<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1l8vYs_0wCKfC7A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1l8vYs_0wCKfC7A00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Thai Place's Gang Karee curry in front of its Tropical Bird's Nest and Thai Lo Mein. Photo by Roman Hladio.</figcaption></figure><p>Halloween is just around the corner, Pittsburgh. No tricks or treats here, just the latest restaurant openings and closings around town. </p><p>If you want to get your ghoul on, check out our list of the best Halloween bars, pop-ups and cocktails in Pittsburgh. Otherwise, grab your silverware. We have a full plate of new restaurants in Pittsburgh for you. But first, here’s what’s closing: </p><h2>Closings</h2><h2>Thai Place</h2><p>12009 Perry Highway, Wexford</p><p>After 35 years in business, the last of five Thai Place restaurants in the Pittsburgh region is closing. Owners Surin and Santi Thamwiwat have operated the local chain since 1989. The Wexford location’s last day of service is Saturday, Oct. 19. </p><p>Thai Place has been a staple throughout my life. From birthdays to graduations or just Sunday dinners, my family has consumed more miles of rice noodles than I’d care to admit. It’s the source of my unreasonable love of bean sprouts. </p><p>If you make it out to try this spot in the next two days, try some of their more inventive entrees — since the ’90s, good Pad Thai in town has become a lot more common. When I stopped by with my brother earlier this week, he ordered the Tropical Bird’s Nest — chicken and shrimp in a bowl of fried string potatoes. </p><p>Although the Bird’s Nest and other delicious dishes are on the cusp of extinction, Thai Place is adding five of its sauces to multiple grocers around town, including six Market Districts and Oriental Market. Sauce recipes and a letter from the owners are available on Thai Place’s website. </p><p>It was packed on Tuesday night. Expect crowds for Thai Place’s final few days. Congratulations on retirement, Surin and Santi! </p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2CVa0W_0wCKfC7A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2CVa0W_0wCKfC7A00" width="750" height="589" ><figcaption>Photo by Kristy Locklin.</figcaption></figure><h2>Rockaway Pizza</h2><p>1949 Lincoln Way, White Oak</p><p>After a tease back in August, Rockaway Pizzeria officially closed on Saturday, Oct. 4, ahead of its move to Regent Square. Owner Josh Sickels hasn’t publicly stated an opening date or a timeline on the new storefront. </p><p>Barstool sports-turned-pizza magnate Dave Portnoy rated Rockaway an 8.2 when he visited the Pittsburgh area last month. On a fan-made site tracking rankings, that score places Rockaway 82nd — tied with about 23 other pizza joints around the country. </p><h2>Soluna</h2><p>1601 Penn Ave., Strip District</p><p>The Strip Districts cafe and Mezcal bar, Soluna, closed on Sunday, Sept. 29 — about a month shy of its second anniversary. Soluna announced the closure in an Instagram post on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The post did not note why the cafe was closing. </p><p>“Over the years, we’ve shared countless memories, from the first sip of coffee in the morning to the last bite of a fresh pastry in the afternoon,” the post reads. “It has been an honor to be part of your daily routines, celebrations and quiet moments.” </p><p>Previously at the address was Cafetano, a Honduran coffee joint owned by Carl Allison. When Soluna opened in late 2022, it maintained much of the menu and staff, but the business was now owned by Allison’s wife Christy and business partner Dylan Thomas. </p><p>Soluna’s website has since been deactivated. Although its Instagram page is still available to view, the account holders did not respond to a request for comment. </p><h2>Openings</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0x1zHZ_0wCKfC7A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0x1zHZ_0wCKfC7A00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>Two slices of North Homewood pizza with lamb pepperoni. Photo by Roman Hladio.</figcaption></figure><h2>North Homewood Pizza</h2><p>531 N. Homewood Ave., Homewood</p><p>North Homewood Pizza has been slinging pie since July, but their signature slices and puck-shaped potato buds just popped onto my radar after a Tribune-Review profile earlier this month. </p><p>I stopped in for a few slices — North Homewood’s ‘za is different. Its sauce and crust are stuffed with herbs, and it’s definitely a little saucier than other Pittsburgh pies. They have unique toppings like lamb pepperoni — which does taste a little gamier than pork, to your delight or dismay. All those factors combine to create a slice much more savory than is </p><p>“normal.” It almost reminds me of a gyro. </p><p>But that’s not a bad thing. </p><p>Pizza is bread, sauce and cheese, but a New York slice isn’t a Detroit slice, and a traditional Sicilian pie tastes nothing like an Altoona Sicilian (scroll all the way down — my apologies in advance). Pizza is inherently Dadaist. Be open to something outside of the norm. Vocelli’s will still be there tomorrow. </p><p>North Homewood Pizza is open Sundays through Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Thursdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to midnight. </p><h2>Wunderbar</h2><p>411 Lincoln Ave., Bellevue</p><p>Unless you’ve trekked up to Harmony (or already live there), you’re probably not familiar with this cafe that has a German name, Italian coffee and French eats. As of Thursday, Oct. 10, your commute to this European union just got shorter: Wunderbar is officially open in Bellevue. </p><p>While coffee and crepes are Wunderbar’s bread and butter, the cafe also serves breakfast and grilled cheese sandwiches, salads, wraps and soups. The Harmony location is often packed. Plan your crepe runs accordingly. </p><p>Wunderbar is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. </p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0YYooR_0wCKfC7A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0YYooR_0wCKfC7A00" width="1280" height="720" ><figcaption>A patacon, empanadas, yuca fries and a cachapa from Cilantro &amp; Ajo. Photo by Roman Hladio.</figcaption></figure><h2>Cilantro &amp; Ajo</h2><p>4017 Butler St., Lawrenceville</p><p>Eagle-eyed readers caught a tease to this new location back in May. Now, the wait is over: Cilantro &amp; Ajo opened in Lawrenceville on Thursday, Sept. 19. </p><p>Some of my favorite bites from the Venezuelan spot are their yuca fries, arepas and patacones — basically a sandwich between two smashed-and-fried pieces of plantain. </p><p>Cilantro &amp; Ajo is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. </p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3a4jvb_0wCKfC7A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3a4jvb_0wCKfC7A00" width="2048" height="1073" ><figcaption>Viva la Vida’s menu spread. Photo courtesy of Viva la Vida.</figcaption></figure><h2>Viva La Vida</h2><p>1141 Freeport Road, O’Hara</p><p>Don’t mistake this for the hit Coldplay song from 2008 — Viva La Vida brings authentic Mexican flavors with modern culinary twists to O’Hara. </p><p>The new bar and restaurant started its “Adventure of a Lifetime” last month, and has a penchant for pink — from its butterfly logo to the dishes and drinks adorned with radiant radish, pickled onion and strawberry garnishes </p><p>Margs, guac, al pastor street tacos and coconut flan sound like “Paradise.” I’m always looking for “Something Just Like This.” </p><p>Viva La Vida is open Sundays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. </p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4LmYwX_0wCKfC7A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4LmYwX_0wCKfC7A00" width="1080" height="1351" ><figcaption>A latte and pastries from Brave Bean Coffee Co. Photo courtesy of Brave Bean.</figcaption></figure><h2>Brave Bean Coffee Co.</h2><p>20 E. General Robinson St., North Side</p><p>Pitcairn-based and veteran-owned roaster Brave Bean is opening a second location in the Pop District. </p><p>When owner and Air Force veteran Milo Speranzo opened the roastery, his goal was two-fold: create a gathering space for his community and give back to other veterans. The North Shore coffee shop will open just four months shy of Brave Beans second anniversary in February. </p><p>While no firm opening date has been set, regular operations are expected to begin soon. Once it is open, hours will be 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. </p><h2>Kinder Being Café</h2><p>715 East St., North Side</p><p>After a brief closure, The Government Center’s coffee bar is once again open with new management and a new name. Since Friday, Oct. 4, its drinks have been out of this world. </p><p>Founder Max Wheeler is bringing a new vibe to the space, serving Espresso A Mano coffee. If all that espresso gets you hungry, don’t fret! They serve panuozzo from online-only pizzeria ‘77 Club. </p><p>Kinder Being is open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. </p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0YVBoU_0wCKfC7A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0YVBoU_0wCKfC7A00" width="1280" height="853" ><figcaption>A spread of family-style dining menu items from Scratch &amp; Co. Photo by Laura Petrilla via Scratch &amp; Co.</figcaption></figure><h2>Scratch &amp; Co.</h2><p>1720 Lowrie St., Troy Hill</p><p>Executive Chef David Bigbee and Chef de Cuisine Josh Pruss are cooking up more than new menu items for Scratch &amp; Co. — they’re creating new dining styles. </p><p>Starting last month, the Troy Hill restaurant started family-style service for parties of eight or more. The customizable dining packages ask patrons to pick from among various appetizers, first courses, sides, mains and a pasta or sandwich platter, with the menu changing seasonally. For now, you can choose among mains like flank steak with aji amarillo peppers, trout with smoked tomato butter and broccolini with crispy chickpeas in a carrot-ginger sauce. Check out the full menu on Scratch &amp; Co.’s website. </p><p>Additionally, Scratch is launching a new Tuesday dinner service starting Tuesday, Oct. 29. Titled, “Compliments,” it’ll offer a rotating tapas — small, savory bites — menu. There will also be no set drink menu. Bar staff will craft custom concoctions based on the patron’s preferences. </p><p>For the Tuesday service, Scratch is open from 5 to 10 p.m. with no reservations. The restaurant is otherwise open Sundays from 9 a.m to 2 p.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 10 p.m.; and Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 11 p.m. </p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2juH8E_0wCKfC7A00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2juH8E_0wCKfC7A00" width="1280" height="854" ><figcaption>Yinzer Pop comes in four flavors: Allegheny River Water (cola), Orange Belt (orange), Blawnox Boilermaker (root beer) and Sahside Sangria (grape). Photo courtesy of Yinzer Pop.</figcaption></figure><h2>Yinzer Pop</h2><p>Yinz need a drink after spittin’ all that Pittsburghese? Yinzer Pop — from the same company that brought Yinzer Dogs to the Burgh — is more readily available than ever. You can now find it at all Pittsburgh-area Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop locations. </p><p>Our dialect is drinkable in four flavors: Allegheny River Water, Orange Belt, Blawnox Boilermaker and Sahside Sangria. That’s cola, orange pop, root beer and grape pop for yinz outa tahners. Pick up cans or 12-ounce glass bottles. </p><h2>Caliente Pizza and Draft House</h2><p>2125 Babcock Blvd., Ross</p><p>Caliente’s North Hills location, which we touched on briefly last month, opened on Oct. 4. </p><p>Alongside the opening, the local chain announced that 10 of its sauces, mixes and spreads — including its original pizza sauce, tomato jam and bloody mary mix — will now be on sale at Giant Eagle and Caliente locations around town. </p><p>The new North Hills location is open Sundays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to midnight. </p><p>Roman wants to hear the stories created in Pittsburgh. When not reporting, he plays difficult video games that make him upset and attempts to make delicious meals out of mismatched leftovers.</p></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

8 new restaurants to try in Pittsburgh, plus one Thai spot you need to visit before it’s gone

Halloween is just around the corner, Pittsburgh. No tricks or treats here, just the latest restaurant openings and closings around town. If you want to get your ghoul on, check out our list of the best Halloween bars, pop-ups and cocktails in Pittsburgh. Otherwise, grab your silverware. We have a full plate of new restaurants in Pittsburgh for you. But first, here’s what’s closing: