Pittsburgh lost a lot of restaurants and bars in 2020, with many shuttering due to the ripple effects of the pandemic.
And while we’re still very much in its midst, it seems that the bulk of places that made it through the worst of COVID-19 were able to hang on. The bulk, but certainly not all.
Here is a thankfully shortened roster of noted closings in 2021.
The Carlton: Since 1984, Kevin Joyce had created a down-to-earth yet innovative fine dining destination Downtown for Grant Street power brokers, gourmands and wine aficionados, and, on one occasion, an English bloke by the name of Mick Jagger. Welshman Anthony Hopkins ate dinner there nightly when filming “Silence of the Lambs.” But it was the regulars, who were often joined by those headed to the Civic Arena for hockey games and concerts, or couples and families marking a special occasion, who gave him the most joy. “We celebrate people’s good moments,” Joyce said, on the May night when 600 people celebrated him and his staff’s final hurrah.
Couch Brewery: Closing Sunday, Dec. 19, Couch for four years has been a comfy place to drink a beer on Washington Boulevard in Larimer. In last month’s warm social media farewells, the owners said that some Couch favorites will continue to be brewed there by Tortured Souls Brewing, a start-up with which it has collaborated and which is taking over the space. In a similar changing of the guard, Lawrenceville’s Roundabout Brewery is going to become the home of the new Coven Brewing.
Fury Brewing Co.: This brewery taproom opened in 2017 in a storefront on Route 30 in North Huntingdon. It closed after service on Oct. 30, with the owners citing the toll COVID-19 has taken on business. Facebook posts thanked customers, who shared how they’ll miss the place, as well as “our loyal bartenders — we truly appreciate all the hard work over the years. Thank you for sticking with us until the end, we will miss you guys! We wish you luck in all your future endeavors.”
Harris Grill: Known for a fun and funky atmosphere, outdoor seating, a cheekily written menu and the massively popular Tuesday “Bacon Night” promotion, the Harris Grill will close its Downtown location on Dec. 30. A post on its socials read: “We appreciate all of our customers who have supported us over the years and will miss having this space to welcome them. May we meet again in the future.”
Mount Oliver Bodega: With apologies to Jay-Z, “grand opening, grand closing” would be most applicable here as the collaboration between chef Kevin Sousa and developer RE360 quickly soured in no small part due to the sticker shock of the $39 signature pizza. It wasn’t quite the $12,000 caviar-laden Louis XIII pizza by Renato Viola in Salerno, but on the 200 block of Brownsville Road, it might as well have been. The restaurant was closed just two months shy of operation, but executive chef Jonah Frazier and general manager Chris Clark are working on a complete overhaul. In the meantime, they’ll host a six-course New Year’s dinner featuring the products of nearby Hilltop neighbor, Forma Pasta.
Pamela’s Diner: The Squirrel Hill-based, original restaurant in the local chainlet, AKA P & G's Pamela's Upstreet, announced late in the year that it would be closing its flagship. The Strip District outpost, which gained national attention when then-candidate Barack Obama stopped by in 2008, remains open, as do the Pamelas in Shadyside, Oakland and Mount Lebanon.
Pear and the Pickle: After wading through and facing the many challenges wrought by the pandemic, this neighborhood spot in Troy Hill, at 1800 Rialto St., has closed. The cafe’s last day in operation was Nov. 21. Said the restaurant’s Instagram: “Pivoting our business model again and again, food cost fluctuations, labor strains, rising costs, safety guidelines, and on and on … we’re exhausted. Physically, emotionally, mentally. Thank you for your patience as we take a minute to catch our breath, spend more time with our kids and figure out our next step.”
First Published: December 17, 2021, 11:00 a.m.
Updated: December 29, 2021, 10:46 p.m.
