Food & Drink
Best African Food
1st: African Eats Cuisine
2032 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill.
africaneatscuisine.com
2nd: Tana Ethiopian Cuisine
3rd: Kilimanjaro
Best Arepa
1st: Arepittas
412-428 Cherry Way, Downtown.
arepittas.com
2nd: Cilantro y Ajo
3rd: The Colombian Spot
Best Bagel
1st: Pigeon Bagels
5613 Hobart St., Squirrel Hill.
pigeonbagels.com
2nd: Balena Bagels
3rd: Brooklyn bagel
Best Bakery
1st: La Gourmandine
Multiple Locations.
lagourmandinebakery.com
2nd: Oakmont Bakery
3rd: Bethel Park Bakery
Best Bar Food
1st: Kelly's Bar & Loung
6012 Centre Ave., East Liberty.
kellysbarlounge.com
2nd: Birmingham Bridge Tavern
3rd: Squirrel Hill Cafe
Best Bar to Day Drink
1st: The Pitch on Butler
4717 Butler St., Lawrenceville.
thepitchonbutler.com
2nd: Velum Fermentation
3rd: Red’s Good News
Best Barista
1st: Phoenix - Grim Wizard
1206 Arlington Ave., Allentown.grimwizard.com
If you haven’t already, we invite you to wake up with heavy metal and a Caffeinated Alchemy served by a tatted, progressive, artistic god/dess who evokes the entire essence of Grim Wizard and the general Allentown vibe. Thank us later. -Stacy Rounds
2nd: Amber de Almeida
3rd: Chris Angelo
Best BBQ
1st: Rowdy BBQ
3900 Saw Mill Run Blvd., Brentwood.
rowdybbq.com
2nd: Off the Rails BBQ and Drafthouse
3rd: Walter’s BBQ
Best Beer List
1st: Grist House
10 E. Sherman St., Millvale.
gristhouse.com
2nd: Urban Tap
3rd: The Pitch on Butler
Best Bread
1st: Mancini’s
Multiple Locations.
mancinisbakery.com
2nd: Mediterra
3rd: Breadworks
Best Breakfast
1st: Pamela's Diner
Multiple locations.
pamelasdiner.com
2nd: Wunderbar Coffee and Bistro
3rd: Speckled Egg
Best Brewery
1st: Grist House
10 E Sherman St., Millvale.
gristhouse.com
2nd: Arsenal Cider House
3rd: Velum Fermentation
Best Brunch
1st: Pamela’s Diner
Multiple Locations.
pamelasdiner.com
2nd: Grand Concourse
3rd: Mediterra
Best Bubble Tea
1st: Tsaocaa
Multiple Locations.
tsaocaapa.com
Squirrel Hill has become something of a mecca for those of us with a sweet tooth, with bubble tea and dessert shops springing up alongside specialty food stores. So Tsaocaa — which translates to “a holy land of tea” — cleared a high bar to stand out, and even expand with a second Oakland store. Maybe it’s the shop’s space-age interior that invites patrons to endlessly customize their made-to-order teas. Maybe it’s the eminently scrollable menu that beckons you to find your perfect drink among fruit, milk, and bubble tea options, optimize your sweetness level, and even add toppings like brown sugar jelly, mango boba, and red bean. To bypass the tyranny of choice, opt for a Tsaocaa special like their brown sugar milk black tea with Oreo milk foam and bubbles. Get your caffeine fix from a concoction that'll have you scooping cookie foam from the bottom of Tsaocaa’s convenient resealable cup. -Rachel Wilkinson
2nd: Banh Mi and Ti
3rd: Fuku Tea
Best Burger
1st: Moonlit Burgers
Multiple Locations.
moonlitburgers.com
2nd: Tessaro’s
3rd: Burgatory
Best Butcher
1st: Weiss Meats
100 Terence Dr., Pleasant Hills.
weissmeats.com
Weiss Meats in Pleasant Hills has been a South Hills institution since 1948, when the Weiss family first opened their butcher shop. The family-run shop still focuses on providing quality, hand-cut meats and good, old-fashioned customer service. However, the shop has modernized, with online pre-ordering and expanded offerings including seafood. Their signature smokehouse sausages — traditional kielbasa and spicy links — are the perfect yinzer bites for tailgate parties and backyard barbecues. This neighborhood butcher is just as good, if not better, than the high-end bougie options around town. And who doesn’t like to save money? -Stacy Rounds
2nd: Strip District Meats
3rd: Fat Butcher
Best Candy Store
1st: Grandpa Joe’s
Multiple Locations.
grandpajoescandyshop.com
2nd: Sarris Candies
3rd: Betsy Ann
Best Caribbean Restaurant
1st: Kaya
2000 Smallman St., Strip District.
Kaya.menu
2nd: Leon's Caribbean
3rd: ShadoBeni
Best Caterer
1st: DiAnoia's Eatery
2549 Penn Ave., Strip District.
dianoiaseatery.com
2nd: 1. Just in Thyme Catering & Event 2. Black Radish Kitchens
Best Cheesemonger
1st: Pennsylvania Macaroni Company
2010-2012 Penn Ave., Strip District.
pennmac.com
2nd: Chantal’s
3rd: Pickles & Pancetta
Best Chef
1st: Dingo - Onion Maiden
639 E. Warrington Ave., Allentown.
onionmaiden.com
2nd: Nik Forsberg - Fet-Fisk
3rd: Seth Murphy
Best Chinese Restaurant
1st: Chengdu Gourmet
Multiple Locations.
chengdugourmetpa.com
2nd: Sesame Inn
3rd: Chinatown Inn
Best Coffee Shop
1st: Carnegie Coffee Company
132 E. Main St., Carnegie.
carnegiecoffeecompany.com
2nd: Commonplace Coffee
3rd: Wunderbar Coffee and Bistro
Best Craft Cocktails
1st: Hidden Harbor
1708 Shady Ave., Squirrel Hill.
hiddenharborpgh.com
2nd: Bar Botanico
3rd: Acacia
Best CSA
1st: 412 Food Rescue FarmShare
6140 Station St., East Liberty.
412foodrescue.org/programs/farmshare
2nd: Who Cooks for You Farm
3rd: Freeman Family Farm Store
Best Deli
1st: Squirrel Hill Market
2130 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill.
Squirrel-hill-market.square.site
According to Squirrel Hill Market’s own website, its corned beef and pastrami, technically, come from God. Two thousand years ago, the folk legend goes, priests instructed the ancient Hebrews to pickle sacrificial meat for two days to remove any “sacrificial joy” before consuming it ahead of the solemn fast of Tisha B’Av. Thus, the Jewish deli was born, along with many Pittsburgh fans of touching the divine through Squirrel Hill Market’s one-pound, knock-out sandwiches — served with a dill pickle and emphatically without mayo. If red meat is not your thing, try the deli’s beloved matzo ball soup, a knish, or potato latkes. Or lean into the Market portion, which stocks local products ranging from skincare salves to Penn State Berkey Creamery's ice cream to the deli’s own locally-made Pittsburgh Honey. -Rachel Wilkinson
2nd: Carson Street Deli
3rd: DeCarlo’s Market
Best Dessert
1st: Page's
4112 E. Carson St., South Side.
pagedairymart.net
2nd: Butterwood Bake Consortium
3rd: Antney's
Best Diner
1st: Pamela’s Diner
Multiple Locations.
pamelasdiner.com
2nd: Ritter’s
3rd: Kelly O's
Best Distillery
1st: Wigle Whiskey
Multiple Locations.
wiglewhiskey.com
2nd: Maggie's Farm
3rd: McLaughlins
Best Dog-Friendly Restaurant
1st: The Dog Penn
2614 Penn Ave., Strip District
thedogpenn.com
2nd: Redfin Blues
3rd: Potomac Station Coffee House
Best Doughnuts
1st: Oram's Donut Shop
1406 Seventh Ave., Beaver Falls.
orams.com
If you’re thinking it’s ridiculous to go all the way out to Beaver Falls for a damn doughnut, you would be wrong, because Oram’s Donuts — as anyone who’s been there will tell you — is worth the drive. But you don’t necessarily have to go the distance since Oram’s also sells their delectable doughnuts at a variety of shops around town. (Locations are listed on their website.) In any case, if you do choose to trek to the original location, don’t dilly-dally, because if you get there too late, they might be out of some of their best items which, for me, is anything filled with custard and iced, as well as their famous, and very popular, cinnamon roll doughnuts. -Ali Trachta
2nd: Oakmont Bakery
3rd: Better Maid
Best Farmer's Market
1st: Bloomfield Saturday Market
5050 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield
bloomfieldpgh.org/bloomfield-saturday-market
2nd: Squirrel Hill Farmer's Market
3rd: Bellevue Farmers Market
Best Farmer’s Market Vendor
1st: Kyle’s Cakes N’at
543 North Ave., Millvale
kylescakesnat.com
2nd: Deez Beez
3rd: Aycho Melange (Macarons)
Best Food Festival
1st: Picklesburgh
picklesburgh.com
2nd: Saint Nicholas Greek Food Festival
3rd: Pittsburgh Veg Fest
Best Food Relief Effort
1st: 412 Food Rescue
6140 Station St., East Liberty
412foodrescue.org
2nd: Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
3rd: Community Kitchen Pittsburgh
Best Food Truck
1st: Hibachi Lou
instagram.com/hibachilou412
2nd: Blue Sparrow
3rd: The Boonseek
Best Fried Chicken
1st: Bird on the Run
Multiple Locations.
birdontherun.com
2nd: Coop De Ville
3rd: ChiKn
Best Fries
1st: Potato Patch (Kennywood)
800 Kennywood Blvd., West Mifflin.
kennywood.com/dining/restaurants/the-potato-patch
2nd: Moonlit Burgers
3rd: Point Brugge
Best Gluten-Free Options
1st: Arepittas
412-428 Cherry Way, Downtown.
arepittas.com
2nd: Wunderbar Coffee and Bistro
3rd: Baked True North
Best Greek Restaurant
1st: Anthos
3803 Willow Ave., Castle Shannon.
anthosbakery.com
2nd: Amel's
3rd: Sparta Gyros
Best Gyro
1st: Mike and Tony’s Gyros
Multiple Locations.
mikeandtonysgyros.com
2nd: Pitaland
3rd: Sparta Gyros
Best Happy Hour
1st: Bottlerocket Social Hall
1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown.
bottlerocketpgh.com
2nd: Urban Tap
3rd: The Crafty Jackalope
Best Hard Cider
1st: Arsenal Ciderhouse
Multiple Locations.
arsenalciderhouse.com
2nd: Threadbare Cider & Mead
3rd: A Few Bad Apples
Best Hibachi
1st: Ichiban Hibachi & Sushi Bar
Multiple Locations.
ichibanhibachisteakhouse.com
2nd: Hibachi Lou
3rd: Sushi Bomb
Best Hoagie/Sandwich
1st: Squirrel Hill Market Pastrami
2130 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill.
squirrel-hill-market.square.site
2nd: Primanti Bros.
3rd: Uncle Sam's
Best Hot Dog
1st: Squirrel Hill Market Pastrami dog
2130 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill.
squirrel-hill-market.square.site
2nd: D’s Six Pax and Dogs
3rd: Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe
Best Ice Cream
1st: Page's
4112 E. Carson St., South Side.
pagedairymart.net
2nd: Millie’s
3rd: Antney's
Best Indian Restaurant
1st: People's Indian Restaurant
5147 Penn Ave. #1, Garfield.
peoplesindianpa.com
If you’ve been in Pittsburgh for a while, you’ve seen plenty of restaurants come and go, with high-concept eateries emerging and folding sometimes within a year. The ephemeral nature of the local service industry provides contrast for longstanding local spots like People’s Indian, who have been offering a mostly unchanged menu of delicious Indian staples for 30 years. Whether you go for classic chicken tikka masala or creamy palak paneer, People’s perfectly channels the fragrant flavors of the subcontinent. Lunch or dinner here is the ideal anchor for a fun day out on Penn Avenue, and nothing hits like People’s leftovers the following day. -Colin Williams
2nd: Bombay to Burgh
3rd: Taj Mahal
Best Italian Restaurant
1st: Alla Famiglia
804 E. Warrington Ave., Allentown.
allafamiglia.com
2nd: DiAnoia's Eatery
3rd: Girasole
Best Japanese Restaurant
1st: Little Tokyo
636 Washington Rd., Mt. Lebanon.
littletokyopittsburgh.com
2nd: Umami
3rd: Kiku Japanese Restaurant
Best Juice
1st: 1:11 Juice Bar
Multiple Locations.
111juicebar.com
2nd: Lazy Dreamer Farm
3rd: Pittsburgh Juice Company
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant
1st: Eat’n Park
Multiple Locations.
eatnpark.com
2nd: Coop De Ville
3rd: Paradise Island Bowl and Beach
Best Korean Restaurant
1st: Pocha by Kye-Won
270 W. Water St, Saxonburg.
pochabyk.com
2nd: Soju
3rd: Bae Bae’s Kitchen
Best Latin Restaurant
1st: Arepittas
412-428 Cherry Way, Downtown.
arepittas.com
2nd: Cilantro & Ajo
3rd: Chicken Latino
Best Margarita
1st: Mad Mex
Multiple Locations.
madmex.com
2nd: Tepache
3rd: Tocayo
Best Mexican Restaurant
1st: El Campesino
Multiple Locations.
elcampesinopgh.com
2nd: Totopo
3rd: Tepache
Best Middle-Eastern Restaurant
1st: Aladdin's Eatery
Multiple Locations.
aladdins.com
2nd: Salem’s Market
3rd: Pita Land
Best Milkshake
1st: Milkshake Factory
Multiple Locations.
milkshakefactory.com
2nd: Page's
3rd: Burgatory
Best Mocktails
1st: Butterjoint
208 N. Craig St., Oakland.
butterjoint.com
2nd: Harold's Haunt
3rd: The Open Road
Best New Restaurant
1st: Wunderbar Coffee and Bistro
411 Lincoln Ave., Ste. 1, Bellevue.
wunderbarbellevue.com
Wunderbar Coffee and Bistro, located on Lincoln Avenue in Bellevue, has won over this finicky foodie by pairing locally roasted Elmo Fired Beans coffee with their impeccable, fresh buckwheat crepes. The café serves both savory and sweet options, with choices ranging from a portobello-and-Swiss crepe topped with eggs to seasonal fruit-filled crepes. Aside from serving one of the best drip coffees in town, their drink options include a variety of espresso beverages and teas, as well as, for chocolate lovers, their wonderful Wunderbar Mocha. Also, their outdoor space is dog-friendly. -Stacy Rounds
2nd: Feast
3rd: Pocha by Kye-Won
Best NA Beers
1st: Jackworth Ginger Beer
6615 Hamilton Ave., Larimer.
jackworth.co
2nd: Two Frays Brewery
3rd: The Open Road
Best Outdoor Dining
1st: Pusadee’s Garden
5319 Butler St., Lawrenceville.
pusadeesgarden.com
2nd: OTB at North Park Boat House
3rd: Nicky's Thai Kitchen
Best Pho
1st: Pho Van
2120 Penn Ave., Strip District.
phopittsburgh.com
2nd: Pho Kim 88
3rd: Tram's Kitchen
Best Pierogies
1st: Pierogies Plus
342 Island Ave., McKees Rocks.
pierogiesplus.com
2nd: Polska Laska
3rd: Apteka
Best Pizza
1st: Fiori's Pizzaria
Multiple Locations.
fiorispizzaria.com
2nd: Mineo’s Pizza House
3rd: Iron Born Pizza
Best Place to Drink Cheap
1st: Ruggers Pub
40 S. 22nd St., South Side.
ruggerspub.com
2nd: Red’s Good News
3rd: Take a Break
Best Place to Drink Fancy
1st: Con Alma
613 Penn Ave., Downtown.
conalmapgh.com
2nd: Hidden Harbor
3rd: Ritual House
Best Place to Drink Outside
1st: Grist House
10 E. Sherman St., Millvale.
gristhouse.com
2nd: Red Fin Blues
3rd: The Dog Penn
Best Place to Eat Cheap
1st: Big Jim’s in The Run
201 Saline St., Greenfield.
bigjimsrestaurant.com
2nd: Joe's Rusty Nail
3rd: Breakfast at Shelly's
Best Place to Eat Fancy
1st: Pusadee’s Garden
5319 Butler St., Lawrenceville.
pusadeesgarden.com
2nd: Alla Familgia
3rd: Fet-Fisk
Best Poke Bowl
1st: JJ Poke
110 Atwood St., Oakland.
jjpoke.com
2nd: Sushi Tomo
3rd: Just Roll’d Up
Best Polish Restaurant
1st: Apteka
4606 Penn Ave., Bloomfield.
aptekapgh.com
2nd: Polska Laska
3rd: S&D Polish Deli
Best Ramen
1st: Ramen Bar
5860 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill.
ramenbarpittsburgh.com
2nd: Fujiya Ramen
3rd: Kyuramen
Best Romantic Restaurant
1st: Arby’s on McKnight Road
4810 McKnight Rd., Ross.
arbys.com
2nd: Pusadee’s Garden
3rd: Hyeholde
Best Seafood
1st: Monterey Bay
1411 Grandview Ave., Mt. Washington.
montereybayfishgrotto.com
2nd: Off the Hook
3rd: Roland's Seafood Grill
Best Smoothies
1st: Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Multiple Locations.
tropicalsmoothiecafe.com
2nd: Smoothie King
3rd: Live Fresh
Best Soul Food
1st: Carmi Soul Food
1219 Federal St., North Side.
carmirestaurant.com
2nd: Shayla Penn - Burgh Eats & Treats
3rd: Preeti's Pitt
Best Soup
1st: Squirrel Hill Market Matzoh Ball Soup
2130 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill.
squirrel-hill-market.square.site
2nd: Eat’n Park
3rd: Butterjoint
Best Steak
1st: Morton’s The Steakhouse
625 Liberty Ave., Ste. 180, Downtown.
mortons.com
2nd: Hyde Park
3rd: Napa Prime Chop House
Best Sushi
1st: Little Tokyo
636 Washington Rd., Mt. Washington.
littletokyopittsburgh.com
2nd: Umami
3rd: Sushi Tomo
Best Taco
1st: Las Palmas
Multiple Locations.
2nd: Condado Tacos
3rd: Tepache
Best Tea Shop
1st: Dobrá Tea
1937 Murray Ave., Squirrel Hill.
dobrateapgh.com
2nd: Bantha Tea Bar
3rd: Prestogeorge
Best Thai Restaurant
1st: Nicky's Thai Kitchen
Multiple locations.
nickysthaikitchen.com
2nd: Noodlehead
3rd: Pusadee’s
Best Vegan Options
1st: Apteka
4606 Penn Ave., Bloomfield.
aptekapgh.com
2nd: Onion Maiden
3rd: Spak Brothers
Best Vegetarian Options
1st: Onion Maiden
639 E. Warrington Ave., Allentown.
onionmaiden.com
2nd: Spak Brothers
3rd: Aladdin’s
Best Vietnamese Restaurant
1st: Tram's
4050 Penn Ave., Bloomfield.
As Penn Avenue is ripped apart and reimagined, it’s no surprise Tram’s Kitchen keeps getting laurels after 20 years — it’s the epitome of a comforting neighborhood staple. Over two decades, the family-run Vietnamese restaurant hasn’t diverged from its winning recipe, offering flavorful pho, banh mi, and its ever-popular fresh spring rolls — pork, shrimp, or veggies wrapped in rice paper and served with a chilled dipping sauce — in the same homey, minimalist-trend-resistant dining room. The more things change, the more we love when the number-nine lemongrass rice and vinyl tablecloths stay the same. -Rachel Wilkinson
2nd: Pho Kim 88
3rd: Pho Van
Best Wine List
1st: Barcelona Wine Bar
922 Penn Ave., Downtown.
barcelonawinebar.com
2nd: Allegheny Wine Mixer
3rd: Eleven
Best Winery
1st: Narcisi Winery
4578 Gibsonia Rd., Gibsonia.
narcisiwinery.com
2nd: Pittsburgh Winery
3rd: City Winery
Best Wings
1st: Big Shot Bob’s
Multiple Locations.
bigshotbobs.com
Many restaurants these days opt for minimalism — an austere menu, a couple of entrées, a tasteful cocktail list. Not Big Shot Bob’s. The local wing chain has opted for gonzo maximalism, with multiple sauces for nearly every letter of the alphabet — from Ace Boogie (black magic, butter, and dry ranch) down to William Henry Harrison (Jamaican jerk and Parmesan cheese). The BSB menu stands as a challenge to the hungry. If you struggle with indecision, your best bet is to pick a random sauce and let the chips fall where they may. Your palate will thank you regardless. -Colin Williams
2nd: Pocha by Kye-Won
3rd: Bigham Tavern