While the future of Downtown was looking uncertain early last year, two Downtown residents decided it was the perfect time to start another upscale restaurant in the neighborhood.
Ritual House opened its doors in the Union Trust Building in February 2023 during some of the central business district’s darkest days following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
“We felt this was our time to give something back in the form of a love letter to Pittsburgh because we love it so much,” said Herky Pollock, explaining his and his wife Lisa’s decision to launch the business at a risky time.
Nearly one year later, they say the business is not only still standing, it’s thriving.
“It’s been one of the best things we’ve ever done together,” Mr. Pollock said. “It’s exceeded our wildest expectations. The response has been overwhelming.”
The Pollocks admired the success of other upscale Downtown restaurants like Del Frisco’s, Capital Grille and Morton’s. They wanted to emulate that same white tablecloth standard, yet offer an alternative to the darker clubby atmosphere that’s common in upscale dining spots.
Ritual House leans into a softer touch. Crystal chandeliers from around the world hang over the bar. A secret garden at the front entrance is filled with flowers, and white swings that hang from the ceiling provide seating. Dining room guests eat on living room-style furniture — posh, velvet sofas in red, orange, blue and purple.
“Most of the restaurants Downtown were designed for the more corporate or masculine client,” Mr. Pollock said. “We decided to make this something unique to Pittsburgh in terms of design.”
The restaurant’s largest clientele are females between ages of 25 and 55 who come out for dinner with their family and friends, Mr. Pollock said.
“We are very appealing to females, although men love it as well because they feel comfortable in our setting and they love the food,” he said. “We fill a void that existed prior to our opening.”
The menu is eclectic American cuisine with global influences. It includes steak, pasta, Asian fried chicken and seafood dishes such as crab cakes and scallops. The desserts are baked by Pittsburgh native Zoe Peckich, a world-class baker who won the Food Network’s “Summer Baking Championship” earlier this year.
Mr. Pollock is a longtime commercial real estate developer who lives Downtown as well as the owner of other restaurants in the city. He described Ritual House as the jewel of his portfolio.
The name Ritual House comes from the idea that the Pollocks want people to celebrate their daily rituals at the restaurant.
“Whether it’s a birthday, an anniversary, a party or a gathering among friends, we want people to experience their daily rituals in our house, just like they would experience in their own house,” Mr. Pollock said.
Being surrounded by three Downtown hotels — the William Penn, Embassy Suites and Hotel Monaco — Ritual House gets high traffic from tourists who come to Pittsburgh for concerts, sporting events and conventions.
Tourists are looking for something unique when they travel. Ritual House is unique, locally owned and has no affiliation with a chain.
“It’s not like a typical restaurant where you go in, have your one-hour meal and move along,” Mr. Pollock said. “We want people to spend as much time as they want here and feel right at home.”
“Our design was intentional,” Mr. Pollock added. “We want people to feel very comfortable no mater what they are celebrating with us or whatever experience they want to have with us.”
Tim Grant: tgrant@post-gazette.com or 412-779-5834
First Published: December 29, 2023, 10:30 a.m.
Updated: December 30, 2023, 12:32 a.m.