Five years ago, I'd have loved this place. Now, I enjoy the brunches but roll my eyes inside, at the sullen service (which is still reasonably good). Their Sat & Sun brunches are beyond excellent - I recommend the Eggs Benedict, French Toast with cherries or the Breakfast Panini. It's a little pricey, but ultimately worth it for decent food. read more

I cant hate a building, but the people who go here are hipster trash. Ask them about global warming, they all care beacuse they rode there on bikes! Drinks are kinda expensive for how shitty the actual bar is. Downstairs is ok but if you go upstairs your gonna smell funk armpit. This place sucks. Go to Thunderbirds! read more

Everytime I go into Brillobox it gets better and better...I even like the bartenders a little more than usual. Great events and fun people. Definitelty my favorite neighborhood bar. read more

Brillobox - Cheese Plate - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This is THE hipster bar to go to, so make sure to wear your skinny jeans and suspenders! Although I have to be in the mood to go here, I generally have a good time. I generally avoid Saturday nights because the place gets way too crowded. The interior is probably the coolest of any place in the city, and there's always a cool band or show upstairs. The drinks and food here are a little pricey, but the beer selection is good and the veggie food is really tasty. Trivia on Wednesdays is a lot of fun, so bring a group of friends and you'll enjoy the night. read more

It's not a dive bar, it's not a total hipster lounge.. rather this place rests on the inbetween, and I love inbetweens! Music lovers seem to consider this place somewhat of a staple, and I can't blame them. Among great stiff drinks (how I like them), this place has some very intersting foodie options. I was definitely taken aback at my first glace of the food menu. There were several items I would have never expected to have seen just by judging from the outside. read more

Great local bar with really cool and quirky decorations that change with the seasons! Always enjoy grabbing a bite and drinks with my coworkers here! Great beer selection and nice bites to eat read more

I've been to the Brillobox on two occasions, both under very different circumstances and at opposite times of the day. The first occasion: I was here on a weekend night, attending a show my boyfriend's band was performing in. Being, the stereotypical "groupie girlfriend", I was exiled to mingle among the peons (err, "crowd", that is) while my boyfriend and his bandmates set up the stage with the other bands. The space upstairs where the show was held is wonderful. The decor is enough to keep one's eye consistently entertained, the beer selection is on point, and the sound fills up the entire room without being overbearingly loud. In addition, it was fairly empty for a weekend night, thus making it easier to order libations, talk without screaming, and not have to fight through a sea of sweaty bros. The staff also seems very laissez-faire when it comes to operating the venue, a welcome change from the uptight and anal doormen I know oh-so-well from DC and New York bars. The second occasion: In a sheer act of desperation, my boyfriend and I (sorry to be that Yelper that always writes "my boyfriend and I") came here on a late Sunday afternoon for brunch. Since I had been here for a show, I certainly wasn't expecting their brunch to be anything decent, as I know from experience that venues tend not to have the greatest food. Oh, how wrong I was. And wonderfully so! I ordered the Farmhouse French Toast, quite possibly one of the best french toasts I've ever had. (Coming from a self-proclaimed french toast connoisseur, that says a lot.) The venue was completely empty, save for a small group of diners who may or may not have worked there. Unlike most french toasts, the bread was not an eggy, fluffy challah bread, but rather a thick slab of country seed loaf. Also unlike any french toast I've ever had, it was smothered in warm, dripping peanut butter and agave nectar, topped with a thin layer of apple compote. First off, peanut butter and apples go together like Thelma and Louise. Second off, WARM PEANUT BUTTER ON FRENCH TOAST?! Simple as it may be, whoever came up with this is brilliant. The slices were toasted - thus crisp and crunchy on the outside, but soft on the inside. The agave nectar was the perfect sweetener to this dish without being disgustingly sweet (as many maple syrups tend to be). To top off our last-minute brunch savior, the service was excellent. There was an amazing stop-motion claymation video playing on the projector, which I kindly asked the waitstaff about. They didn't seem to know who it was, but returned moments later with the DVD and information about the director. That's some pretty badass service. While many complain about the obnoxious American Apparel hipsters that frequent Brillo, I didn't have any issues with the clientele. So long as they stay within their plastered-on skinny jeans and keep to their unhygienic selves, I really don't care. read more

I am a longtime Brillo regular but I'm not loving the new menu. The pork in the pork banh mi has changed preparations and sauce for the worse. Katsu fries soggy. I get the desire to serve more upscale food but why mess with a good thing? read more

When I went for my review on a Thursday night I tried my best to keep other's comments about the place from skewing my own opinions. The first thing I noticed entering the Brillo Box was its unique decor. Dim lighting, old school Merry Melodies cartoons playing on the TVs, and strange unrelated relics and trinkets displayed behind the bar kept me mesmerized. It's sensory overload, but by all means I don't mean that in a negative way. I felt like I was in some strange world far away from Pittsburgh. I usually find this sort of funky decor to be a distraction and a gimmick, but in the case of the Brillo Box it works. One complaint I'd heard before my review was that Brillo Box was a hipster-only scene. Though there was a good number of people that one may classify as hipsters, everyone I met while drinking at the downstairs bar was friendly and extremely welcoming. To be honest, Brillo Box might be the friendliest bar I've been to in Pittsburgh. Within five minutes of sitting down with a pint of Dale's Pale Ale in my hand a group at the corner of the bar had already struck up a conversation with me. Furthermore, the bartenders are cordial too. They have in-depth knowledge of the beers they sell (a good number of micro-brews) and never hesitated from striking up conversations with the patrons. One bartender even gave me two of their latest micro brew drafts and put it on the bars tab. The prices here are pretty expensive for Pittsburgh standards (I live in San Francisco now and the brillobox would be considered cheap here). I chose from the plethora of draft beers and each was around $5. The man sitting next to me was drinking Patron Margaritas (4 Shots) for $16.50 a pop. The cheapest beers on special that night was Straub and Miller Lite bottles for around $3. As I was sitting at the downstairs bar I kept hearing talk about a DJ and dance party going on upstairs. Now I don't really like to dance (probably because I really suck at it) so I usually stay away from the DJ dance party scene, but since I was here for a review I thought I might as well head up and check it out. I'm glad I did because it really was a pleasant surprise. After paying the $4 cover, which was pretty bush-league for Pittsburgh (great deal in SF), I entered to see that the place was really bumping for a Thursday night. The dance floor was pretty good size along with a small bar near the back for dancers to re-fuel. The DJ was set up on the stage in front beneath a large projection screen showing intriguing videos somehow related to the music playing. Mind you, by that time I was pretty ripped so I have a hard time remembering if the videos were actual music videos or something else. The DJ was mixing rap with indie rock and a whole bunch of other genres I wasn't really familiar with but everyone else seemed to know. Even upstairs on the dance floor, Brillo Box's friendly atmosphere shined on. I was merely satisfied to stand at the side and watch everyone else dance around making fools of themselves, but a group of young ladies pulled me out to the dance floor and after much pleading finally got me to dance. And the best part of it was they only laughed a little at how bad I was. I ended up really enjoying the time I spent reviewing the Brillo Box, so much in fact that I will definitely be back. The friendliness of the patrons and staff mixed with a good beer selection gets great marks in my book. The decor might be a little over the top, but it really was a nice change of pace and something you don't see every day in the Pittsburgh bar scene. read more

1st time visitor. Pretty cool place, it was all decorated up for the holidays and it was fun. Tried the veggie burger for my vegan friend and I tried the regular burger. I honestly like the veggie burger better than the regular one. Kind of weird buns though. Shared a cone of fries and they were awesome. Cool dipping sauces like pickle aoili and some spicy aoili were very good. Great draft list and the prices of the food and beer were pretty ok. One guy who took our bill who had a full beard and slouchy hat was a real buzz kill. He seemed put out taking my 50 dollars I just paid cause he didn't even really acknowledge us at all. read more

Great bar! good drafts selection, nice staff, good events! Top 3 venues in Pittsburgh!

Totally different vibe depending on when you go... I really enjoy Brillobox around dinnertime, and I also had a pretty good brunch there once. But I've been many times for dinner and drinks, and I really enjoy it. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, and the food is quite good, especially for bar food. Tons of options for vegetarians but also good burgers and pulled pork for meat eaters. The menu shifts over time, but has been consistently good over the years. The SALAD is one of the best dinner salads - it's not just lettuce, unripe tomato, onion and cucumber; instead, they've got mixed greens, shaved broccoli, carrots, peas, tomatoes, nuts, cheese, etc. in a giant portion for a good price. Very substantial and a nice mix of textures (also has a great fresh herb-y dressing). I also love the vegetarian banh mi - yummy strips of marinated extra firm tofu, pickled vegetables, spicy sauce, and aioli on a nice baguette with a side salad or chips. The mac and cheese is wonderful and creamy with a mix of tasty cheeses - one of the best I've tried in the city. The fries are also satisfying, and they come with 3 or 4 great dips. Great beer selection, and a good cocktail selection. Overall, solid place to drink and eat, and the price is right for a casual weeknight. On the other hand, late nights are often hot and crowded with hipsters. Crap beer is served in plastic cups and both bars get crowded so you may have to wait awhile before the bartender notices you unless you get pushy. The sound quality has been pretty bad for live bands. But all that's pretty typical for a late night at a popular bar! Some of the events are really fun, and they feature a varied lineup (some more crowded than others). So... take your pick - there's a little something for almost everyone! read more

It smells like a dive bar in ocean city - dirty and sweaty. There are only 3 toilets for males and they're in the most inconvenient places - also dirty. The beer is pretty cheap but don't expect an abundance of the usual domestic beers. I would never try the food considering the cleanliness. read more

I ordered chicken wings and the were RAW, very obviously after one bite. Instead of appologizing, we had to ASK for a two free drinks (considering raw chicken can kill you this seems like the least the staff could do), and when the waiter brought a new plate he said "He cooked the sh*t out of these." (Aw, thanks) Won't be eating here again. Mostly because of the rude staff. Just because your bar is popular doesn't mean you can disregard customer service. read more

Definitely one the best bars in Pittsburgh. It was reasonably priced, not too crazy. I have ordered beer and cocktails here and the service was okay, and the drinks were good. It gets 5 stars on decor, and crowd. It is hard to find a hipster crowd here in Pittsburgh, but its as close as it gets. Also, although the art work or videos played are somewhat obscure, they do serve as interesting talking pieces. I haven't gone upstairs but I hear they do live music, and bet they get some decent talent. I would recommend this to many, if you are looking for a new mellow hip bar. read more

used to pop in here when they first opened 5 or 6 years ago for Pandemic and to see the occasional hipster band with my then-g.f. who was in love with the place... The cigarette smoke upstairs was a huge turn-off and still is ... I'd be standing there wondering "how the hell can the fire marshall be ok with this many people packed in here ?!!" The downstairs lounge-y area is more my speed, these days as the crowd is older/less bratty than upstairs ... (i'm definetly one of the eldest in the room at any given time, however .) Good beer selection. LOUD . Perhaps too precious-hipster-y for my tastes, lately. Just feels a bit too pretentious and "aren't we all just making quite the scene"-like . Shrug . read more

The Brillo Box has been reborn after a previous life as the dive bar Nooner's and sits in 100% Lawrenceville, atop the hill across the street from the new children's hospital. The vibe is pure hipster with lots of beards and ink. Stay away if you don't like loud music, but the staff and clientele are friendly. Most of the interior decorating serves as great conversation pieces. We didn't eat but I look a look at the eclectic menu. Options included everything from Vietnamese to nachos to hummus to wings. They have a pretty impressive collection of "Big Ass Bottles" including Hoptimum and good Belgians. Draft list featured some local stuff from Penn and the Church as well as GL Dortmunder, Moylans IPA, Maudite. Aside from the fun atmosphere, what I liked best about the Brillo Box was the draft serving size. As bars everywhere raise prices while at the same time shrinking the glass, here I got a Great Divide Espresso Yeti in a "pint" glass. That plus a Moylans IPA and a coke was $12.50. Love it. read more

I come to Brillo Box all the time. My friend, who is 28 and us from Turkey was not let in tonight... For dinner and drinks. The guy working the door needs an attitude adjustment and just because a place has been raided in the past, does not mean you don't act like a civilized human being. A Turkish ID that says 28... Should be enough. Shame on you Brillo Box. I am done with you and your awesome food. Get a new bouncer!!!! read more

came in for New Years Eve. $8 cover = not bad. well drink = not that strong. music = mildly sucky. light show = reminiscent of jennifer lopez's "waiting for tonight" video about the 2000 new years. temperature = near 1000 degrees. i waited in line for the bathroom for about ten minutes just so i could take off my tights. bartenders = sometimes attentive, sometimes more concerned with maintaining the cleanliness of the bar. read more

I've been meaning to visit this place for quite a while and I finally made that happen few weeks ago on a Friday Night. We directly ended up going to the 2nd floor since my friend wanted me to check out the scene/music. They did have a $5 cover charge. Draft beers were served in a plastic cup. I felt like I was in one of those college house party. To sum up the upstairs - it's somewhat of a dive version of Firehouse that used to be in the strip. Diverse Music with yet Very diverse crowd. The downstairs restaurant/bar section had a very good selection of draft beer. Make sure to ask for a sample before ordering since some of them are really strong. I ended up switching my RYE beer. Didn't get a chance to try the food since we couldn't find a place to sit but that's definitely on my list the next I happen to go there. Whether you're into dancing or drinking, this place definitely has the option. read more

Admittedly, I was there on a Sunday. And during the Stanley Cup. Thus, there was no live music and the crowd was oddly (for me) excited about hockey. I actually would have been fine with that, but they played it with the sound on, and that was too much for me. However, it's totally cute. The decor is trying almost too hard, but the little faux black birds on cherry branches over the bar are pretty cute. It's dim and almost a dive, but with too many frills for that. But the atmosphere is good and the bartenders are better, so I was pretty pleased. Also, Sunday is vegetarian dinner night, so we had that special time. It was a marinated tofu sandwich, which was excellent. Their slaw, which I think was mostly jicama, I thought was pretty good, my friend hated it. Basically, the food was fine but not entirely satisfying. They mix a good whiskey-ginger, something that I found surprisingly hard to find in Pittsburgh. Others were way too watery and not either whiskey-y or ginger-y enough. So that was a sweet relief. Their beer options are also pretty great, and as the fantastic designated driver for the night (we are so not used to having to worry that when accustomed to train-based travel), I was entirely grateful. No, it's not like Brooklyn. But should it be? I wouldn't have thought so. I didn't go to Pittsburgh to be in Brooklyn. I could have just stayed home for that. It's full of Pittsburgh's finest hipsters, who were no more welcoming as a general crowd in Brooklyn; they were pretty much set in their own little groups and not big on new conversation. It was a Sunday, though, so it could be a little less that way and more lively on a busier night. Mustaches appear to be VERY in. But hey, to each his own. Mostly, it's cheap and kitschy and pleasant and somewhat friendly and a reassuring sight after the (yes, I can't deny it) horrible bars we had hit on Carson St the night before. I read more

Hmm...still not my favorite, but I think it has improved (It just depends on the night). If I could give it a 3.5, I'd probably go with that. Yes, there are sometimes dance parties where people are too cool to dance but I've always had a great time during Hot Mess and I spent New Years at Brillo (which was perhaps the best New Years ever...they brought in all of the DJs from the biggest dance parties in Pittsburgh). Also, I like the downstairs bar and hadn't really spent much time down there before. The bartenders are great. They pour really really strong (be forewarned) and its cheap. They also have Bulleit which makes me a happy camper and the beer selection is still good. read more

Great beer selection, good prices, fun neighborhood, beards, and drag shows. Sold. If I lived in Pittsburgh I'd frequent this place.

rough weeks lead to over the top indulgences when need be. when plans for friday were cancelled, and i knew one of my favorite bands was gracing the steel city with their musical explosions of happiness, i found myself staying in my car and heading east for the night. there isn't a crazy stupid thing this girl won't do for that moment of really good live music. this band, to me, is the best it gets, so i was on it like brown on rice (the healthier choice, of course). the band was playing here, so after the short impromptu road trip i met my friend downstairs in the bar before the show. i didn't know what type of place i was headed to, but from the looks of it, i hit hipster heaven. i'm not going to deny i've got more hipster in me than chach, so i was happy. the people seemed friendly enough, the beer selection was good, and from the looks of it- the food spectacular (i didn't have any, it was just enough to make my mouth water and wonder). it wasn't too crowded when i arrived at 9 pm, but by 10 it was packed. sardines packed. if you want your space or want to eat a meal without heather hipster bumping into you, head there early. upstairs is a different vibe than downstairs, but still good nonetheless. as far as music venues go- small. in cleveland terms, think bela dubby with a few extra feet. i couldn't turn my eyes away from the wallpaper. velvety paisley happy wallpaper. i loved it. it gives off the vibe of and older house being converted to the cool hangout for your friends. being that it's a smaller space, it gets loud in there. i'm practically deaf anyway, so i don't care, but plan ahead: bring earplugs. it was a great intimate space to see a band. if you're in the back, head to the front. you won't see crap from back there. and murphy's concert law: the tallest man imaginable will find a way to stand in front of you if you don't. so just do it. really friendly people at this place. great place to see some live music. great place to see my favorite band. and bands playing until 2 am is my idea of a great release to a bad, bad week. my friend in pitt says the youtube night is a lot of fun, as well as some of the other theme nights the bar downstairs has. i'd love to come back and check that out. we don't have anything like this in clevo, so i was a happy camper. read more

Fun place and always offers something new. It's different than other bars in Pittsburgh and doesn't attempt to only cater to one crowd constantly. read more

First timers to this small bar/restaurant that has great options for vegetarians and carnivores alike! Today I tried the shells and cheese which was dynamite. My partner got the tofu shepard's pie that was out of this world. And my plate of choice was a classy and filling veggie burger! Two thumbs way up, not disappointed. Will return in the future! read more

Brillobox - Left to right: tofu shepard's pie, shells and cheese, veggie burger and chips. Taste great! - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This dive bar is trendy and fun, has a good selection of brews that includes some local and craft beer, and maintains a small menu of pretty decent and reasonably-priced food. It does, however, get crowded frequently and become very warm. Also, the hummus doesn't taste like hummus: it's so full of basil that it's rather like eating pesticide and herbs. read more

It's a great place to run into people you might know. I am sad they don't have the tangurittas anymore. Good selection of local beers but not cheap. Food is great. The MAC and cheese is awesome. And the fittest. read more

I had one of my best nights ever at Brillobox. I don't live in the Burgh, but I will make a point to return here in the future. The band was great, the sound was good, we got hammered and made friends, we ate, we didn't spend a ton of money. This place has a nice, chill vibe and they seem to bring in and allow for uniqueness in their live music acts. read more

Pretty chill evening drinking spot for the hip crowd. A little expensive for Pittsburgh. Amazing french fries. Friendly bar staff. Interesting cocktails and a wide selection of brews. Nice big projector screen for weird movies and (sigh) sports when the PGH teams are on. Haven't been upstairs but I guess they have dance parties too. Would happily return again here, we even found an open booth on a Saturday night. I love Pittsburgh. read more

A nice place to go and have a drink or a bite to eat. They have a selection of different cocktails. They have a garage type door that they open up when its warm out, I thought that was nice. There's an upstairs where bands can play. They don't serve wine read more

I had the seitan bites with a bourbon BBQ sauce - absolutely amazing. I hear the Banh Mi's are very, very good. There are many different beers on tap. Even on a Sunday evening, it was still pretty lively and loud. read more

I am giving this place a 3 star but I honestly should give them a 2. Service is extremely slow... took me about 15 mins just to get acknowledged by the bartender. Had it not been for my waving I'd probably stil wouldn't have a menu... I guess this area is serve if you know. Ambiance is nice but no diversity. Sad my experience with this place was crappy. Has lots of potential for improvement. Food was okay too! read more

Brillobox was the first bar I ever went to by myself and I met some lovely artsy folks. They have delicious imported beer & their bar has a really comfortable atmosphere. (There's a tree coming out of the bar!) Upstairs they throw dance parties. Towards the end of the night I danced my ass off with a bunch of strangers & it was so fun. I dig the neighborhood a lot (Lawrenceville) & I hope I get to go back to Pittsburgh soon! I never realized what a cool place it is. read more

Awesome hipster vibe that's reminiscent of something you would find in New York or Chicago. Great vegetarian options and has super nice service. It can get busy at times, so be prepared to stand for a bit before a table opens up. read more

Yay! Found another place in Pittsburgh with GREAT cocktails! I loved the Veggie burger too! I will go here many many times in the future :)

The place was cool, the beer list was long and had some good pics, my husband got a great mixed drink (margarita with a coronita). We didn't eat but the food list had a ton of vegetarian foods that looked (and smelled) awesome as people around us got food. We'll definitely be going back for food and drinks. read more

My 2nd time at Brillo Box was better than the first. The bartender was super friendly and my food was good. The service was actually better than average. The sound in this place is awesome when bands play. I'm upgrading my opinion and adding another 2 stars. read more

The creole cauliflower with maple mustard is amazing, especially if you're a vegetarian that really misses chicken strips and honey mustard--this is the best cauliflower variation I have ever had. The aesthetic and music is very eclectic and cool. The staff can be a little prickly, but it gets busy so it's understandable. Honestly, I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for solid veg/vegan options and an interesting new place. read more

Very cool place to hang for young folks. People are chill and relaxed there. they just have fun and don't care about nothing else. The atmosphere is calm and different than the southside mix. If you looking for something different than that crowd Brillobox is for you. I hope it hasn't changed much because I have good memories there. It actually was in a movie that was filmed in pittsburgh "She's out of my league" read more