Pittsburgh travel advice

[Steak Snabler]

I'll be heading to Pittsburgh Wednesday to cover the local outfit in the NCAA tournament. I figure there are enough folks familiar with the area on this board to get some good ideas.

Looking for tips on lunch/dinner, cool bars, sports memorabilia shops and what-not. I've been to Pittsburgh once, but it was just a quick in-and-out for a Pirates game.

I know about Primanti Brothers and probably will try to venture over to the university to see what's left of Forbes Field. Beyond that, not sure (and if the team I'm covering gets bounced in the first round, probably won't stay past Friday morning).

Also, not sure I'll have a car, so I might need to limit this to the Consol Energy Center/Marriott City Centre area. Check that, I'll have a car. The media hotel does not provide an airport shuttle.

You may fire away ...

 

[FileNotFound]

Nicholas Coffee Co. downtown. Great, great coffee, neat old building. http://www.nicholascoffee.net/webstore/storefront/storemain.cfm

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Go to DeLuca's for breakfast. Ride an incline. Drink an Arrn City for me.

 

[Ace]

I have a cousin who lives in Pittsburgh. I saw him this weekend after quite a few years asked him what Pittsburgh is like.

"It's hilly," he said.

 

[Blitz]

There's a wonderful Warhol exhibit here in the Alamo City at the McNay Museum and there's prolly something in Pitt involving him, too.

 

[waterytart]

There's a wonderful Warhol exhibit here in the Alamo City at the McNay Museum and there's prolly something in Pitt involving him, too.

Like, say, maybe a whole museum?

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

I know about Primanti Brothers

It's a novelty, not a good sandwich. Don't bother.

 

[Versatile]

If you want to meet some West Virginia fans, check any bar in the city.

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

There's a church right next to the arena with an all-day Friday fish fry that is classic. Get a huge fish sandwich for about $8. If you're adventurous, they also sell pierogis (sp?) and some cabbage and noodle side dish that is authentic ethnic Pittsburgh. We hit this once while visiting the in-laws and it was great.

 

[mjp1542]

In that general area, if you like corned beef, go to Sammy's near the foot of the Duquesne campus. But since you have a car, DeLuca's is a great call. Not a long drive, amazing breakfast, and then just walk around the Strip District and check out some of the shops (and people watch, seriously). It's a great, true Pittsburgh area.

Since you have a car, you could drive up to Mt. Washington instead of taking the incline (although there's something quite cool about that, too). Regardless, go enjoy the view up there.

Fat Head's on the South Side has outstanding wings and sandwiches, and a ridiculously good beer selection. South Side will be insanely busy with bars all over, though, so if you're not into that, be cautious. Over there also is the Hofbrauhaus, and if the weather is nice it's a neat place to have a litre of beer outside along the river.

FYI, the St. Patrick's Day parade is Saturday, so it will be even crazier Downtown than it normally would be for the tournament.

If you're into art/museums, check out the Warhol over by PNC Park. The Science Center over by Heinz Field is excellent, too. And there's a casino right there, too, if you're into that sort of thing.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Great advice guys, thanks.

I don't get outside the deep South much, so I'm really interested in beer and ethnic food I can't get down here. However, I've had my fill of casinos and I'm not really a strip club guy.

Thanks again, and keep it coming.

 

[Ace]

Great advice guys, thanks.

I don't get outside the deep South much, so I'm really interested in beer and ethnic food I can't get down here. However, I've had my fill of casinos and I'm not really a strip club guy.

Thanks again, and keep it coming.

Ken Stabler requests that you change your handle.

 

[Fly]

In that general area, if you like corned beef, go to Sammy's near the foot of the Duquesne campus. But since you have a car, DeLuca's is a great call. Not a long drive, amazing breakfast, and then just walk around the Strip District and check out some of the shops (and people watch, seriously). It's a great, true Pittsburgh area.

Since you have a car, you could drive up to Mt. Washington instead of taking the incline (although there's something quite cool about that, too). Regardless, go enjoy the view up there.

Fat Head's on the South Side has outstanding wings and sandwiches, and a ridiculously good beer selection. South Side will be insanely busy with bars all over, though, so if you're not into that, be cautious. Over there also is the Hofbrauhaus, and if the weather is nice it's a neat place to have a litre of beer outside along the river.

FYI, the St. Patrick's Day parade is Saturday, so it will be even crazier Downtown than it normally would be for the tournament.

If you're into art/museums, check out the Warhol over by PNC Park. The Science Center over by Heinz Field is excellent, too. And there's a casino right there, too, if you're into that sort of thing.

I enjoyed my only trip to Fat Head's Pittburgh (same with their Cleveland location). Solid, non-fancy food and good brew (if you enjoy hops, a must-try is the Head Hunter IPA).

Primanti's sandwich was fine, once I took the fries off.

Edit: Ruh Roh....BEER SNOB ALERT!!!! [/crossthread]

 

[mjp1542]

Then the good ol'fashioned Pittsburgh Fish Fry mentioned early is a great call. The sandwich will be huge and tasty, and the handmade pierogies and homemade haluski are good ethnic stuff, considering the amount of Polish and Slovak influence in those parts.

The Church Brew Works is not far from Downtown. A brewery/restaurant in an old church isn't something you see every day.

Great advice guys, thanks.

I don't get outside the deep South much, so I'm really interested in beer and ethnic food I can't get down here. However, I've had my fill of casinos and I'm not really a strip club guy.

Thanks again, and keep it coming.

 

[dreunc1542]

Yeah, since you're there during Lent, you need to find a fish fry. And damn, do I ever wish I had some homemade pierogies.

 

[outofplace]

I do like Fat Head's, but I never liked dealing with the traffic on the South Side. I agree with Smasher on Primanti's. Don't bother.

I'm just looking forward to Mineo's when I go for a visit next month.

 

[Steak Snabler]

I had a Primanti's sandwich when I went to PNC a few years ago. The idea is certainly better than the execution.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

I had a Primanti's sandwich when I went to PNC a few years ago. The idea is certainly better than the execution.

Primanti's at Heinz/PNC are some of the worst imitations I've seen. Oddly enough, the Quaker Steak and Lube wings at the stadiums are better than the ones at the restaurant (I think). Make sure you walk across the street from the Consol Energy Center and snap a few photos of the carcass of the Civic Arena, which was never built for the purpose of sports and was the first retractable roof facility in the US.

 

[Quakes]

Great advice guys, thanks.

I don't get outside the deep South much, so I'm really interested in beer and ethnic food I can't get down here. However, I've had my fill of casinos and I'm not really a strip club guy.

Thanks again, and keep it coming.

Just to clear up a potential misunderstanding, the Strip District -- which mjp1542 mentioned -- is not a district full of strip clubs (as far as I know).

 

[Steak Snabler]

Great advice guys, thanks.

I don't get outside the deep South much, so I'm really interested in beer and ethnic food I can't get down here. However, I've had my fill of casinos and I'm not really a strip club guy.

Thanks again, and keep it coming.

Just to clear up a potential misunderstanding, the Strip District -- which mjp1542 mentioned -- is not a district full of strip clubs (as far as I know).

Oh, I know. I just forgot to mention that in the original post.