Brillobox is an interesting food joint. We tried the mcbrillo burger and to my surprise it didn't come with fries. Fries are extra. $6 extra. Your side choices are broccoli, chips and salsa or something else that I normally wouldn't have as a side with a burger. I chose chips and salsa. Not even good chips and salsa. The burger itself was good, tasted really fresh but nothing special. Nothing really stood out to me. I don't know if they didn't put enough sauce on it or what but I wouldn't pay $12 for it again. I was thrown off by the poor seating. There's bar seating, the booths are great for groups, but theres a few TINY round tables for two people, they're so small and in the most awkward place, it just feels like everyone walking by is on top of you. Even the waiter kept having to move out of the way for people walking by while he was taking our order. I wanted to ask if we could move to a booth that just cleared up but didn't want to be rude if a group walked in. Basically this place is crowded in my opinion. That brings me to the service... they kinda just float around. They aren't really attentive. I had to flag them down. Not sure if I would return. read more

Such a cozy Bar. Great food, great service, & an awesome selection of drinks. Before you die, try their Bahn Mi. (Pork is my preference with this sabdwhich). read more

Brillobox - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The many reasons I like brillobox (despite its hipness), in no particular order: - I always, and I do mean always, meet interesting quality people there. My group of friends consists mostly of smart, funny, and all-around rad people that I've shared a booth with at brillobox. - They make a brilliant martini (sorry for the weird Britishism, but drinking their martinis somehow really does make me feel a little smarter and sassier) and at $5.50 they're a steal. - The bartenders are friendly no matter how busy it gets. Go in there on a Friday or Saturday night and you won't find harder working drink slingers anywhere in the city. There's usually only two people manning the bar, but considering how packed it gets sometimes, the wait is pretty short. - Their frites ($6) are shoestring style and awesome; they come with curry ketchup, garlic aioli and chipotle mayo. - The rest of their menu is well-priced pub-grub and the kitchen serves until 11. - The upstairs dance floor and adjoining bar sometimes have a cover for live bands or djs, but it's generally reasonable and on occasion their dance party themes are pure magic (Sweet Lovely Death: A 1970's punk dj dance party, I'm lookin' at you). - The atmosphere is relaxed. There are a handful of giant gawdy paintings that are truly ugly, but they're balanced out by bright-red wallpaper and cute dim lamps that create a mellow ambiance and make it look sort of like someone's fashionable Godmother died and left them all her stuff. - Their beer selection is humongous. So, I guess when I die I'll have to haunt brillobox, but there are worse ways to spend eternity. read more

Oh, Brillobox. Normally, I enjoy your Wednesday night pub trivia. We've never cracked the top three, and I've learned to ignore how long it takes you to grade the two rounds. You have a great beer selection, a good crowd and really challenging trivia. The beer and the atmosphere typically make up for your slow service and limited and overpriced menu but last night your customer service really turned me off!! An accountant, especially a stone-cold sober accountant, looks at her bill. When I questioned the extra beer on my bill ($5.15) instead of giving me attitude, throwing the disputed cash on the bar, making a scene and making me feel guilty, you should have just said sorry about the mix-up and credited my card. Your error was understandable given that there were only two bartenders/waiters on a crowded night but the way you treated me was not. I won't be recommending you anytime soon. read more

A hipster hideout in Pittsburgh! I thought I'd never live to see the day that hipsters could congregate openly and proudly in this 'tahn (town) apart from at a couple of off-color coffeeshops with miserable coffee or at the odd event at the Andy Warhol museum. But alas, about a year after I graduate college, the Brillobox opened. Upon my return visit to the 'burgh, I couldn't have been happier (or more jealous of current college kids). Brillobox presents a distinctly Pittsburgh interpretation of hipsterism that I'm in love with. Sure, it's skinny pants and odd attire and funny hats and people smoke cigarettes outside. But, the Pittsburgh part of it makes all the things you hate go away. It's clean, the people are NICE, yes - NICE, the place is well-designed for multiple experiences, and you wouldn't even mind having a whole meal there. Perfect. The downstairs bar is a really great place to chill with friends and have one of their many great beers or some other drink. It's dark, swanky, and artsy...in a good way. The upstairs is the musical performance space. When I went there, there was a hipster-come-bluegrass-rock-revival type band playing at absurdly volumes. But the crowd was into it, and it wasn't half bad either. A place like this would never fly in any other city. In SF, LA, or NY, it would be mocked for being faux-hipster, pretentious, superficial and for trying too hard. In other less urban towns, it would be mocked for being too "cool", for being for smokers and druggies and drop-outs, and for trying too hard to be something it's not. But Brillobox fits Pittsburgh like a glove - modern and urban, yet sensible and unpretentious, all at the same time. It's the reason why Pittsburgh is succeeding where other similar rust-belt cities are fading. It's why, for the first time, I can honestly say to myself, "I want to go visit Pittsburgh sometime soon!" read more

Oh, Brillo. How the mighty have fallen. I remember a time - and not all that long ago, actually - when the question 'where do you want to go tonight?' would often be answered with an enthusiastic, 'BRILLO!' And now... it's just like... the thing we want to see is being hosted here; let's hope we don't have to use the bathroom all night. Do not despair - I will tell you, in time, why it is still worth it to come out to this relic of our yester-Lville. I haven't eaten there in a good while, and last I did, the food was yummy. We haven't seemed to make it during kitchen hours lately, but I do remember the food fondly. The drinks? Eh, not so much. I would say, stick to wine or beer if you're drinking here. Single-spirit mixed drinks - like a vodka-soda, etc - are a pretty safe bet as well. But anything past that? Not impressed. Now, on to the *real* reason you want to come here: DANCE NIGHTS. Title Town has moved here after the closing of the Shadow Lounge (::tears::). This is hosted the second Saturday of every month, and is $3 before 10pm, $6 after, but worth every penny, no matter what time you arrive. The DJs are fantastic (J Malls & Gordy & maybe another guest DJ or two), the music is all old funk, soul, & R&B, and you will dance until you fall over. The second, also fantastic dance night is Second Skin, which is generally hosted every other month, although the days of the week appear to change. (Your best bet here is to like Second Skin on Facebook so you can get notifications of when the dance nights are.) Second Skin is a gothy dancefest. You don't have to be goth to love it; believe me, there are plenty of hipsters out there shaking it on the dance floor as well. But it's all really, REALLY well-curated goth dance music. Post-punk, new wave, little bits of industrial. Basically, if you could dance to it dressed in all black, you will hear it from the wonderful Erica Scary & crew. Now that Eclipse has closed and we've lost our other goth night in the city, this is the event to look out for every other month. The negatives of Brillo: the upstairs bathroom. A bathroom so heinous that the Trainspotting bathroom told it to maybe clean its act up. The floor will be wet (it's real slippy, yinz watch aht!). There will probably not be any toilet paper. Someone may have used paper towels in place of the toilet paper, so you may have a scary situation. Be warned. Hold it as best you can, or make your way downstairs to the less-nightmare-inducing bathrooms. On the subject of wet floors: the dance floor at Brillo ALWAYS seems to be wet. Spilled drinks I guess? Or sweaty humans? Perhaps some combination of the two? Regardless, just be careful when you are dancing your brains out that you don't slip, bump your head, and actually knock some brains out. And it *will* be crowded. Always. It will always be crowded at some point of the evening. Be ready for it. And try your hardest to watch that your elbows don't go into someone else's dancing real estate (looking at you, my flaily hipster friends). We can all get along in this smelly, sticky, slippery space. And all the negatives will be worth it, because you will dance so hard you forget they all exist. read more

It's been a REALLY long time since I've visited the Brillobox. Therefor, I felt like I needed another visit to justify a review. I have heard the mixed reviews about the food and environment for a while, but considering I had only hung out in the upstairs for a DJ set long long ago, I really wanted to try the food. We bellied up to the bar and grabbed a delicious seasonal brew, Great Lakes Red Ale... they have a mega list of brews that makes me happy! But it makes me extra happy to see seasonal brews on the list as well! What I do remember was how delicious my grilled cheese and tomato soup was! It wasn't just your plain old grilled cheese... it was a delicious gourmet treat! Ooey gooey Gouda cheese, tomato and caramelized onions. Yumm-o! I was in cheesy heaven! I wasn't sure about the tomato soup because it had fennel in it. I'm not a big fan of fennel, but the more and more I kept digging in, the more I liked it! It was the perfect accent to the already delicious meal! Of course there's your requisite judgmental hipster crowd, but I ignored it and enjoyed my amazing meal and tasty beer. The hipsters can have their ultra dive bars, but I want to share this one! read more

I really like this place. Went here in the middle of the week to check out a band I discovered while I was living in Austin. Loved the hipster vibe. There is a small stage above the bar which is where I went on my first visit. The place was pretty cool, the bartenders quick and there were small built in tables on the side to rest your beer while enjoying the show. Def a great place for an intimate concert. On my second visit, I checked out their bar. Loved the decor, there are tvs and some random movie was playing on their larger TV. They have a decent selection of beer, which I enjoyed. There are a variety of high tops and also some really nice comfy booths. Definetely plan on returning. Love the hipster vibe this joint has and apparently they have some good happy hour deals. read more

"Oh, it's very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies, dickheads - they all adore it. They think it's a righteous place." - Grace, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, remarking about Brillobox Brillobox restores my faith that we really can just all get along. You'll find quite a mix of people here, and that's fun. Downstairs is cool, funky bar complete with red, cushy, vinyl couches. Upstairs is the live music venue/dance floor. Drinks are a fair price and there is a decent menu. Since it's not large place, it can get rather crowded late at night. More places like this would raise the hipness factor of Pittsburgh substantially. read more

Solid brunch. The seven of us trickled in slowly but surely after a long previous evening and made our first orders. Some went with Guinness, I tried to order a Bloody but they were having to search for a key ingredient so I opted for a Breckenridge Vanilla Porter instead (get one when you see it, they're deeeelish). Food menu for brunch is limited, but what we had we all loved. I went with the chicken hash which is really more like an open-faced pot pie or a Shepherd's pie without the mashed potatoes, and is served on croissant halves. It was about as decadent as it sounds, yes. My friend's blackberry French toast was ridiculous (more tart than sweet) and the guys that ordered the salmon omelette were all very pleased, especially with the cumin on the potatoes. Good call, Brillobox. I hear it's loaded with hipsters as night falls, but this particular Sunday it was wide open and sparsely populated. The bartender was also the server and was just busy enough to cause delays and empty glasses, but it was nothing we couldn't get over with another round of drinks. read more

great energy from everyone except the one bartender with the grown out bleach out. she accused our group of not tipping although we had all tipped accordingly, made us very uncomfortable because she vocally and aggressively accused of not tipping. very rude considering we did tip, it made us feel unwelcome. we had a nice time otherwise but she made us feel bad and prob won't come back because it made us feel quite uncomfortable :-( read more

What a night of serendipity, surreality, and pop culture. Andy Warhol, eat your heart out. On a pitstop between Detroit and D.C., my copilot (no, not God, though my best bud is really awesome) and I swung by Pittsburgh for some grub. We ended up at the Brillobox because hey, where else can you get half-decent food late at night besides a hipsterish bar? I'm a huge sucker for the decor here - it's a mishmash of a bunch of different aesthetics (contemporary, kitschy, antique) and everything ends up feeling warm, inviting, and even a touch magical. The gigantic open-in-warm-weather store front doesn't hurt either. The crowd was mostly in their 30s - hip but not rocker - more like geeky tech and graphic design industry people. That and so many attractive queer women I almost forgot to eat the meal in front of me (my eyes were feasting elsewhere?). Their presence, I found out later, was probably due to Sharon Needles promo celebration something-something that ended up happening while we were there. Good timing! The bartender was pretty brusk but efficient. I love no-bullsh*t attitudes but I don't really love you're-not-human attitudes. This guy really teetered on the border. Decent selection of beer. I had something local and tasty. Food was ok. Overpriced for what it was. The buffalo wings are where it's at. Ate those suckers up. The spicy udon vegetable soup was really heavy on the bouillon and really tomatoey. Other than that, it was fairly bland. The chorizo tacos were good, albeit a little dry. I liked the tables and booths - and though it was packed, a couple shared their huge table with us. I get the sense people in here are pretty open and generally friendly. Three 1/2 stars in all. Rounded up to four because I'm stealing some interior design moves from these guys. read more

I came this weekend with two cousins to see a comedy-improv show. Brillobox has a pretty awesome two-level setup: the ground floor is a small but beautiful bar with booth seating; a long, old fashioned wooden, curved bar; a huge plasma tv; amazing (whimsical!) decorations; and cool, mellow lighting with set up over a sweet sound system. The upper level is like a black box theater with a the addition of a small stage, a killer sound system, and a bar at the back! We got some Moscow mules ok the lower level from our awesome bartender (who just so happened to be the owner as well!) and took them to the second floor for the show. The second floor has limited drinks, but they DO allow you to take drinks up and down, so that's no problem. In any case, the drinks were strong and reasonably priced, so I was more than content. The comedy show was also really fun. They do a lot of different events up there from comedy to music to dancing, so you're never bored! Love this place! read more

I've been here several times to see live music, and although amazingly loud, it's a good venue. Music takes place upstairs, but downstairs the bar is a little quieter and has a pretty large selection of beer including local favorites like Big Hop from the East End Brewing Company. The food here is actually awesome - nice appetizers, and locally raised, hormone free meats. The chicken sandwich with bacon and side salad was excellent. A fair number of veggie options as well. Brillobox is a non-smoking venue which raises it's appeal for me! read more

I attended a party for Viva Radio upstairs. First of all, the bouncer wasn't much of a bouncer. I felt like I could poke him over with my pinky finger. Then, there was no Guinness at the upstairs bar. However, the bartender poured a generous drink. The dancing was fun. I liked looking at the crazy Jesus figurines. I couldn't figure out the decor, but it was kind of like "Diner meets the Last Supper in Neonville" or something. People like to throw this word "hipster" around. I feel like I saw a lot of people who could be classified as "hipsters" -- but only if you use that term hatefully. read more

Hipsters come here for drinks and nourishment. They also groove to cool music upstairs and occasionally have concerts in between looking at themselves in the mirror. The best part about the hipsters in Pittsburgh? They are real hipsters. Not these fake 20 something babies flitting around in expensive clothes....no. Honest to goodness hipsters go here. So, if you like to dance with boys in tighter jeans than your own, you're in luck. Brillo will provide just that, and cheap beer! Go get one now. They're waiting... read more

Came here to dance to some D's who claimed to have taste in music (Title Town), They did have good taste in music not excellent but good I asked for some Curtis Mayfield and that was beyond their reach I guess. They also dropped a record off the table haven't heard a transition that awkward since my raver days. Anyhow I'm dropping a star for drink prices a medium sized mixed drink runs $6 here with bottom shelf liquor and beers anywhere from 4-6$ a pop. The space is still really cramped it kinda feels like you are dancing in a shipping container that might be dropped in the ocean at anytime. Also the extreme whiteness is a bit much for me because white people are inside doing things like hogging the top smaller stage dance floor ALL NIGHT. A group of white guys who apparently think they can dance were up there dressed in thrift store threads and resembling a swarm of mosquito's, They were quite annoying. Completely unaware of their douchebaggery. I am not sure if this is still as annoying on other nights it looks like from the reviews it is. I still had a good night though. read more

Friday night and there are children (5-7 year olds!) running around, we ask the bartenders about this, and they say there is nothing they can do- it's up to the owners. Obviously it's the parent's extremely bad decision (plus lack of enforcement? aren't there door guys to check id?) , but just beware- you could come in for an after work drink, and feel like you are in the middle of a daycare. And no one will care (except you!). read more

Ambiance-wise, this place nails it and plays with being quirky, which is awesome in Pittsburgh, where you either have dives or places that try to hard to be what they think a bar must be like in LA or NYC. However, this can't say the fact that the bartenders have never been friendly, the food odd and the servers seem very disinterested in serving. To be fair, I've never been there on an event night or upstairs. read more

Let me start with the fact that I've always wanted to check this bar out. Went last weekend with a large group for a friends birthday. We arrived around 11 so I didn't have a chance to eat but the menu seemed decent. We had no problem with the service however I could see the potential attitude they had if anyone got out of line, understandable. I wasn't too happy with the beer selection, I know ipa's are "in" but there's other types of beer out there! Bottled beer was miller high life, miller lite, yuengling, IC light, and corona. I don't want a hipster beer OR a bro beer so I'm stuck with liquor. To add to this displeasure, medium sized mixed drinks with bottom shelf liquor were $5. Even upstairs (where they charged a $5 cover) the drinks stayed the same price. I've never heard of a place that charges cover and still expects you to pay $5 for bankers club whiskey, other bars around this place would charge half and hook it up! The crowd was a bit cliquey. You'd be looked down upon if you weren't trendy, fashionable, or the like. A few people in my group felt a little out of place and unwelcome because of this. It was 'hits from the 2000's' night and the dj was pretty good. All in all, I'd go back but stick to first floor bar. The atmosphere was much more relaxed and best part, no cover! read more

First, a few things you should know about Brillobox. Conveniently situated at the corner of Penn and Main, it was once called Nooners, and then Zooty's. Both were safe havens for morning drunks, pitstops for killing time on the way to the methadone clinic, and hangouts for sightings of the infamous Lawrenceville sweatpants hookers who were shabby-chic in the way that your creepy Uncle Lou's basement gameroom is. But in late 2005, the '224 started blowing up in a big way, and a New York couple bought the bar and converted it to our beloved Brillo. From that point on, it was destined to evolve into the libations palace for grad students, UPMC pediatric surgery residents, and 1890s moustache fetishists that you know and love today. Along the way, Brillobox went through an all-too-brief adolescence that was equal parts awkward and beautiful. Notable patrons from its 2006-2008 era included tap pants-clad American Apparel employees en route to the Greenpoint lofts they'd bought with Daddy's money, 30-somethings who preached the importance of tolerance and diversity as they strove hard to shut down Brian & Cooper's Mini Mart because it brought black people into Friendship, and a motley crew of aspiring Rimbauds, Kerouacs, and Burroughses. That last group was alcoholic. Very, very alcoholic. And they smoked like chimneys and they danced like fiends, and they gave that place character, goddamit! Then, in the dawn of the 2010s, Brillo made its final push toward adulthood, and as all emerging adults do, it made a few bold gestures to demonstrate that it had finally arrived. First, an all-vegetarian menu, designed to delight the meatless denziens of Penn Avenue. Secondly, a smoking ban, to win the approval of yoga-loving bike nuts and stay in compliance with new state laws. And finally, a remodel, enabling the front windows to open in the summer so the sweet sounds of Goldfrapp could be heard as far away as the DaVita Dialysis Clinic. Now, Brillo's okay. It has a vast beer selection if you love beer. The bartenders still mix the drinks strong, and the service is decent, if a little slow when the place is packed. On weekends, the downstairs room can get loud and crowded, and if you arrive after 9 PM, you probably won't be sitting. But in its evolution from burnout wino bar to upscale microbrew pub, it lost a bunch of character along the way that probably won't be coming back (although the meat has made a triumphant return to the menu). read more

THIS WOULD REALISTICALLY BE A 3.5 STAR RATING. Brillobox is just fine. It has solid bar-esque food, and is vegetarian friendly. I have been here a few times and have never been disgusted, nor blown away. I don't know what it says, but I couldn't tell you anything I've eaten there...and it's not like I've been intoxicated while eating. It's just forgettable. I do remember them having pretty good french fries though. It is trying a little hard to be hip, but it doesn't feel phony, so I let it slide. Maybe I'm just too old and don't "get it" anymore, as I used to really enjoy it more (for the bar, which used to make a mean bloody mary). If you are in your 20s, you might enjoy it a lot more (as long as you're not rocking Trump swag, which I suspect could earn you a side of cook-saliva with your food order). IF THIS RESTAURANT WERE A MUSICIAN/BAND: Bright Eyes: Worshipped by a few (at least 10 years ago), but if you're over the age of 27, you probably won't get much out of it. read more

Brillobox is like Kelly's, taken to the extreme. Whereas Kelly's is hipster, in the "let's drink good beer and include everyone and play indie music" sense, Brillobox is "let's drink good beer and play music no one's ever heard of." Whereas Kelly's has normal mac and cheese, Brillobox makes theirs with nacho cheese. Brillobox is admittedly over the top, but I love it. It's a small, intimiate atmosphere, and the music is great. Trivia is really the best reason to come though - it's hard, and the teams get really into it. FInally, drink prices are reasonable, and they will actually come to your table (if you can snag one) to bring you your food. read more

I like this place a lot. I agree that you will see a diverse crowd, of a younger crowd, at least. Great jukebox, tasty food, and good specials. They mix things up a lot - have you ever tried a Tang Margarita? Maybe it's time that you did. I haven't yet made it to one of the Quiz Nights on Wednesdays, but I have heard that it is the place to be! They also have a Drink-and-Draw event every other Tuesday with live models. read more

Since my first review I've found the volume to be a lot better, but it still depends on the night. Brillo is good on the weekends, but GREAT for weeknight drinks. I liked when we asked the doorman if upstairs was crowded and he shrugged his shoulders. I mean if there's one person in the entire place that would know, it's this guy. And we weren't looking for an exact number - Honestly he could have just lied, but the fact he didn't say anything was lame.. but also kind of awesome. read more

Went here with a few friends a few Saturday nights ago, and we had a good time. I'll agree with Jessica that this bar is very un-Pittsburgh; I now reside in Chicago, and Brillobox feels a lot more like a bar you would find in Wicker Park than in the hills of the 'Burgh. Beer was pretty cheap and their appetizers (we had the nachos; a friend had the bean dip) were out of this world. After an hour we went upstairs to the dance floor and I was kind of disappointed; apparently depending on the DJ they play either sweet indie rock or a lot of electronica, and we were there on an electronica night. Still, major props for playing a Madonna remix. I got my dance on. read more

I love the Brillobox! I've been coming here for so long where once I used to say, "It's an older crowd..." I now find myself saying, "I just do not understand how these young kids dress!" No matter which end of the age spectrum I've found myself, I always have a good time at the Brillobox. Their draft beer selection is perfect for the craft beer snob who needs to get a life and a less alcoholic hobby (such as myself). I love all the craft beers and just about every time I come to the Brillobox I discover a new favorite. I also find the pricing of the beers to be much more reasonable than say, the Sharp Edge. The bartenders are very friendly and knowledgable. I've had friends tell me the offering of "beers I've never heard of!" is overwhelming. If you dont know what to order, just tell the bartenders what you like to drink and they'll pick a beer for you that you will enjoy. The mixed drinks are also very good. I highly recommend the food here. If you're a vegetarian, this is a great dining option for you. A lot of people don't realize the Brillobox has a pretty full menu but this place is great for dinner. Admittedly it has been awhile since I've dined here so I'm not sure if the menu remains the same but they make a damn good burger, the Israel breakfast sandwich is to die for, and there is a reason you'll see just about everyone ordering the fries: they are GREAT. The food is inexpensive for what you get. I love coming here for trivia night but be warned: it gets VERY packed. There's no smoking in this bar, and there are two levels, upstairs for shows, and downstairs for drinking and dining. If you want to come here on a weekend and you want a seat I do recommend getting here kind of early because this place is going to get packed. read more

Love the vibe and upstairs stage! They change their funky decor seasonally and this time I went they had a huge cherry blossom-like tree with dangling lights hanging over the large bar. There are a 4-5 retro, red-laminated booths and a couple tables in the back, and they open up the garage door front on nice days! Went there on a Friday night and the service was quite slow - but they were busy so we just ordered from the bar even though we were in one of the booths. We ordered nachos and fries and the portions were big and tasty! Highly recommend for bringing friends, dates, exes you get along with, and just about anyone you want to show a good time! read more

Brillo is a nearly weekly occurrence for me and I absolutely love it. A pro tip: go early --between 5 and 7--to get a table (and don't go on Monday, because you will be sad that they are closed). Otherwise resign yourself to the bar; people tend to park it in the relatively small number of tables. Brillo is cozy, has fun decor and a great draft list, and the food is pretty insanely tasty. I like the Sunday Night Veg dinners, which rotate every week and vary in quality from Meh to Delicious, but for $7, it is a deal. They removed a few favorites from the menu (bring back the seitan French dip pleeeeze!), but the banh mi, the fried cauliflower, seitan wing appetizer, the veggie "meatball" sandwich, and the frites with a variety of dipping sauces are all the jam. My only picayune complaint is that they could be even better by offering a discounted draft or other beer special from time to time. Your bar tab will likely rack up quickly. The wait staff is always friendly, approachable, and attentive-- never had a bad experience. I also avoid going when they are slammed after 9 pm like the plague, which may have something to do with it. read more

I feel like we have reached a tipping point where, in calling the Brillobox a hipster hotspot, you are either a hipster yourself, or a parrot. True: A lot of the DJ Dance Parties are stocked with the over-styled, over-funded, pretentious, Pittsburgh arty elite. It's "a little bit of NYC in Pittsburgh," and we all sort of cringe when we think of that description ( I Hope!). If you love crazy dance parties and stylish posturing, stop by on any given Fri or Sat. Also true: The prices are good. The beer selection is acceptable. I may be biased because I like the magic hat brewery and I seem to remember they always have 1 or 2 of those sweet numbers on draft, but the taps are clean regardless. The cocktails are strong, and they dial up beverages inspired by Tang on the regular. The food is decent, though. I heard the menu was going all veggie, which wouldn't be a stretch for their kitchen. Every time I have eaten here, it has been delicious, flavorful, and tasted fresh & local. Go earlier to avoid the crowds. Go on a Sunday night for their $5 "starving artist" dinner (vegetarian till the food runs out) and stay for some quality brews and YouTube karaoke. Quiz night is wildly popular. Take some friends, form a team, prove your mental prowess. The happy hour specials are decent. The atmosphere is well-suited for the "artistic graduate student set." Good for a meet-up with old pals. Not a great spot to take your folks, but then, I have been trying not to go to bars with my parents lately... One small thing: if you go on a quiet night, you can sometimes play patsy cline on the juke box. This is the surest way for a bar to win my heart. read more

I want to like to go to the Brillo Box. I really do. The music, the dancing, the quirky events, the starving artist dinners. Perhaps it's a little over-trendy, but it's not so trendy that I can't stand it. However. I cannot stand the smoke. The smoke on the second floor is absolutely unacceptable. There is terrible ventilation. The only times I've truly enjoyed myself here have been when smoking is not allowed on the second floor. It's so easy to fix too. read more

I've heard a lot of things about this place and finally went. I didn't visit the upstairs because I spent most of my night at the bar. The place was really crowded with all sorts of strange people. I expected to see throngs of hipsters and punks but instead saw an eclectic mix of everything (hipsters and punks included). The ambiance was rather nice but I just thought this place seemed a bit stuck up. While the people there were "eclectic" they were all unified in their cliques. Then again, what do you expect? read more

First of all I must say that I have completely grown to like Brillo from the first couple of times that I have been here. My girlfriend and I have been frequenting Brillo every Tuesday after our weekly Salsa lessons. So let me tell you about Tuesdays. The space is intimate and confined with a mixed expression of hipster and a cool kids lounge. We sit at the corner bar with our regular barkeep Brian who promptly tell us what new dark beers he has on draft. [I am a huge dark beer fan and with the winter season I cannot get enough of my chocolate stouts :)] If we are unsure or have not found an immediate favorite there he happily gives us small samples. This week - Southern Tier Brewing Company - Choklat was the clear winner. Warning - quite heavy and rich in flavor but be careful when you drink it at 10% ABV. Tuesday nights we are informed - is locals night. You get a delightful sample of the neighborhood mid 20 and 30 years olds who have a taste for a rotating craft assortment advertised meekly by a large chalk board. Around us, a couple of friends were enjoying a heaping of garlic fries served in a triangular stand with a sampling of ketchups and aioli. I've had them - they totally hit the spot. The lighting is dimmer and there are tree branches hanging from the ceiling as decor. The space itself is mostly booths and one of two free standing tables, so towards the weekend or when you come with groups it can get quite packed. So tuesday are nice for that reason also. On occasion I have visited Brillo for other reasons. Wednesday night there is a trivia DJ which isn't overly crowded, however do make it a point to come before the 9:00 pm start-time. I have been told there is an upstairs where the bar hosts bands and events; some day I will make it to one of those. All together it's great week after week and I will frequent the bar often just to keep unlocking badges on my untappd-app. read more

My boyfriend and I went to Brillobox for dinner and drink on a Friday night around 6:30, it was his first time there (I've been there before). The service was great in the beginning but towards the end of our meal it was pretty slow even though it wasn't very busy. The beer selection was on point as usual, the Unibroue Strawberry & Rhubarb Ephemere was really good! We started with the Creole Cauliflower which was great as always, the maple mustard is the best! I had the Tofu Melt vegan and he has the McBrillo, I know some people complain about it but I love that the sandwiches come with a small salad on the side instead of fries. The dressing is fantastic and the greens are fresh. The Tofu Melt was really really well done. I was a little bit skeptical because making it vegan would remove the cheese and mayo with out substitutions but man! It was yummy, I would definitely order again. One note - when they made it vegan I think they used oil instead of butter to crisp up the bread which made the bread just a little bit greasy. Apparently the McBrillo was great (I didn't try it so I can say first hand) and it was a huge sandwich! I also have to say the fact that their happy hour goes until $7 on Friday is awesome! The Cauliflower is only $5 and draft beers are $1 off (there are a bunch of other specials too - $5 margaritas anyone?!). read more

We continued our search for a fantastic brunch in Pittsburgh by trying Brillobox today. One major bonus for Brillobox is that brunch is from 12-4pm Sat and Sun, which works well for us who love to sleep in! Brillobox wasn't crowded for brunch, we were greeted very soon after we sat ourselves and got coffee and water. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros, black bean tortillas topped with sunny side up eggs, salsa, and sour cream. My fiancé ordered the B Box Scramble, home fries, eggs, and veggie of the day (asparagus) scrambled up with cheese. Decent menu, although I wish there was more to choose from. My fiancé received his dish first, and I was told that our waitress accidentally dropped my dish on the way out. She was extremely apologetic and brought me some grapefruit to tide me over. No big deal for me, I was happy with my coffee and the He-Man movie that was playing above me on the projector screen. Surprisingly, my dish came out just a few minutes later. My dish was good, noticeably freshly made with fresh ingredients, just maybe missing something. It could have used a little more flavorful salsa, or maybe some fresh herbs. Eggs were cooked perfectly, though. Portion size was reasonable. My fiancé liked his B Box Scramble, although he wished that it had a meat option. I will definitely try Brillobox food again, next time for dinner, since I've heard they have the best mac n' cheese in town. Plus, I'm always impressed by their beer selection and reasonable prices. Our brunch came to 18 bucks total, which is the cheapest brunch we've been to in Pittsburgh so far. Overall, a pretty decent experience. read more

I agree with some of the posts that this is not a typical place for Pittsburgh. I could see this being in Bucktown or Wicker Park in Chicago. Any place that has a good beer selection and plays old 1950's commercials at the same time makes the cut in my book. The crowd is very mixed, but skews towards more hipsters than anyone else. I'd recommend giving this place a try if you haven't already. read more

Dropped by for a late night concert for $13. ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. I didn't eat anything, just drank some beer but the prices were reasonable and I was a happy camper. :) Would love to go again for future concerts! read more

This is by far my favorite bar in Pittsburgh. The staff are unquestionably the best staff at any bar I have ever been to. They are approachable, fast, pour strong drinks, and above all they are extremely patient and courteous. The drinks are cheap, and well made. The food is great. The upstairs works nicely as a show space and dance floor, and actually has a good sound system (a rarity for sure in Pittsburgh). As an added bonus, it's non-smoking. Don't ever change, Brillo. read more

Brillobox's Sunday vegetarian dinner has been on my list for awhile and I was finally able to make it a couple of weekends ago. They had just unveiled their spring cocktails menu that night as well as their spring decorations and I just couldn't get enough of how pretty their spring decor is! The huge bough of blossoms over the bar area is absolutely gorgeous and makes for an interesting contrast with the rest of the room. I ordered the guava margarita - ok, a tad on the sweeter side for me. I'dv preferred salt on the rim and kind of assumed it'd come that way but it didn't, so if you're like me and like salt-rimmed margaritas, remember to ask! They also didn't have a couple items on their drinks list that day which I found wierd because their social media post invited people to come check out their new spring drinks menu. For the food, I ordered the Seitan wings which were hard, chewy and I think overdone). Totally skip Seitan wings here. I also got their veggie dinner dish, which that day, was curry flavored rice with vegetable pakodas (which is batter fried fritters). The pakodas were excellent but the rice was quite flavorless and bland. I wish we could've just gotten another portion of just the pakodas!! I'm also not sure that the crispy pakodas and rice which is quite dry go together as a combination. The rice definitely needed a sauce or something that could offset its dryness. I get the feeling that their Sunday dinner can be hit or miss. But they only reveal the dish a couple of hours before they open and you're going to have to take that chance if you want to try it. Brillobox often also hosts a lot of music events which seem like a lot of fun and could perhaps make up for the food being so-so. I'm going to give Brillobox one more shot before I make up my mind. read more

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I had a decent enough time here for weekend bar hopping and band-enjoying. The music was good and I was comfy... given that my friends and I grabbed up the only seats in the whole room. I acknowledge that 'standing-room' vibe they're going for, but a couple small seats against the wall might quell us nay-sayers. The drink was good, but a little pricey and not made with love (bartender wanted to be ANYWHERE else but there). Overall though, the entertainment was good and you meet new friends when you have the ONLY BOOTH IN THE ROOM! read more