There shouldn't even be reviews for a place like Gooski's. It's a Pittsburgh institution. By far my favorite bar, and the standard by which I measure every dive joint. It's been a while that I've moved out of Pittsburgh; I've found other bars that I like, but nothing has quite replaced Gooski's in my heart. I make a point to pay my respects every time I return here. Hardly anything has changed on the interior in the last 30 years. And I hope it never does. It's dark, it's grimy, it's smoky, it's quintessentially Pittsburgh. Crowd has always been an effervescent mix of ages and walks of life. The beer selection is wide and affordable. And the food is just right for intoxicated palates. read more

Every city has a famous dive bar and while I'm not sure if Gooski's is Pittsburgh's divey representative, but if it's not, it should be. What a damn good bar! First, I wish I would have bought a Gooski's shirt. I have no idea if they had them when I visited but I totally forgot to check when I was there. It feels like the kind of place that if you're wearing this shirt in your hometown a Pittsburgh native would stop you on the street to tell you, "Gooski's is legendary." I wish I was there for the cheap ass drinks and edgy vibe when a band was playing as I love a punk rock vibe, but I think I was there too early in the day for that. The staff was cool, the drinks were exactly what you'd expect, and it's the kind of place that I'd spend way too much time in if I lived in Pittsburgh. read more

Cheap beer. Nicotine smell. Light so red it's impossible to correct in post. Black tees n' jeans. What more do you want? This is a punky dive bar they way few still are. read more

Gooski's - Inside - Dive Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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What the fuck... Unless someone were to tell you these would be some of the best wings you'll ever have you would never think twice of going in here for them This is me telling you these will be some of the best wings you'll ever have Meaty and fried to perfection with a perfect crunch. The wing itself, the best I've had. The sauces on them were ehh. Not the best by any means but not bad to where it will ruin the wing for you I would tie these with Nox's because Nox's buries them with the sauces but Gooski's has the edge on them with the wing cook Cigs inside as well. Without even smoking in there you'll come out smelling like a dart. Can always order to go if that'll bother you. No waiters either. You order at the bar read more

Gooski's - Wings - Dive Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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One word... PROPER! Cash only, dark lights, food fantastic, service as you would expect. You can't lose the track of day here. read more

Great dive bar. What a Pittsburgh dive bar should be. No frills, cold beers, chalkboard menus, great cheap food- the pierogis and wings are both incredible. Punk vibe. Fun and a good time always. Great ownership and good people. read more

love the atmosphere i'm always looking for grungy places to hang out. I got a citrus ipa, a corona, and fries; prices were very reasonable read more

Gooski's - Dive Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great dive bar. Smoking is recommended. Best pierogies. Solid wings. Cash only, pool tables. Everything you need

5 stars because this is truly a slice of heaven on Polish Hill. The food is nothing fancy but delicious nonetheless. Yinz should be warned this is cash only! There is an ATM inside though. Going to be added to one of my favorite places to drink in the 'burgh. A bonus is the old school juke box with everything under the sun on it. read more

I was here a few years ago with my buddy Bob, also a Calif guy and we both loved it. By a wild chance in hell we found seats at the bar, the place was packed, it was loud, and there was some music on in the background - heard faintly from the noise. Look if you don't like crowds and noise - this place isn't for you. The beers and cocktails were very cheap - I could say inexpensive but that's just not right here. I was having an odd conversation with the bartender - we were not agreeing with each other but both laughing about it. You gotta dig it when you can laugh - and I got the feeling he doesn't agree with many people. Ended up being the last ones out - great bunch of guys working here - Working man's bar (shed your attitude before you walk in). read more

Gooski's - This guy was getting mighty friendly - eek - Dive Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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#1 dive bar ever! The Squatch and company are a Polish Hill institution (they should all be institutionalized). Good people and always a good night. read more

Gooski's is a Pittsburgh institution, a place that every Pittsburgher should visit at least once. If you are coming here purely to write a review for Yelp, then this is probably not the place for you, they even have that written on the mirror behind the bar. I believe they even inform you to go back to the South Side. Anyway, out with the better half and it was of course time to eat, his decision this time, and he chose here. I was down with it as I love me some good bar food. We came in and sat right at the bar, with that, great service pursued. We first placed our drink order, while we waited for those to arrive we decided on what we were to have to eat. I already had it set in my mind that I was going to get pierogies, I paired that with a burger. All we had to do now was wait for that to arrive. In the mean time I took in my surroundings. I love a good dive bar and this place does not hold back. It is what you expect when you think of a dive bar. You walk in and it is very dim, red lighting fills the bar area, smoke floats in the air and noise is abundant. Loud talking coming from everywhere, people trying to have conversations and laughing the night away. ATM is available in here as it is cash only. Graffiti covers everything, including the ATM. Now, back to the food. Our burgers came out first. Topped the way we liked and ready for consumption. That burger patty was amazingly cooked. There was even a nice crisp to the outside of it. Paired with my selection of toppings; lettuce, onion, pickle, and mayo, it was a great way to start off a meal. Then came the pierogies. There was something familiar about them. They were great, potatoes and cheese enclosed in a perfect pasta. Came with sour cream and sauteed onions. I kept saying how great these were and the bartender overheard me. He informed me that the pierogies come from Pierogies Plus. Hey, I'm fine with that, they are great pierogies, they may make them, but Gooski's prepared them perfectly. read more

this place is electric... honestly only time i yaked more was the gallon challenge #electric

Last night my Son offered to take me out to dinner. It was Tuesday night on Butler Street and we wanted to try something new. After walking around for half an hour or so, we got in the car and Google food. We ended up at Gooski's Bar in Polish Hill. Great bar food, nothing fancy, served hot n fresh. Funky place Diverse crowd around 8:30 9 ish. Nastrovia!! read more

This usd to be my favorite local bar. I started almost 40 years ago and came back in the last COVID years. I found that the owner and weekend staff are still the same as they ever were. Recently I've found that the some of the bartenders that work during the week are thugs.Contrary to the ethos of the establishment they provide preference to there friends read more

If you're looking for a dive bar Gooski's fits the bill it's dark people smoke the walls are covered with graffiti it's beat up . Beer is inexpensive most of their Imports are $3 to $4 dollars a Bottle. The food may be great but the bar looked so dingy we were afraid to order anything and went somewhere else to eat There is the pool table and ping-pong table in the back and regularly they have bands perform on a small stage. The bartender was not friendly . I had to laugh when my friends wife asked what type of wine they had his response was " I don't know we buy the cheapest wine we can get and I don't know what we have I'll show you the bottle" she ordered a beer read more

Great Bar! My lady and I were in town, I googled "punk rock bar" and Gooski's came up. We had the best time, made to feel like regulars from the start. We're planning on coming back to PBG, in part, just to hit Gooski's again! read more

Twelve hours ago, I was kidnapped by friends and swept away to an Eastern European Netherworld for a night of metallic mischief. An underground playland awash in red, purple, and violet light like a German brothel, Gooski's is a Hessian, punk-rock barrelhouse where bands such as Liquified Guts, Radium Girls, No Reason To Live, and edhochuli entertain small cults of devotees. Located in Polish Hill, a land of Old World charms, a subversive Unholy Saturday mass was taking place. A bartender who resembled a time-tossed Viking passed pierogi and Old Bay wings to other patrons who in turn passed them off to me as if we were on a Satanic version of "The Waltons" during a family dinner scene. When I handed a twenty dollar bill to the massive Nordic server, some sour cream accidentally smeared onto the cash, only for Hagar The Affable to laugh heartily at my foible. A fire-haired fairy princess with the face of a model and the tattooed body of a L.A. vampire walked up to me and smiled, revealing a chipped front tooth as she eagerly recounted the story behind her dental mishap. As Liquified Guts tore into their set, an obese, jolly concertgoer took turns putting his fellow headbangers onto his shoulders, gleefully catching and dizzying them in the "airplane spin," a pro wrestling maneuver from yesteryear. A bearded young man handed me a PBR after he saw that I had on an Amon Amarth t-shirt. "I been comin' here since I was a kid," he told me. A veteran rockdog with long, alabaster locks and a hippy's headband told me tales of glory after I pointed out the Hawkwind patch on his denim-n-leather vest. I did not know any of these folks, yet I felt as if they had known me since high school. Cigarette smoke didn't faze me. People's shoulders bumped into mine as I passed back and forth through the thin corridor that leads to the stage, the gentle, jovial collisions acting as catalysts for conversations with absolute strangers. Graffiti decorates the walls along with an iconic picture of Johnny Cash flipping off the world. Exquisite, plump, buttery packets of dough, cheese, and potato and dead-on crispy, succulent chicken limbs were savored. Necks were sprained. Backs were slapped. Ears hummed like tuning forks. Far from and far more than the typical sanitized concert experience, it was a few hours of worship and camaraderie for the freaks and night creatures, Gooski's being their Great Refuge in the slopes of the East End. The joyfully subterranean realm that is Gooski's will not be appealing to everyone, but then again, if it was, it would no longer be subterranean. P.S. If I had a complaint, it would be due to the narrow hallway, which made it difficult for the musicians to shuttle their equipment through. A backdoor near the stage would be great for that sort of thing if possible. read more

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My memories of time spent drinking at Gooski's are glowing red. That'd be due to the string of red Christmas lights that line the wall of liquor behind the bar, turning your drinking neighbors' faces that festive-slash-nightmarish hue. Like Hot Stuff the Little Devil. Gooski's is my favorite bar in Pittsburgh, and one of my favorite bars anywhere, anywhere. Anywhere. This neighborhood bar on Polish Hill is divey and comfortable; dark and smoky and punkish all over. The bartenders were cool- friendly nuff and yet you could tell that they take no malarkey. Drinks are strong and well-priced, plus there are a good range of beers available from Polish to good crafts and all kinds in between, including some nostalgic, "Hey my old man used to drink St. Pauli Girl," varieties... and Lowenbrau. Pop's favorites. By the way, about the smoking thing, the sweet freedom of smoking inside, I actually don't even smoke anymore, and I wasn't even an inside smoker when I did, but for some reason I find it important for people who want to smoke to have a place. Roam free! Everyone's mentioned the jukebox, and I will too. I geek for such things as great jukeboxes. Gooski's collection of albums is completely excellent, fun, and basically perfect. I'll admit seeing The Pogues up in there is an appreciation-adder. I'd say that it's remarkable. I was able to remark. Very good. Oh, I didn't even mention that they seem to have really good/dangerous daily drink specials. I forget exactly what the deally was, but on a Tuesday night there was some kinda boozy bargain that made us look at each other right in the eye and vow sternly, "No. NO." Or we'd stay all night... That's a testament to legitimacy of this bar, as well as to our own particular brand of 'ism. read more

Gooski's - Glowin red at Gooski's. - Dive Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great neighborhood bar. Very relaxed atmosphere, good drink deals and wonderful staff. Chris took some time out of his day to chat with us and he was delightful! Highly recommend this place read more

Rarely does a dive bar deserves such high honors but I wish I could give more. First off, as 2 Asian gals, we stuck out like two crazy swollen thumbs. It was a Tuesday night and there were live bands performing. There's a cover charge BUT when the doorman asked if we were here to see the bands and we honestly said it was out first time, he simply smiled and said "go ahead". We found seats at the bar and was greeted by a bartender with the longest goatee I have ever seen. Having ventured into Brooklyn, New York plenty of times...I have seen a LOT of goatees. We made friends friends quickly with the fellow patrons who weren't shy to point out the house rules which were basically along the lines of "have your order ready, money ready, don't make us kill you". I won't lie; it was a bit intimidating but after a couple of beers, we were good. It was a lively crowd and was PACKED. Bathrooms were immaculate and jukebox/pool table/ ping pong table/ live bands were on point. I can't say it was my type of music but it worked. Parking was a bit scary bc it was was on steep hills (hence polish hills) BUT wow, the pierogis were FCUKING amazing (yes, I will try to use profanity bc they were that amazing)! I almost didn't want to write a review bc not only does the bar rules included something along the lines of "if you needed yelp to come here, you don't belong here" but this place is an amazing diamond in the jewelry store- it stands out the brightest amongst all diamonds. Will def have to come back. P.s. Shoutout to Tim for being the best bartender in Pittsburgh- I can see why he was voted #1. read more

One of those very Pittsburgh things that you take for granted like a solid plate of pirogies and a pitcher of yeungling for 9 dollars. As unpretentious and for the people as it gets - they even let smoking indoors. I grew up in the area but moved to DMV by the time I was 10. Dc does not remotely have as much of a connection to Germany and Poland as pburgh does so there goes all your pork and sauerkraut and catholic heritage. I happen to be a bit of a germanophile (latent conditioning?) that I am compelled to come back to pburgh regularly and relish in pirogies, cheap beer, and my adoration for eat n Park Just for old times sake. Pittsburgh makes dc look sterile and puritanical in comparison. read more

Fun dive bar. Great music (jukebox) and cheap drinks. However, if you don't smoke, you might want to find a different bar. read more

In the future there will be actual places like Gooskis on every corner. Not that bullshit sanitized tech lifestyle nonsense. Give the people what they want. Don't move here. read more

My first and last time at this absolute pit of an establishment. I walked into the women's bathroom to two furries getting it on without any protection. The night only got worse from then on. I had lost my bottle of kombucha and found it being boofed at a table in the back. When I was finally able to use the women's room I noticed the toilet didn't even work and was ushered to the outhouse out back by a thespian riding a miniature horse that crapped all through the place. The only saving grace is their new bartender, Sara. Sara was able to order me a new kombucha while banning the furries from the bar and cleaning up the horse crap that's the ONLY reason I'm giving this dumpster fire two stars. Also try the buttery nipple shot. read more

This bar is punk as fuck. If I lived in Pittsburgh, I would be a total regular. The juke box is funny and offensive, but they have some great tunes. The beer and food is damn cheap. Probably not the best place for a first date, unless your date is really into Aus-Rotten. read more

Badass. Go in wondering why the hell you're there and leave wondering why you haven't been there 987 times before. You'll smell like a carton of stale cigarettes upon leaving, but it's totally worth it. read more

The best dive bar in Pittsburgh. This is the kind of place you would expect to find in NYC, not next to an old Polish church. No pretensions and no attitude. Just a great, reasonably priced selection of beers, micro and imported. Great specials on Wed/Thur with $1.50 imports and micros (forget which on which night). Great juke box, friendly bartenders, pool and table tennis. Also has live music including such great acts as the Slavic Soul Party and Balkan Beat Box . read more

me and a couple buddies went out for someone for some nighttime fun , while they have good sized serving drinks and the wings are amazing , THE BOUNCER SERVICE HOWEVER NEEDS CHECKED , I've been falsely accused of multiple things the first time there just for resembling someone else who i guess went there?!?!?! , and I'm NOT the only one. So confused still but the other bartenders and even another bouncer who is very tall had to apologize for the service a small man named (Bradley or chris I can't remember off the top of my head he's very short and if you see him run!!!) he's a complete weirdo!!! I gave this place two stars because for the polish hill area it's definitely better then the rock room and other surrounding bars, but atleast there u don't have a bouncer that completely will come in the back room while ur playing pool or simplify enjoying your food and shadow u and take ur drink when it's 25% full so U can just go up and buy another. Don't even get me started on the slight rude comments u will get if u don't immediately bring the drink up after u finish it i experienced nothing but frustration and even anguish bc of someone else's night i highly recommend coming here if u don't have to deal with Bradley or chris (I don't remember his name off the top of my head) but it definetly ruins the vibe I've seen him getting in pool game business and I don't respect it it's the perfect dive bar tho for someone that wants to get out of the house and have fun with someone (if they live in the surrounding area ) from what I saw the bar itself was amazing but security management definitely needs work. (That's the only reason I gave this place 2 stars) the management really ruined it all. read more

Gooski's - The outside of gooskis - Dive Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Now I can see why people call this the best dive bar in Pittsburgh. Cheap drinks, cheap food, live music. It's the best. But be prepared for the smoke. If you can't handle a heavy smoking bar, this place isn't for you. If you go on a weekend night and there is live music, there is a cover charge starting at 9. Earplugs also might be a good idea if you are in the back room with the music. It can get pretty loud for a small area. The bartender isn't he friendliest at first but I think we got him to warm up to us. This place is cash only!! One cool thing I saw in there was a cigarette dispenser machine. It looked so old but everyone was using it, which I thought was cool. They don't have a parking lot so you will be parking on the street. There are usually a ton of spots but I suggest getting there early just in case. Definitely a great place to try out it you are in the mood for a great dive bar. read more

Cheap food and drinks, good shows, friendly bartenders and patrons, what more could you ask for? And good, cheap shows. Be sure to order some pierogi before the kitchen closes. Smoking is allowed here, which I'm not a huge fan of but I can deal. The biggest drawback for me is trying to wash the smokey smell out of my clothes afterwards. This place to me still feels very blue collar, very old Pittsburgh. The city I've known it to be all my life. Where you can strike up conversation with strangers or friends of friends. There are a lot of places that change over time, and this is one of those bars that seems to always be the same. The big booth up front is always my favorite place to sit. :) read more

This place is so anti-hipster (just the vibe it's a friendly place behind the skull and crossbones as most of these places are) that it might be hipster..lol. The most authentic dive bar in a really good way in the city. Excellent place for punk rock as well when they have shows. read more

Gooski's - 16 oz PBRs fo $2.50! - Dive Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Can I admit something? I'm really not a dive bar person. I know, I know....it doesn't make sense! I'm cheap, I love cheap drinks, and this is the mecca of cheap drink places. I like to mix and mingle at bars, I like to drop it like it's hot. If I dropped it like it's hot here I may get slapped. I know this place is like thee dive bar spot in the Burgh, but I was just...meh. I think the fact that smoking is still allowed makes a huge difference for me. I go home smelling like an ash tray and yearning for a dance party. The only draw for me is the wide selection of beers and the DIRT CHEAP prices! I just lean over the counter and stare at the huge beer refrigerator, scan my eyes over the bottles until the holy beer spirit hits me and I go....THAT ONE! It's almost like my own personal beer tasting. Will I go back? Probably. Will I like it? With enough drinks...YES! read more

Gooski's is one of my favorite bars in Pittsburgh! Why, oh why, would I enjoy such a small punk dive as Gooski's, you ask? For one, service is amazing, beer selection fantastic, shows there are great, they have the best jukebox in the city (maybe even in the state!?), and their prices are decent. Only setback - smoking's still allowed here, so I wind up having to shower immediately after every visit. (Not that I don't shower already after a sweaty night at a bar, but you know what I mean!) For a (very) amateur beer connoisseur, their fridge sends me to heaven and back. They have a full supply of pretty much all the Unibroue beers, Delirium, Lambics, and a whole slew of other imported beers I've never even heard of. More importantly though, their usual weeknight bartender is amazing! To be honest, he looks to be an intimidating character, but in reality, he's super nice, patient, mad efficient, and helpful in selecting my next brew of choice. A+ for service! Definitely check out Gooski's if you don't mind a bit of smoke and some Polish Hill punks. read more

I have mixed feelings about Gooskis. Overall, I do enjoy my time there, but they (staff and regulars) seem to pride themselves on being exclusive and pretentious about not wanting tons of people from outside the neighborhood coming in. They have something along the lines of "If you needed Yelp to find us, you don't belong here." on the mirror behind the bar, which takes away some of my excitement for the place. I'm not into that attitude all. You are a bar. People like bars. Be happy you are making money. I live in Polish Hill, so I do hang here occasionally, but that is my least favorite aspect. For example: I recently ordered a Moscow Mule. The bartender first told me they didn't have the copper mugs. I said it was fine to have it in a regular glass. He said they don't really do those kinds of drinks there. Come on, dude. It's not like I ordered a flaming rum punch. I'm pretty sure you have vodka, ginger beer and lime juice...but OK? They previously had the honor of having The Best Bartender in the city, Tim, as recognized by City Paper, Pittsburgh Magazine and others, but I don't see him around too much. If he is there, your service will be spot-on. If not, it's kind of hit or miss. It is quite a bit pricier than drinking at the other neighborhood bar, The Rock Room, but has an equal divey grimy charm. It is also VERY dark, like almost weirdly dark, in the front room. It is much brighter in the back room where you can pay pinball, pool or ping pong, unless there is a show. People also rave about the jukebox which is actually one of the old school machines with mix-CDs rather than the usual digital ones you see in most bars now. The food is OK, I've had chicken sandwiches and burgers here that were pretty good for typical bar food. The best time to go is during happy hour or definitely Thursday nights when they have a special on all of their craft beer. read more

This bar is basically one of the most exciting and fulfilling establishments available in the Steeler Nation. I know people who have spent most of their adult lives in this bar. I know people with tattoos based on the logo of this bar. I know people that won't go anywhere but Gooskis, who mean "Gooskis" when they say "the bar." I know of relationships and marriages that have started and ended at this bar. I have seen hearts sing, and get broken in this filthy, smoky bar. I hesitate to even tell you how great it is because I don't want to mess it up. Great bands & shows, with sweaty crowded dancing friends and strangers, excellent jukebox, amazing drinks, quality beer at ice cold temperatures poured out of clean(ish) taps, delicious bar food, prices frozen in 1981, and a diverse and interesting cast of characters seated at the bar & working behind it. Watch out, though. One time a trashed drunk dude grabbed my ass, and when I confronted him, his girlfriend got mad at me and tried to fight me. This is the sort of bar where neighbors bring over christmas lights to decorate for the holidays. There's a bunch of dirty punks hanging around here, a crowd of meatheads, some normal working people, some of Pittsburgh's elite intelligentsia, and so on. Generally you don't find a lot of students (or "short-timers") at this bar. This is for those who bleed black & gold, with roots in the allegheny AND the mon, or at least people who can adopt a reasonable yinzer accent & attitude (without irony?). PLUS THERE IS SOME M-FING PINBALL OK? This is more than a bar, really. It's not fair to call it that. It's a legend and an institution. read more

I LOVE THIS BAR! I wish that I could put it in my pocket, and take it back to Los Angeles with me. Gooski's has hands down the best jukebox that I have ever had the pleasure of bullying. Side note: jukebox bullying is when you put in a crap ton of money in to guarantee listening to your own tunes while drinking. This can annoy other bar patrons, but you can be assured that you will be listening to good music. Back the review, I bullied with Talking Heads, ELO, Pixies, Beck, MGMT, Bo Diddly, Ray Charles, The Clash, and much much more. Maybe no one else wanted to hear Road to Nowhere, but I had a fantastic time. On top of the eclectic jukebox, the drinks are incredibly cheap!! Jameson and Gingers for 4 bucks? SOLD! I hear the beer selection is great as well, which I am not surprised in a city like Pittsburgh. I will be making many repeat appearances in the next couple of months. I love you Gooski's!! read more

The beer selection is vast, the prices are low, and the bartender understands Polish pronunciation - as Charlie Sheen would say, this place is tri-winning! Also, Saturday's live band, while not really all that great, fit in pretty perfectly in the back room of this place. The only negative - call me high maintenance, but I'll never be a fan of smoking in bars, which means minus one star. 10 months into the Pittsburgh chapter of my life and I finally made my way over... I kind of feel like I've wasted at least 12 days of those months by not going to Gooski's on a regular basis. I look forward to returning on a non-live show night to see what this place is like with the back room offering the full array of bar room funtivities - perhaps they will make me forget the smoke and offer up a full-fledged five stars. read more

By far the best bar in Pittsburgh. Quite possibly the best bar ever? Incredibly strong cheap drinks, great friends, great music, and the best pool tournaments ever. I pretty much don't even remember the first time I ever went to Gooski's. I don't even know what bars I went to before I started coming here.....hmmmm. The first great thing about this place is location. It was about 5 minutes' drive from my old apartment. I think I got lost going to this place probably the first 10 times I went. It's located in the heart of Polish Hill, but I really don't think any Polish people ever went there. I'm pretty sure this place served food because I think I was even friends with some of the "cooks" there, but I honestly don't remember ever eating anything there besides the free pretzel rods. I don't think they even have lime or lemon wedges to garnish cocktails. Probably the best about this bar was its locals. I don't remember anybody's name except this dude named Bob. He is always in the back room playing pool with a tall can of Busch in his hand. I think he's retired, but I'm not exactly sure from what occupation? But he always had super funny things to say and he always had these skinny little joints he'd smoke with us at the bus stop a couple of doors down. Nice guy. Somehow I even have a Gooski's t-shirt, which I still proudly wear from time to time in sunny San Diego. Everyone is always like "WTF does your shirt mean?" and I don't even bother to explain because they'll never understand the greatness of Gooski's unless they attend in person to experience the unbelievably smoky ambience and all the hand-written decor in the bathrooms. read more

Gooski's is the ultimate Pittsburgh dive experience with a few bonuses. Like other dive bars, it features cheap drinks, a smoke-friendly atmosphere, an eclectic crowd, and a complete lack of pretentiousness. What makes it better than most other dive bars: 1) Ping pong table in the back. Although it might be hard to secure on weekends, it's usually open on weeknights. There are simply not many things in the world better than drinking great beer while playing ping pong. 2) Nice craft beer selection. You won't be limited to ordering PBRs and Miller Lites here, despite the divey-ness of this bar. Also you will find your favorite craft beers, if not on tap then at least in bottle, at rock bottom bar prices. 3) Decent food. It's been a long time since I've eaten here, and my tastes have evolved since then, but I do remember enjoying some tasty pierogies here. Also, I have heard many nice things from others about the food -- consider it above average (at least) for dive bar fare. 4) Sweet live music on weekends. 5) An amazing jukebox. 6) Character. I guess most dive bars have this, but Gooski's just has that certain Je ne sais quoi about its character that makes it different from all the others. Just come. You'll understand. read more