Pittsburgh Restaurant Week serves up safe ways to dine
Let someone else do the cooking.
Winter Pittsburgh Restaurant Week offers diners options – from food specials to limited-time-only dishes – all done safely so you can enjoy a meal during a pandemic.
Most places will offer the deals now through Jan. 24, and some longer into February.
You can find a list of participating restaurants here.
Now there are even more options today. Menus at https://t.co/F7u3Q2lScO pic.twitter.com/6Occ6nv9xP
— Pgh Restaurant Week (@PghRestaurantWk) January 12, 2021
Brian McCollum, event director of Pittsburgh Restaurant Week, said nearly 40 restaurants are part of the 20th biannual event.
Participating restaurants are not limited to within city limits. There are options in Monroeville, Glenshaw, Seven Fields and other areas.
“I think diners should be able to find a restaurant close to them,” he said.
At Square Café in East Liberty, there is a socially distanced dine-in option, takeout, curbside pickup or delivery.
“They asked us if we wanted to participate and we jumped on it,” said Square Café owner Sherree Goldstein. “Right now, we just want to be active and in the community.” In October, the cafe moved from Edgewood to the larger location in East Liberty.
A special for $20.21 is a bagel sandwich with lox, cream cheese and onions served with Greek yogurt, fruit, granola and honey.
Today is the day! Our @PghRestaurantWk special begins. Get a taste of our All-Day Long Power Brunch!
Our classic bagel sandwich + our homemade yogurt cup.
Now through January 24 pic.twitter.com/PnVmpQMf0q
— Square Cafe (@TheSquareCafe) January 11, 2021
Goldstein said last year was a “huge drop” for her business. The suspension of indoor dining several times because of Gov. Tom Wolf’s covid-19 orders hurt sales. Currently, restaurants are limited to 50% percent seating. She hopes Restaurant Week will create some momentum for 2021.
LeMont on Mt. Washington features an indoor dining space that can accommodate 250 people, safely distanced. The restaurant is offering a three-course dinner for $40.21 per person with menu favorites such as Virginia Spots and Beef Bourguignon. LeMont plans to honor the price through Jan. 31.
“LeMont is so excited to have the opportunity for new and regular customers to return this week as we kick off Pittsburgh Restaurant Week,” said Kathy Slencak, the restaurant’s special projects manager. “Of course, everything is different due to the pandemic.”
She said ownership has invested in an air filtration system and ultraviolet lights to kill germs. The staff wears masks. The restaurant is regularly deep cleaned and sanitized.
“The winter event definitely presents more challenges than the summer because back in August, we had some outdoor dining locations,” McCollum said. “I also think we can view this time as a ‘welcome back’ for restaurants that just reopened for indoor dining on Jan. 4. And some of them are opening with limited days and hours. They are taking a conservative approach to reopening plans.”
At St. Clair Social in Friendship, co-owner Cecil Usher was familiar with the promotion from his years working at Downtown restaurants.
“We value Restaurant Week and we want the community in our neighborhood to know about it and be able to experience it,” Usher said. “We also know that people like to venture out try new food so they might come here for the first time.”
The dish they are featuring is chicken confit leg and thigh with an apple radish salad over a bed of coconut dirty rice and nam chim, a dipping sauce, for $20.21.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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