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I stopped by here this past Wednesday evening for dinner with my fiance. We have both been to Tram's before but it has been awhile since our last visit. Whenever we walked into the restaurant we saw that not much has changed except for maybe the addition of a flat screen TV. The restaurant itself is small and maybe has seating at tables for about 30 people and the decorations are a little sparse. The easiest thing to see is that they have won a ton of awards which are hanging up on the back wall. Beyond that it is still a hole in the wall divey type of place that is cash-only with excellent food. \n \nAlmost immediately after we sat down the owner asked us if we were ready to order. At that point we were not ready. The menu here isn't that big but it doesn't need to be since what they do make is very good. About two minutes later the owner was back and ready to take our order. This time we were ready. My fiance and I decided to split some eggrolls and then for my entree I went with the beef vermicelli with conconut milk.\nThe eggrolls came out at the same time as the meals and were so hot temperature wise that both my fiance and myself left them until after we had eaten our entrees. My vermicelli ended up being really good with the sauce providing the perfect flavor to the dish. I don't know how they do it but they do a great job of infusing a ton of flavors into it. The noodles in it were also good and the beef was better than expected. After I had finished my vermicelli I ended up grabbing my eggrolll which was still somehow hot. While the flavor on it wasn't that great, what I really loved about it was the textures that it provided. It was cooked perfectly and so the shell had a great crispy exterior while the interior with the vegetables had a softer texture. Overall it was another solid meal at Tram's for me.\n \nThe bottom line for me is that I will definitely be back here again in the future. Whats not to like about a place where the food is not only cheap but also delicious? Just be careful in that it is cash only and I know at one point they were BYOB although I am not sure if that is still the case. | 12
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I came here awhile ago and ordered one of the rice-based dishes with chicken (can't remember exactly what it was, and there's no menu posted online for me to figure it out). The dish was dry and lacked flavor. Perhaps I ordered the wrong dish here, since the Pho seems to be what they're known for. As it were, I wasn't impressed. I don't remember anything being off about the service, so it must have been fine. If a dining partner specifically wanted to try Vietnamese, I'd come back and try the Pho, but otherwise, I wouldn't go out of my way to come back here, given that there are many better dining options on Butler St. | 01
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I was born and raised eating Pho and this honestly was the blandest I've had. Then, to mask the bland no taste of the soup, it was smothered in black pepper. On top of that, my meatballs were quite dry, even in soup.\n\nHowever, their spring rolls were great!\n\nThe service, was not the best. We were seated and then grunted at (literally) to take our order. From there, people who were seated after us, had their food before we did. They had a very similar order to ours. Then, when I did receive my food, the man hovered near me and then started pouring sauce onto my plate, telling me how to make my pho. I know how to make it! And even if I did need help, I was barely just given my bowl and getting my bean sprouts in first. Give me a second.\n\nI had high hopes based on the reviews, but unfortunately, I don't see myself coming back here again. | 01
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I had the fresh spring rolls and the pho, both are great.\n\nConsidering prices of all restaurants in Pitt, the prices here are very nice! For a large pho, it was $7-8. Spring rolls were $1.50 each.\n\nThings to note: cash only\n\nAlso, you can get the pho with beef, chicken, or meatballs. You get a nice portion, but the pho does not include tripe, tendon, flank, and other random meats you'd normally get with your pho elsewhere. \n\nBesides this, broth was excellent and portion/taste was great. | 12
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I love this place. The vermicelli is amazing. It is a cozy hole in the wall. The food is so good. And it's BYOB. | 12
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Great place to go if you need grease and carbs to soak up all of the drinking you've been doing! Many a late night was spent eating grilled cheese with tomato on rye and fries, and only a few nights in the parking lot hanging onto the light pole for dear life while hurling up that last stoli v and ginger! A great place to be drunk in, not so great to be hung over in... They have your typical greasy spoon fare, so don't go if you're concerned about your health. Otherwise, eat on brave soul, eat on! | 01
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I've only been here after 2 AM, and it's always been a flaming trainwreck of an experience.\n\nI've had to figure out if the waitresses were doing this as a halfway house job, I've had staff members not apologize while picking pieces of steel wool and green plastic scrubber out of my food, and I've witnessed an armed robbery. The food is decent, for the hours they're open. \n\nTry Tom's Diner or Eat 'n Park instead. Heck, go to a grocery store instead. | 01
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A Pittsburgh classic. Many, many late nights have I spent here, post strike party, or any other type party, eating the grease necessary to fight off the hangover I deserved the next day. The waitresses are part of the ambiance. Love their Reuben. | 12
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Okay, the food isn't wonderful -- but, it's pretty good AND it's cheap! I must admit I always stick with the breakfast-y menu items, but I'm such a fan of this place!\nYou gotta appreciate Ritter's being open 24 hours. Where else in Pittsburgh can you go at 2 AM and get some comfort food (or something to sober you up)? I've been here at all hours of the day, and the crowd is always interesting... and so are the waitresses. Ah, I love it! There's just something special about Ritter's. | 12
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Ritters is, for me, the definition of a diner. If you go early an old grandmother will serve up a sloppy egg breakfast on plates that you can't be sure if they've been washed more than twice. Go late night and you can join drunk college kids and \""the ladies of the evening\"", just be warned that someone may have painted a section of the restroom with a fine layer of regergitated food (\""hey, is that creamed corn\"").\n\nSay what you will about Ritters, it is a place full of character and full of characters. Not to be missed. | 12
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Quintessential diner complete with in-booth mini-jukeboxes, waitresses in diner aprons and cheap, good, simple food.\n\nGo early, go late, go REAL late - it's ALWAYS open.\n\nLocated on the borders of Shadyside, South Oakland, Friendship and Bloomfield it serves the likes of college students as well as the eldery.\n\nUsed to live around the corner from it and went weekly. | 12
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The food isn't something to rave about but it's edible. I love the fact that they offer fried green tomatoes and grape leaves. I have only been to (C)Ritters for late night munchies and that also happens to be when Pittsburgh's finest come out to play. Never a dull moment. | 01
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Finding a good ol' diner in Pittsburgh isn't exactly easy. Pamela's has great breakfast, but is in no sense a diner, and there are many good sandwich shops, but once again, they aren't diners.\n\nHaving only been there once so far, my review may be a little skewed. The restaurant has the diner feel, no doubt. There are jukebox machines at every table up front and the decorations harken to the setting of a greasy spoon restaurant.\n\nIt was busy when we went, so the food took a while. The wait seemed longer than it should have been, but as I said, the place was packed and it was exactly lunchtime. On the menu it stated that they used \""premium maple syrup\"", but I'm pretty sure I just got corn syrup in a cup. The coffee was somewhat watery but still alright.\n\nI ordered the french toast with eggs and bacon, all of which was rather bland (Except the bacon, a meat which has some inherent godliness to it. You can't mess it up). Basically, it seemed like a meal I could have whipped up lazily on my own, and in less time. The bread for the french toast was plain white toast and I normally prefer a better bread. The eggs were eggs: good without any pizzazz.\n\nWhile Ritters is cheap, from my small sampling, I found the food boring. Most good diners have some excellent menu item, and perhaps I drew the short straw. I might return to Ritters later, but it's certainly not the diner I'm looking for. | 01
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At 2am on a weekend night, the clientele is colorful, the service friendly and the food...well just forget about the food. The food ranges from mediocre to bland. Just be grateful there is a colorful place to go for a late night meal. | 01
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Worst food in Pittsburgh. That's all. I have been there twice, never my choice, I had tummy ache both times. I think the food is boring. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with non-gourmet food, but Ritter's, is just \""blah\"". It also was an unclean feel at times when you are seated and you look around. \nThey are cash only also. That doesn't both me at Pamelas, because the food is oh so delish. Here, you are just wasting you apetite on food that has TONS of rooms for improvement. | 01
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I live off of Liberty Ave and everyone kept telling me I needed to try this place, so after 4 months I did. When my wife and I walked in I thought, this place doesn't look too bad, actually kinda cool. WRONG! After being seated it probably took 5 minutes for the waitress to come over and another 5 minutes for our coffee to get to the table. Our food took about 45 minutes, which is absolutely ridiculous for standard breakfast, but I though, everyone thinks this place is great, I guess I can wait for perfection. \n\nThe food gets to our table, it looks good, it looks like breakfast, but it is cold, well mine was cold. So I'm sitting at the table, empty coffee, cold breakfast and quite pissed off, because of the situation and I'm hungry. Finally after about 10-12 minutes the waitress comes by and asks how everything is, I tell her my food is cold, and I'm fine and don't need another plate, we had already been there over an hour, we had placed to go, ya know.\n\nWhen the waitress brings the bill over she doesn't just tell me she took my food off, she says, I figured I would take the food off even though you didn't ask (really? should I have to?).\n\nWife's food was hot, but she thought it to be just average breakfast.\n\nI never want to go back, but I will, because I always give places another shot.\n\nTerribly slow service (server was very nice though, probably home from college), and food took forever. I doubt this place puts out cold food on a regular basis, because this place wouldn't be so packed and highly regarded. | 01
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2.5 but I rounded down.\nThis is not a place you go to eat out but it's rather a emergency stop when you have no other place to go perhaps 4 in the morning. Cash only. Doesn't separate the check so if you are eathing with somebody else figure it out among yaselves.\nI'm not a big fan of diner's and haven't been to one so I don't have anything to compare to but like I said, if you have nowhere else to go you might try this one.\nFood is ok. It's like the food that a mom who doesn't care for cooking cooked. I don't want to be too mean. Waitresses are friendly. They are dressed up in scrubs like nurses. | 01
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I can't really give a food review since I didn't order anything, but there is a reason why I didn't order anything.\n\nMy brother and his friends had the midnight munchies after the whole pub crawling. Being the responsible little sister, I \""chaperoned\"" the boys and went the Ritters with them. I wasn't in the mood to eat after midnight, but that's not the reason why I didn't order anything. The reason why I didn't get anything was because when we walked in the diner, I looked at the variety of dishes other patrons ordered and felt slightly sick to my stomach. Must've been my inner conscious that the food is bad news and I guessed correctly. My brother had the Arcadian burger and by sunrise, his stomach didn't settle well. Had no desire to eat throughout the day.\n\nTrust your eyes, nose, and instinct. It's most likely right. | 01
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Although it's called a diner, it's much larger than that. It's open 24/7 and has a full menu. Tough to fault, especially with good food. | 12
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Fantastic service, incredibly inexpensive, surprisingly tasty - that pretty much sums it up. As long as you come here knowing it is a cheap diner and not expecting something different, you will enjoy your experience. I had the spinach and feta omelet with tomato, which came with a side of hashbrowns. Each of these was great. | 12
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Ritter's will never be a fine dining establishment. It will always be a diner. It will always be a standby. It will always be home-cooked, open and ready to accept you regardless of the time of day or the day of the week. All that is truly required is that you find one item on the menu that you really enjoy. For me, that one item is the Grilled Chicken Breast Dinner. I almost always get this item with the veggie of the day, sliced tomatoes or sliced cucumbers. It always tastes good and it never breaks the bank. Sometimes I might get breakfast, but usually it is the grilled chicken breast.\n\nEveryone should try Ritter's at least once. They only accept cash, but they do have an ATM present at the entry. Every now and then, I do allow myself to order a slice of the freshly made banana cream pie. Wow...it is tasty. | 12
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The food at Ritter's tastes like I made it at home, and this is not an endorsement. I had the feta and tomato omelet, and it tasted skunked, like it had just been cooked in a dirty skillet.\n\nIt's a dirty diner with meh food, but it is open 24 hours. If you're drunk, I bet the foood is great. | 01
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They don't take credit cards (cash only), but damn do they have some good food! The server we had was funny as hell. It's just a good old fashioned diner that's open 24/7/365, and you can have whatever's on their menu 24/7/365! lol.\n\nEarly one recent morning (still getting caught up on reviews!), I had their fried chicken, and it was excellent. Moist and flaky. I loved the Strawberry Shortcake too. The portions are huge! We didnt find the place to be dirty when we came. They have their own free parking lot and have an ATM inside. | 12
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This was some of the worst food I've ever had. If this is someone's idea of nostalgia, nostalgia is a term I'd like to forget, and the reality is more like nausea. Their greek soup (tasted like Campbell's chicken noodle flavored with lemon) and nasty lamb gyro douched with cucumber dressing will likely haunt me as long as I live. For anyone looking for a good nostalgic diner experience, i can't make a recommendation because I've yet to experience one, but at least in this case, leave the past where it belongs. | 01
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After many years of going past this place, I finally had the chance to go in and check out the food! As soon as you enter Ritter's Diner, right there in front of you is an ATM- credit/debit cards are not accepted. The d\u00e9cor is not modern, but it still adds to the diner's charm. The waitresses, who wear hospital scrubs as their uniforms, were friendly, but they seemed rather tired while I was there. Nonetheless, my waitress was attentive and provided efficient service. Ritter's Diner is open 24/7 and whatever is on the menu can be ordered any time of day. So for brunch, I ordered a steak breakfast that came with eggs, home fries and toast. Everything was delicious! I am so pleased with my first experience at Ritters Dinner that I will definitely be back to try other items on their menu! | 12
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So after the encouragement of many of my friends I decided to gave this place another try. \nWe had the fried zucchini, spanakopita, and their fish sandwich. I was prepared to be disappointed by the food again but I instead I had to kick myself on that last review. \n\nIt was still diner food, but as far as diner food goes, it was impressive. I didn't even know diners served this vast variety of food. I am a huge fan of breakfast food, because besides it being the most important meal of the day, I love the doughy goodness and comfort of pancakes and waffles. This time I was dissuaded from ordering my usual and instead opted for some proper dinner food. \n\nThe spanakopita was a bit soggy but otherwise the meal was above satisfactory. I had my first experience of fried zucchini and now I know what the fuss is all about! They're a delicious alternative to the classic potato fries and I delight to try them again. While many people are unfavorably disposed to fish, I love it. I think it's an acquired taste, but their fish was perfectly crispy and the tartar sauce wasn't half bad either! I would definitely go to this place again for a late night meal. \n\nAlso their mini jukeboxes are incredibly cute so if you're feeling extremely nostalgic of the '40's then I'd go here. | 12
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People call it \""Critters\"" for a reason.\n\nThe two times I've been there I was unhappy. It's cheap, but the food is also gross and you don't get much of it (thank goodness!). Very small toast, cold hard pancakes, and adequate dippy eggs was what I received last time I went. \n\nOh, cash only too. | 01
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Joyce was a great server. She took great care of our party of 7 and was very personable. \n\nCheap, average diner food. You can have subpar breakfast, lunch or dinner at any time of the day! Best consumed late night when nothing else is open. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to go here besides a late-night drunk snack. | 01
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Ummm, we're pretty sure my boyfriend got food poisoning here. That was the last thing we had eaten for hours, and the next morning he DEFINITELY had eaten something bad after waking up... yikes. | 01
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Ummm..... so I will just be upfront and say that the few times I have been here I was at least a few drinks in, but this is an excellent place for cheap diner food and is fortunately open late into the night. I'm from the south, so it is very reminescent of Waffle House- which is awesome. The waitresses are nice and understanding of the state that some people come in at 3 in the morning, and it will always be a place I look to when I need greasy breakfast-type food. The hashbrowns are particularly amazing. From what I remember, it was cash-only, so if you go out make sure to have the moneys on you! | 12
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Pretty standard Greek diner - omelets, gyros, pastas and burgers with a 1970s look. I can't say I'm a huge fan of the lunch/dinner items (maybe I just haven't found the right items yet), but the breakfast fare is great! No exaggeration, we probably come here once every other weekend. The Greek omelets are delicious, don't let the idea of lettuce in an egg dish scare you off. \n\nAlso it should be said - the waitresses here deserve major praise. They work VERY hard and almost always with a smile, no matter how much they're running around. They're fast, pleasant, and they are always busting their tails in this hectic place. The food is really pretty inexpensive, so 10-20% for a table of two would usually only amount to about $2-4, so my advice is tip the waitresses well - they really deserve it! :) | 12
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Don't get me wrong, the foods great, but when there's only a handful of booths full it shouldn't take an hour and a half to get breakfast. If you get to the point that you'd rather leave and go to McDonalds just so you can eat something it's too long of a wait. | 01
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How does this place even stay in business. It's disgusting. The food is crap. Everything is filthy. All the waitresses look like crackheads. They screwed up a club sandwich & fries. How is that even possible? It deserves negative stars for sucking so badly. | 01
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We were skeptical to eat here based on the mixed reviews. We can now say we've tried it and we probably won't go back. We were greeted by a hostess who sounded and smelled like she just got done smoking. Instead of escorting us to a seat, she told us which tables to pick and to seat ourselves. I ordered the sirloin of beef with mashed potatoes and my fiance got the steak and eggs. The food was just okay. Our server was friendly and attentive. We were thankful we didn't have one of the other servers, who was clearly dying of pneumonia or bronchitis or something. She was coughing up a lung in front of everyone and sniffling every 5 seconds. She washed her hands a lot, but the hostess did not wash her hands upon returning from smoking outside. Kind of gross if you ask me. | 01
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What you expect out of a 24 hour diner. Food can be pretty good, service can be pretty bad. | 01
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I remember my first experience at a diner: Art Deco-inspired architecture, narrow and long floorplan, jukeboxes, neon signs, quick service, and extremely tasty pancakes with chocolate syrup! Granted I was only 7 or 8 years old then, but I can recall everything (how can I forget the taste of those pancakes?!). Since then, I've been to quite a few diners, including diner-restaurants (i.e. faux diners). I would go particularly on the morning after a night of partying and/or drinking, when I'm feeling too lazy or hung over to cook something decent without burning myself and my kitchen. On these mornings, I would typically order pancakes or omelettes with a side (usually hash browns) and coffee. Honestly, I've never eaten anything other than these breakfast staples at a diner.\n\nMy friends and I arranged to have a late brunch one day at Ritters Diner. Now, I didn't have much to eat the night before, so I couldn't wait until we met to have something to eat. So, I came to the diner having already eaten a light breakfast. A quick observation of the diner made me realize that this isn't a traditional diner; instead, it seemed more like a diner-restaurant. Oh well, there was still the service and the food to worry about. We sat down at a booth in the large room in the back of the restaurant. The waitress greeted us and took our drink orders immediately: two cups of coffee and two glasses of water. Several minutes later, we got our coffee and water, but weren't ready to order just yet. We spent several more minutes deciding, and when we were ready, we placed our menus in a neat stack in the center of the table to show that we were ready to order. We waited...and waited...and waited some more. Minutes turned into half an hour and longer. By that point, my friends were getting quite hangry. I was sitting there feeling sorry for them and very concerned with the poor service. This whole time, I was monitoring discreetly the other diners who had our waitress and arrived after we did. A few of them actually have gotten their food, have paid, and have left. After what seemed like an eternity, our waitress suddenly materializes and takes our order.\n\nWe get our food: chocolate chip pancakes; club sandwich; spinach omelette with cheese and buttered toast; and something else (sorry, I must've had too much coffee). My omelette was decent; I would have preferred if they hadn't used too much cheese, especially what I think was American cheese (it could've been cheddar, but the taste didn't seem right). The toast was good, but I was too full to keep eating. I did try a bite of the chocolate chip pancakes, and it was so rich and delicious! My other two starving friends pretty much inhaled their food in minutes.\n\nBased on this one experience, I would come only for the pancakes. Service was really bad even though the place was half empty. I might experiment with this diner once or twice more to get a better feel for it.\n\nSo to summarize: not a real diner, service was bad, food was decent, and come for the pancakes. | 01
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It is definitely an experience. Located in not such a great part of town. Very old. Food is just ok, grease upon grease. Everything came out from the kitchen hot, but looked like it was all cooked in the same grease in the same pan. Waitresses do not make much of an effort. She was more concerned with eating her meal. Cashier was a breath of fresh air. She was chatty and nice. | 01
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I took my family of 7 here on sunday 11/9. We arrived at 11AM and by 1:20 we had not received our food. This is after ordering over and hour ago. We noticed the table around us received their food even though they had been seated after us. The waitress was very nice and said she was sorry for the wait several times. I finally asked to see the mgr, who I assume is the owner. He finally came to our table and after I explained the situation to him all he did was said that he really cares about his customers and if he made all his customers wait this way he wouldn't have any customers then he walked away. He did nothing to compensate us for the long wait. I go here because it is convenient for everyone. The food is just so so. Well this will be my last visit. I understand everyone can have a slip up but it is how they handle it to make the customer feel better. Ritters gets a Failing Grade in this category and an OK for the food. | 01
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Best brunch ever! You will have better luck getting seated quickly if you arrive by 10am. They have the best potatoes in the burgh and it's good food that will stick to your ribs! The service is always quick and friendly. | 12
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I pulled into this unassuming restaurant for lunch. The place is old school. I feel as if I am in a Good Fella's movie. There aer 2 standup gambling syle video game machines (think space invaders but they are are called \""Magical Odds and the other one is not named but has is a memory game.\n\nThe place is very friendly. \n\nI ordered the wedding soup and the Spinach Gnocchi with a Crown and Diet Coke- I needed a drink after driving the hot wheels track known as Downtown Pittsburgh - I think my GPS needed a drink too ;-)...\n\nMy wedding soup arrived and I felt it was a littel under seasoned but that is something I can definitely add - no dings here.\n\nThe Gnocchi arrived and it was quite tasty. The pasta was done right - I had felt like I was eating spinach dumplings. I orignally was going to request a meat but this meal needed none of that nonsense.\n\nThey have a lunchtime buffet that looked good but I wanted to try something made fresh for my first stop.\n\nOverall - I like this place\n\nService - Great - super friendly\nFood - Very good - The Gnocch and their other homade pastas deserve a try\nPrice - My meal (dinner menu) was $17.\n\nCheck this place out - it will definitely take you back to the 70's :-) | 12
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Once again, the best friend and I were out and about on errands - in this case, her appointment with the dentist - and what better food choice to explore before 'open wide' than good old family Italian? Can we get extra onions with that?\n\nWe decided to give the lunch buffet a try, and arrived around 11:30 am. Sign on the door said hours were 11 am to whatever, but we got there to find the doors still locked. I walked around the corner to see a studly guy standing outside the back door smoking, and asked if they were open. He looked at me surprised, and said he'd be right there. He came and unlocked the front doors, and in we went, past the muscle man with the cool brown eyes.\n\nWe were the first to arrive, and as I looked around the room(s) and I have to say it was kind of charming in that 1970's Soprano's kind of way. Like a mom and pop Italian place you'd expect to find somewhere in Jersey. This is kind of living proof that Pittsburgh is indeed stuck in 1979, but in this case, in a GOOD way. There's even a baby grand piano just inside the front doors.\n\nWe did not order from the menu, as I said, we went to try the lunch buffet and I have to say, we were impressed.\n\nIt is not a large buffet, quite small in fact, but ample for only $7.95. It basically contains a chafing dish of appetizers (this day had Clams Casino, some kind of fried mashed potato balls and fried zucchini), another with a pasta dish (tomato vodka today with fresh basil - VERY delicious), two meats (something like a beef brisket in one and the other a chicken cacciatore - the beef was excellent, as was the chicken), a small selection of salads (pasta, tossed, slaw and a bowl of beets), a tray of bread and rolls, and two different cakes for dessert.\n\nNow, even though we were the first to arrive, meaning early and the food was fresh, the chef and his trainee kept attending to the hot foods, showing sincere concern that it all stay fresh...and it did the entire time we were there. \n\nThe waitress was a very pretty 'woman' as opposed to the usual college student, and was extremely nice and helpful. The muscle man was apparently the bartender - ok - you can stand there and look pretty as long as you like.\n\nThey carried Pepsi products, so we ordered fresh brewed tea instead, and it was fine.\n\nTotal bill for two for a very satisfying lunch buffet was $20 and some change, very pleasant service AND eye candy, and a quaint trip down 'Scenes From An Italian Restaurant' meets 'Soprano's' memory lane. \n\nI can't speak for dinner (yet) but if the food is as good, skip the pretentious Bistroids, and barking manager of Del's, and the potential gunfire from Pleasure Bar...and give them a shot. And DEFINITELY drop by for a super inexpensive and pleasant lunch if you happen to find yourself in the Bloomfield neighborhood. | 12
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Awesome food and service. Family owned homemade itAlian food. They way it's suppose to be. Will go again when I'm in Pittsburgh | 12
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Well, as stated in the previous review of their lunch buffet, we finally went for dinner, and were horribly disappointed to discover a night-and-day comparison between the lunch and dinner. I had gnocchi, she had Veal Imperial, and we ordered 'traditional style' which meant for an addition $4 it came with marinated mushrooms, Clams Casino, soup and salad. My friend left 1/3 of her veal dish on her plate and didn't want to take it home. I took a bite, and my tongue experienced absolutely no flavor, to the extent that I had to take a sip of my iced tea to see if I was getting a cold and losing my sense of taste. I could taste the tea. I could taste absolutely NOTHING from her veal. With the gnocchi, I ordered the sausage, which was again $3 extra, and when it arrived it was a flat sausage patty cut in half, that tasted like a dry sausage McMuffin patty. The salad was basic iceberg lettuce and a few other veggies. The wedding soup had two tiny meatballs and about 1/3 cup of celery. The meal in general was a total disaster, but we ordered dessert anyway, and the tiramisu was still partially frozen. Then the bill came to over $82. \n\nWe could not believe that we'd enjoyed the lunch buffet so completely, which was only $7.95, and that this dinner, as overpriced as it already was, was so completely void of flavor and character. \n\nIt's baffling to comprehend that an Italian restaurant that's been around as long as they have would still survive with these prices and total lack of quality for dinner. We had gone in with such high hopes. But honestly, for dinner, it was such a huge let-down, we'll never go back. We'll go to the lunch buffet, but never to dinner. It was truly, truly just plain sad. | 01
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Family friendly! While some reviewers may lament the outdated interiors, a feature that was not missed by me, I will merely say that Lombardozzi proved to be the best venue for our toddler that we have come upon in months. Our server did not know the difference between bolognese and meat sauce, but she brought soup and milk for our toddler faster than you can say pronto! She fawned over our daughter and made us feel comfortable. \n\nAdditionally, the owner and chef both came to our table to talk to us. My husband and I felt like we were eating at a friend's house, and that warmth is a hell of a lot sexier than any atmosphere we've gotten in a swanky Shadyside lounge. \n\nWe ordered simple pasta dishes: linguine and meat sauce, and spaghetti and meatballs. The pasta was fresh and al dente; the garnishes were tasteful and classic; the sauces were remarkable. \n\nI recommend this place for the food and congenial service. It would easily get 5 stars if we hadn't sat in the outdated bar. | 12
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Don't waste your time!\nOh, where should I start..?\nMy family and friends came here for a Sunday lunch. The prices are crazy high (for -cheap- pasta). The menu outside the building and website doesn't match what they show you at the table. One of our guest was the last one to receive his perfectly square cheese ravioli and the filling was still frozen! (You'd think that for a $16 ravioli plate you'd get home made). After they microwaved it it was barely fit to eat. Some had flavorless Chicken Piccata, Fish and Eggplant Parmigiana. The atmosphere didn't help. The only thing with an aroma in this place was the tomato sauce. \nI don't understand the big fuzz some make about this restaurant. What a joke! | 01
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There has been a pile of vomit on there sidewalk for 10 days, For the life of me I cannot believe they havent taken care of this, such a turn off. Today is 10/3 | 01
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Best Burger In The Universe.\nI am a burger lover. People ask me, \""Alli, where can I get the best burger in DC?\"" I tell them that they need to take 270 to Frederick, get on 70 west, get on the PA turnpike, and get off when they're near Pittsburgh. Ask anyone how to get to Tessaro's - I'm sure they know.\n\nYour burger will be huge, dripping, and will be so juicy that the bottom bun will be a disgusting soggy sponge. None of that will matter, because you will be in burger heaven, delighting in the freshly ground beef that makes Tessaro's what it is.\n\nThe restaurant itself is barely more than a bar, with mean waitresses and tiny, crammed tables. No one would probably ever go there (besides the old, crotchety regulars) were it not for the world-famous burgers. All testament to why you must go. Now. | 12
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As good as they say. 5 star burger, and not just by Pittsburgh standards. Dry bleu cheese.\n\nSteak salad, spinach salad with steak are also good. \n\nI used to say this is the only restaurant in Pittsburgh. Good food, professional service, a nice ambiance (a bar with a tin ceiling) and even a bit of view of the street and hills. And alcohol. | 12
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My first Pittsburgh review! Believe the hype about Tessaro's; I can't recall eating a better burger than the one I had there last night. A half-pound of quality beef, crisp bacon, bleu cheese, grilled mushrooms and onions, all served on a fresh-baked bun....well worth $9.50 and the month that mother probably took off my life. I was also impressed that they actually cooked it to my specification; when I order a rare burger at most places, I usually get medium at best. Good beers on tap, too. Tessaro's figures to be a regular destination for me while I'm in the 'burgh. | 12
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It's hard to say anything that hasn't already been said about this place. But, I feel the need to re-iterate just how great these burgers are. After a very long night I woke up in my hotel room feeling the effects of the previous night. Had a friend in from Delaware and he actually suggested we go after seeing it featured on the food network. We were there before they opened and actually waited for them to unlock the doors. I had a gourmet burger cooked perfectly. The meat had a ton of flavor and it was grilled perfectly. The hash browns were a nice change than fries and the coleslaw actually tasted great and wasn't just a \""throw away\"" side. My friend chose a burger with no cheese or condiments just to savor the burger in it's pure form. True to the hype my friend declared what I'm sure has been spoken many times that this is the \""best burger he's ever had\"". | 12
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Tessaro's has some of the finest burgers in the US. A wonderful \""corner bar\"" kind of atmosphere makes it THE place to take people in from out of town. Grilled meats and daily seafood specials (try the prawns) are available and also an excellent choice, but the burger is easily the main event. \n\nThere are a few downsides, it's frequently packed on the weekends, seating can be cramped, and taking a party of more than 4 is damn near impossible. But I'd still highly recommend it to anyone! | 12
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The secret in their having one of the best burgers you will ever eat, is in the meat! They add ground steak including filet mignon! Another reason why the burger seals in all of those juices plus adds flavor is they are cooked over a 500 degree hardwood grill.\n\nTessaro's was not hard to find, but in a run down area. They have a parking lot on the side of the building, connected with a grocery store's lot.. The place is small, with a huge bar in the middle. It was crowded, but we were lucky enough to get a booth. \n\nI was a bit disappointed in their not having french fries, but I tend to fill up on them, so in a way it allowed me to finish that delicious huge burger!\n\nI hear they are known for their ribs, as well. The murals are hand painted of the owners and workers and an Irishman and his sister own the restaurant and do the cooking. The soups are homemade as well.\n\nServers were older and ours was friendly and helpful! Go and have yourself one of the best burgers you will ever have in your life and add a hot homemade bowl of soup to your check, outstanding! | 12
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I went here after reading all the great reviews here on yelp. I was not disappointed and I don't believe my companion was either. It was a Friday night around 9 and the place was packed. We got right in and was seated in less than a minute.Our server came right to us for our drink order. We both ended up ordering burgers, I had the BBQ and it was bomb, delicious. O, and they came so fast, I mean I was expecting a long wait considering I ordered mine Medium Well. Very good all around and the bill was round $40 for 2 burgers and 4 drinks. | 12
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I have to agree with all the other yelpers, this is a GREAT burger. After reading all the great yelp reviews, I took my family, including my out of town mom, for lunch on a Saturday and was not disappointed. I knew from the smell outside of the building that it was gonna be fantastic eats. We were happy with the service also. We had a party of six and did not have to wait. We will go back again and again and again... | 12
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If you're looking for the best hamburger in the city, this place is \""it\"". Go no further. You won't be disappointed. | 12
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Putting lamb in your burger is not my idea of 'gourmet' burger. Sure it tastes unique, but there are better ways to skin the cat. Good, but after a couple of times I got VERY tired of the 'unique flavor' of their meat. | 01
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I was entirely underwhelmed by the supposed \""best burger\"" in Pittsburgh, as it had been recommended to me. I guess I was expecting more flavor - some kind of house seasoning or something special, but it was very ordinary. \n\nIt was quite busy and seemed a little cramped inside. They seated us near the window facing LIberty, which was great - but the way the seating was arranged, my friend had her back to it. I generally prefer tables perpendicular to the window which allow everyone to look out occasionally without craning their neck.\n\nI'm hesitant to go back, because the burger was the best-sounding thing on the menu and it wasn't that great. | 01
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I also left here scratching my head after all of the lofty reviews of the place. Yes, maybe it is a local institution, but it is not worthy of one of the highest yelp ratings for a restaurant in Pittsburgh.\n\nThe burger was mildly admirable. I'll trust their word that they use high quality ground beef, but it's still ground \""beef\"", not ground sirloin or anything. It was also huge, cumbersome, greasy, expensive and flavorless. The amount of blue cheese they gave me for 50c was almost a joke, as well. Wish I would have gotten the steamed broccoli, my \""potato salad\"" was a sea of mayonnaise.\n\nEven given my limited experience of the burger options in Pittsburgh, I would put double-wide grill's burger above these.\n\nNot much for atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind dirty, dark and dingy if it has character. | 01
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I've had better burgers at several other Pittsburgh restaurants. I have never eaten anything else on the Tessaro menu--and since it doesn't look very appealing, it's not likely that I will--but the burgers are just OK. The service, in my opinion, is often quite rude. The \""ambiance\"" is loud, dark, dingy and depressing. Sorry, but I just don't get it. For a better hamburger, try the Sharp Edge Beer Emporium, Murray Avenue Grill, or even Five Guys Burgers and Fries. | 01
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This place is hyped as the be all end all of burgers. It may or may not be, and some of the food is actually quite decent- I've had burgers and seafood and chicken and salads over the years.\n\nThe reason why I rate this place low is the atmosphere is abysmal. I've always felt like an outsider here, even when we were going once or twice a week for months. (We live right down the street.) \n\nThe hosts are terrible - it's like they look right past you if you're not one of their Special Friends and they shoehorn you into tiny and uncomfortable booths while putting smaller parties into comfortable and spacious booths.\n\nI'll go down the street to Lot 17, where the food is better and no one makes you show your \""Member's Card\"" to get seated. | 01
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OVERHYPED. I've had better burgers almost everywhere. | 01
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The tables were very close together...we had to cram ourselves into our table, which is less than favorable (In fact, upon exiting, my husband managed to slide the tablecloth and silverware off the table with his butt).\n\nI ordered a half rack of pork ribs, which seemed at bit expensive to me at $14 until they arrived at the table. The half rack is HUGE compared to some other places where I've tried ribs. The meat was tender and falling off the bone, and their barbecue sauce (I got the mild) was quite tasty...if they sell bottles I'm going to buy one. For the side dish I got the boiled redskin potatoes, which unfortunately are literally nothing more than boiled redskin potatoes -- no salt, pepper, butter, or seasoning of any sort. I'll remember that next time.\n\nHusband got the black and bleu burger, which he reported was good except the bun was too small. The service was fine, nothing special. The atmosphere was friendly and the place was busy but not crowded, which is a good sign in my book. The closeness of the tables to each other is a bit bothersome to me though. We could hear the conversation of the couple next to us much more than I would have liked...I felt like we were all up in their business.\n\nWe'll definitely be back. | 12
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Never been treated so poorly\n\nI went with three friends to eat at Tessaro's on a rainy Saturday evening. I dropped them off while I parked the car. The hostess sat them and when she found out I was parking the car, she told them literally to \""GET UP.\"" She said they wouldn't seat them because I wasn't there. By that time I had arrived at the table my friends were still in shock by the utter rudeness. Tessaro's was a Pittsburgh institution that my family had frequented for years. Our treatment is a disgrace to its reputation | 01
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The burger was pretty good but, I've had much better. Tables are really close to each other like others have said. What I really didn't like about this place was the service. We had to flag down our waitress just to get refills. We were rushed through our meals like we weren't wanted! I mean they weren't crowded or anything. There was one other table of people besides us on the dining side and maybe 10 people at the bar. \n\nI should have went to Five Guy's! I would have been much happier! | 01
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best burger in pittsburgh**.\n\n\n\n________\n** based on taste, price, service and comfortable atmosphere perfect for a casual lunch, or proper dinner. | 12
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Overrated. No seating until all members if party have arrived...so we awkwardly hovered over empty tables. The second bummer here was the lack of french fries - which is borderline criminal when you offer a burger. The bun was dry, the burger was ok, generous portion of meat though. Nothing special here. the crowd here is about as un-diverse as you can get. not sure what all the hype is about. | 01
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I'm always trying to hit up places that are listed in the fantastic book \""Hamburger America.\"" Tessaro's is one of two places to be listed for Pennsylvania. I visited while in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago with high expectations. I like the joint, it seems like a family run business, and there's a lot of people coming and going. We didn't have to wait long for a table, and the service was fine. I do like the atmosphere, but I just had so many better burgers that I just can't rave about this place.\n\n\nThey don't have a frier, so your burger comes with home fries or potato salad. This wasn't bad, but I really love the classic combination of burgers and fries. Maybe it was an off day. I know they have their own butcher who works in house, and that is exciting. But the burger wasn't memorable at all.\n\n\nBottom Line: I've had better. | 01
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I've been coming here for the past 10 years and have always enjoyed the food and the atmosphere, so I'm sad to have to write a review that speaks poorly about the place. Having said that, my last experience at Tessaro's was ruined before we were even seated. While waiting with my girlfriend to be seated for 25 minutes, a party of 3 walks in and is immediately seated. When I ask why a party of 3 would be seated before the many parties of 2 waiting I was told that the seating was laid out specifically to accommodate a specific number of people: absurd! We proceed to wait another 15 minutes until a 2 top opened up. \n\nI would gladly recommend this place on the food, but given how inefficient the seating system is I'd only go when you can be seated right away. | 01
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Tessaro's is so old school it hurts. They're known for their burgers and on this occasion the hype suits the reality.\n\nThe inside becomes somewhat cramped during their busy hours but I always seem to get seated quickly. The meny is traditional and I've only had their burger. Yes, their burger is incredible. It's huge, cooked well, and on a good, sturdy bun. Like all good burgers, the meat steals the show but the veggies keep the burger's pace. I hate a burger that's all meat, Tessaro's is very balanced. I wish they had french fries as a side but, like I said, it's an old school joint and they serve old school sides.\n\nEither way, I can't complain, their homefried potatoes are good.\n\nThe service is impeccable and I haven't had anyone who wasn't over 40 and looked like they'ved worked there their whole life. They know what they're doing and they do it quickly. Tessaro's can handle a crowd, they've been doing it for years. | 12
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Facts: I am not a big meat eater. I am not a vegan, vegetarian or any combo. I like good food that is somewhat healthy and sustainable. \n\nAll that being said, I have searching a place that serves great burgers. I hardly ever order an entree that focuses on meat and it is even more rare that I order a burger. So I read lots of reviews about Tessaro's. I expected a dive with somewhat gruff service. Uh, no, Tessaro's is a tin ceiling, hardwood walled, hand painted mural delight. And the service was tremendous. Yes it was a Thursday and no the place was overflowing with hungry people but there was a steady flow of diners. I must mention that many complained in their reviews about not being seated until all of party was there...uh, yeah! That makes sense to me. No use taking up a table with a partial party who is \""faffing.\"" (Google term if confused)\n \nI had a medium rare burger with lettuce, tomato, pickles and relish and Dijon on the side with steamed broccoli and cauliflower. My handsome dinner partner had a medium creamy bleu cheese burger and home fries. The beef was good!! This means a lot coming from me a non-meat eater. The wood fire grill gave a super flavor and both burgers were cooked perfectly to temperature. My veggies were freshly steamed and looked like veggies, not a mush of frozen overcooked goop. Mr. Handsome devoured his burger and home fries. Evidence of more satisfaction. Oh we split a small spinach salad to start. Our waitress-who I should mention again was great-had the kitchen divide it on two plates.\n\nWill be recommending Tessaro's to others and I have found my once-maybe twice-a-year burger joint!\n\nPS there are options for non-meat eaters:) | 12
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my burger was really dry and tasteless, and I ordered it to be cooked medium. I was disappointed in this place because everyone says its the best burger in town...I must be missing something. I thought the atmosphere kinda sucks and the way seating is done leaves much to be desired...overall might go back to see if it was just a fluke, but wont be rushing there. | 01
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I've been going to Tessaro's for years. Every trip back to the 'Burgh wouldn't be complete without a lunch or dinner there. It's my go-to place for meeting friends for a meal when we want something tried and true with no froufrou. And I am never disappointed. \n\nI have heard grumblings for the past couple of years that Tessaro's partially cooks their burgers throughout the day and then finishes cooking them \""to order\"" so I asked the waitress if I could have a fresh patty, not pre-cooked. She didn't seem bothered by my request. And honestly, I don't know if I would be able to tell the difference. That being said, it still was the best tasting perfectly cooked burger I have had in a long, long time. With all the new specialty burger joints popping up across the country, I still dare any one of them to stand off side by side with Tessaro's. Our usual picks are the Deli and the Bacon-Blue Cheeseburger, but you can pick any burger on the menu and be satisfied, and then some. I also love their home fries. Yummy! The marinated gourmet chicken sandwich is also a winner if you aren't into red meat! \n\nOne of my other favorites at Tessaro's which I have to admit I haven't had in eons since we haven't made it there for lunch recently is the tuna melt on rye. It has been on the menu forever. If you want one, you have to go for lunch as even though its on the lunch menu, they refuse to make it at dinner :( \n\nThe atmosphere here is strictly neighborhood bar/restaurant. Nothing fancy. I am sometimes put off by the way they offer seating (first-come, first-serve) and they will try to cram four people at a table that is meant for only three. If they are not scrambling for tables to seat people waiting, I'd ask for another less cramped table and wait; but on a crowded night, take the first thing available or you could be waiting a long, long time. | 12
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So everyone always raves about this place infamous burger joint in bloomfield, so I had to try it...and I should just have listened to my capricorn perfectionist gf because she was right when she said it is overrated. We both got burgers...I got the bbq and she got the bleu. The burgers tasted like one part oxygen and 1 part hydrogen. At least the soup was good...and our waitress didnt know how to properly place the salt n pepper shakers....salt on the right(for the blind)....\nAnother negative about this place is that people sit so close to you, just like mad mex. It takes away your privacy, I wanted to talk about baby fetuses but couldnt | 01
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Never understood all the hype about this place. The burgers are rather bland and burnt. No fries, only their potato things which are NOT as good as any fry I have ever had. And the wait was always ridiculous to boot.\n\nI admittedly haven't been here in a few years, but it doesn't seem like this is the type of place that would have changed. | 01
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Eh,\n\nSo much hype, but the burgers are over ground and too big for the bun. Maybe it was just over hype, but I want all the wonderful burger things to occur when I'm munching a burger, not just tons o' ground beef in a bun.\n\nTry BRGR just up the road. | 01
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\""You're in the hot seat tonight. That's where Christian Bale sat on Thursday!\"" said our sweet waitress to my husband. \""He had the bluest eyes. I was going to ask him if they were contacts, until I realized who it was.\""\n\nPerhaps needless to say, I proceeded to spend most of the rest of dinner imagining what it would be like to have dinner with Christian Bale, but each time I was brought back to reality by a bite of my tasty burger. I went with a traditional American cheeseburger, while Christian, I mean, my husband, got the Gourmet burger. Both were cooked to our specifications (medium and rare, respectively), and were juicy and flavorful. No french fries here as sides, which is an interesting decision, and makes the experience more unique. Though we could have gotten something healthy, like steamed broccoli, we both went with the home fries. They were great: tender on the inside, crispy on the outside & flavorful. Because so many of the review focused on the burgers, we were surprised to see they have lots of other menu items, including fish & ribs. So, I plan to return and give some other menu items a try. Prices are very reasonable, and I'd say easily the best burger I've had in Pittsburgh (though it's no Vortex burger!!). \n\nAnd, by the way, Mr. Bale is an excellent tipper. | 12
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I have to preface this review with two factors. One, I moved here from South Florida, where the best burgers in town came from your average diners. They were the last bastion of American food in South Florida, so they served up REAL American food. If you wanted a real burger, you went to a diner. After returning to Pittsburgh, I found that every diner here has turned to serving up those frozen gray hockey puck patties and passing them off as burgers.\n\nSecond, (until the recent explosion of good burger joints in da burgh), I actually HAD been a fan of Tessaro's, until their hostess/manager flat out offended the hell out of me and my party of three. The result is that I have never, and WILL never return to Tessaro's.\n\nMy best friend is a 62 y/o blind woman that I met doing theater in the 90's in Pittsburgh. She lives with her 91 year old mother, and her father (the driver) passed away several years ago. I don't drive, and rely on the bus system that Steve Bland is intentionally systematically destroying, so any outing that we make must be carefully planned.\n\nShe and I had met once at Tessaro's. It was her first time being there. She took the Access van for the disabled, and I met her there after work via bus. I walked in, she was seated, having a drink, waiting for me to join her. No problem. We had a great meal, with an awesome burger. I can't say enough...they really do have mouthwatering burgers.\n\nMonths later, we decided to go again, and the plan was pretty much the same. She took the Access van to the restaurant, and I was going to meet her by bus, and this time a new friend was going to join us, coming by bus from Oakland, and new to Pittsburgh.\n\nMy best friend called me at 4:30 (we were supposed to meet at 5) and said that her van had come early, and that she was already at the restaurant. I told her I would get there as soon as I could. I left work a few minutes before 5 pm, and arrived at the restaurant 5:15. They were busy, but I was surprised to find my friend still standing in the doorway. The blind woman had been standing there for 45 minutes. \n\nI made my presence known, and the hostess/manager acknowledged, asked about our other friend. I explained that he was ten minutes away and coming by bus, new to the city, but WAS on his way. She walked away from us. We stood in the doorway fro another twenty minutes.\n\nFinally, the manager came back, and I caught her attention, and motioned my head toward my blind friend, and asked if we really had to keep waiting? She'd been standing there in the doorway for over an hour.\n\nThe next statement sealed the deal on us never returning to Tessaro's. The manager slapped her hands on her hips, and started barking:\n\n\""LOOK! We don't have many rules around here! In fact, we only have ONE, that you don't get seated until your whole party is here!\""\n\nAnd THIS is what really sealed it:\n\nThe woman thrust her thumb in my BLIND friend's direction, who had only been to Tessaro's ONCE before in her life, with me, and said:\n\n\""And SHE oughta KNOW that!\""\n\nShe oughta know that? Exactly HOW should she 'know that'? The only other time she'd been there, she arrived before me, was seated, waited, and I joined her.\n\nAdditionally, the 'rule' was posted...on a piece of 8 1/2 by 11 copy paper, taped to the wall at the end of the counter, behind several rows of water pitchers. I couldn't see the 'rule'...a blind woman certainly wasn't going to 'see' it!\n\nFinally, after another ten minutes standing there, the manager 'allowed' us to take a table and wait for our friend, who came five minutes later. We ate our meal, paid our bill, and we left.\n\nAnd we will NOT return.\n\nYou can treat me badly, and if there's something I really love about your business, I might come back. But do NOT badmouth a blind woman, or anyone else for that matter, who is disabled, and in need of a slight amount of extra consideration.\n\nTessaro's, you might make good burgers, and you'll continue making a fortune off them. And I'm sure you really don't give a crap about how your manager treated this lady. But we will NOT drop one dime more in your restaurant. We'll take our business to Burgatory. | 01
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Give me burgers or give me death!\n\nI think I got that quote right, didn't I?\n\nAs far as I am concerned, they make the best freakin' burgers in the burgh. I'm sure there are people that would disagree. Heck, I have friends who would disagree. But I don't care, I know I'm right. \n\nWe moved to Pittsburgh from North Carolina and Tessaro's was the first place we encountered that would cook a burger to order at anything other than well done. And I like my beef pink.\n\nThis place serves up HUGE, tasty burgers with great toppings, and very yummy home fries-style potatoes to go with them. You could probably substitute the side, but why would you want to?\n\nIf you're hungry when you arrive and can't wait for a burger (or if you are Catholic and grace this place on a Friday during Lent), I enjoy the Seafood Chowder -- rich and creamy with chunks of seafood and just the right combination of seasonings. \n\nI've never had anything else here, but a friend ordered the steak salad once and I was almost tempted to trade in my burger, it looked so good. | 12
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My boyfriend and I went here for burgers because there are so many good reviews and we heard that they're the best in the 'burgh. I was disappointed. I had a bacon cheeseburger and it was okay. Maybe my expectations are too high, but I don't want a burger that's purely a slab of ground beef with no seasoning or other flavoring in it. I've had more flavorful burgers at chain restaurants.\n\nI did like the home fries, very yummy! And an interesting side dish. | 01
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With how Pittsburghers talk about Tessaro's, you'd think it's the epitome of excellent all-American food. But after having been here four times, all I can really say is that it's very meh and very Pittsburgh.\n\nI apologize for the bland, boring, generic tone of the rest of the review, but I'm not sure how else to describe the food here...\n\nThe portion is 'American' and the burger was really thick and as juicy as I expected done medium. As with any BIG burgers I like to cut it in half so it's manageable...and so I can still seem somewhat ladylike. The first half of the burger was OK/good/no complaints. The second half just seemed to lack flavor... I guess during the first half I was just hungry, but when you calm down and taste the order, it was so bland. I mean of course I could taste the mayo/ketchup/mustard, but the actual meat part was just flavorless. I was really disappointed by that...\n\nI ordered potato salad as my side and it was good/OK too...nothing to call home about.\n\nIn all honesty I would've rather had Five Guys or In-n-Out burgers. | 01
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I know, it's a Pittsburgh institution and we're supposed to rave about it and declare it the \""best in the burgh\"". It's not. Not even close. I've eaten there many times in the hopes that maybe I missed something. Maybe it was me. Oh but it's not. It's not me. It's just not that good. Over hyped, underperformed. Burgers are adequate - nothing special. Order something other than a burger and you don't get much better. \n\nYears ago it might have been worthy of its reputation since there weren't a lot of competitors. Now, forget it. Burgers are ubiquitous and great ones are everywhere. Best burger in the city is at Kaya - the Kaya burger. Tessaro's - a fading icon of days gone by. Enjoy the crowds, convince yourself your getting the best, that you're in the know. You're not. | 01
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Very good. I got the barbecue burger with mild sauce. Would probably go for hot sauce next time since mild was not spicy at all. The toppings are nothing special, but the meat itself was cooked well and, for lack of a better term, meaty. I was hungry and this really hit the spot. I don't normally go for potato salad, but ordered it based off another review. It was great! I even could've eaten a little more than was on the plate. I also liked the decor/environment -- very homey. | 12
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This was my first and last time at this restaurant. I thought Tessaro's was some sort of Pittsburgh landmark and I've heard rave reviews of their burgers. The burger I got was undercooked. I ordered it well done and it was definitely pink in the middle. But I didn't send it back because I never send anything back. I just ate it and it was a sloppy, greasy mess. The bread was cheap and tasteless. The home fries were just diced potatoes. That burger sat clogged in my stomach for 3 or 4 hours. And I had to make a few runs to the bathroom because I thought I was going to make a mess in my pants. Burger king is a lot better than this place and at a fraction of the cost. What else you got Pittsburgh? This better not be the best you got. | 01
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I can't figure out the hype surrounding the burgers here. It's at or near the top of more \""Best Burger in Pittsburgh\"" lists than not, and some people have gone so far as to name it the best burger in the state. I've had burgers at well over 100 places in this state, and let me tell you, Tessaro's isn't even average.\n\nThe ingredients were of good quality, but both creativity in design and skill in preparation were sorely lacking. I went with a group of five, and not one of us enjoyed the burger. Also, not one of us got ours cooked as ordered. I'm willing to accept a variety of interpretations of \""medium rare\"" but no pink and dry throughout is not one of them.\n\nThough shamefully mistreated, the meat's natural flavor, along with non-burger items, rescued Tessaro's from one star territory, but it was pretty obvious the clueless kitchen couldn't hold up to real competition. (If you want a decent burger, try Burgatory.) | 01
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Tessaro's definitely provides a solid burger to their patrons, and their side options are also delicious. I got the gourmet burger, medium rare, with broccoli and cauliflower. The veggies were excellent. The burger was tasty as well, but it was extremely under cooked. I know I ordered it medium rare, but I doubt it spent more than 30 seconds on the grill. Next time I will go with Medium. | 12
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Tessaro's is one of those Bloomfield institutions that certain generations of Pittsburghers always rave about. It's a place that's (apparently) been around forever and just has a cool, old school vibe to it. The decor is totally out of date, just like the uniforms the servers wear. Who thinks that the white button down shirt with the little black tie works in 2012? The owners of Tessaro's do, which is part of the charm.\n\nIf you're in the mood for a tasty burger when you're in Bloomfield, you can't go wrong with Tessaro's. For my most recent lunch visit, I decided to change it up a bit and went for the cheesesteak with a side of boiled red potatoes.\n\nI chuckled when my food arrived. The cheesesteak was ridiculously large, overflowing with meat. The red potatoes came with a cup of melted butter for dipping. If you don't think potatoes should come with a cup of melted butter, honestly, you should go somewhere else... somewhere else where you can enjoy hating flavor. Personally, I assaulted those potatoes and didn't look back.\n\nThe cheesesteak was average. With some salt added, it was slightly above average. My advice to the kitchen would be to add some more salt and pepper while cooking to make it tastier out of the gate.\n\nTessaro's provides a classic Pittsburgh experience. While the food may only be worth three out of five stars, I'm going to add on another star because I like the fact that the dining room is dark, the menu is filled with meat, and the staff is friendly and efficient. Bottom line, Tessaro's is a solid choice if you're in the mood for meat and you want to minimize your chance of running into Bloomfield hipsters. | 12
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Came here to try their famed burgers. I ordered the gourmet burger, and not bad. However, it was absolutely nothing special. I felt like I could easily make it on the grill at home. Also, the home fries were just mediocre. \n\nI don't understand all the rave reviews for this place. As for me, I don't think I'll be back. | 01
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First and foremost, I eat beef about once a month if that--so I hope I can critique this place fairly! \n\nWhen you walk into this place you can smell the smoky, wood-burning smell of the grill, I loved that! The dining room is dark and definitely original interior, loved that too! The wait staff was extremely friendly, as well!\n\nNow for the burger: It was absolutely huge! When I bit into it I tasted the smokiness of the grill and it was nice and juicy. The toppings, though, were your standard lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle. I would have loved to have this burger and the Burgatory toppings! My 16 year old son finished his burger in no time flat, along with his hashbrowns, that he loved. My father could not finish the burger, nor his coleslaw side. I got a nice healthy side of steamed cauliflower and broccoli (like it mattered at this point), and was able to eat 3/4 of the burger and all my veggies!!\n\nMy only disappointment regarding the place was that they did not have dessert on the menu!! My son and I had to walk up to Paddy Cake Bakery so that he could then satisfy his sweet tooth! | 12
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I ate here this past weekend with my husband and a large group of friends. Although they don't take reservations (at least not this weekend, maybe because of the holiday) our party of 11 was sat together rather quickly at 8:30. Most of us got the Gourmet Cheeseburger and it was delicious! The burger was huge! It was juicy and full of flavor. I had mine topped with blue cheese, along with the onions and mushrooms. I chose to get the chips as my side and they were not homemade, something I was hoping for since all the other food was of such high quality. Our waitress was a bit scatterbrained and when she brought our food out, had no idea who got what and kept insisting the plates were right even though we each remembered what we got. Other than that, it was a great experience and I would definitly go back. | 12
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Last night I diverged from the \""usual\"" and ordered the chicken kabob instead of the 1/2 pound Goliath of meaty goodness. \n\nMy girlfriend suffered copious \""meal envy\"" when our spiky haired 21-year Tessaro's veteran waitress handed me an overflowing plate of charred (in a good way) chicken & huge chunks of red & yellow pepper, onion, zucchini, yellow squash, & mushroom. The only flavoring was the grill - no sauce or spices - which at first came off as bland but soon became enjoyable as my normally over-salted palate adjusted to the simple delights of unadorned food.\n\nGF had a cheeseburger & boiled potatoes and she enjoyed it a lot. Their boiled red skin potatoes are another simple treat reminiscent of my Mom's Sunday dinners culled from her Germanic roots that often included new potatoes with vinegar, onions, and butter. Truly delightful! \n\nOur waitress was really a gem - old school dame with some sass and a family tale of a sister-in-law with black & silver locks that turned heads. She made no fuss and profusely mea culped when we pointed out an extra drink on our receipt.\n\nWe ventured into the Ladies Room before leaving and found it to be clean and well maintained; adorned with antique mirrors.\n\nTessaro's is a longtime neighborhood meeting place that has survived on good service and two-fisted burgers. | 12
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This is going to be short and sweet. It's the best burger in the 'Burgh, hands down! The in-house ground beef is so much better than what those trendy burger bars are offering right now. Tessaro's doesn't need to top their burgers with a bunch of ridiculous toppings as their beef is just that damn good. I don't even want to try anything else there as the burger was the first thing I ever had and I keep getting it every time I go there. The BBQ burger cooked medium is perfection! | 12
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This review only encompasses my 2-3 experiences with burgers - THE thing Tessaro's is known for. All I can say is - I don't get the hype. If it weren't for the blue cheese and bacon it would have been borderline inedible. There didn't seem to be any seasoning of the meat whatsoever. Bland would be an understatement. \n\nPoints for using fresh hand formed beef and consistently preparing it at the requested level of done-ness, but I don't know how the burger here even enter any debate regarding the best burger in the 'Burgh. I'd even say Lot 17 a few doors up has more flavorful burgers - saying nothing of places like Wingharts and Burgatory.\n\nService is always friendly and prompt - but the food is just...OK. I think this place is just more of a Pittsburgh tradition like the similarly overrated Primanti's. | 01
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I should preface this by saying this wasn't my pick, and not really my kind of place. That being said, it's a decent conventional style restaurant and not bad for what it is. \n\nI had the kelly burger and it was just extremely massive and greasy. The boiled red skinned potatoes were pretty much what you'd expect boiled red skinned potatoes to be, and they come with melted butter on the side in case you'd really like to pack an artery. This is definitely not a meal for anyone worried about TMAO.\n\nI don't want to be too hard on the place because, you know, it is what it is, and for what it is, it's not that bad, not that good, just ok; something like that. \n\nNow, I just wonder how long that burger is going to remain in my gut. I think I can feel the bacteria burping away in there right about now... Ugh. | 01
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I have heard a good amount of positive reviews of this place from lots of different people. That being said, I was expecting to be wowed by their burgers, which is the reason people told me to go. \n\nHowever, when I arrived with my guest, 8:00 PM on Thursday night, I was kind of disappointed. Not only did the waitress take a good 10 minutes before she brought us water, but she was not very attentive and never checked back with us until she brought the bill. The burger was so-so with little flavor, which was very disappointing. I could also tell that a few other tables in my section were looking around waiting for their server.\n\nAll in all, I was disappointed by the quality of food as well as the service. | 01
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I want to go back to give it a better review, but here is my experience. I called ahead and asked if they had highchairs. When we showed up they only had booster seats. 3 years ago I wouldn't have known the difference, but after spending 2 minutes watching my 1.5 year old thrash around I can tell you their is a big difference. The waitress made it seem as though it was my fault for bringing him. Yelp says good for kids they said we have a high chair. The waitress was about as warm and friendly as a night in spent sleeping in the snow naked. The potato salad was awesome everything else was super sub par. The burgers are big and if you looking for a giant patty of cheap meat then this is your place. I feel bad because unlike most places I give two stars I really want to like this place. | 01
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You when you hear about a place for years and you finally get the chance to try it out but it's bound to not live up to your expectations? That was my experience of Tessaro's. Had I never heard of it before, it may have gotten an extra star. But, this restaurant was on the Pittsburgh's top 25 a few years back. This is supposed to be the best burgers in the 'burgh. If that were the case, I'd stick to making my own. \nHubs and I stopped at T's on a recent Friday night after conducting some business in the area. Baby on board, we walked in and waited to be greeted. The inside looked a bit old and run down. Tip: they do not have highchairs only booster seats which is impossible to get a squirmy baby to stay in. I would not suggest bringing a baby here. The tables are also very small and close together. We actually had to move the table out to get in and out of the corner booth. I decided on the basic cheeseburger and ordered the boiled red skin potatoes for the baby and a side of chips for me fully expecting homemade chips. Not the case. I got a handful of what seemed to be a ruffles knock off. The potatoes were very bland despite being served with warm butter on the side. Great for a picky baby. Bad for an adult who is looking for something tasty. Now to the burger. Huge, yes. Juicy, not even close. Despite ordering my burgers well done, I expect them to still be tender and juicy. This was not the case. My burger was as dry as a burnt piece of chicken. I ate half of it. We were in a bit of a hurry so I didn't mention it to my server, though I'm not sure it would have made a difference seeing hubs medium burger was also dry. Overall, Tessaro's fell flat and left me hung out to dry. | 01
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This is the only burger place I have ever been to that doesn't serve french fries. WTF? Went once, only due to bad weather, and would never go again. | 01
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A classic old-school joint. The bar dates back I don't know how long. And the service has that old-school quality. I wanted for nothing. I was stuffed by the burger they served me. It was tasty and delicious. I can't wait to go back and enjoy another. | 12
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Out of 5:\n3.5 - Burger: The first several times I came here, it was terribly overcooked and dry. Then, all of a sudden, their quality and consistency of cooking went up significantly. While it lacks in seasoning, getting them to sprinkle on some salt and pepper while they cook it works wonders. \n3.0 - Cajun Burger: Now that's some seasoning. A bit strong and salty but good every once in a while.\n1.5 - Home Fries\n2.5 - Red Skin Potatoes: glad to see some slightly healthier yet not too healthy side dishes here. Though with the melted butter...\n3.0 - Beef Ribs\n0.5 - swordfish: dry and tough\n2.5 - tuna\n\n1.5 - Service: Can be quite bad a lot of the times, probably because of how busy they are.\n2.0 - Value | 12
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I am only giving this two stars because I believed the hype. The burger I had was good, but it wasn't the best I've ever had, and the menu--even for a carnivore like me---was too meat heavy. And we had to wait to be seated and it was not super cheap, so all these things combined make me less than thrilled with the experience. Perhaps if I had the burger cooked medium rare, things would be different, but I still crown Industry reigning king of all (Pitts) burgers. However, things are not bad by any means, they just aren't the absolute best, as I was hoping for. And there wasn't enough bread to hold the burger, causing me to do the unthinkable and use a knife! The highlight of the night though, was hearing a man refer to his wife as \""my darling\"" when she wasn't even within earshot. | 01
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