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.