Palm Palm, the East Liberty restaurant that put the cool in tropical with its mash-up of Palm Springs retro and Palm Beach chic, just landed on Yelp’s list of the 25 best American new restaurants in 2026. Co-owned by husband-and-wife Herky and Lisa Pollock and Chef Ed and Amanda Smith, the restaurant opened in 2025.
Palm Palm is Now One of America’s Best New Restaurants
From the get-go, Palm Palm quickly generated buzz for its vacation-vibe comfort food, including tuna sushi tots, truffle Spaghettios, and shrimp with coconut grits. Also making a splash: the laid-back-meet-luxe dining room, with its sink-in velvet banquettes, hand-gilded ceiling, and 30-foot-long mural of a baby-blue Cadillac DeVille, which is a favorite photo op for Instagram influencers. The restaurant’s interior design is a notable addition to the Pittsburgh restaurant scene.
To build their top 25 ranks, Yelp looks at data from full-service restaurants, including review volume, ratings, and health scores, then brings in its own experts to curate the final picks.
Herky Pollock, CEO of Legacy Hospitality Partners, sees Palm Palm as a tribute to neighborhood that raised him. “Growing up in the East End of Pittsburgh and being able to be part of this incredible community full of history for most of my life, we paid homage by opening Palm Palm,” he says. “Without our neighbors, our friends, and our roots, Palm Palm would not be what it is today! It is a love letter and a thank you for all that our community has done for us.”
Legacy Hospitality partner Amanda Smith says hospitality is the company’s foundation, which reinforces the neighborhood vibe. “Our company and our restaurants are rooted in hospitality! We are diverse and we are welcoming,” she says. “We know the important role a dining experience can play in bringing a community together, and our DNA is built on this premise. We love being part of such a uniquely diverse and inclusive environment.”
For Pollock, the national recognition belongs to his staff and to the city. “To be recognized as one of America’s 25 best new restaurants is beyond incredible. I am unbelievably proud of our team. They are the reason that this happened,” he says. “I am especially proud that once again, Pittsburgh is getting the opportunity to shine on the national stage.”
Palm Springs, by Way of East Liberty
Palm Palm, which TABLE covered when it opened in the summer of 2025, takes its cues from Palm Springs and Palm Beach, two resort towns where leisure and luxury go hand in hand. The room is relaxed enough for a Tuesday dinner and polished enough for a birthday or anniversary. We even spoke with restaurant muralist Daniel Bland about his design choices.
The kitchen rewrites the menu each season, though a few dishes have proven too popular to retire. Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Dumplings fold a lunch-counter classic into cheese wontons, served with garden tomato soup and basil. Tuna Sushi Tots are finished with cucumber, avocado, scallion, sesame seeds, and yum yum sauce. The Truffle Spaghetti-O’s owe more to Italy than to the can, dressed in parmesan cream and black garlic under shaved black truffle. Korean Fried Chicken gets crunch from peanuts, freshness from cilantro and scallion, and a sweet burn from chili pod and Szechuan syrup.
Dessert has become a reason to visit on its own. The house Key Lime Pie is a regular order, and The Orange stacks orange mousse, mandarin crémeux, mandarin jelly, and orange cake into a single citrus showpiece.
Brunch, the Patio, and Private Rooms
Palm Palm serves dinner and brunch. Its large patio is set up for outdoor dining in every season, and two private dining rooms open onto the chef’s kitchen, so groups can watch the cooks at work.
Discover more of Pittsburgh’s culinary scene with our guide to bars and restaurants around the city.
About the Author
Keith Recker is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Owner of TABLE Magazine. A color and trend forecaster for nearly 20 years, his clients have included Pantone, WGSN, Stylus, and the Color Association of the United States. He is the author of three books on color, including Deep Color: The Shades That Shape Our Souls and True Colors: World Masters of Natural Dyes and Pigments, and PANTONE: The Twentieth Century in Color. He is co-founder of the Open Source Colour Association, a new organization devoted to inclusive and transparent color forecasting. Earlier in his career, he was a vice president of home merchandising at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Gump’s San Francisco. Listen to his podcast appearances at The Color Authority and EcoFashion Hub.
Read more of his work here or contact him at keith@tablemagazine.com. Follow him on Instagram as @TheChromosapien.
About the Featured Photo Photographer
Dave Bryce is TABLE Magazine’s contributing architecture, interiors, and food photographer, based in Pittsburgh. He photographed Fallingwater: Living With and In Art (Rizzoli, 2025) and regularly shoots for Pittsburgh Magazine and American Farmhouse Style, working with architects, interior designers, and hospitality brands. See more at davebrycephotography.com.
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