As a student at Florida State University, I don’t spend much time in my hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I love Pittsburgh, and each time I return for winter and summer break I’m excited to see my friends and eat at my favorite places. In order to offer guidance to anyone visiting the area, I made a list of some of the best restaurants Pittsburgh has to offer.
1. The Milk Shake Factory
The Milk Shake Factory is one of my favorite places visit when I’m home. There is one on the South Side of Pittsburgh, as well as a new location Downtown. My favorite milkshake to order is red velvet mixed with a piece of cake. It also sells an array of chocolates and of course, ice cream.
2. Eat’n Park
Eat’n Park is a Pittsburgh favorite, and has locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. It’s a popular place to go with friends or family and you’re guaranteed to run into someone you know there. It’s known for its smiley cookies and breakfast options. My favorite is the Bananas Foster French Toast.
3. Carbonara Ristorante
Carbonara’s is an Italian restaurant in the Mt. Lebanon area. One of my favorite dinner items to order is the Veal Romano, which also comes with garlic bread, a portion of pasta, and choice of soup or salad. All of this food is filling and fantastic. This is where my love for veal began.
4. The Amazing Cafe
The Amazing Cafe is a totally Insta-worthy place to eat. The food is vegan, organic, and gluten-free. Its crab cakes are actually made from Jackfruit, but it tastes like the real deal. It also offers beautiful smoothie bowls, along with tons of other unique, healthy food. However, it has weird hours, so call ahead of time to make sure it’s open.
5. Monterey Bay Fish Grotto
The Monterey Bay is a fancy seafood place where I used to celebrate my birthday each year. It’s on Mt. Washington, which means that it has a spectacular view of the city that I love.
6. Kabob-G Grill
My mom is Lebanese, so I grew up with this type of food. The restaurant is a hole in the wall located in Castle Shannon. I love to order the grape leaves and buttery rice pilaf, with crunchy almonds.
7. Primanti Brothers
Primanti’s is known for its massive sandwiches piled with French fries and cole slaw. This is a bucket list restaurant for any food lover visiting Pittsburgh