Does anyone else get in the habit of going to the same one or two restaurants to celebrate a special occasion? It seems like we have a list of restaurants we want to try, but we can never remember what they are when it comes time to *actually* make a reservation. To help our future selves, here are 16 restaurants we want to get a table at next time we have something to celebrate. Or, you know, next time we decide to get dressed up for a night out…whichever comes first.
Acorn
You already know we love Acorn, so we had to include it on our list. From the locally sourced ingredients to the Instagrammable plating, you can’t go wrong! And, Acorn is perfect for a brunch celebration, too.
Altius
Dinner with a view? Yes, please! Altius is an elevated dining experience in every aspect of the word (because it’s on Mt. Washington…get it?!) You might go for the view, but you’ll go back for the food.
Bridges and Bourbon
The cocktails speak for themselves at Bridges and Bourbon, which is obvious if you follow them on social media. But don’t overlook their tapas menu. It’s worthy of any celebration, even just celebrating surviving another week!
Casbah
We think Casbah is one of the quintessential special occasion restaurants in Pittsburgh, and for good reason. It’s the kind of restaurant where everything they make is delicious, so you always want to try something new, but you also want to order whatever you had last time because you just keep thinking about it.
Cucina Vitale
Cucina Vitale might be small, but you shouldn’t overlook it. Inspired by traditional Sunday Italian dinners, they’re serving up homemade pasta, wedding soup, meatballs, and more. The dining room is intimate, so we recommend a reservation.
Dish Osteria
Did anyone else do a happy dance when Dish reopened? You can’t go wrong no matter what you order…just make sure you go hungry, try as many dishes as you possibly can, and save room for the tiramisu for dessert.
Eddie Merlot’s
If you’ve ever wanted to try Wagyu beef from Australia, Eddie Merlot’s is where you should be. Even if you don’t splurge on the Wagyu, the rest of their steaks are still amazing, and aged naturally for a minimum of 21 days. They have plenty of other options, too, if steak isn’t your thing!
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
Don’t confuse the two Eddie’s in Pittsburgh…Eddie V’s is all about the seafood. Oysters, caviar, shellfish, sashimi, they have it all. There are, of course, dishes available for the landlubbers – so everyone is happy.
Eleven
If you ask anyone in Pittsburgh where you should go for a special dinner, chances are they’ll mention Eleven. From seafood to foie gras, pasta to steak, they’re letting the ingredients take center stage. Which, as they mention on their site, echoes the kitchen’s position in the heart of the building.
fl.2
Floor 2 was designed to evoke casual luxury at its finest, and we definitely feel swanky when we’re there. We especially love sitting where we can watch the kitchen – is anyone else fascinated by this? Anyway, get a cocktail and settle in for a delicious meal…and stay the night to make it extra special!
Jean Louis
Jean Louis promises that, as an authentic French bistro, you’ll be greeted as family, and leave as well-fed family, so we’re in love. They’re sourcing only the best ingredients for their dishes, and we should probably celebrate more often so we can sample everything. Especially the dessert. Ahem.
Paris 66
Can you tell we’re daydreaming about Paris? Paris 66, that is, where you’re transported to Paris the second you walk through the door. From the atmosphere to the tastes and smells, you’ll think you booked a trip instead of just a table for your special occasion.
Piccolo Forno
The motto at Piccolo Forno is “fare tutto con amore”, or “make everything with love”. And you can tell that they do. If you’ve ever tried making pasta from scratch, you know it’s a labor of love! And yet all of their pastas, pizzas, and starters are made by hand, with love.
Poulet Bleu
Poulet Bleu is, according to their website, an American bistro featuring the classics of what makes a bistro the ultimate neighborhood spot. We’re not totally sure what that means, but we want to find out. And we also want to save room for the chocolate souffle, thanks to our Insta-friends.
Senti
If you love Italian food, you should reserve a table at Senti for your next night out. They offer two sides to their dinner menu – one that features the classic Italian flavors, and one that provides modern takes on Italian cuisine. We think we’ll order from both and share to get the best of both worlds.
Talia
Another Italian option, Talia is the place to be if you love Amari (which is made by infusing a base alcohol like brandy or wine with a proprietary blend of herbs, roots, flowers, and spices). We’ve never tried it, but we think it would a fun way to celebrate!
Now you know our list…what restaurants are on your list?? Tell us in a comment so we can all make a reservation!
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.