This story has been updated.
New restaurants, long-awaited breweries, reimagined bars. It must be spring.
The dining and drinking landscape never completely froze, but, as the earth thaws, we are seeing increased movement.
Here’s the latest.
Openings
Golden Age Beer Co.: After a grand opening in mid-April, this lager-loving brewery is, finally, fully open. It first started operating in its courtyard, with pandemic precaution, back in November. In the former (briefly) Enix Brewing space that was Levine Bros. Hardware on Homestead’s main drag, Golden Age is serving food (a tight menu including local beef and veggie smash burgers, house-made bratwurst and a Caesar salad), wine and a roster of cocktails, along with a lineup of lagers, its pale ale and some other brews. It’s holding a Lager Fest on May 14 and is hinting about opening what’s upstairs, which “rhymes with ‘rolling alley.’" 337 E. 8th Ave., Homestead
Anthos Bakery & Café: The culmination of two couples’ shared dream of opening a Greek bakery, Anthos, appropriately, translates to blossom. "We wanted to bring some Greek hospitality when we moved here,” says co-owner Ellie Kousouli, who had lived in Athens. Sit down or take out an array of freshly baked goods (koulouri, a kind of Greek bagel, plus pita and baguettes), deli items (hummus and smoked eggplant, sandwiches, salads) and espresso drinks. It opened April 15. 3803 Willow Ave., Castle Shannon
Yum Yum Asian Cuisine: People who live in and visit this Mount Lebanon neighborhood — the original Hitchhiker Brewing Co. is just across the street — have been waiting for years for this place to open in the former Mm Mm Pizza storefront. Mm Mm became Yum Yum, a pan-Asian spot run by Thai native Wilaiwan Riccardi and her husband, Hector Lopez Diego, who plans to contribute some Mexican dishes eventually. It opened on April 9, and it didn’t seem like it was it’s first day. 193 Castle Shannon Blvd, Mt. Lebanon
Coven Brewing: Caiti Sullivan and Trevor Greer officially opened their new brewery in the former Roundabout Brewery space April 6. They’d already been hosting food trucks for sidewalk noshing, and will continue to do so. Recent trucks have included The Boonseek, Stuntpig and Just Roll’d Up. 4901 Butler St., Lawrenceville
Caliente Pizza & Draft House: The local chainlet arrives with two news hooks: An April 1 opening for its Crafton location in the same year Caliente turns 10. The new spot is the company’s seventh, on the (slightly cooled) heels of last fall’s Sewickley launch. And while you’re there, try the new(ish) Hazy Dough Dazy IPA, which the restaurant released in mid-October. 288 W. Steuben St., Crafton
The Halal Guys: The New York City institution that began as a street cart started franchising years ago, but with its grand opening on Feb. 26, Pittsburghers can finally taste the falafel that built an empire. (One that’s gone global, with locations in Canada, plus Asia and Europe.) Besides that crispy falafel, which you can get as a platter (with rice, pita, choice of topping and sauces), The Halal Guys are known for their gyros. Traditional sides include baba ganoush and hummus. 3621 Forbes Ave., Oakland
The Colombian Spot: The South American restaurant threw its second location a grand opening in late February, after more quietly launching later last year. As good an excuse as any to remind Pittsburghers The Colombian Spot now has two locations — the South Side original, the younger sibling in Oakland — where they can grab empanadas, arepas and bowls, including slow-cooked pork, with black beans and slaw, and the Paisa, with Colombian chorizo, fried pork belly, red beans, sweet plantains and more. 3533 Forbes Ave., Oakland
ECHT Coffeehouse: A rehabbed fire station in Mount Oliver, renovated with hand-crafted just about everything, including stained-glass windows, light fixtures and furniture, is now open as a coffeehouse. At ECHT, patrons can enjoy high-end drinks from Ethiopian Yirgacheffe and Sidamo beans, made with a top-notch espresso machine, and some bistro eats. And, if you’re inspired by the craftsmanship around you, there’s an on-site, active workshop where all that custom work was done. “The idea is to use the coffeehouse to explain what we’re doing in here,” owner Jörg Gerlach said, leading a tour through the rambling three-story space. It officially opened in late February. 107 Penn Ave., Mount Oliver
Tube City Brewing Co: Back in the day — as early as 1903, as late as 1955 — Tube City Brewing Co. embraced the moniker that had been given to McKeesport. Jump to 2022, and Tube City is back and brewing. New York natives Chris and Heather Tricarico, who relocated to Pittsburgh, are behind the revival, with Chris brewing. Heading up the restaurant is chef Michael Allison, formerly of Downtown’s Bridges & Bourbon. Also we must send up a Fanciful Mural alert because 1) we love them and 2) along a large wall in the sports bar, this painting has characters that inspire beer names. One Toadally Rad Pale Ale, please. 623 Long Run Rd, McKeesport
Music and Dance Bar: A new option for dancing while you drink opened March 12. The bar part of MAD sees cocktails crafted so that they’ve flavorful both with or without alcohol. The Freshman, with cinnamon, agave, tarragon and pear, becomes The Graduate, with an added shot of Mezcal. 736 Bellefonte St., 2nd floor; Shadyside
Reopenings
Gus & Yiayia’s: Serving up ice balls since 1934, Gus & Yiayia’s is back up and running for the season — and still helmed by Gus Kalaris, son of the original owner. Peanuts and popcorn round out the offerings from the staple at Allegheny Commons Park. Near W. Ohio Street, North Side
Strange Roots Experimental Ales: Temporarily closed since December, the brewery plans to reboot April 28 with a saucy new restaurant partner: Off the Rails Barbecue & Drafthouse. 4399 Gibsonia Road, West Deer
Expansion
Bae Bae’s Kitchen: Downtown’s go-to for Korean cuisine is reinventing itself, with the hopes of opening a bar and lounge by June. Owner Edward Lai’s vision, he says, is to create “a speakeasy, low-key cool place to hang out,” with a lounge area built out in the back of the restaurant. “You have to kind of discover it.” Picture plush seating, extended hours (possibly until 2 a.m. on weekends) and adult beverages. Maybe, Lai says, even some food menu additions too.
Here’s a cool detail: Lai notes that he got the liquor license from Sammy’s Famous Corned Beef, a Downtown institution that closed in March. The approval of that license is largely what the “open” date hinges on — Bae Bae’s is meanwhile serving all your favorites, fried chicken to boba teas — but when it goes through, Lai is ready to start serving soju-based cocktails as well as some drinks based around locally sourced spirits. Lai has also launched a campaign via Honeycomb Credit, a Pittsburgh-based loan crowdsourcing platform. 951 Liberty Ave., Downtown
On the horizon
MoonLit Burgers: A smash since founders Mike McCoy and Derek Stevens started doing pop-ups during the pandemic, on through its popular Dormont brick-and-mortar, the smash-burger restaurant is expanding Uptown. Set to take over the former Red Ring Bar & Grille space on the Duquesne University campus, MoonLit No. 2 is shooting for opening the first week of August, McCoy says, serving up its namesake patties and the rest of its menu (chicken sandwiches, veggie burgers, Millie’s soft-serve ice cream, et al.). That includes MoonLit’s cocktail and local beer offerings too. 1015 Forbes Ave., Uptown
James Street: The storied building in Deutschtown, which has hosted jazz greats and served as a tavern dating back to Prohibition, is being prepared for a rebirth. Most recently known as James Street Speakeasy, which was shuttered in November 2017, current owner Jonathan Iams is readying the historic building for a rebirth. The multi-space building, which also houses Iams’ offices and has addresses on James and Foreland streets, will retain its musical roots with a jazz club and have a restaurant as well. “The building will be renovated and ready for a tenant in early May,” Iams said. He plans to open the restaurant and the jazz club at the same time, so a launch date cannot be pinpointed just yet. 422 Foreland St., Deutschtown
Closings
Reed & Co.: Pittsburgh’s vegan restaurant scene is losing another major player: Reed & Co. in Lawrenceville will serve its last plant-based meals Friday, April 22. For owner Reed Putlitz, the decision to shutter the restaurant, which opened in 2016, boils down finances. “Things got really expensive. The costs were just out of control.” 4113 Butler St., Lawrenceville
B52: Closing shortly before its Lawrenceville neighbor, vegan restaurant B52 finished up its last week of service in mid-April. Opened in 2016, by Omar Abuhejleh (also of Allegro Hearth Bakery in Squirrel Hill), it focused on flavorful cuisine with Middle Eastern inspirations. But fans, take heart: B52 may rise again, at least in some form. “My plan is to sell it as a turnkey establishment,” Abuhejleh says, adding that, of the interested parties, “some may keep the B52 concept.” Either way, until he does sell the business — and he’s not in a hurry, he notes — he plans to do pop-ups out of the restaurant. He’s still working out the details of those, but they’d likely be monthly, all-takeout and include a tight menu with a couple of customer favorites, such as the falafel sandwich and shawarma. 5202 Butler St., Lawrenceville
Bitter Ends: The tiny farm-to-table spot that evolved over the past four-plus years into a neighborhood favorite for fresh cuisine is closing. Posting the news March 28 on Instagram, owner Becca Hegarty expressed her gratitude along with the date of final service: April 20 (for its “second annual Clownburger”). “This project began with the need to share something real with people. We opened 4.5 years ago with a ½ acre garden, speeding into a small brick and mortar establishment to show my mother the vision before she died.” 4613 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield
The Korner Pub: Four Mount Lebanon high school friends bought this landmark bar — on the ground floor of an apartment building at the busy corner of Washington and Bower Hill roads — in 2014. They cleaned up the smoke residue, upgraded the beer list and had a great run as a no-frills neighborhood bar, but couldn't overcome COVID. It closed without an announcement on March 27, after an impromptu farewell party, and its fans are lamenting its passing on social media. 4 Bower Hill Road, Mount Lebanon
For sale
Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor: Sweet, sweet institution Klavon’s — it originally opened in the Strip in 1923 — is up for sale. Owner Jacob Hanchar said “the phone was ringing off the hook” within hours of the March 22, announcement, and that he does want it to keep its sweet-treat roots. “The ideal situation is I find someone who can take the business to the next level,” Hanchar said, adding that, in entertaining potential buyers, “We’re going to be very selective and very deliberate.” In the meantime, the shop will continue to churn its homemade ice creams and serve customers. 2801 Penn Ave., Strip District
First Published: April 7, 2022, 8:40 p.m.
Updated: April 22, 2022, 8:48 p.m.
