Jerome Bettis food on the north shore is terrible. Only reason to go there is if you are a Steeler fan. Been three times ( I live downtown Pitts, right across river ) every time food is mediocore at very best. Get off North Shore and head into downtown Pittsburgh, mile away. You can walk across Federal Street across the Clemente Bridge and be in downtown. DO IT, food is MUCH BETTER. I have no idea why any Pittsburgher would reccomend Bettis's, unless they never come downtown. If you don't believe me, read the yelp reviews. Not flattering.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jerome-bettis-grille-36-pittsburgh#query:Jerome%20Bettis%20GrillGo to Market Square. 14 new restaurants in a year. They redid it, and it is marvelous.
Wingharts Burgers and Whiskey Bar - recently voted best burger in Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh Magazine. Killer burger, $9 burger mind you, but its hand ground strip loin and sirloin, excellent toppings like Garlic Aoili, arugula, sauteed onions and shroomage, great stuff. Bun is brioche, so buttery and soft. Then hand cut fries, fresh soups ad chil, awesome, AWESOME stuff.
NOLA - French creole cuisine, as in NewolrleansLouisiana. Great stuff. Spent over a million dollars just redoing the space, and it's splendied. Battered alligator bites are great, best vegan French Onion soup in the world, the bread pudding is so soft it floats down your throat, and the scallops mac daddy ( scallops and mac and cheese ) is to die for. Prepare for a loud spot, as there are always 100+ hanging out. But a really fun time. Great music, Live music, exceptional food.
Las Velas - Pittsburghs authentic Mexican. Great home made Mexican food, guy brought his mother's recipes from south Mexico and trained chefs to replicate. They serve a plethora of flaming items. The mole is awesome, margaritas HUGE, atmosphere amazing, and it gives you a rooftop view of Market Square.
Taste of Dahntahn- ( Pittsburghs pronounciation of Downtown ) awesome, AWESOME. Wow. Don't know how else to describe it. The 165 year old building was just about to fall over, literally, covered with over a century of grime. It was black, thats how dirty it was. ( was an old National City bank branch too, ha! ) And this group came in and made it into a rat pack era type place, you feel like Sammy Davis Jr or Sinatra are going to come in. Stage in back of dining room where there's entertainment on weekends. Food is a simple menu but executed and then some. Menu is a LED menu, like a kindle. It is so neat. Best atmosphere anywhere. Last time I had this baked chicken and risotto with baby broccoli, simple dish, but melted inmy mouth. ANd the bread has this cheesey airy texture, so good.
Rink at PPG Place - It's an open air outdoor ice skating rink in the middle of downtown Pittsburgh. Will be open for another 4 weeks, til' March 11 or 18. Go skating there, its wonderful. 95' diamond shaped rink. Music playing, and in the heart of the PPG office complex, so you are skating in the midst of these 4 mirrored art deco skyscrapers, wonderful time.
http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/calendar/monthly/2012/3I attached the link for the Cultural Trust, wonderful shows going on the whole time you're in. Right across the river from your hotel, you'll be in downtown, and there are world class theaters everywhere right there once across the river. So many shows to see and avail yourself of. I highly recccomend taking in a show while there if you can.
While attending a show, right there on 6th, there are a number of cheap and awesome dining options. Salonikas Greek, simple gyros, Greek specialties, wings, hoagies, good stuff. India Palace- traditional Indian cuisine. Great stuff. And the best pizza in downtown Pittshurgh, Giovanni's. Great pie.
Shopping - downtown Pittsburgh has exceptional shopping available, more than most cities our size. A Saks ( closing, but open til' May ) Macy's, Burlington, Brooks Brothers, and many other small retailers along with Fifth/Wood corridor.
And lastly, the Pittsburgh Strip. If you wanna find out what Pittsburgh is, go to the Strip. Wow, WOW, WOW. Such local flavor. You have a Mexican restaurant that cooks tacos streetside along with fruit smoothies, a Korean barbecue where they cook chicken on a stick in the street with bean pancakes, you have cookies for sale, pastries, Greek food, Spanish markets, at least half a dozen Mexican/Latin American Markets, can't even count how many Asian markets, fresh fish markets, and inside the main fish market, Wholey's, they have battered fish, sushi, great stuff. Also Pittsburgh Public Market, Pittsburgh's answer for Pike Place in Seattle. Great coffee in the strip, Pittsburgh Popcorn is to die for, popcorn flavored in a million ways, Reese's is the best. Chocolate, peanut butter, and popcorn mixed together, need I say more? Mullaney's Harp and Fiddle in the Strip is as authentic Irish as you'll find in the States, has Irish dancing, Irish music, trivia nite, all sorts of fun stuff. And you'll be in close to Saint Paddy's.
Enjoy the Burgh! If you need someone to do dinner with to avoid boredom, I'm sure the wife would allow us to join you!
Good luck!!!!
