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:
🎉🔥 16,000 FOLLOWERS! Thank you! Not only for following me but for trying/patronizing new restaurants I feature! I’m constantly getting messages from restaurants that they are seeing new customers that become regulars!![]()
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In my travels one of the biggest things restaurant owners tell me is it’s becoming harder and harder to generate a decent profit with rising cost. The new business helps them tremendously!
HIDDEN RESTAURANT GEM in ZELIENOPE, PENNSYLVNIA SERVES SCRUMPTIOUS ITALIAN FOOD WITH COZY ATMOSPHERE![]()
Goodfello's Pizza Pasta and Grille![]()
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🤔 If you have not been to Zelienople, Pennsylvania, you may be surprised to see the number of flourishing businesses, and the amount of traffic that runs through this small town. With that said, as you are driving down the main drag of town, if you blink, you may miss Goodfello’s Pizza & Pasta Grille. It may not seem like much other than takeout pizza, but it is far more than that as we dig in a little further!![]()
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🧀 Appetizers – The appetizer list is extensive. Goodfello’s has your traditional appetizers such as chicken tenders, fried provolone, and fried zucchini. Take it up a notch and try the stuffed banana peppers which are homemade filled with ground beef, spices, and baked in marinara sauce. The King Kong fries offer a generous portion of French fries, loaded with steak, chicken, green peppers, fried onions, cheese sauce, mozzarella, and provolone baked and served with ranch. They are also known for crispy, chicken wings served with a variety of sauces.![]()
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🥪 Sandwiches, hoagies, and burgers – The portion sizes are large, and the toppings are ample. The “Nero” is their regionally famous Italian sub on steroids. It features double toppings which include capicola, salami, ham, pepperoni, mozzarella, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onions, and dressing. The “Goodfello” is similar to a Pittsburgh Style Sandwich, it features sliced capicola and provolone, fried egg, tomato, coleslaw, and French fries on thick, sliced Italian bread. If you are looking for a burger, you have the option to double the meat and make it a Bighead Burger for those with larger appetites.![]()
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🍕 Pizza – Goodfello’s is known for their homemade, hand tossed pizzas. They have tweaked their recipe of herbs and spices to create a delicious red sauce. You also have the choice to go with a white pizza that uses an oil and garlic sauce. The topping list is extensive! Tradition toppings include pepperoni, sausage, bacon, vegetables, and much more! Gourmet toppings include feta, ricotta, meatballs, steak, chicken, capicola, and salami. You have the option of traditional round pizza or thick, Sicilian square. If you are looking for a specialty pizza, try their Buffalo or Barbecue Chicken, Steak, Ranch and Onions, or the Chicago Deep Dish.![]()
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🍝 Entrees – Pasta dishes include traditional Marinara, Fettuccini Alfredo, Chicken and Sausage Mafalda, Rigatoni Casserole, Stuffed Shells, Homemade Five Layer Lasagna, and other pasta creations. There are also classic dishes such as Chicken Parmesan and Eggplant Parmesan which are served with your choice of two sides.![]()
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🥩 Other menu items – Goodfello’s also has delicious Calzones, Pepperoni Rolls, and salads. Their Buffalo Chicken Salad will surprise. This is an item that is on most restaurant menus. What separates Goodfello’s is the fresh breaded chicken tossed into a house mixed buffalo sauce. The chicken soaks up the buffalo sauce and is just the right of amount heat on your palate.![]()
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🧐 My final take – This is a place that you drive by dozens of times that stirs your curiosity. Your gut is saying give this place a try. If you trust your gut, you will not be disappointed! The front of the building has its own takeout area, and the back part is the restaurant. It has a cozy dining area and is well staffed with a team that provides excellent service. If you have not tried this place and are looking for something new, add it to your list! It will soon become a go to place on your dining list!![]()
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🔥🔥🍖 RESTAURANT OWNER WANTING TO get your restaurant in front of THOUSANDS OF new Potential clients? ![]()
Check this out 👇![]()
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I will come to your restaurant to do a professional VIP restaurant review which includes - ![]()
✨A customized, behind-the-scenes video reel highlighting your hidden gem ![]()
AND ![]()
✨An in-depth article showcasing your delectible featured food items + ambiance![]()
![]()
The average reel reaches an audience of 30k! ![]()
![]()
Let’s get your hidden gem in front of new potential customers!![]()
👇👇👇👇👇👇![]()
christinatarantola.typeform.com/to/WIUA9vUr
Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! 🎉![]()
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Julia Murhammer, Kevin Main, Jennifer Carrozza, Joe Schrock, Brittany Betz Schaffer
To be LISTED on the LIST OF TOP 100 PLACES to EAT in the U.S, YOU GOT to BE GOOD!![]()
Gaucho Parrilla Argentina![]()
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🤔 Back to basics – It all starts with one of mankind's first great innovations, fire. Fire in general creates a level nostalgia that draws people towards it. For ages, a lot of people have cooked their meals over an open fire.![]()
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🔥 Owner Anthony Falcon has taken this fundamental philosophy of cooking over an open flame to create Gaucho Parrilla Argentina, which was rated on Yelp’s 2015 list of the top 100 places to eat in the U.S. Gaucho Parrilla Argentina features Argentinian-style wood-fired meats, sandwiches, salads, and other menu items. The demand is so high to dine here that you need a reservation, no walk ins. Let us breakdown in detail why this restaurant juggernaut is so darn good!![]()
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🌶 The flavor – As important as it is to cook the meet correctly, it is just as important to buy high quality meats and ingredients. Gaucho purchases the highest quality meats and produce from local suppliers. The secret to the taste and flavor is the meats are cooked over an open fire at high heat over hardwoods such as traditional hickory, oak, and cherry which creates rich and smoky flavors. The owner and staff also have extreme passion for putting a tremendous amount of love into the food. Couple these elements with a fun atmosphere and you have the perfect formula for great food!![]()
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🧀 Appetizers – Start your meal with a shareable and trending item, the Charcuterie Board. The selections change daily while making sure all the key elements of a Charcuterie Board are met. The key elements are cured meat, hand selected and aged cheeses, bread, sweet items such as jams and honey, and savory items such as olives and assorted nuts. Another popular appetizer are the Empanadas which are beef with olives, chicken, and chorizo.![]()
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🍋 Dipping sauces – A lot of people will argue you do not dip high quality meats in dipping sauce, Gaucho however, is the exception. Their dipping sauces are made from scratch which further elevate the flavor of the foods. Their staple dipping sauce is the Chimichurri, which is also served over steaks. It blends garlic, oregano, parsley, olive oil and white vinegar to give any of the food on the menu the ultimate flavor pop.![]()
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🥩 The steaks – If you are looking to go big and experience all the different cuts of steak, go with the Asado Platter which features flank steak, New York strip, sirloin, ribeye, and filet mignon. These cuts of meat can also be ordered individually as well and are served with grilled ciabatta toast and your choice of La Casa Salad or pappas.![]()
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🍖 Other signature items – Other favorites are the Bondiola De Certo/Roast Pig. This dish features roasted, pulled pork which is served with caramelized onions, Dijon mustard, casa salad, and ciabatta toast. The Paella, intended to serve multiple guests, features mussels, shrimp, sweet chorizo, shallots, peas, tomatoes, charred lemon, and saffron rice.![]()
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🥪 Sandwiches – Gaucho takes it up a notch when it comes to sandwiches. The most popular on the menu are the Braised Beef and Carne Steak. The Braised Beef Features Garlic Rosemary Shredded Beef, horseradish sauce, and caramelized onions on grilled ciabatta. The Carne Steak utilizes flank steak, the house chimichurri sauce, caramelized onions, and grilled peppers on ciabatta to create a wonderful layer of flavor.![]()
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🧐 My final take – Before moving to downtown, Pittsburgh, there is a reason that it was normal to see lines of people extending out the door onto the 16th street bridge in the Strip District, the food is that good. What is also top notch at this restaurant is the staff. Take notice while dining here, the staff operates like a well-oiled machine, and everyone is happy. They have also added a rooftop level where you can dine outside creating an added level of ambience. Believe the hype, Gaucho Parrilla Argentina has earned being listed as one of the top 100 places to eat in the United States of America.
BLAWNOX HIDDEN RESTAURANT GEM BOAST the MOST INTERESTING BURGER in STEEL TOWN, the “STEAMER”![]()
Nox's Tavern and Grille![]()
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🤔 One of my favorite anonymous quotes of all time is “remember, that dynamite does come in small packages.” It reminds us that just because someone or something has an imposing physical appearance does not necessarily mean that it packs the most punch. In a society where perception is everything, it is important to look deeper into someone or something to see what they/it is all about.![]()
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🚗 If you are driving down Freeport Road in Blawnox and hang a left on blaw avenue, you will see an establishment called Nox’s Tavern and Grille. It may not look like much from the outside, but upon entering you feel the energy that this place is something special. Let us take a deep dive and see why the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and locals from around the area are saying you need to try their award-winning wings and underrated bar food!![]()
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🍖 Chicken wings – Nox’s Tavern starts out with fresh, not frozen chicken. They are deep fried until they are crispy and are finished with your choice of a vast selection of sauces. On top of the usual sauces such as buffalo and barbecue, some notables are Rosemary garlic butter, blazin’ bourbon, BBQ Thai, and Carolina Gold. The sauce list is immense, check out their website for more info.![]()
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🍔 Original Steamers (burgers) – You may be a bit hesitant at first that the burgers are not seared on the flat top to create that crust which adds a ton of flavor. These burgers are steamed. However, Nox’s uses a cut of ground beef that has enough fat to keep the burger patty extra juicy. Let us look at few of their famous signature steamers.![]()
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🌶 The Nox – This burger features bacon, roasted red peppers, and pepper jack cheese with a side of Nox sauce.![]()
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🍺 Hangover burger – Feeling the effects of a hangover? Sometimes a greasy meal can make you feel better! This burger has American cheese, bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato, onion, and sriracha mayo.![]()
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🥓 The Lumberjack (AKA Big Kev) (captioned) – This burger features spicy BBQ sauce, applewood smoked bacon, fried egg, and cheddar cheese.![]()
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🧀 Other menu items – Nox’s Tavern has unique appetizers such as Captain Ray’s Shrimp which features cornmeal dusted tiger shrimp tossed in your choice of wing flavors served with ranch, celery, and carrots. Their salads are creative as well. You can even get a burger on a salad. It is a half-pound burger patty topped with pickles and drizzled with blaw sauce and served with steak fries. Hungry for a comfort food, how about mac and cheese? The Buffalo mac has fried buffalo chicken fingers, ranch dressing, and cheddar cheese. They also have delicious flatbreads, sliders, and hoagies.![]()
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🧐 My final take – Restaurant critics have said to me in the past, you can have excellent food, and subpar service and most people will not come back to your restaurant. You can have decent food, and excellent service, and most people will return to your restaurant. Where I am going with this is not only does Nox’s Tavern have delicious food, but excellent service as well. It is no secret that people keep coming back to this place. From the time you drive past, arrive, and exit you realize that this place truly is a hidden gem!![]()
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🔥🔥🍖 RESTAURANT OWNER WANTING TO get your restaurant in front of THOUSANDS OF new Potential clients? ![]()
Check this out 👇![]()
![]()
I will come to your restaurant to do a professional VIP restaurant review which includes - ![]()
✨A customized, behind-the-scenes video reel highlighting your hidden gem ![]()
AND ![]()
✨An in-depth article showcasing your delectible featured food items + ambiance![]()
![]()
The average reel reaches an audience of 30k! ![]()
![]()
Let’s get your hidden gem in front of new potential customers!![]()
👇👇👇👇👇👇![]()
christinatarantola.typeform.com/to/WIUA9vUr