Well I have to say, the accolades prove to be right. Morcilla, is by far an impressive and amazing gastro Delight. Justin Severino and his wife Hilary we're very sweet and great to talk to during and throughout our entire meal. They checked in on us to see how our meal was and every time they brought out more plates, we all just looked at each other and we're very impressed! There are so many dishes that we got to try. I'm very excited to say that the oxtail was one of my favorites, the oysters were exceptionally good, along with; surryano ham (OMG), chorizo, tomato and peaches, tortilla española, pulp escabeche, Spanish Mackerel, Cordero en Moreno (lamb meatballs) I have to say everything was excellent. I look forward to coming back and making this a regular restaurant for my gastro pleasure. read more

I really wanted to like this place. Not sure if we caught them on a bad night, as it tends to get good reviews and came with a strong recommendation. I went with a party of 4, and we split some bites and several small plates. The portions compared to the price were outrageously small. And unfortunately, no one in our party liked a single dish. We kept ordering more hoping to find one someone would like, but to no avail (the only one that was liked was the oxtail). Multiple plates were way too heavy on the salt (the oyster mushrooms, for example, would've been good had they not been far too salty). Same went for the fried artichokes. The cauliflower flavors were shocking as it was extremely sour, which our server said could've been due to apple cider vinegar or something similar. Overall very unpleasant flavors. The octopus had a strange smoky flavor, weird texture, and the purée it was in was nothing to write home about. The sweet potatoes had seriously confusing flavors (tahini, coriander, peanut and near-caramalized sweet potatoes) which did not sit well on any of our pallets. For me, the worst were the churros which we ordered thinking they couldn't go wrong. They were bread-y, fell apart when you held them, and the chocolate sauce wasn't sweet at all and was grainy. I'm not typically one to leave reviews, but our server didn't ask us once how the food was (even after ordering 8+ dishes), so there was no other real way to communicate our experience. Our server was sweet, but it definitely would've been good to check in as none of us wanted to be the ones to speak up. All in all, I personally wouldn't recommend a single thing that I tried. Confusing flavors, overly salty, over priced, and insanely small portions. Unfortunately will not be going back. read more

Great date night spot, or a place to catch up with old friends! Make sure to make a reservation as this is definitely a popular stop, however you won't be disappointed. The decor and design transport you to Spain, and the noisy, warm atmosphere make you feel at home. You'll definitely want to order the whole menu, but make sure to pace yourself. Echoing the sentiments of everyone before - get the oxtail! I will also say that the churros were mindblowingly tasty, and that's coming from someone who usually forgoes dessert. Highly recommend Morcilla to anyone looking for good food and good conversation. read more

Chef Nathan had me at first bite! Great dishes, unique flavors. Where does Chef Justin comes up with these amazing creations! Love being back in the burgh! I can't believe that I didn't take a picture of the artichoke. The best I've ever had! That speaks volumes since I lived in the artichoke Capitol of the country! read more

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Food was very delicious, but are smaller portions so be prepared to share. Ambiance was also nice overall, the restaurant has dim lighting, which is something I enjoyed. Although, I was disappointed with the service. My party consisted of four people, and we ordered a tapa that came with only two pieces of oxtail but was not disclosed in the menu. Then when we received the bill and saw four orders for the oxtail tapa we were confused and we told our waiter there was a mix up. She then went on to explain how one order of the oxtail comes with two pieces so to make it so everyone had a piece she ordered two orders for the first time we ordered it and then the second. I am disappointed that we were not informed of this information when we were ordering, it is misleading and we should have been told this before ordering and not finding out when the bill arrived. But other than that, Morcilla was a tasty place to dine. read more

Morcilla - Costillas de la Matanza Plate - Spanish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I have been eying up Morcilla for a while now. My coworker says this is his favorite restaurant so we ended up making reservations a month in advance. Is this place good for big groups (over 6)? No, definitely not. It's really small inside. This was my first time trying Spanish tapas and I went all in with the octopus a la plancha and the costillas de la matanza. I never tried octopus tentacles before and I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm not a big fan of rubbery textures so I was hoping for the best. The octopus came out on a sesame yogurt base, cucumbers, crispy pickled chickpeas and merguez spice. The octopus was cooked to perfection and almost caramelized exterior. The interior wasn't rubbery what so ever, but very tender. I highly recommend this dish (just keep in mind the menu changes often). The costillas de la matanza (baby back ribs) was dressed in a pomegranate sherry caramel, scallions, coriander, and crunchy black olive. The ribs fell right off the bone and were nice and crispy. I did try the beef tartare and chicharones both equally delicious! Pretty sure this is the type of restaurant where everything is prepared to perfection. I wish I could say the same about the service. Our waitress left a lasting impression of having absolutely no personality at all. She couldn't have had her nose anymore up in the air than she did that night. She acted like we did a disservice to her by not sharing our plates. My friend also had her as a waitress at his previous visit and mentioned that she acted like that back then too. Service can and will ruin a business. I don't think that waiting tables is her calling. read more

Morcilla - Spanish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I am regretful that I have no photos, but this is a place where you just naturally forget you have a phone and fully become present with your dinner mates and the food. I had polled quite a few friends about restaurants they think are worth showing off to people who used to live in Pittsburgh and are back in town. Morcilla came up on everyone's list. We made a reservation for a Saturday night and I'm glad we did as the place was packed all evening. The atmosphere is very warm. Our server was a wealth of knowledge and helped us navigate appropriate quantities of food for our group. Her recommendations were on point and she paced the plates we ordered at the perfect pace and combinations of plates that we ordered was also perfect! We did a number of small plates. The octopus was phenomenal. Incredibly tender and yet meaty! I couldn't get over it. The fried artichokes were great and the oxtail was one of the most flavorful foods I've ever eaten. The cecina was perhaps the most buttery,melt in your mouth cured meat I've ever tried. I cannot adequately express what a pleasurable dining experience this was. We finished our meal with the churros and they came out piping hot-crispy and coated in sugar and slightly custardy in the center. Dip them in the not-too-sweet chocolate sauce for perfection. I have to say, there are other things that impressed me. Our table was close to the kitchen and offered us a unique view. We could not get over how impeccably clean it looked! It was also relatively quiet! No screaming from the kitchen! In addition, despite the fact that the place was full, it didn't feel too noisy or that you're on top of other diners. I'm still thinking of this meal and can't wait to go back and try the family style course option! read more

Excellent food and service! Small plates for almost all the options. It is a great place for exploring, sharing and discovering good food. We tried a couple of thing on the menu and everything turned out to be great and some were awesome! My favorite was the lomo which was recommended by our bartender. All his recommendations were great. I would strongly recommend to sit by the bar because of the tables are too crowded. I'd love to keep come back here to try more new things. read more

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What a gem! Lawrenceville has no shortage of good restaurants, this included. Great service from Sara since we dined and drank at the bar. Friendly, trendy scene here so space was at a premium. What we ate.. many things. Luckily there were 4 of us so we tasted all around the menu. Bacalao montadito, Marcona almonds with lavender salt, Serrano ham, warm bread with olive oil,, mesclun greens with strawberry vinaigrette and shall I go on! Each bite was truly delicious. Enjoyed the herbaceous sparkling sangria and the dramatically poured txacholina (rose and white, preferred white). The have 2 dessert; both great but the frozen creme catalan was the winner. Really enjoyed our time with friends here. read more

Super yummy & who knew I'd love Spanish red wine?!? Oxtail & ribs were my favs!! I'd recommend doing 1 snack & 2 small plates, would be more than enough for 2. read more

Morcilla - Seafood main dish - Spanish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Wtf? The hype got to their heads, because the obnoxious service got even more awful. We made a reservation and were kept cooling our heels for an HOUR. Hey. This is PITTSBURGH, friend. It's Pittsburgh. At the end of the day, you're still in a third rate town. Lose the attitude. The food was mediocre. What a waste. read more

Debated giving this place 3 or 4 stars... mixed feelings about it. Suggested by tons of people when we first moved here from Washington DC. It is good but not as hyped as people made it to be. Little gem salad was great. Don't really remember anything else I ate. Maybe we hyped it too much in our heads? The food was good don't get me wrong, but some items bland. I felt the taste did not match the price. I'll give it one more try and update my review .... read more

Morcilla is on my short list of Pittsburgh favorites. It's a great date night spot, friends gathering, or a treat-yoself dinner. The restaurant had a warm ambiance with wooden decor, hipster lighting, and jamón hanging. For dinner, we ordered the Serrano ham, tomate, chorizo, side of olives, machego queso, the potatoes, and squash. It was way too much food for two, but we ordered with our eyes. The a la carte charcuterie tapas came out individually (shame, cause I'd love some charcuterie plating) but the portions were so much bigger than I hoped for! Every meat has topping accents. For example, the Serrano ham has Spanish almonds.. the tomate was dipped in basil oil... and the chorizo had dates and blue cheese. I love that it's not plain and naked. My favorite out of the three was the tomate. My friend loved the Serrano ham. We both thought the cheese was too stinky with the chorizo! Guess we aren't on the expert level of stinky cheese. The side of olives was great! And I really loved the taste of the squash. The potatoes with spicy mayo sauce was very dry. It was the only dish we didn't enjoy. Morcilla is everything I need in a tapas restaurant. Ambiance, wine list, delicious tapas, amazing charcuterie! I'm excited to try out the rest of the menu on my next visit. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh. Great ambiance and fantastic flavors. Although the gambas are not close to the style of Spain they were still flavorful. But the ox tail crostini's stole the show. I look forward to more dinners here. read more

Lovely restaurant and really good food! It's a bit loud but the atmosphere is fun and lively. Our server was first class. He knew what beer my husband was drinking when he asked if he needed another. Loved the way he was so knowledgeable. The food was delicious, nothing was a disappointment. I'm giving four stars because I wished the restaurant was a bit brighter so that we could see the delicious foods served. It didn't help to bring out the different food colors. The lovely seafood noodle like dish served on a paella dish to be dharedis simply mouth watering. The stock they used for the dish is divine. Loved the Morcilla sausage and the fried croquette like snack! Drinks are very good too. Will definitely go back in a heart beat! read more

We came from San Francisco, CA to visit friends for a wedding. We are obsessed with good food and heard great things about Morcilla and the chef! When you first walk in, you feel like you walked into some rustic European restaurant. It's beautiful. Cured meat is hanging over the bar. Drinks are strong and good (got the sangria!) The 4 of us split 8-10 small plates / apps as the entrees apparently take 1-2 hours. We saw one of the large ones and it was gigantic, easily could've fed 4 people alone without any other dishes. The standouts were the beets conserve with goat cheese, oxtail, and oyster mushrooms with egg yolk. The charcuterie was amazing. Ribs, asparagus, and croquettes were ok. A little dried out. The octopus was good but very very small. Overall, the portions are very very small. We ended the meal with churros and it was delicious. Service is outstanding, FYI. Bravo, Morcilla! read more

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As you can probably tell by my recent reviews, I've had a hankering for Spanish food lately. Decided tonight to try Morcilla, given the great reviews across various rating sites and its a Justin Severino spot. As someone who has been to Spain and Portugal a great deal, I have to say I was really disappointed with the food just not being authentic Spanish in any way. I found the flavors to be pretty bland sadly. We ordered the following dishes: Serrano Ham (4/5) -- Was good serrano, but the amount for the serving was pretty small as compared to the same priced versions of the dish in Madrid. Bacalo Croquetas (4.2/5) -- These were probably the best dish we at Morcilla. Nice size croquetas and good quality cod. The honey sauce was good, slightly strong, but a good pairing. Jamon Croquetas (2.75/5) -- Would not consider these croquetas. These were like one inch diameter balls that had a very hard exterior breading and minimal filling. The aioli they were served on was an ok pairing, but the dish was very "meh". Brandade de Bacalao (2.75/5) -- The bread served with the dish was a like a hard crouton. The bacalao spread was very flat on flavor. Octopus a la Plancha (2.5/5) -- Definitely far from authentic Spanish. The octopus was tough, meaning it wasnt cooked properly. Plating was sloppy, when the authentic version of the dish is so simply plated. Patatas Bravas (2.75/5) -- The potatoes were not very crispy, but were very oily. The aioli was average. Charcoal Roasted Creamed Corn (2.9/5) -- One of the dishes that I have never seen on a menu in Spain, but decided to try it with local fresh corn in the region. The dish was again average. Seemed under seasoned and bland. Also though the temperature was off for the dish and should have been hot rather than very luke warm. Costillas de la Matanza (2.7/5) -- The meat itself was real tender and good quality. The sauce used those is overly sweet. The crunch black olives just seemed like an off pair. Churros (3.2/5) -- Churros were very good with the cinnamon sugar mixture. The chocolate sauce, again, just was not authentic. Brought the dish done. Sangria (3.25/5) -- Adequate, but not sure I would order again at Morcilla. Had extremely high hopes and cant say I would go back for a second round given the other options of proven commodities. I really wanted to like it since I am a huge Spanish food fan, but the blandness of the food just really missed the mark. I do think the inside of the restaurant is very well designed. Intimate and warm. So to wrap it up, the food was edible but just was mediocre. A lot of bland flavors, under seasoned, and the biggest just not being authentic in any shape or form. High expectations going in, but probably would not return. read more

I was really disappointed with this restaurant after it was recommended to me to try it. First , Spanish food does not consist of cooking them and serving them with cream sauce, they are usually cooked with olive oil and garlic. Second, the place was so small you were practically on top of each other, forget having an intimate date there, this is not the place for you. Third , if the food wasn't impressive enough, we were being served by the snootiest waitress which I think was the worst . If you can't be warm and inviting, don't work in this field , right there you just destroyed my dining experience. I will not be coming back and I will never recommend this place to anyone who asks me. read more

Morcilla - From the outside. - Spanish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This was my second time here and my expectations were very high. When I walked in and presented my reservation, I was met with silence from the hostess until I showed proof of vaccination (fine, but ask for it!!!). The waitress was curt and told us that we had to order all dishes at once (even though the table next to us placed several orders). The food was mediocre at best and definitely not worth the price; cauliflower and sweet potatoes were nothing special. Flavors were bland and obviously presentation was the priority. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with the service and the quality of food has definitely decreased in the past few months. Will not be returning to Morcilla. read more

A fine Spanish restaurant, one of the few choices opens on Monday. They split the menu based on the portion of dishes which was very easy to understand . Service was good and food was authentic. Ordered four blonde, oxtail, oysters, scallop and chicken. All nice, very "spainish", but All the dishes are little bit too salty.... read more

Morcilla - Spanish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Was a little skeptical about this restaurant after looking at the menu online. However, wow! The three of us shared a variety of dishes we would normally not order. We shared three (3) snack dishes, Conservas, Fried artichoke and oxtail Montadito. They were all incredible. We then shared Scallop Crudo (very unusual but very good), Skate wing La Plancha (without a doubt our favorite) and the Amejas Al Jerez (clams). All three were awesome. All in all a great evening and more than enough food. Great wine selection as well. Go check it out! read more

Best dining experience I've had in Pittsburgh. The inside is quaint and a bit small, and it's nice being in a place where the waiters are attentive and it's not crazy hectic. Make sure to go online to make a reservation. We started with the beef crudo (tartare) and it was simply fantastic. Next up they brought out the cecina and warm bread and olive oil. The cecina was sweet and complimented nicely by the smoked shallot. Next up was the octopus a la plancha. Wish I had octopus before so I had something to compare it to, but I can say it was decent. The meat was pretty tough (again, not sure if that is how good octopus is supposed to be) and it was served with an overwhelming amount of the sesame yogurt. I suggest eating the yogurt separately so you can enjoy the octopus more. The chickpeas that came with it were excellent as well. Lastly, they brought out the castillas de mantanza which are the baby back pork ribs. Sweet and tangy, these were simply delicious. In addition, we enjoyed the morcilla sausage, which were soft and savory. Cough up the money and come here to really enjoy some fine dining. We tossed the idea around of getting a large plate, but ultimately decided on doing a few of the small plates just so we can taste a lot more. Apparently the chef specializes in the charcuterie, so I would recommend getting one or two of those meats. read more

Spent our annual girls weekend in Pittsburgh and was thrilled to be able to get reservations at Morcilla for lunch (dinner was booked Friday and Saturday night even though we called 5 days in advance). The open air entrance to the bar called us in from the street and we were greeted by a friendly bartender before our party of six was seated by the kitchen. Our waiter (Beautiful Dave...there a lot of Daves apparently, but this guy is extremely easy on the eyes) expertly described the menu offerings and aging processes of the meats. He also carefully reviewed all of the vegetarian options for our friend. Hunky-ness aside, he was easily one of the best waiters we have ever had. The bar offerings were wonderful, especially the Flor de Jarez. My friend swore that angels must have cried tears into it! We ordered numerous plates for sharing, each one unique and delicious, especially the Puerto a la Plancha and Alcachofa a la Plancha. Our only regret is that the kitchen activity was not viewable even though our seats were right next to it. We would have enjoyed watching the magic happen. Our dinner reservations will be made a month in advance for our next visit. Can't wait! read more

We eat out at least once or twice a week. We started going to Cure when it opened and have followed Justin and Nathan (I think he was 17, and very, very tall). We had no reservation on a Thursday at 7:30. So glad we arrived when we did, two other couples breezed in right after us. We got a bar seat which was amazing because we were inches from the charcuterie station, and to the right was the raw bar. From our height we could see into the kitchen as well. This place is a well-oiled machine. The staff have all been together for over a year. I talked to the GM, Raoul, and extended my compliments. He was humble, yet busy, and excused himself to go back to helping his team. Food:. Incredible. We had All The Meats. And wine - we asked for suggestions for wine, tasted samples and chose. There are at least three flavors to everything you eat. For example the marcona almonds that you eat have lavender sugar, sea salt and pepper; it's quite divine. If you like to eat by choosing flavors from a bounty that is all within hands reach - if you like tasting fennel pollen, rendered fat from dry-aged meats (I asked Nathan what he did with the Iberico Jambon when he cut it to make a plate for a guest), and smoked ice with your drink, then this is the place to go. read more

Morcilla is a restaurant of inconsistent extremes at least for brunch. The food was either very good (champinones a la plancha, Greek salad) or completely meh ( dry manchego biscuits, French press coffee, beet juice) or sounded better on the menu than it tasted like the lamb sausage. I wish Morcilla the best of luck, but on my next visit to Pittsburgh, I'll pass on coming here again. read more

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Romantic atmosphere- perfect for a nice date! Menu is rotating but always very good. Love that you get to try a bunch of different dishes with tapas. Everything we're tried has been good, but if you ever see cod cheeks on the menu, order it!! The large chicken and rice plate is a must. The desserts are always so unique and not overly sweet. read more

As a fanatic of Justin Severino's other Pittsburgh restaurant, Cure, I knew I was in for a treat when visiting Morcilla. What I didn't expect was for it to pass Cure as my favorite spot in Pittsburgh. My dinner experience could not have been better. Morcilla is a Spanish, tapas restaurant with an emphasis on cured meats. The chef is renown in the US for his curing ability and it shows in every dish. The space itself is unique but fits the food. You almost feel that you are in the family dining room in a Spanish Villa. Like Cure, the bar staff are exceptional the drinks are phenomenal. I did not have a bad drink and tried four throughout the night. If you'd like something off menu let them know what flavors you appreciate in a cocktail and they will do their best to make a unique drink for you. I ordered the Family Feast with my girlfriend. At only $45 per person for a full four course meal, it is the best prix fixe experience in Pittsburgh. Not only is it four courses, but there are a large number of plates per course. All in all we shared all of the following: MANZANILLA OLIVES - citrus, rosemary, olive oil, MARCONA ALMONDS - lavender sugar, sea salt, extra virgin olive oil, WARM BREAD - olive oil, MORCILLA ACHORIZADA - pork salami, pigs blood, piquillo pepper conserva, PIMENTONE CHEESE MONTADITO - mahon, idiazabal, manchego, queso de cabra, fermented iberian chili, piquillo peppers, cucumber, dill, OCTOPUS A LA PLANCHA - sesame yogurt, cucumbers, crispy pickled chickpeas, merguez spice, CHAMPINONES A LA PLANCHA - oyster mushrooms, egg yolk, shallot, bread, ARROZ CON PITU DE CALEYA - cider braised chicken, calasparra rice, herbs, BRANDADE DE BACALAO MONTADITO - salt cod, caramelized crab, lemon oil, CHURROS with chocolate hazelnut fondue. We could barely finish 2/3 of what the brought us and had to take home some leftovers. After trying every dish it was almost impossible to pick favorites. The first course offers the most dishes and largest variety of flavors. The cured meats were salty and full of spices that complimented the meat perfectly. The lavender almonds were also divine. The small and large plates were absolute perfection. The meatiness of the octopus was cut perfectly by the yogurt sauce, the Championes A La Plancha blew me away. I didn't expect that amount of savory flavor to come from a seemingly simple dish, but it was one in the top of the night for me. The chicken was another dish that seemed simple but is accompanied by a rich variety of flavor that elevates it beyond normal chicken dishes. I cannot wait to go back, the food is unique in Pittsburgh and could not be more perfectly executed. TLDR: Order drinks, order the prix fixe ("family style") and gorge on delicious savory, salty flavors in unique dishes that you haven't experienced before. Enjoy some of the finest dinners Pittsburgh has to offer. read more

Morcilla - Chorizo, olives, almonds, and bread from the Family Feast - Spanish Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Amazing experience here! First of all, the 9$ make your own gin and tonic (choose any gin from their bar and add 1 of 2 homemade tonics) was so cool, and I appreciated our server giving us suggestions. For dinner, we ordered 2 snacks, 3 small plates, and a dessert, and I thought that was perfect for 2 people. Everything was wonderful, but standouts were the olives (make sure to save the oil for dipping!), ribs, churros (do not leave without getting these!), and radicchio salad (I know, doesn't sound super fancy but just trust me). They had some awesome large plates that I will definitely get next time I'm there with a larger group of people! read more

The food this trip (July 2022) was epic! GAMBAS EN ESCABECHE was one of the best bites of food I've had all year.

Hands down best restaurant in Pittsburgh. You don't often eat something and it's truly one of the best things you've had. This happens with 1/2 the dishes here. Menu is very pescatarian friendly, it would be difficult for vegetarians and nearly impossible for vegans. Love it though read more

Great experience!!! The food was perfectly prepared and served timely from the kitchen. The cod cheeks, oxtail and mushrooms were real standouts...yummmm. read more

Pro: - amazing Spanish tapas - patient and accommodating staff - the great selection of beers and wines - unique atmosphere Con: - expect lines - a little bit crowded read more

Holy sh*t that was great. One of the best dining experiences I've had in my life so far. The ribs were an experience by themselves. Our waiter recommended a great red wine. Had the warm bread, beef tartar, cabbage, chorizo, ribs, and octopus. Everything was absolutely incredible. The lavender olive oil with the warm bread was a nice touch. We appreciated some of the different spices used in Spanish cuisine. It was just so different from other offerings in the city. We got flan for dessert. I never eat desert but the smoked maple sauce was incredible. It was a great way to celebrate a special occasion. I look forward to coming back. read more

Update! I have been here two more times and want to keep coming back! Delicious food you won't find anywhere else in Pittsburgh. I've done the family feast and also ordered off menu. There are many gluten free options. The price is reasonable ($40-$55/person) for the amount of food and high quality good. I love it here! read more

This Restaurant came highly recommended by local friends. I was dining by myself and decided to have four small rations like tapas, instead of a large meal. My waitress was very nice and helpful. The wine by the glass is limited and features wines from Galicia, Navarra, Alicante and Catalunya amongst others. There were a few legs of Jamon ibérico hanging above the bar. I was getting excited. I was raised in Madrid and recently spent a couple of weeks in Madrid, toledo, sevilla, Granada, etc. I assume that this restaurant presents itself as a Spanish establishment. The group next to me was having a "fideua de mariscos " that looked and smelled great. But the "small plate" (read tapas) menu looked puzzling. Lots of bizarre combinations, kind of like if you let your ten year old cook and then start to add up things that really don't go together but they are having fun and in the end no one can eat it. The chef here could be an award winning pro with Michelin stars on his lapel. I don't know. And just because he chooses unlikely ingredients to create different gradations and pastel colors for your palate does not necessarily lead to a bad experience. That's the thing to do, right? I live in New York so maybe I am being unfair. I am not going to compare this place to la bernardin or "per se". Having said that, this place is not cheap and by Pittsburgh standards, these are new york prices. My first dish was a chorizo based meal with oil, Roquefort cheese and some pieces of dates in it. It was served cold and not even room temperature. The oil felt a little bit thick, didn't taste like olive oil to me and it dominated the experience. The cheese made me suffer a bit but I ate it. The rainbows and unicorns that are supposed to make your palate explode in extasis, were not simply there. I once was at a party with Paul Liebrand and he made a salad. When a chef makes something that makes you melt and you have no idea how to replicate that or how he did it, that's magic. This applies to the performing arts too. Cooking can be like painting, sculpting or playing bach partitas on a strad... I ate the chorizo because it was brought to me and I was hungry. That's all. I was drinking a glass of garnacha blanca. Next was the "pulpo a la plancha"... The octopus was overcooked, chewy. Not a very generous portion. Maybe the purveyors come on Tuesday? This was a Friday. I guess I expected something like an homage to "pulpo a la gallega". Far from it. Underneath there was something that felt like mashed potatoes and I don't remember seeing any pimenton. But the place is dark. Again, no magic. I ate it, like someone who is forced to eat a meal at their aunt's home. It was a $16 appetizer after all. Next, I ordered a glass of red. I actually don't remember now, it wasn't memorable. I think it was a rioja. With the red, I procede with the ribs. Now, where do I begin. They were tender, yet dry and flaky. Also, they were sweet, as if they were going for some momofuku inspired Korean thing. But it wasn't even that sweet. There was basically no flavor and this one really disappointed. I am no expert but I can make amazing short rib and ribs with my instant pot. I didn't attend CIA. The last dish was the signature offer from the house, I'm assuming, because it was the "morcilla". It was actually brought in as the fourth course even though I asked for it as a third. But why not? Grand finale, right? Back up the truck! . Small portion, and dry. I felt like I was eating Styrofoam. For a place that makes pretty oily dishes, this Morcilla (blood sausage) was not moist. Again, served with an amalgam of ingredients that neither my vision or palate could recognize. So, final thoughts : this place, under some kind of a Spanish heritage guise, fails to capture the essence of the flavors of Spain. I applaud the valor of the chef to be adventurous and, using avant guard ideas in the preparation of unique is always welcome. I once ate at a high end Italian in Tokyo. Everything looked and felt like Japanese traditional food. Yet, my mouth was convincing me that I was eating great Italian dishes, one after the other. By no means, in spite of my opinion, I am telling you not to visit "Morcilla". Everyone has a bad day. Maybe it was one of those. Furthermore, the group next to me, was having fun and they kept telling the waiter how glorious the "fideua" was and how everything was prepared to perfection. Perhaps this is the way to go. Pittsburgh needs more places like this and I am impressed with the growth in the high end restaurant scene. I saw a nice feature on youtube about why pgh is the hottest place to eat and, "morcilla" was featured. Not so fast. At least if you visit this place, avoid the "tapas" (they don't call them that, oddly enough). And kudos to the servers, waiters and staff. read more

Positives: 1. The vegetarian options that are available are delicious. The highlight is the mushrooms a la plancha! 2. The wait staff is very patient and accommodating. Ordering tapas is pretty challenging when everyone at the table is demanding, but our waiter handed it very well. I also appreciated that he warned me about items that seemed vegetarian but were not (e.g. the butternut squash). Less positive: 1. As you could probably tell, not a lot of vegetarian stuff. 2. It's very, very loud. We went on a Friday night and it was pretty crowded - we were at one of the tables in the center, and we pretty much had to yell the entire night. read more

My favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh. Oysters, charcuterie, queso, oxtail, croquettes and octopus are our go-to dishes at every visit. We typically try 1-2 additional seasonal dishes as well and it turns into a filling tapas meal for two. Drinks and service are always 5 star. We will continue enjoying Morcilla! read more

Easily a 5/5. One of the better restaurants I have eaten at in any city (at least for the four things that I ordered). The ambiance is warm, inviting, and youthful with no TVs (huge plus). I sat at the bar, but I did notice the tables are very close together, which I would have found off-putting. I started with the Roasted Pickled Cucumber Conserva with spicy hummus and saffron yogurt ($8). The portion was very generous and the dish was very tasty (4.5/5). Then ordered just one Jamon Croqueta ($6) because I was curious about the leek ash aioli. It was unreal. The flavor combinations were perfect (5/5). Then had the tuna crudo ($16) and wow. This dish was spectacular and also generously portioned. The tuna was very fresh and paired perfectly with the accompanying ingredients - saffron sidra, fresh peach, chili oil, crispy shiitake, celery sprouts (5/5). By this point I was too full to continue eating, but I did anyway and ordered the octopus ($14), which was another home run. I accompanied my meal with a glass of their Rioja on tap ($6). I would pass on this wine. It was not very tasty. There seemed to be many other tasty dishes that I wish I could have ordered as well. Either way, this is a "can't miss" restaurant in Pittsburgh. read more

Morcilla is delicious and consistent. We love the wines, the grilled oysters, and the small plates. I particularly love how consistently good the food tastes. Most Pittsburgh restaurants drop in quality after their opening. read more

Ive has this place bookmarked for months and was so happy to finally be able to try it out while catching up with a friend. This place is great for anyone who enjoys trying out several things on the menu as their food is meant to be shared, offering a selection of snack sized, small, and large portioned tapas. We went with the warm crisp bread served with olive oil dipping sauce, croquettes filled with salted cod and honey dipping sauce (the contrast of flavors between the sour lemon garnish, warm croquette, and sweet honey was a divine combination), the scallop curdo bathed in a salsa verde sauce, and finally the trout, served as an entire whole fish, simple yet full of flavor. To top it all off, we shared the Crema Catalina, their take on the traditional French Creme Brulee dessert, which while similar in flavor, offers a unique contrast with warm burnt sugar top coating over a cold bed of custard. read more

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