Is football not really your thing? Maybe the most you know about the sport is that a ball is involved? Could you care less about Super Bowl LX that everyone seems to be talking about? While everyone else is packed inside their friends houses or bars to watch the game, take advantage of the empty streets by booking a reservation to one of Pittsburgh’s best restaurants. Normally, these places are nearly impossible to get into and will leave you with months of waiting for their deliciousness. But, Super Bowl Sunday leaves an opening for you to enjoy a new favorite without competing for a table.
Skip the Super Bowl and Book a Reservation to the Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh
Alta Via
Why not treat yourself to true Italian comfort? At Alta Via, everything comes made from scratch from their pasta to their grilled meats. Slow-Roasted Tomatoes, Campanelle Carbonara, and Eggplant Parmesan all await. Head to either one of their Fox Chapel or Market Square locations to feel as though you’ve been whisked away to the European countryside.
Con Alma
Jazz is at the center of each one of Con Alma’s values. Their Latin American-inspired menu fuses with soul food flavors for dishes like Jerk BBQ Chicken or a Fried Snapper Sandwich. The best part is that most days during the week, this Downtown restaurant hosts jazz concerts that you can enjoy as you eat. On February 8 you can stop in to see the Reggie Watkins Trio.
DiAnoia’s Eatery
Are you craving large bowls of warming pasta? What about sandwiches that pile the finest deli meats high atop homemade bread? DiAnoia’s Eatery is cozy Italian dining at its best. Head in and grab a table or even order for takeout and enjoy at home. Either way you can look forward to thoughtful antipasto choices, house-made pasta, quality cuts of meat, decadent desserts, and a luxurious wine menu to match.
Eleven
An elegant night out will leave you feeling like a star near the Strip District of Pittsburgh. Over on Smallman Street, Eleven’s contemporary dining upgrades all you know and love. Scottish Salmon meets a butternut squash mash, roasted turnips, leeks, apple, sage, cider beurre blanc, and saba. Ricotta Cavatelli goes high-class with the addition of oyster mushrooms, red yams, broccolini, sage, and espellette. And don’t forget dessert from talented pastry chef, Selina Progar.
Monterey Bay
There may be no better view of the city than high atop Mount Washington at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto. Look over the Three Rivers, the stadiums, and Pittsburgh’s beautiful cityscape as you dine on carefully cooked seafood. Their Crab Cakes and fresh fish fillets are a must but there’s also choices of steak for those who don’t favor the sea. Stick around after your dinner to try a digestif, the perfect finish to your meal. Their choices include dessert cocktails like Why So Cereal? and Grandma’s Cookies.
Palm Palm
When it’s winter in Pittsburgh, all we want is to be somewhere warmer, preferably lounging on the beach. Palm Palm is about as close as we can get with their coastal-inspired cuisine. Over in East Liberty, this restaurant encourages you to share small and large plates with those around you. Dig into Mini Lobster Rolls, Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Dumplings, and Beef Short Rib with the one you love. Your own personal customization comes with your drink order whether it’s from their extensive wine list, signature cocktails, or homemade sodas.
Ritual House
Make your way into Downtown to experience global flavors in an accessible way at Ritual House. Here, they focus on the small details of your meal which includes an atmosphere that feels both modern and nostalgic all at once. For dinner, it’s best to start with one of their eclectic cocktails or mocktails that makes winter a bit more bearable. Then, choose from multicultural starters, a special list of dumplings, prime center cuts of steak, well-sourced seafood, and so much more.
Apteka
If you happen to be vegetarian or vegan than Apteka is a must for your evening plans. Everything here is vegan and we mean EVERYTHING. Plus, for the day of the Super Bowl, they’re running their Crapteka menu, an ode to the comfort food you long for. From veggie burgers and fries to big salads and sunflower seed milk shakes, you’re sure to try something new and maybe even find a new favorite.
The Vandal
Chef Joey Hilty prepares a menu for The Vandal that’s as intimate and intricate as the space you dine in. In the stylish streets of Lawrenceville, The Vandal thrives with their five seat wine bar and seasonal menu. Right now you can try dishes like Oysters featuring a yuzu cucumber mignonette and homemade hot sauce, Seared Scallops with fennel soubise, castelvetrano olives, and winter citrus, or Crispy Pork Shoulder with marinated butterball potatoes, escarole, and mustard vinaigrette.
Fet-Fisk
It’s not often you see a Nordic restaurant but Fet-Fisk’s dedication to seafood and Appalachian agriculture showcases how special it can be. Their daily selection of raw oysters accompany servings of Danish sea trout caviar. But there’s also items to try like Smoked Trout Paté that come with seeded crackers for dipping, Rye Cavatelli full of oyster mushrooms, apple, carrot broth, grana, and truffle, or Steamed Hollander Mussels cooked in cream and dry sherry full of herbs.
Story by Kylie Thomas
Photo Courtesy of Fet-Fisk
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