It’s the middle of summer, and there’s plenty going on in Pittsburgh food news. A local favorite has returned, a little piece of Pittsburgh’s Little Italy is disappearing and a new beer museum is moving forward. We’re trying a slightly different format this time, so if you have feedback, email us!
👋 Welcome (back)!
🎶 The Bridge Music Bar has debuted in East Liberty and will celebrate their grand opening on Saturday. The bar has live music booked through late September, including a hard rock album release show by Dust Biters and a night with local rock fusion act Royce (Editor’s note: I’m a music writer outside of The Incline, but there’s no reason I can’t cover music here. If you’re a local band and you have an album release or noteworthy show, HMU!). (East Liberty)
🧀 The Cheese Queen has begun her reign on Brownsville Road. Public hours at the storefront are mostly limited to a few special events, but the charcuterie shop regularly posts to Facebook to share info about order availability and upcoming appearances. (Mt. Oliver)
🇮🇹 Local favorite Papa J’s is back as Papa J’s Twin Plaza. The longtime Carnegie restaurant, which tragically burned down in 2018, has found a new home in the Strip in the former Smallman Galley space and employs many of the same staff who worked at the Carnegie location. Their unpretentious Italian menu has some new additions, including Roman-style pizza and homemade gelato. (Strip District)
🥟 Chef Roger Li is taking reservations at the Parlor Dim Sum. The Butler Street eatery replaces Ki Ramen, which closed after a flood. The Chinese small-bites eatery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 to 9 p.m. (Lawrenceville)
💃 A sexy taste of NOLA is now open in the Hilltop. Storyville brings Victorian ambience and classy cocktails paired with jazz and burlesque in a speakeasy hidden behind a secret bookcase. The lounge plans to begin distilling its own spirits this summer. (Allentown)
😃 See you soonish
🐔 Texas-based Layne’s Chicken Fingers is planning to open five Pittsburgh locations. The fried chicken eatery’s entrance into our market is being steered by a CMU alum with a proven track record of helping restaurants. (Pittsburgh)
🍺 The massive new Pittsburgh Brewing Company facility is getting a museum. The brewery began operating earlier this year, crafting Pittsburgh favorites like IC Light, and plans further additions including a distillery. Now, a local insurance executive is set to become the curator-in-residence when he donates his massive collection of Western PA beer signage and memorabilia. (Creighton)
🏗 Southside Works has debuted two new semi-permanent food stalls. Smokin’ Ghosts BBQ and Slice on Broadway will each occupy custom-built containers in the renovated central plaza near the Cheesecake Factory. (Southside)
🎤 Torogoz, a restaurant specializing in contemporary Latin cuisine, is planning to open in Sewickley. They’ve applied for a liquor license and teased renderings of their new space on social media. (Sewickley)
😲 Ch-ch-changes
☕ Caffe d’Amore has moved! The coffee spot wasted no time in taking over the former Salty Pork Bits and Full Pint storefront (Editor’s note: Still mourning the latter…) after Justin Severino announced his plans to move to DC in June. (Upper Lawrenceville)
🧅 Onion Maiden has pressed pause on brunch service. The vegan eatery will still serve some brunch items during its regular appearances at the Bloomfield Saturday Market, however. (Allentown)
😭 Goodbye
🇮🇹 Bloomfield continues to shed the businesses that led to its “Little Italy” designation. The latest loss comes in the form of the news that Donatelli’s will close after nearly 90 years in the neighborhood. The current owner has no family members to take over the business and has been unable to find a buyer thus far. (Bloomfield)
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See something we missed? Let us know — send an email to hello@theincline.com and we can update this list. We’ll have more food news coming atcha next month!