to get a reservation. Add Meat & Potatoes to the mix and you can understand why this is a foodie's dream.
Con Alma offers jazz music into the late evening and, along with the reopening of the Greer Cabaret, has transformed this part of downtown into the beginnings of a music mecca.
Alihan's serves up great Mediterranean fare and has the best service in the city. Christos adds to the international flavor of the street with great Greek food and Olive or Twist, a Pittsburgh landmark, has been offering great casual food, great cocktails and music for decades. Redbeards is my go to spot to watch the Pens, Pirates or Steelers. Their grilled chicken sandwich is cooked to perfection and if you like fries, Redbeards has the best.
The 900 block of Penn Avenue also has that great, rare Manhattan-like street wall effect — an urban canyon lined on both sides with tall buildings — making you feel like you’re actually in a big city. Bridges & Bourbon is one of the best places not only for cocktails and small plates but a great lounge feel that is welcoming. Nicky’s Thai Kitchen is still one of Pittsburgh’s best Thai restaurants.
The Eagle Food & Beer Hall is now open on Penn and Eighth — a giant fried chicken/Southern specialist, a concept that seems to be taking off everywhere right now. The same Ohio restaurant group also owns tacos/tequila spot Bakersfield right in the middle of the 900 block.
Scarpino, on the Tenth St. corner of Penn Ave. brings classic Italian fare to the landscape. Their Lobster Ravioli with pesto dish has become legendary in a city that has a tremendous amount of great Italian dishes. Standard is a fun, very casual spot to hang out and play arcade games while you enjoy a great array of brews. August Henry's offers up some of the best burgers in the city.
Sienna Mercato offers three different restaurant concepts in one location. On the first floor you have Meatball Emporio. The second floor has a more varied casual feel and the third floor is a bar with an amazing retractable roof.
With Alchemy, The Yard, Pizziolo Primo, Revel and Roost, The Simple Greek, City Works, Las Velas, Emersons and Vallozzi's in Market Square and Alta Via coming soon, you can be assured that Downtown not only has a great future but also is vibrant right now.
