1. Tessaro's Burgers Will Restore Your Faith In Burgers
Tessaro's4601 Liberty Ave (Bloomfield)(412) 682-6809Yelp: 4 Stars – 181 Reviews
Okay, normally, I couldn't care less about burgers. Hamburgers. Schmamburgers. Except for the ones at Tessaro's. What is going on with these things? They'll turn you into a fanatic.
They grill them on some kind of miraculous char-broiler or something . . . and then they dress them up with blue cheese, bacon, and a bunch of flavors from your dreams. They're the best burgers ever. Rock n' roll.
2. Potato chips with swag. Seriously.
Fat Head's Saloon1805 E Carson St (Southside)(412) 431-7433Yelp: 4 Stars – 307 Reviews
Time for a round of freaking applause.
Their sandwiches and burgers are the bomb, no doubt. But these potato chips are the bomb-diggity, times a million. Sounds good enough, right?
But then they have all these fabulous dipping sauce options! Ranch, blue cheese, cajun, et friggin' cetera. ‘Nuff said.
3. Grand Concourse Sunday Brunch. Magic donuts. Ready. Go.
Grand Concourse Restaurant100 West Station Square Dr(412) 261-1717Yelp: 3.5 Stars – 136 Reviews
Okay, you're trying to cut down on sweets, right? Well just stop it. Go over to the Sunday brunch at the Grand Concourse and you’ll see why. It's in an old train station built back when they tried to make train stations architectural masterpieces, so it's stunning inside. But that's no big deal… compared to the donuts.
They’re made on the spot in some kind of magical Willy Wonka contraption, and are cosmically divine. You can dip them in powdered sugar while they're still hot. Go ahead and try to eat just one. And then try not to obsess over somehow getting your hands on them constantly.
You'll be there every Sunday, salivating. Trust me.
4. Waffle cone + Dave & Andy's = Epic happiness.
Dave & Andy's Homemade Ice Cream207 Atwood St (Oakland)(412) 431-3100Yelp: 4.5 Stars – 123 Reviews
Do not even think of getting something besides a waffle cone.
Seriously, they're homemade and if you get a wimpy standard cone instead . . . that's the culinary equivalent of shooting yourself in the foot.
Okay? So get the waffle and for the love of Steelers, man, get the two scoops! Don't mess around. This is not the place to respect your anti-sugar bias. This is the place to go off.
So get their birthday cake ice cream and whatever other, wacky awesome flavor they've dreamed up that day and celebrate.
5. Not Sure What's Going On With Mineo's Pizza, But It's The Best On Earth.
Mineo's Pizza House2128 Murray Ave (Squirrel Hill Location)(412) 521-2053Yelp: 3.5 Stars – 108 Reviews
You can't put your finger on the precise wizardry that creates these flavors, but you can see why people will drive across town in traffic to get at it.
They even have a thing where you can overnight Fedex a frozen pie anywhere in the U.S. It actually gets folks that desperate.
They say the secret's in the cheese. It's hand-grated or some such. Don't really care how they do it.
I’m just super, super grateful that it only takes me 42 minutes to drive over there.
6. Want something perfect? Spice Island Tea House Pad Thai.
Spice Island Tea House 253 Atwood St (Oakland)(412) 687-8821Yelp: 4 Stars – 167 Reviews
I know what you're thinking. "Oh, pad thai, so what? no big whoop." Just hold up. And just order it. Then delight in the mystical combination of flavors that are enchanting you. It's drenched in sweet but tangy awesomesauce. See what I did there?
7. Nom-nom-nom. I heart you, Bloomin' Onion Petals at The Sharp Edge
Sharp Edge Beer Emporium 302 S St Clair St (East Liberty)(412) 661-3537Yelp: 3.5 Stars – 107 Reviews
The Sharp Edge Beer Emporium has 30 million kinds of beer. Whatever.
The main thing I care about here (besides their blissful Field Greens salad with goat cheese, cranberries, apples, toasted pecans, yum pellets and heaven sprinkles) is their onion petal... thingies.
They’ll bring your taste buds to their knees, make them sob with joy, and just all together tame them. And you. Get some.
8. You have to try D’s Six Pax & Dogz’ Black & Gold dog on game day
D's Six Pax & Dogz (Regent Square)1118 S Braddock Ave(412) 241-4666Yelp: 4.5 Stars – 189 Reviews
Why is this recipe even good? Not sure, but it's somehow magic to put black bean corn bread and cheddar cheese on a hot dog and then drizzle it with BBQ sauce.
It's so good you might not even care if the Steelers win.
Scratch that. I know how much you care. This hot dog cares too.
In fact, it tastes so good, it might even care more than you do. Go ahead, test that out.
9. I hope they gave a raise to whoever designed the tapas menu at Cafe Notte.
Cafe Notte8070 Ohio River Blvd (Emsworth)(412) 761-2233Yelp: 4 Stars – 17 Reviews
Because a bunch of astonishing little meals are so much better than one big meal. Don’tcha think? Get a pitcher of sangria and order up a bunch of tapas.
You’ll have to restrain yourself from getting up, going in the back and shaking the chef's hand. Some genius thought up these gorgeous, delicious little plates of gourmet bliss. Get the Kalamata filet. It's a steak rolled around goat cheese and topped with some kind of beautiful-tasting sauce.
Man, it's all good over there.
10. If you're not freaking out over breakfast yet, it's time for a pumpkin pancake at Coca Cafe.
Coca Cafe3811 Butler St (Lawrenceville) (412) 621-3171Yelp: 4 Stars – 166 Reviews
Check that beauty out: A luscious, fluffy pumpkin pancake, cinnamon mascarpone cream, and caramelized pears. It’s like fall, on a plate. Insane combo.
Also an insane wait for a table.
You’ll regret nothing.
11. Hands down, Showcase has the best BBQ in Pittsburgh.
Showcase BBQ6800 Frankstown Ave(412) 361-7469Yelp: 4.5 stars – 18 Reviews
If you haven't even tried it then quit yammering at me and get over there. First, get the wings. There's something otherworldly going on with that seasoning. You know you could never recreate it on your own. But maybe your mom could. Actually, no. Because it's beyond the beyond.
Then the pulled pork sandwich. Finger-licking ribs. Along with all the fixins: Macaroni and cheese, baked beans, potato salad. All of it is mad, mad yummy.
12. Transport yourself to the patio of some beach locale at Casbah.
Casbah229 S Highland Ave (Shadyside)(412) 661-5656Yelp: 4 Stars – 157 Reviews
The atmosphere here is awesome with its chic, Mediterranean vibe. And the food lives up to it. Flawless might be understating it.
Hit them up at lunch for amazing gourmet sandwiches. And figure out a way to get yourself the gnocchi.
Go anytime, but I highly recommend the gloomy dead of winter. Casbah makes it all better.
13. Sarafino's Pasta and Pizza is a delicious little secret
Sarafino's Pasta and Pizza40 E Crafton Ave (Crafton)(412) 922-8911Yelp: 4 Stars – 19 Reviews
The food is pure and heavenly and deceptively simple.
Everything is awesome, especially if you start with the bread and the ecstatic dipping sauce. The fettuccini alfredo is crazy wonderful.
BYOB. Expect to wait for a table. But that’s how you know it;s good, right?
14. Take anyone you want to impress for crab cakes at Willow.
Willow 634 Camp Horne Rd (Mt. Nebo exit off 279) (412) 847-1007Yelp: 3.5 Stars – 40 Reviews
Their décor is elegant and artistic, and so is the food. But in the good way, not the “yeah it looks pretty but I don’t really want to eat it” way.
And their crab cakes are subtle at first, and then they'll smack you. But in the good way.
15. Get some mouth-watering "work of art" type food at Eleven.
Eleven1150 Smallman St(412) 201-5656Yelp: 4 Stars – 272 Reviews
This is where they practice the art of "plating." To the extreme.
Every plate looks like a tiny masterpiece. And your taste buds will agree.
These chef-masters are innovative, creative, flavor jammers who like to fuse locale ingredients for maximum yumgasms.
Oh, and it's pretty swanky, so dress and prepare your wallet accordingly.
Places I left off on purpose, feel free to get mad
1. Primanti Brothers: I know it's a Pittsburgh thing to put coleslaw and French fries on a sandwich, but I still don't know why.
2. Mad Mex: Sorry, but this doesn't count as Mexican food. If you know of an awesome Mexican place in town, then hook me up, will ya?
3. Pamela's: Everybody hyped up this breakfast to such an extreme, that I basically got my heart broken when it didn't live up.
4. The O: I know this is blasphemy, but I prefer the Five Guys next door. Stop hating me, "O" diehards. just be glad I'm not taking up space in line.
5. Le Mont: The view is spectacular. The décor is 80s nostalgia if you're into that. And the food is… crazy expensive? That's all I'm gonna say about that.
