3.5 stars. Cafe Phipps is located in the welcome center of the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Its menu lists salads, sandwiches, pizza breads, yogurt, beverages, etcetera. Some menu items are vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free. Prices are moderate. I like that the cafe strives to use ingredients that are organic, local, and sustainable. Ingredients include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cage-free eggs, dairy products without rBST and other hormones, sustainably caught or raised seafood, meat from humanely raised animals, etcetera. Furthermore, the cafe recycles materials and composts food waste. I occasionally eat at this cafe. During my last visit, I enjoyed a large and flavorful harvest salad, but I did not like the flavors of the BBQ pulled-pork sandwich. The employees were friendly and worked hard. read more

If you're at Phipps and super hungry or want something to drink, the cafe will take care of you. I have only eaten here/purchased beverages a handful of times. Got a turkey sandwich and a Coke once and other times just iced coffee and things of that sort. Nothing fancy, basics that get the hunger job done. Fast service. The cafe has an outdoor patio and the interior kind of gives off cafeteria vibes. read more

Note the older comments shown here. They reflect what the Cafe once was. No longer. It's a shadow of It's former self. There is nothing interesting, tasty, fresh or worthwhile there anymore. They have downscaled significantly such that it simply isn't worth your time or your money. Stay away. read more

This place is so refreshing after a long morning of walking around the city. I got the chickpea stew which come served over rice with a small side salad. The stew was filled with spices but not too many to make it too spicy. They also offer gluten free pasta on the kids menu as well as gluten free and vegetarian labels on each menu item. It's a quaint, healthy, and quick place to eat. It's not just open for conservatory guests either - it seemed like plenty of people came for a bite during their break at the university. read more

Café Phipps - chickpea stew - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit through the beautiful gardens right up until we encountered Shelly Michelle in the cafe. What an entitled, angry employee!!! Asked about the salads that were available... She retorted, "the ones on the menu." read more

Café Phipps - Shelly was the rudest, unfriendly, bitchy employee. I can not comprehend WHY you'd employ anyone without any customer service skills. - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

We were glad there was a cafe, but don't know how it can claim to be one of the top garden cafe's in the US. We've eaten at more than a few cafes within botanical gardens. There's just no way. It's sort of an unorganized cafeteria style experience with drinks and utensils in different areas. The food is expensive for what you get. It was ok, nothing exciting. The best part of the meal was moving to the outdoor seating to get away from the screaming kid inside. read more

Café Phipps - Soup and salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

We always try to eat here if we're at Phipps around mealtime. It's healthy, delicious, and priced fair. Order at the counter, then take a number and some silverware to your seat, and soon a server will bring out your food. This time hubby had the Cuban chili, and I chose the spring veggie salad. When you bus your table afterward, the signs indicate what can be recycled or composted. read more

Café Phipps - Billy Porter selfie station - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Cafe Phipps catered the Yelp Elite event at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix and did a fantastic job. Olive bruschetta and a kale salad plus a pulled pork sandwich on a brioche bun. The pulled pork was unique because they added a grilled pineapple slice and kimchi. I'm not a pulled pork fan but I ate every bite of that sandwich! Tropical green tea washed it all down nicely. read more

Café Phipps - Check in station showing the menu - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Cafe Phipps is a nice place with a limited menu. Everything I've ordered there was good quality and satisfying. The prices are fair.

We just ordered tea! It took SO much time to give us a tea bag. The staff was not friendly and seemed angry. I wish they had much friendlier staff during holidays season read more

The menu looked promising. I ordered the Mediterranean plate and a cup of spinach-lentil soup. Plate consisted of some flatbread, a scoop of not good hummus, some feta, 3 baby carrots, 4 olives, and 2 pieces of celery. The celery was banged up. Pass. Soup could have been nice if it had about half the salt. I should have walked in the rain anywhere else. read more

Food service was absolutely horrendous went here while visiting on holiday leave, they charged us for spinach artichoke dip but only gave us a pretzel. When I told them I didn't get what I ordered they were immediately rude implying I'm just trying to get free stuff and just completely dismissed me. The employee did not wear a name tape but she had black hair and gauges, even showed them my bank statement. Very unfortunate, will not be coming here again. (Many such cases) read more

Cafe Phipps located inside the Phipps Conservatory on the main level is offering a fixed price menu of 4 courses on Friday nights during the month of March for 65.00 per person which includes the dinner and admission to the conservatory which stays open til 10pm on Fridays. The hostess indicated this is something they plan to continue monthly with the menu options varying. We made reservations and arrived early with no problems getting seated. They have cordoned off a section of the cafe with a privacy partition for the guests with reservations while keeping the rest open for normal cafe operations. The tables have tablecloths and the table is nicely set with wine glasses and beautiful napkins. We started our meal with glasses of wine (price additional to the fixed price meal). The first course was a warm artichoke and roasted red pepper risotto. This was delicious and an ample serving. I should interrupt here just as our diner was interrupted. Suddenly a fire alarm went off in the building. Everyone just looked at one another with no one moving. Ok.... I was taught, as good measure, that one should get their butt up and head to the exit in such a case so I donned my coat and headed out. I do think the staff should be better instructed to not only get their butts out the door but ensure their patrons do, as well. That was irksome on a safety level. Within 15 minutes, the all-clear was given (our server later indicated something in the basement had triggered it). Anyway, I did my part and my husband followed suit a wee bit after me reluctantly and then we did finally return to our table. Ok, onto the 2nd course. The 2nd course was our choice of either a house salad or a mushroom soup. I selected the salad while my husband opted for the soup. Both were adequate but I should have asked for additional salad dressing (a vinaigrette) The 3rd course was the entree -- I opted for the crab cake and asparagus, my husband selected the filet with asparagus. Both were good. I can't say the crab cake was like any other I've had, but it was good. The 4th and final course was dessert -- a warn blueberry cobber with ice cream. It was good but not as sweet as either of us would have liked. Afterwards, we had plenty of time to visit the gift shop and the convervatory which was sponsoring orchids and bonsai. I like this concept of a very nice dinner and journey through the convervatory -- makes for a truly great date night. Oh, and another plus? When you are finished with dinner they give you your complementary conservatory ticket and it's good thru the end of the year -- not just that night. I like that! read more

See all

When the Phipps made great strides on becoming more green and sustainable, they also made a commitment to making the Cafe more healthy and environmentally friendly. The foods are locally sourced, the menu items are organic and thoughtfully prepared. For example, it's hard to find healthy options for children, however the Phipps has gotten rid of their high sugar drinks in favor of healthier options. The soups are quite wonderful, and so are the salads. The Cafe is careful about recycling, too, which I find to be a thoughtful touch. The sunshine streams into the glass walls, this cafe is a good place to change your mood to positive. read more

CAme here at 2:00 PM on this date. Was informed that had shut down making sandwiches. I then watched them make a sandwich. I asked them about that and was informed it was for a staff member. I said " So you will make a sandwich for themselves but not a customer." The answer was yes. Then they failed to put any chicken on my wife's salad as she had requested. read more

"Veggie Pizza" I like this cafe because they shave allergy sensitive options and everything is fresh, organic, and great tasting. read more

Café Phipps - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I really feel like the other reviewers here went to a different cafe. I took my girlfriend here to celebrate Valentine's Day on a Sunday because I had to work on the actual Valentines Day. It came to around 25 dollars and we got very small portions of food that they handed to us in cardboard containers on a tray, cafeteria style. Not exactly a romantic Valentines day affair. I think that they must have stopped plating food, not sure what happened. Yeah, there is no service basically, but the food is pretty good. It is not amazing, but it will do when you are just hungry and need a quick bite. read more

My girlfriend and I just finished touring Phipps Conservatory by day and decided to eat here for lunch. Most of the food is home grown and many of them are healthy options. Pizza is available for all ages. It is set cafeteria style where you order and you are given a number to put on whatever table you wish to sit. The food is then brought to you. Should you decide to order a beverage then you are given a cup with your purchase and proceed to the drink station to get what you want. They also serve specialty beverages there but we decided to go with the a healthy option. We each ordered the vegetarian sandwich which came with a choice of side. We opted for the quinoa and slaw. The do have an option for $9.95 where you can order half sandwich and pair it with either a cup of soup or chili without meat or salad. We got our food served to us in a reasonable amount of time. The food was good to say the least because we don't often get a chance to eat healthy. When we were finished they have a selection of trash and recycle bins as well as one for dishes and silverware. Your food comes with real dishes and silverware which i would call Panera style. Little did we realize how crowded this place can get if you don't come early. We had arrived shortly after noon. By the time we were done the place was packed with people! It brought a nice conclusion to seeing Phipps by day during the holiday season because there is so much you miss at night when the lights are on. Still this cafe is a nice place to unwind and take it easy if you don't feel like hunting for another place. Would definitely eat here again whenever we come again. read more

Café Phipps - Sub meatballs - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Claims to be one of the best museum restaurants in the US. I'm not sure why this is as they seem to only serve sandwiches that aren't even good - mine was quite dry and came with what claimed to be coleslaw but was actually a salad cup. I am left hungry. On the plus side they're also open later than their posted hours. read more

I was here a couple of times for team lunches. Both the times, I liked the food. It is such a vibrant place! Food is fresh and light, yet filling. The last time I was here I ordered roasted veggie sandwich with chick pea salad. I liked the food and I am sure I will go back again. Things to remember: 1) They are busy during lunch hours and you should be prepared to wait for at least 10 minutes for your food to arrive. 2) If you are planning to go in a group, make sure you are there before the rush hour to easily find a table for everyone at one place. 3) Don't hesitate to order the bbq sliders if they are offering, my colleagues were happy with the sliders they ordered. read more

Café Phipps - Roasted veggie sandwich! - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Easy to see why Cafe at Phipps was named one of the best museum restaurants in the US. The food is fresh, with options for everyone in the family and the prices are reasonable. one tip - if you order the red or green juice blend, be aware it is served at room temperature. The red was good, but I think it would have been even better if served cold. Next time, I'll ask for ice. read more

This place is surprisingly good! My family and I were captive customers, having already ponied up for pay-parking and having paid our admission to Phipps. Then we got hungry. They have a nice menu, with plenty of fresh items, NOT the standard frozen chicken nuggets and hot-dogs. I had some vegetarian chili that was very good, and came with some interesting flat-bread instead of crackers. My kids enjoyed their lunches, as did my wife. Overall, this is a solid choice, so do not hesitate to give it a try and let us all know what you think. read more

Café Phipps - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

I absolutely love Café Phipps, and eating here is always a treat. Combined with an actual trip into Phipps, and a meal here can easily be part of a perfect afternoon or evening. The cafe itself is a lovely, bright, colorful part of Phipps' main lobby and floor. In my experience it's always been well maintained, i.e kept very clean with plants and candles put out on the tables. The framed photos of fields and fresh produce hanging on the walls just complete the cafe's fresh and vibrant look and feel. While the menu itself (and the ingredients of what's sold here) often changes with the season and availability of produce, the general idea of the menu is always the same - you can order or mix-and-match soups, salads, sandwiches, a couple entree-items at times, and a quiche of the day. There are also usually smaller bites and side dishes like fruit cups, as well as dessert options like cupcakes. And as far as I know, all of the items are made from fresh, organic, and local ingredients, or brought in from local vendors. And I have to say, nothing here has let me down. The soups in particular always impress me - you can tell that their tomato soup is freshly made and it's always very think and pulpy; I feel healthier and happier just looking at it! Their salads are always a lovely blend of veggies and dressing (and meat if you opt for it, although Phipps is very vegetarian friendly), and the sandwiches have been perfectly toasted and to die for in my experience. Honestly it's impossible for me to leave without a smile on my face after eating here, the ingredients used are just so wonderful and perfect together. Oh, and since Phipps is one of the green leaders in town, it should come as no surprise that they aim to recycle and compost the few dishes and silverware items that can't be washed and reused. I seriously have no complaints about this little eatery. The best part about the cafe is that a visit to Phipps, while recommended, is not required. So if you want a healthy and/or tasty meal, this is definitely the place to go! read more

A nice lunch spot in Oakland that is often forgotten about. All the ingredients are very fresh and local. I had the chicken apple panini, with a side of bruschetta salad, and coleslaw. The total came out to be about $10, which considering how expensive panera is now days is not bad. The panini had chicken, apple compote, arugala, and white cheddar cheese. It was fresh and satisfying. The brushetta was not bad but the red onion was very chunky and overpowering. The coleslaw was also lacking flavor. My friend's chicken meatball looked great, but she said there was a little too much bread. Overall, a nice lunch place if looking for healthy and fresh sandwiches, soups, and salads. read more

Café Phipps - Chicken meatball hoagie - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

This is a cute place to stop to grab a bite to eat. We ate here for a tiny snack after our Phipps flower trip, so I cannot fully rate the place because all we got was a Hummus wrap and a green been salad. However, they were both delicious. I loved my green beans. There were onions and cranberries within the green bean salad which added a very delicious part to the plate. The atmosphere of this place is also fantastic. It is very trendy and clean. One can see the cleanness based off the fact there is 5 different kinds of cans for garbage. Very cool and very trendy. I wish more places were like this. I want to come back here and actually have a real lunch, so I can actually have a good opinion, but based on what I experienced, I would definitely come back. read more

Café Phipps - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I had high hopes for the Cafe at Phipps because I had heard a lot of great thins about it. I am wondering if it was "good" just because of local ingredients and no "bad for you" food rather then actually being a place people loved for the taste and service. We arrived shortly before 2:00 on a Sunday. Apparently at 2:00, you can no longer order anything from the menu other than the pizzas. This meant the selections were limited to prepackaged salads, sandwiches and soups. I was disappointed because there were several sandwiches I was trying to decide between. There was nothing on the website or in writing at the cafe that showed there was a limited menu at a certain point. I might expect that if you come in at 4 (when Phipps closes at 5) that they would limit it, but why three hours before closing time? Beverage choices are limited to the "Pittsburgh Seltzer" or a coffee bar. The options sounded great - various fruit flavors such as orange and pineapple mixed with seltzer water. However, the day we were there they were out of seltzer, so for the same price, we got very minimally flavored tap water. I chose the orange pineapple and I'm sure it would have been better with the seltzer and right amount of flavor. However, there was very little juice added so it lacked flavor. I drank it anyway, but I heard at least two people go back up and ask for more juice to be added. I chose the grilled chicken and poached pear salad. It was served with greens, cucumbers, tomatoes and of course, pears. It had a pear vinaigrette dressing. I enjoyed the salad, but it was nothing special, especially for the $9 price tag. I was glad I don't eat tomatoes, because the ones in my salad were soggy and limp. It did make me wonder how long the pre made salad had been sitting in the cooler. My husband ordered the Margherita pizza. He enjoyed it, but said the dough was grainy and wished there was more cheese. I also tried the carrot soup. It was good but certainly not the best I've ever had. It was a large portion size which was nice. Overall, not a bad experience, but I expected more, especially for the price. read more

We only had drinks, I had the cantaloupe "soda" and my husband the chai tea. The cantaloupe soda was very good and actually am sad I haven't tasted anything like it before and won't be back anytime soon :(. My husband said his chai was watery and I would agree as they only used one tea satchel for around 18 oz of liquid. For drinks I felt the prices were good. read more

I actually thought Cafe Phipps was pretty good and would eat here again when visiting Phipps. Reminds me of a smaller version of Panera Bread with salad, soup and sandwich options. Order places at the counter and brought to the table. We were served quickly even though they were busy. Prices approximately $7-$10 a person with water to drink. Environmentally friendly. Would eat here again. read more

Café Phipps - Grilled veggie sandwich and salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The mushroom bruschetta and vegan chili was very very tasty. The soup tasted so fresh and had the perfect seasoning. The mushroom bruschetta was almost 5 stars. But the bread was burnt on the one side which made it really tough to eat. But the flavors of the mushrooms with the onions and balsamic had a great flavor and consistency of the ingredients. I wasn't expecting such a tasty meal while going to look at plants lol. read more

Café Phipps - Mushroom bruschetta and vegan chili. Almost perfect but the bread was burnt and the crostini was stale. - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Cafe Phipps is just an upscale cafeteria housed inside the conservatory of the same name. When we visited on Saturday, we found that our botanical journey made our bellies growl, so we stopped in afterwards. At the time, they were only serving sandwiches, salads, and soups from their own kitchen along with desserts from Prantl's bakery. I had the Caesar Chicken Wrap and found that it quelled my cravings and little more. The chicken was a little dry, the dressing sparse, but it met my stomach's needs for the moment. Kay had a cup of a Potato-Leek soup and allowed me to have a few spoonfuls. While I was impressed with what I tasted, I felt that some garlic would have made it outstanding. We also got the Triple Threat, which consisted of miniaturized versions of the following pastries: Chocolate Mary Ann, White Chocolate Raspberry Cup, and the legendary Burnt Almond Torte. Stay tuned for a review of Prantl's! read more

We dined here for the first time after visiting the conservatory. We were excited since the food seemed fresh and they offer a good selection of sandwiches, salads, flatbreads, soups, etc. However, we were pretty unimpressed. The food was essentially flavorless. The flatbread was practically a tortilla with some cheese and peppers/onions on top. The sandwiches were rather small and really nothing special. The salad was flavorless, with little-no dressing. The basil parmesan soup, however, was good but the size of a cup was very small. The food did seem fresh but all in all, it was really nothing special. read more

As a father of two children with food allergies, I was very excited to find that Cafe Phipps offers vegan, gluten free and especially dairy free options. This is one of the few places where I have been able to take my daughter and not only share one, but two different entree items with her from the menu without having to request special accommodations or substitutions. Major kudos to Cafe Phipps for providing allergy friendly options on the regular menu. Very well priced for the portion and quality of food. read more

Café Phipps - Menu board and kitchen - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

For a cafe attached to a museum/attraction, Cafe Phipps is like a 4.5, if not 5-star establishment. In comparison to eateries in general, the food is fine but not outstanding. I love that the cafe uses local, in-season ingredients, and that it composts much of its waste. Currently, it's one of two Pittsburgh eateries certified by the Green Restaurant Association. Right now, the cafe has Friday happy hour, from 5-9 pm, which it calls "Agave Nights," in honor of the giant agave plant now at the conservatory. $4 for margaritas, and $3 for beer, and popcorn shrimp or chicken nachos as food specials. You can also order off their regular menu (which changes seasonally) up until 7 pm. The falafel which is currently on the regular menu comes like a burger--as a single patty, on a bun. The bun would have been better toasted. I don't know how I felt about the blue cheese dressing on the patty, as opposed to a more traditional yogurt sauce or tahini sauce. The cole slaw side was good in that the cabbage and carrot were fresh, but overall the slaw was too liquid-y and the random pieces of fruit (pineapple?) was rather strange. I've also had a mushroom sandwich of some sort in the past here (not on the current menu), which was sort of bland. I wouldn't eat here unless I was also visiting the conservatory (which I really do recommend), but this is also one of the healthiest places to eat at in Oakland, and probably has the nicest atmosphere of all Oakland food places. read more

Cafe Phipps has some of the best food in walking distance of CMU's campus. We take many of our visitors here for lunch. It is nearly impossible to have an unhealthy or bad tasting meal here. They serve delicious, healthy, organic, local, and fresh ingredients. The menu consists of sandwiches, salads, and soups, and you can get combinations of those. There are vegan options and gluten-free options. For someone with allergies who is trying to eat healthy, it's a dream come true. Don't be afraid to try something new--they get it right here--from quinoa pasta to vegan sandwiches. They even have a children's menu! The side dishes: a small serving of a fruit AND a veggie. A mom's dream! Great atmosphere. Clean, modern, hip. Living plants on every table. They even encourage composting and recycling such that finding an actual "trash" can is nearly impossible. read more

Maybe it's the jet lag, maybe it's because neither Mom nor I liked what we ordered. But I've gotta dock Cafe Phipps a star. My husband Rick and I had been away for a week in Hong Kong and my mom wanted to take me out to lunch when I returned. Shame Mom and I normally love Cafe Phipps, and since Mom has a membership at the Phipps Conservatory, she comes here a lot. Anyway, Mom ordered the turkey meatball sub with a side of citrus coleslaw and she didn't like it one bit. I think my mom forgot that she just doesn't like turkey meatballs, turkey sausages, turkey bacon, etc. As for me, I went for the grilled vegetable wrap which was decent but wildly unspectacular. And I should have ordered a side of that citrus coleslaw. But nope, I went for the lentil salad. I like lentil soup but I'd never had lentil salad before. And I discovered one thing........... I hate cold lentils! Yuck! I tried forcing them down, 'cos I don't believe in wasting food, but to no avail! So ya, Mom and I will come back, but now we know what to avoid here! read more

This place is a hidden gem and you should eat here even if you aren't touring the conservatory. We ended up here accidentally because the restaurant across the street where we intended to go was closed for a private party. All of the menu items are perfect for lunch - filling, but not huge and healthful without being annoying. I had a salad and sandwich combo. The salad was supposed to have chicken, but they forgot to put it on. When I asked one of the staff, she cheerfully apologized and very quickly brought me the chicken. I had my 10-year-old niece with me and she was able to find something on the menu (an almond butter and berry sandwich) that she enjoyed and I could feel good about giving to her. Right across the street (behind the other restaurant) is an access point to the Schenley Park trail where we went for a hike after lunch. It was perfect! read more

A nice option for a bite to eat at the park, the cafe serves a nice range of salads, sandwiches, soups and pizzas and has a welcome number of vegetarian options. The prices are quite reasonable for a museum/tourist site cafe and the eating area is clean and welcoming. They also use biodegradable cups and forks, and compost their waste, which is nice to see. They also focus on organic, local food. Though my salad wasn't anything super special, it was tasty enough and I'd happily go back to support Phipps and its cafe. read more

See all

It is reviewed as one of the best museum cafes in the nation, but I was not impressed. I can't comment on the food since I didn't try any, however I tried their iced coffee and the green juice. As the lady making my green juice was preparing the fruits and vegetables, she did not wash any of the items she was putting into the juicer and did not take the time to remove any stickers, therefore those pesky little stickers went straight into the juicer and made it into my drink! Definitely a turn-off. The iced coffee was nothing to write home about and looking around at the selection of food from other customers, the portions were small and not very appetizing. A gorgeous conservatory, but eat and drink before you spend your afternoon in the beautiful Phipps! read more

One of my favorite cafes with an outdoor seating area. The view of the adjacent gardens was beautiful. The staff was friendly and we were served our food quickly. I enjoyed the apple havarti panini with fruit salad. All the food is super fresh and flavorful. read more

The setting is nice, and the food is fresh. As much as I would like to give this place more stars, I haven't been impressed by the taste of the food (it's on the bland side) or the serving sizes (sometimes I leave thinking I could have had two portions). read more