Carl's has been in business for over 70 years. It was started in the 50s by Carl Osterholm. The original location was in Braddock. Famous for their fish sandwich, Pittsburgh nachos, and wings. The entire menu has something for everyone. Classic dive bar, local spot that serves up classic and timeless comfort food. I've never had a bad meal. Delish. read more

See all

Carl's Tavern or a small corner of Heaven? This place has been around for ages and is a staple amongst the community. It has stood up through the test of time and I'm glad to see the business continues to flourish. Their food is tasty and beer is cold but what makes this place stand out from the rest is the people. The staff who works there is always polite and attentive. You can find the two brothers who manage the place often times laughing and conversing with patrons at the bar whenever they are not hustling and helping out with running orders to tables. The atmosphere feels like you're getting a hug from a friendly neighbor as a familiar face is not far away. While getting a spot at the bar on a Friday or Saturday night can be tough, don't fret because there is ample seating in the back room or on the open/closed porch (depending on the weather). The location is clutch. There is a Shop N Save across the street if you decide to get groceries. Need gas? There's a gas station two buildings up. Need more beer for after the bar? There's a beer distributor attached to the gas station! Need your car worked on? There's an auto shop next door! Drop your vehicle off and stop in to Carl's while you wait! Simply put, the place is a classic! read more

Another great meal at Carl's. This time I had Brock's Rancher with fries and it was so good - grilled chicken, bacon, lots of provolone and lettuce, tomato and ranch. Service was great and it was perfect weather for the patio. I feel like Carl's is a place where you can't go wrong. I'm looking forward to my next visit and am happy this is close to home. read more

See all

I always like going to Carl's Tavern. They have great food and service. Their wings are awesome! I had the dry guy wings, which are so hot you almost can't pick them up when they arrive. And, they're whole wings. My wife had the hot turkey sandwich. She liked it a lot. Plenty of sports on the TVs. I highly recommend Carl's. You should go! read more

Carl's Tavern - 6 piece Dry Guy wings - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Carl's Tavern is iconic and has survived decades (pronounced like JFK, please) of changes along Rt. 22 in Monroeville. I have never eaten here and have only gone here to imbibe, specifically on their Long Island Iced Tea, which is one of the best in the biz! Don't go for a top shelf one either, just go basic! The bartender is always friendly and engaging and serves the crowd well. Cheers to Carl and his Tea Shoppe... Long Island Style! read more

See all

Excellent service and food!!!friendly and efficient!!!!will be back again. Only thing missing is a jukebox

I was there around 3:30 on a Friday. The place was jammed. Had a fish sandwich, which was excellent Friends had a fake fish dinner, which was one of the best they ever had. They said fairly highly recommended it very busy there though. Just a local place not fancy read more

One of those places you drive by every day on the main road (William Penn Hwy) and you always wonder to yourself "What's that spot all about?" Well one day you finally go in and come to find out- it's a great little bar with a full food menu- good food, late night "creations", great sandwiches, bar food, cocktails, tons of different beers, good service, and even better times! read more

See all

Carls tavern is an institution for good reasons. Good service, fair prices and solid food. Love the French fries, old school no beer batter or seasoning, just cut potatoes fried perfectly! Trivia is not my bag, but brought in a nice crowd for a Tuesday evening. read more

Came here on a busy Friday night the parking lot was full but I was able to find a seat inside, the 2 servers seemed to be tag teaming tables and were killing it. One recommended the pontoon dreams and I would definitely order it again, when it came out it didn't look like much but once you add a cup or two of the sauce it all come together nicely and the bacon was great addition, not overpowering at all. read more

Listen it's simple......my dad use to eat here 50 yrs ago.......I still eat here........my daughter and all her friends go here.......enough said! Their fish is the best in Pittsburgh!!!! Great owners/management!!!! Parking lot is always packed but we can always find a seat to away!! Interior with updates is just enough without taking away the old school tavern feel. read more

Great little place that my business associate took me to for lunch. And if you're looking for lunch I highly recommend Carl's. My lunch arrived in under five minutes...couldn't believe it. Excellent carved Turkey club sandwich. Fresh chips with Cajun seating were excellent. Nice little outdoor area that that they enclose for the winter. And of course, I'm always interested in the beer list...Carl's surpassed my expectations. Great variety with some local stuff and some obscure craft breweries I've never heard of. And like any good place that takes beer seriously, they let me sample a couple before ordering a pint. Looking forward to bringing my wife here. Only thing keeping me from rating it a five-star is the size. "Intimate" is the right word, but they're really a tiny place. If you can get in, it's worth the visit. read more

Carl's Tavern - Great Beer Selection! - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I had first visited Carls about ten years ago just to grab a drink at a dive bar and it was fine for what it was. I came back yesterday evening for a donation/bingo night event for a tragedy in my area and had a heartfelt time watching this place make beautiful money for the cause at hand . The place created a patio which was not there prior, a great addition. It was packed due to the event but as a bartendar , I really tried seeing how the place was as a whole. Still a small joint but was satisfying in regards to the atmosphere and the food. We ordered fried cauliflower , fried shrimp, broccoli cheddar bites and a white pizza. Pizza was phenomenal ! The fried foods were just as expected , plain and fried. My suggestion would be to serve some kind of signature sauce with each "fried" app to help the plain taste. Margarita was wonderful. I asked for it not to be super sweet so I'm not sure if that's why I enjoyed it or if it's generally tasty. This place is a great spot to grab a bev and sandwich , then to carry on with your day. Not a date night kind of place but wonderful for what it was. I appreciate and support all small businesses. I will be back. read more

If I could I would give this a "0" star rating! I went with my friend this past Thursday to try this restaurant out because It was our 1st time there and we wanted to try something new. NEVER AGAIN! My friend got the potato Pancakes and they were overcooked, I got the French Dip was the nastiest thing ever. The bread was soggy even with the Aus Ju on the side and they only put like 1 piece of meat on each half of the sandwich! The music was also terrible as well! We both will never be going back. The Service was not bad but the food and the music they had playing was TERRIBLE! read more

A staple for me and my parents when they are in town. No fuss meals that really shine and strong drinks. Fried zucchini and curly fries are a must with every order. Love the summer/fall and being able to sit out on the patio, the bar can be crowded inside especially on any game days. read more

Decent bar food, usually...but skip the pizza. Salty and moist, lol. Bartender doesn't care if you liked your food anyways.

Was ok. I had the Buffalo chicken wings (not spicy at all), and chicken salad with breaded chicken. Also had a dirty martini. The quality of the food was good, but I could have used more flavor. Everything was basic, but passable. Very mediocre read more

See all

Went to Carl's tavern for the first time, and I was impressed. We ended up sitting outside on their patio area. I struggled to choose what I wanted because they had a decent amount of sandwiches and burgers to pick from that sounded really good. We ended up ordering a Rueben with pastrami (you have a choice of turkey, corned beef, pastrami, or 50/50 of two meats). It was a great portion and had a ton of meat and sauerkraut on it. The tangy pig has coleslaw, a mustardy bbq sauce, fried onions, and pulled pork that had a sweet cinnamon flavor. It was a really great pulled pork sandwich! Can't wait to come back and try some other items off their menu! read more

Carl's Tavern - Rueban - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Came in for a beer hoping to find some grub. Got both! Started with a Troegs Perpetual IPA...delicious. Then ordered the fish sandwich. The menu billed it as the best fish sandwich in the universe, so I had to try it. Being from Cleveland, we are spoiled by Lake Erie and our Walleye and Perch. Expectations were not high for Cod, but I'm hear to tell you, it was the best fish sandwich in the universe! Came with fries and slaw. The fries were nothing special, but the coleslaw was great! Service was fast and friendly. Hoping we get the job we were chasing tonight so I can come back. read more

Carl's Tavern - a bar with a lot of bottles - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Located right at the start of Monroeville from my side of town, I've passed Carl's many times. I've never seen them as busy as they were tonight, though. Ordered ahead via telephone and got the 1/2 rack of ribs, which came with two sides, and I chose fries with salad and ranch, the Philly Select/ Philly Cheesesteak without onions, and a brownie sundae. The food was overall pretty good, but some items were significantly better than others. My favorite item was by far the ribs. They were extremely tender, and even fell of the bone. The sauce is flavorful and they give you ribs that aren't too fatty. Good portion and price. Their fries were just standard. Not bad, not great. So was the salad, just mediocre. Having tried a few different Philly cheesesteaks in Pittsburgh, I can say that this is one of less delicious ones I've had. There is very little cheese, and when you do get a small bite, it's completely flavorless. Their steak is okay but could be juicer. Good toasting on the buns though. I will also say that they are generous with their green pepper serving. To me, the flavor was overpowering and the cuts of pepper were too large. Finally, the dessert was also pretty good, but nothing out of the ordinary. I do like that they kept it separate from the warm bag for takeout. Still, the brownies had a 'food service' type taste to them, and the vanilla ice cream didn't impress me. Not much fudge and no toppings, like cherries or whipped cream. All in all, Carl's is a decent spot to get some food or watch a game. They are open late night, and definitely have some good food options. If you go here, try the ribs. If I return, I'd probably try another sandwich like the Pulled Pork or Tangy Piggy. read more

See all

Food is flavorful with some really unique dishes. The food is served HOT. I burned the roof of my mouth, but I'd rather it be hot than cold. It just looks so good I cannot wait until it cools. Service has always been fast but they don't mind if you sit around and have a drink. The patio is great when the weather is nice. My only cons are 1. No sides with a sandwich. Like throw some chips on the plate. 2. Frues are frozen not fresh cut. read more

Carl's Tavern - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

The potato pancakes were extremely oily both in texture and taste. I stopped eating them after a few bites. My French dip sandwich was 80% bread and the roast beef wasn't impressive. I'll stick to the $9 French dip sandwich from Rosecliff. read more

In from NoVa/DC area for a baseball tournament and needed to find a place that was open later for dinner. I had the best Rueben sandwich (I chose 1/2 corn beef 1/2 pastrami). Wow!! read more

Man oh man the appetizer platter is bomb diggity loaded with mushrooms, zucchini, cheese and onion rings with a tomatoe marinara. I had a hot pastrami and I was barely able to lift it up. It was like a pound of meat and pure deliciousness. Obviously washing it all down with a fabulous craft beer. Harp was my choice on this occasion. read more

In short: love the patio and service, but the food is meh. The "DBL B QUE" burger was kind of disappointing. We didn't taste any bbq sauce on our burgers. The sides weren't good either. The side of fries was a nice quantity, but they were the blandness fries I've ever had. They tasted like nothing, so we ended up pouring salt, pepper, and ketchup to make them edible. read more

Local tavern with friendly vibe. The patrons will usually be wearing Steelers, Pirates, or Pens gear. There is a bar,dining area, and outdoor seating. Good draft selection. Servers and bartenders are always great. Drinks are relatively inexpensive. There is plenty of free parking. Food can be hit or miss, but it is the best option for late night grub in Monroeville. I recently had the famous fish sandwich. The fish was overcooked. With the slice of American cheese, it reminded me of filet o fish. The fries were good. For late night food options in Monroeville, this place is my go-to. read more

Carl's Tavern - Famous fish sandwich - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Food was great! I had the Carl's Appetizer Platter because I was in the mood for some greasy food lol. Was very surprised with the quality. I've never been here before I just always drive past and now I'm eager to go again! Relaxed atmosphere and all the waitresses are gorgeous :) read more

Watched as several patrons around us were served immediately once seated. After 20 minutes of no service and many awkward stares, we left. This place reminded me of Mississippi Burning (1988). No thanks. read more

DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU'RE NOT LOCAL. what I saw last night was disgusting. I watched as the majority of patrons there, who seemed to all be regulars, literally decided to cheer against a guy sitting at the bar. He was watching a game between 2 Non PA teams- these people started cheering against this guy- who was by himself. They came up to him and called him names, started cheering for the other team and finally when he left they all cheered.... he told them to F-off and left. This is obviously a locals bar - if you're not local, you're not welcome or protected by the establishment. You're better off going to the Applebees. read more

My friends and I frequent Carl's for many reasons. You won't find a better staff and atmosphere! Food is A+. Drinks are A+. If you haven't tried it yet, I recommend you find your way down to Carl's ASAP. 5 STARS ALL DAY. read more

I have passed this tavern a gazillion times, as a youngster. My wife and I are in town visiting family. We decided to stop in and try Carl's Famous Fish sandwich, I got the platter instead. This place has been around since 1953. I believe this is the only location that is still open. We had the Cod sandwich platter with fries and Cole slaw. The fish was seasoned, the bun was soft and the fries were good. Pub grub, but very filling. The staff was very friendly and helpful with the questions we had. There are ample amount of flat screen TV's for watching the Steelers Pens and Pirates, when they are playing. In the summer months you can sit outside on the deck and drink and dine or dine and drink. The prices are average. Nothing that will break your wallet! There was a decent selection of beer on tap. Domestics and Imports. I didnt get a chance to see what the locally brewed selection consisted of. read more

I was so disappointed in our second visit. The french dip sandwich was thick slices of slippery lunch meat. Horrible

What a fun place! I went with a friend who lives near the bar. The bar area is pretty small with table seating in two adjacent rooms. The bar area has a ton of character. The bar is a wrap around bar that probably sits about 20 people on each side. The ends are more narrow where one end will seat about 4, while the other is used to provide drinks for servers and the entrance / exit for the bartenders. The bartenders and staff were a ton of fun. I had fun with my "dealer's choice beers". The food was awesome as well. I believe I ordered a Pepperoni and Cheese Pizza (really good) and a Cheese Steak with Cap. I shared the pizza with friends. The sandwich was spectacular. After consuming my carbs for the week (between beer, drinks, pizza, and cheese steak) I entered Jenny Craig's witness protection plan to hide from my trainer. If you are in the area - check it out. Get the Cheese Steak :) read more

Been coming here for awhile now, always a go to meet up spot, if you go, ask for the dani special! You won't be disappointed!

This place is the solid definition of a dirty hole in the wall. The crowd that hangs in there are so immature. The barmaids are rude and the womens bathroom was dirty and no toilet paper. The drinks were tiny and mostly ice and overpriced. The food was greasy and gross. Just HELL NO. I was embarrassed to be seen in there. So bad and RANK. The whole place smelled putrid. If you enjoy this type of " establishment" rethink your LIFE! THIS PLACE IS GROTESQUE. read more

Cute, friendly neighborhood pub! Small draft list, but there is no junk on it. The wings are huge and look great! I had a burger. It was tasty, but slightly over cooked. The fries were excellent! I will definitely be back! read more

Carl's Tavern - RhineGeist Odd Job Double IPA. - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great little place to have a beer and enjoy some good food! Wait staff is always friendly as well.

We were here for fish sandwiches and it was St. Patrick's Day. The fish dinners were great. We can't say enough about the servers. They were the best. So attentive, constantly checking if we needed anything. I can say Carl's waitstaff is EXCELLENT! read more

Carl's is a great local bar / restaurant. You cannot beat their wings - they are the whole wing and they are big! Hubby loves the fish sandwich, also big! They have a larger than usual menu and everything we've tried is well prepared & served with a smile! The expanded parking lot and outdoor deck are great additions - so if you're looking for a comfortable, casual atmosphere and some nice food choices get to Carl's! read more

I had a chance to dine here after a work meeting recently. From the outside the place looks pretty unassuming - the building is small and painted in such a way that it doesn't stand out much from the road or gray Pittsburgh sky, and "Carl's" is written on it in fairly small print. You could easily drive by and totally miss it on your way to Monroeville. But once you get inside you're in for a treat, as Carl's is definitely one of the nicer bars and dining areas I've eaten in around this general area. Their menu, while not enormous, is pretty impressive to read over - lots of appetizers, multiple sandwiches, a few pizzas, some pastas...add on their daily soups and specials and you have a surprising number of options to pick from. I didn't expect that from such a little watering hole! My coworkers and I all ended up ordering the fish sandwich due to a recommendation from a local earlier in the day. Let me tell you, this sandwich is HUGE. The slice of breaded fried fish you get on this thing is almost twice as long as the sandwich bun, and as a result some of us just ate half of the fish with tartar sauce rather than as a sandwich. The sandwiches were so big that the three of us regretted getting the two orders of fries we thought would make a good side. Not because the fries were bad, but none of us really had the room to eat many of them! Then again, we might have eaten more fries except for a great act of generosity on the staff's part. One coworker had ordered provolone cheese on his sandwich and received American due to a mixup. The staff apologized for this and, to our surprise, brought out some amazingly delicious fried cheeseballs filled with pepperjack cheese to make up for the error. They were so fresh, they literally melted in our mouths as we ate them. We may have been full from the sandwiches but we still devoured those cheesy goodies! Since we stopped in during the work day we didn't drink anything alcoholic, but I'd definitely consider stopping in again for a bite and a beer in the future. The food was good and the staff were excellent - that makes for a great albeit little place! read more