A Pittsburgh restaurant was named among the best new restaurants in the country by Yelp reviewers, ranking for its atmosphere and coastal-inspired cuisine.
Palm Palm opened last year in Pittsburgh’s East End. The restaurant, established in partnership by owners Herky and Lisa Pollock and chefs Edwin and Amanda Smith, ranked among Yelp’s top 25 best new restaurants of 2026.
Here’s what reviewers said.
Pittsburgh restaurant ranks on Yelp’s best new restaurants of 2026 list
Pittsburgh’s Palm Palm ranked at No. 24 on Yelp’s list of the best new restaurants of 2026. The restaurant features a mix of small, sharable dishes like grilled cheese and tomato soup dumplings and truffle spaghettios in parmesan cream, as well as larger dishes like the Korean fried chicken.
Yelp released its best new restaurants list. See if it’s in your city
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Yelp released its list of the best new restaurants of 2026, but they’re not all in major cities.
Yelp determines the best new restaurants by ranking spots that opened after Jan. 1, 2025. Through total volume and ratings of reviews, a passing health score and with the help of a trend expert, a list of 25 restaurants is born.
First on the list is Filthy Animal, a jungle-themed restaurant in Tempe, Arizona, with food cooked over an open fire.
(Yelp)
Yelp Elite reviewer Craig S. praised the restaurant’s atmosphere and offerings, saying: “From the moment we walked in, the vibe was on point, super hip, cool energy, and just the right balance of upscale without being stuffy. Food-wise? No misses. I went with the Prime Filet, which was spot-on: excellent cut, perfectly cooked. We also shared the Wagyu Meatballs, and honestly, those alone are worth coming back for! This is the kind of restaurant you recommend without hesitation and keep in your regular rotation.”
Palm Palm brings retro coastal vibes to Pittsburgh
Palm Palm opened in summer 2025 in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood. Serving flavors inspired by the coasts, the restaurant offers brunch, dinner, cocktails and desserts, as well as gluten free and vegetarian and vegan options.
As for Palm Palm’s vibe, the Pollocks were inspired by the work of Slim Aarons, a World War II combat photographer who captured elite life in Coachella Valley’s resort city of Palm Springs, Pittsburgh Magazine reported.
“Guests will feel like they have walked into one of Slim Aarons’ iconic photographs,” Herky Pollock said. “Palm Palm is going to be a treat for eyes while offering something truly unique to the East End dining scene. Palm Palm will epitomize an approachable living-well attitude offering an immersive escape into a world of ease and elegance.”
The Pollocks and Smiths have worked together before, opening Ritual House in Downtown in 2023.
Yelp released its list of the best new restaurants of 2026.
How Yelp picked its best new restaurants of 2026
Yelp ranked full-services restaurants that opened after Jan. 1, 2025 based on factors such as the total volume and rating of reviews between opening and June 11, 2026, with input from a Yelp trend expert. When available, every restaurant had a passing health score as of June 1, 2026.
See full list of Yelp’s best new restaurants of 2026
Filthy Animal, Tempe, Arizona
Firstborn, Los Angeles, California
Limusina, New York, New York
Eylan, Menlo Park, California
Lilo, Carlsbad, California
1587 Prime, Kansas City, Missouri
Bar Boheme, Las Vegas, Nevada
Dorothy’s Downtown, Jacksonville, Florida
Ambassadors Clubhouse, New York, New York
Agnes and Sherman, Houston, Texas
Oh London, Creve Coeur, Missouri
Society Swan, Scottsdale, Arizona
Piedra, Indianapolis, Indiana
Ah Ma’s Kitchen, San Francisco, California
Lobby Bar, Washington, D.C.
Johin’na, Birmingham, Alabama
Lucia, Los Angeles, California
The Crunkleton, Raleigh, North Carolina
The Farmhouse Tuscan, Alexandria, Virginia
Fish Shop, Washington, D.C.
Gianni & Mac’s Ristorante, Marietta, Georgia
Palm Palm, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Chapman, Winter Park, Florida
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yelp ranked 25 best new restaurants in 2026. Pittsburgh made the list