10 Unsuspecting Restaurants In Pittsburgh With Food So Good It Should Be Illegal

Remember that old saying you can’t judge a book by its cover? We all heard it throughout our school years and most would, maybe begrudgingly, admit that old cliche proves true. Take the following 10 unsuspecting restaurants in Pittsburgh, for example, that you might just unwittingly stroll by.

Yelp/Chuck P.

Yelp/Kara A.

Bring your own beer to Nicky's Thai Kitchen, an unsuspecting restaurant that's won a slew of awards, including being named Pittsburgh's best Thai Restaurant by Pittsburgh Magazine. The award-winning restaurant welcomes diners for both lunch and dinner. Take out is also available.

Yelp/Stacie C.

Yelp/Stacie C.

Treat yourself to an authentic Thai meal at the quaint Red Orchid. Peruse the vast menu that features such freshly-prepared entrees as Thai-style sweet and sour, pad phet, spicy tofu eggplant, and spicy basil. Stop by Red Orchid for lunch or dinner daily.

Yelp/Legends of the North Shore

Yelp/Vincenzo C.

Embrace a cozy dining experience when you visit Legends of the North Shore, which boasts traditional Italian food. Choose the best entree to pair with your wine or beer at this Bring Your Own Beer (BYOB) eatery. Popular dishes at Legends of the North Shore, which serves both lunch and dinner, include fettuccine Alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs, and spinach ravioli.

Yelp/Edward C.

Yelp/Ken L.

Enjoy an old-fashioned home-cooked meal for breakfast or lunch at The Dor-Stop Restaurant. Browse the menu that features such breakfast items as steak and eggs, eggs Benedict, and both vegetarian and meat lovers' omelets. The Dor-Stop welcomes diners daily.

Yelp/David B.

Yelp/Miriam M.

Experience a Pittsburgh tradition since 1977 when you visit Big Jim's Restaurant. Go hungry because you'll have plenty of scrumptious dishes from which to choose, including a traditional Reuben sandwich, grilled burgers, oven-baked hoagies, and New York strip steak.

Yelp/Lombardozzi’s Restaurant

Yelp/Eric O.

Indulge in an old-fashioned Italian meal at Lombardozzi's Restaurant, a Pittsburgh tradition for more than 40 years. The charming Italian restaurant welcomes diners for lunch and for dinner and also for those who want to host a banquet. Choose from such "old school" Italian dishes as lasagna, ravioli, manicotti, and pasta marinara. Lombardozzi's is open Wednesday through Sunday.

Yelp/Jill G.

Yelp/Jerry F.

Go to Proper Brick Oven Restaurant and Bar hungry or even if you're just in the mood for a snack. The unsuspecting restaurant, owned and run by a native Pittsburgher, serves a wide variety of items, including snacks (house chips and hummus), starters (roasted roots and house salad), pizzas, and such entrees as fried chicken, mac and cheese, and short rib bolognese.

Facebook/Dish Osteria and Bar

Yelp/Camille S.

Opt for Mediterranean or Italian cuisine at the unassuming Dish Osteria and Bar, which welcomes diners from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. from Monday through Saturday. Browse the vast menu that features such dishes as grilled calamari, grilled eggplant, spaghetti with scallops, and rigatoni with smoked mozzarella.

Yelp/Jenn T.

Yelp/Justin R.

Satisfy your craving for traditional American fare at Discoll & Sons Cafe, a rustic restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In addition to its regular menu, Driscoll & Sons also features daily specials, including Mexican Mondays, Wednesday Wings, Friday Fresh Seafood, and Saturday Steak Night.

Yelp/Ryan H.

Yelp/DiAnoia’s Eatery

Stop by DiAnoia's Eatery Thursday through Sunday for a relaxing cup of coffee or tea or choose from a range of deli sandwiches: meatball, sausage and peppers, ham and cheese, or turkey. Dinner entrees include house made spaghetti, ravioli, gnocchi, and linguine.

What other unsuspecting restaurants in Pittsburgh would you add to a part two of this list? Or, if you’re in the mood for one of the city’s best sandwiches, check out one of these eight restaurants.