25 Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh - Do you agree with the list? (Washington: neighborhoods, pierogies)

[SlurmsMcKenzie]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

There was a time when Tessaros was very good. I have been told they have one guy that can still cook a good burger these days. My friend said he doesn't know his name, but he is the "black guy". Hope that is okay to say? Anyway, cooking a burger properly needs to be taught. It isn't as easy as people think. First rule is NEVER press down on the burger. It amazes me how many cooks do that. That just makes them hockey pucks with no juice left. Haven't been to Tessaros in years because a few of my friends that are foodies, said it went down hill. It is a shame, because they did have a great burger with really good sides.

I just don't find that they've gone down in quality. Been going there off and on for years, last time probably 4-5 months ago. I found the burgers to be as good as ever.

[gg]

Originally Posted by trlstreet

I just don't find that they've gone down in quality. Been going there off and on for years, last time probably 4-5 months ago. I found the burgers to be as good as ever.

A friend of mine went there and said it was great, I heard it was some of the cooks don't know what they are doing.

[baconlegs]

Originally Posted by ML North

Maybe we're using the term differently, but there are places that I would consider to be dives that crush some of the newer 'upscale' restaurants. To me being a dive doesn't necessarily mean it's a bar and serves only fish sandwiches.

Hey, I absolutely love dives. One of my favorites is Bella Ria's right above North Hills Football Stadium. One of the best burgers I've had in the city, a phenomenal house dressing and hands down the best goat cheese salad in this half of the commonwealth.

Point was not about the terminology, but about this list. Yeah it is called the 'best restaurants in Pittsburgh,' but it totally means most gourmet/expensive/innovative/hip.

If it were best kept secrets it would be something different, and if it were most popular it would be Cheesecake Factory.

Back to Burgers. I second Winghart's. Really great, and already expanding to a second location in S.Side (per Shipwreck).

[ML North]

Originally Posted by baconlegs

Hey, I absolutely love dives. One of my favorites is Bella Ria's right above North Hills Football Stadium. One of the best burgers I've had in the city, a phenomenal house dressing and hands down the best goat cheese salad in this half of the commonwealth.

Point was not about the terminology, but about this list. Yeah it is called the 'best restaurants in Pittsburgh,' but it totally means most gourmet/expensive/innovative/hip.

If it were best kept secrets it would be something different, and if it were most popular it would be Cheesecake Factory.

Back to Burgers. I second Winghart's. Really great, and already expanding to a second location in S.Side (per Shipwreck).

Yeah, I guess that's true. A "Best Restaurants" list would have not take into account a variety of other factors besides food.

For burgers I like Tessaros. Monterey Pub also makes an excellent burger.

[raynist]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

So basically this list is about hype and popularity contests and not about good food.

Absolutely.

I ate at Bado's cucina once and would never go back.

There portions are embarrassing. They has some wild game sausage on the menu, the couple next to us ordered it ($15). They got 1 link that was as big as a breakfast sausage link. We ordered some raviolis, again it was $15 and there were 3 and they were not that great. The pizza is the only thing on the menu worth getting. The wait staff looked embarrassed when they brought out the single sausage link.

We spent about $80 on dinner without drinks and had to go pick up takeout at sesame inn after leaving. We would have had to spend $200 to be satisfied there.

I think Nikki's Thai Kitchen Should be on that list.

[raynist]

The burgers at Sauce in bridgeville are great

[airwave09]

Originally Posted by baconlegs

...and already expanding to a second location in S.Side (per Shipwreck).

Where at on the Southside?? Sounds awesome!

[baconlegs]

Originally Posted by airwave09

Where at on the Southside?? Sounds awesome!

Not sure exactly but I got the impression it would be around 14th or 15th. Won't have a liquor license (and not sure how gettable that will be), but they are toying with the idea of being open after hours and allowing people to BYOB.

[greg42]

They're (Winghart's) probably wishing they didn't bother calling it burger and whiskey bar. That place is jam packed every lunchtime even without it, even at higher than typical lunch pricing. It's even more packed now that it's nice out.

[deargceann]

What kind of ethnic restaurants are there in Pittsburgh? From this list it looks like mostly Italian. I'm interested in visiting with an eye for moving, but good ethnic restaurants are a must. I love Thai and Ethiopian, but not a big fan of Italian.