The places that make the cut.

Dish Osteria is a dimly lit little restaurant on 17th Street in the South Side—and, honestly, it’s the only reason I go to the South Side.

The chef and the host, who are also the owners, are brothers—natives of Sicily who came to Pittsburgh by way of New York City. Both are veterans of the restaurant industry, and they still work as hard as ever. They’re kind, fun, and accommodating in a way that makes the place feel personal every time you walk through the door.

The kitchen serves Sicilian food alongside other Italian and Mediterranean dishes, with handmade pastas and excellent seafood options. The room is equally suited to a great date night or an evening alone at the bar with a nice glass of wine. Their amaro selection is the best in the city.

Charming is probably the simplest word for Dish, although it doesn’t quite cover it. Parking isn’t always easy, but it’s worth a short walk, a long walk, or an international flight to Pittsburgh from anywhere in the world—including Italy.

In my opinion, it’s one of the best restaurants in the city.

Another personal favorite, Bar Marco is housed in an old firehouse in the Strip District. It’s a small, intimate restaurant that seats around 28 people, with a small bar that accommodates six. Downstairs, there’s also a private wine cellar room for up to ten guests. I’ve reserved it myself and enjoyed the experience immensely. It’s the kind of place that feels special without feeling stuffy.

The menu changes with the seasons, but you can expect beautifully made Italian-inspired dishes, housemade pastas and ingredients sourced from local farms and purveyors. The small-production and natural wine list is excellent, and the cocktails are every bit as carefully considered.

Everyone who works there seems genuinely involved in the restaurant. They know the food, they know the wine, and they’re always happy to talk about both. The service is warm and informed without ever becoming overly formal.

Bar Marco has also received national attention for doing away with tipping and paying its staff salaries and benefits instead. Service is already included in the price—an approach that makes the people who work there feel as thoughtfully considered as the people coming in for dinner.

Right on Penn Avenue heading into the Strip District, Salem’s is the kind of place to visit when you’re hungry and don’t feel like waiting around for something delicious.

The grill is set up cafeteria-style, with a hot bar serving vegetarian and halal meals from across the Middle East, South Asia, and beyond. There are lamb and chicken kabobs, shawarma, tandoori, curries, saag paneer, chana masala, Greek salads, and much, much more. It’s quick, it’s delicious, and the guys behind the counter are always friendly.

Next door is an entire Middle Eastern and international market with a halal butcher, making it easy to eat first and shop after. The prices are remarkably reasonable, especially when you see the amount of food they put on your plate.

The portions are the kind you can eat over the course of two days. You definitely won’t leave hungry—and there’s a good chance tomorrow’s lunch is already taken care of.

They say pizza is like sex—even when it’s bad, it’s still pretty good. Sushi, on the other hand… well, life is too short to eat bad sushi.

Mola is owned by husband-and-wife team Alex and Mimi. Alex works his tail off in the back of the house while Mimi tirelessly handles the front. Together, they’ve created a truly solid sushi experience in Pittsburgh’s East End.

The fish is always fresh, and it’s worth keeping an eye on the specials board, where you’ll occasionally find quality cuts of tuna like toro and chutoro, along with your choice of aka uni—a decadent, almost custard-like red sea urchin—or shiro uni, which is white, slightly more briny, and firm. There’s also hamachi collar and a solid menu of cut rolls, along with hand rolls that arrive uniquely unrolled so you can wrap them yourself when you’re ready to eat.

Add a terrific sake selection and plenty of appetizers, soups, and other things worth exploring, and Mola becomes an easy place to return to again and again.

Soba is an upscale Pan-Asian restaurant on Ellsworth Avenue, but its dark and cozy lounge environment keeps it from ever feeling too formal.

It’s an easy choice for a date night, though it works just as well when you simply want to settle in at the bar for a relaxing drink and something to eat.

The menu moves between sushi, udon, Korean barbecue and other Pan-Asian dishes. Somewhat unexpectedly, they also make a delicious smash burger when you’re in the mood for something a little more low-key.

Add a strong wine and sake list, along with a nice selection of Japanese whisky, and Soba gives you plenty of reasons to linger. Of the restaurants in the Big Burrito group, it’s definitely one of the better options.

Béla is one of East Liberty’s newest restaurants—only a few months old—and I’m hoping it sticks around for a long while.

Everything I’ve tried tastes remarkably fresh. The beef pho is practically medicinal after a late night, while the mango salad is substantial enough to be a meal in and of itself. There are bánh mì sandwiches, lemongrass tofu, and plenty of other popular Vietnamese dishes worth working your way through.

The restaurant itself is spacious and open, with lots of plants and natural light. There’s plenty of table seating for a larger group, along with a nice long bar if you’re stopping in alone or just want a more casual perch.

The waitstaff is friendly, the ingredients are fresh, and the pho might be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Nicky’s Thai Kitchen is the Thai restaurant I recommend whenever anyone asks. There are three locations, and they’re all great, but each has its own atmosphere.

For something casual, I like the original restaurant on the North Side, especially when the patio is open during the summer. For more of a date-night vibe, I like the Downtown location. It’s darker inside, with decorative Thai art and sculptures throughout. There’s also a third location on Mt. Nebo Road where I’ll occasionally stop for a bite when I’m in the area.

Regardless of which location you choose, the menus are the same. The papaya salad, crab Rangoon, and grilled duck curry are a few of my favorites—but I kid you not, please do not sleep on the chicken noodle soup, especially in the wintertime.

I’m not talking about one of the traditional Thai soups like tom kha gai or tom yum goong. It’s simply called chicken noodle soup on the menu, and it is medicinal. I don’t know the complete list of ingredients, but there’s definitely lemongrass, star anise, and garlic in the mix, and I crave it whenever the weather turns cold.

Pair it with a hot ginger tea and cancel your doctor’s appointment.

Tucked away from the bustle of Walnut Street at 732 Filbert Street is Café Moulin, a petite French crêpe café and one of my favorite breakfast spots in Shadyside.

The place is bright, clean, and run by an all-women kitchen that turns out beautifully plated food without making it feel overly fancy. They offer sweet and savory crêpes, yogurt parfaits, crispy bacon, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and locally roasted La Prima coffee.

The food feels fresh and healthy, the staff is always super friendly, and the whole place has an easy neighborhood charm. It’s a great little spot to slow down over breakfast—but still, don’t sleep on the bacon.

350° Bakery is a tiny bakery in the South Side Slopes that’s only open four days a week, from 8 in the morning until early afternoon.

They serve delicious breakfast sandwiches on biscuits with ham, sausage, bacon, or brisket, along with hand pies, cookies, and other sweet pastries. There’s a small outdoor seating area, but most people opt to take their order to go.

Most days there’s a line around the corner with hungry customers. Show up a little later in the morning and the line usually settles down, but there’s almost always at least a short wait. These sandwiches are in high demand on the weekends—and for good reason.

La Gourmandine’s pastries are delectable—beautifully crafted and exquisite in taste. I can’t think of another pâtisserie that even comes close to matching them in this city.

I also love the Montagnard sandwich: butter on a baguette with prosciutto and cornichons. Simple. Refined. Savory. Delicious.

Grab one for lunch and a Macarons aux Fruits or a Tarte aux poires for dessert—even if you can’t pronounce it!

Penn Ave Pizza and Steaks is affectionately called PAPS—a name that also brings to mind a deeply loved Western Pennsylvania nickname for grandfather. We called my Italian grandfather Pap Pap. I guess we loved the nickname so much, we said it twice.

At PAPS on Penn, there’s plenty to love. The attention these guys give to every detail is truly impressive, especially for a neighborhood pizza-and-hoagie shop.

Their pizza dough is a three-day process, made in advance with a poolish preferment to develop deeper flavor and a better texture. After each pie or slice comes out of the oven, they finish it with freshly grated Parmesan, a drizzle of Partanna olive oil and fresh basil.

The steak hoagie is made with 100% ribeye, grilled with onions and Cooper Sharp cheese, then piled onto a seeded semolina roll from Liscio’s Bakery in the Philly area. The rolls arrive par-baked and are finished in-house at PAPS.

Their Italian meats are among the highest quality and are sliced fresh daily at Pennsylvania Macaroni Company in the Strip District. Even the meatballs are made in-house with a signature blend of pork, beef and veal.

Every detail has been considered—Qui nulla è lasciato al caso.

D’s Six Packs & Dogs is one of those places that’s hard to categorize in this guide.

I mean, it’s a bar, it’s a restaurant, it’s a pizza joint, and it’s a place to grab a six pack to go. But above all that, for me, it’s a hot dog spot.

It’s a place to post up at the bar, order a draft beer and an all-beef chili cheese dog or a Chicago dog—and if you’re especially hungry, throw in a Chihuahua dog or a Cuban—or any of their other choice toppings. You can also opt for kielbasa, sausage, or veggie dogs.

Everything else on the menu delivers too. The pizza is solid, the wings are legit, and the sandwiches and salads all hit the spot. But when I come here, I’m here for the hot dogs and drafts.

It’s not trying to reinvent the hot dog. It’s just an unpretentious neighborhood spot where the beer is cold, the menu has something for everyone, and the atmosphere makes it easy to stay for one more round or one more inning of the Buccos game. It’s a fun hangout for Regent Square neighborhood folks and Pittsburgh locals in general. There’s indoor and outdoor seating, a bar side, a restaurant side, a beer fridge, and an additional upstairs bar as well.

The line cooks work right in front of the bar, swapping places with the bartenders in a way that looks almost choreographed when it’s busy—and it’s often busy.

On more than one occasion, I’ve ridden my motorcycle over, parked at the curb, and swapped the draft beer for a draft root beer—no ice. Same ritual, just a safer ride home.