{"id":62147,"date":"2025-12-16T08:36:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T08:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/62147\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T08:36:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T08:36:07","slug":"south-side-burger-king-strikes-again-the-park-house-reopens-and-more-pittsburgh-food-news-pittsburgh-city-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/62147\/","title":{"rendered":"South Side Burger King strikes again, The Park House reopens, and more Pittsburgh food news – Pittsburgh City Paper"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fermata Brewing Company
918 Merchant St., Ambridge. fermatabrewing.beer<\/a><\/p>\n

Take in dinner, beer, and a holiday jazz show at Fermata Brewing. On Wed., Dec. 17 from 6-9 p.m., join for the brewery\u2019s annual Holiday Beer Pairing Dinner<\/a> featuring a four-course meal by Black Dog Wood Fired Pizza<\/a> served with curated beer pairings. Jazz vocalist Olivia Van Goor<\/a> will perform Christmas classics on the brewhouse stage. Tickets<\/a> cost $70 and include your choice of a chicken or steak entr\u00e9e and a beer with each course.<\/p>\n

Holiday Cookie Exchanges<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not too late to share your favorite holiday cookies. On Sat., Dec. 20 at 1 p.m., Hazel Grove Brewing<\/a> hosts a Homemade Holiday Cookie Exchange<\/a>. Bring two dozen treats to swap, along with a separate container, and leave with a mix-and-matched box of assorted cookies. The brewery will pour a complementary beer for each participant. The event is free.<\/p>\n

Georgie\u2019s Corner Bakery and Cafe\u0301<\/a> in Shadyside invites bakers and cookie fans to its first-ever Holiday Cookie Exchange<\/a>. Register<\/a> to bring 2.5 dozen of your best homemade cookies on Mon., Dec. 22, at 6:30 p.m., and go home with a tray of new treats, including selections made by Georgie\u2019s pastry team. Participants can also enter a cookie contest for a chance to win a $25 Georgie\u2019s gift card and a giant gingerbread man cookie. Seasonal snacks, drinks, and trays will be provided. Tickets cost $25.<\/p>\n

\"\"Old Thunder Brewing Company in Blawnox, Pa. Credit: CP Photo: Mars Johnson<\/p>\n

Old Thunder Brewing Company
340 Freeport Rd., Blawnox. oldthunderbrewing.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Old Thunder Brewing says Cheers to Five Years<\/a> with a party on Sat., Dec. 20, from 12-10 p.m. Celebrate the releases of Fallen Shadows, a barrel-aged Imperial Stout, and Fortune Favors the Brave, an Imperial IPA, as well as a new merch drop. The Steer and Wheel, Fireside Pizza, and Alabaster Coffee provide food and caffeinated beverages.<\/p>\n

Mr. Smalls Cafe\u0301
400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. instagram.com\/mrsmallscafe<\/a><\/p>\n

They say never meet your heroes, but what about mythical holiday creatures? Krampus, punisher of naughty children, ditches the Alps for all-ages Coffee with Krampus<\/a> event at Mr. Smalls Cafe\u0301 on Sat., Dec. 20 from 6-9 p.m. Guests can meet Krampus, take photos, and enjoy spirits and warm beverages while DJ Cryptid Yinzer<\/a> spins holiday tunes. Entry is free.<\/p>\n

\"\"Who Cooks For You Farm at the Squirrel Hill Farmers Market Credit: CP Photo: Amanda Waltz<\/p>\n

City of Pittsburgh Farmers Markets
5737 Beacon St., Squirrel Hill. pittsburghpa.gov\/Recreation-Events\/Events\/Farmers-Markets<\/a><\/p>\n

Catch the final Pittsburgh Farmers Market of the season on Sun., Dec. 21, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The Squirrel Hill Winter Market<\/a> will be held in the Beacon-Bartlett Parking Lot, offering holiday shopping with craft vendors alongside fresh produce, meats, cheeses, beverages, and baked goods from Jak\u2019s and Mediterra, as well as a new plant-based Holiday Ham Roast<\/a> from Self-Reliant Seitan, and more. The market is also doubling SNAP benefits through the end of the season thanks to Just Harvest\u2019s Fresh Access program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Vendor applications for the 2026 Farmers Market Season open on Jan. 12, 2026. The new season will kick off on May 10, 2026.<\/p>\n

The Soft Spot
5407 Penn Ave., Garfield. instagram.com\/thesoftspotpgh<\/a><\/p>\n

Get a preview of The Soft Spot \u2014 a sapphic cafe opening soon in Garfield \u2014 at a Queer Arm Wrestling Pie Eating Spaghetti Dinner Rent Party<\/a>. For the winter solstice on Sun., Dec. 21, the cafe hosts it \u201cweirdest\u201d and first-ever event, inviting \u201call who may benefit\u201d to support the \u201csober venue dedicated to intersectionality and intergenerational queer community.\u201d Bring a spaghetti dinner-themed dish to share, join the pie-eating contest (including free coffee for all \u201cpie munchers\u201d), or sign up<\/a> for the arm-wrestling competition. Wrestlers pay a $10 entry fee, with proceeds split evenly between the winner and supporting The Soft Spot\u2019s opening.<\/p>\n

Burger King
1820 E. Carson St., South Side. bk.com<\/a><\/p>\n

The South Side Burger King strikes again. Pittsburgh Scanner<\/a> logged a Dec. 10 call<\/a> to police from the notorious \u201cFake\u201d Burger King<\/a> reporting that \u201csome guy ordered a bunch of cheeseburgers and then started to throw them at other customers.\u201d By Pittsburgh City Paper\u2019s count, this is at least the third Burger King incident the Scanner account has posted in the past two years, following an \u201cirate customer\u201d and a \u201cfemale inside causing a scene<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh Restaurant Openings<\/p>\n

The end of the year usually means saying goodbye, but we welcome a wealth of restaurants opened (or reopened) in recent weeks.<\/p>\n

Phat Bagel<\/a>, a hand-rolled bagel pop-up that moved into Baby Loves Tacos<\/a>\u2018 vacated Bloomfield space, officially opened its doors on Dec. 11. The bagel shop, which also debuted \u201cphresh\u201d merch<\/a>, is now open Mon.-Fri. from 5:30 am-2 p.m., and Sat.-Sun. from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Phat Bagel has also teased<\/a> a second location in the Strip District.<\/p>\n

Baby Loves Tacos<\/a>, which relocated to 4510 Liberty Ave., also celebrated a sell-out soft opening after a complete overhaul of its new space. The menu<\/a> features \u201chandmade everything,\u201d including all-day breakfast (with Pittsburgh-rare Huevos Rancheros), customizable burritos and enchiladas, Baby\u2019s signature tacos, and more. Baby Loves Tacos is currently open Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"\"A sign of Mr. T that reads, \u201cI pity the fool that hasn\u2019t had a Park House Falafel for $5.00 on Tuesdays,\u201d hanging inside the Park House Credit: CP Photo: Jared Wickerham<\/p>\n

The Park House<\/a>, known as one of Pittsburgh\u2019s oldest bars, reopened under new ownership on Dec. 5. The North Side tavern dates back to the 1800s<\/a> and operated as housing, a hotel, a bakery, a candy store, and a popular music venue<\/a> before closing in 2020. According to a video on Park House\u2019s relaunched website<\/a>, the bar reopened on Repeal Day (Dec. 5), which commemorates the end of U.S. Prohibition in 1933, to coincide with The Park House\u2019s original opening date and receipt of its liquor license 92 years ago.<\/p>\n

Foxhole Tavern<\/a> in Aspinwall, billed as a \u201cneighborhood tavern with an old soul,\u201d opened for reservations<\/a> on Dec. 2. Touting a polished bar and cozy feel, the restaurant\u2019s focus is \u201ctimeless dishes,\u201d featuring oysters and fried calamari, soups and salads, and entrees such as a dry-aged burger. A full bar menu lists martinis, signature cocktails, wine, and beer.<\/p>\n

After months of renovation<\/a>, Spirit<\/a> launched its full-service pizzeria in a dedicated new space. The Spirit Pizzeria & Garden Bar<\/a> opened on Nov. 20 and features soups, salads, pasta, pizza, and other shareable dishes, along with a cocktail and NA menu and the return of its signature Grandma Pie on Mondays<\/a>. Reservations can be booked through Resy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Spirit Credit: CP Photo: Amanda Waltz<\/p>\n

The South Side welcomed La Dolce Vita<\/a>, a new Italian restaurant, last month when it took over the former Stagioni space. Owner Tony DiDonato closed Lucca Ristorante in Oakland to launch the new restaurant, which he told the Pittsburgh Business Times<\/a> allowed his team to shift to a \u201cpared down\u201d menu of \u201cvery simple, very rustic Italian\u201d at more affordable prices. Dishes include burrata, Italian wedding cake soup, flatbreads, house-made pasta, and a chicken piccata.<\/p>\n

Murray Avenue Grill
1720 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill. murrayavenuegrill.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Murray Avenue Grill announced it will close on Dec. 28 after 39 years of operation in Squirrel Hill.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince our founding in 1986 it has been our privilege to serve this community and to build lasting relationships with our customers, employees, and neighbors,\u201d reads a post on the Grill\u2019s Instagram page<\/a>. \u201cAs we conclude this chapter, we do so with deep appreciation for the countless memories, friendships, and experiences shared over nearly four decades. Though the business is coming to a close, the legacy of these years will remain with us always.\u201d<\/p>\n

The property, including the restaurant space and its liquor license, is currently listed<\/a> as under agreement.<\/p>\n

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