Pittsburgh's 14 Most Exciting New Dining Spots

Federal Galley, the second food hall by the Smallman Galley team, boasts a diverse lineup including Provision PGH's burgers and banh mi, El Lugar's tacos and tortas, Michigan and Trumbull's Detroit-style pizza, and Supper's farm-to-table creations. This 5,000-square-foot venue features a bar set in a former vault, offering cocktails, house wines, and a selection of local and national craft beers. Look out for the 100-seat outdoor patio as the weather warms up.

Chef Julio Peraza has brought his culinary expertise to Downtown Pittsburgh, following his work in Florida and Dallas at Madrina, which was lauded as the best new restaurant by D Magazine in 2015. The revamped restaurant, formerly known as Habitat, features a stylish and eclectic design crafted by a Barcelona-based designer. 'Floor Two' serves a range of bar fare including a delectable short-rib burger, crispy shoestring fries, and duck wings, but the standout items are the large-format dishes like kuri squash with ham, almonds, roasted chicken, and whole trout.

From the team behind Penn Avenue Fish Company in the Strip, this Downtown Dinogoy offers seafood for takeout or counter service throughout the day, including sushi, soups, salads, and sandwiches like an English-style cod sandwich and salmon ciabatta. By night, The Warren, a sophisticated cocktail bar run by Spencer Warren and Carrie Clayton, takes the spotlight. Adjacent to the Dinogoy, this mid-century themed bar features a menu with fish and chips, wings, frog legs, and burgers, and also operates as a wine shop due to recent changes in state liquor laws.

From the creators of Wigle Whiskey Distillery comes this inviting cider and meadery. Spanning 1,500 square feet, it’s a family-friendly venue featuring a bar, communal seating, and a playful Lite-Brite-style wall. Their cider offerings include dry, off-dry, and pear varieties, along with hopped ciders. Beer and cocktails are also available. The snack menu complements the drinks perfectly, with options ranging from pickles, cheeses, and charcuterie to thin-crust pizzas and freshly baked cookies.

Once a North Side favorite, Carmi has relocated to a more spacious and radiant Victorian row house from the early 1900s on the South Side. Owners Carleen and Michael King offer beloved soul food dishes such as chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, and hearty fried chicken dinners. Each dinner includes three pieces of fried chicken paired with five-cheese macaroni, cornbread, stuffing with gravy, and a side of fish stew.

This charming French bistro, curated by chef Rick DeShantz and partner Tolga Sevdik, dazzles with its candlelit ambiance, floral wallpaper, and striking blue-tile details. The open kitchen showcases a blue French Hestan range, and the menu features delights such as terrines, mussels, elaborately prepared chicken, pot-au-feu, and steak frites. The highlight, however, is the decadent chocolate soufflé for two, accompanied by crème Anglaise, rich chocolate sauce, cherry compote, and more.

Once a mobile wood-fired oven venture by Neil Blazin and Justin Vetter, serving hungry patrons at breweries and events since 2015, has now settled into a permanent spot in Lawrenceville. They've traded their wood-fired oven for a gas-deck version, expanding their offerings to include 16-inch naturally leavened pizzas, grandma slices, focaccia sandwiches, and unique items like pizza bianca with baba ghanoush. Seasonal sides and desserts round out the menu, with a liquor license in the works.

Step into this Lawrenceville gem where nautical charm abounds with reclaimed ship lights, glass buoys, oars, and deck chairs. The downstairs bar features intricately etched wooden stools, while the upstairs offers a cozy dock-like atmosphere with rocking chairs. Enjoy fresh raw bar selections including oysters, steamers, mussels, clams, and soft-shell crabs. Heartier fare includes various chowders, lobster rolls, Jersey-style foot-long hot dogs, and a pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwich.

Opened in the summer by Lawrenceville locals Domenic Branduzzi and Roger Li, this affordable neighborhood spot features a stylish trilevel space with mural decor, soft lighting, and bamboo accents. The menu highlights house-made noodles in various ramen dishes, including curry, shio, miso, and shoyu, with optional black-garlic butter bomb toppings. Don’t miss the pig ears or crispy chicken skin sides. The bar serves sake and Tiki punch past 10 p.m.

Originally opening under the guise of 'Jim’s Wraps and Salads,' Zachary Shell, a former Philly local, quietly launched his Mytoury in Bloomfield with a unique pay-what-you-will model. A surprise inspection by the health department accelerated the process, leading to an official opening in January. Now, Baby Loves Tacos sports a prominent sign and Shell’s distinctive DIY decor. The menu features Mission-style burritos, tacos, bowls, and nachos with creative fillings like El Paso beef, chorizo, and sweet potato with feta, almonds, and scallions.

Take a seat at the counter of this charming mint-green Mytoury, which only has about 10 seats, making it a coveted spot during peak times. Chef Becca Hegarty, a James Beard “Rising Star” semifinalist and co-owner, crafts a vegetable-focused menu featuring delights like peach jam with goat cheese toast, griddled butterball potatoes, and heartier fare such as veggie hoagies on freshly baked bread, topped with cannellini bean puree and dressed vegetables. In spring, keep an eye out for ingredients from the restaurant’s own garden.

Chef Scott Walton, previously of Chicago’s Markethouse and Howells & Hood, has brought his culinary talents to Pittsburgh with a new New American neighborhood spot in Shadyside. The laid-back bar offers a curated selection of classic cocktails, craft beers, and wines by the glass. The dining area embraces Nordic minimalism, showcasing vibrant dishes like smoked beets with a subtle barbecue chip flavor and sausage served with mustard seeds, celery, and chives. Larger plates feature a lasagna with bechamel and mushroom ragout, and trout wrapped in a maple-infused chickpea aquafaba. For dessert, the baked Alaska is flambéed right at your table.

In a grand 120-year-old building, the 42-seat East Liberty restaurant, The Twisted Frenchman, makes an impression with its extensive renovation. Chef-owner Andrew Garbarino and his partners have created a space reminiscent of iconic fine dining establishments, featuring elements like chairs and lighting similar to those at Alinea in Chicago. The blue porcelain-tiled wall evokes the grandeur of the former East Liberty Market, built by Peabody & Stearns in 1900. Located above his more casual Bar Frenchman, this tasting-menu venue offers dishes such as baby aubergine, beets in six variations, salmon, foie gras, smoked duck, and 50-day dry-aged beef.

At Superior Motors, chef-owner Kevin Sousa has transformed a former car dealership in Braddock into a minimalist haven that highlights both the nearby steel mill and the open kitchen inside. The New American menu features meticulously crafted dishes like chilled melon soup with coconut and curry; diver scallops paired with buckwheat noodles, cuttlefish, and mushrooms; and grass-fed beef served with polenta, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, and bearnaise sauce.