It's a pretty familiar thought..."Where should we go out tonight?"
"I know what I don't want!" someone chimes in.
"I don't care where we go as long as I don't have to go through the Squirrel Hill tunnel!" another says, not kidding.
"I only have $10..."
Perhaps you've been here before.
There are so many great bars and restaurants in the Pittsburgh area...
...but finding reliable information on the internet can feel like an exercise in futility.
How many fake-sounding Yelp reviews can you read before you throw in the towel and hit up the Olive Garden?
I'm here to tell you that you do not need to settle for the "same old" with so much to experience in Pittsburgh, and you do not need to spend a fortune to have an amazing time.
There is another way! But first, a little background...
At Penn State, I discovered a site called the State College Bar Tour.
It had all the drink specials at every bar, every day of the week. It was updated weekly.
As most of you know, when you are in college, funds are limited, having access to see where you can drink cheap in college is a huge asset. This was the first time I was like, "wow, how useful to have this information available any time, right at your fingertips - tailored to my location and written by people I trust!"
As I moved on from my college years, I noticed a lack of the same tools for the general public.
Sure, I could sift through reviews of bars and restaurants in Pittsburgh on Google or Yelp until the cows came home...but I never felt like I could really trust what I was reading.
Additionally, there wasn't a single place I could go to see all of the best specials of the week to decide where to spend my cash.
Thus, Restaurant Gems Restaurant Reviews of Pittsburgh began!
I started small, posting reviews on Facebook for fun. It grew from there as people found my reviews helpful, thorough, and sometimes even comical.
My ultimate goal is to help everyday Pittsburghers find hidden restaurant gems that won’t break the bank.
Think of me as your good friend who has tried the best restaurants in and around the city, giving you reviews you know you can trust. That's what this website is all about.
I have written restaurant articles for applications and newspapers, appeared on the radio, am working on my second Pittsburgh restaurant book, and am starting to become well known in the Pittsburgh area as I visit all different types of restaurants from all over the area.
You can get started by reading some of my reviews below!
On Facebook:
FAYETTE COUNTY RESTAURANT SERVES UP DELICIOUS MOUNTAIN TOP COUNTRY COOKING![]()
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Braddock's Restaurant & Tavern![]()
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🤔 If you are looking for nature and sheer beauty, look no further than Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Situated in the majestic Laurel Highlands, there are a ton of attractions to visit. If you want treated like royalty, book a few days at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Visit Fallingwater, designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, which was a retreat house and deemed an architectural masterpiece used by the Kaufmann Family to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You can visit Ohiopyle State Park where you can visit waterfalls, take a hike on one of the many hiking trails, and whitewater raft for the more adventurous! If you are looking for a bite to eat, and are near the Farmington area, look no further than Braddock’s Restaurant and Tavern. It is here where comfort food is made with love. Let us look further into why the locals are saying you must give this place a try.![]()
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🥓 Breakfast – Braddock’s has a multitude of Omelets to choose from. The “Route 40 Monster” consists of sausage, bacon, ham, cheddar cheese, mushrooms, and onions. If you are looking for a mixture of breakfast goodness the “Garbage Breakfast Plate” is eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, peppers, onions, potatoes, and melted cheese. An item available all day is the “Chicken and Waffles”, which is a southern fried chicken over house made waffles and is served with butter and maple syrup.![]()
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🥩 Lunch and Dinner – Start out with an appetizer such as the “Stuffed Banana Peppers”. They are stuffed with hot Italian sausage and smothered in homemade marinara and mozzarella cheese. If chicken wings are your thing Braddocks’ does not disappoint. They have a wide variety of sauces to choose from.![]()
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🍔 Steak Burgers – There are 5 burgers on the menu to choose from. I am a big fan of the “Rodeo Burger”. It features pepper jack cheese, bacon, onion rings, jalapenos, and Carolina barbecue sauce.![]()
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🥪 Sandwiches – There’s nothing better than a greasy, flavorful Philly Cheesesteak. The “Not from Philly Cheesesteak” (captioned) is topped with thinly sliced steak, green peppers, mushrooms, onions, and provolone cheese. The “Cowboy Brisket Sandwich” is a half-pound of smoked brisket, jalapeno, pepper jack cheese, and BBQ sauce.![]()
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🍖 Entrees – Now it is time for some good ole fashion country cooking! The “Mountain Meatloaf” is bacon wrapped meatloaf smothered in a homemade gravy. The “Opened Face Roast Beef” features tender shaved beef on Texas toast smothered in brown gravy served with your choice of mashed potatoes or fresh cut fries. The “Shrimp and Grits” has blackened shrimp, andouilles sausage, onion, bell pepper, and garlic in a creamy Cajun sauce.![]()
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🧀 Other menu items – Braddock’s also has tasty salads, paninis, soups, sides, and more!![]()
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🧐 My Final Take – It is clear as day that when you try the food at Braddock’s Restaurant & Tavern you can tell they strive for excellence. Most people can tell the difference in average, edible food, and food that is cooked and prepared homemade, and is made with love. It’s restaurant gems like these that are off the beaten path and if you find them, you are in for a real treat!
🍕🍕🍕 OHIO VALLEY PIZZA - A LEGENDARY ESTABLISHMENT ![]()
Original DiCarlo's Pizza![]()
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🤔 Whether you are traveling west to Wheeling or Columbus, south to Morgantown, or far east to Washington D.C., you have probably driven by or through the county seat of Washington County with nearby West Virginia and Ohio in close proximity. A growing area where taxes are low, it is home to The Meadows Racetrack and Casino, The Tangor Outlets, Southpoint Golf Club, Cabela’s ,and many other attractions. ![]()
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🧀 I get constant heat especially from my fiancé about how picky of an eater I am. There is one food, however, that I never get sick of, and that’s pizza. It is extremely versatile, inexpensive, and full of flavor. Surprisingly, it did not start becoming popular since World War II, now nearly 3 billion pizzas are sold in the United States alone each year. ![]()
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🍕 For over 75 years Dicarlo’s Pizza has been pumping out their famous pizza consisting of a recipe that is surprisingly flavorful, yet surprisingly simple. At first glance, it may seem like very thin cut, New York style pizza. However, the crust is thicker than it looks, homemade, and crispy. It is thick enough to fill you up, but still gives you the feeling of eating a thin crust pizza. The sauce is homemade, not overpowering, and complements what makes this pizza great. The provolone cheese is rich and freshly grated. Nothing against mozzarella, however, provolone is sharp, and has much more flavor. The extra cheese is manageable and delicious.![]()
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🧐 As always, my final take. When it comes to pizza, most of the battle is won by using fresh ingredients. Dicarlo’s kneads this philosophy into their pizza in all aspects. It is old school, their menu is simple but effective, and everything they serve has the word “solid” all over it. What you put into something is what you get out of it. As anyone in an agricultural area will tell you, “You plant corn, you get corn.”
NORTH SHORE BREWERY PROVIDES INCREDIBLE AMBIENCE, DELICIOUS FOOD, and an EXTENSIVE CRAFT BEER SELECTION![]()
Southern Tier Brewing Co. - Pittsburgh Southern Tier Brewing Company![]()
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🤔 Geographically located slightly northwest of downtown Pittsburgh at the confluence of the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela River, the North Shore offers many forms of recreation, dining, and entertainment with some of the most scenic views of the Pittsburgh Skyline. It is home to two professional sports teams in the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates. Looking for live music/concerts, it is also home to Stage AE which has a seating capacity of nearly 5,500. Take a walk on the majestic Riverwalk with friends, family, or a significant other and you can literally feel the stress of everyday life melt away. The North Shore also offers many dining options. One of these, which is also dog friendly, is Southern Tier Brewery. Let us explore why Pittsburghers love this venue.![]()
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💡 The ambience – Southern Tier Brewery has an ambience that is second to none. You are presented three options, you can eat/drink inside, under covered patio, or completely outside. The outside area is lit with Edison bulbs and has artificial turf so that it gives you the feeling of being out in nature without the messiness of wet grass or dirt. There is a lot of ample bar seating as well. For being located near downtown, Southern Tier brewery gives you ample space, so you do not feel crowded or over stimulated.![]()
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🥩 The food – One of the unique features about the menu is that every item is a hand-crafted collaboration utilizing brews that are made in house. The menu is simple and easy to read, but also gives you enough variety to order something that sparks your interest.![]()
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🧀 Appetizers – Start out with an appetizer to share. The smoked wings feature a house made 2X IPA barbecue sauce. The base consists of fresh, never frozen chicken. They are smoked to perfection giving you that classic smokehouse flavor while also providing you with delicious, crispy skin. Pair it with a side of blue cheese or ranch and you have yourself a great start to a meal. Other appetizers include the house made pretzel, pulled pork nachos, and loaded fries.![]()
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🥪 Handhelds/sandwiches – Who does not love a good Philly Cheesesteak? The Philly features thinly sliced steak, sauteed onions, and is finished with an IPA cheese sauce. The North Shore Club Sandwich (captioned) features smoked turkey, bacon, tomato, mixed greens, avocado aioli, on sourdough bread. If you are looking to venture a little more adventurous try the Big Ol’ Pastrami Sandwich which has gruyere, house made sour kraut, thousand island dressing, on rye bread.![]()
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🌮 Other menu items – Southern Tier also has salads such as the Smoked Chicken Cobb Salad and Shrimp & Kale Salad. Entrees include fish and chips, tacos, pierogis, and a smoked chicken burrito. For a simple menu, you still get a good variety of culinary options.![]()
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🍺 The beer – Southern Tier typically features around 30 beer selections that are available on tap. They also have a great selection of wines and spirits/cocktails. Popular draft selections include Southern Tier, Victory, and Six point to name a few. Whether you are looking for something light with an Alcohol by Volume (ABV) in the range of 5% or something strong in the ABV range of 10-16%, Southern Tier has it in stock.![]()
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🧐 My final take – If you are headed to the North Shore, you expect to indulge in the finer things in life. When looking for somewhere to eat and drink, you want a well-rounded experience. Southern Tier Brewery will deliver on these variables. It gives you the ability to enjoy your favorite beer or cocktail with friends and family, eat delicious food, and in the summer months, soak up beautiful weather in the steel city. Who is ready for happy hour?
ROCKAWAY PIZZERIA MOVING to REGENT SQUARE![]()
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Rockaway Pizzeria![]()
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🤔 Celebrities have always been a fascination to most people for several reasons. Money, fame, being on TV, etc. are all aspects and items that most people value. The thing is, you typically only see famous people in their final product, you do not see the obstacles that they overcame or the hard work it took to get them to where they are today. Most of them had a long journey that required sacrifice, risk-taking, and using their gifts. They did not play small or stay safe, they went for their dreams and goals with reckless abandon. With this thought in mind, we explore Rockaway Pizzeria in White Oak and see how owner Josh Sickels attacked his goal and mission with relentless persistence. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he spent a lot of time in living in Brooklyn, New York. He has taken New York Style Pizza to another level by keeping the basic New York pizza philosophy, and adding a unique, fermented dough recipe, super-creative specialty pizzas, and toppings galore. Let us dive in!![]()
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👓 The vision – Rockaway Pizzeria uses the base model of Queens, New York style pizza. The crust is thin, the ingredients and toppings are top of the line, and it is greasy. Remember, greasiness generated from the finest meats and cheeses that are non-processed adds a ton of flavor without leaving you feeling heavy. Rockaway uses a special fermented dough recipe that takes days before transforming into its final product. The sauce has generous portions of garlic, onion, crushed red pepper, and other ingredients which is slowed cooked to perfection. The cheese is imported from Italy. This sets the foundation for one of Rockaway Pizzeria’s slogans, “pizza is art.”![]()
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🧀 The basics – Before I dive into all the mind-blowing toppings and specialty pizzas, let us first start with the basics of the pizza and your lighter options. All pizzas are 18” 8 cut-pies. You can also order by the slice at certain times which is hard to come by in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Rockway has your standard toppings such as pepperoni and sausage but takes it up a notch with some of these notables. Toppings that you do not typically see which Rockaway has are hot soppressata and genovetta, San Marzano tomatoes, breaded eggplant, prosciutto, and hot cherry peppers. If you want to keep it light, you can order a plain pizza, a topping of your choice, or the Margherita pizza which features fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, San Marzano tomatoes, olive oil, and sea salt.![]()
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🍗 The specialty pizzas – A lot of places nowadays offer specialty pizzas. Rockaway Pizzeria also does this but at a whole other level. Using top of the line ingredients, creativity, and a massive selection to choose from, Rockaway Pizzeria’s specialty pies are second to none. I cannot list them all, I urge you to check out their menu, but here are some notables.![]()
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🍕 The Carcosa (captioned) – If you have been following me for a while, you probably have realized I try and showcase the biggest, boldest, and craziest items I can find. How about a pound of pepperoni on one pizza? Not just any pepperoni, but top-quality pepperoni that has triple the thickness and is hand cut. The crust on this pie is thicker to support the massive amounts of pepperoni and delicious grease generated from the pepperoni. However, it is surprisingly thin enough that this pizza is not heavy. Finally, all the salt generated from the pepperoni adds the finishing touch. If you have an open mind, I highly recommend you try this pizza because it is purely and simply delicious and will blow your mind.![]()
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🇮🇹 The Italian Widowmaker – Again, not for the faint of heart, but delicious. It features mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, hot soppressata, genoa salami, and banana peppers.![]()
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🍝 The Red Top – This pizza is for your sauce lovers. It features mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, pecorino Romano, and finished with a swirled, house-made tomato sauce on top.![]()
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🥩 The Flamethrower – How about this for flavor? A prime cut of New York Strip steak, mozzarella, hot cherry peppers, banana peppers, fresh garlic, and finished with olive oil.![]()
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🥪 Other menu items - If you are not looking for pizza, Rockaway Pizzeria also offers appetizers, salads, calzones, and hoagies.![]()
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🧐 My final take – If you are big into attention to detail, you realize how special this place is. The time and research that Josh Sickels has put into the fermentation of the dough, the slow cooked sauce, the imported cheeses from Italy, and the highest quality toppings and ingredients money can buy is nothing short of spectacular. I am especially drawn to establishments and people that want to be the best and separate themselves from the rest of the pack. Rockaway Pizzeria is one of the newer establishments that is setting the gold standard in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan area for how pizza should look and taste.
ALLEGHENY-KISKI VALLEY RESTAURANT CONTINUES TRADITION of FAMILY, HOSPITALITY, and HERITAGE in STEEL TOWN![]()
G&G Restaurant![]()
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🏭 Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, gone are the days that the huge smokestacks of Apollo Iron and Steel Company spewed flames around the clock in the AK Valley, lighting the skies orange. However, the imprint that this hard working, blue collar history has left on this steel town is priceless. Money can buy you many things, but it cannot buy you life’s lesson. Hard work, respect, loyalty, and resiliency are characteristics that money cannot buy. As complex as life has become, you can find meaning and purpose in keeping it simple. G&G Restaurant has done this for 3 generations. They believe that hospitality, made from scratch food, and paying homage to their ancestors makes the world go round. Let us see why this small restaurant has gained so much respect in the greater Pittsburgh area for what seems like an eternity.![]()
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🍳 Breakfast – After speaking with some of the locals, they all say that breakfast is always packed at G&G Restaurant. Known for huge portions, this is a place you will not leave hungry. The Omelets are enormous and packed with flavor. Some favorites are the Philly Omelet which is packed with rich Philly Steak. Want a combination of meats? Go with the Meat Lover’s Omelet which is Ham, Bacon, and Sausage. Specialty items include Chicken Waffles which gives you a generous portion of 2 extra large chicken planks topped with honey. If you are feeling a sweet tooth the Red Velvet Waffle will satisfy that craving. It features fresh strawberries, Sweet Cream Cheese, topped off with Whip Cream. It literally is breakfast and Desert in one. G&G is also known for its sizable Breakfast Sandwiches. The most striking is the Breakfast Hero. A fresh, hoagie bun creates the base for the mountain of toppings. This sandwich has 3 eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, and American cheese. If you are searching for protein, this specialty sandwich will not disappoint. G&G also has your traditional breakfast plates as well. Some say Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, G&G will make sure your breakfast craving is satisfied!![]()
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🥩 Lunch/Dinner – G&G is known for making food fresh from scratch. They roast their own turkey and roast beef, which creates delicious bases to a lot of their menu items. As indicated before, this place is known for huge portions, meaning depending on your appetite, most leave with leftovers. The Philly Steak and Cheese (captioned) immediately will wow you with sheer size. It has fresh roast beef, finished with red and green peppers, and fried onions. Make it a platter for a small upcharge which includes fries and coleslaw. The Enzo’s Grilled Meatloaf is just like grandma made it back in the glory days. G&G uses just the right amount of fat ratio in their ground beef which keeps it super juicy, but not too greasy as well. Finish it with some homemade gravy, this has comfort food written all over it. The Vanderburger features a pound of this fresh, ground beef if you are feeling super hungry. Other favorites are the wraps, poultry items which includes the house roasted Turkey Bacon Cheddar. The 12-ounce Breaded Cod Sandwich with fresh cut fries is also a fan favorite. Finish off the dinner menu with salads and your choice of appetizers. Bottom line, you have a diversified menu, and you know whatever you order is going to be good.![]()
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🧐 My final take. What I love about G&G Restaurant is it is old fashioned, and it is a throwback. They slow things down and emphasize the old fashion way of serving you. G&G prides itself on making sure every item that leaves the kitchen is a generous portion, full of flavor, and made with love. The service is excellent and after meeting the manager Chris, it does not take long to see what a genuine person he is and his passion for serving the community. It is no secret that this place has been there for 3 generations. They treat you like gold and serve delicious food. What is not to like?