Ambiance can make or break a romantic evening out, whether it’s a first date or you’re celebrating your 30th anniversary. Many Pittsburgh restaurants offer the ideal cozy vibe with soft music, flickering candles, and delicious dishes to make for the perfect evening.
The Vandal
The Vandal’s chic dining room is the perfect backdrop for a date. The space is intimate, with only 30 seats, so it doesn’t get too loud. This is ideal because it lets you enjoy their well-curated playlists. They really know how to set a vibe here. The food never disappoints at The Vandal, and many of the dishes are meant to be shared, which might just allow you to touch forks with your date. How scandalous! The Vandal’s menu changes frequently, but a few of their current offerings include creamy foie blonde with grilled brioche and husk cherry jam, steak tartare served with giardiniera, parm mousse and crispy shallots, and a classic steak frites.
Dish Osteria and Bar
If you look up “romantic restaurant” in the dictionary, Dish Osteria and Bar would surely be the first entry. The interior of the space sets the tone for romance with warm wooden floors, tables, and low lighting. The entire menu is both delicious and comforting with dishes like beef and pork meatballs in tomato sauce (polpette al sugo), pan-seared scallops seasoned with wild Tuscan fennel pollen and served with oven-roasted beets (capesante al polline di finocchio), and pappardelle pasta made with garlic, shallots, a variety of mushrooms, and Brussels sprouts (pappardelle ai funghi). Be sure to make a reservation well in advance, as tables are notoriously hard to come by here—although you may be able to snag a seat at the bar.
Meat and Potatoes
Meat and Potatoes will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside thanks to their cozy dining room. The velvet chairs, chandeliers, and warm lighting will make you forget that it’s the dead of winter. Request a booth if you can so you can snuggle up to your date while enjoying some of the restaurant’s decadent dishes. Some must-try menu items include wagyu carpaccio, duck pâté, cheddar mac and cheese with a Cheeto crumb topping, Beef Wellington for two, and truffle fries. Catch a show at the Greer Cabaret Theater after dinner to add a little music or comedy to your evening.
Della Terra
Italian restaurants never have to try too hard to be romantic—they just are. Della Terra is no exception. The dark blue walls, velvet curtains, and aromatic scents wafting from the kitchen immediately welcome you into the space. Start your meal with a lovely glass of Italian red wine, such as a Beccaris Chianti or a Fabulas “Farae” Montepulciano D’Abruzzo, which will pair perfectly with the flavors in your meal. Garlic can be seen as the antithesis of romance, but the garlic bread made with Della Terra’s pizza dough and topped with burrata is a must. The crispy fried artichokes served with a cacio e pepe aioli are also not to be missed. You have to get a pasta, and the red wine spaghetti would be perfect for reenacting the famous Lady and the Tramp scene.
Morcilla
Morcilla is a bit buzzier for a small restaurant, but when you’re sitting across the table from your date, you’ll forget all about the steady hum of voices around you. Morcilla is a tapas restaurant, which means all dishes are meant to be shared, and brushing hands with your date is highly likely. Menu highlights include the Goat Rodeo Dairy cheese board, oxtail montadito, scallop crudo, beef tartare, and radicchio and citrus salad. Choosing what to order with your date will be the perfect conversation starter.
Alberta’s Pizzeria
Alberta’s Pizzeria is a newcomer on the scene, but it’s the perfect spot for a more relaxed date night. Although reservations are recommended, you can certainly walk in and grab a seat at their impressive bar. The warm glow of the pizza oven will beckon you to stay all night talking with your date. The menu features a nice variety of appetizers, including zucchini frites, fennel and apple salad, and oysters on the half shell. Pizza is, of course, the main attraction here, so be sure to order a pie (or two) to share. You can’t go wrong with a classic Margherita or the decadent White Boy. The real question is: Will you and your partner agree on pizza toppings?
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