Caviar is a treat. Even some of Pittsburgh’s most exclusive restaurants don’t serve it, because it’s expensive to import, and only the top-of-the-line customers order it. Along with champagne, it’s a Valentine’s Day favorite if you’re looking to impress your partner with a romantic meal. But there are ways to get it without breaking the bank, so we’ve rounded up where to buy it in Pittsburgh for both dining out and eating in.
Why Is Caviar a Luxury?
The classic caviar is the eggs from a female sturgeon fish, no more, no less. It was popular in the ancient civilizations of Russia and China, where khans and soldiers alike feasted on sturgeon roe. Russian aristocrats took a liking to it, and suddenly it became a luxury item, traded at high prices and harvested on at scale.
But the main reason caviar is so expensive is a bit of a bummer—maybe not a Valentine’s Day dinner topic, unless you happen to be dating an environmentalist. Sturgeon are highly endangered, so there are many rules and regulations in place for their harvesting, which then drives up the overall cost. (If you have a vegan date who is upset by eating an endangered animal goods and you still want to impress them, consider Zeroe seaweed caviar).
One argument for going out to eat or shopping locally is that if you want to order in, you can sometimes be looking at $1000+ for a two-person spread, though you can also go through sites like Charitybuzz to have a portion of your spending donated. A party-size tray of Beluga caviar could put you out a whopping $7500.
Another element of this cost is the labor behind it. To make caviar, producers catch sturgeon, gently massage them to release their eggs, and then meticulously rinse them, sieve them, and sort them by size and quality after extraction. Again, maybe not the best Valentine’s Day table topic…but maybe it is, since it’s one of the great truths that behind every act of romance is a lot of hard, unglamorous labor. But, as in love, that doesn’t mean the end result is any less worth it! Caviar is a delicacy and can be a wonderful way to make someone feel special.
Where to Get Caviar in Pittsburgh for Valentine’s Day
Wholey’s
1711 Penn Avenue
Wholey’s in the Strip is the undisputed champion of fish shopping in Pittsburgh, for good reason. Their focus on quality means that you’re getting the best of the best. At the moment, you can buy Danish lumpfish caviar for only $27 on their website, but they offer other kinds as seasonally available. Make a day out of shopping in the Strip to get caviar for your special meal.
Fet-Fisk
4786 Liberty Avenue
If you’re looking for caviar with dinner, you can’t beat Fet-Fisk. At $30 for 1oz, it’s pretty affordable. Trade secret: If you get the Crispy Monday wings special, they drizzle caviar on top, if you’re not ready for a full ounce of caviar. Chef Nik Forsberg once said his Swedish grandmother’s one regret in life was that she didn’t eat enough caviar, so he made it a mission to have it on his menu. The Danish trout roe he includes is more “texturally satisfying” than traditional sturgeon roe.
Ritual House
524 William Penn Place
Though it isn’t always on the menu, Ritual House has both a caviar starter and a caviar cream on top of their halibut dish. Plus, the romantic atmosphere makes almost anything feel luxurious if you choose to go there for a Valentine’s Day date.
Del Frisco’s
455 Fifth Avenue
At Del Frisco’s, there’s a whole separate caviar service section to the menu. Price varies based on stock and availability, so you get what you get, but it’s all farm-raised, top quality caviar. You can also order a customizable “caviar and seafood tower,” four tiers of seafood of your choice for you and your date.
Nataliya’s European Food
4370 Murray Avenue
This Ukrainian specialty store has several different types of canned caviar including sturgeon and lumpfish, due to its prevalence in Eastern European cooking as a side with Blini. This is a good option for a slightly lower price point than Wholey’s but not a drop in quality. As with any ethnic specialty grocery store, though, you just have to come prepared to ask questions and be open-minded.
Altius
1230 Grandview Avenue
If you really want to splurge and expand your palate, Altius has the most expensive type of caviar on their menu: Beluga sturgeon caviar. The menu describes the Beluga caviar as “pearl grey to dark grey pearls, silky texture, rare & regal character, aromatic notes of walnut, hazelnut, & butternut.” You can also get Siberian Royal and Italian Osetra, equally decadent and rare caviar.
Story by Emma Riva
Photo courtesy of Charitybuzz
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