Downtown/Convention Center dining (Pittsburgh, Duquesne: hotel, house, rooftop)

[MovinOutWest]

I'm going to be attending a conference in Pittsburgh soon and I was looking for suggestions of places to eat in the area. I'll be staying at the Courtyard downtown. I found a few menus on line for places like Six Penn Kitchen and Sonoma Grille, but I have no idea if they are any good.

Also, is the downtown area safe for walking around at night, say walking back from dinner by myself at 10pm? I might be interesed in waling over to McCormick and Schmicks one night but not if it's not a good place for walking alone at night.

[gg]

Wasn't impressed with Sonoma Grille. Six Penn is good, but not if you are on a budget. If you like a huge beer selection and pretty good food Sharp Edge is on Penn as well. It is very safe to walk around downtown at 10PM.

[BrianTH]

It is safe to walk around (of course, exercise normal urban-area precautions).

I like both of those places, but there are many others to consider. Near that location I also like Tonic and The Sharp Edge. Nine on Nine is very nice if you are looking for something upscale, and the same people have just opened a more casual "gastropub" called Meat and Potatoes which is getting excellent reviews (I hope to try it personally very soon). You could also look at a couple places in the near Strip District, like Eleven and Lidia's.

[MovinOutWest]

Thanks for the tips. I'm generally familiar with Pittsburgh, having been there a few times, just not downtown and not without a car.

How's the walk from the convention center to the Strip, say to Wholey's or Primanti Brothers?

[gg]

Originally Posted by MovinOutWest

Thanks for the tips. I'm generally familiar with Pittsburgh, having been there a few times, just not downtown and not without a car.

How's the walk from the convention center to the Strip, say to Wholey's or Primanti Brothers?

Easy walk. No issues. If you like Sushi, you can stop by Sushi Kim. He has some pretty good Korean food as well. Walking up Penn Ave is a little better than Smallman because the sidewalks go all the way.

If you want a great cheesesteak, go to Peppi's. It is just past Wholly's entrance. Skip Mancinni's. It has gone way down hill.

[greg42]

I liked my one visit to Sonoma Grille actually but that's been probably 3-4 years ago? Hm.

Six Penn is good. Try the lamb bolognese. Hard to order anything else. The rooftop bar is an interesting spot to check out.

If you're going down to the Strip in addition to the other places mentioned I like Kaya, space is more casual but food is decent and good happy hour. If you really must do Primanti's, well, yeah, go to that one for the "ambience" of the original. It's for the experience, though, not the food so much. So I wouldn't bother going to the closer location in Market Square.

There's a diner around the corner on Liberty Ave now, what's the name of that place? If you want breakfast that might be a good place to go. Hear good things, haven't been. Can't think of the name. It's a restaurant that moved from over in Uptown area because Duquesne is demolishing a building there.

Try Penn Avenue Fish Co perhaps, instead of McCormick's. Nothing wrong with M&S I suppose, usually, but you can do that anywhere. Penn Ave Fish on Forbes downtown has dinner from Wed-Fri. It's BYOB though, so if you want wine or such you'd have to grab a bottle. (The better state store downtown is on Smithfield in the base of One Oxford Center, but there's another smaller one closer to the hotel.) Open for lunch too and really really good interesting fish items and sushi, perhaps best in town. Also Pittsburgh Fish Market, not sure how that is, somehow I've never ended up eating there. But this is around the corner from your hotel. And I'm not sure what you want at Wholey's, but if you're looking for traditional fried fish sandwich, go instead to Original Oyster House in Market Square. Shorter walk, one of oldest bars in town and Market Square is a really great space now. Also consider Winghart's while you're over there. Awesome burgers or pizza, yes, both are good! Don't think they're open late though, at least not yet.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by MovinOutWest

How's the walk from the convention center to the Strip, say to Wholey's or Primanti Brothers?

Doable in terms of distance, but there is kind of a gap next to Downtown that may seem a little desolate late at night. Personally, I'd do it, but others may find it uncomfortable.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by greg42

Try Penn Avenue Fish Co perhaps, instead of McCormick's. Nothing wrong with M&S I suppose, usually, but you can do that anywhere. Penn Ave Fish on Forbes downtown has dinner from Wed-Fri. It's BYOB though, so if you want wine or such you'd have to grab a bottle. (The better state store downtown is on Smithfield in the base of One Oxford Center, but there's another smaller one closer to the hotel.) Open for lunch too and really really good interesting fish items and sushi, perhaps best in town. Also Pittsburgh Fish Market, not sure how that is, somehow I've never ended up eating there. But this is around the corner from your hotel. And I'm not sure what you want at Wholey's, but if you're looking for traditional fried fish sandwich, go instead to Original Oyster House in Market Square. Shorter walk, one of oldest bars in town and Market Square is a really great space now. Also consider Winghart's while you're over there. Awesome burgers or pizza, yes, both are good! Don't think they're open late though, at least not yet.

Great advice, here. Basically, I think you can find as good or better options in Downtown as in the farther parts of the Strip.

[gg]

Also in the Strip is Rolands. It is kind of cool to sit outside there and they have a raw bar. Guess it all depends what you are looking for. The walk from downtown to the Strip is quite easy. I always feel the Strip on Penn sort of starts at Lotus, if you are looking at google maps and want to gauge the boring part of the walk.

[JLeigh2182]

Originally Posted by greg42

There's a diner around the corner on Liberty Ave now, what's the name of that place? If you want breakfast that might be a good place to go. Hear good things, haven't been. Can't think of the name. It's a restaurant that moved from over in Uptown area because Duquesne is demolishing a building there.

You're thinking of Hanlon's. I've only eaten breakfast at their new location but it was great. Good coffee, too.