Time for fresh biscotti?
Want an inexpensive breakfast out? How about a true Italian espresso? Then get moving to Pittsburgh’s Strip District!
The multiple aromas and colorful sights make this a favorite place to go downtown. The Strip is an eclectic neighborhood that defines part of what makes Pittsburgh a unique city.
The area is located along the Allegheny River east of downtown, on Smallman and Penn Streets for several blocks. Keep wandering until the stores fade away—you might find one more gem in that next block of buildings.
Back in the day, the area was full of warehouses (still is) where folks came to get or deliver produce and all manner of other items for pick up and sale.
We get a little casual around here and say, “I’m going to The Strip,” which can cause some confusion for the casual listener who hears, “I’m going to strip.” Not nearly the same thing.
Places we tend to visit…
Penn Mac
You can’t hit The Strip without going to Penn Mac for specialty cheese. Besides the dairy delights, we stock up on fresh homemade pappardelle and San Giuliano Extra Virgin Olive Oil among other delectable things.
- Since 1902, Penn Mac
- Penn Mac Cheese list
- Cheeses cut to order
- Olive Oil & Vinegar at PennMac
Robert Wholey & Co.
With roots back to 1912, the store has little fanfare about it, but offers a wide variety of fish (like live lobsters), meats and poultry as well as shelves stacked with multiple food products. If there’s a specialty meat you’re hankering for, try Strip District Meats. Oh … and make sure the kiddos look up to watch the train traveling through the store. Andy’s Sushi, just inside the front doors, is a great place to grab a roll or two to go.
- Choo Choo Train at Wholey’s
PrestoGeorge
I still miss seeing John Prestogeorge smiling at every customer as he dispensed fresh coffee beans throughout the day. His was a winning smile that we lost in 2010. The staff holds to his friendly presence and is our place for a broad selection of coffee beans. They roast it on site and will grind it for you or bean bagging it works fine. They have huge jars of loose leaf teas.
Enrico’s
Devour breakfast at Enrico Biscotti Bakery and Cafe, whose placard on the sidewalk yells out, “Get in here!” Not only does Larry Lagattuta have long-term staff that gives the place a family feel, but if he’s around, he’s apt to share a pizza oven cookbook with you or pour you a lunchtime nip of his house wine. Don’t skip a stop in his bakery to get delicious biscotti or other home made creations.
- Casual at Enrico’s
- Enrico’s al fresco dining
La Prima
For our taste buds, the best cappuccino in town comes from La Prima. Stand in line, grab your coffee and either stay vertical at a tall table to drink it, sit outside and listen to the old Italian guys playing cards and chattering away in that beautiful language, or keep wandering the streets.
- Love hearing Italian at La Prima
Parma Sausage
This is another family-owned company with connections to one of our favorite Italian cities: Parma. Having sampled prosciutto in both places, we can attest to the traditions being followed in how delicious Parma’s foods can be.
Jimmy & Nino Sunseri Company
Jimmy keeps us entertained with his big, unlit cigar and welcoming greeting. Jimmy graduated from Duquesne University in 1970 (English major, French minor), but followed in his grandfather’s footsteps by working in his store from age 13. In 1985, the two brothers opened their own place. Like Biscotti Company, everything is freshly made and no preservatives are used. Sunseri’s cannoli is the tastiest, most-Italian one in the city limits. And we know our cannoli.
- Jimmy & Nino’s Trattoria & Bakery
- Cannoli from Sunseri’s
- Jimmy Sunseri
Labad’s Mediterranean Grocery
Labad’s is a nice, low-key, no fuss market with prices on tahini that can’t be beat. Also co-owned by brothers, we mostly see William sitting out front, smiling broadly at everyone and unabashedly and truthfully hawking his mother’s baklava as the best in town. No lie.
The Public Market
Sadly, this inside assortment of vendors have lost the two homes they’ve occupied in the last several years. It was always worth a stroll through to see what new things were going on from pasta to East End Brewing to the Gluten Free Goat Bakery and plenty more. It was a true joy to visit when it was in the Fruit Auction building. But someone thinks these iconic, and still very much in use, buildings should be torn down for yet more housing that normal folks can’t afford to buy or rent (but that rant is for another post). The folks are dispersed, you can find them by clicking here.
More places to savor:
If you’re looking for sweets from Jelly Bellys to Lindt Chocolates, Mon Aimee is your next stop. Now and then I’ll spot a childhood gem and the memories that come to mind are sweet indeed. More childhood treats can be found at Grandpa Joe’s Candy Store.
There’s more than one Asian market where we don’t understand the words on the packages but go purely on sight, sometimes giving the odd noodle or dumpling a go. These stores won’t kill your budget with their low-cost spices and sauces—although the hotter ones might damage your taste buds!
Don’t skip the street vendors, whether they’re selling the best wool socks and t-shirts or handmade jewelry, candles, body lotions or puppy snacks.
Not to neglect our sports teams, you’ve got multiple choices for Steelers, Pirates and Penguins gear.
The Strip District is old Pittsburgh. It’s busy and bustling and tells you a lot about the nature of this ever-evolving city. If you care to look beyond some of the fading facades and think about the longevity of many of these businesses and the families they support, you’ll see a deep longevity they’re rightly proud of.
- Fresh Flowers
- The infamous Primanti’s
- Enjoy Asian Street food
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Read: Pittsburgh’s Little Italy
Thx for this terrific post about the Strip District of old Pittsburgh, RoseMary. I admit that when I read the title of the post, i thought it would take me on an entirely different journey.
Thanks for reading! Yes, I’ve had that reaction more than once–I didn’t know what people were talking about either when I first moved here! We were there yesterday with my brother and his wife. It was cold and drizzly and so much fun. I bought a huge bouquet of fresh flowers to brighten the living room!
It is funny how our memory works, I was reading this about Pittsburgh, and it was not sights that came back, but smells. I could smell the coffee in this one area I went to. I could actually smell the aroma of brewed coffee as I read this article. Thanks for bringing some memories back.
I love that this blog brought back the sense memories for you, William. That’s an exciting thing for a writer to do!
Hopefully, Joe and I will be able to make a trip to the strip with you two soon.
Hope so, Kelli! It is great fun around the holidays!
Lovely tour Rose Mary!
Must say all of the food looks inviting, off all listed above would love to check out the olives first 😉
Thanks for the sharing dear!
Sushmita, I love olives. I simply don’t understand those friends of mine who don’t like them!
Hi Rose, youve given us many great reasons to visit the Pittsburg Strip. Who knew so many great finds were located there. I’d go for the get cappucino alone. 🙂
I’d be happy to be tour guide for any of my blogger friends, Susan! Come to da’burgh anytime at all and The Strip is at the top of the list of places to go.
Penn Mac looks yummy. All that cheese and olives. Oh my. Have I mentioned this is the last blog I am commenting on today before I go and make dinner? Thanks for whetting my appetite 😉 Now if only Nampa, Idaho has a store like that.
How’d that dinner work out for you? HA! Glad that The pictures made you hungry–I feel that way everytime I walk through The Strip District.
Wonderful tour Rose Mary! Penn Mac catches my interest as does Jimmy & Nino’s. One of the things that drew me to my new home is that there are so many independent restaurants and retailers here. The island caters to visitors, and that means a Starbucks on every corner, blah. Here, and obviously where you live, you can still find a unique coffee shop or deli, and I really love that.
Happy that you enjoyed the tour, Marquita. I love La Prima coffee. Starbucks has its place, I know that, but I will always love the little guy. Penn Mac’s variety of offerings is always a surprise to me. I don’t think I could get the breadth of it across without devoting a blog just to it. Cheese, olives, salamis, then legumes, herbs, pasta and more pasta, olive oils, vinegars and every other type of condiment, fresh pasta, bread and vegetables. But wait, there’s more…
Thanks for sharing this Rose Mary. Real people trying to make a life, some in fairly ordinary surroundings. These eateries remind me of the USA programme USA Diners. No superficial surroundings, tasty food just like mama made!
I would have a field day in those candy stores! We have a fair few in London UK, mostly in coastal towns.
USA Diners, Drive ins and Dives! There have been places from around the area on that show, Phoenicia. Love the many shops here and in the UK.
Wow, we totally missed that area when we visited recently. I will bookmark this for future reference. Parma Sausage sounds amazing. Being Italian and having roots in Italy, these shops bring back lots of memories of my childhood where my mother would take me to Italian shops all around Philadelphia and buy authentic Italian food. It’s what inspired me to share awesome flavorful recipes in honor of her and my heritage.
Gosh, you have to see The Strip next time, Sabrina. You will LOVE Parma and the other Italian markets. I drool thinking about them!
I love right next to a “strip” as well. I live one major block from the famous Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. It is where all the big musicians played in the 70s (and some still do.) If you are going to “the strip”, you’re probably planning to go to a club of some sort. I’d much prefer to go to your “strip”. A nice cup of coffee and a good breakfast will entice me faster than a club any day. (I was like this in my early 20s as well.) Thanks for sharing all about the Pittsburgh strip. Will… Read more »
I know the LA Strip, too, but like you–much prefer the kind filled with food, Erica! And walking…lots of walking so we can eat more yummy food!
Hi Rose. I would LOVE to tour Pittsburgh with you. I’m sure we could get into some serious trouble. 🙂
Doesn’t that sound like Wonderful fun, Doreen!
Hi Rose, love how you brought ‘the strip’ to life with this post! I was just there yesterday for breakfast at Pamela’s and had the best strawberry crepes in my life and was in time to snag a table before the waiting list grew to 12 and counting! Fun being there at this time of year with folks bustling and laughing and gathering their holiday goodies.
Glad you found the post fun! And that you made it to Pamela’s before the crazy crowds descended. I love being there at Christmastime.
Next time I’m in Pittsburgh, this will be one of the first places I’ll go.
Come hungry, Ken! And let me know when you’re in town–we love providing guided tours!