Lefty&#x27;s

There shouldn't even be reviews for a place like Gooski's. It's a Pittsburgh institution. By far my…read morefavorite 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.

Every city has a famous dive bar and while I'm not sure if Gooski's is Pittsburgh's divey…read morerepresentative, 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.

Inside

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Lets go Brandon ?????? Well.....

The Warren Bar and Burrow

4.2(327 reviews)

1.1 mi•Downtown

The Warren is literally my favorite place to pop into in Downtown Pittsburgh. Open late, great…read morevibes, and a hell of an awesome bar staff. Whenever I tell people that it's basically a pub with great sushi they are truly befuddled but everything here works (and is extremely delicious) I've had numerous things from the menu but I always go back to the steak sandwich. There are a few staple drinks but I love to have a bar tender make whatever they're feeling. I've had some fun nights with complete strangers while watching Pen's games. This is the place to be.

I've worked at and attended shows at the Benedum for years and finally made it in to try the Warren…read morethis past weekend. I've heard so many mixed things that I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed every aspect of my experience. It kind of has dive bar vibes but the food and drink options are definitely on the elevated side. They open at 4 on Sundays and I got there around 4:15. It was already pretty busy (and by the time I was leaving, every single table and bar stool were occupied). They have standard booth seats along the windows, hightop tables in the middle and bar seating along the bar that curves along the back of the restaurant. I chose to sit at the bar since I was by myself. I was promptly greeted by the bartender. They don't hand you copies of the menu, you have to scan the QR code to access. It is easy to read and follow with sections for drinks, specials (this time they were Wicked themed as a nod to the show at the Benedum) and a sushi section. I ordered the street corn dip. The chips were a bit overcooked and the dip was just OK. I thought it was pricey for what you got. The star of my meal, though, was the patty melt. It had the burger, a bacon jam, caramelized onions and was absolutely delicious! It was served with fries. I considered ordering sushi but wasn't sure what to expect. The patrons sitting on either side of my ordered rolls and they were a nice size and looked delicious, so that is something I would consider ordering in the future. It was a place I'll likely be back to because of the proximity to the theater (although their prices definitely reflect that). Just note how crowded it always is and give yourself plenty of time if you plan on heading here for dinner before the show.

Interior

Sushi

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Bar area

Dive Bar & Grill

3.9(214 reviews)

3.8 mi•Lawrenceville

I went for brunch with a few friends!! Two of us got the el toro burrito. I subbed bacon in mine. I…read morewish I had gotten the sweet potato tots instead of the hash browns. It was good but a little greasy. Personally I would skip the donut holes, I thought they were gonna come out with a crunchy outside but they were just soggy. The staff was super nice. We sat down right away.

I've never had a bad meal at Dive! If there is a loaded fry on a menu I WILL be ordering it! The…read morePoutine-ish was a 10/10.

Bar facing out.

Sandwich with sweet potato tots.

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Aristocrat gin drink

Shale's Cafe

4.3(32 reviews)

1.8 mi•The Hill District

I was in Pittsburgh for the Kings/Pens game. I went to Shales both before and after the game. It…read morewas packed with Penguins fans. Everyone was super nice even though my pal and I were in Kings jerseys. You can get a $4 Molson and drink it outside the bar. As we stood outside greeting other Kings fans we talked to the owner. Apparently, they are only open when there is an event at the PPG Arena. I am really glad we stopped in.

He Said: When half the reviews praise this spot and use terms like "dive" and the other half give…read moreone star reviews complaining about the staff and the look of the bar we can be pretty sure we'll love it. We loved it. We were in town for the Billy Strings shows and managed 3 visits in our short time here. Each time, from night one and the end of the Pens/Caps game to pre-gaming before Saturday's show, we had a great time. Also, Brutus is the best dog ever. She Said: Brutus IS the best dog ever and Vasili is a treasure. We'll be back in Pittsburgh in the spring, and we'll absolutely be making time for Shale's. Potty Points: 3/5 - Never a wait, and the rest is just part of the charm!

Hockey jerseys along the back wall

The main downstairs bar

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Shale's Cafe A Pittsburgh Bar Derby Day Photo credit~ Gil Porr

Forbes Tavern

4.4(222 reviews)

1.2 mi•Downtown

Was visiting in November and stumbled across this place. Great food, great service, great fun at…read morethe bar. French Onion Soup was a hit, as were the wings. Also got some sort of beef sammich that was great. This is my kind of place! If I return to Pittsburgh (the town I was born in, 58+ year ago, I still bleed black and gold), I'll be sure to hit this place up.

I'd say this place had very solid food and it came quick. My party had smoked wings, french onion…read moresoup and crab sandwich among other things. The food was very delicious however the bottled beer wasn't cold. One of my pet peeves! It is very small inside. It probably only seats around 35-40 people so expect to wait for a table on game days/nights. I'd definitely go back and try some diff stuff next time.

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Jekyl & Hyde

4.1(69 reviews)

2.6 mi•South Side

Such a super fun bar to go to! Halloween all year and dope shirts! They are so nice here too and…read moreit's always a good vibe. Kicking it back with some old rock and punk makes it the perfect millennial hang out. Great ciders on tap too that are local! The bar tenders are always smiling and super friendly. If im ever on Carson Street for a night out I try to head that way!

"But they play great music AND you can get vampire teeth in your drink," I argue to my sister,…read moretrying to convince her to join me. Just like visiting a Bob's Garage sets you in the mood for Christmas, Jekyll & Hyde sets you up for Halloween. Love this bar, great drinks, great music, fast service. I go every chance I get.

Pool table

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The bar!

Dive Bar and Grille

4.1(150 reviews)

2.7 mi•South Side

I can't believe this place isn't busier on weekdays than it had been while we visit…read more We have classes in the SS weekly. We have a 45 minute break between them. Dive is perfect to grab dinner. They're fast and friendly. The restaurant is decorated modern, it's sleek & smart and it's easy to get around.

Stopped by on a weekday afternoon for a late lunch and the place was empty, save a slow but…read moreconsistent trickle of pick-ups for online orders. They have a pretty large tap list of local brews, and a variety of food item options as well. I tried the short rib melt with sweet potato tots, and the tots were perfect. The sandwich itself was very oily, and it just tasted like a philly cheesesteak grilled cheese. Decent price for the portion size though.

Turkey gouda melt

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Dive Bar & Grille

3.7(237 reviews)

5.9 mi

This visit at the Dive Bar was great! Saturday nights they do live music, and it's always a great…read moretime. I do recommend getting there early to ensure you get a seat, since it's quite a hit!! Service was great and the bartender did a fantastic job taking care of everyone at the bar. The chicken wings were great and cooked perfectly. The best part of the night was this phenomenal "Thai Beef" salad! It was very different than any salad I've had before, and I love that this place offers some diverse dishes on their menu. The beef was soooo delicious and genuinely cooked to perfection. If you're looking to mix it up, 100% try that salad--you will NOT be disappointed! Thank you Dive Bar & Grille for a fun night :)

I can't say enough about this place on Saxonburg Blvd, just outside of Shaler. The food is awesome,…read moretheir HH specials, from 5-7 are exceptional, and their menu is HUGE! If u can't find something u like here... EAT YOUR TOFU AT HOME...!

Alabama Slammer Burger

Hummus Plate

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Pulled pork w cheese and sweet potato tots

Jack's Bar

4.1(91 reviews)

2.3 mi•South Side

If you're looking for a True dive bar on the south side of Pittsburgh, You need to go to Jack's…read more It's a Pittsburgh legendary dive bar that the locals hang out in that still serves cheap drinks. That also has awesome customer service & has a great vibe. This is a place you want to hang out when visiting Pittsburgh. Thanks to the bartender and crew that helped make are night awesome. Thanks for our draft t-shirts as well. They made our night fun & enjoyable. When visiting Pittsburgh & if You wanna hang out with the locals go to Jack's for the WIN....

A guy was gambling in the corner with his roller suitcase. Our waitress was cranking a butt at the…read moreend of the bar across from the fryer. 2 guys at the end of the bar complaining that the Steelers are bums. This place is classic Pittsburgh. Colorful and interesting. Painted posters in neon colors above the bar advertising drinks specials and activities at the bar. This place was just odd and I liked it. My husband has Great memories of this place from.many years ago so it was a must when we were in town. I would definitely go back again- good people.watching for sure! True score: 3.5

The inside

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Best Dive Bar in Da 'Burgh!

Redbeard's On Sixth

3.3(287 reviews)

1.0 mi•Downtown

Walking down the streets of downtown Pittsburg, and we were hungry and wanted a grab a bite to eat…read more When we came in , the host was very attentive and were seated immediately, the waitress we had had some of the best customer services we've ever had , that being said you go to a restaurant to eat and as tasty as the food was it was just above average , it did not wow me at all. But the service and the speed of the food getting to us was terrific , if you going to a pirates game it's definitely a spot to hit before going to the game

I lost my car keys - They helped me find them the next day, they were very friendly and I am…read moreforever grateful.