Pittsburgh’s light rail is a way of life for suburban commuters heading to and from Downtown for work. But each T stop is often the epicenter of a cluster of restaurants offering home cooking, ethnic treats and fast-casual meals to go. Whether your home is in the ‘burbs or you’re a city resident looking to explore, $2.75 or a Port Authority Connect Card is all you need to find good things to eat in the South Hills.
Our first stop, Stevenson on the Red Line, gets us to Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood. It’s a 20-minute walk from the T to a Middle Eastern eater’s icon: Pitaland. The Chahines started in Homestead and later moved to and expanded this former Foodland at 620 Brookline Boulevard. Today, in addition to producing thousands of pitas a day, there’s a retail store and cafe. For breakfast, try a toasted pita with yogurt, chickpeas, garlic and pine nuts, or farina cake and juices. For lunch and dinner, it’s kibbeh and hummus, spinach pie and falafel sandwiches.
Two blocks down the boulevard is Jolina’s, a family-run, sit-down restaurant offering mezze platters, mujaddara, sleek, kebabs and platters — dishes that owners Randa and Antoine Ghassa used to make in their Syrian restaurant years ago. The 35-seat space at 1011 Brookline Boulevard is named for their daughter.
Still hungry? Walk back to the Stevenson stop, head south on the Red Line and get off at Dormont Junction. It’s a 12-minute walk to Taco Diablo, a taqueria at 297 Beverly Road that is the latest from Jeff and Carol Iovino of Cafe Io. The 40-seat restaurant has craft beer and wine to go with a small-plate menu of tostadas, calamari and ceviche, and tacos filled with carnitas, brisket and cauliflower. Everything is below $11 and most dishes range between $4 and $7.
The next stop is Mt. Lebanon. Climb the stairs to Washington Road, a suburban dining mecca. In addition to old standbys like the original Il Pizzaiolo and Bistro 19, there’s Arancini House, named for its Sicilian-inspired rice balls. In addition to the softball-sized namesake dish, they offer wedding soup, pepperoni rolls and another Sicilian specialty, panelle sandwiches or chickpea fritters. Dressed with a squirt of lemon, they’re a one-of-a-kind treat. For more substantive fare, there’s Sicilian-style pizza. And don’t forget cannoli for dessert. (615 Washington Road)
It’s a short walk to Jade Grille at 670 Washington Road. Housed in what used to be a bank, it’s a cavernous restaurant with an eclectic pan-Asian menu. Consider Sichuan dishes like cumin lamb, mapo tofu or spicy Chongqing-style chicken with a side of baby bok choy or potatoes with black vinegar.
To reach our last two spots, take the Blue Line from Downtown. Hop off at Killarney and cross busy Library Road to get to Calabria’s, a Castle Shannon mainstay that opened in the 1990s. Dave Calabria and his family serve dishes like eggplant parmesan, fried scrod, strip steak and tiramisu. No need to get dressed up for this no-frills dining room or homespun bar. Save room for desserts like the cream pie. (3017 Library Road)
Two T stops later, at 3821 Willow Ave., is Kabob-G Grill, a Lebanese diner of sorts. Joumana Kahlil cooks while her husband, Raja, and daughter, Natasha, help run the restaurant. It’s a welcoming place with a black-and-white checkerboard floor, turquoise accents and pictures of Lebanon landmarks on the walls.
The mezze combination plate is a meal for two with creamy hummus, smoky baba ghanoush with tahini and lots of lemon, tabouleh with a touch of bulgur and parsley, tomatoes, cucumber, feta and olives. The pickles make it a go-to, a medley of juicy pickled peppers, turnips and cucumbers. Grab a piece of warm pita and use bread in place of a utensil. Meat eaters will gravitate to the baked kibbee served as a slice, marinated lamb kabobs and chicken (tawook), filet or sirloin (kafta). Also look for the lamb shank special.
Two T stops later, at 3821 Willow Ave., is Kabob-G Grill, a Lebanese diner of sorts. Joumana Kahlil cooks while her husband, Raja, and daughter, Natasha, help run the restaurant. It’s a welcoming place with a black-and-white checkerboard floor, turquoise accents and pictures of Lebanon landmarks on the walls.
The mezze combination plate is a meal for two with creamy hummus, smoky baba ghanoush with tahini and lots of lemon, tabouleh with a touch of bulgur and parsley, tomatoes, cucumber, feta and olives. The pickles make it a go-to, a medley of juicy pickled peppers, turnips and cucumbers. Grab a piece of warm pita and use bread in place of a utensil. Meat eaters will gravitate to the baked kibbee served as a slice, marinated lamb kabobs and chicken (tawook), filet or sirloin (kafta). Also look for the lamb shank special.
Mt. Lebanon is right next to Castle Shannon, but not on the Blue Line. Take the Red Line to Mt. Lebanon, then climb the stairs to Washington Road, a suburban dining mecca.
In addition to old standbys like the original Il Pizzaiolo and Bistro 19, there’s Arancini House, named for its Sicilian-inspired rice balls. In addition to the softball-sized namesake dish, they offer wedding soup, pepperoni rolls and another Sicilian specialty, panelle sandwiches or chickpea fritters. Dressed with a squirt of lemon, they’re a one-of-a-kind treat. For more substantive fare, there’s Sicilian-style pizza. And don’t forget cannoli for dessert. (615 Washington Road)
It’s a short walk to Jade Grille at 670 Washington Road. Housed in what used to be a bank, it’s a cavernous restaurant with an eclectic pan-Asian menu. Consider Sichuan dishes like cumin lamb, mapo tofu or spicy Chongqing-style chicken with a side of baby bok choy or potatoes with black vinegar.
Still hungry? Head back toward Downtown on the Red Line. Get off at the next stop, Dormont Junction, and walk off that Sichuan food. It’s a 12-minute walk on Madison Way and Dell Avenue to Taco Diablo, a newcomer to the neighborhood. This taqueria at 297 Beverly Road is the latest from Jeff and Carol Iovino of Cafe Io. The 40-seat restaurant has craft beer and wine to go with a small-plate menu of tostadas, calamari and ceviche, and tacos filled with carnitas, brisket and cauliflower. Everything is below $11 and most dishes range between $4 and $7.
Melissa McCart: mmccart@post-gazette.com
