Pittsburgh Restaurant Week promises a week of "New Dishes for the New Year" during their winter celebration Jan. 9-15. If you've never participated, this event is a fantastic time to try a diverse range of international flavors from restaurants across the city and into the suburbs, all for a special discounted price.
There's too many restaurants to focus on for one blog, so instead, I'm showcasing what's new. Be sure to check out these new restaurants, new dishes and new twists to old favorites for Pittsburgh Restaurant Week.
Cadence+ Cellars Speakeasy
I'm leading off this list with a double dose of new - Cadence+ Cellars opened late 2022 in the Strip District and is already creating new dishes specifically for restaurant week. Their chicken ala king combines slow roasted chicken with velouté and trumpet mushrooms served over egg noodles. Their special menu comes with waldorf salad and chocolate ice box cake for a fantastic meal in this trendy speakeasy.
Sushi Tomo
A North Hills staple since 2001, Sushi Tomo's Japanese and Chinese cuisine and fresh sushi keeps their passionate customers coming back again and again. They're ringing in 2023 with a New Year's Roll full of flavor with shrimp tempura and cucumber inside topped with assorted fish, avocado, spicy mayo and eel sauce, all touched with tempura flakes. I recommend their fantastic gyoza for your first course, and be sure to save some room for their green tea mochi dessert for Pittsburgh Restaurant Week.
The Porch at Siena
With locations in Oakland (right in Schenley Plaza) and Upper St. Clair, there's double the reason to try The Porch's new signature entree for Pittsburgh Restaurant Week. The pasta bolognese really speaks for itself in the photo below, piled high with ricotta and served with garlic toast. Look for additional specials like cocktail specials and $5 chips and dip on select weeknights during this promotion.
Lily's at River Forest
This was a new dish that literally made my mouth water just reading about it. Lily's at River Forest in Freeport is serving up a three-course meal for only $32 headlined by their new lobster and waffles, a butterflied chicken-fried lobster tail served over a sweet potato Belgian waffle served with spicy lemon maple syrup and micro nasturtium. With their signature spicy Moroccan carrot salad started and a coffee pistachio semifreddo, this restaurant week special is worth the drive.
Luma
What's better than one new dish for restaurant? FIVE! That's right, Luma Wine Bar & Restaurant in Mt. Lebanon has something new to sample for each course, including:
- zucchini roulade
- lobster and shrimp bisque
- short rib ravioli
- Alaskan cod encrusted with crab and horseradish crumb
- pecan pie
You had me at short rib ravioli, personally, but this diverse menu lets diners enjoy tons of different flavors at this seafood-centric, swanky spot.
Christian James
One of Pittsburgh's hottest new dining spots is located right downtown and attached to the Joinery Hotel. Christian James offers upscale dining with a rotating menu celebrating tastes and cultures from around the world, all with stunning preparations and presentations. For restaurant week, start with a locally-forged salad or french onion soup, relish your entrée if pan-seared duck breast, scallops and vegetable lasagna, then end with something sweet including their house profiterole and ube panna cotta.
More
This is just an appetizer of what you can expect from Pittsburgh Restaurant Week. For the full list of all participating locations and even more new dishes, visit their website. Can't decide where to go? Spin their restaurant roulette wheel and discover somewhere new!
