Best Restaurants of 2016 Near SkyVue’s Apartments in Pittsburgh

Of all the apartments in Pittsburgh, none compare to SkyVue’s knack for matching top-notch amenities and design-driven style with a passion for the city’s cultural scene. One of our favorite aspects of Pittsburgh culture is our world-class cuisine. And it is indeed world class. The New York Times just published a story titled Pittsburgh’s Youth Driven Food Boom about how the Burgh is attracting fine dining’s freshest talent to our booming restaurant scene. “If there are scholars who hope to study how a vibrant food culture can help radically transform an American city, the time to do that is right now, in real time, in the place that gave us Heinz ketchup,” the Times declared. The story went on to note that in December, Zagat named Pittsburgh the No. 1 food city in America, and that Vogue just ran a piece that proclaimed “Pittsburgh is not just a happening place to visit — increasingly, people, especially New Yorkers, are toying with the idea of moving here.”

Our definitive source for the latest news and best reviews of steel city cuisine is Pittsburgh Magazine. So when they release their annual Best Restaurants list, we can’t wait to dig in. With the best location of any apartments in Pittsburgh, we love that there are always plenty of great new eateries popping up near SkyVue. But venturing into the city’s scenic surrounding neighborhoods is fun, too. Luckily, this year’s best restaurants list has both.

So we hope you worked up an appetite for our top 4 picks from Pittsburgh Magazine’s 2016 best restaurants list courtesy of the team at SkyVue’s apartments in Pittsburgh.

1. e2

Highland Park: 5904 Bryant St. 412/441-1200, e2pgh.com [Italian]

Go here for a warm celebration with friends and family. e2 is a perennial hit thanks to Executive Chef/Owner Kate Romane’s easy-to-enjoy take on Italian comfort food. Dishes such as penne pepato (spicy Sicilian red sauce and salata ricotta) and wild mushroom ravioli with leeks and porcini broth are perfectly executed and fine crowd pleasers. Show up early for the restaurant’s wildly popular brunch; doughnut, zeppole, and frittata are big draws. $–$$

2. Gaucho

Strip District: 1601 Penn Ave. 412/709-6622, eatgaucho.com [Argentine]

Go here for a wood-fired party. Gaucho Parrilla Argentina expanded in 2015 into the neighboring building. The result of that expansion is a much larger kitchen and a significant seating area (there were no seats at Gaucho 1.0). It was a smart decision because lines for the popular Strip District eatery continue to grow. The wait — Gaucho’s friendly and efficient staff keeps spirits high when lines are long — is worth it. Make sure to order hardwood-grilled steaks, but also get fish, chicken, and other dishes, too.  $–$$

3. Cafe Zinho

Shadyside: 238 Spahr St. 412/363-1500 [Mediterranean]

Go here to feel as if you’re escaping Pittsburgh for a night. Cafe Zinho is a port of tranquility hidden away off Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside. Here, legendary Pittsburgh Chef Toni Pais connects with his Portuguese heritage with dishes such as whole branzino with lemon slices and olive oil, Portuguese fisherman’s stew, Caldeira and Bulhao Pato clams with white wine, roasted garlic, olive oil, and cilantro.  $$

4. Legume

Oakland: 214 N. Craig St.  412/621-2700, legumebistro.com [American]

Go here to celebrate the season, whatever the season. Executive Chef/Co-owner Trevett Hooper’s focus on seasonality means you’ll always find something to be excited about when perusing the restaurant menu. In winter, he coaxes funky brightness into hearty beef soup with the addition of kimchi, while at the height of summer diners can enjoy richly flavored corn soup enhanced with Morita chile oil and cilantro. If you happen to see any “limited-availability” dishes on the menu, jump on them because the season for some of the dish’s star ingredients is peaking and fleeting.  Editor’s note: We love Legume because it’s right around the corner from SkyVue’s Pittsburgh apartments for rent here in Oakland. $$–$$$