5 Allegheny West dining options to fuel your Pirates experience
Hal B. Klein / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Two things are certain at the start of every Pirates season:
We arrive full of hope that this year, truly, things will be different and the team will end its decade-long postseason drought.
And, the Post-Gazette will offer a home-opener dining guide that’ll point you to a few of our favorite destinations near PNC Park for your pre- and post-game enjoyment.
(Here’s what’s new at the stadium if you prefer dining there.)
This year, I’m highlighting Allegheny West, a North Side neighborhood rising as a Pittsburgh dining destination. It blends fresh establishments — two of our 10 Best New Restaurants of 2024 are located there — with Pittsburgh classics, and most spots are family-friendly.
The restaurants are roughly a one-mile walk or bike ride from the stadium over flat terrain. Prefer somewhere a bit closer? Here are a few more options.
Otherwise, stroll through Allegheny Commons Park West to one of Pittsburgh’s most charming neighborhoods.
Here are five spots that we love.
Wise County Biscuits & Cafe
Heading to an afternoon game? Wise County Cafe is your go-to. This charming pop-up turned brick-and-mortar embodies daytime dining delight, merging old-school charm and contemporary dedication to quality sourcing.
Flaky, airy biscuits are the heart of the restaurant. Wise County serves them solo with jam, as sandwiches — we're partial to the Appalachian Broadbent country ham and crispy fried chicken with Paul’s Family Farms honey — or as sides for hearty breakfast plates such as corned beef hash or chili-grits bowls.
Wise County’s coffee menu, featuring drip, pour-over and iced options, will get you revving with extra zing to root for the Buccos. There's also a lovely tea program, while kids can enjoy Twin Brook Dairy chocolate milk (the same farm that supplies Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream) and apple cider from Soergel Orchards.
The airy, family-friendly dining room can get busy on weekends, so allow extra time if you're going before a Sunday afternoon game. If you go for a Wednesday and Thursday game, you’ll see an expanded menu with salads, more sandwiches and even a biscuit burger, and fewer crowds.
911 Galveston Ave.; wisecountybiscuits.com
Alberta’s Pizza
Pizza and sports are an unbeatable combo. It’s a grand tradition to bring the whole crew to a run-of the-mill pizza parlor after a Little League game or before a multifamily trip to the ballpark. How about somewhere a little more upscale for the adults, though?
Alberta’s Pizza ranks among Pittsburgh’s best. Another mobile-to-brick conversion (and another Best New Restaurant of 2024), Alberta’s crafts exceptional wood-fired pizzas. Owner Beau Mitall’s style is adjacent to the neo-Neapolitan school — high heat, slightly charred, puffy, eggshell-crusted pies — but he's not overly bound to tradition. His prompt is balance, which means you’ll be happy ordering whichever of the 11 builds fits your fancy.
What’s terrific about Alberta’s is the excellence extends to the rest of the concise menu. Salads here are standouts rather than standbys, fried treats like fritto misto and zucchini frites add a bit of crispy yum-yum, and seafood such as grilled sardines and raw oysters round out a full meal.
The bar program is top notch, particularly the wine list and cocktail offerings. Alberta’s is small-ish (48-seats), so reservations are recommended.
917 Western Ave.; albertaspizzapgh.com
Fry Bar
For satisfying comfort food, head to Fry Bar before night games or after daytime matchups. Everyone in your crew will feel full and happy after indulging in the newer restaurant’s mountain-portioned meals.
Start by sharing some wings. They’re brined and smoked prior to a final crisping, offering a succulent, wood-kissed, fall-off-the-bone shareable. Fry Bar offers eight sauces and rubs to choose from; we’re big fans of the subtle spice blend and balanced sweetness of honey Old Bay.
Big-format meals, known as “Fry Bar Classicz,” begin with a portion of crispy house-made fries, gooey mac and cheese or salad. The builds range from gorgeously tender smoked pork served with habanero barbecue sauce to juicy fried chicken bites dressed in a honey gold sauce to seasonal roasted vegetables with champagne vinaigrette. Servings for each are big enough to feed two people.
Look to the “Sammichez” section of the menu for juicy hamburgers, double-stacked fried fish sandwiches and po’boys. Add on a side of fries, mac or coleslaw (we’re big fans of the spicy version) for a stellar lunch or dinner.
Fry Bar’s dining room is on the small side, so call ahead if you know you’re going to be in a rush. Dishes hold up well on a short walk, so consider getting your food to go and having a picnic in Allegheny Commons park if it’s a nice day.
1100 Galveston Ave.; frybarllc.com
Peppi’s
Most of us want to crush the heck out of a massive sandwich from time to time. Sure, you can get a few of these, including the Pittsburgh icon Primanti Bros., at the ballpark. But why not save yourself a few bucks while visiting a Pittsburgh classic?
Allegheny West hosts the original Peppi’s location, established in 1983. The cash-only eatery’s flattop grill is front and center, with plenty of diner-style tables in the adjoining dining room.
Peppi’s “Hall of Fame” section pays homage to Pittsburgh sports heroes with behemoths such as The No. 7, aka The Roethlis-burger (sausage, hamburger, scrambled egg, cheese) and Joey Porter-bella (steak, mushroom, grilled onion, horseradish), as well as local landmarks like The Cathedral (a tall stack of grilled ham and turkey, topped with bacon and provolone).
The rest of the lengthy menu highlights various versions of Italian, chicken and steak subs, plus some very good burgers and deli-style sandwiches. Not feeling a sandwich? There’s a Pittsburgh-style salad with fries, steak and shredded provolone.
927 Western Ave., peppisubs.com
Nicky’s Thai Kitchen
Nicky’s Thai Kitchen has been a Western Avenue favorite since 2008, shortly after debuting in Verona the year prior. (The original closed in 2012 and the owners have opened locations Downtown and on Mt. Nebo Road since.) It remains one of the region’s most beloved Thai restaurants, offering tasty renditions of classic dishes such as pad Thai, pad see ew and Massaman curry.
Just about everyone will find something to enjoy on Nicky’s extensive menu. Share a few starters like crab rangoon, fresh spring rolls and Thai-style dumplings and then select from a variety of curries, stir-frys and noodle dishes. The restaurant is a perfect fit for a group with vegetarian eaters too.
The pièce de résistance of the restaurant is its spacious, plant-filled patio, which amplifies the neighborhood’s tranquil charm. The indoor dining room at Nicky’s is charming, but it’s small, so you might consider reserving your visit for nice days (which you’ll probably do anyway since baseball tends to be a nice weather sport).
856 Western Ave.; nickysthaikitchen.com
And there’s more
Looking for more in the neighborhood? We love The Modern Cafe’s combination of easy-to-love food, accessible bar program and comfortable interior, The Sandwich Shoppe’s hearty sandwiches and old-school breakfasts at Lindos Restaurant. Whichever direction you chose, finish it off with a sweet treat from Happy Day Dessert Factory.