Stack'd 2 (The Avenue)

So, remember the Shadyside Saloon? Yeah, that place is gone. The Owner of Stack'd bought it, gutted it, cleaned it and turned it into Stack'd 2. We heard that they were going to call it something else, but it has not changed in the month since it opened. They did a nice job with the renovation. They added a giant garage door, which they may open if winter ever ends. They ripped out the raised seating area and added a bunch of booths, which really opened up the space. It is cleaner and brighter and there is no smoking now. Pour one out for one of Shadyside’s last dive bars.

They are doing a version of the original Stack’d concept, but instead of burgers they are doing hoagies or grinders or subs or whatever you want to call them. We speculate that it is the lack of a full kitchen that led them to this decision, but maybe it was a conscious choice. We did not eat when we went there, but A went there a couple weeks later with some friends and tried the food; it was not bad. It is more the novelty of getting Fritos and jalapeno poppers on your sandwich than anything else.

It is a nicer space, it has food now, it is not a smoke box and it will be nice to open the garage door. We sure are going to miss having dive bars in Shadyside.

Address:	5741 Ellsworth Ave., 15232	Games:	Darts
Façade:	Not Scary	Scene:	Too Soon to Tell
Parking:	Wear Walking Shoes	Patio/Outdoor:	Maybe
Kitchen:	Bar Fod	Cleanliness:	Normal
Smoking:	None	Jukebox:	Internet Crap
Hours:	-2am	Cig Machine:	No
Drink Prices:	Average-Richie	# taps:	16
Bathrooms:	Sit	Specials:	Happy Hour
Live music:	Never	Riley Factor:	$10.00
ATM:	No	Cash Only	No
TVs:	>10	Size:	Normal

Bites and Brews

Bites and Brews is a beer and pizza joint on Ellsworth Avenue. They have a small selection of liquor, and some salad and sandwich options, but let's be real, if you go there looking for a cocktail and a salad, you're going to be disappointed.  As you should be, the name is Bites and BREWS after all.

It's a solid choice for pizza and beer, though. They've got a really good beer selection and they will sell you a whole pizza or by the slice*.

It can get crowded if there's any kind of event, like Craft Beer Week, or during happy hour, but it's otherwise a pretty chill space. Actually, with the garage door making up the whole front wall it was a literally chilled space when we were there. Those open fronts are great in the summer, but troublesome in the winter, especially this winter. 


* Pro Tip: Pizza by the slice is a key ingredient to many a good night. Or, put more accurately, pizza by the slice is often the key to having a bearable next morning. 

Address:	5750 Ellsworth Ave., 15232 http://www.bitesandbrewspittsburgh.com/	Games:	Darts
Façade:	Not Scary	Scene:	Pizza, Beer Snob
Parking:	Wear Walking Shoes	Patio/Outdoor:	Yes
Kitchen:	Pizza	Cleanliness:	Normal
Smoking:	None	Jukebox:	Internet Crap
Hours:	4pm-2am	Cig Machine:	No
Drink Prices:	Average	# taps:	30
Bathrooms:	Sit	Specials:	Happy Hour
Live music:	Never	Riley Factor:	$8.50
ATM:	No	Cash Only	No
TVs:	6	Size:	Normal

The Shadyside Hideaway

A back alley bar in one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Pittsburgh? Yup. This place used to be a dirty little secret until the owner remodeled the space and put out a giant neon sign facing the street. Now it is nice-ish. It is clean with the appropriate amount of beer signs and bar kitsch. You still need to walk down a very long and skinny alley to get to the door, so it still has a weird feeling about it.

 It was freezing on the night we were there and it was just the two of us alone with the owner. He kept going outside to check and see if it was still cold, and every time he came back in there was a sweet scent of illegal substances following him. Must be those crazy kids.

The owner talked to us a lot since we were the only people there and he seemed very bored. He told us about some of the more famous clientele he has had in his bar and how he makes sure people leave them alone. He also let A know that he was the first person to ever drink Magic Hat #9 from a tap in his bar. He was very concerned with how it tasted. It tasted like Magic Hat #9.

It's an ok little bar. It is a bit too bright. It is a bit too small. It is not a place we would ever suggest anyone go to unless you have already parked and Mad Mex and Buffalo Blues are totally packed.

Address:	228 S. Highland Ave., rear, 15206	Games:	Darts
Façade:	Scary	Scene:	Small
Parking:	Wear Walking Shoes	Patio/Outdoor:	Yes
Kitchen:	None	Cleanliness:	Normal
Smoking:	None	Jukebox:	Internet Crap
Hours:	4pm-2am	Cig Machine:	No
Drink Prices:	Average	# taps:	6
Bathrooms:	Sit	Specials:	Happy Hour and 10pm-12am
Live music:	Never	Riley Factor:	$10.00
ATM:	Yes	Cash Only	No
TVs:	2	Size:	Hole in the Wall

Buffalo Blues

Buffalo Blues is a sports bar in Shadyside. We don't want to pan it, it’s fine and all, but it's also not exciting in any way. They have a lot of beer on tap, but it's kind of pricey. They've got a big food menu, but it's nothing exciting.  We have a feeling they hang their hat on their jumbo wings and BBQ, being that their name has Buffalo in it.  Having tried them in the past, they did not leave a lasting impression.

They have some daily specials that are okay. There's lots of seating at the bar. But has anything noteworthy ever happened to either of us there? Absolutely not. A had been there for a guys’ night or two and to watch a hockey game, but mostly it’s a backup bar. If you are in the neighborhood and can’t get a seat anywhere else, then Buffalo Blues works just fine as a, “You just wanna go there?” kind of bar.

Address:	216 S. Highland Ave., 15206 http://www.buffalobluespittsburgh.com/	Games:	Pinball, Magic Touch
Façade:	Not Scary	Scene:	Sports
Parking:	Easy	Patio/Outdoor:	No
Kitchen:	Bar Food	Cleanliness:	Nice
Smoking:	None	Jukebox:	Internet Crap
Hours:	Mon-Thur 11am-11pm Fri-Sat 11am-12am Sun 12pm-10pm	Cig Machine:	No
Drink Prices:	Average	# taps:	42
Bathrooms:	Sit	Specials:	Daily
Live music:	Never	Riley Factor:	$8.00
ATM:	No	Cash Only	No
TVs:	>10	Size:	Friggin' Huge

Shady Grove

Sometimes it is hard to come up with really insightful things to say about a bar, especially a middle of the road bar like Shady Grove. Is it a great bar? No. Is it a terrible bar? No. So what to say?

Mostly, Shady Grove seems like a great place to meet yuppies. Much like hipsters, yuppies hate admitting they are yuppies, but get over it people. Embrace your yuppie lifestyle! We are not hating here, just observing. At any rate, this seems like one of the primo bars for single yuppies to meet other single yuppies on a weekend night. So if that is you, then get on down there for some making eyes at someone and then going home disappointed.

We both had pizza here. It was ok. Our impressions were “super-bland” and “tasted like Pizza Hut.” So...

This bar does have a purpose, but its purpose is not applicable to us. Chances are low that we will return to the obviously named Shady Grove any time soon.
 

Address:	5500 Walnut St, 15232 http://www.eatshady.com/	Games:	Magic Touch
Façade:	Not Scary	Scene:	Shadyside Yuppie
Parking:	Easy	Patio/Outdoor:	Yes
Kitchen:	Bar Food	Cleanliness:	Nice
Smoking:	None	Jukebox:	Internet Crap
Hours:	11am-2am	Cig Machine:	No
Drink Prices:	Richie Rich	# taps:	7
Bathrooms:	Sit	Specials:	Nightly
Live music:	Never	Riley Factor:	$11.00
ATM:	No	Cash Only	No
TVs:	7	Size:	Normal

William Penn Tavern

J: So, this seems like a fine bar. It’s tucked away off Walnut Street and has the lower prices to prove it. It’s a sports bar, for sure. Every available surface, including the ceiling, is covered in paraphernalia. And bobbleheads. Man, they have a lot of bobbleheads.

A: J, you obviously never spend any time in Shady Side. This is a campus frat bar. If you so much as walked past it on any given weekend night (I am talking college weekends, so Thursday through Sunday,) you would be appalled and run screaming.

J: Well yeah, there’s a reason that I don’t spend any time in Shadyside at all. I can only take so many popped collars at a time. You could say that about every bar in Shadyside. At least the beer is cheap here.

A: Not EVERY bar in Shady Side. Well, define Shadyside. Ellsworth has some nice spots, and what about Mardi Gras?  No popped collars in there. Do people even pop collars anymore?  I digress. The beer is cheap because they are serving it to college frat boys. I mean, I guess that is ok if that is what you are looking for, but I try to avoid that place at all costs. Why don’t you give the people a run-down of what the space looks like? I would probably be a bit too harsh.

J: They’ve got a mid-sized bar and a decent number of tables a half level down from the bar. What I’m guessing really sells the place though, is the patio. It’s got a separate bar out there and plenty of tables, and an awning protecting it from some of the elements. Plus, the patio has its own cheap beer specials.Who doesn’t like to buy beer by the bucket?

A: I don’t. I don’t like beer by the bucket. I’ll admit it.

J: Lies. I’ve seen you drink beer buckets and like it.

A: I’ll never admit it. You have no proof. Libel! I want to conduct an experiment. It will be called, “how long can J stay in William Penn Tavern on a Friday night.” 

J: The bartender was friendly. The beer selection was not extensive, but the beer was cold. It’s about as close to Yinzer as you’re going to get in Shadyside. It’s covered in some pretty tacky Pittsburgh graffiti art. I don’t know. I’m not mad at it.

A: (rolling eyes)

Address:	739 Bellefonte St, 15232 http://www.wmpenntavern.com/	Games:	Darts
Façade:	Not Scary	Scene:	Shadyside Sports Bar
Parking:	Easy	Patio/Outdoor:	Yes
Kitchen:	Bar Food	Cleanliness:	Normal
Smoking:	None (outside smoking)	Jukebox:	Internet Crap
Hours:	11am-2am	Cig Machine:	No
Drink Prices:	Average	# taps:	10
Bathrooms:	Sit	Specials:	Nightly Cheap Beer
Live music:	Never	Riley Factor:	$9.50
ATM:	Yes	Cash Only	No
TVs:	7	Size:	Normal