We went here because a friend suggested it to us when we asked Facebook for some good spots in Pittsburgh. Known for burgers and we can affirm that 100%. The burgers were so good and all cooked to perfection. My wife and daughter ordered grilled chicken sandwiches that they both liked. No french fries or anything fried on the menu which is rare now-a-days. You could tell everything was fresh. Would certainly come back here for a burger! It's located in Little Italy so don't be deceived...burgers are amazing! read more

See all

This is more of a 3.8. Stopped in, thankfully did not have to wait too long. Our server was extremely friendly and nice, she deserved her tip. But what fell short was the food. -The burgers are not 'amazing', they're just pretty darn good, but do not fit into the amazing tier. -The caesar salad didn't really taste like a caesar as the dressing was missing that classic flavor profile, and was lacking a little on the amount of lettuce. Overall, the food wasn't bad by any means, but it missed the mark based on the rave reviews the place gets. Would I come back, yes, but I wouldnt be screaming it from the rooftops. read more

Tessaro's American Bar Great Atmosphere, Great Staff, but Food and Facilities Missed the Mark Tessaro's American Bar has an amazing atmosphere. The place looks fantastic, the vibe is great, and the wait staff was excellent, friendly, knowledgeable, and there were plenty of them, so service was quick and attentive. The cocktails were very good and definitely one of the stronger parts of the night. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the setting or the price. We ordered a hamburger with fried potatoes and a blackened shrimp pasta. Both dishes were good, but nowhere near great. My fiancé felt the hamburger needed seasoning. It tasted mostly like plain ground meat with cheese and mushrooms on top. The pasta dish came with impressively large shrimp, but the rest of the meal didn't match that quality. It was just spiral pasta in a runny Alfredo sauce that never thickened, even as it cooled, almost as if the pasta went straight from the water into the sauce. The flavor was fine, but nothing memorable. For the portion sizes, the pricing felt high. A small pasta dish, two cocktails, and a hamburger came to about $90, and the food simply didn't justify that cost. I also want to mention the bathrooms. For as nice as the place looks, both myself and my fiancé were pretty disappointed. They reminded me of old mall bathrooms, cold, dated, and not well maintained. They're also located right next to the kitchen, which led to an uncomfortable moment. When I stepped out, a blond busser with glasses was loudly cursing at another employee in the kitchen. I was within ten feet of them, so I heard the whole exchange, including him saying he was going to tell someone to "go F themselves." Not exactly the kind of thing you expect to walk into at a place with such a polished atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, the meals were good. The service and cocktails were great. But between the food not matching the price point and the bathroom/kitchen experience, the night didn't quite live up to what the atmosphere promised. read more

Went to celebrate Father's Day with my father in law. A lot of people rave about this place having the best burger. When you walk in, it smells like a great burger and it was pretty busy. I'm usually a smash burger person but I wanted to give it a try. The burger was big- at least 8 oz but the weird part is it didn't taste like anything at all. I added more salt and pepper to my burger and potatoes but I still didn't get any flavor. I think it's probably a nostalgic place for the older generation and I can't see why anyone would continue to go here. It's definitely not up with the times, which is fine, but the food wasn't for me! There was also a hair on my utensils as soon as I sat at the table. The one star goes to the service and waitress for being kind and brining our food quickly. We also didn't need to wait for a table on a Friday night. read more

One of a kind!! Amazing food combined with Unreasonable Hospitality! Will Guidara would be proud! Thank you Jim and Courtney! read more

See all

Another great dinner at Tessaro's, a true Bloomfield neighborhood icon. We usually grab seats at the bar or nearby, but this past Friday it was packed--no surprise--so we put our names in and waited. Eventually, we were led up the stairs, around the corner, then around another corner to a part of the restaurant I never even knew existed. After all these years, I had no idea there was a whole set of rooms tucked away in the back and to the side! As always, the food did not disappoint. The burgers are a solid 10. He had the Gourmet Kelly Burger--a fan favorite--and I went with Courtney's Chicken Sandwich, which is always a reliable winner. Between the hearty food, friendly service, and old-school charm, Tessaro's continues to stand out as one of Pittsburgh's classics. Solid food, solid service, and a slice of the city's history. read more

See all

Gourmet steak sandwich with blue cheese crumbles. Still the best. Great service. Highly recommend. read more

Tessaro's - Gourmet Steak Sandwich with blue cheese crumbles. Still the best. - Steakhouses Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ambiance is clean and appealing. There is no better service, esp at the bar. Food is killer. I'd give Tessaros 10 stars if I could. Easy drive from Children's Hospital. I can't say this loudly enough... YOU NEED TO EAT HERE!! Food was so good I forgot to take a pic! read more

Tessaro's - Ambiance at bar - Steakhouses Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

First time at Tessaro's and the biggest things that stood out was the service, especially Jim. It felt like we were on an episode of Cheers and we were regulars. Neighborhood bar vibes and food came out quick even though they were very busy. I haven't had beef ribs in a while and these did not disappoint! They are huge and come out quick so come hungry if you get a 1/2 rack. Im looking forward to trying their grilled wings the next time I go back, which will be very soon. read more

Tessaro's - 1/2 Rack of beef ribs - Steakhouses Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

First time at Tessaros since maybe 2010? Left absolutely satisfied by the quality of food/service/overall experience. When you step into a place that's been around for a while it can go one of two ways, and this place over delivered from my expectations, really delicious deli burger and excellent home fries. Really good experience! read more

Tessaro's - Steakhouses Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

2/13/25 Ate List: Chicken Club Sandwich - 6.3 Another true Pittsburgh institution for generations. The interior feels unchanged- in mostly the best ways. The food feels unchanged as well. Because of that, if you have a craving for something that feels "traditional" - this spot is worth the try. This time, I tried the Chicken Club Sandwich because I remember being let down by their "fan favorite" and fairly popular burger. The Chicken here had a bit of char to it. Very thick and tough too, especially for being on a sandwich. Home fries weren't great. This place is in desperate need of adding fries to the options for sides. Or Tots. A good place, wouldn't be a "first choice" for me even amongst the restaurants in it's vicinity, but something i could see being specifically in a mood for. read more

Tessaro's - Chicken Club Sandwich w/ Home Fries - Steakhouses Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Burger best in Pgh. Jammed on a Saturday but moved well / sat at bar and we were well taken care of!

In town visiting my brother. He recommended dinner here. I can see why. It's a nicely decorated restaurant with a friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive wait staff. Our server was such a nice guy. I wish I had gotten his name to give him a shout out. Most of us had a burger They were cooked just right. And they are huge! Our mom had chicken kabobs, which were also yummy. The menu has something for everyone. Two thumbs up! read more

See all

Highly recommend! The inside is much larger than you expect. There's a bar, dining rooms, and outdoor patio. All the servers were such hard workers. The food was delicious! read more

See all

This came recommended from a friend who used to live in Pittsburgh as the place to try for our short trip to town. And it did not disappoint. The burgers are the speciality and the clear star of show. Our group tried a few different ones (breakfast, bbq), but the standpoint was the bacon & blue cheese. We opted for the "dry" - melted blue cheese chunks, but the regulars next to us later told us that it's even better with the "creamy" blue cheese dressing. read more

See all

Long considered by many to serve up the best burger in Pittsburgh, Tessaro's has been a favorite of mine for years, but I've never left a review. Smash burger joints have been popping up all over the 'burgh in recent years, and I do like that concept. But when I want a thick, juicy burger where I can really taste the meat, nobody does it better than Tessaro's. Theirs is a fat, jaw-straining patty (has to be at least 8 oz), and I'm amazed at how they nailed the medium temperature, considering its thickness. Not too pink, not too dark, just right. They don't serve fries, but the chunky home fries are awesome. My only (nitpicky) complaint is that you kind of need to tear the bun with your teeth when taking a bite, and the bun can get a bit destroyed in the process. It's a great choice of bread though - fresh, soft, and very tasty. Just make sure you bite all the way through it or things could get messy! It had been too long since last visiting this East End gem. I have to get back again soon. read more

Tessaro's - Bleu burger with cauliflower - Steakhouses Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Management sat us in the upper dining room, and what I can assume, never informed server, multiple servers and bus boys walked past and never even acknowledged or greeted a newly sat table. Sat at the table and waited 10 minutes at which time the server taking care of the table next to us walked past never even to stop and say hi. No wonder it was an empty restaurant on a Sunday. Regardless or reputation for food, clearly it isn't good enough to help with service...unfortunately 1 star is the lowest rating allowed. read more

It's a great burger and I got my monies worth. I was skeptical because they don't serve fries in fact they don't even have a fryer. I asked about it and the waiter was very nice and promised that the potatoes were just as great and they weren't lying. The place is quite small but it's intimate and inviting. It's giving pub feel and you can smell the food while standing outside. The burger was everything that I wanted to be as they didn't overcook it or over season it. They allowed the quality beef be the star of the show. read more

Tessaro's - Hamburger - Steakhouses Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Good burger! I'm a very basic girl that just gets a hamburger, nothing fancy. But the taste/seasoning was perfect. Would have loved French fries instead of the home fries but they were out of I think that would have completed my burger. The waiters were all very pleasant. They actually split our checks with 6 people which is very nice of them. The place is actually big because there's also an upstairs, initially I thought it was just that entrance with the bar area. My fave question at the end of reviews, would I come back? And answer is yes! read more

Tessaro's - Hamburger - Steakhouses Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fabulous! Service, ambience, food and value... all terrific! There is always room for your party. They have so many different rooms, we rarely have to wait. The food is so good. It is so fresh. They have sides that are very different than other places. Salad, sandwiches and burgers. You can never go wrong!! read more

Have not been to Tessaro's in years. We went yesterday (Sunday 18th) The menu was very disappointing and sides listed were not very enticing. Ordered the 1/2 baked barbeque chicken and it was OK, got potato salad side dish and it was big chunks of potato swimming in mayonaisse and was gross. Wife got grilled chicken sandwich and it was burnt black on the bottom, and cole slaw that was very mucky. The table of 6 people next to us who ordered 6 hamburgers. 3 of them were not cooked properly and were sent back! Very disappointed, nothing like it use to be, and will not be going back! read more

Before last week, it had been at least ten years since I had eaten here and let me tell you... it's exactly the same as I remember. This isn't a bad thing. In those ten years, Pittsburgh has gotten a lot cooler, hipper, and foodie-driven. But Tessaro's is like a time portal to the time before Google went into Bakery Square. It's classic Bloomfield. It's unpretentious. Nobody's drinking a fancy $20 cocktail. Just good burgers for a good price. Portions are gigantic. Beers are plentiful. Service is pretty good (and I think most of these servers have been there for years and years and know the menu inside out). All around solid experience. read more

Tessaro's - Steakhouses Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Decided to try the voted second best burger in the burgh. Waited 25 minutes to put in food, drank two glasses of water, ordered 2 burgers medium rare. Came out 20 minutes later, my brothers was medium well, mine was well... done. I am very particular to wellness of a burger, home fries and toppings were good, bun was great. I believe that if the burger was cooked to my liking that I would've loved it, but as it stands not consistent. This was a Friday so maybe try a slower day! read more

First time here. Prime dinner time on Saturday, no reservations...no problem it is sneaky big. Stop here you won't regret it. Hand made burgers, good service, and solid menu. No fries is always a problem for me. Award winning burgers can compete anywhere, but no fries. Busy and loud. read more

See all

As usual, fantastic...Meg was charming and helpful...Pork Chops w/ the hot sauce on the side just hits differently. What else can you say about the burgers! read more

Tessaro's showed me exactly what people mean when they talk about Pittsburgh hospitality. Im visiting from California and they treated me with the type of authenticity that it honestly felt like I'd been going there for years. And the burger? Legendary. Packed with flavor, juice, and everything you hope a great neighborhood spot nails. Jim (my server) was the kind of person who makes a meal stick with you - he took the time to talk, share a few stories, and make me feel completely at home. Overall, just a phenomenal experience. One of those meals that stays with you long after you leave the city. read more

We had to wait for about an hour to get a 19.50$ chicken salad that was far too small to be anything more than a snack, and a 18$ medium rare gourmet Kelly burger that was filling but bland and almost cold. The best tasting food we got was the rice I mixed with butter. The food looked tasty, the restaurant was clean and fancy looking. The only reason this is getting two stars is the looks and the server was decent read more

Absolutely excellent food and service one of the best burgers in the Pittsburgh area and one of the owners she goes out of her way to make sure you are well taken care of thank you read more

First time at Tessaro's and it did not disappoint. It was busy on a Saturday night at dinner time so we sat at the bar and still got excellent service! Burgers are huge and you can tell the meat is high quality. Home fries were the best I have ever had. Will be coming back! read more

It's not very often that I take a bite of a meal and pause. I happened to be craving ribs and didn't know what a good place to get them was. I went on my phone and away that tessaros serves them on this days only. We immediately made our way over. I'm gonna be honest and say I didn't have high expectations. Wow was I wrong. For context, I was in St. Louis a few weeks before this and had a trip back there in a few days so I was by expecting these ribs to compare to anything in St. Louis. I waited to post this review until after I got back from St. Louis to confirm my suspicions. These ribs are indeed better than every rib place I visited. I don't know what they're doing in the back or where they acquired these ribs from but bby these ribs are doing something crazy. I almost don't want to post review because I want to gatekeep, but I feel it's an injustice not to alert the masses. My partner got the burger, took a bite of the ribs I got, and I swear I've never seen him look so disappointed. We sat at the bar and the bar staff/servers were so nice and funny. Do yourself a favor and make your way over there. You won't regret it read more

See all

What a dark dingy hole!! DIRTY as hell. Front door dirty, floor sticky. Went to the mens room, also dirty, smelly. Had to leave. Didn't even order food. But looked into the exposed kitchen, filthy grimy cooking grate , with wood underneath, AS IF THATS SOME KIND OF SELLING POINT??? read more

There really is not another burger place in Pittsburgh that even comes close to matching this place. They flame grill 1/2 pound burgers to perfection. They don't fill the meat with tons of unnecessary salt and garlic. It's just 1/2lb of pure burger joy on a fresh bun. I always get the American burger with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. It rocks my world. I have to tell you, though, in case you are a pickle snob, that these babies come straight out of a huge hamburger dill jar like you'd get at the grocery. I like them though because they are super tart. For sides, they have the best red potato salad with hints of vinegar and mayo just like Mom used to make. It is so delicious. And their boiled red potatoes are super good too. Just plain red potatoes with butter. Their servers are always excellent and this visit was no exception. We really love this place. read more

See all

Tessaro's isn't trying to be fancy -- and that's exactly what makes it perfect. The food fills a void most people don't even realize they're missing: simple, straightforward cooking made with high-quality ingredients and real care. The burgers are legendary for a reason -- smoky, juicy, and cooked to perfection. Everything on the plate has purpose, and nothing feels overdone. It's the kind of meal that just hits right, every time. No gimmicks, no unnecessary frills -- just honest food done incredibly well. Tessaro's understands that great food doesn't need to be complicated. It's comfort, consistency, and quality -- and not much more you could ask for. A true Pittsburgh gem. read more

We are long time fan's of Tessaro's. We love the burgers. They are the gold standard for what a burger should be. But last night we took some friends from Germany for a "real American burger" and were disappointed. Most of the burgers were overcooked. We were told that they were training a new cook. So be aware if you order a burger, check it for doneness before eating. Otherwise the staff was friendly and very accommodating. read more

This burger is huge. It was so good. The special has candied jalapeños, grilled onions, cheese and homemade steak sauce. I wish they had French fries. It was busy in there. The staff was okay could have been better. read more

Tessaro's - Burger special - Steakhouses Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Tessaro's is a gem. Feels like stepping back in time when you enter this cozy establishment, with booths and art deco decor that's reminiscent of the 30's. We were miraculously able to snag a couple seats at the bar and were taken care of immediately. The bar staff was attentive and professional despite the packed house. I ordered the burger which is their specialty and it is obvious why. Delicious and messy, just like a good burger should be. Tessaro's does not have a fryer, so home fries is the standard side, but I was not disappointed. A Southern Tier Pumking with a sugared rim was the perfect pairing. read more

Tessaro's - Steakhouses Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Well done Tessaros! This was my first time trying this place .. normally place is packed when we try but hey go at 9pm and u get in!!!!! Our hamburgers were delicious... hands down one of the best in the burgh! My sis got her's with potatoes salad ( really good) and I got mine with the home fries. We both said after we should not have eaten the whole thing ... but just could not stop! Look forward to trying this place again ... next time ... Deli Burger! read more

See all

Best burger in the city served by the nicest people. All the food is great and drinks are generous and reasonably priced. All around great place read more

I feel like I can finally call myself a true Pittsburgher now that I've had a burger at Tessaro's! We stopped in around 8 PM on a Saturday evening and we were seated within 10 min of arriving. The place kind of has a New York City diner feel to it. I ordered a cheeseburger with a side of broccoli and my date ordered a tuna melt with home fries. We also ordered some wine too! Our food came out quickly. My burger was your typical cheeseburger but it looked delicious! The tuna melt was kind of like a Reuben in tuna melt form. Our food was really good! I can definitely see why they are known for their burgers. Our service was also really great! I like this cute little no frills spot in Bloomfield. I will be back for dinner again! read more

See all

A great spot if you're craving burgers! They have a selection of different styles ranging from breakfast burger (pictured in this review) to Cajun, BBQ, etc. The burger is a 1/2lb patty that comes loaded with the standard burger ingredients (lettuce, tomatoes, pickles) unless you request otherwise. I wasn't a big fan of their "home style fries" which are basically just diced potatoes. Regardless, the burger itself was cooked perfectly to what was requested and very flavorful. Service was great by the staff. We were seated quickly, and once we ordered food, there wasn't a long wait. Our waitress was attentive and made sure our table was taken care of. We stayed towards closing time but never felt rushed. The ambience was nothing special, just your standard neighborhood bar/grill, facilities were clean which is always a plus. All in all, great place to catch up with friends! read more

Tessaro's - Breakfast burger - $16 - Steakhouses Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania