{"id":166524,"date":"2026-04-15T14:10:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T14:10:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/166524\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T14:10:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T14:10:29","slug":"the-best-pittsburgh-restaurants-to-visit-while-youre-here-for-the-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/166524\/","title":{"rendered":"The best Pittsburgh restaurants to visit while you’re here for the NFL Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

By now, many Pittsburgh locals will have made up their minds if they\u2019ll 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<\/a> may seem overwhelming.<\/p>\n

For the purposes of this guide, we decided to mostly avoid the establishments within the immediate vicinity of Acrisure Stadium for a two reasons: <\/p>\n

1. Many of them are chains, so not much differs between locations (Burgatory, Bar Louie, Jason Aldean\u2019s Kitchen + Bar and more).
2. We predict most of these places will be very crowded during the event already.<\/p>\n

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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\u2019t worry, the staff are all-stars at crowd control!) You\u2019ll order at the counter before finding a table \u2013 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"EYV\u2019s Cabbage Pastrami Photo courtesy of EYV. <\/p>\n

EYV<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccd 424 E Ohio St., 1.3 miles from Acrisure Stadium\u00a0
Price: $50 prix fixe per person for three courses<\/p>\n

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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\u2019t exclusively vegan, but centers seasonal produce. The menu<\/a> 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\u2019re up for it!). My picks from the menu options: Hummus Fritters with Harissa Yogurt and Za\u2019atar as a \u201cWelcome Snack\u201d; Spring Onion Pierogi with Green Goddess Dressing and Crispy Shallot for course two and Cabbage Pastrami for course three. If you\u2019re sticking around for dessert, I vote Carrot Cake.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re just in for a snack and not the whole nine yards, grab the ala carte menu from the restaurant\u2019s bar. If you\u2019ve got the whole family, EYV does have a kids menu. Because of the restaurant\u2019s smaller footprint, reservations are recommended<\/a>, but walk-ins are accepted if there\u2019s space. Please note: EYV is closed on Sundays.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fig & Ash<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccd 514 E Ohio St., 1.3 miles from Acrisure Stadium
Price: Appetizers: $15-$18, Mains: $19-$40<\/p>\n

By Cristina Holtzer<\/p>\n

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\u2019 birthdays. It offers an ideal blend of upscale dining with comforting favorites in a low-key atmosphere.<\/p>\n

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\u2019ll be thinking about it all week. The Short Rib & Pork Belly Meatloaf will fill you up and make you feel like you\u2019ve eaten a better version of your mom\u2019s home cooking (sorry, mom!). Be sure to leave just enough room for Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"Momos at Subba. Photo by Jennifer Baron.<\/p>\n

Subba Asian Restaurant<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccd 422 E. Ohio St., 1.3 miles from Acrisure Stadium
Price: Appetizers & Mains: $12.95-$16.95<\/p>\n

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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.\u00a0 Any meal here should start with the star of the show \u2014 which I often find myself craving \u2014 the momo.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u2019t 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bluebird Kitchen<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccd221 Forbes Ave., Downtown, 1.5 miles from Acrisure Stadium
Price: Breakfast: $5.50-$8.50, Lunch: $12.50-$13.50<\/p>\n

By Roman Hladio<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Its claim to fame \u2014 at least in my book \u2014 is the homemade bread that its sandwiches come on and homestyle ingredients that feel and taste like they\u2019ve been freshly plucked from your grandma\u2019s fridge. I\u2019m a sucker for a good chicken salad sandwich. At $12.50, Bluebird\u2019s 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\u2019s first overall pick.<\/p>\n

Well, you\u2019ll at least feel like you could be.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gaucho Parrilla Argentina<\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccd146 6th St., Downtown, 1.5 miles from Acrisure Stadium
Price: Appetizers: $14-$25, Mains: $15-$95<\/p>\n

By Roman Hladio<\/p>\n

You probably didn\u2019t associate Pittsburgh with South American eats. Gaucho will change that. Located in the Cultural District \u2014 the Downtown stretch of Penn Avenue that houses many of Pittsburgh\u2019s performing arts venues \u2014 you\u2019ll be in a prime spot to visit the new Arts Landing civic space and soak in views of the North Shore.<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 as with most places I\u2019m visiting for the first and potentially only time \u2014 is to go all out and order off its so-called \u201cTasting Menu.\u201d \u201cThe Gaucho Experience\u201d is a meal served family-style that includes a \u201cPrimero\u201d (Chef\u2019s pick of cured meats, cheeses, veggies, empanadas and a salad), \u201cDespues\u201d (a smattering of steak, chicken, chimmi and chorizo sausages and vegetables), and \u201cFinal\u201d (berry compote and alfajor cookies). Priced at $75 per guest, and limited to tables of four or more with full table participation required, it\u2019s far from balling on a budget, but when in Pittsburgh, do as the Argentinians do.<\/p>\n

Even more dining options<\/p>\n

Alberta\u2019s<\/p>\n

Allegheny City Brewing<\/p>\n

Badamo\u2019s Pizza<\/p>\n

COLOMBINO Coffee<\/p>\n

El Burro<\/p>\n

Max\u2019s Allegheny Tavern<\/p>\n

Mayfly Market and Deli<\/p>\n

Nicky\u2019s Thai Kitchen<\/p>\n

Park House<\/p>\n

Peppi\u2019s<\/p>\n

Riggs<\/p>\n

Siempre Algo<\/p>\n

Southern Tier Brewery Pittsburgh<\/p>\n

The Lion<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By now, many Pittsburgh locals will have made up their minds if they\u2019ll venture to the North Shore…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":166525,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[3537,14131,73,75,74,1474],"class_list":["post-166524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-nfl-draft","tag-north-shore","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news","tag-pittsburgh-restaurants"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166524\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/166525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}