I certainly appreciate a family-run business, and this downtown diner next to Market Square falls easily into that category. I'm just guessing, but I think it's the stoic husband who runs the front of the house, and from my vantage point, his young wife who takes charge of the grill in the back. It was bitter cold on my way to Point State Park, so I stopped here for what I thought would be a light breakfast. Who was I kidding? Without an iota of hesitation, I ordered the $12.89 Early Bird Special. Even though it's been a while since my last greasy spoon experience, I thought it was a pretty good deal with two fried eggs sunny side up and two silver dollar-size grilled sausage patties laid on top of a bed of their housemade home fries just greasy enough to satisfy my undemanding palate (Photo 8). I went for the pancake instead of the toast, and this was my one misstep because no matter how much butter and syrup I added, the flavor refused to lift off (Photo 6). No matter as I didn't need the extra calories anyway. The coffee was piping hot, and the host/server made sure my mug was replenished constantly. I also appreciated that he left a bottle of cold tap water and an empty glass (Photo 5). The interior of this diner is total no-frills with faux-marble table tops that could be wiped down in a matter of seconds. It was populated mostly by either mouthy young couples on the verge of breaking up or solitary poker-faced diners who looked like regulars. I guess I fall into the latter category, but consider me sated. It wasn't a culinary masterwork, but hey, I must say the greasy food did the trick. FOOD - 4 stars...solid greasy spoon fare though the pancake batter needs help AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...well maintained no-frills diner centrally located at Market Square SERVICE - 4 stars...unsmiling but focused TOTAL - 4 stars...when you want to start your day with a full stomach RELATED - Exploring Pittsburgh? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/qN_tq21lnL read more

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Awesome diner. I'm not sure why so many mixed or negative reviews exist for this spot. I got to try their very cherry French toast. It was really, really good. Unlike most other places, they don't skimp on the fruit toppings. Loads of cherries, very sweet (almost excessively so but I still really enjoyed it). And the French toast itself was also really well made. Excellent portion, looked almost like a French toast sandwich. Super great prices for this portion. All in all, I would highly recommend this spot for a tasty and cheap breakfast or brunch in the Pittsburgh area. read more

Cherries Diner - French toast - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Both Food and Service were very good. The Coffee I drank was full body, you could just let it sooth that missed morning pleasure. If you are coming for the NFL DRAFT stop for breakfast. They do lunch too. read more

I love diner food, and this place does everything right. They probably have the fastest and best service of any diner I've been to, and their menu has a lot of interesting things like waffle sandwiches. Definitely worth going to if you're in Market Square in the morning. read more

This is one of those "don't let your eyes deceive you" places. It looks very unassuming, and if this wasn't specifically recommended I would have walked on by. But that would make your belly very sad. Solid comfort food, big portions. I went for the Cherry Bomb Pancake, which is a huge folded pancake filled with cherries (or strawberries or blueberries) and whipped cream. Fluffy, sweet, no complaints here! read more

Super cheap diner with fast service. I went in with 10 bucks and left with a full stomach. I was very satisfied with the portions and flavor of the food. The restaurant has cute red leather seats. read more

Seat yourself place. Restaurant was relatively clean. Waitress came around soon after I was seated and took my drink order. Came back with coffee and water and took my food order. Omelet and pancake came out quickly after. Omelet was more like a ham and cheese scramble which was fine by me. I ordered a pancake on the side, it's almost as big as the plate. Once the food was delivered the waitress stopped by and asked if everything was ok, and that's the last I saw of her. A family came in with a stroller and they made accommodations for the stroller right away. Owner came out as I was finishing and asked if I wanted more coffee. Overall good experience. read more

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My food was really good. It's small on the inside. The food came out pretty quickly. I had no issues at all. read more

Cherries Diner - French toast, home fries, & turkey bacon. - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This is a solid diner joint in downtown Pittsburgh, aptly described by others as "no frills." It's basic breakfast and lunch dishes - nothing fancy but food is decent. I ordered the "fluffy waffles" with whipped cream and strawberries. The fruit isn't really fresh so much as it's like the canned / syrupy fruit. But the waffle with the toppings was good, and the lady Lisa was so nice and took good care of me, so not bad service. Would have given it 3.5 stars but will bump up for service and affordability. read more

Cherries Diner - Fluffy waffle - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

My friend and I came to Cherries Diner for breakfast. Upon arriving, there was a line out the door; this got me excited as surely this meant the food here was fantastic. Sadly, that was not the case. I ordered an omelette but was disappointed that it was overcooked and somewhat burnt. I'm a fan of diners, and compared to most other diners, the food here was slightly below average. Nevertheless, the service here was quite good. Despite an entirely packed restaurant, the service speed was appropriate and well-paced, and we didn't have a long wait for our food. read more

Cherries Diner - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I was in Market Square and I was starving. Cherries is a cute little restaurant in the square. I ordered the early bird special. It consists of 2 eggs bacon home fries and a large pancake. every thing was cooked great and the staff where very friendly. I was in and out in 5-8 minutes. Take out only so I ate in my car. Breakfast was very tasty and hit the spot. If I am in the area again and in need of breakfastI will definitely stop in again. read more

Cherries Diner - the menu of cherries diner - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Love this Restaurant! Great food & Friendly Staff! We go there every time we're in Pittsburgh!

Great breakfast spot! We were looking for a quick spot to grab a bite in downtown Pittsburgh. Staff was exceptional--hustled, made sure our table was clean. Meal was fantastic. Early bird special and kitchen sink omelette were great. I know this sounds weird but the eggs and home fries were extraordinary! Will definitely return! read more

Cherrie's diner is right down the street from our hotel. They have good reviews on Yelp, so we decided to try it out. I arrived shortly after it opened, and there were already several people at tables on a Saturday. I sat down at a table, and a server gave me a glass of water and said someone would be by to take my order. After 10 minutes, the server came to my table and I told him that I wanted to place an order for take away. He then took away my water and told me I would have to place my order at the window. I waited at the window for another 5 minutes and they finally took my order. I ordered two Early Bird Specials with over hard eggs, ham, and rye toast. I also ordered the cherry bomb pancake. It took about 20 minutes to receive my order. The Early Bird special was ok. The ham was very good, but the eggs were a mess. I'm not even sure I receive two whole eggs. Make sure you skip the cherry bomb pancake. It is a pancake with cherry pie filling dumped in the middle and folded over. It is supposed to have strawberries and blueberries, but I struggled to find more than one "mini-me" sized strawberry. Overall, Cherries Diner is an average diner, with menu descriptions that do not match what you will receive. read more

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Absolutely no frills, quick affordable friendly. Great bacon, flap jacks and potatoes. Right in the heart of downtown. Will be back, good fuel for game day to help cheer on the cubs to beat the pirates. They need a new sign, it's a janky banner hanging out front read more

Breakfast at Cherries offers a real blast from the past in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. Strong coffee, colorful characters & no-nonsense old-school diner grub: hot, fast, cheap & plenty - what more do you want? read more

Cherries makes basic American breakfasts and lunches. A diner right off Market Square they work on the volume theory: sit down, order, eat, pay and get on with your day. The staff is courteous but not there to entertain you. The waitress goes around the room in a circle and takes care of needs as she goes. My Early Bird Special was correctly prepared and promptly served. Good, filling and value priced. read more

Cherries Diner - Early bird special - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Nothing fancy , but solid place for breakfast. Prices were affordable. Got Early bird special . Well worth it. Definitely would go back.

This is another side-street find. Yes it is close to a number of other restaurants, but you have to be looking to find Cherries Diner. Do not expect your fancy chain style place with a standard menu. This place is small with a to-the-point menu. What you can expect is good food and decent portions. The inside is very dated, but the prices and food make up for the decor. If you are looking for a quick and tasty breakfast, give Cherries a shot. read more

Cherries Diner - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Dirty feeling food was a d+ except it made me sick so I am writing this review from the bathroom of my hotel because I cannot leave. I ordered the loaded fries for breakfast which is home fries. Very small portions of meat and I actually added a second meat to it. Potatoes were not cleaned properly you could taste the "eyes" and earth in almost every bite. Would have rather had DD next door. I will not be returning read more

A great diner option in Downtown! I always go for the traditional breakfast at diners and I was not disappointed with it here. Service was quick on a weekday and the food was very good all around read more

Great service and great food. I got the breakfast special, it was very filling and worth the wait. Prices are very fair and food is filling. Make sure to bring an appetite. My wife got the cream cheese stuffed pancakes which she enjoyed as well. It is a very cozy classic diner. read more

Great Food , reasonable price and good package offers with every meal. I always love to go there and great place to hang out. Coffee is good drink is free. Taste is awesome. Chicken Sandwich , grill chicken sandwich and Stake is my favorite to eat. In breakfast best Omelette , Pancakes along with French Toast are my favorite. read more

Well I from California the service was ok but I got a omelette and loaded potatoes All the was but I got something to drink and it made sick ask a dog. I'm here for 2 more days I WELL not good eat there the milk read more

Our breakfast was great! Pancakes for my son & my fried (sunny side up) eggs were the best I've had - perfect crispy lace edges, fully cooked whites, and the yolks were the exact liquid that pairs great with sopping up with toast. Highly recommended! read more

The staff here is very personable, and the menu features breakfast lunch and dinner. The sandwich selection is something I cannot wait to try. They also have combos that you can get for only 8.49 !! read more

Cherries Diner - Some cherry wall decor - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Exactly what I expected a large mug of diner coffee and fast, hot diner food at a great price. Throw in some unique patrons and you've got a great morning! read more

A friend and I were visiting Pittsburgh and needed a place to eat breakfast. I think I got the recommendation from a TikTok video and the food looked fresh so I said let's go. The food was indeed fresh and affordable. Definitely give it a try if you're in town and want some yummy filling breakfast! read more

Cherries Diner - 2 Eggs, with Meat and Toast - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Cherry bomb pancake was very good. Bacon however was over cooked and leathery. Service was slow. But the crown jewel was some rando off the street coming in and sitting at my table as I was eating. Yeah. That was a weird one. But not the wait staff's fault so I can't dock stars for it. 3/5. read more

Epitome of a greasy spoon. Seat yourself. Counter and table seating. Small space. Big portions at cheap prices. Shared the Early Bird special with my daughter. Portions and prices are terrific. The food, not so much. Our special included a pancake, two scrambled eggs, home-fries and two pieces of sausage. Everything tastes exactly the same, like grease. So if you're into hefty portions of grease at a small price this is the establishment for you. read more

Cherries Diner - Early Bird Special. - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

So I heard from many Indian friends that a diner downtown has authentic Indian chicken biryani on Fridays only. I thought this cannot be possible if they serve diner food can this be possible. So the sun was out, I thought to go try it and sit at the Market Square tables to listen to the live music. Let me just say I have had this dish in India and also many places in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. This simple meal at Cherries is as good as it gets. For about $8 you get a lot of rice with three pieces of chicken as you can see in the photo. The spices were spot on and transported me back. The raita (yogurt sauce) is enough to cool things down and they throw in a soda or water for the same price. I finished it all and recommend it for sure. You can tell it is good as I had about 8 South Asians in front of me in line and when leaving with my take out a line out the door behind me. A hidden gem for sure, staff was super friendly, meal very authentic and a nice change from my usual lunch at another great Indian restaurant on Liberty Avenue read more

Cherries Diner - Chicken biryani with three whole pieces, raita and bottle of water. Great taste and spice level. - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Solid little greasy spoon dinner. You know, kind of run down. We wanted something more of a sit down style restaurant for breakfast instead of all of the grab and go in the area. Found Cherries and were not disappointed. We both had the kitchen sink omelette- delicious. I noticed a lot of people were getting to go orders, so that seems to be a lot of the business. But while we were there for breakfast, the place was packed. read more

Cherries Diner - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A small place right off market square. Seems to be well known among the locals. I would call the breakfast menu "versatile". The service was efficient. The food was simply prepared but very good. Big cup of coffee with refill. Perfect for guys on the way to work or on the way to the airport or whatever. read more

Good food and good atmosphere - great breakfast!!! You'll love it so much that you will keep going there

Food was only okay. Waited 35 minutes from the time we ordered. They were packed. Not many options for a sit down breakfast on a Monday. Probably would have picked another place in retrospect. read more

Everything was delicious. I had a spinach and provolone omelet and hot sausage. So good. Standing room only. You know the food is good when you have to wait for it. read more

The original greasy spoon, and not in a good way. This diner popped up first in Google when we looked for a breakfast spot downtown. It was a huge disappointment. The food was extremely greasy, the eggs were rubbery, and the French toast tasted like it was cooked on the same griddle as the eggs and home fries without it being cleaned first. On top of this, every time someone opened the door half the people in the diner were directly in the line of fire of the cold blasts of air, so nobody could taker off their coats. Uber to Ritter's in Bloomfield instead! read more

Cool little dinner. Service slow but friendly. Stand on line but no one lets you know there are tables available. Eventually you just walk in and sit down. Eventually someone will come over and take your order. Food was good and for a fair price. read more

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Really good and decently priced. I got the kitchen sink omelet with sausage and home fries delivered through doordash for lunch. read more

Cherries Diner - Kitchen Sink Omelet with sausage and home fries - Diners Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The good: The food was ok. The chef served us and was quick to bring us the extra bits we needed (butter, coffee cream, etc...) - she was helpful and pleasant. The young guy who started to serve us seemed to go on a break after getting us coffee but he was pleasant. The not-so-good: grumpy and abrupt waitress - loud voice barking at customers, impatient with anyone not quickly ready to order or making special requests, snapped at us when we asked a question. I heard her around the room loudly correcting people and seeming quite impatient with the staff and people on the phone - which was hard to miss cause she speaks Loudly. There are notes around instructing customers not listen to music when waiting for orders. It is not a 'customer first' place - we all seem to be inconveniencing that waitress/ cashier. Ummm... sorry? read more