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    Café Phipps

    3.2 (62 reviews)
    Closed 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Café Phipps Photos

    CAFÉ PHIPPS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Soup and salad
    Kelly M.

    We were glad there was a cafe, but don't know how it can claim to be one of the top garden cafe's in the US. We've eaten at more than a few cafes within botanical gardens. There's just no way. It's sort of an unorganized cafeteria style experience with drinks and utensils in different areas. The food is expensive for what you get. It was ok, nothing exciting. The best part of the meal was moving to the outdoor seating to get away from the screaming kid inside.

    Billy Porter selfie station
    Kristen E.

    We always try to eat here if we're at Phipps around mealtime. It's healthy, delicious, and priced fair. Order at the counter, then take a number and some silverware to your seat, and soon a server will bring out your food. This time hubby had the Cuban chili, and I chose the spring veggie salad. When you bus your table afterward, the signs indicate what can be recycled or composted.

    Check in station showing the menu
    Linda S.

    Cafe Phipps catered the Yelp Elite event at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix and did a fantastic job. Olive bruschetta and a kale salad plus a pulled pork sandwich on a brioche bun. The pulled pork was unique because they added a grilled pineapple slice and kimchi. I'm not a pulled pork fan but I ate every bite of that sandwich! Tropical green tea washed it all down nicely.

    Brenda W.

    Cafe Phipps located inside the Phipps Conservatory on the main level is offering a fixed price menu of 4 courses on Friday nights during the month of March for 65.00 per person which includes the dinner and admission to the conservatory which stays open til 10pm on Fridays. The hostess indicated this is something they plan to continue monthly with the menu options varying. We made reservations and arrived early with no problems getting seated. They have cordoned off a section of the cafe with a privacy partition for the guests with reservations while keeping the rest open for normal cafe operations. The tables have tablecloths and the table is nicely set with wine glasses and beautiful napkins. We started our meal with glasses of wine (price additional to the fixed price meal). The first course was a warm artichoke and roasted red pepper risotto. This was delicious and an ample serving. I should interrupt here just as our diner was interrupted. Suddenly a fire alarm went off in the building. Everyone just looked at one another with no one moving. Ok.... I was taught, as good measure, that one should get their butt up and head to the exit in such a case so I donned my coat and headed out. I do think the staff should be better instructed to not only get their butts out the door but ensure their patrons do, as well. That was irksome on a safety level. Within 15 minutes, the all-clear was given (our server later indicated something in the basement had triggered it). Anyway, I did my part and my husband followed suit a wee bit after me reluctantly and then we did finally return to our table. Ok, onto the 2nd course. The 2nd course was our choice of either a house salad or a mushroom soup. I selected the salad while my husband opted for the soup. Both were adequate but I should have asked for additional salad dressing (a vinaigrette) The 3rd course was the entree -- I opted for the crab cake and asparagus, my husband selected the filet with asparagus. Both were good. I can't say the crab cake was like any other I've had, but it was good. The 4th and final course was dessert -- a warn blueberry cobber with ice cream. It was good but not as sweet as either of us would have liked. Afterwards, we had plenty of time to visit the gift shop and the convervatory which was sponsoring orchids and bonsai. I like this concept of a very nice dinner and journey through the convervatory -- makes for a truly great date night. Oh, and another plus? When you are finished with dinner they give you your complementary conservatory ticket and it's good thru the end of the year -- not just that night. I like that!

    Shana R.

    "Veggie Pizza" I like this cafe because they shave allergy sensitive options and everything is fresh, organic, and great tasting.

    Sub meatballs
    Arlene M.

    My girlfriend and I just finished touring Phipps Conservatory by day and decided to eat here for lunch. Most of the food is home grown and many of them are healthy options. Pizza is available for all ages. It is set cafeteria style where you order and you are given a number to put on whatever table you wish to sit. The food is then brought to you. Should you decide to order a beverage then you are given a cup with your purchase and proceed to the drink station to get what you want. They also serve specialty beverages there but we decided to go with the a healthy option. We each ordered the vegetarian sandwich which came with a choice of side. We opted for the quinoa and slaw. The do have an option for $9.95 where you can order half sandwich and pair it with either a cup of soup or chili without meat or salad. We got our food served to us in a reasonable amount of time. The food was good to say the least because we don't often get a chance to eat healthy. When we were finished they have a selection of trash and recycle bins as well as one for dishes and silverware. Your food comes with real dishes and silverware which i would call Panera style. Little did we realize how crowded this place can get if you don't come early. We had arrived shortly after noon. By the time we were done the place was packed with people! It brought a nice conclusion to seeing Phipps by day during the holiday season because there is so much you miss at night when the lights are on. Still this cafe is a nice place to unwind and take it easy if you don't feel like hunting for another place. Would definitely eat here again whenever we come again.

    Roasted veggie sandwich!
    Sneha N.

    I was here a couple of times for team lunches. Both the times, I liked the food. It is such a vibrant place! Food is fresh and light, yet filling. The last time I was here I ordered roasted veggie sandwich with chick pea salad. I liked the food and I am sure I will go back again. Things to remember: 1) They are busy during lunch hours and you should be prepared to wait for at least 10 minutes for your food to arrive. 2) If you are planning to go in a group, make sure you are there before the rush hour to easily find a table for everyone at one place. 3) Don't hesitate to order the bbq sliders if they are offering, my colleagues were happy with the sliders they ordered.

    Robert U.

    This place is surprisingly good! My family and I were captive customers, having already ponied up for pay-parking and having paid our admission to Phipps. Then we got hungry. They have a nice menu, with plenty of fresh items, NOT the standard frozen chicken nuggets and hot-dogs. I had some vegetarian chili that was very good, and came with some interesting flat-bread instead of crackers. My kids enjoyed their lunches, as did my wife. Overall, this is a solid choice, so do not hesitate to give it a try and let us all know what you think.

    Chicken meatball hoagie
    Eva R.

    A nice lunch spot in Oakland that is often forgotten about. All the ingredients are very fresh and local. I had the chicken apple panini, with a side of bruschetta salad, and coleslaw. The total came out to be about $10, which considering how expensive panera is now days is not bad. The panini had chicken, apple compote, arugala, and white cheddar cheese. It was fresh and satisfying. The brushetta was not bad but the red onion was very chunky and overpowering. The coleslaw was also lacking flavor. My friend's chicken meatball looked great, but she said there was a little too much bread. Overall, a nice lunch place if looking for healthy and fresh sandwiches, soups, and salads.

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    1 year ago

    Cafe Phipps is a nice place with a limited menu. Everything I've ordered there was good quality and satisfying. The prices are fair.

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    Roots Natural Kitchen

    Roots Natural Kitchen

    4.5(240 reviews)
    0.5 miOakland
    $$

    Great spot for lunch takeout on Pitt campus. Roots has done a good job filling the fast casual…read moreniche with some healthy feeling, largely vegetarian options. Most bowls are rice, greens, and/or beans based with various vegetables for toppings. Heartier than a salad but healthier than Chipotle. I've gotten lunch there a few times and have always been satisfied. My favorite bowl is El Jefe, which comes with rice, kale, black beans, corn, red onion, avocado, and a protein topping (I like the miso tofu but you can also get chicken). The bowl also comes with cilantro/lime sauce, which I do not get because it's very salty. That's my one complaint about Roots - despite their healthy ingredients, their bowls can get quite saucy and salty if you go with the default options. This particular location is well-staffed, so service is usually quick, but it can get a rush of students around 12pm.

    I came in to try the limited time Garu bowl for lunch. The place itself is nice, it's always clean…read moreand I've never had any issues with the staff while ordering. The bowl was good but I was a little disappointed in the portion. Roots is a little bit more expensive than other similar options but I usually don't mind as they often give me a very full bowl, but that wasn't the case with the Gary bowl. It was less full than the bowls I usually get along with being very heavy on the rice and not too much chicken or even the kale. Aside from that it was still yummy but I think I'll be going back to my regular order next time.

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    Roots Natural Kitchen - Holiday decorations going downstairs

    Holiday decorations going downstairs

    Roots Natural Kitchen
    Roots Natural Kitchen - Inside

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    Inside

    Veggies N'at

    Veggies N'at

    4.9(7 reviews)
    2.5 miDowntown

    I was introduced to Veggies N'at at a Garfield Community Farm fundraiser. Their food is absolutely…read moreamazing. The chef changed his diet in 2017, on a path to eating more healthy foods. Everything on the menu is connected to mindful eating, loving and appreciating yourself, and improving your health and the way you feel about yourself. That sounds pretty heavy, but I recommend that you try it. It may not change your life, but at least you can appreciate how delicious it is, and how vibrant and healthy you feel after eating it. All the ingredients are fresh and healthy, you couldn't ask for anything more. Bottom line, it tastes fantastic.

    I visited them last August while attending the VegFest and like many other places I've enjoyed over…read morethe years that I have yet to review I am just now getting around to leaving them one. So, actually a guy at the information booth was eating something from here and I asked him where he got it from because it looked very good and he recommended them to me. So we headed their way. Tbh: Every place that we wanted to eat at had a line 25-50 deep and we were super hungry and their line was only like 5-7 people deep which was a blessing. First off, the service in general was kind of crappy, but I understand as it was a hot and very busy day and from what they told my gf at the time they were getting low on food as well and only had a couple items that were left from the menu. After deciding what we wanted which was one of three things my gf at the time ordered us the Mac and Cheese and a container of ranch to take home while I looked for a place for us to eat. So after they handed her our food we headed over to an area with tables and chairs to eat the Mac and Cheese. I must say we both thoroughly enjoyed every single bit of it and my gf at the time isn't even vegan. So that says a lot! I highly recommended it :) FYI: The person who took her order also forgot to give her the container of ranch she paid for. I wasn't made aware that she purchased it until afterwards because my gf at the time wanted to surprise me but they didn't give her a receipt so she had no proof. Oh well, you live and learn, sadly! The vibe on this day was on point so we let the little things go in regards to the crappy service and the shorting us of an overpriced container of ranch fall to the wayside and continued on with our wonderful day, smiling and enjoying the amazing festival and area. If I decide to stop by your food trailer again this year at the festival or whenever I am somewhere you are posted up in front of, I hope you make up for your mistakes from last year because that's the right thing to do.

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    Veggies N'at - Loaded Nachos

    Loaded Nachos

    Veggies N'at - Delish :)

    Delish :)

    Veggies N'at

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    Apteka - Nalrsniki z Roza

    Apteka

    4.4(518 reviews)
    1.9 miBloomfield
    $$

    Bloomfield area of Pittsburgh was not one I explored much when I lived there many years ago. But…read morethere was one place I went to there that I had to return to when I returned for a visit. Apteka. This was perfect for my wife, who is vegan. An all vegan Eastern-European eatery. Great weather added to the ambience. Plenty of plants in the background. We had a foursome with my friend and his husband. Apteka offers a service where you place your orders at the bar, and they come bring the food to you when it's ready. We started off with Hungarian fried bread (Langos) and then followed it with Salatka ziemniaczana. Potato salad with greens. Entree we had the pierogis. I mean, we Had to, back in Pittsburgh. Only thing missing was the cookie table but the dessert was great as well. Everything was comforting and filling. Plenty for us two. They had a special collab beer with 2 Frays, a brewery that is really solid. Was just starting off when I was leaving Pittsburgh 5 years ago and now has been pretty popular in Bloomfield. Overall, Apteka offers fine dining, inspired dishes with a vegan twist, and is a must. Reservations are a must as dining is limited to the weekend.

    Food was super tasty, but that's about the only good thing about this restaurant…read more You order at the bar, get a number, and your food comes out to your table. This resulted in a chaotic atmosphere at the two places where you could order food and constantly having to get up from your table every time you needed something. The staff essentially became food runners and they were not very pleasant. We were told that we could not have an appetizer followed by our main course as "food comes out as it's ready." With the bar being backed up, this meant we received some apparently pre-made food even before our drinks arrived. Again, it felt chaotic. The final proverbial "straw" was that they sat strangers right next to us at the same table which was extremely awkward and uncomfortable. All in all, it was hands-down one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. :(

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    Apteka - The main bar

    The main bar

    Apteka - Kluski Slaske

    Kluski Slaske

    Apteka - Crapteka sign

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    Crapteka sign

    Essence

    Essence

    4.7(11 reviews)
    1.7 miSouth Side

    This Illy Philly is out on a dinner date in the Southside, and I've always wanted to experience…read moreEssence for their vegan and Caribbean fare. It was a Saturday and the restaurant had a nice ambiance. They don't have their liquor license yet, so it is BYOB! I wish I'd known because I would have definitely brought a bottle of wine! The server greeted me with a smile and knew the menu. She made the suggestions of the Fried Dumplings ( you can get them steamed) with spinach and tofu, and it was sooo good!!! Delicous!!! My date ordered the Buffalo Cauliflower, and it was definitely hot, but good. For dinner, I ordered the Black Bean Bowl, which was a rice bowl packed with black beans, grilled veggies, and corn with a cream sauce, but that is not quite what I got. It was rice and beans, mixed, corn with no cream sauce, broccoli, and two plantains. The rice was not too savory, the broccoli was a bit bland and there was no cream sauce on the corn....sad face. I will definitely give this place another go to try their other dishes because the Dumplings were so good. There is off street parking, the service was really good and next time I'm bringing some friends. A couple bottles of wine and a palate ready for some Caribbean vegan goodness!!!!

    I went to Essence for Mother's day brunch during Chef Earl's popup and even though it didn't have…read moregreat ambience due to the restaurant being completely empty, it had great food and service! We got the fresh juices, pineapple ginger apple and the mango one and both were super fresh and tasty. For appetizers we got the spinach sambosa and the no crab cake. The sambosa was great with the sauce and the no-crab cake was tasty but didn't hold its shape together. I really loved the jollof rice, falafel burger, and the ful madammas. Everything was vegan and really good. Even my mom loved it! Would recommend coming here and trying out some of everything! The waitress was really attentive and gave lots of recommendations and tips on what to get!

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    Essence
    Essence
    Essence

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    Café Phipps - sandwiches - Updated May 2026

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