He Said: We came by here after a visit to my family's cemetery a bit west. We were to meet up with friends but they were finishing as we arrived. All good, we can take care of ourselves. Mary was working her tail off to pour drinks, take food orders, and bus tables. She was killing it. I had a Reuben and really enjoyed it. She Said: As He Said noted, Mary was working hard running the bustling front of the house on her own. I ordered the vegetarian sandwich and would absolutely get it again. Potty Points: No trip to the potty for me today! read more

After driving by this restaurant for literally decades, I finally made it here for lunch. We say at the bar and we were greeted by a friendly bartender and a bunch of regulars. I had the capicola and egg panini for lunch which was solid, with a side of coleslaw that was crispy and refreshing, if a bit too sweet for my liking. The interior is simple but comfortable - and their prices are reasonable! read more

Clean atmosphere. Food was tasty. Friendly service. An overall decent neighborhood joint. read more

Modern Cafe - Ambiance - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Burgers! Lots of variety but I always go with the basic cheese burger. Thick and juicy, and piping hot fries. Don't pas it up!

I ordered online to pick up. My order was ready when I arrived. When I came in, the bartender ran outside to take a phone call, then handed me my order stating he assumed I was the one who called in my order. (??) I ordered the Spartan sandwich. I really wanted to like it because it sounded good on the menu, but I just did not enjoy it. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. The steak meat was very salty (even for me) and incredibly greasy. I could not pick the sandwich up to eat it, I had to use a knife and fork. The gyro meat was just in huge chunks. Nothing seemed like it was cooked, but had a reheated texture to it. I thought it would be fresh tomatoes on the sandwich, but they seemed to be stewed or previously canned maybe? The tzatziki was good, but the rest did not deliver for me, especially when there's so many other good sandwich shops nearby. Not sure I would come back here. read more

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Great no nonsense place to get drinks and some really great sandwiches, at a reasonable price too! Their sandwiches all looked amazing, with their egg sandwich with mozzarella sticks being unholy and delicious. Sadly they don't come with fries, but I absolutely think they're worth getting as a side, they were the best kind of classic crinkle cut. read more

Modern Cafe - Fries wrap - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

First time here, have driven past it many, many times. Went to grab a quick bite before a concert. Menu is fairly decent size. Have some interesting hot dog and burger options. Surprisingly have numerous Greek inspired dishes. Decent bar list. The bar itself was nearly full when we arrived. Seemed like a local hangout for folks after work. Some were eating and grabbing beer and others were having a liquid dinner. I ordered a Greek cheesesteak which sounded interesting. I asked the balsamic type dressing on the side as it wasn't something that made sense in my palate to have on the sandwich. The sandwich wasn't bad, I kind of liked it. My wife ordered a Rachel. She wasn't as thrilled about her sandwich. Sandwiches don't come with any side. When doing some online research about the place before arriving I saw numerous folks comment to make sure to get the onion rings. So we did. We slit the rings. They were good, not amazing as some past reviews made them out to be. The serving size wasn't large for the price. The place has an old school vibe inside. The service was decent. I'd say it's a 3.5 rating from me. read more

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We had a great brunch at The Modern Cafe last weekend and I'm already looking forward to going back to try more things. The Hangover hero (a loaded breakfast gyro) completely lived up to its name. Very satisfying and packed with flavor. The biscuit bites were the perfect dessert. One of the hardest parts was choosing a drink because everything on the menu sounded so good. I almost defaulted to my usual Bloody Mary, but I'm glad I didn't. I tried a couple of their spring cocktails instead, starting with the Left Bank Martini, which was really refreshing and well-balanced. Then I had the Amalfi Apricot Martini. It was fruity without being overly sweet, which is a hard cocktail to find. Overall, the service was great and the whole place has a fun, casual vibe that makes it easy to relax and enjoy your time. I'd highly recommend The Modern Cafe for anyone looking to switch up their brunch routine. I was told they just started doing the brunch menu but they're really knocking it out of the park. read more

Good food. Courteous and nice staff. We got the Turkey Riebn and a Turkey Sandwich with french fries and tots. Everything tasted good, but the tots were a bit overcooked. We will definitely come back! read more

If you're looking for a local, cozy spot, this is your place! With a menu of interesting wraps (including a gluten free wrap!) with flavorful options to delight the picky to the tricky to please plus a list of interesting apps. Our server was kind and thoughtful - and everyone seemed to know everybody here! A community vibe you have to see to understand. I'm excited to return and try the stuffed grape leaves...! read more

Modern Cafe - Buffalo Chicken (Gluten Free) Wrap and Tater Tots - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Service was very bad. Had to wait over 1/2 hour for meal and then not everyone got served at the same time. Food was ok but not great.

This was my first time trying Modern Cafe and I LOVED it! It was a super yummy burger and I loved the fries as well! It was ready within 15 mins and super quick to pickup. It was also my first time going inside the restaurant and I thought it's a cute decent sized bar! Much bigger than I thought honestly. I loved it and will definitely order again! read more

Modern Cafe - Burger on a bed of lettuce, onion, tomato, & pickle with french fries - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Met up with some old but great friends at the modern café. I haven't been here in years and it's still absolutely amazing. The atmosphere, service and food are all on point. We can't wait to return. read more

I can't believe I've never left a review for Modern Cafe, but I finally took a photo of my food so here we are. I've been going to modern for years now as a neighborhood resident. It's a great classic dive bar if you just want some drinks and a good time, but it's also an excellent choice for a casual lunch or dinner. Some of my favorites include: the Mediterranean dip, gyro salad, turkey Rachel, and their fabulous crinkle fries. They recently added hotdogs to the menu and they are to die for. I just tried the Greek dog which features Greek chili, mustard and onion. Modern cafe also has a great happy hour each day and some specials during the week. My favorite is 1/2 off bottles of wine on wine Wednesday. You can't beat it. read more

Modern Cafe - Greek Dog - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fantastic establishment. Great food, ambiance is low key, music provided but not so loud you can't hold a conversation. Service was fantastic with Dre, the bartender. She's extremely friendly and cares about service. My advice, go check them out. I'd say FIVE STARS! read more

I'm such a fan of Modern Cafe! Even though I no longer live in the area, any time I'm on the North Side this is my go to spot. The vibe is super casual - seat yourself. They have a large bar menu with local brews & cocktails. Their menu is really big with lots of options. I love the cheese sticks & zucchini plank appetizer - it comes with marinara and a horseradish sauce that is delicious. My go to has been the Turkey Rachel. It's delicious and very filling. It doesn't come with a side but we always get a basket of fries for the table to split, they're crinkle fries too (my favorite). Service is always quick and friendly. I always forget to take pictures though, but trust me, you don't want to miss out on this spot! read more

Everything was awesome and I look forward to coming back. I wish I had found this place sooner! Do yourself a favor and order the onion rings!!! read more

Ordered a spicy Sicilian for takeout during covid. The wait was only 10 minutes, which was great because we were out walking the neighborhood. I'm a sucker for Italian meats and spicy peppers. (Though I don't enjoy a ton of heat, and this was not so spicy that it was unenjoyable by any means). The sandwich was grilled to perfection, juicy, flavorful and delicious. The establishment was clean and they did their best to gingerly hand the food as well as my credit card back with as little touching as possible. I'd love to come back and try more sandwiches sometime. They all look very good! read more

Modern Cafe - Spicy Sicilian - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Stopped in here this past weekend for a quick bite to eat before going out. The inside setup made it a little difficult for our group of 8. It is very narrow at the bar until you get to the back area. However, we made it work, and the good service and food made up for everything else. The place also had outdoor seating which would be fun. My wife and I split a grilled chicken salad and buffalo chicken dip. The buffalo chicken dip was really good. It had a great buffalo flavor and a perfect amount of spice. The grilled chicken salad was also good and went really well with their balsamic dressing. Would definitely stop back to try some of the other food options. read more

Modern Cafe - Buffalo Chicken Dip - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Ordered a salad no tomatoes because of an allergy. Tomatoes came in it anyway. Once I picked them out the salad was fine. Ordered an impossible burger with only lettuce tomato and onion for my vegan son. We arrived to pick it up, they were out of impossible burgers. So we subbed a veggie burger. We got home and it had cheese, mushrooms, onions and peppers. He couldn't eat it. The onions rings were good. My husband enjoyed his cheesesteak. My daughter's cheeseburger and fries were mediocre. I called to let them know the our order was not correct. They offered to correct it if we came back. We were not going to drive the 15 minutes back. When I asked for a refund I was told to call back tomorrow. Maybe it would have been better if we ate there? Very disappointed because the menu was so promising. read more

Stopped in here real quick with the thoughts to get something to eat. When we walked in it wasn't very busy so we walked right up to the bar and sat down. The bartender came over and gave us the drink list and I asked for menus. My better half went off to use the facilities and I browsed both menus. Upon his return he looked over the menu and decided that he wanted to go elsewhere. I was fine with that as there are other places in the neighborhood to go. The bartender was very friendly and checked on us often. Because we did not get anything to eat or drink I can not speak of the food or service. But this place does seem lively. Indoor and outdoor seating available for when it is nice out. Fairly big space on the inside. read more

Double update just to comment that if you come here expect slow service. They definitely need two people running tables and behind the bar but always only ever have 1. read more

when i stay with my friends who live around the corner i come here to grab food/drinks. the sandwiches are delicious and they're always very friendly. cool neighborhood spot! read more

One of my dining highlights on my trip to Pittsburgh. A cool little cafe with good comfort food, a good staff, nice decor, nice location, and.....wait for it....Bells Two Hearted Pale Ale. If you don't know don't worry. If you do know...rejoice. We came in out of a rainstorm and the first thing the bartender did before we even asked was get us a towel. Nice touch. We then drank, ate, watched college football and had a great time. Four postal workers came in as did other civic workers. If they like this I was pretty confident that we were getting good food. Located in a great section of town with decent parking its a gem. I only wish we had one in Oakland. read more

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Great service. Food exceptional. Highly recommend. Owner Dean and daughter Constance are great.

This is one of my favorite bars in the city. Good burgers, Reubens, and Moscow Mules, and some very decent beers, all served-up by our favorite, Amy the mermaid. read more

I had a city dining card for this place and figured it would be a great place to try after going to handmade arcade with my family. I did not expect it to look the way it did inside. You walk in, and there's a bar - then you walk past the bar into the little dining area. It was super adorable. It was Sunday around 6 and we were basically the only ones there besides a few at the bar. Our service was fantastic- the waitress was friendly and helpful when trying to decide what we wanted. We ordered the grape leaves for a small appetizer. I've never had grape leaves, so I have nothing to compare them to- but they were pretty terrible. They were cold, mushy and tasteless. I would never get them again. My mom ordered the Reuben and my dad ordered a cheese steak. They both agreed they weren't the best sandwiches they have ever had but they were good. I ordered a pepperoni roll and coleslaw. The pepperoni roll was not that great . It wasn't bad, but I've had better ones from get go. The coleslaw was tasteless. I added pepper and some salt and it didn't do anything to help. The only reason I would come back here is to drink. They had a decent draft list , I ordered southern tier 2xmas which was really tasty. The atmosphere is adorable and the service is great, so I would like to come for a drink sometime when I'm on the north shore. If I do visit again, I won't be eating a meal here :/. read more

Modern Cafe - Grape leaves. Yuck - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We've visited the Modern Café a couple times, always after eating next door so I can't comment on the food. I have looked at their menu before and it seems like your general bar grub. Modern Café is a nice stop for drinks. They offer a large variety of bottled beer and a rotating draft list, along with a stocked bar. There aren't a ton of beers on tap, maybe 12, but usually they have one or two that I like. The setup is cool but creates some bottlenecking of people around the bar. This past weekend when we stopped in I had to fight a crowd to get to the bathroom since that many people were just standing and talking. This wouldn't be a big deal but there were a bunch of tables further back, past the bar, where they could congregate and be out of the way instead of being a fire hazard. All in all, not bad place to stop for a drink after a good meal in the North Side. read more

Went to have a drink at 10:45 this Saturday evening and was told by folks outside that the bartenders had already done last call. On a Saturday?! Not the first time this has happened; would not recommend to anyone. Service is ok- if they like you. The bartenders would rather be sitting and having a pint vs actually tending bar. Hopefully someone buys this place and turns it around! read more

This neighborhood bar on the North Side is exactly what you'd expect when you walk inside. During art school days many of us lived on North Side and we've been going for years. Great drinks and interior with friendly staff. I only wish I were on the NS more often. read more

Came here for happy hour. The inside was a little dull for me, sort of like a diner feel, however apparently this is part of its charm. The bartenders were super nice and attentive. There was a good amount of beers on tap and a decent sized menu with primarily bar food/sandwiches. They had buffalo chicken dip, yay! It was some of the best I have ever had at a restaurant. Perfect spice and texture. You need this! For my meal I had a chicken salad. The vegetables were super crispy and fresh. The balsamic was homemade. My issue was the chicken. It was chewy and sort of grey which freaks me out. It may have just been the way it was cooked. Download the touch tunes app to control the music while you enjoy your cold beers! read more

Clean cafe with warm and friendly staff. Unfortunately, the grilled cheese (cheddar) was dripping in grease and made me sick to my stomach.

It was my friend and my first time here . A long bar with a dining area behind. Friendly atmosphere. Huge beer menu!! I chose a grand Jeff's and it was really good - very refreshing. I ordered. Turkey Rachel. Was very tasty, could have used a little more turkey but the cole slaw was really good. Grilled cheese was yummy. Geese fries were ok - frozen but cooked well with cheese dip on the side. Nice Friday night experience. Will come again. read more

Modern Cafe - Turkey Rachel mmmm good!! - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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It's been a long time since I wrote my first review for The Modern and since we've become regulars here, it's high time I fixed this! Cute little 50's decor themed bar & restaurant with a very comfortable vibe. The craft beer list changes frequently but, always has something I'm excited to try. Sampling isn't a problem here if you're unsure of your choice. The sandwiches here are to die for! Their sandwiches have won the Northside Sandwich Competition a few times and for very good reason - they're fantastic. The Spicy Sicilian may be my favorite sandwich ever with a close 2nd their Gyro Melt! They're both indulgent & packed with flavor. You're guaranteed to sit there making 'mmmmmm' sounds!! Hubby feels they were robbed of the sandwich prize the year they entered the Greek Cheesesteak, his personal fave. We also absolutely adore the owners, Dean & Irene. They work so hard and genuinely enjoy their customers and their business. We will continue to come in for our beer and delightful sandwiches regularly and enjoy a chat with Dean & Irene! There are also Happy Hours on weekdays. It's fun here!! read more

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I was not expecting the look of Modern Cafe to be so... classic. It's pretty much a neighborhood bar. But I'd say it's a fairly good one for the North Side. It's way bigger than I thought it would be. A little lonely feeling for a lunchtime. Out of so many sandwiches it was hard to choose, but I went for the Reuben. I'd say they're a tricky beast to tackle. It was okay. Not the best I've ever had, but certainly not the worst. I like mine loaded with sauerkraut, and this just had a decent size for someone who likes an even distribution. But not me, load it on! I was a little bummed the bread was a bit soggy. That's the worst, right? I asked the dude for a suggestion on a side and he said try the coleslaw because he doesn't like mayo. But when it came out, there was no question, it was a mayo based slaw. I love mayo, so that was fine. Not bad again. Just okay. I think this bar would be my jam if I lived on the North Side. TONS of beer on tap that I'd for sure want to tap into! Maybe I'll treat myself to a happy hour there... Let's be honest, he beer will come a'callin! read more

Modern Cafe - Rueben - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I have found yet another reason to hang around on Western Ave. I'm really starting to like it down there. As an alumnus of CCAC Allegheny I often times just hurried passed storefront after storefront never taking a second glance at the many great establishments that line Western Ave. Well now that Western Ave is within walking distance of my new home, I've been slowing down and exploring what the avenue has to offer. The Modern Cafe is great. I like the old school neon signage that hangs in front of the bar. I like that it's attached to deli that actually has corned beef on the menu and I loved the selection of seasonal pumpkin beer. read more

Modern Cafe - Wolaver's pumpkin organic beer with nutmeg - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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If you don't have The Modern Cafe in your regular rotation you're missing out. If you aren't enjoying their delightful happy hour you're missing out. If you aren't overwhelmed by their great selection of draft (and bottle) beer - that Dean continually updates - you're missing out. And believe me, if you've only come to drink here? Well my friend, you are REALLY. Missing out!! You're not the kind of Yelper who wants to miss out are you? Then get here! Ok, the beer selection is top notch. Dean is among the nicest owners you'll ever meet. But the food here is absolutely amazing. Irene works magic in that kitchen. Sure, it's bar food and sandwiches. But saying that does a disservice to what comes out of that kitchen. It's far better than that. In fact, the sandwiches The Modern entered into the annual"best sandwich on the north side" competition came in FIRST place the last two years. And maybe the year before that. And they beat some pretty stiff competition. And I can tell you from first hand experience that they deserved the win! So go ahead. Don't just take my word for it. Try it yourself. Maybe you'll get hooked on the Greek cheesesteak. Or maybe you'll find nirvana in one of the other tempting delights. Have a beer. Order a sandwich. I'll meet you there next time..... read more

Modern Cafe - Huge portion of zucchini and cheese sticks! - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Been here a couple times for food, not impressed. everything is very greasy and the sandwiches aren't that great. I've never had a drink here though, so that might be something I go back for. Their onion rings are great, greasy, but great! read more

You can't go wrong with a little local bar like this. Modern has an excellent beer selection in bottles, accompanied by a small, but decent draft selection. Their food menu, prepared next door, is better than you'd expect, although I've only had a sampling of items. If you're looking for a chill local bar with a welcoming vibe and nice attentive bartenders, Modern is your spot. It's really clean, and the crowd is laid back. It's the perfect place to spend a low-key evening out with friends, or to grab a drink before or after a dinner at Nicky's! read more

Went for the first time last week. Pleasantly surprised. We ate out side, the weather was perfect. The menu has tons of choices at very good prices. Happy hour was very nice with half off draft beers. Overall very happy and will definitely come back. Service was very good read more