The Best Things to Eat in Pittsburgh Right Now
Where should visitors to our city eat during the NFL Draft? Columnist Emily Catalano has some recommendations.
ALTA VIA PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA
Pittsburgh is about to get a lot of visitors to the city with the NFL Draft taking place April 23-25, and that means that I’ve been getting a lot of emails looking for restaurants suggestions for said visitors.
It gave me a chance to revisit some of my favorite eateries, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Earlier this week, I was in Regent Square for a mid-day appointment, and had to stop by Rockaway Pizza for a quick solo lunch. It’s no secret that Rockaway has some of the best pizza in the city (they’ve been open in their Regent Square space for about a year now), but I’m equally obsessed with their Italian sandwich, which you can usually find right at the counter, ready to go.
ROCKAWAY PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA
The care that the team puts into crafting their crispy-yet-pliable pizza crusts also is on display in their sandwich bread, which offers the perfect amount of give — not too crunchy and not too soft. It’s one of my favorite sandwiches in town, and it has the perfect kick thanks to the addition of hot soppressata, hot capicola and cherry pepper relish.
While you’re there, of course, you can’t miss having a slice or two of pizza. My pick will forever be their classic pepperoni (they get those pepperoni curls just right!), though you really can’t go wrong with any of the slices they have available.
I also had a quick lunch at Alta Via in Market Square, and have been thinking about their Linguine ever since; it’s easily the best $19 I spent this week. The dish arrives loaded with lump crab, and absolutely devoid of any unnecessary flourishes.
Pine nuts added a little bit of texture, Parmigiano Reggiano lends depth and there’s Calabrian chili that runs through everything with a persistent heat. It’s a dish that continued to build as I ate it.
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But the dish that I really can’t shake this week is a dessert, and one that requires a bit of a drive to get to. Jillian’s in New Kensington has been getting a lot of well-deserved attention for its thoughtful, seasonal cooking. I recently went for a Wednesday burger night, which was great, but it’s the grilled stickies dessert that has lodged itself firmly in my mind.
They arrive warm, the cinnamon bread grilled until the edges caramelize and the interior stays soft, almost custardy. On top was a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream that melts just fast enough to seep into every crevice. I think it might be the best ice cream I’ve ever had; it’s rich and sweet, but not cloying.
Owner Jillian Call describes the ice cream simply as “heavy cream, condensed milk, vanilla and so much more salt than you might expect.” That salt is the key; it sharpens everything, keeps the richness in check and turns what could be a heavy dessert into something that was unexpectedly nuanced.
Is it worth the drive? Absolutely. Not just for the grilled stickies, though they would be reason enough.
If this week of eating was any indication, Pittsburgh’s dining scene is more than ready for its moment in the spotlight.
