Smoothies, Fine Dining, and Craft Beer are All Hits in Bellevue’s Business District

Bellevue has undergone a seriously hip revitalization in recent years. From 1935 to 2015, alcohol sales were banned in Bellevue, a small borough that sits just north of the City of Pittsburgh. Lifting it’s no-booze ban in 2015 helped bring new business to the area, and the main street district has continued to flourish since then—Lincoln Avenue and its surrounding streets now boast a brewery, a bar and music venue, and a restaurant that all serve alcohol. Thai cuisine, a pizza parlor, a classic mom & pop restaurant, and a smoothie shop round out Bellevue’s eclectic offering of dining and drinking options. Below are some Bellevue hot spots to try in 2020!

Vibe Bellevue

Who knew that an urban tea and smoothie bar would be a total hit in Bellevue? Apparently the owners of Vibe Bellevue did, because they’re successfully serving up protein smoothies, teas, coffee, and hot cocoa just steps away from Lincoln Avenue! Their smoothies contain 21 vitamins and minerals, while many of their teas are meant to give you energy, all while still tasting amazing. Vibe’s owners wanted to create a space where everyone would feel comfortable consuming healthy beverages, and locals also visit Vibe to relax, work, do homework, watch TV, or just chill with the Vibe crew.

Revival on Lincoln

In late 2018, a restored historic mansion on Lincoln Avenue became home to an American restaurant, Revival on Lincoln. Revival serves up a seasonally fresh rotating menu with a wide range of wine, mixed drink, and beer options. The mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is spacious enough to include an intimate bar and multiple dining spaces, including private rooms and a large outdoor patio. This fine dining restaurant was recognized as a Standout Restaurant for 2018 by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and a Diner’s Choice Restaurant for 2018 and 2019 by OpenTable. Revival was a catalyst in the revitalization of Bellevue and the Lincoln Avenue main street district.

Thai Tamarind

There’s only one Thai restaurant in Bellevue, but that’s okay…Thai Tamarind is so good that you may not be looking elsewhere for Thai anytime soon! A family-operated restaurant, Thai Tamarind is authentic, cozy, and welcoming. The owners pride themselves on serving up excellent service and satisfaction, in addition to delicious family recipes that are always prepared fresh. With over 15 years of cooking experience, Chef Ken, who previously owned a restaurant in Florida but originally hails from Thailand, has created an extensive menu that’s full of the flavors of his upbringing and subsequent travels. Thai Tamarind is BYOB and offers lunch and dinner six days a week, including takeout and catering services.

Lincoln Avenue Brewery

What’s that you say…a brewery in Bellevue? The formerly dry borough even has locally brewed craft beer now. After being started by a group of Bellevue community members, Lincoln Avenue Brewery has been open for just under six months. Traditional style beers, as well as some experimental brews, are created with an emphasis on locally grown malt and hops. The brew pub also serves local wine and handcrafted cocktails with house-infused syrups and homemade bitters. A broad selection of seasonal sandwiches, salads, and comfort foods are all prepared fresh in-house using ingredients that are sourced from as close to the brewery as possible. If you’re environmentally conscious, rest assured that Lincoln Avenue Brewery is too…this is a “zero waste brewery,” where the spent grain feeds chickens and hogs.

Grille 565 & Club 565 Live

An underground speakeasy with a music venue is rumored to exist in Bellevue, but it’s 2020 now, not 1920—this is a licensed establishment, folks! Grille 565 and Club 565 Live are two different venues in one location on Lincoln Avenue. At the street level, Grille 565 is a restaurant with a bar and a dining area that serves American comfort food, including burgers, pastas, salads, and entrées. They also offer outdoor seating and private dinners, events, and off-site catering, plus delivery through the Grubhub app. Downstairs, a speakeasy style bar and music venue showcases live entertainment in the form of classic rock, blues, soul, jazz, R&B, country, 90s alternative, grunge, and other genres. In 2015, Grille 565 received the first modern-day liquor license in the borough, helping to pave the way for establishments that serve alcohol in Bellevue.

Maxwell’s Pizza

Maxwell’s Pizza began as a fast-casual pizzeria that also had wings, subs, and salads, with locations in both Ohio and Pittsburgh. Every day, they made the dough and chopped the vegetables by hand, making everything as fresh and as homemade as possible. Additionally, they’ve always prioritized their relationship with customers and the community. In their next venture, a new location on Lincoln Avenue that’s expected to open in Spring 2020, they will still focus on quality food and customer service, but they are also creating a full sit-down restaurant, along with beer, wine, drinks, and an expanded menu. They’re hoping that families will come in for a great meal; the adults can have a drink, and everyone, including the kids, can watch a game on TV without feeling like they’re in a bar.

Joe’s Rusty Nail

While we’re certainly excited about the new businesses that have come to Bellevue, we wouldn’t want the town to lose its Pittsburgh charm either. Enter Joe’s Rusty Nail, a longstanding mom & pop restaurant that practically has a cult following for its homey, affordable, and ridiculously tasty diner- style meals. Joe’s is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, with breakfast specials starting at just $5.29 that can be ordered all day if you’re a late riser. The cash-only restaurant even allows you to bring your own wine to dinner (no corkage fee!), and they make daily soup and specials that you can call ahead to hear about. For hearty food with fast and friendly service, you’ll want to stop by to see Joe while you’re in the neighborhood!

This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.