Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Pittsburgh / Western PA

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Pittsburgh / Western PA? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Morcilla

4.9

4.9 (1795)

$50 and over

Spanish

Lawrenceville

About the restaurant

The Morcilla team brings contemporary Spanish influenced cuisine to the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Enjoy a mix of pintxos, house made charcutería and large plates meant for sharing from our family-style menu. End your experience with churros and chocolate hazelnut fondue to round out the evening. Our beverage program features craft cocktails, an extensive wine list, a deep sherry and vermut selection and local craft beer. Our dining room is intimate, perfect for celebrating your next special occasion with your favorite person. If you prefer bar seating, the full menu is available there too. We do recommend reservations, but hold a few bar seats for walk-in diners. Refer to www.morcillapittsburgh.com for our current menu.

Top review

Alexvip

Dined on Oct 4, 2024

Our dinner at Morcilla on Oct 4 was great. Our server, Stephanie, was attentive without being intrusive, and was very knowledgeable about the food & drinks. Wife’s favorites were the fried artichokes and the oxtail. Mine were the mussels and the trumpet mushrooms. Everything we had was delicious. It is a little dark and the table nearest the kitchen was obnoxiously loud; no fault of the staff. We can’t wait to go back.

Spork

4.9

4.9 (1002)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

East Liberty

About the restaurant

Spork is a seasonally ingredient driven restaurant. Our menus food, beer, wine and cocktails are developed and implemented, first and foremost, by what we are able to source at its peak. As a restaurant that prides itself on scratch preparation, taken to the extreme, we understand how reliant we are on the local farms, butchers, seafood houses and a few select distributors that we partner with to execute our vision. Our team includes a farmer, a published author, a baker, and a sommelier, in addition to the usual array of chefs, bartenders and service staff. To turn out our menus, we have on-premises, programs to: Bake all of our own breads (including in-house grain milling) - Extensively ferment and pickle vegetables - Grow and harvest a large percentage of our produce - Hand craft a full line of pastas - Smoke meats, vegetables - Produce a full range of pastries, ice creams and plated desserts.

Top review

Jessica

Dined on Sep 21, 2024

Perfect service, and the food was visually stunning. Flavors were perfect and sometimes surprising in the best way. Looking forward to One!

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Popular dish

Koji Rye Fried Chicken

Popular dish

Tagliatelle Bolognese

Popular dish

Crispy Octopus

Siempre Algo

4.9

4.9 (631)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

We believe that hospitality comes from optimism, compassion, and trust.
By fostering a culture that values collaboration and encouragement, we make it possible to take chances and grow, and to have hospitality be an expression of who we are.
The resulting offerings are carefully crafted food and beverage, and a welcome that passes our care for each other and our profession on to our guests.

Top review

Sarah

Dined 4 days ago

Fantastic food and service as always. Kimber’s cocktails are always so creative and well-balanced. I love discovering her new concoctions. Chef Chris’s food is always thoughtful and delicious. Thanks for making our anniversary special. 💜

Cafe Momentum - Pittsburgh

4.9

4.9 (138)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Café Momentum is not a normal restaurant. Café Momentum is a non-profit restaurant that offers a locally sourced, chef-driven menu and serves as a culinary training facility for young people impacted by the juvenile justice system.

Café Momentum’s program teaches critical skills that allow youth to re-enter society in a safe, real-world environment of nurturing accountability. By participating in our program, the youth rotate through every aspect of the restaurant, from waiting tables to washing dishes, while working side-by-side with Chef Peter Henry.

Don't miss our famous smoked fried chicken served with mashed potatoes, ham hock collard greens, buttermilk biscuit, and black pepper gravy.

We are BYOB! $5/person corkage fee.

Top review

Richard

Dined on Oct 5, 2024

Creative menu - wonderful food! Everything was delicious, and the staff was extremely nice.

Gi-Jin

4.8

4.8 (849)

$50 and over

Japanese

Downtown

About the restaurant

Gi-Jin is a gin and raw bar that re-imagines the sushi experience where we marry global ingredients with traditional Japanese flavors to create inspired combinations of color, technique, and style.

Our intimate space operates on a reservation-only basis for parties of
no more than FOUR (4) people per table and ONE/TWO per seating at our counter.
Online reservations are always open with real-time availability.
Each reservation seating is designated 2 hours per booking.

We do not allow any outside alcohol. if you have a request for a specific beverage please email info@gijinpgh.com prior to your visit and we will try our best to bring it in!

Top review

Mallika

Dined 4 days ago

I have been following Gi-Jin on Insta for a few years, hoping to eat there. The food was just as amazing as the pictures! The team was awesome and I will definitely be coming back!

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4.6

4.6 (620)

$31 to $50

Contemporary European

Lawrenceville

About the restaurant

Laid back neighborhood restaurant, focusing on intently seasonal food and cocktails. Small, ever changing menu ensures that you are experiencing the most exciting food in the most intimate of experiences.

With respect to simplicity and execution, we try to highlight the awesome product from our local purveyors with minimal "fuss"

Top review

Cheri

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent food, intimate and lively atmosphere. Will definitely go again.

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Bonfire Food and Drink

4.6

4.6 (493)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Please call the restaurant if you do not see your desired reservation time.
Located at the corner of 21st and E Carson St.
Our menu offers selections from a wood fired oven, featuring snacks, flatbreads, sandwiches and entrees which may easily accommodate dietary restrictions.
Please let us know if your group has any restrictions with mobility so we may accommodate.

Top review

Zackery

Dined on Oct 4, 2024

Great drinks and great food! The service was quick and friendly and was very reasonably priced. We love how Bonfire is always changing their menu up and keeping it fresh. One of our favorite spots in the South Side.

Social House 7

4.3

4.3 (1036)

$30 and under

Contemporary Asian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Social House 7; Serving a creatively crafted izakaya style menu, featuring a sushi bar and robata grill options. Join us to taste our Asian-fusion cuisine and cocktails in a sophisticated, authentic space.

Top review

Sara

Dined 4 days ago

The service by our waitress was exceptional and the food was great.

Tapville Social - Wexford PA

4.3

4.3 (56)

$30 and under

American

Wexford

About the restaurant

A socially-driven dining experience celebrating the people and places that make us say "Cheers!". The perfect escape to create fun and memorable moments with friends. From our creative cocktail flights and pairings to our self-pour wine and beer walls, Tapville Social removes the obstacles of the restaurant experience and puts you in control of the journey.

Top review

Craig

Dined on Aug 29, 2024

Be careful they added an automatic 20% gratuity to our bill and we had 4 in our party. The food was delicious the music was very loud but they have lots of speakers so you basically sit right next to a speaker.

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Experience

Fall Boozy Brunch with Iced Coffee Flights

Experience

Margarita & Taco Flight Tuesday - $9 Taco Flights

Experience

50% Off Beer & Cider Wednesdays

Dave & Buster's - Pittsburgh (North Hills)

4.1

4.1 (103)

$30 and under

American

North Hills

About the restaurant

Each Dave & Buster's has more state-of-the-art games than ever, more mouth-watering menu items and the most innovative drinks anywhere. From wings to steaks, we've got whatever suits your appetite and our premium bar assures we're stocked to satisfy! Plus, you can watch your game on one of our massive HDTVs with epic stadium sound.

Top review

Donna

Dined on Sep 21, 2024

Great food and excellent service!! I would definitely recommend it for a fun time!!

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