Casual to Elegant: The Best Restaurants for Sunday Brunch in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

When you have a passion for food as most of us do, you might entertain the thought of getting the best of both worlds by dining at a restaurant that offers breakfast and lunch simultaneously in what we have fondly become acquainted with as brunch. Hungry mid-morning diners will be satisfied with the heavier offerings of the meal, while light weights can pick and choose through the various selections to their hearts content.

Brunch is a combination of breakfast and lunch that has multiple offerings typically served around 11:00 a.m.; and it is notorious for being traditionally served on Sundays, however foodies have popularized it by serving it any day of the week that you so desire. The vast collection of cuisine found at a brunch usually consists of eggs, pancakes, sausage or bacon, toast or muffins, juices, champagne and fruit. However more elegant brunches have food choices that include smoked fish, roast beef, omelets, frittata, grits and pastries.

Restaurants serving brunch have catapulted with waves of hungry customers just dying to sample their vast array of brunch specials, and Pittsburgh is no exception to this Sunday tradition. In fact Pittsburghers have popularized brunch so much so that local restaurants have included or expanded their menus to accommodate the starving crowds of diehard brunch fans waiting in mile long lines as if there were a rock concert or a Steelers' game they were happily anticipating in their mid-morning future.

Pittsburgh offers brunch seekers a wide range of diverse dining options from all-you-can-eat buffet style meals to a quiet corner table by the window, complete with a water front view of the city and river. Meals also range in price from under $10.00 a person to well over $20.00 per person. The options are endless if you know where to start, and I will begin by listing a few of Pittsburgh's favorite restaurants that offer a full brunch menu.

The Grand Concourse

100 W Station Square Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Hands down the beautifully restored P&LE railroad station is a favorite of locals and out of town visitors. From the all-you-can-eat buffet to the ornate stained glass ceiling, it is absolutely exploding with charisma, both aesthetically and sensually. This elegantly decorated historical monument is a stunning vision, and it sits proudly on the waterfront at Station Square inviting passerby's to savor the flavors of the most delectable brunch that they can only imagine.

The All-You-Can-Eat Buffet: A complete omelet station, donut station, banana's foster, blackened salmon, potatoes, shrimp, salad and mini desserts are only a small sampling of what is in store for patrons who dine in on any Sunday from 10:00 until 2:30. Reservations are a must as the seating is in high demand due to the popularity of the exquisite and unique buffet. Price: Adults $24.99 Children 4-12 $13.99 Call: (412) 261-1717 for reservations.

The Six Penn Kitchen

146 Sixth Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

(412) 566-7366 (PENN)

The Six Penn is not only favored for its delicious food, but they are also known for their sensible approach to how it is prepared. They know the importance of going green, and they exercise this by growing their own herbs on a rooftop garden. They also support local and sustainable farms and suppliers, all noted on the expansive menu. Located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, the locals know where to find one of the best Sunday brunches around. If the tempura fried bacon doesn't lure you in then perhaps the Boston cream beignets or the cheesecake stuffed brioche French toast will do the trick. Executive Chef Keith Fuller brings years of experience to this posh eatery, as is evident in viewing the diverse menu.

Sunday Brunch:Served from 10:30 to 2:30, with prices ranging from $8.00 to $14.00, and appetizers fro as little as $3.00. Everything from the eggs Benedict to the stuffed French toast is a taste of heaven, and the tempura bacon is the obvious choice when it comes to gut buster Sunday favorites; and the savory coffee frites are quite simply to die for.

Tazza D'Oro

1125 N. Highland Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15206

(412) 362-DORO

http://www.tazzadoro.net/

Since 1999 Enrico's Tazza D'Oro has been serving the locals and out-of-staters in the Highland Park area of Pittsburgh some of the best cuisine known to man. The European cafe-style Sunday brunch specials have been brought to the table by popular demand from foodies everywhere. Food critics rave about the Italian frittata and Panini, and some of Pittsburgh's best rated rich blended coffees can be found at this charming locale that is packed full of English atmosphere inside and out.

Sunday Brunch: A wide range of pastries and breakfast sandwiches are served during the Sunday brunch from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. that range in price from $5.00 to $7.00 on average. The African coffee, Italian Cappuccino, mochas and espresso's are the real deal and they literally draw in crowds of people, first due to the wafting aromas that emanate and entice them to come in for the taste test that keeps them coming back for more. The menu changes with the seasons, but their commitment does not. They buy from local Western Pennsylvania farmers and independent businesses that thrive from local loyalty.

Sources:

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/23/270695/restaurant/Station-Square/Grand-Concourse-Pittsburgh

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/lifestyles/fooddrink/s_622902.html

http://www.muer.com/

http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/dining_reviews/tp/sunday-brunch.htm

http://www.sixpennkitchen.com/

http://pittsburgh.citysearch.com/profile/8613522/pittsburgh_pa/grand_concourse.html

http://www.tazzadoro.net/