After searching for good places to go in Pittsburgh, I came across The Forge and I'm glad I did. While it was a little crowded for comfort in light of COVID, the food was amazing, very flavorful and fresh. Also, the ambience was lovely, the service attentive and the cocktail list was not surprisingly, excellent. I was also really impressed by the wine list, especially given cocktail bars don't tend to offer great wine selections. read more

The Forge - Vegan cheese board - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Forge is a cute spot with an intimate air to it. My husband and I stopped by for dinner and all-in-all had a good experience, but really wasn't a total wow factor. The food and drinks were good, but cocktails could get a little pricy for what you got. Our waitress was obviously overwhelmed as she was the only one in the entire place during COVID era and it definitely reflected. We asked for extra red pepper, cheese, napkins, etc. and she forgot by the time she visited us again and we were so hungry it didn't matter by that time. Overall, a pleasant experience but didn't knock it out of the ballpark for me. read more

See all

This place is such a fun new addition to Pittsburgh. I loved it so much I went twice in 1 week. The inside decor is super trendy, the staff is very friendly and the food and drinks are excellent, you really can't go wrong. I loved the hummus Sababa, it is a must have! The Bianca pizza is also delicious, it is baked in house in their wood fired oven. I was blown away by the feta bourekas, super fluffy pastry filled with feta topped off with this tomato sauce on the side. The Daveys pizza was also good, although probably wouldn't order again as the Bianca is my personal favorite. The brussel sprouts are also very good, although probably wouldn't order again because I loved the other dishes more. Now on to cocktails, their menu is really unique. I personally tried the jacks summer garden and the mi corazon en El Paso, both great! They also did a great job with con-tactlessness ordering, their menu is all online and there is plenty of space to allow for social distancing. In addition, they have outside seating! 10/10 would recommend, can't wait to go back!! read more

See all

What a gem! We have not been 'dining in' at all during the Pandemic, and we're looking for a place in that general area. It was very comfortably COVID friendly on the night we were there. The large windows/doors were able to be open with the unseasonably warm weather. There were only 2 other occupied seating areas, so we were comfortable dining there. The staff and setup was very socially distancing conscious-really wonderful. Now the important part: the FOOD! What a treasure of a place! It's small plate, (but not too small) which was fine with us. We got several things to share: a 'special' steak & sweet potato purée, falafel, goat cheese, pomegranate & other tasty topping flatbread and a 'side' of brussel sprouts. Our waiter was very attentive, without being overly so. The chef came over to ask how the food was--very nice, and he was genuinely pleased with our comments. We were there on a mid-week night, so takeout might be a better option on the weekend. That said, it's a lovely space. Beautiful sight line on the wood fired oven, and really lovely light fixtures. Not one item disappointed....awesome, awesome, awesome! I'd return at any time! I wish I had taken more photos, but I'll share what I have. Hopefully many will enjoy this great place! read more

The Forge - Flatbread - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Fun place. Really interesting and comfortable space. Very relaxed. It was the best falafel I've had in the burgh. REALLY good. All of our food was really tasty and the service was excellent. Bar menu was also interesting. Plenty of savory and sweet choices. We look forward to going back soon. read more

Cozy and chic place to get wholesome middle eastern fare! I mean they ship their pita from Israel! We were a group of seven people and ordered ALL of the mini plates. They all blew our mind and we ordered extra falafels because you don't want to split those! Highly recommend this place and I hope they sustain so I can visit next time I'm in the city. And oh , orange and chocolate mousse cake was the perfect end to our soiree. read more

The good: comfy chairs The bad: small portions and high prices The ugly: no physical menus I certainly won't be back read more

Good food, drinks quite atmosphere not a typical restaurant with tables but more relaxed sofas and chairs. Overall great experience

The food is delicious and different, the ambience is chill, and the people are great! The trifecta.

Some of the best bartenders in the city! They'll whip you up a drink based on what liquor you like and it always tastes amazing. Their food is great also, but their tables and low, comfy seating make it a little challenging to eat their delicious pizzas. Still worth stopping in though! read more

Great upstairs view- great appetizers and great sammich! Definitely a try once and make it your main stay!

The lounge vibe here makes this a swanky hang out spot close to downtown Pittsburgh and to Lawrenceville. I've been here 3 times, sometimes with reservations and sometimes not, with parties between 2 and 6 people. It's never been too crowded but you should definitely call ahead if you want to secure one of the sit down spots with the comfy chairs. The servers and bartenders have always been very cheerful and helpful. I've had a few custom cocktails made and all were mostly good. I didn't like one that was in the trial or testing phase of being added to the menu and I was offered a free drink instead. This was a very nice gesture. They have a thoughtful wine list too which is nice. The food is great for sharing. The Rainbow easily serves 6. The red cabbage salad was my favorite here. The babaganoush was good as well, B52 is my favorite in the Burgh. The Israeli salad lacked acidity but it was fresh. Hummus was ok. Labneh was puréed, a unique preparation in my option. I would have preferred the whole brined cheese ball to spread on a pita with the salads. The grape leaves seemed a bit over cooked and also lacked acidity. Only 2 pitas are served with this platter. We made the mistake of ordering extra pita and it just kept coming out since we ordered other items that come with pita. It was funny, but I felt bad to waste it since we didn't bring any home with us. The tuna was not great the first time I ordered it a few months ago but it was excellent at our most recent visit. The everything-bagel style crust on the outside was delicious. Along with the avocado this is either a guilty pleasure or a healthy option depending on your personal feelings about nutrition. The falafel was not my favorite, although a good falafel is hard to find. The texture was mushy and fried like a croquette. I can understand that a lot of people might prefer this texture to the traditional soak and grind of the dried chickpeas which makes the falafel grainy. They were green inside at least and the other people in my group liked them very much. read more

I've visited bars across the country as a cocktail enthusiast and unfortunately The Forge has been the worst bar experience I've had so far. We walked in and were greeted with "There's no tables and the kitchen is closed". I responded with "That's fine, we'll settle with bar seating." Meanwhile, there was a table open during the whole time we were there and halfway through visit, we were offered food by a different server. As a Latino male wearing a t-shirt and baseball hat, I could not help but feel discriminated against. To add to the poor service, the drink menu was severely limited only having 3 featured cocktails. I will not return to The Forge. read more

The best cocktails, service and food. Best falafel ever - including Israel. Pizzas, flatbreads, ahi tuna - you name it - delicious! Also vegan and vegetarian friendly read more

Came here on a Friday night for date night with my husband and were seated at the only open table in the place, two lush velvet chairs in the middle of the restaurant. My first impression of this place was that it was loud. Those comfortable, luxurious chairs made me wish for a quieter, dimmer lit environment but that's probably too much to ask for in Lawrenceville on a Friday. The beer selection was decent and our server was patient while I tried samples to figure out what I wanted. We ordered grape leaves and a margherita pizza to eat. The grape leaves were nothing to write home about, I prefer mine with meat in them. But the pizza... oh goodness, the pizza. The crust is SUPERB. It was large enough to satisfy the two of us though I could have happily stuffed more in my face. A woman sitting next to me had the flatbread with goat cheese and heirloom tomatoes and I kind of want to go back today to try that one too. Can't comment on the cocktails - looked interesting but did not try one. Decent happy hour specials here too and I like that they run until 730pm. read more

Great food, drinks, atmosphere. Many lounging chairs and an intimate setting. We sat at the bar and had great service and attendance. read more

The Forge - The Rainbow Salad - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great atmosphere and delicious food! Cocktails were amazing! Sat in the back corner closest to the front window. My favorite cocktail was the Perfect Storm, but Tan Lines and the Forge Loko were also delicious. The Mediterranean Mezze was excellent - all vegetarian and the pita was super soft and yummy. The Feta Feta Bang Bang pizza was a tasty combination of sun-dried tomatoes, feta, dates, arugula and spicy honey. The Blooming Cauliflower was also very good. Highly recommend for a date night. read more

See all

A wonderful addition to Lower Lawrenceville. My friends and I came on a Friday evening and sat outside. The inside definitely has a nice mediterranean cool aesthetic, but it was a nice day out so outside was pleasant. The drinks were great! The food was amazing! We got a bunch of different plates to share. The hummus and baba ganoush was served with a super soft and warm pita that was phenomenal. My favorite dish was the drunken mushrooms, which had this incredible rich sherry flavored sauce served with a runny egg on top. The eggplant capress was delicious as well as the eggplant was nice and crispy. We also had a pizza to share which had a nice flavor combination of capicola,pineapple, chili. Prices are very reasonable as well. Overall, an excellent place to grab drinks and food. Hard to find a place that does it all, but the Forge does it well! Will definitely be back! read more

See all

Disappointed. The waiter & waitress was rude. I wasn't exactly waited on, but it seemed like the other "like" customers were waited on. I asked for the Frankenstein and it tasted like straight chemicals, so I asked for a Tiki Mai Tai. The bartender replied, "what do you want?!" I repeated a "Tiki Mai Tai." He made the drink and that one was also disgusting. Normally I just drink my beverages even if they're not the best but they were very gross to be honest. I asked him to make the drink with alcohol and apparently that was too much to ask. Upon checking out I asked for the check and to have the drinks removed. The woman working at the bard proceeded to throw the receipt and have an attitude. I asked the male bartender if he treats all of his customers this way and he went on about how my asking for another drink was an issue. I'm not sure why I was treated this way, but I'd have to say this place isn't the best. The pizza was also bland. Even if the service was better the food & drinks on their own would have the same outcome. I'd hope this isn't discriminatory behavior towards ethnic people, but that's the vibe I got. Please do better with staff. read more

Every time I come here, I receive stellar service. The bartenders always make amazing cocktails - this time I got a bartenders choice. It was amazing!! Atmosphere is beautiful and relaxing. My friend and I split "The Works" cheese and charcuterie. Beautifully prepared. Definitely will be back again! Georg and Caleb make the bar experience in itself!! read more

The Forge - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This place is amazing!! They have incredible cocktails and an overall nice ambience. My friends and family were blown away by the drinks and service from the bartenders, Caleb and Dani. I had an old fashioned... it was perfect. read more

The Forge - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

This was our first time at The Forge and won't be our last. The cocktails were balanced and delicious, and the food was fantastic! The Ahi tuna, hummus, falafel, cauliflower were so good! Great vibes, great service. We will definitely be back! read more

Two visits in a row this restaurant waitstaff has looked at me like I have three heads when I asked for the check to be split. I would recommend mentioning it upfront if you're dining with a group. Brought a group of 8 for my SO's birthday and we all had to awkwardly recite our orders and drinks+who was together at the end of the meal as the waiter sighed under his breath. Also happened the previous time we dined there with a group of four and were the only people in the building. So it wasn't like we were pressing the waiter during a busy time. Super easy to please patron and I never leave reviews but this pushed all my buttons read more

Love this spot. Comfy atmosphere, sexy ambiance. We had the two pitas - Vegan Shwarma & Sabich. So much flavor! Both very super delicious and filling. We couldn't even finish! read more

The Forge - Queen Bee & Bartender's Choice - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

What a delightful ambiance, pleasant staff, and those drunken mushrooms are off the hook yummy. Thank you, Zur, for sharing your mother's recipe with our tastebuds. If I ever have the opportunity to be in Pittsburgh, I will come and savor the food, decor, the inclusive atmosphere, and enjoy those sexy pendant lights over the bar area. read more

The Forge - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Very loungey. Music very low. Great to talk to friends and can actually hear them without yelling at each other over the loud music. Food was good. The service however was a bit strange. Waiter would squat to take our order to be at the same sitting level as us or sit on the couches we are sitting on to get our orders... definitely strange. Didn't know if I liked that or not. Otherwise food was terrific and drinks were ok. read more

Great place for dinner and cocktails! The brisket, hummus and falafel were all amazing and paired with great service! Perfect spot for a date or dinner with your girlfriends to chat the night away! Loved the ambiance.. not too loud, just right! read more

The Forge - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Love love love this cute little place! It's fancy, yet a very casual and comfy setting. Great drinks. Great food. We had a platter, stuffed peppers and pizza! Everything was full of flavor and delish!! read more

The Forge - Platter - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

The food and the service is amazing! The drinks are out of this world. Upscale but comfortable and I cant wait to come back!

We had the loveliest dinner here- from start to finish! Sarah (who wears many hats including host, server, and bartender!) is so sweet and on point. My boyfriend and I are both vegan and we found plenty to eat here- there were more options than we were able to try in one sitting! We got the cauliflower, crispy Brussels, Falafel, and vegan cheese platter. Everything was delicious but the cauliflower and Brussels sprouts were above and beyond- it's clear the chef really cares about the food he's serving. It's not often we leave a restaurant feeling inspired, but I'm telling you- the texture of the cauliflower and the crispiness of the Brussels sprouts were next level. We decided to make pita pocket sandwiches with falafel, cauli, sprouts, and some of the falafel sauce ...!!! 10/10 on that combo. Definitely want to come back and try some pizza- they even have vegan cheese for it! read more

The Forge - Vegan cheese board - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We were doing a stay-cation drive by when we spotted "the spot." Flavors were amazing. Vibe was on point. Service was chill yet attentive. We love discover the hidden gems. Highly recommend the Forge PGH...even though I want it all to myself! read more

The Forge - Flavor Burst! - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Lovely place filled with lovely staff, yummy food, and good drinks. Hope this place continues what they're doing with the staff they have

Celebrated our anniversary here and we could not be more impressed with The Forge. The staff was extremely kind and attentive. The environment is very cozy and warm. We were very pleased with the roasted veggies and hummus as well as our pizzas. The drinks were great! I got the bartenders choice and was very pleased with that they made me. Cant forget dessert, the triple chocolate mousse cake was to die for!! We will definitely be going back! read more

The Forge - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

My friend and I had a delicious vegan small plate meal at The Forge this evening. I am NOT vegan and still found everything delicious. I started with a beet infused vodka cocktail (which was interesting and very good) and finished with a really delicious "Bartender's Choice" cocktail (I had asked for vodka and citrus and/or floral). I would absolutely return here next time I'm In Pittsburgh! read more

The Forge takes dishes which are fairly common, but then makes changes which elevate them to a different level. For example, we tried the vegan loaded hummus, which started with a regular (although very good), plate of hummus, but then topped it with a vegan mushroom schawarma. It ended up being one of the best plates of hummus I've tried (and I've had many!). The pitas that came with the hummus were also very good, not the thin, crispy variety that break apart when you try to use them. Another example that we tried was the cauliflower steak. It was grilled, but then topped with a chimichurri-derived topping that made it truly delicious. A final example is the deep-fried matzoh balls, which needs no explanation, but is scrumptious! I am looking forward to having all of these again. The service was helpful, knowledgeable, patient (we ask a lot of questions) and attentive. There is a pizza oven visible from the dining room, which is always a nice touch. read more

The food is alright. Definitely overpriced but not surprising for a place on Butler Street. The drinks were fine as well. Nothing special. It kind of smelled funky, and there was something sticky on the small plates we got. read more

The Forge - Queen bee - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

This is hands down one of my favorite places to enjoy an appetizer/dinner and a delicious creative drink. Great cocktail lounge! This is a small, family owned business that takes care of their community. Favorites: Feta Feta Bang Bang Pizza, Falafel, Countryside Cheese Board and Rainbow Platter! read more

I stumbled on this place while exploring Yelp, and once I caught a glimpse of the pictures there I knew I had to go. I would definitely suggest making a reservation, we went on a Saturday evening and they turned some walk ins away. The vibe is so cool, love the velvet seats and bold colors. The cocktail menu was decent, but I loved that we could give a few details of our favorite cocktails and the bartender would just make something for us. The food was delicious, perfect for sharing with a group! Everything we ordered was great. I would love to go back soon! read more

My wife and I walked in off the street on a Friday night without a reservation in t-shirts and shorts. This place is pretty posh so we definitely felt a bit underdressed, but they were able to accommodate us with a high too table. The rest of the tables are like a chic lounge type, almost like you're in someone's living room sitting around a coffee table. Interesting concept. I wasn't sure I was in the mood for this type of atmosphere, but the food was awesome. We shared two small plates (seared tuna and falafel) and a flatbread (the one with shrimp, Brie, apples, and cranberries). All three had a ton of flavor. Compliments to the chef! read more

Excellent!! We loved this place. Cocktails are unique and amazing. BRISKET hummus?! And the stuffed peppers with goat cheese, wow. Beautiful interior, really friendly owner and bartender. Such a hidden gem ! read more