Restaurants in Penn Hills

While 20/20 is typically a metric for eyesight, at Hula Bar & Grill it is a metric for culinary vision; the eatery complements its array of 20 specialty burgers with 20 specialty pizzas. In their kitchen that stays open until midnight 365 days per year, the chefs bake golden-brown pies such as the Bloody Mary pizza with red vodka sauce, celery, and chicken. They also whip up burgers such as the Kahuna burger—a five-pattied cheeseburger that towers over plates at a foot tall, the size of the burgers Godzilla eats while on a diet. Those who can’t decide between the two specialties can get the best of both worlds with the Pizza Burger, a patty crowned with pizza sauce, pepperoni, and Italian cheeses. Chicken wings swoop to tables in an array of flavors, from wasabi ranch to bourbon barbecue—another house specialty—washed down by long island iced teas and other refreshing cocktails.

an awesome coffee house with a hippie flair!

Nestled on one of Oakmont's quaint streets, What's Cookin' at Casey's spotlights authentic Italian cuisine lovingly whipped up from the owners' time-perfected family recipes. Drop by for BYOB dinner and peruse a menu crooning the Old Country's greatest hits, including Rose's chicken cacciatore with savory notes of boneless chicken breast and mushrooms, capped with a velvety encore of tomato-basil cream sauce ($15.95). Creamy layers of polenta and marinara sauce cool fiery italian sausage ($15.95), and Casey's traditional or vegetable lasagna deliciously builds a home layer by layer in guests' mouths ($14.95). Chefs also elevate cuts of meat to greater heights in grilled 8-ounce sirloin filets ($16.95) and nine hand-holdable hoagies ($5.25–$10.95).

A new pizza shop in the Verona/Penn Hills area

Celebrated in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review for its more than 600 hoppy brews, Beer Nutz Bottle Shoppe & Grille pours 35 rotating drafts to complement a menu of delicious—and sometimes intimidating—pub fare. Their featured burger, the aptly named Ruination, challenges bold visitors with its jaw-dropping combination of fried eggs, bacon, and a bun that consists of two texas-toast grilled cheese sandwiches. Lobster rolls and hefty one-pound fish sandwiches round out the menu alongside wings triple flavored by Yuengling marinades, spicy rubs, and tangy sauces. Opened on the same day the Pittsburgh Penguins won the 2009 Stanley Cup, the restaurant hosts game-watching nights as well as regular wine tastings, live music performances, and games of pin the tail on the keg.

The two locations have slight variations in their menu offerings, but both feature a wide assortment of Pan-Asian cuisine, including dim sum, sushi, noodle dishes, and drinks. For family-style fun, share small dim sum plates while conversing using only dialogue from Disney cartoons. Select steamed barbecue pork buns ($6) and hope that your fellow plate passers order the sweet sesame seed balls ($5). Enjoy Arbor Day any day by grabbing a rainforest roll with cucumber, avocado, and shiitake ($5), or the bonzai roll with asparagus, avocado, and mango salsa ($5). For a heartier bite, hang a fang on kung pao chicken ($16) or kung pao New York strip steak ($25), either of which comes topped with peanuts and chili peppers.

Inside a building that once sat vacant for several years, Barcelona at Rivers Edge transformed the empty space into a modern European restaurant that fuses flavors and styles of Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy. The revamped establishment merges international bites with views of the Allegheny River, which are especially impressive from Barcelona’s top-floor lounge and summertime rooftop deck. In addition to its extensive food spread and riverside vistas, Barcelona offers a wide range of wines and cocktails, including house-made sangria.