Takeout Time: Bring a Good Meal Home
A takeout meal from Sewickley’s Vivo Kitchen
Well, here we are again. Restaurants have altered dining options to follow the new food and beverage guidelines put forth last week by Governor Tom Wolf. It is yet another disruption to Pittsburgh’s restaurant scene since bars and restaurants fully reopened during a short-lived Green phase. When COVID-19 cases in Allegheny County spiked, indoor dining is off the table, and outdoor seating and take-out options will be the new normal.
No need to cancel dinner, though. Even during times of uncertainty, many of your favorite bars and restaurants are offering takeout specials. Having some of the best food in Pittsburgh in the comfort of your own home is as easy as ordering online and driving to pick it up.
Take at look at our sampling…and go a little wild. All the restauranteurs out there would really appreciate it.
STATION
Make your weekends tastier by pre ordering Station’s family-style dinners-for-two for Friday only pick up. Their takeout menu ranges from staples like the tagliatelle with smoked pork shank (for 2) with house Tagliatelle noodles tossed in a smokey pork broth with pork shank, sofrito, parmesan reggiano, and two 1-hour eggs, to the prime ribeye with an almost pound of roasted prime ribeye served with crispy fingerling bbq tots, roasted broccoli with chermoula, and black garlic royale with natural jus. Other entrees include the vegan carrot Bolognese (a favorite even among meat-eaters), bone-in pork chop, and grilled hanger steak. All entrees come with a Little Gem salad, bread service, and popcorn panna cotta. Takeout cocktails are also available.
BLUE SPARROW
Celebrate global street food with Blue Sparrow, a humble traveling food truck that prides itself on its straight-from-scratch, cart-inspired menu. From their website, you can order signature dishes like pad thai pizza, a falafel burrito, bibimbap bowl, and cheesy kimchi fried rice.
BONFIRE: FOOD & DRINK
Even during a pandemic, Chef Chris Bonfili and his team at Bonfire: Food & Drink are staying strong by limiting their indoor dining hours, offering outdoor patio seating, and serving up a delicious takeout menu that features favorite American classics, like chicken meatballs, flatbread, Hanger steak, and crispy Yukon gold potatoes. Oh, and we can’t talk about Bonfire without also talking about their delicious wood-fired cauliflower Mac with fontina cheese and garlic crumbs.
B52 CAFE
Order online, pick up tomorrow— the new mantra of the B52 Cafe. Since restructuring their business, they’ve turned exclusively to online takeout orders and continue to deliver superior vegan, Mediterranean-American fushion dishes, such as their seitan sandwhich, kofta tofu sandwhich, and cashew cheese sandwhich.
THE COMMONER
The restaurant’s rooftop menu translates perfectly to a summer to-go situation. Chef Dave Racicot’s Smash Burger features 2 local beef patties, american cheese, caramelized onion, b&b pickle, and the Chef’s secret sauce. The Lobster Roll is the perfect poolside eat (even if you’re sharing the blow up pool with the kids). There are also Wagyu hot dogs prepared Chicago, Pittsburgh, or New York Style. Wash it all down with some of The Commoner’s creative cocktails to go like the Flip Flop Drop Top ($12/single $45/4 servings) with Espolon, watermelon, orange zest infused agave, clarified lime, Himalayan pink sea salt.
THE VANDAL
The Vandal is currently offering the: perfect date night meal” to pick up and enjoy at home. For $35 dollars, guests can recieve a protein-based entree (like salmon, double cut pork chops, or rigatoni w/ basil pesto), a choice of two sides, along with Mediterra bread and butter. Add ons and deserts are available at an extra cost, and pick up dinners are only available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 4pm to 8pm.
SCRATCH
Scratch’s convenient carry-out window allows you to pick up your orders…or you can request home delivery by Scratch staff. Daily specials range from from vegan burritos and corn dogs to giant wings. Fridays offer up a scrumptious prime rib special. We’re a little gaga over the Chicken Gams sandwich with pulled chicken thighs, B&B pickles, red onion, bleu cheese, and choice of BBQ sauce on a brioche bun.
If it’s you doing the pick up, be sure to grab a Frozen LIT (Long Island Iced Tea), a classic adult frozen lemonade with a little Jonnie Ryan Cane Sugar Cola on top.
SQUARE CAFE
It’s breakfast all day over at Square Café. Owner Sherree Goldstein offers everything from omelets packed with flavor to vegan friendly plant bowls. Try the Brussels and Grits Bowl with shaved Brussels sprouts sautéed with bacon, mushrooms & caramelized onions served over cheesy grits, topped with one egg over easy… or the Smoked Salmon Scramble with 3 eggs scrambled with smoked salmon & cream cheese, topped with tomatoes, capers & red onions and served with mixed greens.
The offerings go well beyond breakfast, though. You can snag some tasty lunch items for carry out or delivery, like the Square Rueben made with housemade corned beef, or the grilled Sweet Potato & Chickpea Burger topped with lettuce, tomato, and lemon tahini sauce. Yes, there are fries with that!
Square Cafe also offers groceries and pantry staples for pick up or for delivery.
BUTTERJOINT
Despite new restrictions on restuarants, Butterjoint is still open five days a week (Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). However, they’ve moved to the new Pie for Breakfast space for customers to pickup pantry items, beer, cocktails, and prepared food options from both restaurants to eat at home via pick up or Friday delivery. Offerings change every day, so be sure to check back regularly. We recommend one of their chicken pot pies, one dozen pierogis, or their chicken cacciatore dinner for two for only $21.
VIVO KITCHEN
Beginning Wednesday, July 8th, Vivo will no longer have dine-in service available and will be offering take away food and cocktails. Regardless of these circumstances, Vivo has continued to quench thirsts at their Cocktail Cabana on their outdoor patio from Wednesday to Saturday starting at 5pm, and to sate hunger pangs with their takeout menu. Choose from sides like pan roasted forest mushrooms, shishito peppers, or Moroccan spiced mussels, and entrees like fresh jumbo shrimp with mango chutney, Australian lamb chops, or the ever-popular crispy garlic chicken.
Read our recent article about Vivo here!
LITTLE RADISH MARKET
Due to COVID, the Black Radish Kitchen has transformed into the Little Radish Market to deliver grocery goods to your home and is working with local farms and produce providers to minimize market waste and collaborate creatively within their community. Those looking for fresh produce can order a weekly or monthly subscription of their weekly Belly Basket Unltd. (think Hello Fresh, but fresher). Deliveries occur on Wednesdays and are ideal for 2-3 person households. Though the baskets will feature fresh fruits and veggies, sweets from Confections by Casey Renee, and gluten-free options from Wild Rise, items will change from week to week based on availability, so you’ll always be in for a surprise.
ALL IN GOOD TASTE PRODUCTIONS
Chef Bob Sendall and his crew craft weekly take out menus, posted on their website. A little planning ahead is required, so start organizing your thoughts! Friday, July 10th Menu includes lovely dishes like Watermelon Gazpacho and Shrimp Ceviche. The food is fantastic, as we testified in our recent article about them.
They’ve added three “Parties to Go” options as well: The Cocktail Party, The Grill Party, and The Pizza Party all can be customized to suit your tastes. Sendall can make those socially distant gatherings in your yard completely care-free.
Don’t miss a single delicious thing!