By now, many Pittsburgh locals will have made up their minds if they’ll venture to the North Shore and Point State Park for the NFL Draft festivities next week. We know which restaurants and cafes will be swarmed, which to avoid and which to keep to ourselves. For visitors, choosing a spot to grab a bite in between the Draft picks, concerts and other events may seem overwhelming.
For the purposes of this guide, we decided to mostly avoid the establishments within the immediate vicinity of Acrisure Stadium for a two reasons:
1. Many of them are chains, so not much differs between locations (Burgatory, Bar Louie, Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Bar and more).
2. We predict most of these places will be very crowded during the event already.
The line is usually out the door on regular weekends, so expect a bit of a wait with the influx of 700,000 visitors. (Don’t worry, the staff are all-stars at crowd control!) You’ll order at the counter before finding a table – my personal favorite is sitting at the bar, facing an array of vintage copper cake molds, but the whole space is super homey and comfortable. Take a minute to get lost in the colorful terrain of the quilt hanging on the wall, made by local textile artist Megan Adgate. The biscuits are worth their weight in gold, and there are plenty of ways to make sure you eat one: sandwich, breakfast plate or a la carte. Most recently, I shared Johnny Cakes with black walnuts and sweet buttermilk cream with friends before walking over to a Pirates game, which was basically heaven.
EYV’s Cabbage Pastrami Photo courtesy of EYV.
📍 424 E Ohio St., 1.3 miles from Acrisure Stadium
Price: $50 prix fixe per person for three courses
For visitors looking to keep things vegetable forward but still incredibly tasty and creative, head to EYV, which stands for Eat Your Veggies, from chef Mike Godlewski. The 45-seat restaurant isn’t exclusively vegan, but centers seasonal produce. The menu is offered in a $50 per person prix fixe format which includes three courses and the option to add dessert for an additional charge (which I would recommend if you’re up for it!). My picks from the menu options: Hummus Fritters with Harissa Yogurt and Za’atar as a “Welcome Snack”; Spring Onion Pierogi with Green Goddess Dressing and Crispy Shallot for course two and Cabbage Pastrami for course three. If you’re sticking around for dessert, I vote Carrot Cake.
If you’re just in for a snack and not the whole nine yards, grab the ala carte menu from the restaurant’s bar. If you’ve got the whole family, EYV does have a kids menu. Because of the restaurant’s smaller footprint, reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are accepted if there’s space. Please note: EYV is closed on Sundays.
📍 514 E Ohio St., 1.3 miles from Acrisure Stadium
Price: Appetizers: $15-$18, Mains: $19-$40
By Cristina Holtzer
Want to celebrate after a day of football frivolity? Fig & Ash is a perfect special occasion restaurant that still feels homey and welcoming. In fact, on my last visit it was my birthday and at least five other diners’ birthdays. It offers an ideal blend of upscale dining with comforting favorites in a low-key atmosphere.
Appetizers like Beet Panzanella and Red Lentil Hummus are expected twists on classic apps. The Bucatini with mushrooms and caramelized leeks hits such delightfully savory notes you’ll be thinking about it all week. The Short Rib & Pork Belly Meatloaf will fill you up and make you feel like you’ve eaten a better version of your mom’s home cooking (sorry, mom!). Be sure to leave just enough room for Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert.
Reservations via Resy are never a bad idea, as Fig & Ash is only open for dinner, 5-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday.
Momos at Subba. Photo by Jennifer Baron.
📍 422 E. Ohio St., 1.3 miles from Acrisure Stadium
Price: Appetizers & Mains: $12.95-$16.95
Take a break from stadium food to be immersed in the flavorful cuisine of Nepal and Tibet. Subba offers a warm and welcoming dining experience in a light-filled storefront along East Ohio Street. Any meal here should start with the star of the show — which I often find myself craving — the momo.
Originated in Tibet, the steamed dumplings are a delicious staple of Nepali cuisine, and also enjoyed in neighboring Bhutan, Bangladesh and India. My go-to for these irresistible doughy delights, perfectly round and pinched, are the steamed vegetarian variety. They also come stuffed with chicken and can be served pan-fried. For carnivores, the spicier tangy Momo Sadeko come stuffed with chicken, pork, lamb or goat. For a veg-forward main course, don’t miss the Vegetable Thali, a large platter featuring curried vegetables, dal (lentils), saag (spinach), rice, sauce, pickled salad, and kheer (rice pudding). I love that Subba’s nutritious and aromatic platters offer options for vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Next time, I intend to try the Thukpa, a spicy Tibetan noodle soup, or the creamy Datsi stew from Bhutan. Something of a hidden gem in Pittsburgh’s dining scene, Subba also offers select dishes from India and China. The mix of unique flavor profiles, affordable prices and cozy ambience make it a must for any Burgh visitor or resident.
📍221 Forbes Ave., Downtown, 1.5 miles from Acrisure Stadium
Price: Breakfast: $5.50-$8.50, Lunch: $12.50-$13.50
By Roman Hladio
Here’s a great spot for folks who are exploring Downtown earlier in the day. Located just off Market Square, Bluebird Kitchen specializes in breakfast bowls, pastries, sandwiches of the morning and afternoon varieties, soups, salads and deli sides.
Its claim to fame — at least in my book — is the homemade bread that its sandwiches come on and homestyle ingredients that feel and taste like they’ve been freshly plucked from your grandma’s fridge. I’m a sucker for a good chicken salad sandwich. At $12.50, Bluebird’s comes with confit chicken, roasted cashews, apple and cumin on soft, sweet brioche. Add house chips for $2 and your body and spirit will be so energized that you could be the Draft’s first overall pick.
Well, you’ll at least feel like you could be.
📍146 6th St., Downtown, 1.5 miles from Acrisure Stadium
Price: Appetizers: $14-$25, Mains: $15-$95
By Roman Hladio
You probably didn’t associate Pittsburgh with South American eats. Gaucho will change that. Located in the Cultural District — the Downtown stretch of Penn Avenue that houses many of Pittsburgh’s performing arts venues — you’ll be in a prime spot to visit the new Arts Landing civic space and soak in views of the North Shore.
From apps and drinks to sandwiches or full entrees, you can get just about any type of Argentinian meal at Gaucho. Prices range from about $14 for a plain salad to a $99, 15-inch skillet of loaded paella. My pick — as with most places I’m visiting for the first and potentially only time — is to go all out and order off its so-called “Tasting Menu.” “The Gaucho Experience” is a meal served family-style that includes a “Primero” (Chef’s pick of cured meats, cheeses, veggies, empanadas and a salad), “Despues” (a smattering of steak, chicken, chimmi and chorizo sausages and vegetables), and “Final” (berry compote and alfajor cookies). Priced at $75 per guest, and limited to tables of four or more with full table participation required, it’s far from balling on a budget, but when in Pittsburgh, do as the Argentinians do.
Even more dining options
Alberta’s
Allegheny City Brewing
Badamo’s Pizza
COLOMBINO Coffee
El Burro
Max’s Allegheny Tavern
Mayfly Market and Deli
Nicky’s Thai Kitchen
Park House
Peppi’s
Riggs
Siempre Algo
Southern Tier Brewery Pittsburgh
The Lion