Find Your Chemistry at Alchemy Bar & Kitchen

By Layla Joseph

Alchemy Bar and Kitchen invites you to experience a different way to dine Downtown. Since the grand opening of Alchemy on March 22, 2023 the restaurant has been a desired destination in the Golden Triangle.

While the staff is not building rockets at Alchemy, they are light-years ahead, taking food to a whole new level with a scientific twist.

This “molecular gastronomy” themed restaurant integrates science into the preparation and presentation of their carefully designed dishes and captivating cocktails.

Cory Brennan is the managing partner at Alchemy, who works on the floor and helps the kitchen operate daily. He has been with the team since August 2022 and had a hand in building Alchemy’s brand.

Brennan said that after one of the owners discovered molecular gastronomy while traveling in Vegas, he wanted to bring the concept back to Pittsburgh.

The restaurant’s space has been recently renovated to serve the city of Pittsburgh hand-crafted food and drink while simultaneously inviting patrons to indulge in a different dining experience.

While their lunch menu only features seven dishes, each one has been carefully curated by Chef Justin Burrus and includes thoughtful ingredients that embrace each unique flavor.

“Our entire concept is basically trying to expand what we can do with ingredients,” Brennan said. “How can we take ingredients that people would not normally put together and find harmony between them?”

Brennan explained that they do this with dishes like their sea scallops.

“On paper, if you hear cotton candy and scallops, it doesn’t sound like it should work,” he said. “But the way we prepare the dish, it really does work.”

“We’re just trying to find harmony among ingredients that don’t normally go together,” he continued.

According to Brennan, essentially everything served at Alchemy is made from scratch and about 80% of ingredients are locally sourced.

“We really don’t have anything that is pre-prepared,” he said. “Pretty much everything is done in our tiny little kitchen.”

Brennan said part of preparing dishes with fresh ingredients is sourcing locally.

“Developing relationships with the farms has been a big deal for us because it allows us to get the best product possible,” he said. “That’s really our goal: to get the best ingredients we have and then push them as far as they can go.”

The cocktail menu ranges from classic beverages to signature sips. While the classic cocktails are self explanatory, the signature drinks are vaguely explained, allowing customers to experience a flavorful and aesthetic surprise.

Brennan said that the vague descriptors are to allow the customers a slight expectation before experiencing Alchemy’s interpretation of the description.

“We are trying to keep people on their toes,” he said. “At a lot of restaurants you know what you're going to get, we enjoy creating a different sensation for Pittsburgh diners.”

The restaurant recommends patrons follow a business casual dress code, although customers are welcome to dress more formally.

Each reservation guarantees a two hour window in the dining room or cocktail lounge, but if you are enjoying your time and would like to continue your visit, they welcome you to extend your stay at the cocktail bar.

While they accept walk-ins for spontaneous diners, reservations are recommended because of the restaurant's limited space.

Brennan attributes some of the restaurant’s success to the people of Pittsburgh. He said he is appreciative of the support of the community since unveiling the new concept.

“We want to thank Pittsburgh for the support we have gotten so far,” he said. “They have given us a chance to try something new. Not every community is going to do that, and this community really supports us.”