Restaurants in Whitehall

At Bistro @ Bella Sera, located in Bella Sera Event Venue, diners converse across white-linen-covered tables tucked below painted Tuscan archways after adorning plates with an infinite supply of gourmet fare. The trattoria—first in Pittsburgh to nab a certification from the Green Restaurant Association—surprises palates with a daily rotating menu of Italian antipasti, salads, soups, entrees, and desserts. Past delights include Tuscan minestrone soup, breaded chicken milanese with lemon pepper confit, and chicken romano with roasted redskin potatoes. For a quick preview of what’s in store, diners can check out today’s all-you-can-eat menu on the Bella Sera Facebook page or sneak into chef Josh’s dreams.

Red Tea House peppers palates with an amalgam of Asian flavors with a menu of Chinese specialties and freshly bundled sushi options. While skilled maki chefs manipulate scallops, salmon, and yellowtail into intricate rolls, diners wrap their own morsels of classic peking duck and mu-shu pork in delicate, steaming crepes. Seven days a week, patrons can stop in for a dumpling appetizer, or savor Asian fare at home with complimentary delivery in order to effectively discipline a misbehaving wok.

Fernando’s Cafe slings a panoply of satisfying sandwiches and American fare that range from toasted subs and wraps to salads and pizza. Toasted subs include the hickory-barbecue steak deluxe and the tuna-melt supreme, which traps tomato, mozzarella, and basil inside a crisp bread prison. Classic subs such as the philly cheesesteak and clubs filled with turkey, ham, and swiss sate midday hunger, and Fernando’s kitchen masters craft comfort-food combinations by rolling lasagna, curried chicken, or gyro meat into toasted wraps. Fold ‘Ems subvert traditional sandwich expectations by wrapping sandwich toppings in flatbread, creating a half-closed cocoon where chicken-teriyaki flavors blossom much like a blooming butterfly.

Opened in 2003, Mexi-Casa’s playful take on Tex-Mex dishes quickly earned it the tagline “Pittsburgh’s Least Authentic Mexican Restaurant,” according to the Dormont-Brookline Patch. The full bar pours domestic and imported beers as well as hand-mixed margaritas on the rocks margaritas in five fruity flavors. The chef adds his own creative flair to each dish, resulting in globe-spanning combinations such as the Mediterranean quesadilla, pretzels con queso, and the Acapulco burrito—a blend of pulled pork, grilled pineapple, and trilingual cheeses. The menu also offers more traditional Tex-Mex dishes, including more than 40 burrito combinations, soft-shell tacos, and house-made guacamole.

The full bar pours domestic and imported beers as well as hand-mixed margaritas on the rocks margaritas in five fruity flavors. The eatery’s late-night menu offers a limited selection of appetizers and entrees, chicken wings in six sauces.

The original McFadden's, founded in New York City, was known for throwing the wildest parties in the area, and the franchise's myriad locations now carry on the tradition throughout the United States. Resident DJs blast dance beats throughout the night, and, more often than not, both staff and patrons confuse the bar and the dance floor. Guests can steady themselves with burgers or pub fare and watch a Pittsburgh team on one of the 30 high-definition TVs around the bar. The bar also hosts bachelor, bachelorette, and birthday parties, as well as corporate events or fortnightly gatherings to howl at passing satellites.

After each game, the players of the Pittsburgh Rugby Club used to gather for postgame grub and drinks. As they mulled over how much money they spent at these feasts, they proposed, half-jokingly, that they might as well own their own bar. The idea lingered for several years until, in the spring of 1999, one of the club's beloved members, Eddie Short, passed away. Eddie's enthusiasm for opening the bar rivaled that of his comrades, and, with the memory of their teammate firmly etched in their minds, the Pittsburgh Rugby Club raised enough funds to purchase a storefront.

Since opening in the fall of 2000, the gang's pub has appeased palates with an abundance of wraps, burgers, cheesesteaks, and sandwiches. Indoor dining quarters and an outdoor patio accommodate clientele, who can surf on WiFi throughout their meals or watch any Steelers, Penguins, or Pirates games. Music fans can tap their toes to occasional live bands or the sound waves emanating from the jukebox, and music haters can cup their hands over their ears in protest.