I can't say enough great things about this place. The atmosphere is both modern and welcoming, creating the perfect setting for a relaxed meal. We went for brunch and shared a few small plates--the Iberico ham and the empanadas were especially delicious. Every drink we tried was fantastic, and the service was truly top-notch. We're already looking forward to our next visit! read more

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Wow! We were super impressed with Balvanera! Arrived early on a Friday night. The restaurant has a nice vibe, mix of modern in an older industrial building in the strip district in pittsburgh. We started with drinks and small plates, then shared a steak, and finished with desserts. The gin and tonic with bergamotto and amaro was very good. An interesting twist on G&T, a little sweet, but I liked it. Others got the Manhattan and raved about it. The empanadas were the best I've ever had. Not dry, not too doughy. The corn empanadas with roasted red pepper and provolone was the hit! So moist and delicious! The beet salad with ricotta and a little pistachio! Caesar salad was super lemony. The steak was also great, perfectly cooked and paired with chimichurri sauce. We finished with a lemon ice cream over cookies and topped with merengue and a chocolate torte. All in all a great meal. We will be back! read more

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Front desk staff in a restaurant are likely the least paid, but they are the first contact to customers and set the tone for the entire experience. Balvanera knows this lesson, and their greeters and seaters the night we went were cheerful, positive, and welcoming. My husband thought he had made a reservation for my birthday at another high-in-demand restaurant, but when we arrived, we were informed he had only been placed on a notify list, not securing a table. But enough of that. We ended up at the Strip at a place we'd been wanting to try. Balvanera offers both small plates and full entrees. We chose the former: beef empanadas with onion and egg, their take on Cesar salad, beet salad with whipped ricotta, and seared octopus. All were excellent. A special appreciation for Bill, the manager and sommelier who was not only very wine savvy but extremely personable. Having the time to chat with a somm is my husband's idea of a good time, and mine too for that matter. Jack, our friendly and attentive server, the candle in my birthday dessert, along with a stunning ambiance in what was old warehousing all combined to beautifully salvage the evening. Thanks so much to all. We'll be back! read more

Balvanera - Seared octopus - Argentine Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Balverna exceeded my expectations and was such a fun, new restaurant to experience in Pittsburgh! The vibes were Modern and trendy with low lighting, it is loud but in a good way, full of conversations. The service was impeccable. I couldn't believe how knowledgeable and professional our waiter was. He was helpful, followed through and ensured we received what we expected. My steak wasn't cooked the way I requested and it was immediately taken care of. I highly recommend the Caesar salad, a bit on the saltier side but it was one of the best I had. It is a fairly large portion too. The empanadas were mouth watering. I could have made a meal off of 3 orders! The grass fed strip loin was way bigger than expected, super juicy and filling. I ordered mine medium well. One thing to note is they do require a cc for the reservation and have a pretty hefty cancellation policy ($20 per guest on the reservation within 24 hours), that's a bit steep if you ask me! Can't wait to go back read more

Balvanera - Caesar Salad & Empanadas - Argentine Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Wowza what an incredible restaurant I wish I could give them more stars because they deserve it! We started with Jamin Iberico and Arancini Coliflor for our main dishes we selected Rueda De Cordero, Dry Aged Ancho, and I selected the special Chilean Sea Bass for dessert we shared the Bruleed Basque Cheesecake and espresso. This is one of the Best Restaurants we have tried in Pittsburgh. The place was packed on a Saturday night and the staff did an excellent job. We most definitely will be back. read more

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Absolutely love coming to Balvanera whenever I am in Pittsburgh! The space is beautiful and the menu has lots of choices and all taste amazing. read more

Absolutely fantastic restaurant delivering delicious food, flawless service, and a welcoming atmosphere. The team's attention to detail elevated the visit into a special, repeat-worthy dining experience for everyone every time. read more

Best spot in the Strip District! We tried so many different menu options and every single one was amazing. Must get the chicken so underrated. Octopus and empanadas were incredible. Loved their drinks espresso martinis are wonderful as well. I love this spot! read more

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Where do I start. Mike Kerns was our server and was menu knowledgeable and had the perfect service attention ratio. The atmosphere while it can look crowded actually still gives you the ability to hold a conversation at your table. The Tuna Crudo was absolutely amazing and send your taste buds on a wild ride with buttery, salty, briny and sweet. The Tartar with the chips just straight up hits! Wife ordered the filet that was perfect temp and flavor was great. I had the aged ribeye and I can assure you it is worth the money spent. Flavor and tenderness. We finished with the warm date cake recommendation from Mike that was very tasty. If you are a bourbon fan I highly recommend the Willet Noah's Mills on an ice block. read more

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Wow. I just had a terrrrrrible experience at this restaurant. This really is a shame because I was so looking forward to coming. Will give it two stars for the well cooked steak and devor, otherwise would be 1. Went for Sunday brunch got two clasico's, jamon iberico, the arancini califlor, smoked salmon, and the huevos a caballo, and the golpes. First the waitress was straight up rude/bad. We had several issues along the way, and instead of handling our issues with patience and trying to understand and resolve, she got defensive and arguably nasty. At several points, it didn't seem like she knew the menu. I tried asking for the manager to be sent over, but was ignored, so I'd invite you to join me in going somewhere else. Overall the food was meh, the golpes were just sweet bread, not worth the cost. The jamon iberico, was good, I would order it again. The Classicos you would be better going to cafe Raymond, down the street. The steak of the steak and eggs were good, albeit a little salty. read more

Our experience at Balvanera was top notch. Kaufaman (our server) was very helpful in making sure that our first visit did not disappoint. He explained each course and helped us make decisions. There are so many options to choose from that we had trouble narrowing it down without being over the top. We started with the special crudo--- my favorite dish hands down! Then we continued with a few more small plates and a steak to share. Don't sleep on dessert either-- they were out of this world good! Balvanera will be on our must go back to list again! read more

I have been so excited to check this place out. The inside is really cool looking with some exposed beams and brick. It doesn't look that big when you first walk in, but if you have to use the restroom, you walk past the kitchen and there are more booths along the way and the back opens up to another room. We were there on a Friday night and it was packed. I started with a spicy margarita, which was delicious. We had the empanadas, fried cauliflower, Caesar salad, and roasted beet salad. The arancini cauliflower bites were my favorite. And the dough on the empanadas was flaky and delicious. My husband and I were there with my aunt and uncle. My aunt and I knew that we could not eat a full entrée, so we split the Argentinian filet. It was cooked to perfection, better than any steakhouse. And we did a side of mashed potatoes with it. The potatoes were so incredibly smooth. My uncle had the chorizo, which he loved. And my husband had the skirt steak, which they are very well known for. He could not believe how tender it was. For dessert, we all shared the chocolate torte and the cheesecake. The cheesecake was not overly sweet and had a unique flavor, but we all loved it. I also indulged in the espresso martini. I saw one go by and it looked delicious so I had to have it. If you were a fan of espresso martinis, make sure you get one here. The only small thing that I was disappointed in was our server. It's not that he wasn't attentive. He just wasn't overly friendly or helpful in trying to manage the menu. I love a server who is personable and willing to give recommendations, especially in a nice dining establishment. But all in all, it was a wonderful experience. read more

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My boyfriend and I went here on Valentine's Day and we ended up sharing 3 small plates, the ribeye steak, a side of mashed potatoes, and a dessert and it was honestly perfect amount wise - we didn't have any leftovers but felt full but not overfull. Small plates - - the harlow's Cesar salad was raved about by our friends so we got it and what makes it really good is the croutons because they are homemade bread drenched in this delicious olive oil or something so for a ceasar salad, it's great! -the empanadas - these were good but im not exactly raving about them. - the tuna tostadas - best of the small plates we had, if you like raw tuna you'd love this. Was pricey bc of the truffles but was delightful and wish i had 14 of them, no notes - the ribeye steak - delightful and loved the chimichuri and the salsa thing that came with it and would deff get again - but at the end of the day it's just steak lol but you can't get the chimichuri and salsa at normal steak places so that i would come back for -pure de papas - absolutely fire mashed potatoes, so creamy silky smooth, deliciously seasoned garlicky butter, no notes - would bathe in these - dessert: brûléed basked cheesecake - this was served on like an apple butter of some sort and was delicious I got the Romera Spritz for my drink and it was okay but if I were to go back I'd prob try something else. Overall great experience, service, and super nice inside! Good date spot, definitely pricey though! read more

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Highly recommend for a great date night in Pittsburgh. We had a wonderful experience sitting at the bar, watching all the action happening. The food was delightful. The service was top-notch! read more

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Really cool, unique spot for Argentinian fare in the strip. Some of the plates were a little disappointing, but overall a nice meal! read more

Balvanera - Argentine Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We showed up at our reservation time and were greeted and seated immediately. The ambiance was beautiful. Suitable for a date night. We ordered empanadas and ribeye steak. They were very well prepared and tasty. For dessert we tried the chocolate cake that was fantastic. The service was timely and friendly. We enjoyed our visit and would come back frequently if it was not so expensive. read more

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Great meal, great cocktails, great desert!! You name it. But the service and our server River!!! Was outstanding. 10 stars for me.

Lovely place. The vibe is so nice. Cozy and inviting. I started off with the empanadas and they were delicious. Crispy and full of flavor. I had the tartare and puré de papas as my entree. The steak tartare was beautifully seasoned and a perfect portion. The papas were creamy and delectable. I enjoyed the Pisco 75 during my dinner, so refreshing. I ended my night with the flan with Fernet Branca and caramel and one of the best restaurant espresso martinis read more

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My partner and I went here for brunch and it was fantastic!! The restaurant is really beautiful, all of the servers were very friendly and the food and drinks were spot on! Be warned - the Bloody Mary is very spicy, very delicious but very spicy, lol. I would go back just to get more empanadas though, the dough is perfect! We had the ham and egg ones and I can't wait to try the other flavors. We both had the steak and eggs and YUM!! The sauces they provide are both great, the steak was very flavorful and the potatoes were cooked perfectly. Loved every bite and can't wait to return. read more

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Birthday dinner at Balvanera! Overall my girlfriend and I really enjoyed our meal. We loved the aesthetic of the restaurant and the food was delicious. We will definitely be going back with some friends to share a bottle of wine and enjoy some small plates. Food: Everything we ate was really tasty and cooked to perfection. I got the Ancho (grass-fed Ribeye ) and my girlfriend got the Angosto (grass-fed striploin) Both of these were cooked perfectly medium rare and were portioned really well. For our side we got the Papas Fritas which were a good compliment to our steak. The surprise of the meal was Harlow's Caesar. The salad was incredible and a perfectly light and salty appetizer. Service: Our waiter was great! He offered great recommendations and was extremely knowledgeable of the menu and told us what drinks would complement our dinner choice. Whenever we were low on water a runner would make sure we were topped off. Ambiance: I really loved the open concept of the restaurant space. The high ceilings and big windows allowed for a lot of natural light! Great for taking pictures of your food btw! I personally really liked the aesthetic of the exposed steel beams which blend in the Pittsburgh influence. read more

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Way fancier than I'm used to, in a good way! I dined here alone, I don't recommend you do that. All the food is very good and very much ala cart, kinda like a tapas setup. The meat was incredible, as was the perfectly curated selection of drinks. They also have really fun outdoor dining that almost makes you think you're not in America anymore. read more

I was underwhelmed. The food was good but nothing special, which I had assumed because there was a lot of buzz about this restaurant opening here. The breakfast empanadas were delicious. Steak and eggs were pretty bland, but the potatoes were delicious. I also tried the Cosmosa, a cosmo-mimosa, and it was very refreshing! Our waiter was very nice and made great recommendations. The big windows made the space feel very bright and open on a gloomy Pittsburgh day. It wasn't too busy for a Sunday brunch, but I'd like to come back for dinner. read more

Balvanera - Steak and eggs (not pictured) - Argentine Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I love trying new spots, and Balvanera really lived up to the hype! The location is in the newly completed terminal in the strip district, and the ambiance fits its location with the restaurant being bright, airy, & open. Our server was really educated on the menu & gave great suggestions on small plates, and you can always notice a great restaurant by the number of people who touch your table. I think we had 4-5 different servers attending to water, delivering food/drinks, & talking us through wine options. Speaking of food & drinks, both were amazing! The small plates & wine list, for me, were the stars of the show. We went with five small plates for four people, which was the perfect amount to not be too full to try the steaks as well (as it is a! Argentine steakhouse!). The group favorites were the roasted carrots, mushrooms with soy & a poached egg, & yellowtail crudo. We also got sweetbreads (had to try it!) & roasted beets. I already want to go back to try more as they had such an expansive small plate menu! The wine list was amazing with pretty much all (if not completely all) the wines being sourced from Argentina. They even had a torrontes (my favorite wine!), so I had a glass with our small plates. The cocktail list was nice as well, but the wine was definitely the standout. The steaks that we got as an entree were cooked perfectly, and the chimichurri accompaniment was herbaceous & delicious. Honestly, the only critique I had is that service started out a little slow (waiting for our first round of drinks, especially), but once food service started, the pacing was great. I can't wait to go back! Food: A Drinks: A- Service: A- Ambiance: A- read more

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food was fresh and well seasoned I sat at the bar and it was full service, big kisses to the ladies who helped me out tonight and gave me wonderful recommendations despite being here in Pittsburg myself it was such a peaceful atmosphere, I enjoyed the ambiance and stunning decor read more

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We had a family event here last week. The staff tried hard to keep our surprise...but...not quite hard enough. Our waiter was not their best either. That said, the food was FANTASTIC and overall the staff was attentive and accommodating. The atmosphere is lively but not too loud. There are many different mini-environments in this beautiful restaurant - the bar, the main dining room, the back dining room, outside. There was something for everyone. And again, as foodies, this was one of the best steaks I've had in a long time. Put Balvanera on your list! read more

Ambience is wonderful. It's one of the only restaurants in Pittsburgh that opens past 10 during a weeknight. The food is pretty average though. And for the price which is high I think it could have a bit more flavour. read more

A friend wanted to stop here for a birthday drink before dinner down the street. The bar is clean and trendy, with a wine list featuring some specialties I haven't heard of (what the heck is a txakoli?!). Bartender gave us a few samples to let us learn. Although we didn't eat the food smelled great. Enjoyed our time here, will come back. It's def pricey tho- our four glasses of wine totaled $60 pre tip. read more

Balvanera - Wine - Argentine Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Excellent food and drinks! I was dining in my own and there were so many things I wanted to sample. At the recommendation of the bartender I ordered the mushrooms (small plate) and lamb sausage. Both were excellent. I also enjoyed the date cake to finish off my meal. read more

I went with a few friends and we split some small bites. Everything we ordered was delicious. We could not decide which empanadas we liked better both has such good flavor. The fries were so crispy! The Caesar salad was good. The Arancini were so good. I got the picante but removed the cilantro (I don't like the taste). I definitely recommend making a reservation. It was busy but we did have a reservation. The staff was very nice and helpful with their recommendations. read more

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Excellente ! My wife and I were visiting Pittsburgh for my son's graduation and he recently moved to the area and he picked Balbanera for our celebratory dinner. My understanding is that Balbanera just celebrated their ONE YEAR anniversary, and that this is the second restaurant opened by the husband and wife team, the first being in lower Manhattan. We certainly had a great meal tonight and would readily return. Ever dish hit the "nail on the head". We started with the Beef Tartar which was excellent, with hand made potato chips. Next was the grilled octopus- also delicious. The beef empanadas were remarkably flavorful and juicy. Yum. We then had one of their grilled handmade sausages which was picante and moist ! We finished with a medium rare skirt steak prepared masterfully. For dessert we had the Basque cheese cake which was creamy with a charred crust. Their wine list was also nicely diversified with a wide selection from Latin America. We ended up with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc that was seemingly fairly priced and perfect for the meal. Overall we had a really excellent dinner and we'd return in a minute. Great vibe, excellent service and delicious food. Do yourself a favor and give these folks a try if in the Pittsburgh area. Thank me later. read more

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Madi strikes again! Her recommendations and service was on point once again. Delicious food and a pisco sour cocktail to start with a Malbec chaser! Who knew? The Balvanera experience would be so freaking good! This is my "go to " business dinner spot. See you in a few weeks!!!! read more

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Balvanera was so good from start to finish! As it was my first time there, I wanted to try a bunch of things. The highlights for me were the rotisserie beets, the chorizo, and my mezcal cocktail. The chorizo was unreal. So delicious and flavorful and I'd go back for that alone. The steak was good (clearly a delicious and high quality cut of meat) but there wasn't any seasoning other than some flaky salt. The endive salad didn't have the right flavors - the salad is so bitter on its own, and it would have been better with more citrus to balance the bitter, and a different cheese entirely that was not as pungent. The empanadas were so good, as expected at an Argentine restaurant, and the complimentary alfajores were such a nice touch. And they were SO good. I loved the lemon flavor, which was unexpected. I enjoyed my experience overall and think that the quality of food is so worth the money, even if there were a few things I'd change. Loved my first time at Balvanera and can't wait to go back! read more

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I attended a networking event here and it was amazing. The staff is so attentive and kind. They offered to make me a mocktail since I was the only one in the group not drinking. We got a bunch of appetizers and they were all mind blowing (in a good way). My favorite were the risotto balls. The restaurant has great natural lighting and decor. Would describe as "Fancy yet affordable." read more

Balvanera - Argentine Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Excellent dinner here! Steak was perfectly cooked. Chicken dish was wonderful. The space is bright, modern & beautiful. Great service as well. Enjoyed dessert too! read more

Balvanera - Argentine Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Food was great! Service was also great. The inside is simply classy, not over the top but just clean aesthetic. Recommend the empanadas de humita! 2 of my friends got the rueda de Cordero and both enjoyed it very much. For dessert, flan was yummy and not as sweet as others I've had. Seems like it would be a great date night place or special events. read more

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We finally got to try Balvanera, and on Valentines Day no less. It did not disappoint. We arrived a bit before they opened their doors and got a good glimpse of the staff pooled together for their pre-opening talk, which was unexpectedly exciting as we'd just watched the Bear episode with the same... If anything I was amazed just how many wait staff there were. We had a nice table in a back room of the restaurant. The chef greeted me as I walked by which was a plus. The restaurant very quickly filled up shortly after opening, and had a great energy. The noise level in the back room was fine, no issues carrying on a conversation. All of the staff was incredibly attentive. Susan was our waitress and she reviewed the menu and specials, helped recommend drinks based on our preferences, and took excellent care of us all evening. We started with the jamón ibérico, because how can you not. It was served along with some bruschetta. So good. We then moved on to the chorizo especial. Not hot at all, for anyone wondering. Well seasoned. Delicious. Served with just a slice of red pepper. For the main, we shared the imported Argentine strip loin. Cooked perfectly. Served with chimichurri and another sauce, I believe creole but it tasted on the sweeter side. Chimichurri was my favorite. We also got a side of the mashed potatoes which are whipped to death, the way my wife prefers. For dessert with finished off with a dark chocolate ganache cake with a mascarpone cream on the side. So good, but the cream was the star. With the check came two small alfajores which were really tasty. Great evening all around. Definitely recommend for a special night out. read more

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This restaurant was one of the best I've been at in the States. My family is from Argentina, and my parents took the time to thank the chefs at the end of our meal for making them feel that they were finally back home. While we did have to wait a while to be seated despite having a reservation, the quality of the food and the staff more than made up for it. Would highly recommend this to anyone visiting the area. read more

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We got to try here after it being on our list for awhile. We came on a friday without a reservation and were able to get seated right away outside. It was a nice night so we didn't mind. Our servers were very good. The menu has a bunch of small dishes/appetizers, some entrees, and then steak offerings. Overall, I would skip the steaks all together. The other food we had was way better and cheaper. The steaks were not very godo at all. Not well seasoned, not good cuts, just overall totally not worth their expensive price. I would return, but I would skip the steaks next time. Everything else we had was great including our cocktails. read more

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Wonderful food and excellent service. Dining here is a cultural experience, the food is so authentic and delicious. This is fine dining at it's best. There are lots of small plates and even smaller plates, and I think that's where this restaurant shines. The wine list was unusual and exclusively Argentinian. I tried a wine I had never heard of and it was very good. The desserts, too, are amazing. We had the Toffee Cake and the Flan, and both were great. read more

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Have been wanting to try this place since it opened and was very excited to snag a table this evening. My first impression upon walking in was that this place was beautiful! If you've lived in Pittsburgh for awhile, it's wild to think that you're at a warehouse in the strip and how far this area has come. Our server, Amanda, was so friendly and helpful. We took her recommendation to try the mushroom small plate (setas?) and the empanadas. The portions were pretty small for the price but I could have licked the sauce out of the mushroom bowl if I didn't have manners. We also had the angosto strip loin and lamb shank special for dinner. Both were quite good, the steak was nicely charred on the outside and perfectly cooked on the inside. For dessert, we got the affogato. The presentation was lovely (poured at the table). Overall, this place is a 4 star for me because the food was pretty good but for these prices, I'd expect every dish to be mindblowing. At $170 after tip, I was still a little hungry when we left. It also took quite a long time to get my cocktail - a fernandito, which is only two ingredients - and even though we ordered this first, it came out after our apps. Overall still a lovely addition to the Pittsburgh food scene though! read more

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