Brian Nagele
There is no shortage of delicious places to eat breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner in Pittsburgh.
Many neighborhoods within Pittsburgh reflect the ethnic heritages of their first residents, including Italian, Polish, Jewish, and African segments.
Most BYOB restaurants attach an additional fee for bringing in your alcoholic beverages.
A corkage fee is most common, where a small fee is attached to opening up your bottle of wine.
Some restaurants also assess a fee for bottles of beer or liquor.
Some restaurants prefer a recycling fee instead of corkage.
Read on to discover your next favorite BYOB restaurant in Pittsburgh.
La Tavola Italiana Restaurant
1 Boggs Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15211
Phone: 412-481-3336
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When I need to host a large party, the Italian hospitality at La Tavola Italiana Restaurant always delivers.
Located in the Mt. Washington neighborhood, this centrally-located family restaurant always accommodates a private party, from retirements to birthdays and wedding rehearsal dinners.
Dietary restrictions are also easily accommodated.
Feel free to bring your drinks to this BYOB restaurant in Pittsburgh.
A corkage fee may apply to your alcoholic drinks of choice.
Save yourself a huge liquor bill and enjoy the libations you choose with La Tavola Italiana Restaurant.
Cafe Du Jour
1107 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Phone: 412-488-9695
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A European-style bistro located in the historic district of Pittsburgh’s South Side, Cafe Du Jour delivers an evolving menu highlighting international cuisines.
Try the North African-Spiced Smoked Pork Chop or Fennel Sausage Meatballs.
This menu is inspired both by French, Greek, Italian, and other culinary traditions and fresh, seasonal ingredients found in Pennsylvania.
Enjoy an intimate dining experience in the quaint dining room or ivy-covered outdoor courtyard.
Cafe Du Jour offers a BYOB option so you can enjoy your favorite wines and liquors.
Duncan Street Sandwich Shop
543 North Ave, Millvale, PA 15209
Phone: 412-252-2940
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Run by two chefs who specialize in formal, five-course dinners, Duncan Street Sandwich Shop represents a more casual dining experience for these talented chefs.
The menu is made of sandwiches, soups, artisanal toasts, and salads, like a Nashville hot turkey sandwich or BBQ roasted sweet potato.
Duncan Street Sandwich Shop holds down a busy location in the borough of Millvale, across the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh.
Noodlehead
242 S Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phone: 412-295-4580
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Inspired by the street food culture of Thailand, Noodlehead offers delicious Thai dishes like pork belly steamed buns, pad thai, and Chiang Mai Curry.
Noodlehead resides in a rustic, modern building, northeast of downtown Pittsburgh.
This restaurant accepts only cash as payment.
Feel free to BYOB to this exciting Thai restaurant.
I appreciate that there is no corkage fee here, but rather a simple recycling fee for the bottles or cans you bring in.
Anticipate spending about 0.75 cents per person for this recycling fee.
BYOB privileges are available for inside seating only.
Legends Eatery
500 E North Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Phone: 412-321-8000
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Open since 2002, Legends Eatery offers high-end Italian and American food for lunch and dinner.
While an upscale eatery, I have always found it to be a casual and welcoming environment.
Chef Dan Bartow offers classics like chicken scallopini, eggplant melanzane, and fried cannoli for dessert.
A $4 corkage fee is applied to every beverage brought into Legends, except on Wednesdays.
In addition to other daily specials, Wednesday waives fees for BYOB drinks.
Onion Maiden
639 E Warrington Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15210
Phone: 412-586-7347
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Onion Maiden is a restaurant with a point of view.
In addition to a plant-based menu, this eatery takes its inspiration from American and Asian comfort foods.
Creatively named dishes like Balls to the Wall tofu croquettes and Straight To Hell rice noodle salad.
Everything on the menu is vegan, and some items are also gluten-free.
If you want something truly punk rock, check out the tater tots and nachos menu.
There are no drinks on the menu at Onion Maiden, so feel free to BYOB.
No corkage fee or recycling fee is listed. This restaurant is cash only.
Piccolo Forno
3801 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Phone: 412-622-0111
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There is no shortage of amazing Italian restaurants in Pittsburgh, including Piccolo Forno.
Explore authentic pizzas, pasta, and antipasti appetizers like polpette Toscane, or baked boar and pork meatballs.
Piccolo Forno offers a variety of Italian beverages, including espresso and cappuccino.
If you prefer to BYOB, a $6 per bottle corkage for bottles of wine and $3 per person for beer or liquor.
Stop by this welcoming restaurant in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, only a few blocks from the Allegheny River.
Smiling Banana Leaf
5901 Bryant St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phone: 412-362-3200
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Located in the historic Highland Park district of Pittsburgh, Smiling Banana Leaf offers traditional Thai favorites prepared in a fresh, friendly location. Enjoy authentic dishes like tom yum soup, pad sees ew, or mango curry.
I especially love their dessert menu, from Thai custard with sticky rice to taro in coconut milk.
Smiling Banana Leaf is open seven days a week and reservations are strongly recommended.
Some delicious nonalcoholic beverages like Thai iced tea and mango juice are available, but you are also welcome to BYOB. There is no listed corkage fee for outside alcohol.
Cucina Vitale
2516 E Carson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Phone: 412-481-8000
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Nestled between the Tunnel Park and Ormsby Park neighborhoods, Cucina Vitale offers another BYOB Italian restaurant in Pittsburgh.
The chef-owner holds a passion for food since childhood, with many of their enduring memories coming from large family dinners with their big Italian family.
Cucina Vitale is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner with dishes like Italian wedding soup, ravioli of the day, and a make-your-own frittata.
Cucina Vitale welcomes guests to bring their wine to complement their delicious dishes.
All diners will be charged a $7 corkage fee per bottle.
Sarafino’s Homestyle Italian
40 E Crafton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Phone: 412-922-8911
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Enjoy another of the best BYOB restaurants in Pittsburgh with the Italian fare of Sarafino’s Homestyle Italian restaurant.
Explore paninis, pasta, soups, and pizzas, as well as a rotating menu of specials.
Specials include pasta scioligio, crab cakes with portabella mushrooms, or veal parmigiana.
Enjoy the welcoming atmosphere achieved by the Caliguire family, who all work together to operate this restaurant.
A popular date spot in Pittsburgh, there is no listed corkage fee or other associated fees with BYOB choices.
Cafe Zinho
238 Spahr St, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Phone: 412-363-1500
Often called a hidden gem of the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Cafe Zinho offers a unique menu.
Enjoy Portuguese and Mediterranean-influenced cuisines inside a restaurant converted from a garage.
Enjoy duck a ‘l’orange, branzino, and escargot with gnocchi.
This eatery also offers a rotating menu of specials, like soft shell crabs w/ lemon caper sauce.
Cafe Zinho does not have a website, so it is recommended to call in for reservations.
This restaurant is cash only and welcomes customers who BYOB.
In addition to other examples of exceptional service, this eatery requires no corkage for BYOB drinks.
Girasole
733 Copeland St, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Phone: 412-682-2130
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Located near Cafe Zinho in the Shadyside neighborhood, Girasole combines fine dining food with a fun atmosphere.
Girasole is the Italian word for sunflower and also the owner’s family name.
I love the ambiance of this restaurant, with rustic stone walls in the dining room.
It feels like you are eating in an ancient Italian villa or castle.
The menu at Girasole features elevated Italian peasant dishes, like squid ink linguini.
Seasonality remains the priority at this restaurant, with a rotating menu featuring only the freshest ingredients.
Explore seasonal vegetables, fish, and other ingredients sprinkled throughout their menu.
Thai Me Up
118 S 23rd St, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Phone: 412-488-8893
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An award-winning South Side restaurant, Thai Me Up serves traditional Thai favorites to the Pittsburgh community since 2002.
Authentic Thai flavors and ingredients shine on this menu, with unique dishes like green papaya salad and eggplant with basil leaves.
Thai Me Up features a special of the week as well. Explore a new curry, salad, appetizer, and even dessert.
Thai Me Up ranks as one of the best BYOB restaurants in Pittsburgh, with a $6 corkage fee for a bottle of wine.
If you prefer beer, a $1 fee applies per bottle.
Pasha Cafe & Lounge
808 Ivy St, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Phone: 412-688-7415
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Pasha Cafe & Lounge offers delicious Middle Eastern and Turkish fare in another celebrated Shadyside restaurant.
Traditional favorites like stuffed grape leaves, falafel, and kebabs fill the menu.
There is an entire section for lamb, chicken, or vegetarian entrees at Pasha Cafe & Lounge.
All food on their menu is halal. At Pasha Cafe & Lounge, a variety of traditional drinks are available.
Try a cup of strong Turkish coffee or explore ayran, a yogurt drink with a salty taste.
Feel free to BYOB at this restaurant as well. There is no listed corkage fee.
The Vandal
4306 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Phone: 412-251-0465
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Located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood, The Vandal offers elevated, simple dinners and an elaborate drinks menu as well.
This eatery encourages you to drop by for nightly dinner and drinks, suggesting a casual dining style.
Menu items like steak tartare, Hudson Valley Foie Terrine, and gnocchi Sardi decorate this cosmopolitan list of offerings.
Check out this restaurant’s extensive drinks menu, including wines, beers, ciders, and specialty cocktails.
The Vandal welcomes private events, which may involve a corkage fee.
The Vandal is open seven days a week for dinners only.
