Sports in Pittsburgh are unlike anywhere else. I know everyone says that about their town, but it’s really true.
With three major sports teams — the Penguins, the Steelers and the Pirates — Pittsburgh bleeds black and gold. (It wasn’t until I actually moved away from Pittsburgh that I realized that not every city has solidarity in its teams’ uniforms.) We’re a city rich in history and traditions — especially when it comes to food — and, most importantly, team pride!
After all, “When you play Pittsburgh, you play the whole city.”
We finally moved back to the City of Bridges a little over a year ago, and we’ve been taking the ’Burgh sports scene by storm ever since! Although it’s much cheaper to attend games in Pittsburgh than in most major cities, it’s not always possible to score tickets. So, to get around this, my family and I turn to the next-best thing: we look for great family-friendly restaurants and sports bars to meet up with fellow fans to root for our Pens, swing our Terrible Towels or raise the Jolly Roger.
Here are a few of our favorites… so far!
The Clubhouse – Gibsonia
Address: 5301 Ranalli Drive, Gibsonia, PA 15044
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – midnight | Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.
When I was little, the Clubhouse was a bowling alley where my parents played in a Friday night league. I remember the exact day that they they announced that the bowling alley was closing. Even though it was the end of an era, we also knew that it was going to be the beginning of something new and exciting!
That was over 20 years ago. (Yeah, I’m old.) Now, the Clubhouse is an amazing family-friendly dining experience with televisions, a game room and prizes.
The Lounge Fries are a must… loaded with bacon and three kinds of cheese, and served with ranch dressing dipping sauce. Speaking of fries, if you’re looking to get some roughage in your diet, a night out in Pittsburgh wouldn’t be complete without the Pittsburgh salad with grilled chicken or steak and — of course — french fries. (Can’t be too healthy, right?) Want something juicier, yet still part of the true “Pittsburgh experience”? Order the Yinzer, the Pittsburgh Reuben or the Pittsburgh Wrap.
But don’t worry, the menu doesn’t stop there. The Clubhouse has a huge kid’s menu that includes grilled cheese, cheese quesadillas, chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, chicken wings, grilled chicken salad, mac ’n cheese, hamburger, corn dog, hot dog, pizza, grilled chicken sandwich, fish and pasta. The Clubhouse has so many amazing food options — and, honestly, any restaurant that has tater tots on the menu is a favorite in my kids’ book!
Hal’s Bar & Grill
Address: 3225 Babcock Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Hours: Sunday, noon – 10 p.m. | Monday – Thursday, 4 p.m. – midnight | Friday, 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. | Saturday, noon – 2 a.m.
Hal’s has a great atmosphere if you’re looking to watch the big game, with televisions of all sizes and plenty of food options for you and the kids. The space isn’t huge, so it can get a little loud — but, then again, so can my kids.
Their kid’s menu includes chicken fingers, sliders, grilled cheese, pasta and mac ’n cheese — all served with smiley fries or veggies. Their appetizers are sure to please any age, too. Their most notable apps include spinach and artichoke dip, hummus, pierogies, nachos grande, pepperoni rolls and — of course — my personal favorite: meatloaf cupcakes! For every wing-lover out there, they’ve got 22 flavors of wings and cook them to perfection. If you want to keep with the theme for the night, go for the Black ’n Gold, a tangy barbeque with cajun spices.
Still not convinced? They also have sandwiches, hoagies (that’s what we call subs in PGH), pizza and more. Plus, they have amazing specials, like Taco Tuesdays, where tacos are only $1.
Primanti Brothers
Address and Hours: Click here to find a location near you
From street cart to franchise, Primanti Brothers has been a Pittsburgh go-to for over 80 years. There are now locations in seven states, with a whopping 17 locations in the Pittsburgh area alone, including Heinz Field, PNC Park and PPG Paints Arena.
Primanti sandwiches are like none other. Each one is loaded with french fries and coleslaw… Yes, ON the sandwich! Not brave enough? No worries. They have pizza, wings and snacks, too. Their kid’s menu includes mac ’n cheese, hamburger, cheeseburger, chicken strips, hot dog and pizza. My kids love their hand-cut fries, one of the side options for any of the kid’s meals.
Like all great Pittsburgh sports fans, Primanti Brothers never hesitates to highlight our heroes by offering specials like the HBK (ham, bacon and kielbasa) — honoring the Penguins’ 2016 third line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel — or, more recently, The Captain — in honor of Sidney Crosby’s 1,000th NHL career point. They even banned all seafood from the menu when the Steelers were up against the Miami Dolphins during the playoffs.
All of their specials are in great fun and for a limited time only. Menu items do vary at each location, so check the website first if you’re craving something in particular.
Quaker Steak & Lube
Address and Hours: Click here to find a location near you
Quaker Steak & Lube is another Western Pennsylvania tradition. The original Lube is in Sharon, Pennsylvania, but there are now five locations in the Pittsburgh area alone, including Pittsburgh International Airport, PNC Park and Heinz Field. You can also find franchises in 14 other states.
Quaker Steak is the ultimate theme restaurant, with cars hanging from the ceiling, gas pumps as door handles and televisions everywhere… even in the floor! But don’t worry, it’s not just NASCAR on the TVs. You’ll be sure to find all your local sports, too.
I recommend starting the whole family out with an order of their O-Ring Ontenna®, crispy onion rings served on an antenna… so fun! For the adults, we love their boneless wings with one of 24 sauces. (Asian Sesame is my favorite.) The Lube definitely caters to the kids with their Kids Lube Cruisers — souvenir paper car plates. Their kid’s menu includes grilled boneless wings, grilled cheese, top gear tenders, chevy cheeseburger, MACaroni ’n cheese, toasted cheez pizza and, of course, chicken wings. My kiddos love their MACaroni ’n cheese with fresh steamed broccoli. Oh, and free Goldfish crackers for toddlers upon request!
Sunny Jim’s Tavern
Address: 255 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15202
Hours: Sunday – Wednesday, 11 a.m. – midnight | Thursday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.
If you’re looking for an authentic Pittsburgh experience, head dahn by the crick (for you out-of-towners, that’s Pittsburghese for “down by the creek”) and check out Sunny Jim’s Tavern. Just off the Camp Horne exit, off Route 279, Sunny Jim’s is a no-fuss establishment that has been serving the community since 1934. The space is huge, decorated with Pittsburgh sports memorabilia and a ton of televisions. It’s a great place to meet up with all your friends and root for your favorite team.
They have a great outdoor seating area for warm Pittsburgh nights. They slow smoke their meats over local hardwood every morning. Their menu has something for everyone: pizza, wings (fried or smoked), flatbreads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, salads (some with fries, of course) and entrees.
Their kid’s menu includes a cheese pizza boat, grilled chicken tenders with steamed veggies, fried chicken tenders with fries, grilled cheese, all-beef hotdog, cheeseburger, spaghetti & meatballs. My 6-year-old practically inhaled his cheeseburger when we were there the other day, so I would say that’s a favorite for sure. Kids eat free on Mondays and Tuesdays and for only $3.99 the rest of the week.
Buffalo Wild Wings
Address and Hours: Click here to find a location near you
Buffalo Wild Wings is the ultimate family-friendly sports bar, with five locations in the Pittsburgh area.
Our favorite family appetizers are the Tablegating Sampler and/or the Garden Crasher, depending on how healthy we want to be that day. Their fried pickles are to die for. (It’s all about balance, folks!) Of course, wings are a favorite, too, with 21 flavors to choose from. But they have other great items on their menu, like burgers, salads and wraps. Their kid’s menu includes a cheeseburger, naked tenders (makes my kid’s chuckle every time), boneless wings, mini corn dogs, mac ’n cheese, chicken tenders, traditional wings and cheese flatbread. My 3-year-old is a fan of the mini corn dogs.
Dave & Buster’s
Address: The Waterfront, 180 E. Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA 15120
Hours: Sunday, 11 a.m. – midnight | Monday – Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – midnight | Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 2 a.m. | Saturday, 11 a.m. – midnight
If you’re looking to catch the big game AND be entertained, head over to the Waterfront for a night of fun and games at Dave & Buster’s. Self-described as America’s “best sports bar ever,” Dave & Buster’s is loaded with huge-screen TVs for your viewing pleasure. Hungry? No problem! They have everything from shareable appetizers to a teriyaki sirloin steak.
Their kid’s menu includes a surf and turf (a mini-cheeseburger and crispy breaded shrimp), pretzel dogs, goldfingers, cheeseburger, cheeseburger quesadilla, grilled chicken, macaroni ’n cheese, grilled cheese, fresh garden salad and a parmesan caesar salad. My kiddos love the goldfingers — chicken tenders served with seasoned french fries and ranch dressing.
In addition to hundreds of games (PAC-MAN! Skee-Ball!) and prizes available in the Million Dollar Midway, the Pittsburgh location also has a billiard room for all of you pool sharks. Looking for a super fun place to host your kiddo’s next sports-themed birthday party? Dave & Buster’s has several party packages, too.
And if you are looking to take in a viewing of nighttime game, hire a sitter!
