Food Traveler Magazine Winter 2016 | Page 114

Northeast Pittsburgh PENNSYLVANIA On any given evening, long lines are forming in Pittsburgh. They’re not only forming for Steelers, Penguins and Pirates games or at theaters in the city’s busy Cultural District. These new lines are actually catching the attention of national and international food writers. Patrons patiently line up outside Gaucho Parrilla Argentina in the Strip District, Pittsburgh’s historic market district. What’s the appeal? The restaurant continues to receive national praise from food and travel media, and it’s been named one of the “Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S.” by Yelp. Plus, the food is incredible and well worth the wait. The same thing is happening in Pittsburgh’s popular Lawrenceville neighborhood at Morcilla, which was rated No. 4 on Bon Appétit magazine’s Top 50 new restaurants of 2016. It’s owned by Justin Severino, one of the country’s hottest chefs, who also runs Pittsburgh’s highly recognized Cure. In Bloomfield, Station is wowing guests with an exciting menu described as “New American with a Mediterranean influence.” Back in the Strip District at Smallman Galley, customers have no problem waiting in any one of four separate lines. The restaurant incubator provides four new chefs with the opportunity to learn how to run their own restaurants while giving patrons a chance to try four different food concepts at one time. Lines start forming early for breakfast at diners like Waffles INCaffeinated, specializing in, well, waffles, and Pamela’s, serving up award-winning crepe-style pancakes. While recent visitors are not surprised by the attention the city’s outstanding food scene is receiving, those considering travel to Pittsburgh take note: Zagat has named Pittsburgh the “No. 1 Food City in the U.S.” It is just one more reason to get in line and join the throngs of travelers making Pittsburgh a must-see place to visit. 112 FoodTraveler l Winter 2016