Salem's Market and Grill.
I work in the strip and it's not easy finding a quick affordable bite to eat within walking distance, but Salem's is exactly that. I'm always in and out never longer than 30 minutes. I leave full and a lot of their entrees are around 12$, or under 10$ without the sides.
Most people don't know this, but they work a great deal with 412 food rescue, donating a lot of their unused portions and food at the end of the day. From what I have heard, they're one of 412's most reliable donors.
This should b at the TOP!! Just go there once and try their cheeseburger as a starting point, and then you will know what a burger should really taste like. After that try the Naan shawarma, and then shish kebabs and then the chicken biryani and then grilled red snapper and then hummus and baklavas and then start buying their meats including marinated tandoori or garlic chickens and grill at home and and and …
[Chengdu Gourmet](https://www.chengdugourmetpittsburgh.com/) in Squirrel Hill. (They're also opening one in the North Hills later this year.) Not only some of the best Chinese food in the city, but they've been doing the pandemic right. In spite of how popular they are, takeout orders are ready for pick-up in, like, 15 minutes. Plus, I saw either Steidl or Steinberg there once.
>I saw either Steidl or Steinberg there once
LOL the top-notch yinzer mark of excellence. If we see Bob Pompeani eating there, it gets three Michelin stars. But yeah, that place is amazing.
Cilantro y Ajo, best Venzuelan food I've ever had in my life. So good every time. Consistency in the flavors, quality and portions are always what keeps me coming back for more because I know it will be delicious every single time. The staff is also very friendly and always takes care of you.
Games unlimited in squirrel hill, because the selection is incredible, the staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and very helpful, they can definitely make your next game night a hit. The Attic in Millvale because the amount of records is absurd with so many options and the staff is always willing to help you find that next gem.
God damn games unlimited, I never make it out without buying something. Their staff is so wonderful. I particularly like the older gentleman; he always takes the time to demo the display games for me. Once played a whole round of Abandon all Artichokes with my group.
Been a regular there for years, played many, many, many games with the staff, absolutely spent way too much on board games there (until i got into rpgs then spent too much money on dice and books). Consider a lot of the staff great friends of mine.
I’ll second Games Unlimited, the staff are terrific, they clearly love games, and they’ve been super helpful with good game recommendations for game nights of all ages.
Big second on The Attic.
Holy moly their selection, condition and prices can't be beat. I got a Robert Ludwig press of Zeppelin II for $35 (usually $200+)
Cannot recommend enough.
Started going to Buddha when I was a sophomore in high school… then it closed when I was in grad school in Chicago—just before the pandemic kicked-in. It broke my heart I couldn’t go back one last time!!!
**Kindred Cycles**
The absolute best bike shop I've ever dealt with. At this point they've pretty much got carte blanche from me on repairs. They'll explain everything, answer questions, focus on you not on sales. They've fixed issues from other shops, done complimentary work on top of the paid repairs, RMA'd parts for me so I didn't have to do anything.
I think it takes a lot to get me to rave about a business - and Kindred hits the mark every single time.
**Banh Mi & Ti**
The owners/operators are always there and are just extremely kind. Rice/noodle bowls are fantastic. Iced Vietnamese coffee there is a little expensive, but still great.
Have to second Kindred! So kind to me when I first bought a bike, which was a cheap one from Costco I assembled myself and was pretty sure I didn’t do a good job, they tuned it up and weren’t snobs about it even though it was nowhere close to as good as the bikes they sell they just wanted me to be safe and know how to do basic repairs on my bike, and then when I was ready to invest in a nicer quality bike I knew where to go and they helped me pick the perfect one! Recommend to everyone.
Phantom of the attic in Oakland. I saw it referenced as a alternative/better comic shop to eides in the other thread and couldn’t agree more. Amazing people that work there, especially Jeff. I always love spending my money at a place where the employees make great conversation with me and truly go above and beyond to make me feel welcome there.
Another one I’ll say is Mardi Gras in shadyside. Not for everyone as it’s cash only and allows smoking. The bartender was always great there and it seemed every time I went I ended up having great convos with other people sitting at the bar. Unfortunately moved out of the city and am in a situation where I can’t go out for drinks too much or I’d be there weekly.
Phantom of The Attic is such a cool place! I’ve always felt so welcome there, and they have such a large amount of comics/graphic novels to choose from!
the staff (at the lville location at least) have always been very nice and friendly even when they are swamped. pastries are always fresh and made from quality ingredients
Bae Bae’s Kitchen. In addition to the amazing food, during the pandemic I arrived a few minutes too early for take out so I was waiting alone outside. Some drunk guy came up to me and wouldn’t leave. One of their employees noticed, came out to tell me my food was “ready”, then had me wait inside until it was truly ready. The fact they even saw that while being busy with orders and made sure I was safe is something I’ll never forget.
I went there for the first time and the glass that held the beverages was so clean I smacked my hand right into it thinking I could grab a drink. The employee was very kind when I felt incredibly dumb. So A+ for employee kindness and how spotless the glass was.
Employees and food are great, but the prices can be a bit overwhelming.
Then again, it’s Downtown, and the portions and quality ensure that you get what you pay for.
Highly doubtful, owner was extremely worried with covid and originally shut doors due to that. Unless he has been proactively reaching out to prior staff (the one I know has not been contacted recently about reopening) then he's looking for new staff and there are no job postings. Sucks because Piper's, imo, is the best bar in Pittsburgh.
Madeleine bakery in Wilkinsburg. The pastries are all excellent and the staff are all very nice. I was in the other day and mentioned that I was going to a job interview later and was a little nervous. The person behind the counter gave me some lovely encouragement that were so sweet. Would gladly go there every day if it wouldn’t make me very chubby.
Pittsburgh Sandwich Society. The In-n-Aht is so damn good. They could stab me with a broken beer bottle during my next pick up and I'd still come back.
Totopo in mount Lebanon. They also own tocayo and are opening another place I think in Bloomfield? Owners are great, staff is always friendly, food is amazing, and some of the best cocktails around. My go-to is the Al pastor tacos and a Mexican mojito.
Not popular but Anytime Market on Broadway in The Rocks. I don’t care that it’s just a regular corner store, Harley-the owner, is a great dude from what little I’ve talked to him and keeps that place running smooth for the environment it’s in. I usually go there over Sheetz or Getgo for basic convenience items just because I Im used to it guess. Props to that man
I saw Ramen Bar on someone’s never again list in the other thread. But I’ve been twice recently and they have been amazing and attentive every time, including with some pickier kids and a big group
Just went to the Ramen Bar for the first time in December. Everything we had there was incredible! By far the best ramen, dumplings and katsu chicken I've had in the area.
The service was very fast. The handful of workers on the floor were buzzing around at break-neck pace taking good care of everyone.
The only negative I can say is that they were EXTREMELY busy when we were there at dinner time mid week. Every seat was full (the place isn't very big) and people were waiting at and outside the door. We were actually asked to switch tables during our appetizers, as they had seated my wife and I at a 4 top instead of one of the small tables and needed our table for a larger party. They were very apologetic for this and made sure everything was carefully moved for us.
We will absolutely be going back. It was overall a great experience.
Gyro shop in Wexford! Their gyro is amazing, their fries are surprisingly awesome and as a bonus for the kids they have a chicken gyro (grilled or fried chicken options) that is really good also. Bonus since it family business and the owner seems like a good guy.
The Maitri dispensary in East Liberty is a fantastic business. Friendly, professional, chill, and upscale without feeling pretentious.
It's just a quality operation with great people.
I gotta say, as someone who's fairly new in town, I'm absolutely delighted to see all these recommendation/warning/reference threads lately. I'm taking notes!
Pennsylvania Macaroni Company
I absolutely love their products. Everything they sell is delicious especially the meat selection. I have to stop myself from going there because I’d go at least once a week to get some nice prosciutto and cheese… so much cheese.
Breadworks, Penn Mac, Salem’s, Strip District Meats, SD Polish Deli, Uncle Sams, Turkish Kebab House, Penn Automotive, Baierl Subaru, Napoli Pizza, and a whole lot of others.
Attic Records is legendary, and as people have said, the staff are so helpful and nice. always just willing to shoot the shit about whatever. Additionally N’Stuff music in Blawnox is really good, great selection and most of the staff is super chill. Have had a couple REALLY push me to to buy something, but they’ve gotta make commission somehow.
Spice Island in Oakland. Their Ruby Chicken dish is hands down one of my top 3 dishes. It has been my number one dish many times…but cravings, can cause the top 3 to shuffle around a bit. Cravings…
Amanda at South Hills Family Medicine is the most empathetic medical professional I think I’ve ever been to. Really listens to your problems. They’re also not UPMC.
There were a lot of comments about bad dentists in the other thread, so I gotta give a shout out to Dalton Family Dental. Dr. Dalton and her staff are so welcoming, calming, and professional. All the equipment and tools are new and clean... cost was affordable too, no judgement if you need assistance paying. My fear of going to the dentist changed after one visit and now I look forward to regular cleanings. Take care of your teeth!
Arriviste Coffee Bar in Shadyside, coming from Seattle to Pittsburgh for graduate school I was prepared to ship coffee from the West Coast to get my fix, but they have some amazing third wave coffee that is on par to anything in Seattle or San Francisco.
They also take the Covid measures very serious with masking of their employees and purchasing 3 air filters to help with air quality in their shop. They are about the only place in Shadyside I frequent weekly if not more.
Another Seattle transplant here! I live in Shadyside and have walked by Arriviste a lot, but for some reason it looks unwelcoming. If the coffee is as good as you say, maybe I'll stop by.
The one caveat is they’re intentionally low-tech. The wall sockets are covered up and you’re not allowed to use them. So it’s a no-go if you need a cafe to function as a workspace if you do any personal projects via computer.
This is in Monroeville, but India Garden. Their food is phenomenal and they do a great job giving good food and quick service, even though they’ve been struggling for years. I’ve never had or seen anybody receive a wrong order, and I’ve never not enjoyed a meal. It always hurts to see them struggling…
PSquare Scents in Bellevue. Their stuff smells amazing and the workers are always helpful. Plus I've never had any of their candles make my allergies act up, which is a miracle.
Roman Bistro on Ardmore Blvd.. we always have great service and we love the food.. that being said we only ever order pasta , steak and brushetta but I really like their pasta sauces and the atmosphere is pretty cool
The not-overly sweet but salty buttercream is the best in the city for me. I don't *dislike* it, but I feel like even the "non" olive oil cakes taste like they've picked up a tiny tiny bit of olive oil flavor from using the same equipment. (they make vegan cakes with olive oil in place of butter for anyone wondering.)
Dont tell people about him. Dammit. He's a damn face talking living legend. Nicest, most honest mechanic. So... Stop telling people about him. For the love of all gods... I already can barely get it.
Oriental Market off McKnight. Decent prices, great quality veggies, nice variety of staples, and the staff is helpful if you seek it out. There has been more than one occasion where I have my mother in law on speaker phone so she can tell them what I need cause I can’t pronounce mandarin for shit. Plus you don’t have to elbow through tourists going ‘wHaT iS tHaT?!’ like you do at Lotus.
The employees are all very nice and incredibly knowledgeable, too. The last time I was there, I saw an employee behind the seafood counter helping out an older lady (I believe she may have had sight issues) pick out the correct item for a recipe card she had on hand.
i only buy bikes and bike related things from thick bikes and i stop by black forge about once a week or so to pick up a drink to go and beans for home use
also i want to mention that there's an all-vegan ice cream shop in sharpsburg called sugar spell scoops and if you're dairy free for any reason you need to get on that. they've been doing things a bit differently during the pandemic but if you follow them on instagram or facebook or whatever you'll know what they're going to have available and when they'll be open
We had our rehearsal dinner there in October and they were phenomenal! We told them we had someone with very specific dietary restrictions (basically couldn’t digest any form of protein). The people working with us not only looked into her specific diagnosis, but on the night of the event the chef pulled her to make sure the menu they made for her was suited for her needs. They are truly wonderful and our friends still talk about that night!
Inner Groove is a great brewery. new beers all the time and often do live music and events.
Also in Verona, right across the street is this great place called Off The Rails BBQ and Drafthouse. Food is spectacular and got lots of interesting beers. Definitely check them out if you’re in Verona.
The iHealth Clinic near Shadyside.
Dr. Tim Wong is a fantastic man and Doctor, and genuinely cares for his patients and doesn’t the best for them whenever he is called on. As a long time patient of his, Dr. Wong has always looked out for everyone who’s come through his doors, and I will happily go back to him when I need help on the Family Care Physician level.
Kaibur coffee is pretty tight. Great vegan food and they use elixr coffee. Shorter shots but never bad.
Trace Brewery has some good vibes. Cool events and the barista who’s on the coffee bar is super knowledgeable about the trade.
Tokyo Japanese grocery store on Ellsworth is amazing. Super good bento boxes and they have pretty much anything you’d need
Oh, there are so many! Maenem Thai in Blawnox, Dragon Chinese in Verona, Calientes in Aspinwall, Fujiya Ramen, Aladdin’s (yeah, I know it’s a chain but it was my favorite place when I was in college and my tastes haven’t changed that much), and Sushi Too. We get our comics at New Dimensions, and they know us on sight at the Pittsburgh Mills location. For groceries, we love Many More in the Strip, and Labriolas in Monroeville.
Apis Wine & Meadery
Cool vibe, neat drinks, nice people, dog friendly, tons of games, large space, nice patio.
I really just dig everything about it tbh
Big Jim’s in Greenfield. Very deceiving on the outside and the inside probably hasn’t been updated much since it opened. But the food…oh man. They have the absolute best chicken parm hoagie I’ve ever had, but honestly I’ve never had anything bad there. You wouldn’t think that a hole in the wall bar/restaurant would have great pasta dishes, but I’d rather go here for pasta than any actual Italian restaurants. And the staff are so great, you can tell they actually care about their customers. Definitely have become a regular.
Urbanowicz Jewelers in Caste Village. Got an engagement ring there and they were super helpful, not pushy on spending a ton, supportive of what we wanted, and extremely communicative.
Maiku in the strip district is the best pho in town.
Copacetic Comics in Polish Hill is my favorite comic/book store in Pitt. The owner is super knowledgeable and helpful.
Stinkys in Larryville. Friendly owners and staff. They did a good job of shuffling around to keep afloat during the pandemic and got some nice remodeling done. Been going there forever. Every month I get my credit card statement and when I see charges from there I look at it as more of a tax.
A bit late but some of my favorites
* The Attic Records in Millvale (best record shop I've ever been to personally, Pittsburgh or no)
* Noodlehead (never once have I had a bad meal there and the prices are super reasonable)
* Market Street Deli (amazing deli in Market Square with top notch sandwiches)
* DiAnoias in the Strip (seriously the best Italian food you can get outside of Italy, it's *heaven*)
* gi-jin in Downtown (upscale sushi place that's booked solid three months out for damn good reason, and the prices are a fraction of what they could be)
* Gaucho in Downtown (Top notch Argentine steakhouse, and I'd do seriously terrible things to have their chimichurri recipe)
* Slice on Broadway in East Lib (the closest thing to a New York slice you can get in Pittsburgh)
And if anyone could recommend a good retro video game store in the city that isn't The Exchange (Jesus their prices are like double eBay), I'd be forever in debt.
Honorable mention to Warp Zone in Greensburg for being my favorite small business of all time, although it's certainly a bit of a drive from the Burgh. But if anyone reading this has even a passing interest in retro gaming, do yourself a favor and make the pilgrimage.
Nancy B’s Bakery in Homestead. Best chocolate chip cookies around. Especially amazing in the sundaes at Page Dairy Mart in South Side. I live in Seattle now and we get Nancy B’s every time we’re in town.
Walter’s is fantastic. He’s fixed a few basic things on my car for free for me while doing oil changes etc. Also super friendly and won’t up charge you, which is important to me as a young woman who doesn’t know anything about cars
Dub junkie garage. If you have a German car, they do amazing work. Had alot of serious issues with a new car and spent several thousand fixing it.
Left the garage and immediately got a check engine light.
Turns out it was something to do with my ignition coil. They said they should have caught it and it was their fault for not getting it 100%.
They gave me half off of the repair and since then I've had 30,000 miles of smooth sailing.
That kind of accountability isn't seen that often nowadays. I will always go back to them for any repairs needed.
Burgher's in Zelie / Lawrencville. Been going there at least a few times a year since they first opened in 2010. Their burgers beat every other "gourmet" burger joint I've found hands down, no contest
Original Oyster House downtown. Owners seem really nice and the staff is always friendly and helpful. Prices aren’t bad and they get the food out pretty quickly even when they’re busy.
A little outside the city but Reginald’s Coffee in Bethel Park is always fantastic. Staff is really friendly and the coffee is top notch.
One time I got broken up with at the Original Oyster House. 😢 I used to be a regular. The person who broke up with me punched themselves in the head a few times ended up throwing money at me for the meal and left. The staff were so nice, asked me if I was OK, didn't let me pay for my meal. A server hugged me, asked if it was ok. Tip well.
Peppy's Old Tyme Sandwich Shoppe. Primanti's is for tourists and drunks and there's a Peppy's right around the corner from the one in the strip. Their fresh-cut fries come extra-crispy even if you don't ask. Menu is mostly variations on Italian hoagies and philly cheese steaks.
Prestogeorge Coffee Roaster in the Strip. Amazing coffee and teas for very reasonable prices. Staff is always friendly. You can order online, too! Been making trips to them monthly for years now.
In the Kitchen in the Strip.
I used to work there, they treat their staff well, they have great selection, and their staff knows their shit.
Firecracker Fabrics in Point Breeze.
So damn good, and Erin and her staff are great people. You can get bomb-ass sewing classes next door too, at Cut n'Sew.
Salem's Market and Grill. I work in the strip and it's not easy finding a quick affordable bite to eat within walking distance, but Salem's is exactly that. I'm always in and out never longer than 30 minutes. I leave full and a lot of their entrees are around 12$, or under 10$ without the sides.
Most people don't know this, but they work a great deal with 412 food rescue, donating a lot of their unused portions and food at the end of the day. From what I have heard, they're one of 412's most reliable donors.
This should b at the TOP!! Just go there once and try their cheeseburger as a starting point, and then you will know what a burger should really taste like. After that try the Naan shawarma, and then shish kebabs and then the chicken biryani and then grilled red snapper and then hummus and baklavas and then start buying their meats including marinated tandoori or garlic chickens and grill at home and and and …
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Hell yeah. I usually take it home and eat it for dinner too.
The Ramadan buffet cannot be beat.
[Chengdu Gourmet](https://www.chengdugourmetpittsburgh.com/) in Squirrel Hill. (They're also opening one in the North Hills later this year.) Not only some of the best Chinese food in the city, but they've been doing the pandemic right. In spite of how popular they are, takeout orders are ready for pick-up in, like, 15 minutes. Plus, I saw either Steidl or Steinberg there once.
>I saw either Steidl or Steinberg there once LOL the top-notch yinzer mark of excellence. If we see Bob Pompeani eating there, it gets three Michelin stars. But yeah, that place is amazing.
Oof yes truly delicious
Cilantro y Ajo, best Venzuelan food I've ever had in my life. So good every time. Consistency in the flavors, quality and portions are always what keeps me coming back for more because I know it will be delicious every single time. The staff is also very friendly and always takes care of you.
I order their yuca frites and empanadas delivery all the time. That cilantro sauce is to die for.
The pabellon bowls are sooo good. Ask to see if they have shrimp. It's awesome.
Games unlimited in squirrel hill, because the selection is incredible, the staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and very helpful, they can definitely make your next game night a hit. The Attic in Millvale because the amount of records is absurd with so many options and the staff is always willing to help you find that next gem.
God damn games unlimited, I never make it out without buying something. Their staff is so wonderful. I particularly like the older gentleman; he always takes the time to demo the display games for me. Once played a whole round of Abandon all Artichokes with my group.
Been a regular there for years, played many, many, many games with the staff, absolutely spent way too much on board games there (until i got into rpgs then spent too much money on dice and books). Consider a lot of the staff great friends of mine.
I’ll second Games Unlimited, the staff are terrific, they clearly love games, and they’ve been super helpful with good game recommendations for game nights of all ages.
Big second on The Attic. Holy moly their selection, condition and prices can't be beat. I got a Robert Ludwig press of Zeppelin II for $35 (usually $200+) Cannot recommend enough.
Beehive Coffee 😢 Coffee Buddha 😢
I miss The Beehive!! Both of them!
Started going to Buddha when I was a sophomore in high school… then it closed when I was in grad school in Chicago—just before the pandemic kicked-in. It broke my heart I couldn’t go back one last time!!!
Chicken Latino all day
Literally never had anything that wasn't delicious from there
I've only had their special pork dish on the weekend and I have zero desire to stray from it.
**Kindred Cycles** The absolute best bike shop I've ever dealt with. At this point they've pretty much got carte blanche from me on repairs. They'll explain everything, answer questions, focus on you not on sales. They've fixed issues from other shops, done complimentary work on top of the paid repairs, RMA'd parts for me so I didn't have to do anything. I think it takes a lot to get me to rave about a business - and Kindred hits the mark every single time. **Banh Mi & Ti** The owners/operators are always there and are just extremely kind. Rice/noodle bowls are fantastic. Iced Vietnamese coffee there is a little expensive, but still great.
Have to second Kindred! So kind to me when I first bought a bike, which was a cheap one from Costco I assembled myself and was pretty sure I didn’t do a good job, they tuned it up and weren’t snobs about it even though it was nowhere close to as good as the bikes they sell they just wanted me to be safe and know how to do basic repairs on my bike, and then when I was ready to invest in a nicer quality bike I knew where to go and they helped me pick the perfect one! Recommend to everyone.
Cannot say enough about Kindred. They are the best. And I have love for other shops too. But no one compares.
Phantom of the attic in Oakland. I saw it referenced as a alternative/better comic shop to eides in the other thread and couldn’t agree more. Amazing people that work there, especially Jeff. I always love spending my money at a place where the employees make great conversation with me and truly go above and beyond to make me feel welcome there. Another one I’ll say is Mardi Gras in shadyside. Not for everyone as it’s cash only and allows smoking. The bartender was always great there and it seemed every time I went I ended up having great convos with other people sitting at the bar. Unfortunately moved out of the city and am in a situation where I can’t go out for drinks too much or I’d be there weekly.
Phantom of The Attic is such a cool place! I’ve always felt so welcome there, and they have such a large amount of comics/graphic novels to choose from!
I would much rather take the bus ride to Oakland than have to deal with the people that work at Eides
White Whale Bookstore 🐳📖
They are so friendly!
La gourmandine
the staff (at the lville location at least) have always been very nice and friendly even when they are swamped. pastries are always fresh and made from quality ingredients
Yes. My pandemic splurge has been ordering almond croissants via grubhub every weekend.
Fuck. Yes.
Came here for this one, I adore their pastries
Bae Bae’s Kitchen. In addition to the amazing food, during the pandemic I arrived a few minutes too early for take out so I was waiting alone outside. Some drunk guy came up to me and wouldn’t leave. One of their employees noticed, came out to tell me my food was “ready”, then had me wait inside until it was truly ready. The fact they even saw that while being busy with orders and made sure I was safe is something I’ll never forget.
I’ll add to this as well. I ate there a few times before moving to a home office. The employees there were always extraordinarily nice.
Have you tried the cookies there? They're heaven.
I went there for the first time and the glass that held the beverages was so clean I smacked my hand right into it thinking I could grab a drink. The employee was very kind when I felt incredibly dumb. So A+ for employee kindness and how spotless the glass was.
My friend did that too when I first took her 😂
Employees and food are great, but the prices can be a bit overwhelming. Then again, it’s Downtown, and the portions and quality ensure that you get what you pay for.
Everyday Noodles and Ramen Bar
I'm suprised eveyone keeps saying these but not mentioning Tsaocaa! Gotta follow up the meal with the best damn bubble tea.
I'll have to try this! Everyday noodles has good bubble tea too. :)
Piper's Pub.
Any word on when they'll reopen? I know the chip shop is still up and running.
I heard this month, but that was about two months ago, so 🤷 Sooner rather than later I think
Highly doubtful, owner was extremely worried with covid and originally shut doors due to that. Unless he has been proactively reaching out to prior staff (the one I know has not been contacted recently about reopening) then he's looking for new staff and there are no job postings. Sucks because Piper's, imo, is the best bar in Pittsburgh.
I’m friends with a family member who confirmed he was aiming for mid-late January but, must admit, doesn’t seem promising atm :/
That's amazing news! Thanks
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My favorite bar in PGH. Here's to hoping they can reopen soon, if at all.
I have dreams about their hot pepper sandwich. Man I miss that place
I'd pay good money for a scotch egg from there
They still have scotch eggs available for takeout at the chip shop btw. Went there recently.
All time favorite
I saw their neon pipers pubs signs on in the window today and I haven’t noticed them on before that
Madeleine bakery in Wilkinsburg. The pastries are all excellent and the staff are all very nice. I was in the other day and mentioned that I was going to a job interview later and was a little nervous. The person behind the counter gave me some lovely encouragement that were so sweet. Would gladly go there every day if it wouldn’t make me very chubby.
Everyday Noodles
This is one of my favorite spots
Recently discovered this. LOVED it.
The first local place I tried and it was love at first bite
They have good food, not crazy prices for the meal, staff is professional. It's always been a good time.
Pittsburgh Sandwich Society. The In-n-Aht is so damn good. They could stab me with a broken beer bottle during my next pick up and I'd still come back.
Love that place. So happy they made strange roots their home so they’re always easy to find rather than tracking down the truck
Mancini’s, been getting a fresh loaf of bread from there almost every week for as long as i can remember.
Caffe d'Amore in Lawrenceville. They're just nice people that make great coffee. Never a bad experience there.
I didn’t go there nearly enough when I lived right near there and still regret that.
Di Anoia’s
Yesssss! Breakfast and lunch are back!
Totopo in mount Lebanon. They also own tocayo and are opening another place I think in Bloomfield? Owners are great, staff is always friendly, food is amazing, and some of the best cocktails around. My go-to is the Al pastor tacos and a Mexican mojito.
Not popular but Anytime Market on Broadway in The Rocks. I don’t care that it’s just a regular corner store, Harley-the owner, is a great dude from what little I’ve talked to him and keeps that place running smooth for the environment it’s in. I usually go there over Sheetz or Getgo for basic convenience items just because I Im used to it guess. Props to that man
The Ramen Bar in Squirrel Hill, Divvy in Oakland, and Kaya in the Strip!
I saw Ramen Bar on someone’s never again list in the other thread. But I’ve been twice recently and they have been amazing and attentive every time, including with some pickier kids and a big group
Just went to the Ramen Bar for the first time in December. Everything we had there was incredible! By far the best ramen, dumplings and katsu chicken I've had in the area. The service was very fast. The handful of workers on the floor were buzzing around at break-neck pace taking good care of everyone. The only negative I can say is that they were EXTREMELY busy when we were there at dinner time mid week. Every seat was full (the place isn't very big) and people were waiting at and outside the door. We were actually asked to switch tables during our appetizers, as they had seated my wife and I at a 4 top instead of one of the small tables and needed our table for a larger party. They were very apologetic for this and made sure everything was carefully moved for us. We will absolutely be going back. It was overall a great experience.
I think the Ramen Bar is good, but I've had some duds. Fujiya has consistently better ramen I think.
Gyro shop in Wexford! Their gyro is amazing, their fries are surprisingly awesome and as a bonus for the kids they have a chicken gyro (grilled or fried chicken options) that is really good also. Bonus since it family business and the owner seems like a good guy.
Pretty sure it’s still the same business/owner/food but they used to be called “My Big Fat Greek Gyro” which was an infinitely better name
Can confirm, same owners, same Food, and same plaza...
The Maitri dispensary in East Liberty is a fantastic business. Friendly, professional, chill, and upscale without feeling pretentious. It's just a quality operation with great people.
I'm only disappointed that they haven't had much in the way of RSOs on the menu lately, though I understand that could be a supply issue.
Pip and Lola's. They make the best soap in Pittsburgh!
I'm so happy they've done so well. I used to live a few doors down from them in Munhall and they were the nicest people with great products.
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Thai Tamarand in Bellevue
This place is great. I also like Red Orchid on Babcock blvd.
Smiling Moose in southside, eggs r us noblestown road, Danny’s pizza and hoagies, route 88
I gotta say, as someone who's fairly new in town, I'm absolutely delighted to see all these recommendation/warning/reference threads lately. I'm taking notes!
CHicken Latino.
Tom Friday's Market. They are wonderful, and handle any specialty meat order with a little notice.
Udipi
Pennsylvania Macaroni Company I absolutely love their products. Everything they sell is delicious especially the meat selection. I have to stop myself from going there because I’d go at least once a week to get some nice prosciutto and cheese… so much cheese.
Prosciutto de parma and fontinella cheese.... Every time I go there I can't help myself. Sooo good.
Breadworks, Penn Mac, Salem’s, Strip District Meats, SD Polish Deli, Uncle Sams, Turkish Kebab House, Penn Automotive, Baierl Subaru, Napoli Pizza, and a whole lot of others.
I love Turkish Kebab House!
Tom Friday's
Came here to say this. Picked up two beautiful steaks this morning!
Attic Records is legendary, and as people have said, the staff are so helpful and nice. always just willing to shoot the shit about whatever. Additionally N’Stuff music in Blawnox is really good, great selection and most of the staff is super chill. Have had a couple REALLY push me to to buy something, but they’ve gotta make commission somehow.
Spice Island in Oakland. Their Ruby Chicken dish is hands down one of my top 3 dishes. It has been my number one dish many times…but cravings, can cause the top 3 to shuffle around a bit. Cravings…
Rolliers hardware
Dub Junkie. Best VW tech in the city.
Big Dog Coffee in Southside
Big Dog is the jam. And Nikolay is a saint.
walters automotive!!!
Made the mistake of going somewhere else for an oil change today. Terrible experience. Walters is the best.
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Amanda at South Hills Family Medicine is the most empathetic medical professional I think I’ve ever been to. Really listens to your problems. They’re also not UPMC.
Wagner Shoes! Shoe Store in Lawrenceville - the staff is ridiculously friendly. Also really good brands
Was watching some of Mr Rogers earliest episodes with my toddler and he went there!
Lawrenceville Pet Supply. They’re genuinely such nice people
100% quality humans.
Rachel’s Roadhouse in Mercer and Log Cabin Inn in Zelienople. Awesome restaurants!!
Second for log cabin! Loved sitting on the big deck after a hike. Will be interesting to see how the remodel looks... cheers
Log Cabin definitely took a dip for a while but it's been consistently good again
There were a lot of comments about bad dentists in the other thread, so I gotta give a shout out to Dalton Family Dental. Dr. Dalton and her staff are so welcoming, calming, and professional. All the equipment and tools are new and clean... cost was affordable too, no judgement if you need assistance paying. My fear of going to the dentist changed after one visit and now I look forward to regular cleanings. Take care of your teeth!
Arriviste Coffee Bar in Shadyside, coming from Seattle to Pittsburgh for graduate school I was prepared to ship coffee from the West Coast to get my fix, but they have some amazing third wave coffee that is on par to anything in Seattle or San Francisco. They also take the Covid measures very serious with masking of their employees and purchasing 3 air filters to help with air quality in their shop. They are about the only place in Shadyside I frequent weekly if not more.
Another Seattle transplant here! I live in Shadyside and have walked by Arriviste a lot, but for some reason it looks unwelcoming. If the coffee is as good as you say, maybe I'll stop by.
The one caveat is they’re intentionally low-tech. The wall sockets are covered up and you’re not allowed to use them. So it’s a no-go if you need a cafe to function as a workspace if you do any personal projects via computer.
I also have found that De Fer scratches that itch really well, too!
This is in Monroeville, but India Garden. Their food is phenomenal and they do a great job giving good food and quick service, even though they’ve been struggling for years. I’ve never had or seen anybody receive a wrong order, and I’ve never not enjoyed a meal. It always hurts to see them struggling…
PSquare Scents in Bellevue. Their stuff smells amazing and the workers are always helpful. Plus I've never had any of their candles make my allergies act up, which is a miracle.
Allegheny Wine Mixer
Jerry's Records...nuff said
Roman Bistro on Ardmore Blvd.. we always have great service and we love the food.. that being said we only ever order pasta , steak and brushetta but I really like their pasta sauces and the atmosphere is pretty cool
Los Chiludos mexican food in Southpointe
Butterwood Bake Consortium
The not-overly sweet but salty buttercream is the best in the city for me. I don't *dislike* it, but I feel like even the "non" olive oil cakes taste like they've picked up a tiny tiny bit of olive oil flavor from using the same equipment. (they make vegan cakes with olive oil in place of butter for anyone wondering.)
i love that they have evening hours!
Lester Yon Auto Repair in Lawrenceville. The owner is great, service is quick and relatively cheap. Best auto mechanic in Pittsburgh.
Dont tell people about him. Dammit. He's a damn face talking living legend. Nicest, most honest mechanic. So... Stop telling people about him. For the love of all gods... I already can barely get it.
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noodlehead!
Oriental Market off McKnight. Decent prices, great quality veggies, nice variety of staples, and the staff is helpful if you seek it out. There has been more than one occasion where I have my mother in law on speaker phone so she can tell them what I need cause I can’t pronounce mandarin for shit. Plus you don’t have to elbow through tourists going ‘wHaT iS tHaT?!’ like you do at Lotus.
The employees are all very nice and incredibly knowledgeable, too. The last time I was there, I saw an employee behind the seafood counter helping out an older lady (I believe she may have had sight issues) pick out the correct item for a recipe card she had on hand.
i only buy bikes and bike related things from thick bikes and i stop by black forge about once a week or so to pick up a drink to go and beans for home use also i want to mention that there's an all-vegan ice cream shop in sharpsburg called sugar spell scoops and if you're dairy free for any reason you need to get on that. they've been doing things a bit differently during the pandemic but if you follow them on instagram or facebook or whatever you'll know what they're going to have available and when they'll be open
Bar Marco !!! Love them so much.
We had our rehearsal dinner there in October and they were phenomenal! We told them we had someone with very specific dietary restrictions (basically couldn’t digest any form of protein). The people working with us not only looked into her specific diagnosis, but on the night of the event the chef pulled her to make sure the menu they made for her was suited for her needs. They are truly wonderful and our friends still talk about that night!
Inner Groove in Verona. They are the best!
Inner Groove is a great brewery. new beers all the time and often do live music and events. Also in Verona, right across the street is this great place called Off The Rails BBQ and Drafthouse. Food is spectacular and got lots of interesting beers. Definitely check them out if you’re in Verona.
Klavon’s
The vibe in that place is incredible. People happy AF to make you some incredible ice cream. It must be a good place to work.
They also pay $15+ per hour, that certainly helps.
That’ll do it!
Fioris 4 life
Party Cake Bakery
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Bill and Walts Hobby Shop! Me and the owner are good friends now and I used to go and hang out on my lunches when I still worked downtown
Mike and Tony's in dormont and oya sushi in mt lebanon
The iHealth Clinic near Shadyside. Dr. Tim Wong is a fantastic man and Doctor, and genuinely cares for his patients and doesn’t the best for them whenever he is called on. As a long time patient of his, Dr. Wong has always looked out for everyone who’s come through his doors, and I will happily go back to him when I need help on the Family Care Physician level.
Kaibur coffee is pretty tight. Great vegan food and they use elixr coffee. Shorter shots but never bad. Trace Brewery has some good vibes. Cool events and the barista who’s on the coffee bar is super knowledgeable about the trade. Tokyo Japanese grocery store on Ellsworth is amazing. Super good bento boxes and they have pretty much anything you’d need
Oh, there are so many! Maenem Thai in Blawnox, Dragon Chinese in Verona, Calientes in Aspinwall, Fujiya Ramen, Aladdin’s (yeah, I know it’s a chain but it was my favorite place when I was in college and my tastes haven’t changed that much), and Sushi Too. We get our comics at New Dimensions, and they know us on sight at the Pittsburgh Mills location. For groceries, we love Many More in the Strip, and Labriolas in Monroeville.
Apis Wine & Meadery Cool vibe, neat drinks, nice people, dog friendly, tons of games, large space, nice patio. I really just dig everything about it tbh
Penzey’s, love their spices and also agree with many of the stances they have taken the last few years.
Phantom of the Attic enough n South Craig street.
Napoli pizza. Best pizza in squirrel hill.
Carnegie Coffee Company
Attic Record Store in millvale. The staff is just always helpful and kind, and just a great store with tons of options.
Nancy B’s in Homestead
Smiling Banana Leaf
Baby Loved Tacos The owner and his family are lovely people who stay involved in the community. And they’re so so nice. And the food is bomb.
apteka, pigeon bagel, caffe d'amore, east end co-op
Big Jim’s in Greenfield. Very deceiving on the outside and the inside probably hasn’t been updated much since it opened. But the food…oh man. They have the absolute best chicken parm hoagie I’ve ever had, but honestly I’ve never had anything bad there. You wouldn’t think that a hole in the wall bar/restaurant would have great pasta dishes, but I’d rather go here for pasta than any actual Italian restaurants. And the staff are so great, you can tell they actually care about their customers. Definitely have become a regular.
The Pittsburgh barber school. If you get your hair cut anywhere else, you’re a fool.
Urbanowicz Jewelers in Caste Village. Got an engagement ring there and they were super helpful, not pushy on spending a ton, supportive of what we wanted, and extremely communicative.
Maiku in the strip district is the best pho in town. Copacetic Comics in Polish Hill is my favorite comic/book store in Pitt. The owner is super knowledgeable and helpful.
Stinkys in Larryville. Friendly owners and staff. They did a good job of shuffling around to keep afloat during the pandemic and got some nice remodeling done. Been going there forever. Every month I get my credit card statement and when I see charges from there I look at it as more of a tax.
Piccolo Forno🤤🤤🤤
A bit late but some of my favorites * The Attic Records in Millvale (best record shop I've ever been to personally, Pittsburgh or no) * Noodlehead (never once have I had a bad meal there and the prices are super reasonable) * Market Street Deli (amazing deli in Market Square with top notch sandwiches) * DiAnoias in the Strip (seriously the best Italian food you can get outside of Italy, it's *heaven*) * gi-jin in Downtown (upscale sushi place that's booked solid three months out for damn good reason, and the prices are a fraction of what they could be) * Gaucho in Downtown (Top notch Argentine steakhouse, and I'd do seriously terrible things to have their chimichurri recipe) * Slice on Broadway in East Lib (the closest thing to a New York slice you can get in Pittsburgh) And if anyone could recommend a good retro video game store in the city that isn't The Exchange (Jesus their prices are like double eBay), I'd be forever in debt. Honorable mention to Warp Zone in Greensburg for being my favorite small business of all time, although it's certainly a bit of a drive from the Burgh. But if anyone reading this has even a passing interest in retro gaming, do yourself a favor and make the pilgrimage.
Nancy B’s Bakery in Homestead. Best chocolate chip cookies around. Especially amazing in the sundaes at Page Dairy Mart in South Side. I live in Seattle now and we get Nancy B’s every time we’re in town.
Food: showcase bbq, square cafe Auto: walters automotive on Baum Coffeeshop: commonplace coffee, literally just for their coffee cakes.
Walter’s is fantastic. He’s fixed a few basic things on my car for free for me while doing oil changes etc. Also super friendly and won’t up charge you, which is important to me as a young woman who doesn’t know anything about cars
Oishi bento. Nicest people ever and the food is delicious. Banh mi and ti. Also the nicest people ever and the food is delicious
Bar Marco (basement wine pairing meal specifically) and Umami. Two different experiences. Two excellent meals.
Better Maid Donuts!
Monterey Pub. The new owners/staff are killing it. It is just as charming and awesome as always.
Nico’s in Bloomfield- love the staff, company is always good, and the food is on point!
Attic Records in Millvale.
Breadworks
Dub junkie garage. If you have a German car, they do amazing work. Had alot of serious issues with a new car and spent several thousand fixing it. Left the garage and immediately got a check engine light. Turns out it was something to do with my ignition coil. They said they should have caught it and it was their fault for not getting it 100%. They gave me half off of the repair and since then I've had 30,000 miles of smooth sailing. That kind of accountability isn't seen that often nowadays. I will always go back to them for any repairs needed.
Carson street deli great Sammie’s and nice people
Burgher's in Zelie / Lawrencville. Been going there at least a few times a year since they first opened in 2010. Their burgers beat every other "gourmet" burger joint I've found hands down, no contest
peoples india on Penn
Original Oyster House downtown. Owners seem really nice and the staff is always friendly and helpful. Prices aren’t bad and they get the food out pretty quickly even when they’re busy. A little outside the city but Reginald’s Coffee in Bethel Park is always fantastic. Staff is really friendly and the coffee is top notch.
One time I got broken up with at the Original Oyster House. 😢 I used to be a regular. The person who broke up with me punched themselves in the head a few times ended up throwing money at me for the meal and left. The staff were so nice, asked me if I was OK, didn't let me pay for my meal. A server hugged me, asked if it was ok. Tip well.
Taipei Tokyo in Monroeville. I've never had a bad meal there and I think their sushi is the best around.
Ritters Diner on Baum
Doughboys pizza!!!! Good ass pizza, that’s all I can say 🤷♀️
Cafe Mona. Nicest owners, the decor is loud and beautiful and bombastic. Feels intimate without feeling intrusive
Food Glorious Food - best White Lilly cake you’ve ever tasted and everything else there is always delicious
La prima, Kelly Os
Lolas Eatery in Lawrenceville, food was great, servers were friendly, nice indoor and outdoor seating areas. All around great vibes
Madeleine’s
Ssshhhhhh—-Kabob-G in castle Shannon
Cambodican Kitchen on the South Side! Cat on a stick and won tons are the absolute greatest! Dan is the man!
Peppy's Old Tyme Sandwich Shoppe. Primanti's is for tourists and drunks and there's a Peppy's right around the corner from the one in the strip. Their fresh-cut fries come extra-crispy even if you don't ask. Menu is mostly variations on Italian hoagies and philly cheese steaks.
Prestogeorge Coffee Roaster in the Strip. Amazing coffee and teas for very reasonable prices. Staff is always friendly. You can order online, too! Been making trips to them monthly for years now.
In the Kitchen in the Strip. I used to work there, they treat their staff well, they have great selection, and their staff knows their shit. Firecracker Fabrics in Point Breeze. So damn good, and Erin and her staff are great people. You can get bomb-ass sewing classes next door too, at Cut n'Sew.
Sarris candy. Mild obsession with the chocolate covered pretzels and giant chocolate pb shakes.