These 7 Amazing Pittsburgh Restaurants Are Loaded With Local History

For some diners, at least, ambiance has a big impact on the entire eating experience. These historic restaurants in Pittsburgh are likely to pique your curiosity if you’re interested in learning more about the city’s fascinating past in addition to offering delicious food and fascinating histories.

Located at 20 Market Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, The Original Oyster House Pittsburgh

The Original Oyster House tops the list of historical restaurants for good reason. It’s been a Pittsburgh favorite for 147 years, longer than any eatery in the city. Photos – black and white mingled with color – adorn the walls of the restaurant that has starred in nearly 25 Hollywood films. While the Original Oyster House may be best known for its over-sized fish sandwiches, its menu also features seafood platters, chicken tenders, and salmon burgers.

2. Primanti Brothers – 46 18th Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Primanti Brothers, now famous for its sandwiches topped with fries and coleslaw, started as a food cart in the early 1930s before it moved to its first restaurant in the Strip District. After the restaurant changed ownership in the 1970s, the owner decided to expand, adding new locations. Today, Primanti Brothers can be found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Florida, Michigan, Indiana, and West Virginia.

3. The Park House – 403 E. Ohio Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

The Park House debuted on the Pittsburgh culinary landscape in 1933. It originally served as a neighborhood bar but now, with Zamir Zahavi at the ownership helm, the popular restaurant is the spot to go for live entertainment, good food, good drink, and to watch the Pirates, Steelers, or Penguins games on TV. The Park House menu features such dishes as falafels, gyros, and pita pizza.

4. Terrace Room – Omni William Penn Hotel, 530 William Penn Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

The Terrace Room got its start as the Italian Terrace in 1916. Step back into the past as you view the many historic photographs that line the walls and “The Taking of Fort Pitt,” a spectacular wall mural. Dine at The Terrace Room for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, opting for such dishes as Chilean sea bass, New York strip steak, Amish chicken, and seafood pasta.

5. The Grand Concourse – 100 W Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

When you step through the entrance at the Grand Concourse, you’ll likely feel as though you have traveled back in time to an old-fashioned train station in the early 20th century, with a sweeping staircase, a grand wall clock, and spectacular views of the river and the Pittsburgh skyline. A seafood restaurant, the Grand Concourse’s menu offers such entrees as yellow fin tuna, planked salmon, and jumbo shrimp scampi.