Some bites before July 4 fireworks
The Fourth of July is right around the corner, and while many restaurants will be closed for the holiday, others are offering special menus or regular fare that will have your taste buds exploding just like the fireworks. From luxurious dining options and a great view to casually throwing back your favorite brew with crispy fries, Pittsburgh’s got you covered on July 4.
Here’s a sampling of restaurants that either provide a view or are a short walk to see the fireworks:
NORTH BRADDOCK
Fireworks held every night Saturday through Tuesday at Kennywood in nearby West Mifflin, 15 minutes before closing.
Restaurant at Grand View, 1000 Clubhouse Drive, North Braddock: The public restaurant at Grand View Golf Club offers an excellent view. Starting at 6 p.m., patrons can order a fresh salad, grilled burgers and hot dogs, barbecue chicken, pork and baked beans, fries, potato salad, and fresh fruit. Dessert bar and live performances by The Witch Doctors and Kenny Blake at 7 p.m. This event is $16.95 per adult and $8.95 for children under 12. All guests pay a $5 entrance fee, but are refunded $3 for food and drinks.
DOWNTOWN
Fireworks at Point State Park at 9:35 p.m.
Andys Bar, 510 Market St. in Fairmont Pittsburgh hotel: Although the hotel’s Habitat restaurant is closed, Andys is serving food: its renowned club sandwich, wild tiger shrimp, pineapple fried rice and tomato gazpacho. There are somenotable cocktails, too.
Biergarten at Hotel Monaco, 620 William Penn Place: Just because the Alcoa building blocks the view of fireworks doesn’t mean you can’t wine and dine here before a short stroll to the Point. Quick bites include its housemade Bavarian Pretzel ($10) flavored with butter, sea salt, beer cheese and mustard; Spicy Beer Nuts ($7) dressed in
maple, beer, honey and chili; and the Pimento Spread ($9), which is pimento pepper pub cheese and pickled vegetables topped on pumpernickel crostini. Peter Allen’s, 613 Penn Ave.: This Italian eatery is known for its deep-fried zucchini served with either marinara or horseradish sauce ($12). Housemade sauces, bolognese, marinara, tomato basil, oil and garlic, can be paired with either linguini, fettuccini, capellini or spaghetti for $17, and adding a signature meatball or Italian sausage is $2 more. Weather permitting, its floorto-ceiling doors will be open onPenn Avenue. Sharp Edge Bistro, 922
Penn Ave.: Tuesday’s mean Bite Nite. If you’re in the mood for something casual, you can munch on 100 chicken bites for $60, which translates to 60 cents per bite. Housemade flavors include honey barbecue, jerk barbecue, dry Cajun rub, buffalo bleu, honey jalapeno, mild, hot, bleu lava or molten lava. You can substitute the chicken with tofu. Or check out the classic Sharp Burger with your choice of sirloin, chicken or quinoa. Sienna on the Square,
22 Market Square: This open-air restaurant features housemade pasta and flatbreads, as well as a variety of chicken, duck and seafood entrees. For a light, classic dish, try the Sienna Chopped Salad ($7), but if you’re feeling seafood, order the Ora King Salmon ($29). And definitely ask for the Bucatini with MozzarellaStuffed Meatballs ($21).
MONROEVILLE
Fireworks at Monroeville Community Park at 9:30 p.m.
Max & Erma’s, 2740 Mosside Blvd.: Dine here for a bowl of its signature award-winning tortilla soup ($5), summer berry salad served with a toasty garlic breadsticks, and endless seasonal fries served with either a burger or sandwich entree. Children under 12 eat for free with the purchase of an adult meal every Tuesday. No reservations, but calling ahead may allow your party to be serviced faster.
MT. LEBANON
Fireworks at Mt. Lebanon Main Park at 9:30 p.m.
Il Pizzaiolo, 703 Washington Road: Featuring a backyard Italian garden, twinkle lights and a few waterfalls, the outdoor patio is a quaint setting to dine before heading to see the fireworks. Whether you’re in the mood for tortelloni, gnocchi or cappelletti, ingredients are imported directly from Italy. All pizzas are made in a woodfired oven. Stop in for the gnocchi sorrentina, margherita pizza and more than 15pizzas tochoose from.
MOUNT WASHINGTON
Fireworks to be seen at the Point at 9:35 p.m.
Altius, 1230 Grandview Ave.: Besides craft cocktails, local products and exquisite desserts, this restaurant provides an excellent view of the Point. The She Crab Bisque, Calamari Milanese and Wild Alaskan Halibut are only a few of the seasonally inspired dishes on the menu. On Tuesday evening, each guest can enjoy a four-course prix fixe meal, which includes one starter, either soup or salad, an entree and a special dessert, chef’s choice, for $120.
Coal Hill SteakHouse, 1212 Grandview Ave.: Act fast because reservations are filling up at this cliffside restaurant that offers a great view of the pyrotechnics. It’s known for its Grandview Prime Steaks (prices vary), Sea Scallops ($34) or The Colossal Crab Sandwich ($19).
LeMont Restaurant, 1114 Grandview Ave.: Serving new menu options in a dazzling setting, LeMont will offer live performances by pianist and singer Dave Crisci and Judi Fitel, respectively, beginning at 7 p.m. Enjoy its spring and summer celebration menu, providing a complete dinner for $49.95 per person. This includes soup of the day, salad, entree and dessert.
Shiloh Grill, 123 Shiloh St.: There’s no better way to spend the hours leading up to fireworks than munching on unlimited bacon at the bar or $1 per basket if seated at a table. Enjoy seasonal cocktails like the Blueberry Basil Lemonade, Blackberry Basil Gin Fizz and Blood Orange Mule. There’s no direct view from here, but it’s just a short walk to Grandview Avenue, or you can take the Incline down to the Smithfield Street Bridge.
SOUTH SIDE
Fireworks to be seen at the Point at 9:35 p.m.
Grand Concourse, 100 W. Station Square Drive: Indulge in the preservation and history of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Station at this special-occasion restaurant. Among the choices are steaks, like the Filet Mignon (prices vary) or Bone-In Cowboy Ribeye ($39.50), Copper River Salmon ($39) or Pan Seared Scallops ($32). The fountain shows at Bessemer Court are an added bonus.
TROY HILL
Fireworks to be seen at the Point at 9:35 p.m. (about a 10-minute drive).
Redfin Blues, 100 Waterfront Drive, Washington’s Landing: This is one of the few places near Downtown where you can eat right on the water, but you’ll have to take a short walk to the west end of the island to catch the fireworks. Redfin offers a wide assortment of seafood options, including all-youcan-eat steamed Alaskan snow crab clusters served with a house salad, fries and vegetables for $38. There’s no better time than Tuesday to try the Redfin Bisque ($6), Redfin Beer Battered Fish ($12) or Redfin Jumbo Lump CrabCakes ($29).