A good lively brunch spot for some filling grub and yummy espresso drinks. My favorite thing about this place was their variety of unique delicious cafe drinks. The vanilla chai was the winner for us since it wasn't too sweet. We were fans of the bowls with different layers of flavors but the serving sizes aren't huge. My disappointment came in my pumpkin pancakes, which came out gooey and undercooked first, but then were too cakey and thick in my opinion. read more

Worth the wait for Sunday brunch I like to eat here after my Zumba class nearby. It was just me and a friend but the wait was 30 minutes. Square also seats the counter, so don't sneak up there unless you are called. Seating in general is tight, so get cozy and don't talk about private stuff. Actually this would be a great place to break up with someone... very public. There are a ton of vegetarian options including jackfruit, Brussels sprout hash, and soy sausage. I like the pancakes best. You can get any pancake as a single if you want to try a few or can't eat a stack. Also, their espresso beverages and milkshakes are amazing! You should splurge on them if you can. read more

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Visited Square Cafe quite a few times over the past year and normally it's okay but this last visit on 9/22/2023 was most frustrating. I chose to sit at the counter and the woman who waited on me seemed to be a bit off. Not sure why it took her a few minutes to come over she was walking around the cash register and back again...I placed my drink order for coffee and asked her for the cream. She said okay, then wandered off oblivious to my cream request. At this point, I sat there watching because I didn't know if she was intentionally messing with me or if there was really something wrong with her. I sat there about 6 mins and before my coffee got much cooler, I asked a man who happened to walk over to do something else if he would grab some cream for me. Then my meal came, which was not hot as it usually was, as though it sat for a while...no one asked if everything was okay, nor were there any offers to refill my coffee. As I said, I went into my sit and watch mode just out of curiosity. What's bad is, I was really in a coffee mood and wanted another cup. Anyway, as I was preparing to leave, it was then she asked if I wanted more coffee. I said no thank you and asked for the check. I HATE writing a negative review, but my entire career has been in customer service and I could not let this one pass. I know how hard waitstaff works and how little they're paid, so I usually tip 25 to 30% or more. This time, bare minimum. As I read through the reviews, I noticed that the owner only responds to the positive reviews....That tells me there is no desire to improve the customer's dining experience...Imagine all the people who are telling their friends and family to pass on this restaurant. Everyone can have an off day, but, still not sure if I'll go back. read more

I've been looking forward to trying out this place for some time now. It was a beautiful day and outdoor seating was available. When I arrived I was told to have a seat at one of the small tables. I was having a hard time deciding whether or not to go for breakfast or lunch but then decided to do sort of a mix. I ordered the chicken crepes with mushrooms and Asiago cheese. I learned that they promote other small businesses in some of their menu offerings and the cheese on my crepes was homemade. I got my food fairly quickly. Although I couldn't see the crepes for the cheese it was so good!! They have some new offerings on their spring menu including some vegetarian choices. I was chatting at the next table with someone who had ordered the chicken salad in paninis. It came with French Fries. He told me it was delicious! The place wasn't overly crowded when I arrived and I saw they have two gender neutral bathrooms. Expect to pay anywhere over $10.00 for your meal but when I compare it against some of the chain restaurants that charge the same amount you get more bang for your buck here. The food is indeed filling but in case you have room then they serve milkshakes and smoothies. Kids' meals are a flat $6.50. They also do catering here. Also along their walls they put up various artwork which is for sale. Online ordering is also available. Some of the local vendors they promote are Emerald Valley artisans, King's pearl cheese, and Nancy B's bakery. One final note which is most often overlooked on the menu. There is a sharing fee of $2.50. Please be aware of that when ordering. I am anxious to return sometime in the future to try out their breakfasts. I was told the Brussels sprouts hash is what they are noted for. read more

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We came here as party of 5 (4 adults + 1 toddler) on a Sunday morning around 8:30 am. The place is already hopping. Luckily there was no line yet and we were seated right away. The place is bright-colored with limited seating outside. The seating are also tight fit inside, but it's typical for downtown restaurant. I love all the flavor lattes they have and many unique brunch items on the menu. Between the 4 of us, we ordered smoked salmon omelet, lemon ricotta pancakes, Brussels sprout hash, and chicken mushroom crepes. I was IMPRESSED on how fast the food came out AND they were all very good! We also tried the Banaoffee (banana flavor latte) and churro latte - both were yummy but on the sweet side. I wish I live closer so I can try more things on their menu! On a side note - there are 2 unisex bathrooms - both with changing table AND a little bench for the kiddos to use to wash hands (or sit on the potty). Very kid-friendly. Love it. :) read more

Square Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Square Cafe is in no way Square (usage circa 1940-1960). Some items to note: 1. I get up early and I like breakfast. Get there early. Like before 8 am early or you will be waiting. The quaint interior has maybe 10 tables, but remember breakfast is quick, so turnover usually is fast. 2. Listen to the server. There are always specials. And the specials are always awesome. (as I post a picture of the brussel sprout hash ---menu item. Sorry :( ) 3. Don't get overwhelmed with the menu. It is slammed packed of breakfast-y goodness, sweet, savory, heavy, lite, meat, vegan, you name it. I ordered one pancake once (it wasn't on the menu) 4. Take in the surroundings. The tables are close, so you get the warm feeling of an overpacked living room on Christmas morning surrounded by your close and distant relatives. From the mugs to the happy employees to piping hot coffee, Square is a great local joint. Don't be a square and get there. In the words of Huey Lewis "It's hip to be Square." I am done now. read more

Square Cafe - Holy Brussels sprouts!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Amazing food and selection. Everything is delicious. Bottomless iced tea, fantastic espresso drinks. The biscuits are delicious, but extremely heavy practically soggy with butter so just keep that in mind. Lovely place for breakfast or brunch but get there early or expect a wait! read more

Absolute waste of time & money. Most likely a wait and on top of that you sit down to get a pea size glass of water. I ordered the veggie hash and consumed about a pound of oil, every veggie was yellow because of it. Spent almost 30$ for awful quality, seriously don't waste your time read more

I'm serious about my breakfast and this place lived up to every expectation. I love to try to make healthier versions of my favorite foods and they seem to do that with some of their options as well. The atmosphere was really nice. Located on a somewhat busy street, the outdoor seating did not feel like it at all and the cozy tables made me nostalgic for the quaint cafes located on the streets of Paris. The staff was friendly and the place was bright and cheery. My husband ordered the chorizo bowl and loved it. It's hard to go wrong with eggs, meat, cheese, and veggies on a bed of tots. I ordered the pearly white omelet (which was more of a scramble but i don't care about titles). The pesto was such a nice touch and they let me swap the tomatoes for mushrooms with no problem. I'm a little hesitant when fruit cup is offered because it's never fresh but their fruit was so crisp and delicious. After much of my own experiments with protein pancakes, i know that they can be pretty dense but they kept a good amount of fluff and the chocolate chips were a nice touch! I love that they offer a single pancake because i never like to get the pancakes for my meal because it's always just a bit too much for me in terms of sweet and since food is my love language, i love to try as many things on the menu as possible. If you're in Pittsburgh, this place is definitely worth it. read more

Square Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I'd give it another shot if there weren't a million better places in town. Extremely long wait for food even though we were sat immediately (it was empty around 1 pm on a Saturday). Food came out slightly cold. I ordered a hash with a runny egg on top- sounds great. The hash was bland and undercooked and my egg was completely rubbery and cooked all the way through. Took forever to get the waitresses attention. Asked for a new egg with a runny yolk, but said the rest was fine since I was starving. She brought a new egg after a huge wait. It was even MORE cooked. I clarified my request and after ANOTHER WAIT, she brought an over easy egg. In total I probably waited for 45 minutes in an empty restaurant for an over easy egg- not exactly something that takes long to make and shouldn't be confusing for a breakfast place! She also didn't hear my boyfriend's coffee order and we ended up ordering a different drink later and yelling so she could hear over those headsets they all wear. At that point my food was extremely cold and over all unenjoyable. We barely missed the window for free parking because of all the waiting. My boyfriend's wrap was bland as well. We took left overs and added more seasoning at home. Re-cooked my potatoes that came raw in the middle as well. Heard amazing things, but not worth a second chance when theres a million brunch places in town. Shouldn't have taken that long for service in a nearly empty restaurant. I'll make better food at home in about half the time and get it right on the first try. read more

Solid, Reliable brunch spot. It's definitely a go-to for me I'm a fan of the lemon berry pancakes and the grits/ Brussel sprout bowl. The staff always seems to be solid and they have cool art on the walls read more

A lot of options, but most disappointed in their potatoes being deep fried rather than cooked on the griddle. As for portions, they are bordering on "not enough." I've been here four times and all times, I wished I'd have ordered more. Always busy, so be prepared to wait in line. All in all, the hype is more than impressive than the food. I'm giving it a three because it's funky and cool, but the food is just all right. read more

I got the lemon-blueberry ricotta pancakes, they were to die for. Along with a nice heaping serving of home fries. Definitely check this place out. read more

Terrible!! The space used to be a beautiful room and now it is hideous, noisy, and just wrong. The food used to be good, back when the restaurant was in Regent Square, but it is no longer. The salad was limp, tasteless and tired. The eggs were lukewarm and overcooked. The owners seem to have expanded too quickly. What a huge disappointment! At least the tv screens are gone. read more

Three stars because they offer few options for those that remain Gluten Free. No GF breads though. Two stars in all honesty. Stopped in for breakfast. GF Pancakes with house made Berry Compote, Bacon and non-GF brioche French Toast. Have to say it has been a while since we had such good bacon ! GF Pancakes were heavy and grainy but made a carrying agent for some syrup or the somewhat sour berry compote. French Toast was just okay. Nothing offered here any more than the next restaurant. Oh....Unless you count he GF options? read more

UPDATE 3/17/17: Ate at Square for the first time today for the first time since I've had increased dietary restriction. Our waitress had great knowledge of the menu's specifics and was willing to make alterations for me if needed. My only complaint is that I asked for no onion in my scramble, and there were two tiny bits of onions in the scramble... I know I'm being picky here, but it could have been an issue for me if I did not see spot them and ate the onion. I know Square will read this review and take extra care in the future. Regardless, I was content with the meal I received and it made me and my body happy! Keep it up, Square Cafe. Perhaps my favorite breakfast place in Pittsburgh, Square Cafe is a delicious, family friendly brunch and breakfast location. The menu is diverse, appealing to more traditional American grease breakfast fans, but also to the more health conscious and dietarily restricted. Square Cafe even manages to successfully craft dishes that fuse traditional breakfast items like eggs and bacon with less traditional items like brussel sprouts and braised leeks (try the Brussel Sprout Hash). They usually have two special dishes at a time, and switch them up every few weeks. One tends to be an egg centered dish, and the other a griddle pastry dish. They once had a delicious "Green Eggs and Ham" special that featured basil pesto with eggs and ham. I had no idea that the two would mix so perfectly! If you vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, or have other dietary restrictions, fear not: the menu has items for you, and the staff is more than willing to accommodate your needs. Waits can be long, but the surrounding area of Regent Square has pretty neighborhoods to explore on foot as you wait in queue, or feel free to get one of their assorted beverages in their signature clay mugs as you wait! read more

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Fun space that is a little quirky. Friendly, competent staff. The menu has something for everybody. I opted for the corned beef hash with a poached egg. With chunks of fingerling potatoes and cubes of perfectly seasoned corned beef, this bowl really hit the spot. read more

I came here with one of my best friends for a goodbye breakfast (we are both moving out of state), and it was a wonderful experience. The coffee was excellent, and I was a huge fan of the asiago cheese on scrambled eggs. I'm sad that I tried Square so late in my time in PGH, but I will definitely be back the next time I visit! read more

One of the best breakfast spots I've ever been to! The coffee is FANTASTIC...and that's before you even get to breakfast! I had the square breakfast. Eggs were cooked eggs-actly how I ordered them, potatoes were heaven, sausage was wonderful (and NOT greasy), toast, jam, and Steven (our server) was one of the best in the biz. Go here...you won't regret it! (and the coffee is served in cool squared off mugs...which you can purchase and now I'm mad I didn't!) read more

Square Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Back again!! Sat inside today..... slightly chilly out but as we were leaving I noticed many guests had the same blue blankets on! So cute. I don't like sitting inside as much but there wasn't a wait. It's just a little too close for comfort. Kinda noisy. But all in an upbeat kinda way. But. The. Food. Oh man. Totally makes up for it. Got the braised short rib crepes and they were phenomenal. Savory amazingness. Also had the churry (?) chai beverage. Wow. Sooo good. Our server was super awesome as well. Square Cafe is always a good call :) read more

Square Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I've seen all the reviews for how well Square Cafe "safely" accommodates allergies and decided to try it yesterday. Needed something vegan and gluten free, so I was assured by our waiter that the vegan Brussels sprouts were gluten free without the vegan sausage. It came and as I'm eating I discover a piece of the sausage in with the rest of the dish. How does this happen? It makes me wonder if they made a mistake in the kitchen, put it on top, and tried to pick it back off- which is NOT safe for those with a gluten allergy. The waiter took the dish back and they prepared a new one, however I still waited about 15 minutes while my friend had to eat her food alone. There was also no offer to make it right by adjusting the bill, etc. I feel like if you just risked potentially making someone very sick, you should offer to make it right. The new space is also nice, but if you have floor to ceiling windows that are in the direct path of the morning sun - as a breakfast spot- you NEED curtains. Everyone sitting by the windows was getting blinded by the sun and you could tell many were uncomfortable. We pushed our table twice to attempt to escape it. read more

We ate our Saturday brunch there. There's a variety of coffee and tea. Mine was delicious. All food were delicious. Try to go early, there's always a line outside after 10:30 during the weekends read more

Awesome place that accommodates vegan / gluten free needs of group traveling with had. Very nice food- loads of choices- hip vibe- option to sit outside to dine- everything one would love to find when visiting a place. read more

One of the best breakfast food here. They have a variety to choose from and their shakes/smoothies are bombb. The first time I came I think I ordered one of their pancakes... but I came a second time today and ordered their Square Breakfast. I asked for scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage and a buttermilk pancake. Unlike other breakfast places, the food here isn't too greasy and heavy. Everything tastes clean and fresh. I would get their tiramisu shake if you can! There's also outdoor seating which is really nice when the Pittsburgh weather clears up. I understand that when it gets busy, the service goes down a bit but both times that I've come, the service wasn't the best. read more

Square Cafe - Square breakfasts - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Now I like this place better. This time they were faster than when I came here for the first time and my order came as I ordered: I asked to add cinnamon instead of butter on my gluten free pancakes. It was soo delicious and my Matcha with Almond Milk with little sugar was amazing too: delicate and creamy. read more

Split breakfast with friends and it was great. Ordered the breakfast bacon burrito and the special chocolate berry pancakes. The burrito was huge since its made with 3 eggs and lots of bacon. The pancakes were good, but I usually don't eat a lot of sweets for breakfast. Would definitely come again when in this Pittsburgh neighborhood. read more

Love Square Cafe! Live nearby and have gone several times. Outdoor seating is great. Today I sat indoors which is just as nice. Super kid friendly. I would recommend going during the week opposed to the weekend. Less busy and no wait time. I have ordered several things off the breakfast menu and its always good. Today I ordered the chorizo omelet and that did not disappoint. This place would be 5 stars if everything was about $2 less. read more

Square Cafe - Chorizo omelet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

My first time here since the big move to East Liberty. A very nice treat. Still they have a really nice, helpful staff. Very friendly and welcoming. Kudos folks! The interior was very modern and bright. There was lots of room at this location. Much better than the previous location. I found my milk shake delicious. However, my banana crape was only mediocre. Filling good but crape itself tasted as if it was made ahead of time and got stake while sitting out. No way was it freshly made (edges dried out). The Rubin sandwich my friend ordered looked savory, though he hadn't given any indication of how it tasted. Hope to visit again soon when back in Pgh. read more

Had a large to-go order this past weekend and was underwhelmed with the food. The pecan crusted chicken was overcooked/burnt and salty and the Cajun sandwich was also too salty. Blueberry lemon pancakes were alright but I could taste the baking soda in them, very average besides that. The best part about the meal was the French fries! I heard that they were overhyped and I have to agree. Costly for the average (below average) quality of the food. Bummer! read more

Very good breakfast/brunch joint with an awesome vibe. Once you find a parking spot (street parking can be an issue) you enter this vibrant and colorful eatery and a smile seems to automagically appear on your face! Menu options are plentiful with daily specials. Fresh juice options, smoothies, and coffee choices are ALL great. They have a little bit for everyone, vegetarian and vegan options as well as options like the chorizo hash for the carnivores! If they happen to have any Benedict options - I strongly encourage you to crab them as their hollandaise sauce is second to none. Off their everyday menu, my kids love the veggie hash (they add feta) and the the French toast. My go to is the Brussel sprout hash. Bread/toast choices are homemade and great as well. Service is alway great. Generaly a bit of a wait and it is not cheap, but we'll worth the spend. Strongly recommend you give it a try. read more

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Best breakfast in Pittsburgh. Wonderful selection for all. Highly recommend and will return. read more

Decent food, but over the years they've changed their menu so many times, I've found it annoying. The owner is a community leader with a good reputation, donates to good local causes. Cool atmosphere. Ps. Bring back the Latkes. read more

I am a fairly regular diner at Square Cafe. The service is almost always good and their food beats their service. On this trip I had the breakfast burrito with hot sausage and avacado. My partner enjoyed the chorizo scramble. Both were delicious and well made. Square often uses the freshest ingredients and changes up their menu frequently. Pro tip - get the lemon ricotta pancakes- they are so good, and you can order just one pancake as a supplement to your brunch. FYI - The wait can be a bit long on the weekends. Yum. read more

We had a Groupon for Square Cafe that was set to expire, so we were really excited to try it out. There was a line out the door, but we only waited a couple minutes to be seated. The atmosphere was awesome, with brightly colored walls adorned with locally painted artwork. The square-shaped coffee cups also added to the unique experience - especially since their coffee was fantastic. They don't poach or baste eggs, so my wife ordered scrambled egg whites, which were covered in grease. I ordered an omelet with ham, salsa, and their "King's Pearl" cheese, which we were told was similar to feta, but actually was more like ricotta. I'll be honest, I hate ricotta cheese, so I wasn't a fan of it. I understand that some people may like it, but it just wasn't for me. I can't blame them for that. What I can blame the kitchen for though is that I asked twice for salsa on the side, because I didn't want my eggs smothered in it, and then we both asked for our toast well done, explaining that we like it really crispy. When the food came, the bread was barely toasted and the eggs were covered in salsa. It would have taken too long to ask for the bread to be toasted more, so we just ate it. I hate giving low ratings, but we just weren't very happy with our breakfast. I don't like to be all negative, so I will say the waitress was very friendly, the coffee was great, and the inside atmosphere was awesome. Other than that, I can't justify going back. read more

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The service was very good, and outdoor seating was a huge plus. Great that coffee was endless pour. Enjoyed their pulled pork biscuits and berry ricotta pancakes. We found a strand of hair in the biscuits, which was a bit gross. read more

Square is great! I'm a vegetarian, so having the soy sausage, tofu, and meatless dishes available is wonderful. I've never had a bad meal there. I also love that they typically offer a fill up and to-go cup for your coffee before you leave. I was recently there with my son, who loves it as well (very kid friendly), and I got one of their signature dishes - the Brussels sprouts over cheesy polenta, with a soft boiled egg on top, and some soy sausage as a replacement for ham. OMG - best.breakfast.ever! I ate the whole, HUGE, dish. I will definitely be back for that. I think the two big drawbacks to Square are these: 1. A bit pricey. This isn't your typical corner diner. Even though we live close, we only go once in a while. Its a great place to take guests from out-of-town, or to go for a special treat. However, going on a weekly basis might break the budget a bit. 2. Seating. Most greasy spoons have horrible seating though, right? Especially during peak times (Saturday and Sunday mornings). People are practically sitting on top of each other, and wait staff has to do magic tricks in order to get orders to tables. This is annoying, but its a popular place. If you're looking for a quiet breakfast on a Sunday, Square is not for you. read more

Square Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I'm not a huge brunch fan, but I gave this place the benefit of the doubt. I had corned beef hash. I don't like mushrooms and onions at all, but I'm always impressed when a restaurant can make a dish so well-composed that you don't even notice things you hate! Flavorful corned beef and tender potatoes, too. read more

We love you square cafe. You're staff is always so friendly and we live you're food as well. I agree with some of the reviews that the prices aren't the lowest, but I believe the quality of the food more than justifies the price. Also, I'm a coffee addict and the coffee is INCREDIBLE. And they have super cute mugs as well. Bonus! It's also very nice to feel welcome as a gay couple and not have to worry about anyone giving odd stares if I want to hold my partners hand across the table. It means so much to me and it really warms my heart. We love you guys. Thanks for everything. read more

I woke up today hungry for breakfast. A LOT of breakfast. And basically wanted it all. Luckily the square cafe had just the menu item I was looking for. Not overly busy like the last time I tried to come, Thursday morning was a good day to go. I am very impressed by the menu; perfect for breakfast or lunch and plenty of vegetarian options. I ordered the square cafe breakfast which included 2 eggs, a protein, and either potatoes and toast or a pancake. I ordered it with the pancake and got a side of the potatoes because I really was ready to have it ALL! The waitresses were both really nice and fast and the food came out fast too. The pancake was perfect, the scrambled eggs were nearly perfect (I am picky and like them softer rather than harder) and the potatoes were plenty. I ended up not having enough room to finish the tofu so I took it to go. I will definitely return (on a weekday preferably) and try a veggie burger or other breakfast item! read more

Square Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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First things first, service was great. If you are here on a weekend or on a holiday, expect at least 15-20 minutes of wait time. Food they offer is totally worth the wait time. I was here with my friend for brunch on memorial day. We had to wait for 20 minutes to get seated. Their menu includes variety of breakfast and lunch items, so we killed the 20 minutes to decide on our order. We ordered the Brussels sprout hash and the day's special french toast. I was intrigued by the variety of latte flavors they offer and went for the coconut flavored coffee (Smoconut if I remember the name correctly). The coffee is so refreshing and wonderful start to my day. My friend who does not like coffee stole a few sips from my cup! Do try their coffee in the special mugs they have! The hash is packed with natural vegetable flavors of Brussels sprout, mushroom and caramelized onion served on a bed of creamy grits. I did not even think of seasoning with salt and pepper. You cant stop eating with that rich flowing egg yolk. The grits are creamy, soft and cooked to perfection. French toast is good, regular taste that you get at any good breakfast place. We will definitely visit again, but next time, we will order the unique items they offer like the hash which I don't get at other brunch places. read more

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