Hidden throughout Pittsburgh are culinary gems. They don’t have big chain names attached to them nor do they generally have a fancy exterior or interior decor but they all share one thing: Delicious food that puts most of those chain restaurants to shame. These amazing but little known restaurants in Pittsburgh promise a good meal at good prices.
- Big Jim’s Restaurant & Bar - 201 Saline Street
Yelp/David B.
Yelp/Michael M. Okay, so it’s not quite a little known eatery but Big Jim’s Restaurant certainly deserves to top the list of restaurants at which you have to dine. The popular Greenfield eatery’s extensive menu will have you debating just what to order: homemade wedding soup, grilled burgers, pizza, oven-baked hoagies, pasta, chicken, or New York strip steak. Big Jim’s is open daily and serves breakfast on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Mike and Tony’s Gyros -1414 East Carson Street
Yelp/Jim D.
Yelp/Anne C. Head to the South Side for what is widely considered the best gyro in Pittsburgh. Mike & Tony’s Gyros generous menu includes chicken, Greek, and steak gyros, gyro salads, and a full range of side orders, such as French fries, spinach pie, baklava, and pumpkin nut roll. Visit Mike & Tony’s Gyros daily starting at 11 a.m.
- Nico’s Recovery Room – 178 Pearl Street
Flickr/Paul Sableman
Yelp/Tiffany N. Order the wings at Nico’s Recovery Room, a lively Pittsburgh spot that serves burgers, pizza, sandwiches, melts, wraps, and appetizers. Grab the spotlight on Saturday evenings when karaoke takes the main stage. Nico’s Recovery Room is open daily until 2 a.m.
- Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe – 822 Western Avenue
Yelp/Jim D.
Yelp/Mike D. Stop by Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe for breakfast or lunch. The cozy North Side restaurant sits not far from PNC Park and Heinz Field and serves diners such favorites as cheeseburgers, scramblers, chicken salad, tuna salad, jumbo fish sandwich, and Italian clubs.
- Tram’s Kitchen – 4050 Penn Avenue
Yelp/Alberto O.
Yelp/Tsai J. Indulge in traditional Vietnamese fare at Tram’s Kitchen, which welcomes customers from Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The quaint Bloomfield restaurant caters to both carnivores and vegetarians with such dishes as fried wonton, Saigon soup, curry, vegetarian soup, and rice crepe pancakes.
- Applewood Smoke Burger Company – 5721 Bryant Street
Yelp/M.K.
Yelp/Tim W. Stop by Park Place Pub where you’ll find Applewood Smoke Burger Company, a hidden gem of a burger joint that serves only meat that is free of hormones. Order one of the popular burgers or try the chicken or a salad. Vegetarian options are also available. The Applewood Smoke Burger Company welcomes diners daily.
- Tom’s Diner - 2937 West Liberty Avenue
Yelp/Darren W.
Yelp/Tina B. Treat yourself to traditional diner fare at Tom’s Diner where the menu is as eclectic as the diners. Choose between breakfast, lunch, or dinner items such as traditional pizza, gourmet pizza, hoagies, gyros, sandwiches, and omelettes. A separate children’s menu is also available. Tom’s Diner is open 24 hours a day Thursday through Sunday and from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Wednesday.
- Grant’s Bar & Restaurant – 114 Grant Avenue
Yelp/Darren W.
Yelp/Mary-Michael M. Start with a delicious meal but be sure to leave plenty of room for Grant Bar & Restaurant’s famous pies. The Millvale restaurant’s menu features such dishes as battered shrimp, broiled pork chops, surf & turf, fried shrimp, and crab cake. Grant’s Bar & Restaurant is open every day except Sunday.
- Frank & Shirley’s Restaurant – 2209 Saw Mill Run Boulevard
Yelp/Derek R.
Yelp/Krystin P. Eat food the way it was meant to be - home cooked. Frank & Shirley’s Restaurant welcomes customers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with hours starting daily at 5:30 a.m. Order all your favorites: Mashed potatoes, burgers, chicken fried steak, and pancakes.
Craving a delicious meal at one of these hard to find, little known restaurants in Pittsburgh? Here are 10 other hidden restaurants that will keep you going back for more.
Yelp/David B.
Yelp/Michael M.
Okay, so it’s not quite a little known eatery but Big Jim’s Restaurant certainly deserves to top the list of restaurants at which you have to dine. The popular Greenfield eatery’s extensive menu will have you debating just what to order: homemade wedding soup, grilled burgers, pizza, oven-baked hoagies, pasta, chicken, or New York strip steak. Big Jim’s is open daily and serves breakfast on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Yelp/Jim D.
Yelp/Anne C.
Head to the South Side for what is widely considered the best gyro in Pittsburgh. Mike & Tony’s Gyros generous menu includes chicken, Greek, and steak gyros, gyro salads, and a full range of side orders, such as French fries, spinach pie, baklava, and pumpkin nut roll. Visit Mike & Tony’s Gyros daily starting at 11 a.m.
Flickr/Paul Sableman
Yelp/Tiffany N.
Order the wings at Nico’s Recovery Room, a lively Pittsburgh spot that serves burgers, pizza, sandwiches, melts, wraps, and appetizers. Grab the spotlight on Saturday evenings when karaoke takes the main stage. Nico’s Recovery Room is open daily until 2 a.m.
Yelp/Mike D.
Stop by Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe for breakfast or lunch. The cozy North Side restaurant sits not far from PNC Park and Heinz Field and serves diners such favorites as cheeseburgers, scramblers, chicken salad, tuna salad, jumbo fish sandwich, and Italian clubs.
Yelp/Alberto O.
Yelp/Tsai J.
Indulge in traditional Vietnamese fare at Tram’s Kitchen, which welcomes customers from Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The quaint Bloomfield restaurant caters to both carnivores and vegetarians with such dishes as fried wonton, Saigon soup, curry, vegetarian soup, and rice crepe pancakes.
Yelp/M.K.
Yelp/Tim W.
Stop by Park Place Pub where you’ll find Applewood Smoke Burger Company, a hidden gem of a burger joint that serves only meat that is free of hormones. Order one of the popular burgers or try the chicken or a salad. Vegetarian options are also available. The Applewood Smoke Burger Company welcomes diners daily.
Yelp/Darren W.
Yelp/Tina B.
Treat yourself to traditional diner fare at Tom’s Diner where the menu is as eclectic as the diners. Choose between breakfast, lunch, or dinner items such as traditional pizza, gourmet pizza, hoagies, gyros, sandwiches, and omelettes. A separate children’s menu is also available. Tom’s Diner is open 24 hours a day Thursday through Sunday and from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Wednesday.
Yelp/Mary-Michael M.
Start with a delicious meal but be sure to leave plenty of room for Grant Bar & Restaurant’s famous pies. The Millvale restaurant’s menu features such dishes as battered shrimp, broiled pork chops, surf & turf, fried shrimp, and crab cake. Grant’s Bar & Restaurant is open every day except Sunday.
Yelp/Derek R.
Yelp/Krystin P.
Eat food the way it was meant to be - home cooked. Frank & Shirley’s Restaurant welcomes customers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with hours starting daily at 5:30 a.m. Order all your favorites: Mashed potatoes, burgers, chicken fried steak, and pancakes.
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