Perfect Pairings: New Restaurants, After-Hours Coffee Shops & SAD Pop-Ups Brighten the Season

As we tentatively tuck away parking chairs and dig ourselves out from recent weeks of snow, we’re keeping an eye on enticing reasons to leave the house and explore. Here are some perfect pairings to give any night out a much-needed boost.

In Oakland, pair a cozy booth feast with some nearby arts

Cork & Crust, located just a short walk from the Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland, recently opened its doors on the ground level of The Oaklander Hotel, and the vibes feel welcoming from the get-go. We enjoyed cozying into a back-room booth inside the sleek space, where our infectiously cheerful server walked us through Chef Kristin Butterworth's’s varied menu. Sourcing locally is incredibly important to Butterworth; whenever possible, ingredients come from within a two-hour drive of the venue.

While pizzas and pastas dominate the menu, we were delighted by the amount of other offerings, too, from short ribs to chicken Milanese. The tuna crudo (with calabrian chili, pickled onion, sundried tomato-caper relish and pine nuts) was a particularly stunning standout, as were the delicata squash and roasted cauliflower salads. In another fun twist, “yesterday’s pizza” becomes “today’s panzanella” in a menu item that features marinated white beans, crust croutons, sundried tomato, spinach, cucumber, pesto, balsamic-feta vinaigrette.

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Cork & Crust

Cork & Crust’s pizza flavors range from Spicy Pepperoni and Holy Shiitake to the Nonna’s Rebellion (tomato sauce, pineapple, leoncini ham, hot honey jalapeños, mozzarella) and the Truffle Pig (think white sauce, black truffle, italian sausage, garlic, red onion, arugula). Patrons will also enjoy an extensive wine list plus innovative cocktails like the Puglia Sunset (sauza reposado tequila, lemon, agave syrup, almond liqueur or ange liqueur, dehydrated lemon wheel and salt rim) or the tasty Bourbon Harvest Mule (Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon, lemon, apple syrup, amaro nonino, ginger beer).

Consider pairing a meal at this hip hangout with an evening event or class at nearby Phipps, or at the Carnegie Music Hall, whose shows spotlight musicians, writers, poets and more. The historic rose and gilt theatre, which was built in 1895 and seats about 1,900 people, can be accessed via Forbes Avenue next to Dippy the Dinosaur. We recommend perusing the venue’s roster, which consistently fills with inspiring and talented speakers and performers; upcoming events include Angela Flournoy (March 23), Padma Lakshmi (rescheduled from an earlier date to March 31, much to her fans’ delight) and Adriana Ramirez (April 30).

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Cork & Crust

And if you’re looking for an N/A night cap, SAD BAR, located at 3701 Forbes Avenue, has been designed as a bright, uplifting alternative for Pittsburgh’s greyest winter weeks. Bethany Paola, Communications Director at the Pittsburgh Innovation District, tells us the idea was born out of a brainstorm for Oakland Winter Lights, paired with many conversations they’ve had around the recent trend of NA bars — and specifically third spaces that don't revolve around alcohol. “The name is a play on both Seasonal Affective Disorder and Sans Alcohol Drinks,” she says. “The space blends elevated zero-proof cocktails with warm-spectrum lighting and Vitamin D lamps to create a mood-boosting environment that counters seasonal low light and winter fatigue.”

The pop-up currently doesn’t have plans to extend past March 1, but Paola says they’re always looking for ways to activate various parts of the neighborhood. “The warm reception to this concept has got our wheels turning for future ones!” she shares. (SAD Bar is operated by the Pittsburgh Innovation District and Oakland Business Improvement District Teams with support from building owners at Oakland Real Estate.)

The pop-up offers a “buzzy” zero-proof menu featuring local and international brands, including a special partnership with BERO. “You may know BERO by its famous co-founder, Tom Holland, but did you know it also has Pittsburgh roots with another of its co-founders, John Herman, living here in town?” Paola asks.

So far, the response to the venue has been positive. “Not only has it been a warm reprieve from the weather for nearby students, it has also drawn in a number of folks from around the region and beyond who are looking for alternatives to the bar scene,” Paola says.

“Lots of small groups meeting up for an evening out, our Thursday trivia nights have filled the space to capacity, and we have a growing interest in the other programming we've been rolling out such as open mic nights, crafternoons and specials.“

In Squirrel Hill, pair a cinema outing with a late-night latte

The current combination of Oscars season with full-on winter vibes means we’re especially keen to snuggle into a movie theater for inspirational films. And there’s no better place to do just that than at local favorite Manor in Squirrel Hill. We love the old-school charm of this historic East End space, and their M Bar cocktail and concession offerings make a night out here feel extra-festive and fun. (Matinee and Bargain Wednesday prices are pretty hard to beat!)

Grabbing dinner before (or post-) screening is consistently enjoyable at Independent Brewing Company, Taiwanese Bistro Cafe 33 or Squirrel Hill Cafe, a friendly and divey neighborhood institution with surprisingly good burgers and wooden booths ideal in which to smush together for spirited friend catchups. Options for nearby sustenance and beverages keep expanding in Squirrel Hill, too, thanks to the recent additions of Pre Amp Coffee and Afters Cafe, a coffee shop that stays open later than most city cafes, luring in newbie fans with tasty coffee treats, smoothies and Turkish pastries.

Pre Amp Coffee Studio
Corinne W

Author

Corinne W

Freelance Writer & Editor

Corinne is happy to be back closer to home (D.C.) after 11 years in the glorious Pacific Northwest. Though she cherishes global adventures, she also lives for discovering local gems, from the best spots for coffee, conversation and soul-nourishing music, to water activities and trails on which to walk a loveable little husky. You can follow her on Instagram at @travelcorx

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