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    Balvanera

    4.5 (215 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Balvanera Photos

    BALVANERA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Classy
    Upscale
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Balvanera

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    view of the dining area from the bar
    Courtney W.

    We just came to sit at the bar and have a couple drinks and they were delicious! The bartender was able to customize a drink for my mom based off of her taste preferences. Although we didn't get food this time, what other people got looked amazing, so we will definitely be back! The overall ambiance was elevated and natural, with a very sophisticated vibe. The bar was a little more casual if that's what you're looking for. Overall, great experience!

    Papas Fritas
    Stuart H.

    Romantic, modern, classy vibe with delicious Argentinian small plates and incredibly attentive staff! We were out on a double date with friends with a reservation for Balvanera after a show! As soon as you pull up to the restaurant, you know you are in for a treat... across from The Terminal, the brick building with black framed windows and a gorgeous elevated sidewalk patio invites you in to your dining experience! The homage to the existing building with the exposed steel beams and the modern touches of wood, greenery, and pops of color... the dining area is stunning! Most of the patrons dress to fit the experience and the menu doesn't seem to attract families with young kids, so date night feels elegant in all regards. We lucked out with a booth seat in the corner, but the setting sun did cause the room to be quite hot.. even with the windows shaded. The food was divine!!! You may not know exactly what you are ordering.. unless you are well versed in Argentinian dishes... but you won't be disappointed with the amazing flavor combinations, obviously fresh curated ingredients, and the excellent care in plating. We wanted to try a lot of the options, so we ordered small plates... and even a steak... to share! The waiter allowed us to pick the pairings and order at which the food would arrive - which is rare but fantastic as you can curate your own dinner journey! Let me take you on it with me... - Boquerones - a divine first bite of fresh lemon, zesty tomato, and an almost undetectable but pop of saltiness from the white anchovies. Don't chicken out!!! Even the waiter said that this is the best bite on the menu! - Arancini de Coliflor - perfectly crisped balls with a tart finish of the quince puree - Empanadas de Carne - flaky dough with a pool of juicy beef and flavorful seasoning. - Empanadas de Humita - succulent corn and vegetables again with the flaky dough coated in poppy seeds - Salchicha Parrillera - flavorful and perfectly spiced with a sweet blend of peppers - Harlow's Caesar - freshhhhh lettuce toasted and coated in both the dressing and cheese - Papas Fritas - even the French fries ooze excellence, clearly fresh made and hot when they arrive to the table - Angosto Carnes from the Grill - the chef offers to slice your steak for you... and it was the perfect option for sharing! Cooked to a perfect medium well and seasoned to allow you to enjoy the flavor of the beef... paired with two fresh chimi and salsa that are such delicious flavors too! One of the best steaks that I have ever had!! - Zanahorias - a wonderful transitional plate with the inherent sweetness of the roasted carrots and oranges with a palate cleansing crème fraiche The wine here is a unique selection with tons of delightful options. I soooo wanted to try an Orange Wine, but we dipped a glass of the Malbec and the Mendoza Blend. Both drier, but still with smooth taste and an element of sweet. Perfect pairs to the culinary cabaret! With such a feast, a dessert menu seemed impossible, but the decadence and creative persuaded us to continue! - Bruleed Basque Cheesecake - the crisp burnt topping with the soft fluffy cheesecake. This is a MUST!! Group sharing makes dessert simpler, but you almost want your own piece with the surprising quince sauce too! - Tarta de Chocolate - cooling to the palate and a balance of richness and sweet, the roasted hazelnuts and malted whip add subtle salt and sweet to balance this dessert perfectly To top it off, they treat you with a mini alfajores with the bill. The shortbread and dulce de leche filling are a nice ending to an already extravagant meal! Make a reservation! Get fancy! Bring some friends! Enjoy a culinary self curated tour of Argentinian elegance!

    Chorizo Criollo * pork sausage, roasted red pepper
    Karen H.

    I miss Argentina so much and I'm glad we have Balvanera in the Strip District to remind me of a country I love! The space inside is pretty large with multiple tables, booths, and a sizable bar area. The service here is impeccable with the lovely staff clearing off our used plates between courses. We ordered a good variety of dishes to share and my favorites were the empanadas, the provoleta (which sold out and we luckily got the last one!), the ribeye, and the almendrado dessert. Pro tip: they don't have pisco sours on the drink menu but you can ask them to make you one!

    Vinnie R.

    Balvanera wow. I enjoyed every moment of this experience. This restaurant in the Strip District provided such a great dining experience from start to finish. I ended up going on my own and sat at the bar, which I actually really liked. The service was great and I felt comfortable the whole time. The inside is really beautiful. There are large windows that let in a lot of natural light during the day and the lighting inside at night gives it a warm, cozy feel. It feels upscale but still comfortable. Depending on the time you go it can get a little loud, but it still works perfectly whether you are going for a romantic dinner, meeting friends, or even going with family. For food, I had the Caesar salad, the carrots, a steak, and mashed potatoes. I enjoyed every single bite. The steak was cooked perfectly. I ordered it medium and it came out exactly how I wanted it. It was soft, high quality, and full of flavor. You can tell they use good cuts of meat. The sides were just as good and everything felt well put together. Overall I had such a great experience and I would definitely come back again. This is a really nice spot in the Strip District if you want a good meal and a great atmosphere.

    Rocio C G.

    Let's start with the fact that they sat my family of 6 down at 9:10pm which, I hate doing this to restaurants but we had a long day and were starving. This was our first night in Pitt and we had no idea if the food was going to be good. Let me tell you, it was one of the best dining experiences ever! The staff was so welcoming regardless of the time and were so accomodating. We ordered the empanadas de carne, arancini, setas salteadas, salchicha parrillera and jamon iberico to start. Everything was so well seasoned and spectacular. We then ordered the lomo, entraña, langosto and lubina- the steaks were some of the most tender i've ever tasted. So well seasoned and just WOW! We then finished with the pistachio ice cream, delish! Seriously couldn't recommend this place more, 5+++ stars! The food was so good we didnt even take pictures of it

    Glass of red and romera spritz
    Jayme B.

    I finally tried Balvanera's brunch and it did not disappoint! I made a reservation on Open Table for a Sunday morning. We were greeted and seated right away. The brunch menu consists of a variety of different items such as sweets, small plates (platitos), brunch items, sausages (embutidos), steaks (carnes), sides (guarniciones) and brunch cocktails. We started with Harlow's Caesar (of course! lol) my friend ordered the huevos florentinos which is their take on eggs Benedict. I ordered the huevos a caballo which is their take on steak and eggs. Everything we tried was delicious as usual. Our server was also great - attentive but not overly. The space is gorgeous and the natural light helps to make it feel more magical.

    Argentinean Filet (10oz)
    Paige B.

    Most tender steak that ive have in a long time. It was also cooked PERFECT at medium rare!!!!! We started our dinner off with the Octopus Small Plate (Pulpa de Playo) which was paired with some greens and olive mixture that was very tasty and the octopus wasnt over cooked. Then we ordered our meal and decided on the Argentinean Filets. They were amazing! To go with our steak we ordered the Ceasar (which is big enough for 2-3 people), the Mushrooms (Setas Salteadas), and the Pure de Papas which was very creamy mashed potatoes with olive oil. There was only one thing I didn't like from the assortment and only because it had too much salt in my opinion and that was the Ceasar Salad. The anchovies made it too salty but I did add pepper to it and that made it all better. After dinner we got an Espresso Martini (super strong and delicious) and the Dulce De Leche Flan as well as the Almendrado which was homemade vanilla icecream with an almond brittle and it was by far the best dessert I have tasted in a LONG time that was gluten free from a restaurant. The service was also very friendly and attentive and our server was very knowledgeable on the menu and was good at offering option for us since we are gluten free. I really enjoyed the restaurant and the atmosphere and will most definitely be back!

    Skirt Steak
    Craig S.

    We now have been frequenting for brunch. Balvanera is now one of our favorite locations in the Strip District. The Clasico is my favorite and my wife love the Ensalada Nicoise (tuna). Ask for River or Madi! Their service is top level. Solid choice of beverage, Cosmosa! Cheers, thanks, and enjoy!!

    Jamon Iberico was amazing.
    Nancy C.

    We come to Balvanera for special occasions and love every bite. The service is also top notch and it's a really classy place. Now to the most important part, the food. We like to get a couple different things to try and share. We love the complementary bruschetta. We always get the jamon iberico which is amazing since it's aged for three years. Last time, we had the chorizo especial which was very good. The waiter sold us on the salchicha was so much more flavorful. We really enjoy the Acosto steak from Argentina. Nothing like a good steak from Argentina. Best in the world. The super whipped buttery potatoes are the stuff made of dreams. Soooooo good. If you love meat like I do, you have to try it. You'll love it.

    Setas salteadas. Absolutely a must for a mushroom fan
    Grace Z.

    Impeccable service and ambiance. The food was excellent but we were not super impressed with the steak. Don't get me wrong, the ribeye was very tasty but it's not a major stand out for this place. We loved our setas salteadas so so much. If you like mushrooms, you must get this. They had a nice variety in the dish and it was perfectly cooked. I could eat this everyday. The branzino and crudo were both so very outstanding. We thought the empanada was ok. Again, it is excellent but the other dishes outshined it. I will definitely come back again. Thank you for the fabulous meal.

    Huevos Florentinos
    Casey S.

    I've heard a lot about Balvanera and stopped for brunch this morning with a friend. It was just okay overall. We split a Caesar salad which was likely the highlight of the meal. I loved the croutons and fresh parmesan on the salad! I ordered the Huevos Florentinos for my meal. It wasn't much to write home about. The sauce didn't have much of a flavor and the portion was quite small for the price (it came with no sides). The waiter was nice and it's very cutely decorated. I'm thinking this might just be more of a dinner place than it is brunch.

    Boquerones
    Holly H.

    Across from the terminal in the strip district. This restaurant has a delicate elegance to its woods marble lighting. The staff was attentive service at times too good. The assistant staff a little bit too eager to clear the table. The food was different. It was delicious. First time trying octopus and I will probably have it again The steak, a tad bit overdone my request to medium. But I must say it was delicious. There were four of us sharing numerous small plates the beats excellent, the lamb sausage wow, and the blood sausage was different than what I'm used to. And yes, I would order all of these again. The biggest surprise was a sweet potato ice cream highly suggested. Our waitress was Whitney very beautiful woman answered all our questions and quite attentive to our needs

    Alan D.

    Argentina has the highest beef consumption per capita and someone once told me that "a vegetarian in Argentina is just someone who forgot to light the grill." So, I had to have beef when we went to lunch at Balvanera in Pittsburgh. The restaurant itself is beautiful--bright, stylish, and welcoming, with a design that makes it feel both relaxed and special. We started with the Gildas--a perfect salty, briny bite of anchovy, olive, and piparra that set the stage for the meal. The Harlow's Caesar was crisp and flavorful, a really nice Argentine spin on the classic. The Ensalada Niçoise was also lovely: generous chunks of tuna, ripe tomatoes, potatoes, and perfectly cooked egg. It was almost like a composed salad--balanced and refreshing. The star, though, was the Entraña (skirt steak). Skirt steak is often chewy, but here it was outstanding--tender, juicy, and full of flavor. One of the best preparations of this cut I've had anywhere. The accompanying chimichurri was bright and lively, enhancing the steak without overwhelming it. All in all, Balvanera is my Steel City favorite!

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    Balvanera Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Balvanera

    Do they have gluten-free options on the menu?

    The first thing our waiter asked was if anyone had allergies or dietary restrictions. Although not denoted on the menu, the staff is very knowledgeable and guide you to the… Read more

    To they take walk ins?

    Yes! While we recommend making a reservation - especially for busy weekends - we do take walk-ins for our dining room, full-service dining at the bar and in our bodega area on a first come first served basis.

    Where can one find the current brunch menu?

    Hi Ellen! Thanks for inquiring. Our brunch menu is available on the BALVANERA website here: https://www.balvanerarestaurants.com/location/balvanera-pittsburgh/#brunch-pittsburgh

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Most artist, they present are new with a small fan base…read more Similar to the improv. I don't mind the small plates of appetizer type portions. I love the intimate concert vibe. Up close to an artist they may need that audience to feel comfortable with performing.

    Avoid this restaurant. They make mistakes constantly on togo orders…read more On day one, I had ordered a bread pudding and paying for it. After waiting 30 minutes for it, they decide to come out and tell me that they are out of bread pudding. It would've been beneficial to know that prior to paying, however, they did not even offer a refund. Instead, they told me they would give me a tiramisu instead. On day two, I placed an order for a salad with a chicken skewer upcharge. Upon getting my order and opening the container, I saw that the skewer was not in there despite being charged $10 for it. The other items here at the restaurant were not good, and I do not recommend this as they don't want to make good quality food. Lobster ravioli is pretty dry and tough to chew. Tiramisu is missing that earthy coffee flavor. Chicken caprese says that it comes with fresh mozzarella, however, they only gave us small circle of cheese on one side of the sandwich (covers about 1/4 of the sandwich). Do not get the truffle fries, they are the exact same taste as the normal fries. Last, the crab and shrimp dip is highly inconsistent. The first day, it was good and actually had pieces of shrimp. The second day, zero shrimp. In the end, this restaurant has several deficiencies that they do not seem willing to resolve.

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    Outside patio is dog friendly

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    Outside patio is dog friendly

    Balvanera - argentine - Updated July 2026

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