The burger was burnt twice. The service charge is so expensive. The service charge is 20 percent of subtotal and additional tips are also required. read more

Kelly's is a divey, dark bar in east liberty that is a great break from having to compete with sports like other bars in the area. They always have a solid draft menu with rotating choices, and have a great happy hour from 5-7 with $2 off drafts and 1/2 price apps. They also have a $4 speciality cocktail every day and you can't go wrong with just ordering their old fashioneds and manhattans, which are some of the best priced in town. It's one of my favorite places to meet up with friends and catch up, as it's a very unassuming place. Sometimes it's hard to find a table though, and it's not really the best bar to stand in. Besides the Mac and cheese, the food is nothing to write home about. Cheap and gets the job done, but come for a drink instead! read more

Kelly's Bar & Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Bartender (with really long dreadlocks) was violent. My friend went to get a drink and he was perfectly sober. The bartender started shouting at him out of the blue. Specifically, told him to get his drink and get the f*** out of there. We were completely confused. All my friend had done was called for him saying "excuse me". My friend thought he had done something wrong so he apologized. The bartender turned violent and manhandled my friend all the way out of the bar. We have been to bars all around Pittsburgh and have gotten along with all kinds of people. Never had a record of troublemaking. This was a horrible experience for us. I understand that one bad review doesn't mean too much to you guys, but please look into this. I even went to the bartender and asked him politely if we did anything wrong. He was quite abrasive in his response to me as well. This is in no way fair. I have never faced this kind of behavior since the 2 years I've been in Pittsburgh. As a consolation, the Mac n cheese was pretty good. P.S. If you look at your one star reviews. You will find that a lot more people have been in the same situation as us with the same bartender. read more

Kelly's has been on my to-visit list forever, but I finally received the opportunity to check it out on Wed. I was planning to go to Burgatory with a friend to claim my free birthday milkshake, but a previous commitment ran late to the point that we were unsure if we'd have sufficient time before closing. Since my friend had also suggested getting drinks, I suggested that we try Kelly's instead, so we headed over. When we walked in, nobody came to greet us, so we seated ourselves at one of the booths. Upon doing so, a hipster waiter, complete with large gauges, tats, and interesting hair handed us menus. He told us that the drink special of the night was a rusty nail, which consisted of Scotch and Drambuie (orange liqueur) for $4, so we both decided to try it. It was smooth, but quite strong, to the point that it burned a bit going down. The ice thinned it out as we drank, however, so by the time we finished it, it was substantially thinner. Because we were hungry, we decided to get some snacks to go with our drinks. As a mac and cheese snob, I had to order the mac and cheese, since I'd heard of its claim to fame as one of the best in PGH. Consistent with my preferences, this mac and cheese is of the baked variety, and comes with a crust on top, but has a sharp cheddar sauce that is surprisingly creamy underneath. Although it didn't beat my current front runner for best mac and cheese in PGH (Carmi), it's definitely in the top tier of mac and cheeses (score: 9.0/10). Based on my recommendation, my friend ordered the sweet potato fries with cajun aioli. When they came out, the fries appeared more like chips, but thicker (see photo). While the flavor was very good, esp. hot, the texture left something to be desired, since they lacked crispiness or crunch. Overall, I enjoyed the drinks and food at Kelly's. The ambience was interesting--something of a cross between a bar and a diner--and came off as hipster without trying too hard (a la Wingharts) or being pretentious. My only complaint was that the music was a bit loud--not so much that I had to shout across the table, but enough to be slightly annoying. I don't have any complaints about the service, except that I was carded (I'm not usually carded at bars anymore--but then again, my friend is a couple years younger than me). I'd definitely be up for stopping back in, esp. to try the much-talked-about happy hour, and some of the other interesting, less common drinks served there. read more

See all

First time at Kelly's tonight-drawn in by their retro neon COCKTAILS sign like a moth to the vodka. Yuenglings were $2 for happy hour and our Pittsburgh Bites (boneless chicken wings) were only $3.50 and came super spicy, which I dug, but looked like little bricks of...ahem...something you might scoop up while following your dog on a walk. The tilapia in my tacos was breaded and fried sans spices or herbs, so the main part of my taco had absolutely zero flavor, and was topped with shredded iceberg lettuce, which added a little crunch but not much else. The boring theme was completed by everything being wrapped in a flour tortilla. I don't know about you guys, but for me, flour tortillas with tacos are a huge no-no. Just, why? Why would you do that to a perfectly good taco? I could go on about tacos for days, so anyways, they were salvageable with the loads of guacamole, fresh salsa and sour cream that came on the side. BUT, on a scale of 1 to 10 the mac and cheese was an 8 and had a crazy crust like you've never seen; charred just shy of being totally burnt, it was sort of sealed into the bowl (since it was baked in the dish). And if you're going to a lounge to have a beer this is definitely the best mac and cheese you're going to get your hands on in the city. East Liberty is a slumbering restaurant meca until 7 when the trendy folks that are employed around there get off work and head out for dinner and drinks. At 5 when we walked in there were two other tables taken, by 8 when we left every seat was full. The loud chatter over beers echoing off the red walls (Kelly's is going for a 50's diner feel with checkered floors and wide white booths) rounded out the "lounge" aspect of it perfectly. The server was tatted, dreadlocked and pierced, but instead of seeming too "alternative" she gave the place a grungy-but-hospitable feel that worked well. read more

See all

Went ahead and added an extra star for excellent service. Though this is a little dive bar, it's not dirty or stank smelling. I've been here on a crowded Saturday and though it was hipster city the vibe was still chill and I was able to have a good time. I've stopped in a few times by myself and bartenders are very friendly and knowledgeable. The drinks are around $6 a pop and poured well. Food size is good for the price, though the only thing to write home about was the Mac and cheese. Very yummy cheese sauce and I typically hate elbow Mac but this was delish. It's a nice quiet bar to stop in for a drink if you're in between things, and if you have a good group of friends during happy hour then it can get fun as well. Definitely one of the more "bang for your buck" options in that part of town. read more

See all

Who would have thought a little hole in the wall place would have this many really good vegan options! The Pittsburgh bites made with tofu and buffalo sauce were great...nice and crispy and the vegan chicken sandwich was awesome. Our server was friendly and attentive. I'm from out of town and can't wait to come back to Pittsburgh so I can get that tofu and that chicken sandwich again! read more

Was only here for the bar experience, so this obviously will not encompass the whole vibe of the place. Great mix of an old time feel in here mixed with a dash of hipster. Speaking of hipster, I must have been present during hipster night. The irony here was that the was I was dressed (coming straight from work) I kind of fit in. My black rimmed glasses did not tell me any lies in here when I was going over the draft menu. So many different ones to select from that I wasn't sure which I wanted more. Of course I tried the Brooklyn Chocolate and then followed that with an East End Winter. Both delicious, both worth the wait/price. Staff here seem to miscommunicate with one another. When we first entered we seated ourselves at a booth and the waitress came over to let us know that due to her not feeling well she was going home and that if we wanted anything we would have to go to the bar. Fine by us, no harm there. Went up and ordered the first round and the bartender told us due to the tap taking a while she would bring it to our table, great. While we were waiting the ailing waitress came back by to tell us that the bartender was not going to bring us our drinks. At that point I wanted to ask how she was feeling as she had not left, but opted to ignore her. Our drinks were delivered and we were fine. The music on this particular night was a mix from the 60s which was fine by me, old tunes are good tunes. Even for as small of a space the DJ was crammed into, people were still in front of him dancing it up. Maybe in the near future I will come back here and try their food selections, I'm hearing some good things about this place food wise, but if I do, that will be an updated review. read more

Wow, cool spot with some good vibes going on here. I really can't believe I've passed up this place so many times. My bestie and I met up here for a late night bite and a drink. So, what I ordered may not be the best combo but, it's what I wanted. Why 3 stars? Well, when we walked in we weren't sure if we should seat ourselves or wait for someone. A worker walked past but didn't say anything so we found a table and popped a squat. No one noticed us so after about 10 minutes I walked up to the bar and asked for menus. The bartender handed them over then asked where we were sitting. After I told him we were in a booth, he assured us someone would be over. At the time it wasn't a huge deal but once we noticed the time, we realized how long we had been sitting there. That's my only negative but now that I know, I'll just order at the bar from now on when I visit. We ordered tacos and mac n cheese. Crazy combo, I know but they both were good. While not authentic tacos were yummy. The mac n cheese...good Lord was it good. It looked a little charred when it got to the table but one bite ruled out all of that foolishness. It was comforting, cheesy and just downright good! I had a cosmopolitan to wash it all down and that was perfect!!! I am looking forward to visiting again and will update my review at that time, if needed. read more

See all

Incredibly kind service staff and incredible patio. Great for a casual group happy hour! Can't wait to go back

Racist place. No one comes to take your order if you're brown. Everyone had someone come to then except me who's been sitting for 35+ mins

A DJ spins cool some nights, reasonable drinks, cool bartenders and good food. This is my go to bar when I want to chill out and listen to some groovy music. read more

Kelly's Bar & Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Kelly's is one of my local favorites. The drinks are so cheap. And the food is inexpensive but delicious, for what it is. My go to is the Tofu Bites or the French Dip Sandwich. Also they have ice cream cakes that are a must. In the winter cozy up in the small booths with a group of fiends or enjoy the patio out back in the summer. Staff is also really great. read more

Kelly's is a classic divey type part with the bonus of having good food. Their cocktail of the day until 7 pm is only $4 and they have good discounts for happy hour. Their beer isn't the cheapest ($5 for yuengling) but neither is it terrible. They also have good food. The mac and cheese is really good but can take a bit of time. They also have a good selection of sandwiches. A small Mac is 5, the large 7, and most sandwiches with fries 10. It can get super packed and loud though. read more

Kelly's Bar & Lounge - The bar - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

It is a rare opportunity when a traveler can experience something that reflects the taste and attitude of the people that live there. Kelly's Bar and Lounge reeks of young hip blue-collar Pittsburgh and I loved every single minute of it. It seems to get the essentials right: alcohol, rockabilly, plenty of vinyl booths,hard wood bar, and bartenders that belong in an alt-porn video. Very laid back and filled with hotties - straight and queer. If it isn't smog it's smoke: 4 out of 5 stars because Pittsburgh hearts lung cancer. read more

Kelly's Bar & Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I've been going to Kelly's for years. It's one of those steadfast places that keeps up with the times and they know what customers like. $4 drink specials are enough to knock you on your ass at times. Super laid back, good vibe. A friend is part of LUPEC and it's exciting when they have specials happening. Now and again the help gets a little testy when it's busy. Understandable that it can become overwhelming and hard to keep up. However, patience and a smile go a long way with customers. read more

Kelly's Bar & Lounge - Kelly's on a nice summer day. - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

I lived extremely close to Kelly's for a very long time until I convinced myself to wander in. With dark windows that reminded me of something you'd think would be at a strip club, I really didn't know what to expect. Ambiance: Seedy and Dive bar all rolled into one. Extremely dark but with welcoming staff that made me feel a lot more comfortable. Not my vibe. Food: Macaroni and Cheese is phenomenal, literally the only thing to go back for. Drinks: Daily special and a local Arsenal Cider of tap are always great to have, but overpriced for the space. read more

Kelly's Bar & Lounge - The Mac & Cheese is delicious. - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

I love a good dive bar and Kelly's is a great dive bar! It's authentic, let's face it hipster dive bars suck, and I'm guessing (what do I know I'm a tourist?) it has been here fore-evah and seen the fortunes of East Liberty rise and fall. The decor alone is worth visiting for, there are booths and barstools, a jukebox, neon signs, and there's a ton of linoleum. The colour scheme skews towards red and black and the lighting is just dark and dingy enough to have you squinting when you emerge outside into daylight. There's a patio/garden out back - but I didn't go there because that's not dive-y enough for me! The servers are good, I mean it's not like we are going to become friends after a couple of visits, but they were welcoming enough and efficient. The customers were a mix of all sorts of people with a good mix of age groups. Kelly's serves bar food but we only came for drinks. There's a surprisingly good range of draught beers and cocktails available. The daily happy hour has beers at $2.00 off, half-priced appetizers and a daily $4.00 cocktail. Yes, you read that correctly - Four. Dollar. Cocktails. - insane right? If you're in the neighbourhood please stop by Kelly's and show them some love, places like this are disappearing fast and getting harder and harder to find. There's plenty of fancy pants bars with $10/15 cocktails but when did you last have a decent $4.00 one in a real authentic bar? Exactly. read more

It seems like Pittsburgh is full of cool bars, and Kelly's is no exception! With the pleather seats, dim lighting, and dark red walls, Kelly's seems like something right out of the '50s or '60s. I guess some people find that divey, but I actually thought it was kind of hip and romantic. Definitely a unique atmosphere worth coming out to Shadyside for. The cocktails are great, and the selection is unparalleled. This is definitely a good place to get out of your cocktail rut and try something you wouldn't normally order. I had the Presbyterian, basically bourbon and ginger ale with a little bit of club soda thrown in. There's a rotating $4 cocktail special, even on weekends! But even if you eschew the $4 bargain, cocktails are reasonably priced at $6-8. Our waitress was awesome, so friendly and attentive! She made all of our drinks herself and absolutely killed it. Apparently Kelly's is known for their baked mac 'n' cheese, which you can even order in a "mini" portion, but I skipped it this time. I'll be back! read more

This sucked. Bartender said we had until 1am, as we closed our tabs. We were then promptly shouted at repeatedly, and shoved out. We were in fact just minding our own business sitting on their back patio, causing absolutely no concern, and were ready to leave by 1 like asked (we also expected to have until 2 like it says online). And this all happened at a clean 12:30. I wish I could take a few bucks back from my tip to the bar tender because dudes a jerk to put it mildly. When he was serving drinks he completely disregarded most of the night anyways. read more

Ordered the crispy fish sandwich, pretzel, and the famous Mac n cheese. The fish sandwich was right out of the fryer, super crispy and good amount of flavor even without the tartar sauce. The pretzel was decent and the cheese was almost too thick. The Mac n cheese lived up to the hype and had a great texture on top and very rich cheese flavor throughout the dish. The beer selection was good and the prices were even better. read more

Kelly's Bar & Lounge - Fish sandwich and pretzel - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

I can't speak to this delicious mac and cheese I'm reading about, but now I know I have to go back to try it! I came here for a quick drink with some friends on a Saturday night. We got there around 10 pm, and it was super packed but we were able to grab two chairs at the bar and two of us stood. It has a super chill divey vibe which is right up my alley. We only stayed for a little, but tables seemed to open up as we left. It was a cool spot, that I will def check out again for a bite to eat! read more

This place is becoming one of my go to places, generally like the location and vibe. The food has potential... the pretzel was good, as was the side salad, but the buffalo sauce is insanely salty (2 weeks in a row, buffalo chicken dip and Pittsburgh bites), The fries are terrible. The more I learn, the more I love this place, even if the service is unbelievably slow, and the food is at best ok. read more

Cool atmosphere, great drinks, very cool bartenders. Feels like stepping back in time, I hope they never change!

Kelly's is a dark and quiet place to get good food and good drinks. Craft mixed drinks and Pittsburgh food. The Mac and cheese is a star. The Pittsburgh platter is ok . It's a great fried kielbasa and saurkraut but the pierogi's we're not cooked the way I expected. Pittsburgh pierogi should be fried in butter with onions. These were steamed? No butter? The onion seemed to be cooked separately as a topping. I would not get them again. read more

Kelly's Bar & Lounge - Mac and cheese - Lounges Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

$4 cocktails and mac n' cheese is there specialty...hmm...sounds like the best thing I've ever been apart of! Kelly's is a great spot with excellent food in an awesome setting. The restaurant is truly something out of a movie. The vibe and decor doesn't try to be cool, it just is. I know how cheesy all of that sounds, but it's the truth. Now in Pittsburgh, you go into a restaurant and they have spent all of their energy on picking out deer heads and granite table tops and no thought was given to the menu or level of comfort you want your guests to feel. Sometimes there is just a space that speaks for itself and that's all that is needed. Kelly's is that pace. The old booths and relaxing atmosphere could easily read dive bar...and to an extent that is a truth. But the great cocktails and awesome food prevents it from being overly kitschy. Each day of the week there is a cocktail special that is $4. Mondays are Presbyterians but there are other classic cocktails on the board such as a Cuba libre. It doesn't matter if you get the fried shrimp platter with hush puppies or a simple BLT, it is all done right. The prices are also spot on. The other day, my bf and I got two meals, one beer for him and a cocktail for me...the bill totaled under $25 before a tip and was delicious! The service is good and the wait staff is helpful. I have no complaints and don't expect to ever. read more

Pretty impressed! I love divey bars because the food and drinks are usually cheap and they give you plenty. Kelly's didn't disappoint. Our service was average - the server got distracted easily so when we wanted more ketchup or extra napkins, we had to deal with what we had or grab it from another table because she kept forgetting. No biggie. My boyfriend and I got fish sandwiches and shared a mini mac to see what the hype was about. The fish sandwich was really good! The breading was super crisp and the bun was perfect. Love how they added hush puppies. The mac was good - this is probably an unpopular opinion but I think it was a little hyped up. Don't get me wrong, it was really good but not the best I've ever had. The next time I come back will probably be for drinks and food at the end of a night out. read more

Strong drinks, great ambiance, outdoor patio, phenomenal mac & cheese - do you need much more in a bar?! They have fantastic (and STRONG) drinks and rotate through their selection with a $5 drink special every day. Their back patio has a bunch of picnic tables and a little thatched roof pavilion - it's perfect for bring groups or meeting with a couple friends for happy hour! read more

Hands-down the best bar in PGH. It has the grungy, old-timey look and feel but draws a fun young crowd (and is quite clean and nice!). Really reasonable cocktail prices, and there's a $4 special cocktail every day! The food is awesome with lots of vegetarian options- especially the grilled haloumi and fried pickles! It's good drunk bar food, but more hip and interesting. They play music on vinyl which is an added fun bonus, and it's always the exact right amount of crowded. I don't know how you do it, but keep on keeping on, Kelly's! read more

First time here and absolutely loved it! We sat out back on the patio which is super cozy. Our server was so nice and friendly even though she was busy. I got Kelly's famous burger with sweet potato chips. Everything was delicious, but the fries definitely made the meal. Would absolutely recommend Kelly's!! read more

Let me set the scene for you.... Here it is pouring out. You walk in drenched. You sit at one of those old school checkered booths. Depressing indie music is playing in the background. Regulars are greeted by the bartender and served up their usual drink. I felt like I was in an indie movie! So in real time, the place has CHEAP happy hour deals! $2 Yuenglings and $4 mixed concoctions. Yesterday was the Presbyterian. It was a mix of Bourbon, Ginger Ale and Soda Water. Not my cup of tea....but maybe someones...perhaps?? The grand jewel of the place is the mac n' cheese. I kept hearing these tales of the most delicious mac n' cheese you will ever feast on. Of course I had to get it! When it came out it looked like the real deal homemade version! Slightly burnt top layer of cheesy goodness. Inside a gooey noodly mixture of cheese, with a strong pepper flavoring. I believe when there was no more noodles to be found, there may have been some bowl licking. For real, that good! It was sad but kinda funny because a family of four came in with some small children. They wanted to come because they had heard the mac n' cheese was so good. Well, it's considered a straight bar so they weren't allowed in with children under 18. The mom was like, I called earlier, it's the kids birthday! Too bad....they may have had to settle for some easy mac! read more

The service was wonderful and it seems clean but if music so loud that you have to scream annoys you then DO NOT GO.. I actually attended live bands but the music level in this place was so severe my ears were popping.. read more

Some people just shouldn't work in the service industry and all of those people work at Kelly's. Both the bartender and our server were about 20% interested in us being there. Ambiance is cool, drinks and food are okay - there's no reason why this couldn't become my neighborhood hangout other than the staff. And that's a big reason. But, I guess that's what one should expect from a place that's web presence is a Myspace account. read more

This is an old bar that my grandfather took me too for lunch when I was a little kid. I'll never forget that day, one because it was always awesome to hang out with my grandpa, and two because I bet that was the last time that the place was swept. The drinks here are interesting, and the Moscow Mule (a mix of vodka, sweet lime, and ginger beer) is one of the coolest drink to order. A good selection of beers, and decent bartenders make the bar the highlight of Kelly's. The last time we were there (Thursday), they had live music from DJ Zombo, whose radio show I adored when I was in under grad, so that was a little extra bonus. The food is, honestly, pretty terrible, but they are known for their mac and cheese. Being good at making macaroni and cheese is about as impressive as being REALLY good at pooping. There isn't too much that can go wrong in the process, so I will say that it's every bit as delicious as any other time that I have had delicious mac and cheese. It always happens that we arrive here when I'm starving, so I've managed to dig through the menu. Much like the food that they eat in the first Matrix movie, I feel like whenever I eat here, I'm just doing it to survive. With all of the new restaurants that are in the area, I would recommend grabbing something to eat before you head to Kelly's. This place is more for drinking anyways. The waitstaff is pretty rough. You'll end up walking to the bar to get a drink if it's a busy night, and that's for the best really. I have never had a night here where at least one of my drink orders hasn't come back all effed in the a. This is kind of why I'm giving it a 3. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth checking out, just watch out for the sass. read more

The waitresses are Frequently bitches from hell. Bar fare is good though. read more

Good times. Good people. Good burgers. Cheap drinks and must have macaroni and cheese

After reading through the reviews posted for Kelly's, I'd like to begin my review by saying a few things: You're in Pittsburgh. You decide to go to a local dive bar. You want good food, nice bar atmosphere, somewhere to sit, and maybe a nice cocktail (which is rare to get for a good price/quality ratio) or a cheap beer. Kelly's is not the place to expect someone to talk to you like you're not a regular (the waitresses aren't bitches, they're locals), nor is it the place to order a Coke when the beer flows like [insert a sweet analogy here]. Come in, get a beer, check out the local scene, chill for a while, and try their unbelievable mac 'n' cheese. I guarantee, with an open mind and good company, you definitely won't be let down. If you are, I'll personally come out and pick up your tab (but you'll have to deal with me ordering a bowl or seven of the mac 'n' cheese first). Great local place. Great Pittsburgh place. read more

Kelly's is an awesome low-key place. Affordable dive-ish bar with a relaxed atmosphere. That being said, terrible experience there last night due to the bartender. Mid 30white male with dread locks. Incredibly rude. One word answers to question. Literally threw change down on the bar. Threw bottle into the well after making a gin and tonic. It was a very average night and not that busy. Everyone I was there with noted on how disrespectful and unpleasant he was, and how uncomfortable it made them. Kelly's=awesome Kelly's bar tender= not awesome at all read more

Great bar with a hipster/ grad school/ young professional crowd. We came on a Saturday night around 9 and despite being pretty full (not hard to do considering the tiny size of this place) we were able to snag a table. Our waitress was attentive and quick with the refills. Kelly's offers about 8-10 micros on draft all ranging between $4-7.50, as well as a pretty extensive cocktail menu. My friends and I were all starving so we decided to sample some of the snacks Kelly's offered. I had the pork pot stickers which were nice and tender, very flavorful, and pretty well priced (5 for $5.50). One of my friends had the Pittsburgh bites which are essentially boneless wings. I'm pretty sure he liked them seeing as he inhaled the giant portion like he was in a 4th of July eating contest. Our other friend had the chips and salsa. The chips were good but the salsa was terrible, that's to be expected though considering they are using crappy February tomatoes. I really enjoyed our time at Kelly's and I'll certainly be back. read more

Mac'n Cheese washed down with beer or a cocktail. After a bad day at work you cannot do much better than Kelly's for happy hour. The creative menu of appetizer esque foods are quite satisfying. The mac'n cheese has got to be their best, but duck potstickers are also great. read more