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    Emerson's

    4.3 (130 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    EMERSON'S ATMOSPHERE

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    Caesar Salad
    Lindsey M.

    I would like to give another five star review to Emerson's since this time I went on a weekend night. The vibes are truly immaculate at this place. The lighting is perfect, and the way its decorated gives it a cozy home feel. The food was delicious as always and the drinks were perfectly curated. My table got banana bread espresso martinis, dirty martinis, and I got the Irish Maid and every single drink was delicious. The only thing I will say was the music was a little loud, hard to talk in a larger group and it was very warm in the restaurant. Other than that, I love this place so much and will be back many more times to come! We were also celebrating two birthdays and the handwritten birthday note was such a sweet touch that you dont see anywhere else!

    Banana Bread Espresso Martini
    Tiffeny A.

    I came here for with my coworkers for a birthday dinner after work today. The service on point - they had two server checking in constantly which was nice for the size group we had. We ordered a few appetizers, my favorite was the truffle fries and the Brussels sprouts. The truffle fries come with a really large shareable portion ( and I love fries so that was great). The vibe was really nice, the dim lighting and the ambiance was nice where one could go there for a date night but it was also really nice to go to with my coworkers to have a conversation where we didn't feel like we were interrupting. I will definitely be back to try their girl dinner with some friends! PS the banana bread espresso martini was 10/10 would definitely recommend

    Jayme B.

    A recently met a friend here for dinner and I can't believe I haven't been here before! Emerson's is in market square. The door is a little unassuming. Once you go up a flight of stairs, you enter the cozy space of Emerson's. My friend and I both tried the banana bread espresso martini. It was SO good! We started with the mezze platter which has hummus, grilled pita, cucumber, red pepper, carrots, marinated artichoke hearts, and feta. Not only was the presentation beautiful, but the platter itself was delicious! For dinner, I ordered the salmon which comes with basil lemon risotto, and micro greens. The salmon was booked perfectly and paired so well with the risotto. Our waitress was very sweet and helpful. This was such a neat place. I can't wait to visit again!

    Vodka penne.
    Angie C.

    I can't believe I haven't been here before. This place is well known and loved among my friend group, yet I somehow had not been. Tonight I was out for a couple of drinks nearby with a friend, we were hungry and she suggested this spot nearby. I was excited to finally check it off the list, but now I fear I have to become a regular. This place is so good! The food here is beautifully presented and upscale, while not being super expensive or pretentious. We wanted to split the grilled Caesar salad, but one of us is GF and the other is vegetarian. This meant we needed a non-anchovy dressing for the vegetarian, both dressings on the side, and the croutons in a separate bowl. Our server couldn't have been more happy to accommodate and I never felt like we were a problem. My friend got a beautiful looking filet with green beans and I got their vodka penne which was creamy and cozy and a perfect fall/winter meal. The portion was large and I ended up taking some home. I liked that I asked our server whether there was anything about the pasta that wasn't vegetarian, such as chicken or beef stock, and she immediately knew the answer. They just seem very thoughtful of all types of diners here. They had a beautiful and long list of specialty cocktails and wine selections, and also had three mocktail options right on that same menu which I as a non-drinker super appreciate as it makes me feel not like an afterthought. The vibe here is also very cool. Lots of cozy living room types of seating areas to enjoy a drink in addition to the bar and restaurant seating. One wall has an industrial, exposed look. I just really enjoyed everything about it. Note that there is a big flight of stairs you need to go up/down right at entry; I did not think to ask whether there was another way if someone has accessibility needs.

    Taylor G.

    Everything from the ambiance, drinks and food was a 10/10. Our serve was so sweet and gave us extra time while we had our first book club meeting here! We had Brussel sprouts and muscles for an appetizer, both very tasty. I split the famous caesar salad and Emerson's burger with one of my friends and both were fantastic. I dream about the truffle fries! Would 100% go back for the Hot Girl dinner special on Thursdays

    ITALIAN ROAST PORK SANDWICH 1/2 lb Herb rubbed roasted pork shoulder, braised broccoli rabe, sharp provolone, olive oil focaccia
    Karen H.

    Ten of us stopped by on a whim on Wednesday around 8pm. They put a table together for us and we waited only a few minutes. The ambiance inside is lovely and I like that the fireplace is actually warm. After seating us they took our drink orders and then our food orders. The drinks were lovely and the food even better. I really enjoyed my fried chicken sandwich and like how the sandwiches come with a choice of regular fries or truffle fries. They did separate checks for all of us which is amazing for a group this big and took a group picture of us at the very end.

    Bobby C.

    This is a hidden gem - you'd never know it was there from the street! They knock it out of the park with a very relaxing, intimate yet lively atmosphere. All of the food was fresh and arrived at the right pace. For starters, we got the burrata and mezze platter and for the entree, crab cakes and butternut squash rigatoni. I've had a lot of crab cakes and I think Emerson's makes the best in the city!

    Caesar Salad with grilled chicken
    Marla C.

    I went for the hot girl combo. Was this my favorite Caesar salad? No, I wish the chicken had been cut into stripes so easier for me to enjoy. I also didn't love the Caesar dressing it felt very thick more like an aioli. I also realize I'm not a huge fan of the grilled lettuce. For apps we got the Brussels sprouts and burrata to share and both were so good. I got the devil went down to Georgia and I liked it. I do want to go back and try the rest of the menu. And the vibe in there is great. Perfect for a girls night.

    Lauren G.

    After visiting about 20 times, I still have only good things to say about Emerson's. The vibes are immaculate in all corners- cozy and chic. The service is always great, attentive, and a good pace of the meal. I've had almost everything on the menu, but the burrata and truffle fries are a must-order every single time.

    Pilar G.

    I really enjoyed the Thursday special at Emerson's-- this special was a Caesar salad, fries (I upgraded to truffle fries) , and a Diet Coke for $18 or martini for $28. I did the $28 meal and had a dirty martini with vodka. They had a large selection of add ons and upgraded including blue cheese olives. My drink was excellent and so was the food. The shaved Parmesan was so fluffy and I appreciated how the lettuce wedge had been charred. The fries were great too and the aioli was solid. The space was super attractive also-- lots of natural light, exposed brick, and a clean feel. The staff overall were friendly and our waitress was especially nice.

    Pork chop
    Matthew P.

    We stopped in for dinner and were pleasantly surprised by the cocktails -- well-balanced, creative, and genuinely enjoyable. A standout starter was the truffle fries: perfectly crispy with just the right amount of truffle flavor. Honestly, I'd return just to sit at the bar with a cocktail and those fries. The atmosphere was lively, but it did get quite loud at times -- something to keep in mind if you're hoping for a quieter dinner or conversation. For the main course, I ordered the pork chop. While it was beautifully plated and the accompanying carrots were deliciously sweet and tender, the pork itself was unfortunately overcooked and a bit dry. It wasn't bad, but it didn't quite live up to the promise of the presentation. That said, the overall vibe and drink program are strong. There are plenty of other entrées on the menu -- the chicken sandwich, in particular, looked like a smarter pick. I might have just chosen the wrong dish this time. Still, I'd definitely come back for the cocktails and fries, and I'm open to giving the rest of the menu another try.

    Smash Burger
    Emma C.

    Emerson's is hands down one of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh right now. Such a unique spot with a cool crowd. The food is absolutely divine. Service was excellent. Dinner was perfectly paced. Can't wait to go back!

    Drinks
    Shivani G.

    Their special espresso martinis were fab! The other drinks tasted like jungle juice so I sent it back. The truffle fries were good, but that was it. Our other entrees were very underwhelming. I don't recommend unless you're coming for a drink and a shareable. Don't eat here

    Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes

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    2 months ago

    love the food, almost passed out from how good it was, bathrooms are great, i l0ve how the toliets taste. love u guys, eat here every week.

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    We I finally made it here after trying to go for a while and just letting time get away from us. We…read moremade reservations for two and went on a Friday night. When we walked in, the host greeted us right away, asked for our name, and seated us pretty quickly. There were actually a good amount of open seats, so I am not sure reservations were completely necessary, but it was still nice to have one. I honestly expected the inside to feel more extravagant and space themed, almost like an outer space vibe with more visual elements and atmosphere. I was hoping for something more immersive and futuristic. It was still cool overall, just not quite as visually dramatic as I imagined. We ordered an espresso martini and the Kiwi Nova. I really enjoyed my drink, especially after talking with the host who explained that they use scientific processes for their cocktails along with fresh purées and fresh ingredients. That is something I really appreciate because I am not a fan of drinks made with a lot of simple syrup or fake additives. He loved his espresso martini and said it was one of the best he has had. My drink was definitely on the sweeter side and I feel like too much of it might lead to a hangover, but it was still really good. Our server was attentive at first, but later on we ended up waiting a while to order another round. After sitting for a bit, we decided to order through the hostess instead and she got us taken care of right away. Overall, it was a cool experience mainly for the drinks. The cocktails were definitely the highlight. Service was okay, and I am not sure if we will return, but I am glad we finally got to check it out.

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    Emerson's - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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