I would give the brunch 4 stars because it is a fun place to go--I like the atmosphere, the diversity of the ALL VEG offerings, and you can't beat the $10 price. I was not *amazed* by anything I ate there, and the service was sometimes a bit sketchy, but it was all good enough and the options and affordability make it some place to which I will return on Sundays to come. Dinner, however, was another story. My girlfriend and I stopped in for an early dinner on our way out to a free concert in South Park. We ordered grape leaves (6/$3.50) for an appetizer and we both had the Tunisian Red Bean Stew (red beans, yams, red peppers, tomatoes, onions and jalapenos simmered in a spicy peanut sauce over rice), served with a side salad ($10). The grape leaves were quite good and easily the best part of the meal. The salad was downright bad. It was all the same kind of lettuce, smashed into a bowl with ~4 pieces of green bean, about the same number of red cabbage shreds, piled with bell pepper (which I hate), and a few grapes. The dressing was so strong with vinegar it made us both cough. There was so much pooled in the bottom of the bowl that we just left the bottom third of the salad because it was completely inedible. The entree was okay, but not wonderful. It was a little dry, the elements seemed to blend into each other rather than stand out individually and the sauce was one-dimensional. I usually expect a "spicy peanut sauce" to be a little more complex with the peanuts adding a sweet-savory base on which the heat from the peppers can play, but the pepper heat washed out the peanut flavor in this dish. The rice managed to be both sticky and dry, so the meal felt pretty heavy. Despite the criticisms above, Zenith is okay and it certainly is not overpriced. It is a fun place to dine as you'll always find some new funky object to check out, but don't go expecting to be amazed by the food. There are more options available for Sunday brunch and you can't beat the all-you-can-eat sides and sweets. It's worth going for the Steelers shrine alone. read more

Best. Brunch. Ever! And the most unique dining experience I've ever had. You order a vegetarian entree, go get delicious vegetarian salads and desserts, have coffee, then your entree comes. It's hard to know what's better: the food or the atmosphere. Either way, I'll be hitting this place up a lot. Bring your appetite though. Since it's buffet-style, there aren't to-go boxes. read more

Boy did this place give me the heebie-jeebies!!! Talk about a real life version of American Horror Story. You walk in and half-expect Jessica Lange to jump out behind the clothing racks on the side of the foyer wearing an old wedding dress and wielding a chain saw. Me and my reluctant, non-vegan boyfriend arrived here at 11:30am on a Saturday, just as they opened. The front part of the restaurant is basically an untouched, vintage thrift shop from the 1980's. There were racks of old clothes, household decor, and a randomly placed jewelry display case. Once you rummage through all that old crap, you get to the dining hall, which smelled strangely enough like a vintage car burning diesel fuel inside of a closed garage. The decoration was a hoarders paradise - years of collecting old crap from the Goodwill across the street on East Carson. The waitstaff, again, reminded us of American Horror Story. They were slow even though we were the only people in the restaurant from the time we got there to the time we left (11:30-1), but had suspiciously cheery attitudes and made sure we had enough coffee...very suspicious indeed! The food was actually a delight. We shared the Greek platter as an appetizer. None of it was homemade, we could tell, but it didn't taste bad. My boyfriend got the sweet potato burger which tasted like maple syrup, in a good way. I ordered the curry chick pea burrito which was rich and filling. The zenith of our meal was actually not being poisoned or tortured! Food was good, environment was weird - 7/10. read more

The best part of Zenith is the salads and desserts that come with Sunday brunch. They have distinct flavors and combinations in all their offerings. The worst part of Zenith is that the entrees are not always so good. They're innovative and interesting, but they're not always that great. I've had French toast and pancakes where one of the two pieces were burnt and they were still served. Two weeks ago my friend ordered a sweet and sour tofu rice dish that was 50% liquid. My chickpea sandwich was good, but the rice that came with was overly sweet and disappointing. The entrees are overall just not my thing. I wish they were but they're just disappointing. The service is usually really good. The food is also served within an antique shop (which is kind of their thing/shtick) but it's also kind of musty/dusty. read more

When you walk into Zenith, you find yourself in an 'antique store'. I feel like I'm being sort of generous referring to this as an antique store ... it's more accurately a thrift/vintage/junk store full of run down stuff. I'm all about impulse buys normally but there was nothing I was tempted to even touch. If you are waiting to be seated, there are a few couches that look like they're from the 60s and 70s to sit on. The dining area consists of around 10 old family dining room tables and is filled with mismatched cabinets displaying more 'antiques'. Zenith is CHEAP. $10 at brunch gets you a warm entree, a drink, and unlimited stuff from the buffet. Their pomegrante iced tea is wonderful. Zenith uses these funky 'antique' glasses that vary from table to table. They're a lot of fun. I didn't mind the cafeteria style communial dining tables - though it may be less OK depending on who you're stuck with. That being said, I was disappointed with the food at Zenith. This is very standard fare vegetarian food and it's nothing special. There were 6-8 warm entrees to choose from at brunch (scrambled eggs, pancakes, lemon linguine, and a curry burrito to name a few) and the two I sampled were just average. The buffet consisted of the usual standard cold vegetarian food (grape leaves, fruit, cake, and too many variations of tabouli salad) and none of it was better than stuff I buy premade at the local organic store. It's not especially fresh but it's decent. Now for what I disliked about Zenith. 1) People, let's talk about climate control! I can't say I have ever been more eager to finish at a restaurant so I can go outside to the 90+ degree heat to cool down. They've got a series of fans but it is in no way comfortable inside when it's warm outside. 2) This place has old, white exposed rafters and it looks like the paint is peeling or something. I spent a fair amount of time wondering how much of it falls down into the dining room ... and the kitchen. 3) I was not impressed with the open closet (or whatever it was) with cans of paint/stain haphazardly stacked by the door. Call me weird, but I like to pretend there are more than 30 feet separating my food and whatever restoration project you're working on. Just close the door! 4) Like another reviewer, I'm one of those annoying people with food allergies. The buffet is basically an epipen salesman's dream. It's full of all sorts of food allergens, it's all unlabeled and it's potentially dangerous. There were a few things I didn't dare go near because I couldn't tell what was in them. My last bit of commentary on Zenith has to do with the vibe. I spent quite a bit of time on my trip back trying to decide how to describe the people here. The best way I can think to word this is that it feels like the hot spot for the art folks. It's a bit like the tortured artists meeting the hippies. Completely unique ... but sort of odd if you don't fit into that category. I'm really torn as to how to rate something as unique as Zenith. I feel like if you're going to have a vegetarian restaurant, you need to do vegetarian food well. For cheap, average and very basic vegetarian food in an unique environment, it gets 3 stars from me. read more

This is the best place only to have a relaxed Sunday brunch in Pittsburgh. If you can locate this place in Southside it takes even more searching to find someone to seat you in the backside if the antique store. The wait is worth it even for non-vegetarians as they choose from a range of entrees that keep changing every week. Additionally feel free to help yourself to numerous salads, rice and noodle dishes with bread and dips on buffet. The dessert options are pretty good if you have room left in your stomach. Their spl teas are good and deserve refills. All this for $10 leaves you with lot more to spend on the rest of your Sunday. read more

Zenith provides a delightful brunch experience. For $10 you really can not beat it for the following reasons; 1. All you can eat vegan buffet! They have various salads, pastas, hummus & bread! Every time I've gone they've been a little different but mainly the same. My absolute favorite are the peanut butter noodles, I could eat a large bowl of it but am forces to save room for other treats. On the other end of the buffet are vegan breads they always have 5 to 6 seasonally included favors...I look forward to these! 2. Not only do you get the buffet you get to choice an entree from a list. They options sometimes very but seem to always have eggs, French toast or a curry burritto. Among other options. I've tried most of them, all good! It's not by means the best vegan or vegatarian food I've had but it's completely worth the money! I always leave full & satisfied 3. It's an antique shop! If you have to wait for a table there's plenty to look at. I've even made a few purchases. Some of its over priced but I can usually find a cheaper nik nak or a retro scarf. Also because it is an antique shop...all the dishware, tables, chairs & decor are unique. They also have large tables for big groups! So I recommend zenith for a wonderful sunday brunch read more

I stopped in for brunch with Laura Sunday morning and had a fun time at this unique shop and restaurant. I live nearby, but never stopped in since i wasn't too sure of what i would order since i am not vegetarian. I've been missing out! The shop itself as well as the decor in the dining room is totally cool. Laura & I were seated with a couple who were very friendly and seemed to come here often. We learned from them that the menu changes often, but the buffet is often the same. The buffet had a mix of pasta salads, fruit, pastries as well as an entire table of bundt cakes. I sampled a few pastas as well as some fruit. I'm not sure what it was, but the pasta salad with peanut sauce was my favorite. Speaking of that, i wish they would put the name of the pasta so we could remember it.. maybe even a list of what it consist of for example :) For brunch, i ordered the almond french toast. It was super tasty as well as filling. My order came with two large pieces of french toast plus a side dish of rice (or something along those lines) I could only finish one piece of the french toast, but then again i sampled 3 pastas and some fruit from the buffet. The brunch menu states no to go boxes so i assumed that was both for the entree and buffet. FYI: one flat price ($11.50) equals an entree and unlimited trips to the buffet. I'm sure I'll try the brunch here again since i live so close. It is also nice that the menu changes, so im excited to see what else is offered. my fiance is pretty open minded so he may like this place as well and he can tag along next time. We shall see. read more

Pros: Great and various food, attentive service, interesting decor Cons: Not much except that you're in Pittsburgh not where I live now!!! Tell me if I can find a place like this in the SF Bay Area. I miss you, Zenith Tea Room! I have only come here for the Sunday brunch which starts at 11 am. This is one of the hidden treasures of Pittsburgh. The entire brunch is vegan and also dangerously unhealthy (read: tons of sugary treats). The buffet is flat-rate which includes the buffet, a choice of tea/drink and main dish (such as vegan french toast, if that's possible -- it's so awesome). FOR TEN DOLLARS! They use mismatched antiquey dishware and silverware. And even the chairs don't match! So in some way, it's like dining in an attic, but everything is tastefully selected. Of course, this place being in the Southside means it's mostly hipsters that come this way. But an incredible gem this is. It's easy to get a table for less than 4...but huge parties, expect to wait. I really need to come back here just for tea there. They have an incredible tea list. I personally love the darjeeling, but that's the staple for me. read more

Went here for brunch with my father for fathers day, he's totally a meat eater, but he's open minded sometimes. The food was delicious as always, I have the seitan and the girlfriend had the tofu salad sandwich. The brunch buffet has Peanut Noodles to die for! As well the spinach and strawberry salad was yummy! The environment makes this place even more awesome! We spent some time exploring the antique shop after we were done eating and it's reminds me of my great aunt Mary's bedroom, just filled with awesome trash. Overall please go to here for brunch on Sundays. You won't regret it, and even your non-vegetarian parents will fall in love. read more

Wow! It's A LOT to visually take in, but that's what makes it cool and unique! Everything is for sale and if you are into the antique and nostalgic, it's a blast to browse through. I'm sorry I'm an absolute clean freak and I personally was impressed by the level of clean all things considered. The previous mention of dust, I gotta say it wasn't like that in the eating area and honestly not much in the shop either. Now what I am always most concerned about... THE FOOD....Delicious! The bean and rice soup was fantastic! The jarkata wrap was mouth watering! The combo of perfectly marinated and texture of the tofu, the peanut sauce and the touch of sunflower seeds and raisin - yummy! Can not wait to go back for brunch. The server was sweet and a pleasure to speak to. Oh that cranberry and chocolate cake - OH MY...moist and delicious! Not overly sweet and just perfect. read more

I've been here a handful of times for their sunday brunch. The food really is terrific and the decor is fun. As a vegetarian it is so nice to be able to eat at a place where everything is an option. My 3 star rating is due to how crowded this place is. There is not enough room to accomodate the amount of people this place draws. By 11am (when they open for sunday brunch) I am too hungry to deal with the line wrapped around the room and the constant bumping and cramped quarters once I am seated. I've also experienced some equally grouchy patrons while waiting in line for the door to open. I've seen people hold a spot in line for their whole party, too. So what you thought were are two people ahead of you suddenly becomes 30 which could mean the difference between you being seated now or in an hour. Basically, the popularity of of Zenith is it's only deterrent. read more

This is a place I always come to knowing I will have an excellent time. Easily some of the best brunch in the city, and at a frankly insane price for all the offerings they have. Have coffee while you inevitably wait in the antique store that accompanies the restaurant - find weird porcelain figurines, dresses with the fiercest of shoulder pads, and practice your skills with an old etch-a-sketch while sitting on a couch that probably belonged to your grandmother. I typically go for the more breakfast-y options on the entree menu, and the only suitable word I can describe the pancakes as is dank - almond and lemon are memorable standouts. They do a lot of good things with the seitan and tofu dishes as well. I'm not a vegetarian or vegan but eating like this could maybe (not really) convert me. Most of the time I don't even have the stomach room for the pies/cakes by the end, but somehow I will find a way to taste something. I rarely leave this place without a well deserved stomach ache. It draws a variety of people, but definitely has a large clientele that likes to brag about how they come here every Sunday like they're racking up cool points. But it's absolutely unique and a must-go for anyone who likes hummus and peanut noodles. read more

Wonderful food in a very unusual setting. The prices are very affordable and they can accommodate large groups. The store carries an odd assortment of collectibles, antiques and used items, I had a lot of fun browsing after my meal. The staff is very friendly. read more

Zenith's all about the atmosphere. You're in an antique shop, it's so cool! The food's pretty good; not super spectacular but definitely worth it for the price. You get an entree, the buffet bar, and the choice of a hot or iced tea. I had their scrambled eggs my first time, which didn't wow me at all, and the Moroccan Stew this morning, which was definitely good. The best part is definitely the buffet bar and the assortment of cakes; I REALLY like their different pastas. You gotta get to Zenith early. I've been to Zenith twice; once I got there just after 10 AM to wait in line for when they open at 11 AM while today I got there after 12 PM. If you get there early, you'll get better service from the waiters since they won't be as overwhelmed in the beginning. The food at the buffet bar will be fresher since all the food is made once and when it's out it's out. Get there too late and all the best foods are gone (I missed out on their stuffed grape leaves and green beans today). Also, if you get there early you'll get your own table, but if you get there later you might have to share a table with other patrons. Today we ended up sitting at a table with three other parties, which is kinda cool but also kinda awkward at the same time. I think Zenith's the kinda place that not everyone will be able to appreciate, but for those who do, they absolutely love it. read more

Sunday brunch: unpleasant if crowded. You may have to share a table with strangers as they do in Asia. Can be awkward if you want to have a conversation with a friend or if they are hipsters. Nice variety for buffet though. Limited tea menu. Saturday lunch: Full tea menu. Better table choice. Nice lighting if you can sit in the inside room. Bring a camera and take some no-flash pictures. The colors are quite warm. read more

An eclectic, funky place that is so cool!! I'm not a vegan but the place has wonderful food and great tea!!!! I highly recommend the Zenith!! BYOBand enjoy the decor!!! read more

The Zenith - Vegetarian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Came here for lunch - the ambiance and vibes were super warm and homey. I had their tortilla soup and side salad. The tortilla soup was good in the same way your mom, friend, or someone who isn't necessarily a professional chef makes food that feels and tastes good, if that makes sense. The side salad was pretty standard and consisted of raw veggies and a homemade dressing. Everything was super affordable. I do wanna come back to try the brunch here, for sure! read more

A friend and I went here for a snack - neither of us were overly hungry so we opted for the Mediterranean plate. It had hummus, pita bread, grape leaves, feta cheese, red peppers, olives...those are all the items I can remember. I thought everything tasted good and fresh. I remember liking the hummus. I would have never thought there was a restaurant hidden in this antique store. We walked through the antique/thrift store to get to the restaurant, I don't remember seeing another way to access the restaurant portion. The ambiance is very quirky, maybe b/c there's alot of people's old stuff all around, but it works. I'm not sure that I'd always be in the mood for something like this, but stopping in for a mid-afternoon snack just clicked. I'd like to go back and try some meals as these reviews have me curious! read more

Good tasting food sweet people the atmosphere is extremely eclectic though kinda hit or miss. Feels like you're eating home cooked vegan meals in a antique haunted mansion. read more

Long-time vegetarians have learned to be suspicious of buffets. What's okay for me to eat? Is there any meat lurking in that innocuous-looking pasta? A vegetarian buffet is like a dream come true. A vegetarian buffet (+ entree + coffee/tea) for 10 bucks is a dream come true for a girl who just finished grad school and needs to find a job. Zenith, you're a dreamboat. The entire store and dining area is super charming with antiques everywhere. Even the water glasses are fancy. Bonus points for having water pitchers on each table. The buffet can be divided into two categories--savory and sweet. On the savory side, there's bread and an array of bean salads, pasta salads, hummus, and other vegetable dishes. Some standouts were the potato salad and the sesame noodle salad. As for the sweet side, there are 10 types of bundt cake, from Earl Grey with blueberries to almond ginger to several kinds of chocolate cake, and 2 kinds of pie. On top of that, I enjoyed my Tofishy--which was fried and breaded tofu on a bun with lettuce and tomato, and vegan cocktail sauce (vegan tartar sauce was the other option). Oh, cocktail sauce. I haven't had you in a long time, as you often contain Worcestershire sauce, and because I didn't know what else you could go with besides seafood. I didn't realize how much I missed you. Even folks less keen on tofu will be happy here--there are always more standard brunch entree options like pancakes, French toast and eggs. While I did visit on a big graduation weekend, which might skew the clientele a little bit, I feel like the mix of young, middle-aged and elderly people eating here shows that everyone will find yummy bliss at Zenith's Sunday brunch. read more

This is my fav sunday brunch restaurant in Pittsburgh it is 100% vegetarian. On sundays they have $10 brunch that includes one entree and a buffet. The buffet has everything from grape leaves, different salads, and fruits. they also have desserts likes pies and about 4-5 flavors of cake and desert breads. They also offer coffee or tea i looove the coffee. They flavours are great and i always have a food baby after brunch. The owner makes almost everything and the decor is pretty cool. when you walk in you walk through an antique store and then get seated its pretty cool in there. The service has been questionable on some occasions but all the food is worth it. Tip: if you get there early before 11 or a little bit after the wait might not be too bad. but even if you have to wait they serve you coffee!! read more

After a bit of deliberation, I decided Zenith is fully deserving of five stars. The key to this justification is to remember the restaurant title "Vegetarian CAFE". I will explain later... Upon entering Zenith, and as is well documented by the pictures, one is greeted by the warehouse everyone's mother would love to have! Antiquities all over the place and those are extremely fairly priced as my mother-in-law was so elated to find. After a short wait, we were ushered into our table for Sunday brunch. As I said, Zenith only claims to be a Vegetarian Cafe and, as such, goes above and beyond that claim but may fall short of a full fledged restaurant. The salad bar is superfluous, while possibly a bit monotone in ingredients (pasta, veg, beans, pasta, veg, beans) with 10-12 different pasta and green salads. There were two flavors of bread and then a menu of 6 entrees for only $10/person. read more

My husband and I decided to check out this restaurant based on the reviews and menu. The location is really interesting. You walk through an antique store type area before you get to the back restaurant area. It has a cool, unique vibe and the servers were friendly. Your meal comes with an entree and then you get to pick all the sides you want from the buffet. I liked all of the food and variety but I found that a large majority of the items tended to be overly sweet. I think it would still be appealing to non-vegetarians. read more

The Zenith is all about atmosphere. But it has great food, too-- and at a good price, which is a rare combination. Most of the other reviewers talked about Sunday brunch, but I've always dined during 'off' hours, finding myself the only person there at times. When it's not busy, it's a good place to wander around looking at art and antiques while waiting for your food. I would compare it to eating lunch in my grandmother's attic. The sort of place where I might have sneaked into to have elaborate tea parties as a child. It's a nice sense of whimsy. There is an extensive tea list, many of which are interesting herbal mixes named after times and places (Wild West is my favorite). I used to buy the dry tea from them years ago, but I don't think they sell it like that anymore. The food is always great and often creative, with ample portions. It's definitely starch-heavy though, with most of the dishes being based around sandwich bread, pasta or rice, and I haven't recently been there to find out if substitutions (like salad instead of rice) are ok. Their vegan desserts, especially the cakes, are to-die-for and alone are worth the trip. It's one of my favorite places to take people from out of town because it's something that I don't think people really expect from Pittsburgh. read more

5 stars for atmosphere 5 stars for price 2 stars for food = overall 3 stars a few decent buffet items, but the tea and the entree were both really weird tasting. wouldn't come back here for food, but may come back to check the antiques read more

Ok. I have now been to Zenith, NOT for shopping, but for their delicious food! There evening dinners are a feast of cheap and plentiful vegan and vegetarian cuisine. And then there is the Sunday brunch... For 10 bucks you get coffee, an all-you-can-eat buffet of every type of salad, noodles, cakes, and pies imaginable... PLUS a brunch entree! Get there early or you will have to wait. The atmosphere is super casual, the food is homemade, and it is the perfect spot to catch-up with friends. read more

This place was awesome! I had my doubts walking in, but it turned out great. Came for a late lunch or early dinner, around 4ish, so we were the only people in the shop. It's an antique shop, with a dine-in option. Though we didn't see people come in for dinner when we were leaving around 6ish, there were a couple of takeout orders. Had a wonderful dinner - ordered a variety of stuff, including soup, salads, and appetizers. Everything was super delicious! Afterward, we shopped around a bit and got some pretty cool things. I got a pair of retro Nikes for $20! An archaic, vintage shop with vegetarian dining. So bizarre but wonderful. Note, staff was very friendly! read more

Pros: -Good, healthy food -Great Sunday buffet (buffet is mostly vegan, with the occasional exception of a dessert that might have honey...the entrees that you order have vegan and vegetarian options) -The Sunday buffet is a VERY good value. It comes out to about $12, and you get TONS of food. You get to order an entree from the menu (changes every time), free unlimited hot/iced tea or coffee, PLUS the all you can eat buffet. -The Sunday buffet has about 8 different desserts -I went there for Thanksgiving dinner last year, and the food was very good, but kind of pricy -As a vegan, it's great to have so much selection. -They have a large variety of flavored teas that are very good. I don't usually care for flavored tea, but I really like the ones I've tried there. Cons: -Very crowded on Sundays during the buffet; you share tables with other people -If you eat there often the food begins to all taste the same -The Sunday buffet desserts are mostly cakes, and they are OK....they don't have enough icing and they taste VERY similar That being said...I DO recommend this place. The food is great, but overall it is just good. read more

OMG Terrible even my wife likes vegetarian and hated this Quick give me a real egg and meat!! Even sub par for veggie lovers The first experience with a yelp recommendation I was totally turned off by read more

A carnivore by nature, I was skeptical the first time I was dragged to this vegan and vegetarian mecca for brunch, but my mind was immediately changed at the first bite of peanut noodles. My plate was already full of several kinds of pastas, bread, hummus, green beans, various fruits and a sampling of the vegan cakes before I realized you also order an entree! I wont claim that each dish Ive tried was the best, but thats the magic of the buffet/entree double whammy! You can experiment (and I encourage you to be a little adventurous!) with the changing menu, and if its not your thing, go back to those amazing peanut noodles and cakes. Zenith's atmosphere is also worth the trip. Its an antique store at its best with local art on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. The dishes are colorful, the glasses are mismatched goblets and the crowd is great for people watching. I know people complain about long lines and potentially having to share a table, but its really a testament to how good it is! That being said, plan ahead! Get there about 15-20 minutes before its supposed to open and talk about your Saturday night adventures while you wait for them to get set up. Go in table sized groups of 2, 4 or 6 to avoid having to sit with other people if youd rather do that (although you are sure to meet characters if you end up sharing a table). If you cant go early, go expecting a wait and with your mind made up to sort through antiques before food. All in all, if you are a Sunday brunch kind of person, give it a shot :) read more

There is a line to get in, so go early. Upon entrance you walk through the antique collectibles and there are lots of them. Soon you enter into the dining rooms, set up in the middle of shop. The tables are set with antique dishes. The menu is a small card on the table. You order an an entree and the vegetarian buffet is included. The flavors are absolutely amazing. This is a hidden gem. Assorted bundt cakes for dessert, at least 15 to choose from....help yourself to deliciousness..... read more

The Zenith - Many Bundts..... - Vegetarian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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After reading about the mention in the New York Times, I decided to give Zenith a try for lunch, even though it's highly noted for its brunch. We entered the antique store and were greeted by a woman who told us to choose a table for lunch. I chose a table for us by the space heater since the large room was a little drafty. It wouldn't be a problem through the meal since the meal came with a delicious miso soup that warmed me right up. I had the linguine which was good and my dad had the seitan beef which was really good, and for the price you really can't beat it. But the real joy of eating here is the environment. There are antiques everywhere including the table settings. The music is an ecclectic mix. And the owner was a woman who came over and talked with us, and she really made our dining experience special. You can tell she really cares about her customers, and she takes into account the mostly younger clientel, although for lunch all the other couples were very much out of college. I would very much recommend making a stop here for lunch or brunch if you're in the area. Very much worth it. read more

I've never had a bad experience here, I wish I could come every Sunday for brunch! Everything on the buffet and most of the entrees are vegan, or are clearly labelled as not. Meat-eaters will not be disappointed here, either. No matter if you go sweet or savory, the entrees are always delicious. The almond pancakes and anything seitan are some of the best things I've ever eaten. Everything on the buffet is delicious, I'd say the hummus and peanut noodles are favorites among my friends. The cakes and pies are also amazing, especially with the unlimited coffee and tea. Love. Love, love, love. Stay forever Zenith, and never change. read more

Great place for Sunday brunch. My friend and I shared the pasta salad and a variety of pastries. They give you the option of the hot bar, ordering off the menu, or both. We had pancakes that were really good, pasta, and a ton of offers from the buffet. All very good! It is a little odd and you have to enter the restaurant from the front and walk through some weird items that look like what you'd find in your grandma's basement, but it's worth getting to the back and enjoying the food. read more

I am not a vegetarian by any means, but I'm pretty open minded on vegetarian and vegan food and have cooked quite a few dishes. I have always had heard good things about The Zenith, but never had an opportunity to go. Today I went, and it was everything that I thought it would be. I went to the Sunday brunch and ordered the tofu and walnut meatball sandwich. The buffet and coffee/tree comes with any entree you order. The buffet hands down the best part of the experience. They had really unique yet simple salad and pasta dishes. The pickled cucumber/red onions and the noodles with peanut sauce were my favorite dishes from the buffet. The tofu and walnut meatball sandwich was pretty good, but ate all of it except the bread because I was already half full by the time the sandwich came to our table. The only downside is that you're not able to take your main entree home. So I had to leave quite a few things on the plate unfortunately. I can understand not taking buffet food home, but we should be allowed to take our main entree home if we can't finish. Besides that downside overall the place is fantastic and can't wait to come again. read more

Coming here is an experience. Set inside a vintage thrift store, there is so much to look at, I love the community seating, and it's a great value for $11.50. One thing I don't understand, however, is why they still offer an entree. I've been coming here for years, and notice that the buffet items are much higher quality than most of the entrees. Also, by the time the entrees are ready, it seems most folks have already filled up on the buffet, leading to a lot of food going in the trash. I really think it would be better if they focused on high quality buffet ingredients and left it at that. read more

Had a delicious Sunday brunch. Traveled to Pittsburgh with our oldest, who is vegan. Great choice! Delicious buffet choices, amazing desserts, excellent coffee. Friendly staff. We we seated at a table with a local couple and shared pleasant conversation. Eclectic setting. Parking was somewhat challenging for us out-of-towners, but our table mates helped explain the Permit signs for street parking. read more

Wow, what a disappointment. After all the great reviews I can't help but be disappointed. The veggie burger I ate had no flavor and was a waste of money. The veggie burger was more of a mushroom mess slopped together to look like a veggie burger. The service was lacking. The waitress did a lousy job waiting on our table, she was slow and non-attentive and non-existent most of the meal. The price for the buffet was high compared to the quality of the food, and I'm hoping lunch and dinner selections are better than the brunch. Save yourself money and go to Double Wide Grill? Im sure you will like it better then Zenith. read more

I stopped by here this past Sunday with my wife and sister for brunch. We were not originally planning on coming here and after having to call an audible we arrived shortly before 11 to find a huge line outside of Zenith. It was large enough that I was concerned we weren't going to get seated in the first wave of people for brunch. Having been here a couple of times before I knew that if we didn't make it into that first wave then we could be in for a long wait. Thankfully we eventually did make it and were seated at a table for six. Zenith is quite interesting in that they have a number of tables in the dining room but they are all communal tables and so they pack in as many people as they can. As such the three of us ended up sharing our table with another couple and a regular. The inside of Zenith is quite different than any other restaurant you have ever been to before. The front of the store also happens to be a thrift/antique store which you can peruse either while you wait or after your meal. That store happens to spill into the restaurant as well and there are numerous random items around you that are on sale. On my most recent visit two of the more random items were a 4 feet tall cardboard cutout of Santa that I was sitting next to and then a couch with a naked mannequin on it which was high up in front of our table. The bathroom that I used here was also somewhat creepy as it had hundreds of owls in it all of which were sort of watching you while you did your business. All of this was mentioned not to say anything bad about Zenith but merely to point that it is different which ends up being part of the charm of Zenith. If you have never been to brunch here before you get a drink (coffee/tea/iced tea), access to the buffet and then a entree item all for a single price. The buffet is where I think that Zenith really shines. It has a large number of cold salads, some bread and finally a number of different cakes and pies on it. During this visit I was able to try an array of different items and the ones that really stood out for me were the grape leaves, a green potato dish (sorry they don't have names or descriptions on the cold salad items) and finally the vanilla cake. Where I think Zenith is less successful is their entree items. On this visit I ended up choosing the homemade beefy seitan sandwich with lettuce and vegan mayo as my entree. I don't know what I was really expecting here but it wasn't the shaved seitan sandwich that resembled a roast beef sandwich. Even so I dove into it and I ended up thinking that the seitan in this sandwich tasted somewhat weird. I have had seitan in many forms before and normally really enjoy it but for some reason this one just didn't do it for me. Neither did the rice side that came with all of their entrees and was left by almost every person at our table. With all of that being said I think that I chose poorly for my entree as I was able to try my wife's jakarta wrap which was really delicious. It consisted of sweet and spicy tofu, fresh spinach, shredded carrots, raisins, sunflower seeds and peanut sauce with the tofu rightfully being the star of the dish. The bottom line for me is that I will head back here again in the future. While I hate having to get here early and wait outside for brunch, I think that it is well worth it and that Zenith is a brunch place that every Pittsburgher should try at least once! read more