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

See all

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

I love this place. Food is great. They have really good Greek food. (gyros hummus etc.) Owners are great! The owners are fully dedicated to its success and often have beer tastings, bands and recently a Guinness night where they taught customers how to properly pour the beer from a tap and gave away Guinness and glasses. read more

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

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

I've loved this place since I moved to the North Side 4 years ago. It's such a great bar to stop in and have a drink with friends out of town. It has such a relaxed environment even when it is busy on the weekend. They have happy hour on Friday and Saturdays. I stopped in for lunch yesterday and wasn't disappointed at all. I ordered the spartan, my fiancé got the Pittsburgh cheesesteak and my friend got the Ruben. The spartan was huge! It has so much meat on it I was stuffed after I finished it. It came with gyro meat, steak, provolone cheese, feta, tzatziki, and onions. Everything was so delicious I would absolutely get it again. The Ruben was not bad, it didn't have anything on it that "wowed" me. A little light on the meat, but still a good sandwich. We all agreed that the Pittsburgh cheesesteak was one of our favorite sandwiches of the day. Plenty of toppings and great flavors. My biggest disappointment which is why I cant give 5 stars, is that none of the sandwiches come with a side. Each sandwich is about 8.50-10 bucks. Not too unreasonable for a sandwich in the North Side. If you want fries (or any side) then the price jumps from 8-10 bucks to 13-14. Price goes from reasonable to ehhh not really worth it for some fries. Overall the experience and environment of Modern Cafe is great! I cant wait to revisit and eat here again. Fries or no fries the sandwiches are delicious. read more

This review is purely based on going in for an hour and getting a couple of drinks. This neighborhood is really cool. I'm not from Pittsburgh and have never really hung out downtown except for a Pirates game, so my wife and I were looking for a local bar before the Kenny Chesney concert this summer on a Saturday. An old style neighborhood with small town charm in the middle of a city. There was a mix of locals there and people there for the concert. The bartenders were very friendly and seemed like they had fun with their job. Others in the bar were friendly as well. They ranged from a single loud guy at the end of the bar yelling at the soccer game, a family having dinner, some concert-goers, other couples, etc. It was a good vibe for what we were there to do. Other families and groups were eating an early dinner toward the back at the tables. They also have outdoor seating so you can people-watch out on the sidewalk. I appreciate their half-off drafts from 4:30-7:30(??) on some days of the week, which included Saturdays. They have a very wide selection of beer in general, but the draft selection is better than average! I would definitely go back here for the same purpose before a concert or ball game next time I'm in Pittsburgh. read more

I was first introduced to Modern Cafe at the Northside Sandwich event. They were sampling their Spicy Sicilian and it did not disappoint. This delightful sandwich is served on toasted panini bread and filled with all sorts of delightful deli meats and peppers and served with a pickle. I also love their buffalo chicken dip. Another bonus, is they now sell Leona's ice cream sandwiches. read more

Modern Cafe - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I stopped in for lunch the other day when I was lost looking for the aviary. I got a Veggie Hoagie that was massive and some grade A customer service. While I was kind of disappointed there weren't any espresso drinks on the menu, they do have hot coffee and liquor, so you can pick your poison depending on the time of day. It was also nice that they had free wifi, so I could work on my computer while I charged up my other devices for directions. The bread was soft and fresh and my sandwich was garnished with a pickle. I'm pretty sure the shrooms came from a can, but the fact that they had a veggie option at all was pretty cool. For whatever it's worth, those bathrooms were the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen on the North Side of Pittsburgh. read more

Modern Cafe - Veggie Hoagie - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Awesome place! Food is great and so are the drinks. Sean and Dre are great bartenders and kept the drinks coming. Great little spot in the North Side read more

If you're in the north-side stop into this neighborhood bar. The food is homemade with some Greek flavors. 12 beers on tap with countless craft beers by the bottle. The owner/bartender is fun to chat with and the other employees are really pleasant. Bar/restaurant is clean and vibrant. read more

Modern Cafe - a red and white sign for a cafe - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Overall quality sandwiches and alcohol... Not super cheap or super expensive right in the middle. Not somewhere I go often but definitely a solid choice if looking for a place to grab a quick bite to eat or a quick beer Also bartenders are usually very friendly! read more

I have never written a bad review of anything. But I'll make an except for this hell-hole. Played here two years ago as part of the Deutschtown Music Festival. Bartenders and staff looked shocked that we were even there. We started playing at 6:00pm and someone immediately ran over and told us we had to turn down. We turned down and played another song, and again --- we were told we had to turn down even more. We obliged and started to play one more song, and they started approaching us again to turn down. At that point, we just stopped playing and gave up. Why would you sign up to be part of a live music festival and not want music in your bar? So whatever, we ordered food and drinks and just wanted to move on. I got a fish sandwich and fries - greasy, slimy, barely cooked through. I picked at it and drank my over-priced Yuengling draft. Eventually, we got our tabs and they were all wrong. The servers tried to overcharge us, adding on drinks and food we hadn't even ordered. Thanks guys, sorry we weren't your cup of tea! Thanks for being so accepting and understanding! The crowd of folks here were miserable broskis and jerks. You couldn't pay me to go back here. read more

Very Rarely do I feel the need to write a Yelp review. However, I'm writing this so I can burn it into my brain that I should never go to this restaurant again (for sandwiches that is). The main reason: they're overpriced. I got a very small, meager-looking French dip for a price that was only slightly less than that of another local sandwich shop that charged on slightly more for an even bigger roast beef sandwich with fries. They also advertised that the sandwich came with grilled onions, but the ones on my were raw. The only reason I'm giving them two stars instead of one is that they have Leona's ice cream sandwichs and baklava. Otherwise, as far as lunch places in the Northside go, look elsewhere. read more

Absolutely delightful environment and fast service. We had the Spicy Hoagie and Breakfast Sandwich and both were so good!! The owners/people working were just so nice! read more

"Stand up and take a bow James!" "Go home to your mother Vernon." "I... am... a writer." These are the quotes of the most re-watchable movie I know, Wonder Boys, and one of my beloved ones. On a frigid Friday night, staying in The Point downtown area, it took a few drinks and a few mentions to successfully lobby the one person that loves Wonder Boys more than me to go to The Modern Cafe. "Look, when else would we ever come to Pittsburgh, we're in our Wonder Boys town, and we can sit in the red booth where James Leer, Grady Tripp & Terry Crabtree met their maker in Vernon Hardapple." Pulled that card, and off we went, and what happened was in a way straight out of Wonder Boys. While Vernon didn't wiggle his bum and dent the hood of our cab, the experience had a tilt to it. We both hail from cities where people are always around us -- especially Toronto -- and our night in Pittsburgh was not so. Everywhere we walked streets were empty. Each bar was empty. Especially this one. One bartender. Four at the bar. And holy what speed ball did that bartender and group of friends get into? The space is huge for such a low key place. Bar up front, TVs, and then in the back is a long booth against the back wall, and we sat in the very seats our Wonder Boys did. Look, it's nerdy maybe, but if you're at all inspired by it, we sat in the corner and talked all night. The four interactions I had with the bartender were upbeat. Very upbeat. Speedball upbeat. And this isn't to say I wouldn't recommend her to be a bartender for the night. Looking back on the night we probably shouldn't have gotten into the Ford Taurus of the bartender's friend who drove us back to the hotel, but accordingly to them we didn't have a chance at getting a cab over there at such a late hour. I doubt Modern Cafe would ever set up a car service. With such a strange night, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Vernon Hardapple comes back here to reminisce. With being an institution in some of our eyes, and offering a pretty odd experience... Take a bow Modern Cafe! read more

Stop by here for lunch between classes sometimes and the food is always PERFECT! Best sandwiches in the city, I will always pick Modern Cafe first for lunch read more

Great bar on the northside of Pittsburgh. I love love love their happy Hour. The place has such a hometown feel. Pretty diverse crowd that frequents this place. I told the bartender that I wanted a sweet Shiraz wine. She didn't have anything, but she was able to mix some moscato with some merlot and voila! So good. The service was relatively quick. I didn't order any food, but I was with some people that did. They loved their meal. Next time I go, I definitely will have to order something. read more

This is a great little nieghborhood bar. Great service - nice people. Great beer selection and reasonable prices. I would give the food an ok. They have your basic bar food - the fries are nothing to write home about. This was the bar use in the movie "Wonder Boys" - sadly the bar was ruined in a fire in 2009 -they only a have a few of the art deco pieces left - but they have done a nice job of restoring the place after the fire. Also - they have trivia nights on Tuesday's at 7:30. read more

Awesome. Great food cheap and owed by a mom and pop. Owners are extremely nice and really down to earth. Bar was just redone after it burned down 2009. Large beer selection. read more

Modern Cafe - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

I'm a big fan of Michael Chabon's Wonder Boys, and an even bigger fan of the movie adaptation of the same name. The bar scene was filmed here, and I mentioned it in passing a few times. It turns out Toronto is pretty close to Pittsburgh and we didn't have Friday plans and did have a rental car so away we went... to get drunk in this dive and sit in the red booth at the back. Mission accomplished. I checked out a couple of stellar establishments in the rust belt, but I want to review this one first. It was a very fun time, but the bar itself is kind of strange and riddled with questionable characters. I'm fairly certain I had a five minute conversation with someone who had recently been smoking crack... and I'm from Ford Nation so I should know. PEPPER PROPS to a friendly bar tender who poured cheap drinks happily and kept the shady folks in check. PEPPER'S PISSED: Come on, Pittsburgh. Figure out your taxi situation. read more

Awesome little neighborhood joint... even if you do not live in the neighborhood :) I first discovered Modern Cafe upon moving back to Pittsburgh after having dinner at Nicky's Thai Kitchen next door.... such an awesome find! Great beer selection, great juke box, great service, and super clean restrooms (for me this is a big deal). Amanda (one of the bartenders) is indeed amazing! She remembers everyone and is just a pleasure to chat with. I have seen some of the food, but have yet to experience it.... but from what I have seen, it looks yummy. I highly suggest checking this place out. Cheers! read more

Try the Spartan Sandwich. (From the Modern Cafe website) Steak, Gyro meat, Provolone & Feta cheese, onions, tomato slices, special steak seasoning & dressing topped with tzatziki sauce on a 6" hoagie. So good. The bar itself is OK. Not a lot of ambiance, but a great neighborhood place. I no longer live in Pittsburgh, but used to spend a bit of time at the Modern Cafe when I lived in the neighborhood. read more

First and not last time dining at this little gem! Stopped for a late lunch with a friend and we were smitten by the burger menu! I opted for the Greek burger, friend got the Hawaiian burger and we shared an order of onion rings. Truly the best onion rings and best burger I have ever eaten! The onion rings didn't have all the onion slide out in the first bite. The burger, cooked medium, with feta spinach and tomato on a Brioche bun....heavenly! And my friend loved her Hawaiian burger! The owner was the sweetest man with some great stories to tell! Friend and I vow to go back and eat our way thru the menu! read more

See all

A wonderful surprise in Pittsburgh's North Side. It may not look like much but the Greek specialties they had were phenomenal. Lemon orzo soup was the best I've ever had. The gyro is not only great but a large generous portion. Well worth the stop at it's close to the Carnegie Science Center and the National Aviary. read more

Ok, the Reuben was a bit charred but Italian sub and the Nachos were gone before I could get a picture of them. read more

See all

Nice little neighborhood bar nestled in the better part of the North Side. I've been here a number of times and have always enjoyed myself. Good beer selection, friendly service, decent bar food. read more

Modern Cafe - The bar - Sports Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

My girlfriend and I were in the neighborhood looking for a place to eat. We stumbled upon the Modern Cafe and it had exactly what we wanted! The menu is perfect and has something for everyone. Drink menu is larger than what you'd expect. The owners are the icing on the cake because they add such charm and history to the business! We will be coming back!! read more

I recently had a few friends in town from NYC for a meeting. We ended up stumbling across the Modern Cafe and could not have been happier. We were crunched for time and they were very accomodating and helpful. The food was very good, but the main draw was the service. The folks there were incredibly warm and inviting. Will be returning when I have more time to try more items on the menu. read more

I had an awesome lunch here. The service was great and I really enjoyed The Spartan sandwich. This was my first time there and I'll be back for sure. My 2 buddies had the Italian and the gyro melt and loved them. read more

Came here before the steeler game Sunday, hoping to grab some brunch. We ended up all getting sandwiches that were delicious. I got the beef and bacon sandwich on asiago ciabatta. It was so yummy! But it would've been like double yummy with some kind of horseradish mayo or sauce or something. The owner was incredibly nice. It felt like a nice family establishment where people know your name. I'd definitely go back! read more

I came here at the end of a progressive dinner-date when we decided we weren't done chatting for the evening. Calling it a cafe seems to be pushing it--maybe during the day it would be more appropriate to think of it as one. It seems like a decent local hang out to shoot the breeze and watch a game, as there are plenty of tv screens and a long-ish bar. The interior is a bit dated (and seemingly not in a deliberate way), but it's not scungy or divey. I just ordered a bottle beverage and no food, so I can't speak to the cocktail or food quality. Just very middle-of-the-road overall. read more

Great place! We were in from out of town for the Steelers v Packers game and stopped in here for lunch. Met Dean and his family (the owners) and they were awesome! A friendly crowd and great conversation. Food was great! My husband had a gyro and I had chicken tenders, both great! Would definitely recommend to catch a game with good beer and good service. Go Steelers! read more

Just what all of the reviews say, Modern Café provides a great beer selection, good music at a reasonable volume, pleasant service, and a nice casual atmosphere. Great place for hanging out during the week. read more

This review is for food only. I was so excited for this place, but the food just wasn't good. The chicken was really bland. The fries were the worst kind of frozen ones. Even the baklava was off. After a $20 takeout meal, I couldn't finish most of it. read more

We stopped through Pittsburgh on a road trip and were looking for a quick bite to eat. We found the Modern Cafe's staff friendly and food delicious. My daughter had the wings which were crispy and delicious. I had the Spartan sandwich which was great! Unlike any sandwich I've had before it was a gyro served on a hero bun. Nice hot too! My sons both had burgers which they raved about. Great food great experience! read more

Great bar with a great atmosphere on a Friday night - Their Happy Hour is 4:30pm-7:30pm - perfect for a work happy hour after a long week.

Great local joint with a fantastic beer selection. Prices are on the higher end, $5-7 for a beer, and the service can be a bit spotty if you're not a regular. I was passed over several times by the bar tender because she was taking care of the regulars first or finishing her conversations with her friends. By the end of the night though my service was fine and I was being treated like a regular! read more

Don't really like to post bad reviews but I have been here several times and I really want to like it, unfortunately, the bartender george is one of the worst people I have encountered in the service industry. If u are reading this George, its not hard to pretend to tolerate people, try to be somewhat attentive to paying customers instead of displaying your shitty attitude. The woman...dont know her name is very sweet and good behind the bar. Unfortunately, when George is there, u have to beg for a drink, menu, anything really because he can't be bothered. I will continue to go to this bar as it in my hood I just wish the servers were better. read more

I was seated at the bar, being served by George, the husband of the owner. A well dressed black couple came in and waited patiently for service. George looked at my half empty drink and asked what I want next. I said the couple at the end of the bar have been waiting and I dont know what I want next. George stated "I dont want those kind in my bar, they caused before the fire, and now I want a different kind of customer here". George was visibly upset with my line on questioning, so I left and will never return. Make your own conclusions on his behavior, but I would rather patronize an business that serves all races with equal respect. read more