This Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Bar Has Cooked Half-Pound Burgers Over Hardwood Since 1985

The building at 4601 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh's Bloomfield neighborhood has housed taverns since 1933. The art deco bar with glass rod lights dates to that era and still glows.

In 1985, Kelly Harrington, a man whose stated favorite childhood treat was a hamburger, bought the business, renamed it Tessaro's, and started cooking half-pound burgers over a custom-crafted iron hardwood grill. Grill master Courtney McFarlane took over that fire in 1987 and has been there since.

For a state with Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and everything in between, that's a real argument to make. It made Only In Your State's burger hall of fame.

'People walk through our door to be taken care of,' reads the current restaurant's mission statement. The tin ceiling dating to 1892 and the art deco bar are still there every day, reminders that this building has been feeding people for over 130 years.

What to Order

Tessaro's burgers run from 4 to 12 ounces, cooked Pittsburgh rare to well done. The Kelly Burger, named for the founder, comes with blue cheese and the deep char of the open hardwood fire.

The in-house butcher grinds fresh beef daily, with a marble-to-meat ratio that's been refined over 40 years of daily service. The BBQ Burger and Breakfast Burger round out the specialty lineup.

The menu extends to hardwood-grilled steaks, beef ribs, chicken, and seasonal specials. The bar program is locally respected and the draft list rotates with Pittsburgh's craft beer scene. For more on the food scene nearby, see the Bloomfield burger spot Pittsburgh keeps coming back to.

Four Decades of Hardwood Fire in Bloomfield

Kelly Harrington dedicated the years after 1985 to building what he believed Pittsburgh's finest burger should be. He passed away, but the legacy continues under current management with the same grill and the same approach.

Courtney McFarlane's nearly 40 years at the same grill represent a continuity of craft that's unusual in the restaurant business. The burger you order today is made by the same hands that have been making it since 1987.

The hardwood fire at Tessaro's requires daily maintenance and skilled management that most restaurant kitchens are not built for. Forty years of consistency reflects how seriously the kitchen takes that operational commitment.

Bloomfield has become one of Pittsburgh's most active dining neighborhoods. Tessaro's was there before the neighborhood became a food destination, which gives it an authenticity no newer restaurant can claim. For more of the state's dining history, see iconic Pittsburgh restaurants worth knowing.

Plan Your Visit

Tessaro's is at 4601 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh's Bloomfield neighborhood. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. No reservations required.

Be sure to pair your meal with one of their famous, hand-cut side dishes. Their perfectly seasoned home fries and crispy onion rings are local favorites that complement the smoky flavor of the hardwood grill, making every visit to this historic neighborhood tavern a truly satisfying dining experience.

Street parking available on surrounding Bloomfield blocks. While you're planning the trip, check out the best restaurants in Bloomfield.