Updated Oct. 2
A new month has begun, and you know what that means. We’re back with our normal monthly food-and-drink updates … even though things are far from “normal” in the local dining industry right now.
This month, we say hello to a socially distant beer garden, some local favorites on the move, and a delectable-looking soul food spot in Homestead. And we say goodbye to a beloved Downtown gyro shop — scroll all the way to the bottom for closings.
In case you missed last month’s edition, catch up here. And in case we missed something, let us know so we can add it.
Hello
🍻 The Lagerlands Socially Distant Beer Garden is now open on weekends at The Highline — and just in time for Oktoberfest.
🥙 Pita My Shawarma is now serving up fan-favorite mediterranean fare from its new brick-and-mortar in Lawrenceville.
🍗 Coop De Ville, a southern-style fast casual restaurant and bar from Richard DeShantz, is now serving up fried chicken and coffee in the Strip.
🥖 Rolling Pepperoni has rolled into Upper Lawrenceville with their savory baked goods in a new outpost. It’s run by Who’s Nexter Katt Schuler.
🔥 Fig & Ash is now open and serving farm-to-flame faves on the North Side, more than three years after breaking ground.
☕️ Redstart Roasters is now open inside East Liberty’s very cool Detective Building.
🥃 Wigle Whiskey + Threadbare Cider are joining forces for a holiday pop-up in Bakery Square — think: old fashioneds, gingerbread cider, and more — that’s set to open today, Good Food Pittsburgh reports.
🍗 Hilda’s Soul Food Kitchen is serving up smothered pork chops, meatloaf, shrimp étouffée, and more in Homestead, TribLive reports.
🌮 Nauti Taco is spicing things up in Sewickley with margaritas, craft beer, and sangria on tap. From the team behind Sewickley’s The Slippery Mermaid.
See you soon
🍞 Pane è Pronto is coming soon to the DiAnoia’s and Pizzeria Davide family. Translation? “Bread is ready.” It’s an Italian takeout, bread, and catering kitchen set to open next week in the Strip District.
🐈 Pittsburgh’s Black Cat Market cafe is moving to, where else, Garfield.
🥞 Square Cafe is still moving to East Liberty and the old Spoon/BRGR location this month, but their opening has “been delayed by a few days.”
🚨 Tako is bringing its luxe, Asian-Mexican fusion to Bakery Square.
🧀 HotBox by Wiz is Wiz Khalifa’s foray into the restaurant business. The delivery-only chain’s menu includes Mac & Yellow (macaroni and cheese) and a Taylor Gang Turkey Burger, per Good Food Pittsburgh.
🐟 Fet-Fisk: Royal Market is a weekly smörgåsbord available for delivery from Fet-Fisk, the Nordic-inspired pop-up dinner series, Pittsburgh Magazine reports.
🥖 Mediterra Cafe is opening a second location, this one in Mt. Lebanon in the former Fairline space, according to TribLIVE. Expect pastries, breads, and gourmet pantry items.
🍝 Forma Pasta, the hand-made pasta subscription service, will open a shop in Allentown this fall with fresh pastas and sauces, Good Food Pittsburgh writes.
🍸 G’s on Liberty will replace the now-closed Alexander’s Italian Bistro on Liberty Avenue in Bloomfield, offering a “menu of distinctive fine dining in a casual and comfortable setting” under restaurateur Grainne Trainor, the Business Times explains.
☕️ Cares CommuniTEA Cafe is coming to the Hill District, and the coffeehouse will create a learning lab for local youth to gain work experience, per the Post-Gazette.
🍳 Wild Child, from acclaimed chef Jamilka Borges, will open for breakfast and lunch in Etna later this year, NEXTpittsburgh reports. Here’s a peek inside.
🍷 1700 Penn, a spot for local brews from Helltown Brewery and local booze from Pennsylvania Libations Wine Shop, is taking over a big building in the Strip District.
🍻 Bonafide Beer Co. is the Pennsylvania Libations team’s other Strip District venture, this time in partnership with the head brewer at Butler Brew Works, NEXTpittsburgh writes. It’ll be in the former Chicken Latino spot.
🌮 Gordo’s Tacos & Tequila, a “new double-decker restaurant,” is coming to Mount Washington.
🍺 Heidelberg’s Insurrection AleWorks is making progress on a Strip District taproom.
☕️ Local coffeehouse Adda is opening a third location, this time in Garfield. It’ll include a showroom to feature local crafters.
🍺 Trace Brewing is coming to Bloomfield behind Liberty Beer with an outdoor beer garden, a coolship brewing system for wild ales, and a coffee bar, Very Local Pittsburgh reports.
🍻 Two Frays Brewery in Garfield is expected to open sometime in 2020.
➡️ Smallman Galley is moving to Bakery Square.
☕️ Redhawk Coffee is expanding to Sharpsburg with an espresso bar and a coffee roaster, per Very Local Pittsburgh.
🍰 Prohibition Pastries is planning a new cafe in East Liberty with alcohol-infused pastries, cupcakes, cakes, sweet pies, and savory pies, Good Food Pittsburgh reports.
🍲 Pusadee’s Garden in Lawrenceville is coming back, at long last.
🍚 Oishii Donburi is coming soon to Lawrenceville, from the owners of Oakland’s Oishii Bento, PennsylvAsia reports.
🍕 Big Burrito is bringing a yet-to-be-named restaurant to Lawrenceville with a focus on pizza, veggie-forward dishes, and burgers, Pittsburgh Magazine reports. Look for it this fall.
🍏 Arsenal Cider House is turning an old Dormont bank into a new location with plans to open this fall, NEXTpittsburgh reports.
🧀 Tom & Chee, of “Shark Tank” fame, plans to open Downtown this fall. They’ll be serving melts, soups, and “grilled chee donuts,” per WTAE.
🍔 Arlington Beverage Club, a new concept from well-known chef Kevin Sousa, is coming to an old social club in Allentown called St. George Lyceum, the Pittsburgh Current details.
🍺 Hitchhiker Brewing will take over a tiny storefront Downtown to serve beer — and coffee, per the Post-Gazette.
🏛 Two new concepts are coming to the Pitt Building Downtown, the Post-Gazette reports. One is a sandwich shop. The other is a supper club called Saint Johannes.
🐟 Work on Wild Ninja Asian Grill is underway in Oakland, replacing Uncle Sam’s Gourmet Subs, PennsylvAsia reports.
🍺 The Woods House, a Scottish pub, is slated for one of Pittsburgh’s oldest houses.
Long-term openings on our radar
🍺 The Park House, one of Pittsburgh’s oldest bars and a North Side staple, is up for sale. The owner told TribLive he hopes “that the legacy of Park House will carry on under new ownership.” But don’t worry — Park House as you know it is still open.
🐉 What about Gi-Jin? The subject of years of anticipation, restaurateurs Richard DeShantz and Tolga Sevdik are still expected to open their “refined, intimate bar that’s re-imagining the sushi experience.” When? Well, the opening date has been pushed back for more than a year, sooooo ‾\_(ツ)_/‾.
🍵 Tupelo Honey Teas in Millvale acquired the building next door and will renovate and expand over the next several years.
🎳 Shorty’s Pins x Pints, a new entertainment concept with duckpin bowling, bocce, pinball, cornhole, and giant beer pong, plus street food, is coming to the North Shore, per the Post-Gazette.
🚀 Grist House Craft Brewery is turning a Collier Township Cold War-era Nike Missile Command Center into another outpost for the popular brewery. But a lot of work is ahead, so be patient. An opening date is expected a year or two from now.
🥗 A casual California-inspired cafe from famed chef Justin Severino is planned near North Park, the Trib writes.
🎸 Howler’s is moving to East Liberty after 19 years in Bloomfield, City Paper reports.
Farewell
🍴Pork and Beans, the popular Texas-style barbecue joint on 6th Street, has closed after four years, Pittsburgh Magazine reports.
🥗 Zorba’s, the beloved Downtown gyro and chicken salad spot, has closed after 29 years.
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