I like brillobox and I want to give them 5 stars. Alas, on our last trip there, there were only 2 people behind the bar on a busy Saturday night, and all food and drinks had to be ordered at the bar. So service was very limited. In terms of food, the standout dish was the basket of French fries, with the creole cauliflower bites in close second. My friends ordered the nachos and they said they were good. The bummer dish of the night was the Mac and cheese with bacon--it came out as a congealed, unappetizing blob. My friend who ordered it described it as "dry." I hope the next time we go there will be faster service and wetter cheese. read more

See all

Brillo is super chill. Visited with my bro a couple nights ago and had some snacks (onion rings and buffalo seitan wings) and beers. It's just an awesome place to hang out. The service is great and staff are super friendly. I highly recommend the onion rings. The seitan bites were ok, I probably wouldn't get them again. Beers were priced as expected. I'd say that Brillo is a place you go for the vibes more so than the food. Also super queer-friendly. When I was in college about 10 years ago, Brillo was our de facto lesbian bar and it seems that the inclusivity has not changed since then. read more

I ate there once before and it was great. This review is for tonight's poor experience . I had no way of knowing that on Sunday evenings they only offer one dinner entree, I was confused by the waitress, who never actually explained what was going on. I'm sure other come in without knowing. Maybe she acts exasperated and angry with everyone that does. The entree looked good and I was going to order it when something gross happened. The waitress was talking to some very loud friends at the bar. Then someone told a story about finding "drawers full of poop" and the waitress asked if someone took a dump before putting on tights. They were sitting there in the restaurant, loudly telling stories about big amounts of poop. I kinda hate that I even paid $2 for my soda. All that happened was the waitress was irate over the special, then joined her friends to be shrill while telling poop stories. Nasty. read more

Uber cool bar with Andy Warhol vibes throughout from the record player jukebox to poster's and photos of Andy's everywhere. Upstairs is a small but excellent live music venue that books only the best bands usually. Definitely check it out ! read more

Love this place. Wackiest vibes but it is still cozy? The bar staff are super nice. Only had fries from here but they were deeeeelicious! read more

Brillobox - Garlic parm fries - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Brillobox is one of my fav spots! Upstairs has a dance floor with a small bar and great events. Downstairs is a chill vibe with a bigger bar and great decor. We went on Wednesday for trivia and it was great!!! Not too crowded and the trivia host was easy to hear but not too loud. And the burger was great!!! Small menu but fast, even with bar service only read more

Amazing bar and awesome Christmas decor!! Just the right size beer list and delish bar food. Will def be back. read more

See all

Awesome vegetarian food. The music fills the entire place with fun energy. The bartenders were extremely nice and made sure we are in a safe space. read more

See all

Yay they're open again! But more so, I should have updated this long ago. Service improved by leaps and bounds since my initial review. It's a great neighborhood spot and you can't go wrong with Prosecco on tap! read more

Brillobox - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

We came here for a DJ set on a Friday night. We started in the downstairs part of Brillobox. I liked the old school booths and eccentric decor in this area. It was pretty crowded but we were able to get drinks pretty easily. We found a booth to slip into to enjoy our drinks! The air flow is great downstairs. The issue now is with the upstairs area. It's just an empty space with a stage in the front and a bar and bathrooms in the back. But there was no air at all. Not even a fan up there. It was super hot and the air was thick up there. It's unfortunate because the DJs we're doing a great job but it was entirely too hot to dance for a length of time. I think I would only go to the downstairs part if I came back here in the future! read more

This place was amazing. I thought it was closed. We went here when we first went vegan and the food was wonderful and the drinks as well. I think I might be a bit older than the clientele now so I'd be less likely to go. I remember it being a bit noisy, but for young people with good ears, this place is great. read more

On a scale of romance novels to documentaries, Brillobox is a legend. I've never been to the Brillobox in the "before times," but I loved experiencing it for the first time a week or so ago. It's clear that this is a beloved establishment because it was absolutely packed out. The bartenders were whirling dervishes of drink creators, and the kitchen staff rolled out the food rapidly. What I adored most was the whimsical decor of the space with a giant shark suspended on one wall while cherry blossoms sprouted above the bar top. If you love to dine or drink in the midst of gorgeousness, Brillobox should be your haunt. Parking can be a headache, but the side roads offer random, available spaces. Just come prepared to loop around the side streets a bit. read more

Brillobox - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Super hipster vibe, pretty good vegetarian food! We stopped in on a Sunday evening, and I was surprised at how busy it is. We were lucky to snag two seats at the bar. The space is very limited so I would find it hard to picture a band, or live music here. The beer was a little overpriced, but I felt as though the menu selection was priced very fairly. We ended up getting the bahn mi (tofu) and it was surprisingly good. The french fries that came with it were also cooked perfectly - I would really look to come back here if I were in the neighborhood. Great for vegetarians! read more

See all

So many vegan options. The drinks are good but come for a mound of fries and really nice booth seats. read more

Brillobox - Red seating - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I've been here often enough by now that this place definitely warrants a review. Like many Pittsburgh bars, Brillobox - named after the soap pads immortalized by locally-born artist Andy Warhol - follows the "mullet" approach. What do I mean by the "mullet" approach? Business in the front, party, party, p-p-partayyyy!!!! in the back. And by the back, I mean the bar's upstairs section. Let's start the review with the front part of the bar. This is an intentionally quirky bar that gets packed very quickly very early on and is frequented and staffed by people who are somewhere along the journey of the punk rocker-to-hipster pipeline. As in somewhere in that transitional stage between being a PBR-guzzling, three-chord playing, cuffed jeans type who loves a good scrap, and being a bicycle-owning straight-edge vegan with a tasteful tattoo sleeve committed to a lifestyle of yoga and meditation. As mentioned earlier, this part of the bar is usually crowded up and it is sometimes next to impossible to find a decent seat without being incredibly clever about it. That said when you do there is a more than decent albeit somewhat spendy menu that includes kimchi fries, a Mediterranean Platter, and other edible goodies. The front bar can be a little underwhelming depending on what you're looking for and if you and/or the group you're with can't find table space you might sigh and say "you know what, let's go to Tina's, it has the same vibe, right?" Which brings me to the back bar. This is the difference between a three-star and four-star review. The back bar is a divey, genuinely artsy venue for performers and DJs with a small, checkerboard-floor pattern overseen by a photo of (of course) Andy Warhol and some of his buddies from back in the 20th century. There is one bar counter staffed by a lone drink-slinger serving up cheap beers and quick cocktails, and if you are at all like me *this* part of the bar is exactly what you are looking for. Brillo's upstairs/back bar is an excellent intimate, small venue for live shows by touring bands and artists, including up-and-coming locals and moderately-well-known names. I also have to recommend the Goth/Industrial/Alternative Synthpop night Second Skin (DJ'd by the masterful Erica Scary, a locally renowned champion of all that is dark and alternative), which tends to focus on a mix of the classics and the new, with a through-line of the more punk-y and less pop-adjacent sides of those genres: I am happy to say this is one of the nights in town where you are most likely to hear back to back Cold Cave, Gary Numan, High Functioning Flesh, etc. and I am definitely there for it. Whether you are more about the longer or shorter side of the mullet, Brillobox likely has something going on that you will appreciate. read more

I've heard of a Pittsburgh salad and found a cool looking place to finally try it! I was not disappointed! read more

Brillobox - Pittsburgh Salad - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Brillobox is a great neighborhood bar with a quirky aesthetic, a good place to meet with a friend or several for a drink and loud conversation. I enjoyed my rose wine, but my companions observed that their apple cider tasted like cherry Robitussin and that their IPA was too dark to be an IPA. I hear people like to come here for trivia too, so I think it's worth more than one visit before making a final assessment. read more

I visited this place this weekend for the first time. The vibe is excellent, classical American-style dive bar. I loved the overhanging cherry tree and all the little Andy Warhol details in the decor. The fact it is open till 2 am is a plus, especially in Pittsburgh. I'd give the bar a higher score, but the cocktails were so and so---my daiquiri was passable, and the frozen lime margarita was more fun than tasty. There are shows in the upstairs area, but I did not attend the one that was playing when I went there. I'll have to come back to check it out again. Overall, definitely try it out when out late and see how you like the atmosphere! read more

Brillobox - Bar decorations - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I just went to this place to because it said there's " vegan options" and I appreciate any food spot trying to accommodate us. I got the vegan seitan wingz, and the were over cooked, burnt and hard to chew, wasted my time & money. It was my first & last time. read more

Stopped by for a bite to eat after seeing that they had so many vegetarian and vegan things on the menu! The atmosphere is basically a really interestingly decorated bar with some booths and a huge cherry blossom tree hanging overhead. First, we ordered some fried cauliflower. I liked it and liked the sauce, but wished the cauliflower was cooked just a teeny bit longer to make it softer. Huge portion. It might have been almost a whole head of cauliflower, or definitely at least half a head! I had the veggie burger which was made of kale, black beans and quinoa. I opted for the vegan version. $2 upcharge for fries. The burger was thick and a bit crumbly, but good. It can be hard to make a vegan burger. I loved the avocado on top. The fries tasted waaaayyy better than they look. They were not hard or crispy, although they look brown. Not overly salted, which I liked. Overall, a good meal. read more

See all

The food and ambiance are unmatched. Also if you're vegan/veg there are so many options. The bartenders are great. It's one of my favorite places in Pittsburgh and anytime a friend is in town I bring them here! read more

My friends and I ate at Noodlehead in Shadyside and started walking westbound down Penn towards Lawrenceville. One friend was sore from running a half marathon earlier that day and would not stop complaining. We saw several people enjoying themselves in this bar and decided to stop in for a couple drinks. I liked the tree behind the bar and the red, circular vinyl booths. There were some intriguing women inside which only added to my appreciation of the place. The bartender was a really friendly guy and the beer selection was good. Those booths captured my attention more than the beautiful women sitting in them. Tom Waits lyrics have been stuck in my head since. "Warm Beer And Cold Women" One of those nights. It's warm beer, cold women, no I just don't fit in. 'Cause every joint I stumbled into tonight is just how it's been. All these double knit strangers with gin and vermouth. And recycled stories in the Naugahyde booths. And the platinum blonds, tobacco brunettes. I'll be drinkin' to forget you, I'll light another cigarette. And the band's playin' something by Tammy Wynette And the drinks are on me tonight. All my conversations now I'll just be talkin' about you babe. Borin' some sailor as I try to get through. I just want him to listen now, I said that's all you have to do. He said, "I'm better off without you" until I showed him my tattoo. And now the moon's rising ain't no time to lose. Time to get down to drinking tell the band to play the blues. And the drinks are on me, I'll back up a round. At the last ditch attempt saloon. Warm beer, cold women, no I just don't fit in. Every joint I stumbled into tonight that's just how it's been. All these double knit strangers with gin and Vermouth. Receeding hairlines in the Naugahyde booths. With the platinum blonds, tobacco brunettes. I'll just be drinking to forget you baby, I'll light a menthol cigarette. And the band's playing somethin' by Johnnie Barnett And the last ditch attempt saloon. read more

Brillobox - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Ate dinner at Brillobox last Tuesday and was extremely pleased with my overall dining experience. This summer (2015) they released a new menu with tons of great additions-new apps, salads and sandwiches, most of which are vegetarian/vegan and all are very different so options are endless. My boyfriend and I sat at the bar and for 9:00 PM on a Tuesday the place was very lively. Ambiance: unique eclectic décor inside. Several different paintings, artwork, and lights strung around the restaurant. Retractable side wall opens up entirely on warmer days to the fresh air. Aside from the bar and tables around the restaurant they have a few couches & comfortable chairs in front of the retractable wall as well. Very cozy spot. Staff: friendly staff. Not only was our particular waiter so welcoming but the rest of the staff was eager to offer refills or ask if we needed anything. Our waiter was very knowledgeable of the different menu items and the beers on draft, offering us his honest opinion of the food as well as beer samples. Food: Delicious! For an appetizer we had the creole cauliflower - flash fried exactly as the description reads, with the perfect amount of spice and a delicious tangy maple mustard dipping sauce. I ordered the veggie burger and it was actually a burger with substance and flavor that didn't crumble upon biting into it. Served on a very fresh Kaiser bun with fresh topping and a side salad -one of the best veggie burgers I've had in Pittsburgh! I will definitely be back to order that again. My boyfriend ordered the "b.r.b." roast beef sandwich on baguette - he too loved his meal. It was packed with flavor and tons of toppings. Overall food was delicious, ingredients were exotic, everything was so fresh, portions were large, and the large draft menu topped it off. We will certainly be back for more and to try the new menu items soon. read more

Awful service. Will never come back. Save your money. Plenty of other Pittsburgh restaurants with better food and a more welcoming environment! read more

One star review for the "new" bahnmi sandwitch - so sad to write this! Brillobox has been a favorite since we moved to Pittsburgh 7 years ago - and the Tofu Bahnmi is my staple. I crave this sandwich and get it every time!!! I got it tonight and I disappointed for the first time ever!!! It was raw tofu! No special sause! Bread soggy! I am so shocked and disappointed!!! The bartenders are still super amazing and super understanding. Please bring back the old tofu bahn mi!!! It was the best in Pittsburgh! read more

Brillobox - Brillobox "new" tofu bahnmi - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I visited Brillobox with a friend the Fri. before last. Given that we were both looking for somewhere where we could get some HH food and grub, and that I had a City Dining Card, it seemed like a good opportunity to hit up Brillobox, so we did. We started out by taking advantage of the HH special of $3 cocktails. These cocktails consisted of frozen drinks, so I went with a cranberry margarita, and my friend had a frozen bourbon cider. They weren't particularly strong, but at $3, I can't complain too much. For food, we took advantage of the HH special for half price selected apps by ordering the fried and breaded cauliflower, which came with a maple mustard dipping sauce ($3.50). While the concept seemed interesting, the seasoning didn't strike me as very Cajun, and the dip was just okay. In addition, I ordered the shells and cheese with chicken ($12 + $2 upcharge), and my friend ordered the Brilloburger ($12). The cheese sauce with the shells was nice and creamy, and the dish was topped with bread crumbs to add some crunch, both of which I appreciated. However, the portion of chicken was meager, and the dish wasn't particularly flavorful. While I can't speak directly about the burger, I suspect my friend felt similarly about it. During our visit to Brillobox, we sat at one of the tables in the back corner of the first floor. The decorations above the bar were quite interesting and festive, and made for a cool ambiance. As others have mentioned, this bar definitely attracts a hipster crowd due to its location, so consider yourself forewarned if this is a turn-off. Overall, while our visit to the Brillobox wasn't particularly remarkable, it served the purpose of a HH hangout nicely. Between the HH and City Dining Card discounts, which they let me combine, the price was pretty reasonable. While I wouldn't go out of my way to return, I certainly wouldn't be opposed to spending another Fri. HH here, by any means. 3.5 stars. read more

See all

Brillobox was such a great place to eat! The atmosphere is unique and casual and the food and drinks were not only vegan friendly but also extremely tasty! We got fries, hummus, and seitan wings (mild) for the table and the group had the bbq tofu sandwich and veggie burgers! Starting with the apps, we could have skipped the humus and pita as there was not really anything special about it. The fries were AMAZING and come with ketchup, vegan shallot aioli, and maple mustard (this mustard is perfect, blew our minds!). I really liked the seitan wings, they are not breaded and have a great texture and flavor. We go mild sauce since we has some wussies at the table and they said they felt it was still spicy. So if you don't like spicy at all opt for bbq. We got vegan ranch with ours as a dipping sauce. The only reason I give a 4 on this review is because we were brought out a non vegan sauce instead of this ranch at first and someone did eat some before we figured it out. To me that is a pretty serious thing. The burger and sandwich were both great and the burger comes with a chipotle aioli instead of the shallot, again if you don't like spicy food ask to replace with shallot! We hung around a little and drank watermelon margs before heading out and really enjoyed the place. I will for sure be back here and recommend giving Brillobox a visit! read more

Brillobox - Menu - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I've always loved this place - used to go every Friday after work, since it's around the corner. Great place to enjoy a few beers with friends - they have a great rotating selection. This place really shines on their 'bar food' though. Their menu is great - I recommend their pommes frites and their brilloburger, but pretty much everything I've ever had there was awesome - hummus, nachos, banh mi, etc! I'm not sure if they still play the 'Dallas" re-runs on the projection TV, but the ambience is great, especially when they can open up the garage door in the front of the place and let the outside in. Hmmmm... maybe it's time to re-institute the weekly tradition with friends from work! read more

Dined w/ a few friends early one Sat night so the place got progressively packed as the hours went past. While I hadn't heard much about Brillobox's food, I have to say their spicy black bean nachos, generous portioned house salad, and thick well-seasoned burger w/ local cheddar were all very, very tasty. Food was served quickly and hot. Draft beer selection is ample and includes local favs from Church Brew Works, East End Brewing, and occasional Full Pint selections as well as Breckenridge, Anchor Steam, Victory, and Guinness offerings to name a few. I may have to go back soon just to try a freshly muddled Old Fashioned w/ cherries and oranges and raw turbine sugar. It really looked delish and as soon as patrons observed the preparation, everyone had to try one. I was already full-on beer committed and not willing to test the old "beer before liquor" adage or I would have stepped in line for one of those whiskey heavens. But the real delight about Brillobox is the outstanding service from all staff. The bartenders also act as wait staff and do a super job of making sure glasses are full and customers are happy. Table service does end at 9pm. The upstairs area also offers an intimate (read: small) space for live shows from some local and national indy acts. Listings are in the City Paper. Ladies room was small but neat and well stocked. read more

Let us talk about the food and drink at this place. Everyone seems to have covered the aesthetic aspect of this place, so I really shouldn't even waste any time on that in this review. I was hungry, I mean really hungry and just decided to check my Yelp app for nearby places and Brillo popped up. Scanned their menu and decided this was were I was going to satisfy that hunger in me. The menu is short but they seem to cover a fair amount of area when it comes to quick bites. I was going back and forth between the gourmet grilled cheese and the Brilloburger. Of course, being the burger fan I am I opted for the Brilloburger. I was quite excited because you got to pick the cheese you wanted on it (at no extra cost). You also get the option to have either potato chips or a mixed green salad, I opted for the mixed green salad. When the burger came out, my jaw dropped. Good thing it did, because is was huge. So huge it was necessary to cut it in half to devour it. I swear they make their own buns there, if not they get them locally and fresh daily. They lightly toast the bun before loading it with that amazing patty of beef. The burger had to have been a half pounder, juicy and thick (cooked to order). Lettuce, tomato and red onions top it. I opted for the smoked Gouda cheese which gave it that extra flavor of goodness. Thank god for the extra napkins supplied, they were definitely needed. I'm sure I wasn't a pretty sight eating this monster, but it tasted so good that afterward I swear I should have taken a shower. The mixed green salad was an amazing side. Carrot shavings and an amazing balsamic dressing made in house. Now, for the drinks, they have an amazing mix of drafts and big bottled beer (read that as higher alcohol content). What I really appreciate about this place is rather than describe to you what the flavor of a beer is they have on draft, they give you a sample and you can make that decision by yourself. I selected the Brooklyn pale ale and after a nice sample, proceeded to order two more drafts. Now, the staff were amazing. A nice compliment to such an awesome place. They were attentive to our every need. Checked on us frequently. And the best part was that it didn't matter who started our order, whenever someone came around, they made sure we were taken care of. Definitely a return visit in the near future from me. read more

Went here for the Wednesday night trivia game. Had a watermelon margarita for $7. Very tasty and fresh. Had the tater-tots to munch on. They were huge! read more

I've been coming to Brillobox for years, it's one of my staples in the East End. The food is always awesome and there are a ton of options I really enjoy. My go-to, though, has always been the nachos as they are seriously the best nachos in the city (and I do not say that lightly.. I've searched far and wide for excellent nachos and Brillo's were the real deal!) I was pretty devastated when I just learned that their new menu (while still awesome) does not include nachos!!! Often times, I come here exclusively for the nachos (as I had today), so I sadly can only offer four stars. Brillo, if you read this, pleaseeeee bring back the nachos. read more

It's been years since I've sat down and eaten at Brillobox. So I did it this past sunday. The staff was friendly and accommodating. The food was delish. Our table ordered some tap beers and: Fried cauliflower Hot Seitan "wings" Tofu burrito bowl Regular wings with dry rub The cubano The bahn mi with pork. Everyone loved their food immensely. My seitan was spicy as all hell and it was AWESOME. It was the best idea post Bloomfield Pool on a sunday. I will definitely try to make it a point to go back to brillo. I used to go there a lot when they first opened and it was all cigarette smoke and debauchery. I stopped going because it got too crowded for my tastes/age. I guess it's a decent option when we're looking for bar food thats good and drinks that are cold. read more

Great place on a weekday night, as weekends are too crowded for my liking. Hosts/ed great Pgh bands like Girl Talk and Black Moth Super Rainbow before they made it big. Good veg fare as well, try the veg reuben. http://www.brillobox.net/ read more

Brillobox - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

If you need punk in your life and, a little Rock and Roll. I must say, I don't like to boast. I just appreciate everything Brillobox provides! Thanks, to the 2nd floor for a good show, thanks to the 1st floor for my snack. I have vague memories of fun times. 10/10. read more

Although the service here was top notch, the signature burger was not. The "Brilloburger" was not in a category of best burgers, in my opinion. I believe that the mix of meat was indeed correct, but the seasoning killed the whole thing. They sprinkle (heavily) coarse salt on the burger, then put the cheese and toppings on. The salt took over, and as I actually crunched down on salt, I wondered what the burger would taste like without. No one will know until that element is changed. They also serve the burger with a mayo topping. Personally, this is not something that should be needed if the meat, cheese, and veggies are all fab. On the other side of the table, my hubby ordered the pitadilla and Mac and cheese. The "quesadilla-like" app was fine. All I can say is that I have had comparable at a Phish concert. Perhaps the finest creation of the meal was the Mac n Cheese. Right on. Right on. Like I said, the service was impeccable. Food, eh. read more

See all

We were in town for the Steelers/Jags game. I am vegan and my boyfriend is not. This place catered to both of us equally. It was refreshing to find a place that has an equal number of vegan options as meat eating options. And not just "you can make it vegan by taking everything off it" options. I'm talking vegan toppings, sauces, etc. The creole cauliflower was AMAZING, and the cucumber salad side was delicious too. Definitely would go back. read more

Brillobox - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

This review is strictly for the French fry cone! 10/10 So good, you are seriously messing up if you aren't ordering this. Fries, great! Dipping sauces, great! Order it read more

Wow wow wow. I had brunch here just now and it's delicious. Great vegan selections. I had the tofu scramble (usually I don't like them because they have the weird nutritional yeast flavor overpowering, but this one was perfection egg substitute), the most amazing thick slices of sourdough bread smothered in vegan butter, salted and peppered fresh hash browns. I wasn't a fan of the sausage they had with it but the other things were dynamite. My friend ordered the cardamon blueberry pancakes and I dipped my sourdough in that sauce and it was tasty! Service here was perfect. Right balance between checking up on us and giving us space to eat and talk. Good temperature. Music wasn't too loud. Definitely coming here again! read more

Brillobox - Vegan Vietnamese sandwich with seitan. - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Fairly overpriced drinks and cover... we paid $8 EACH to get in to a small overpacked room. This was recommended to us, but won't be suggesting this to others ‍ read more