Was going to a local show to see Chris D'elia and had neglected to make a reservation for food and drinks before hand thinking we wouldn't have an issue cause it was a Wednesday. Boy were we wrong. Luckily my boyfriend pointed out this place and by our luck the upper floor had just then become available from a booked party being over. We were greeted quickly by one of the nicest waitresses I've ever came into contact with. I ordered a Moscow mule and it was amazing. They were running on an appetizer only esque menu at the moment but we had no issues with that because we like to pick at food and try multiple things. We got the tuna and calamari and my god if it wasn't some of the best of those two we each had ever had. If you're ever looking for an awesome cocktail bar with little bites with friends COME HERE! read more

It honestly pains me to do this. Olive or Twist has been hands down my favorite happy hour place since I moved to Pittsburgh in 2015. I've stuck by and been a loyal patron though management changes, the constant and dramatic changes in the menu that have occurred on more than one occasion. I just LOVE me some fun martinis. But now they've gone and hiked the prices up astronomically. $15.95 for a 4 ounce martini? I just can't justify this. We don't live in NYC, this is Pittsburgh. No cocktail should cost basically $16 in Pittsburgh. I might go occasionally as an extreme "treat-yoself", but I will no longer be a regular at Olive or Twist. :( very sad because I truly love getting tipsy and giggly with martinis and my girlfriends. read more

Didn't imagine a hip but chill place like this in downtown Pittsburgh. The music isn't overly loud, and it's a great place to hang out with friends. Or some family, in my case ;) They have a second floor with ample mingle space, even a little side room you can rent out if you have a big group. The price for the room was pretty cheap (around $50), so it makes for a great private party space. The drinks are pretty good and strong, and they have a lot of good alcohol selection if you don't like the cocktail list they offer. They specialize in martinis, so try one to decide for yourself if you like it. read more

I not only expect to not like Olive or Twist, I also don't really *want* to like it. My one and only issue is that its kind of expensive. Martinis are all about $10, the entrees are all around $30, and unless you're going for happy hour, all appetizers are at least $10. I always start to wonder if it's really worth the cost, but honestly, I think it is. Every time I've gone I've shared crab cakes. Before you judge the $27 price tag, just realize that they have the type of crab cakes that are actually made with real crab. These aren't $15 crab cakes that are half bread/filling, they are proper (and very large) crab cakes. This last visit we also split nachos and lobster mac n cheese. I've heard the buffalo chicken dip is good and every dessert I've tried has been great. It's also a martini bar so you'd expect them to be great at them, and they are. Last visit I had the chocolate covered pretzel, but other memorable martinis include the birthday cake and strawberry short cake (please don't judge- these were actually enjoyed on my birthday.) And at although these drinks aren't always my favorite type of alcoholic beverage, they are soooo good. The place is dark (in a good way) and has impeccable service. Or at least the server I've had both times, Jeff (per our receipt) is great at his job. He's exactly the kind of sever I would always want to have: nice, polite, and overall just generally good at his job with the timing of bringing food and checking on the table. I'd definitely visit Olive or Twist more regularly if they dropped their prices like 25%, but you get what you pay for and I'm willing to occasionally shell out the extra dough for a good meal with awesome service. read more

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We decided to try this place before the Billy Joel concert and we had a wonderful meal/time. We made a reservation, which I would definitely recommend if you are going before an event. The atmosphere here is very cool. Exposed brick walls and high ceilings make it feel much like a small bar/restaurant you would find randomly in Brooklyn or the village. First things first, drinks! I ordered the classic olive or twist with deaths door gin and it was wonderful! My mother ordered the strawberry shortcake martini which tasted like a melted strawberry cheesecake blizzard from dairy queen that melted in a glass with vodka (very tasty but too sugary for me). The others ordered non martini drinks (Vodka tonic and a moscow mule) that came out just fine. If you come during happy hour the prices aren't too bad at all!! Continuing with the happy hour theme we ordered the half priced nachos, one with steak and one with chicken. The four of us devoured them while waiting for our meal. The nachos are very good and done very well but if there are more than 3 of you at a table and your hungry order 2! However, one is more than enough for 2. Entrees then came to the table and I had the Roasted Turkey Cobb salad which was also done well and the turkey was a nice change to the Cobb salads usual chicken. The turkey tasted just like thanksgiving! Other entrees ordered were the crab cakes (which were very generously sized), the crab cake sandwich with sweet potato fries (The fries are amazing!), and the short ribs and regular fries (which I would pass on TBH). Other than the regular fries everything else was thoroughly enjoyed. Finally, after many drinks we decided would could all split a desert. My father was the only smart one who decided he didn't want to share, but ended up with the saddest looking desert I have ever seen. He ordered a vanilla bean cake dish that he said was good, but the presentation was very underwhelming. The rest of us ordered the baked appletini desert with vanilla ice cream. It was like a deconstructed apple pie ala mode served in a martini glass. Between the three of us I am surprised we didn't break the glass or stab each other trying to get a bite! Overall, I would totally recommend this to friends looking for a good meal or for a decent happy hour spot!!! read more

Olive or Twist - Strawberry shortcake martini along side the olive or twist martini - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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My husband and I came here for lunch. I was a little worried because the reviews weren't so great. But we really enjoyed our meal. He got an IPA on tap and I got the pear martini, which was really good. I love calamari but I never order it because, to me, it's just a cliche "we're fancy here!" appetizer and it annoys me. But, my husband wanted it so we ordered it. And it was delicious. (The sauce was da bomb.) My husband ordered the skirt steak sandwich. It seemed so small when it came out but looks were deceiving. That was a pretty sturdy sandwich! And it was delicious. The pretzel bun and the aioli were great. I got the pastrami reuben. I love reubens but have been disappointed so many times. Not here! It was great, and it was even too big for me to finish. I did NOT appreciate that the fruit salad I ordered as my side was on the same plate. I do not want thousand island dressing on my pineapple... But that was my only issue here. I'm not sure I'd want to come here for dinner. But I would absolutely come here for lunch again. Especially since we didn't have room for dessert, and some of their desserts sounded amazing. read more

Olive or Twist - Pastrami Reuben (after I separated the fruit salad that was way too close for comfort) - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Great location before a show! Made reservation for 6:30 and was promptly seated. Took maybe 10 min for waitress to bring water so I was concerned based on how crowded it looked. But once we got ordered and started service was very good. Tried the calamari as appetizer and it was delicious. I had the Dragonberry cocktail (pictured) and after dinner as dessert tried the Cake Batter both drinks were awesome. Dinner was steak for my husband and he said was very good and I had the Caribbean jerk sandwich and I enjoyed that - kind of spicy but I like spice so all good there. We had our check by 7:30 and just in time for our show. A great meal and service overall and would recommend for sure. read more

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I've been to private parties here, but never for dinner. At first, I felt that the lack of ambiance would be an issue, but once seated, it didn't seem to matter. We had great cocktails - I started with a Lavender Lemon Drop, which was excellent, but my friends had the Father's Gin & Tonic, and I broke my own rule and ordered a second cocktail and it was SUBLIME. For dinner I ordered grilled cheese and tomato soup, which was perfect for me. My friends ordered fish tacos and were very happy. I would give Olive or Twist 3 1/2 stars if I could. read more

I love the calamari appetizer here -- and recently, not only did they remove it from the happy hour menu, but they cut the size by more than half and kept the price the same. Shame on you! Additionally, they told me and my friends that all the tables were booked, and we sat at the bar for over an hour and all the tables were empty. Why are you trying to be more exclusive than you actually are? It's not good for business. read more

Follow the logo and go for the martinis. I had the s'mores martini and it had to be one of the best things I had ever tasted. Service is also prompt and friendly. The three stars is because the price is steep and the taste doesn't really correlate. I also didn't like the fact that calamari is listed on the happy hour menu in the menu but isn't actually at happy hour pricing... a general point of disappointment but one none the less. I had the Cajun tortellini, it was decent and the portion was pretty solid but it did not meet $20 expectations, I would say the same of the lobster Mac and Cheese though this is the dish I would repeat if pressed. calamari was also okay, not bad, not great. I would come back for a nice drink in a good atmosphere, particularly during happy hour, but you can rest assured I will eat before I come. read more

Summary: A fine place for a bite before the show or a drink/desert after My wife and I went to Olive or Twist before a show at the Benedum on a recent week night. Two immediate points in their favor: 1. I was able to make a reservation that afternoon 2. At the time I made the reservation, they asked if I was going to a show afterward - showing attention in advance to making sure I would have a good experience with them. We arrived a couple of minutes after our reservation and were seated immediately [at what appeared to be the last open table in the room]. The wait person asked when we were seated about whether we were headed to a show. Good on them. The service was generally very prompt, if not a touch harried. More than one staff member was covering our table. On the one hand, this ensured that we were taken care of promptly. On the other hand, there were several occasions when we were asked the same thing by multiple staff members. (E.g., "Would you like to place a drink order? We already have.") I think this is a net positive for someone with a show to get to, but it does detract somewhat from a relaxing meal. We shared an Ahi Tuna appetizer. I've seen larger portions of this appetizer elsewhere - nearly every elsewhere. This was barely big enough to share. Mind you, they didn't advertise it for sharing and it would have been entirely reasonable for one person. Similarly with the entree salads we both had. The looked small at first, but only because of the ridiculous portion sizes we have grown accustomed to at many other restaurants. The added protein portions were also not generous, but they were probably really a reasonable size for a normal adult - one who's not try to keep getting larger. (Overall, I applaud what I perceive to be a trend away from super-sized portions at some restaurants.) My wife had shrimp on hers and seemed happy. I had chicken on mine, which was a touch on the dry side, but overall I was satisfied. I'm not normally a martini guy, but I tried a non-traditional one before dinner - the "Perfect Pear". It was fine, as far as I could tell, but I'm not a convert. I'll likely get a glass of wine the next time. My wife had a glass of white wine (I'm afraid I forget which) and was well satisfied with it. We shared a Chocolate Covered Pretzel martini and a slice of the Chocolate Torte for desert. Viewing the martini as a desert, rather than as a drink, it was quite good. It was tasty and well presented, with the salted rim (a la a margarita) being a big part of the pretzel effect. It was a nice complement to the torte, which was quite rich, and very good. Sharing a single slice was an excellent choice for us. I would do this combination again. We were out the door in about 70 minutes without having felt rushed, and with 30 minutes still to get to our seats in the theater. Overall, good food, drinks and service. I'll be back when I can. read more

The food looks good but since I can't eat any of it, I couldn't tell you. Do not come here if you can't eat meat. I ended up getting a salad sans bacon. Unfortunately, the mushrooms and eggs were not fresh. The mustard dressing was sour so I asked for oil and vinegar, the oil was stale. Disappointing. Go across the street to the Indian place. read more

Olive or Twist - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scouring downtown Pittsburgh for a good spot Saturday night, we ended up at Olive or Twist, which was a delight. Live music is always a plus for me. We wanted seats at the bar but there were only tables to the side that did not offer service available, which was more than fine for me. I felt for what the establishment was, the drinks were a bit pricier than other places in town, but it's still fairly inexpensive in Pittsburgh. My friend ordered dinner despite stuffing our faces earlier. He couldn't finish his meal, but enjoyed it none the less. Not a bad option to check out. read more

I have only sat at the bar here and only have had a Martini. In saying that, I like how friendly this place is and the staff is attentive. They make a mean Martini for $10.00. The place is clean and so are the bathrooms. read more

We came to Olive lady night to have some late night drinks. There was live music with a man playing the guitar and singing down stairs. The downstairs is pretty small but when you go upstairs, they place opens up. It turns into more of a hang out with a very chill atmosphere. The drinks were very good. They have a good selection for everyone and the wine is pretty good ! read more

We had Buffalo chicken dip which was cold when we got it and calamari which was burnt. Very disappointed.

Went for an event- did NOT get my money's worth. Probably the worst brunch I've ever had in my life. And they did NOT have enough food for everyone.... I would SERIOUSLY choose McDonald's over this place. read more

I made it into Olive or Twist a few weeks ago to celebrate surviving my first week of graduate school! My friend told me to pick wherever I wanted for a celebratory dinner, and Yelp brought me here. The name was catchy, and the food looked cool. And martinis are my drink of choice. What's not to love? We made reservations, but the bar upstairs was cooler so we went upstairs instead. There are bar tables and couches and comfy chairs to hang out on. The service was amazing, and we never wanted for anything. Every need was met before we could even ask. I started out with the Orange Dreamsicle martini, and while it was on the sweet side, it was delicious! If I return, I will definitely get another one of these. Not strong alcohol wise but yummy. We ordered the scallops and Asian fusion calamari for appetizers. My friend was super upset with the scallops and thought they tasted bad. I don't really know anything about scallops so I ate them. He complained to the manager, and the manager was nice enough to take 1/2 off, which I thought was really nice considering it wasn't stopping me from eating them. (#PoorKidProblems). The calamari was really unique but delicious. The actual calamari was good, but it was covered in some sauce similar to stir fry sauce. It was good, and the portion was a really fair size for the price. I then moved onto the Key Lime Pie martini. It was a let down after the Dreamsicle, but there was nothing wrong with it. I personally preferred the first one. My favorite food item was my entree. I ordered the Penne ala Vodka, and when she put it on the table, I thought I had gone to garlic heaven. Simple but wonderful. There was also a very generous amount of asiago cheese on top of my pasta and a slice of prosciutto. I took about half of the portion home, but I finished it off that night because it was so delicious. I really loved this place, and on a Friday night, it was EMPTY. I don't know if this was because of Labor Day weekend or a Pirates game, but we were the only people in the bar area by 8:00. Hopefully it was just a fluke because I liked Olive or Twist! read more

What can I say about you Olive - you're my staple, my default, but not in a bad way. I know during those indecisive evenings which taunt me, I can always turn to you for comfort, good atmosphere, delectable food and a tasty drink. While you're not always top of mind with the emerging bar/restaurant scene in the area, I do remember you often and stop by occasionally. You are my go-to for happy hours that bring large groups of friends together with varying tastes. B/c that's just who you are Olive...you appeal to the masses and don't just belong to me. You make a killer martini and know how to attract the young professional community in the region. What about Twist - well he brings that second wind after a long work week, the spark at the end of the night and makes you think, "who knows where this night will take me". You make a perfect pair! I'm glad we've become such close friends and you both always welcome me with open arms even when it's been a while. read more

I've actually had OK experiences at this place in the past but this trip was especially bad. I tried to stop here with my husband for an appetizer and a drink before heading into the theater district - bad move. Upon being seated the server explained that they were no longer serving food because of a water leak or something unsanitary-sounding. Klassy. For reasons I truly can't explain, we decided to stay for a beer before heading to our destination. We both threw down a brew nasty, paid and left. Unfortunately for Olive or Twist, the visit would probably be our last. On a positive note, there was an interesting man setting up for what looked like a live acoustic set. His warm-up sounded good but we left before he really got started. When it's all said and done, we should have just went to the Sharp Edge down the street. Probably a much safer bet for future endeavors. read more

This place is fortunate enough to have a great location near the theatre and restaurant scene, but outside of that - it's pretty "blah" in my opinion. Possibly worthy of a stop for a drink before or after dinner or a show, I wouldn't make it a destination-type experience. Olive or Twist is good for a cocktail, a convenient location, and a clever name, but not much else. read more

Went on a Friday evening for cocktails. I ordered a gin martini, it was delicious. For a snack we ordered pan seared scallops in a strawberry basil sauce. We were so surprised when the huge sea scallops were put in front of us! They were cooked perfectly and the sauce was bright and fresh, and for only $12! The reason I'm giving 3 stars is because of the atmosphere. This place is set up weird, and there were only 2 or 3 full tables in the "dining room". The crowd was full of 40 somethings and there was a cover band, playing all the hits from the 70's and 80's. We didn't stay long. read more

I came here before a pirates game, so it was around 5:30ish or so in the evening, we had just gotten lucky that they had a table open before all there reservations for the night started to come in. I ordered the chicken jerk sandwich with a side salad, absolutely loved it! The chicken had the perfect amount of spice to it which was off set with sweet with the pineapple chutney it had on it, sooo good! The salad was even great because they used real green spring mix instead of iceburg lettuce. I also loved that they put feta cheese on top, its one of my favorite cheeses for salad topping! Service was great here and even though I didn't have a drink here that night I have a previous time and they are yummy! Love this place and can't wait for my next visit! read more

Olive or Twist - Chicken jerk sandwich with pineapple chutney, Yum! - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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My favorite bar in town love the live music and the martinis - fave is the strawberry shortcake! read more

Olive or Twist - Great drink! - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Updating my review because I visited again and was really pleased with the entire experience. My mom and I visited on a Friday night; it was crowded downstairs so we headed up to the second floor. we visited in December and the the decorations were gorgeous. There was even a giant fire crackling on the tv. It was happy hour, my mom ordered the chocolate pretzel martini and I ordered a glass of Chardonnay. My mom lovedd her martini- it was really tasty. To start off, we got the caprese appetizer. When I first saw it, I thought that it looked really small and wasn't impressed... But when I tasted it I completely changed my mind. It was awesome- easily the best caprese I have ever had at a restaurant. The mozzarella was fresh, as were the tomatoes and basil. The balsamic was delicious too. It wasn't large, yes, but it was incredibly tasty. For our main dishes, I had the chipotle wrap with bacon, turkey and other goodies with a side of fresh fruit and my mom had the chicken sandwich with snap peas. We both loved our sandwiches. Mine was spicy but not overwhelming and just packed with fresh and delicious flavors. The fruit was fresh too and super tasty. My mom loved her sandwich and her snap peas were cooked and seasoned perfectly. To top it all off our server was incredibly attentive to our table and very friendly. I look forward to returning! read more

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Great food and drinks! Menu is small and so is the restaurant. The nachos were very good and the steak salad was equally as delicious. Make sure you have reservations on a Friday or Saturday night. Service was slow but food made up for it. read more

A friend and I went here for dinner before the Symphony. We both had the salmon and it was stellar. I had it the last time I ate here and it was just as good as the first time. My friend felt the same. Service was excellent, Laura, our server was pleasant and gave just the right amount of attention. She came when needed, and left us to chat when not needed. No wait for the check The cocktails were and deserts were delicious as well. We shall definitely be going back. read more

Go for the martinis, don't stick around for the food. I have been here several times for tiny tini Tuesdays - a weekly event that allows you to sample their colorful and delicious martini's in tiny glasses. You order three at a time for a somewhat steep $12. If you want variety though, this is not to be underestimated. However, the food is always lacking. I went on a lunch date here and decided to go for the grilled cheese and tomato basil soup as my stomach wasn't feeling up to anything more adventurous. The grilled cheese was fine. Nothing special. The soup however had a thin drizzle of basil oil which when stirred in made the soup greasy and wholly unappetizing. Your best bet is to head there after work for the martinis and then head around the corner to Six Penn for food. read more

We ordered the calamari, caprese salad, and truffle fries. The calamari was probably the best flavorful calamari I've had with its crispiness that was not hidden by the delicious and zesty Asian sauce. Everything was plated nicely, and the caprese salad was quite good for winter tomatoes. I'm not much of a french fry person (I know, kill me), but the basil aioli complemented the parmesan. Great appetizers in the heart of the Cultural District! I was sad that we barely missed the 4PM-6PM Happy Hour (Monday-Thursday), but that's life. I visited Olive or Twist last week before The Second City improv show, and I highly recommend it if you are going to a show as well. read more

Very disappointed. I had been to Olive or Twist for drinks and really enjoyed it but had never been there for a meal. I was going to a show at the Benedum with a friend and made reservations about a week and a half before the show. We arrived about 15 minutes early for our 6:00 reservation expecting we may not be able to be seated yet. The problem is that even though I called and made a reservation (including the person answering the phone taking my name and phone number and repeating the date and time) we were told there was no reservation for our name. The hostess said something along the lines of "are you sure you called here to make a reservation and not somewhere else" Yes, I'm pretty sure I called the right restaurant... She kept looking at the room of empty tables, looking at the book and then looking at us. After a few minutes of back and forth, she told us the lounge upstairs was open and we were welcome to grab a table up there. So we trudged upstairs. All that was available were small high top tables. Being a Friday night, it was packed with the happy hour crowd and was pretty noisy. Not really the environment we were looking for but we decided to make the most of it. We started with the Buffalo Chicken Dip appetizer. It is served in a martini glass with toasted/fried pita chips. It was tasty and we were surprised at how much dip there actually was. The problems with food began with the pacing of the meal. We had our appetizer for under five minutes when our entrees came out. It may not have been a big deal if we were at a real table in the restaurant downstairs, but being at the high top bar tables, we had no room for our drinks, appetizer and meal. We found ourselves stacking stuff and pulling things off the table in order to fit everything. It was frustrating. Not to mention that we would either have to let our entrees get cold as we finished the appetizer or let the appetizer get cold as we ate our entrees. With as much as we enjoyed the appetizer, we were looking forward to our meals. Unfortunately, they were very disappointing. My friend ordered the french dip sandwich with a side of mashed potatoes. Her potatoes were ice cold and sandwich luke warm. When she mentioned it to the server, the server said "so would you like me to take them back or are they ok" When would cold mashed potatoes ever be OK? When her potatoes were brought back warmed, she was disappointed because they were called "garlic mashed" but she said they were pretty bland with not much garlic at all. I ordered the Caribbean Jerk Chicken. It was described as "grilled chicken seasoned with jerk spices, pepper jack cheese, garlic mayo and pineapple chutney on a Kaiser roll" No mention of a tomato. When I got the sandwich, there were three tomatoes on it. Thankfully I just dislike tomatoes and it wasn't an allergy issue. There was also no pineapple chutney. When I asked about it, the server told me they use a sauce and it must have been soaked into the roll. Overall, very disappointed. I wanted to love Olive or Twist because I really enjoyed the time I had visited for a drink, but the dining experience was sorely lacking, especially for a dinner that was supposed to be a nice laid back start to our girl's night out. read more

Fantastic spot for an even or a quite cocktail. They were swell to host the Yelp crew with a great drink menu and super attentive staff. I'd certainly recommend anything with the purred fruit in it (apple, any of them really)! read more

Warning: Do NOT come here on a Saturday night. Cause that's what I did. And it sucked because nobody was there. Ok, not nobody, maybe like 12 people including the staff and my crew of 5. It looked great in there, big comfy couches, a huge bar with a big selection, high ceilings with beautiful exposed brick, but empty. I am not from around the area and was just in town visiting. I would go back, but definitely not on a Saturday night. Don't go on Saturday. Seriously, don't do it. read more

Used to be one of my favorite spots. Food was always amazing. Stopped in last night and food was not what it used to be and the bartenders were not as friendly as I remember them being. Ordered a jerk chicken sandwich. The chicken was so dry and wasn't served with the pineapple chutney. With all the other new spots opening downtown, they'll need to step it up to remain relevant. That said, live music and drinks make this spot still a good time. read more

I have no reason to give this place less than 5 stars! I've been here before a few times, but this past Friday we had birthday reservations for my girlfriend's 25th at 8pm. I got there and the place was almost empty! Quite a change from other times I've been in. I didn't mind it though, we had a great dinner and were able to hear each other speak. We started with the calamari. It was fried and tossed in a sweet, Asian flavored sauce. It was amazing! Cooked well and not your typical breading. I ordered their red pepper and gouda soup and the steak salad with chicken instead. Chicken was tender and cooked well. It had a lot of flavor and the ranch was excellent. Others at the table had the steak sandwich, grilled cheese and soup, and steak salad. All received rave reviews. The real reason to come here, though, is for their martinis! I haven't had a drink here I didn't like. This past weekend I had the strawberry shortcake martini (long week!) and it tasted like a milkshake. It was frothy and the rim of the glass had a brown sugar (?) crushed graham cracker. Other drinks I've tried here range from cosmo's to caramel apple and other martinis (OMG.), the grapefruit mimosa-type drink, riesling and vodka diet cokes. Everything has been well-executed, not watered down and served promptly. It is clean inside and has a swanky, open upstairs with couches, high tops, televisions and a large bar. A really fun and different place to go either for food or just drinks or both! read more

Bossa Nova's step-sister bar, but not the evil jealous step sister more like the older a little more mature caring step-sister. At least in the way of making a carefully crafted unique martini or cocktail. Atmosphere is a little more cramped, but usually you can still find a table late on a week or weekend night if you do not mind sitting in the back. It is fine for me because I don't like being sandwiched at the bar with other people's conversations in my face. I didn't try the food but my friend ordered the Tuna appetizer and she said she loved it just wished the portions were a little better. But for the price it wasn't bad. I ordered the Perfect Pear cocktail with Pear Absolute Eldleweiss flower liqouer and a splash of pineapple juice it was delicious! Not too sweet and I despise sweet drinks. The perfect blend of soft tangy tartness. Much more creative then the drink menu at Bossa Nova. For the drop in spot after a show or just happy hour with friends I found this to be a pretty down to earth and decent spot. The waitress was not that great but she was young, some things are forgiven if the product is just right. read more

We were in Pittsburgh for one night and Olive or Twist was near our hotel. There were many other restaurants, but this place looked nice. The atmosphere was nice, and if I was rating only for atmosphere I'd give it 4 stars. However, I'm mainly rating their food and service. We were greeted promptly, but after that the service was spotty and it took awhile to receive our drinks/food even though there weren't many people in the dining room. I ordered the Traditional French Dip Sandwich and Fries. I enjoy a good French Dip and have tried many of them at all types of restaurants and this one was the worst I've ever eaten. In fact, I couldn't finish it. The meat tasted like old lunch meat and the bread was nothing more than a cheap, glorified hot dog roll that was soggy. It wasn't soggy from the Au Jus, but it tasted like they steamed the roll for some reason. Overall, if I was going back to Pittsburgh in this area, I would stay far away from Olive or Twist. read more

At the request of a friend, we had a brief girls night out at Olive or Twist. My first impression was the outdated decor. The restaurant has carpet which I find off putting. The drink menu is extensive; but, with the exception of one person in my party, we each found our drinks far too sweet. I ordered the cucumber basil martini, which was so sweet I had to send it back. The food was mediocre. I ordered the burger medium and it was over cooked to nearly well done. And then there was the cheesy lounge singer who sang a mishmosh of singer songwriter tunes from the 80s. The music was so loud and so bad that my friends I left and headed down the street to Butcher and the Rye. read more

Olive or Twist - The Dark Knight - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

If you enjoy Martinis, then Olive-or-Twist is a must-see! :) Near the Lemongrass Cafe and the Renaissance Hotel, It's a cozy little bar; it's narrow and has an exposed-brick, jazz-house type of feel to it. Very dimly lit, a great little spot for an evening drink before or after a show in the Cultural District of Pittsburgh! Obviously, their specialty is going to be martinis and they do a nice job of offering up traditional martinis as well as some fruity, tasty, sweet martinis. They also serve food and have a nice sized menu; I've never had the opportunity to eat here, but some of the things that were coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled delish! The crowd here is typically young, trendy and professional. By Day, its a great spot for suits to grab a quick cocktail and something to eat. By 4:30, its filling up with more suits and skirts, for the after-work crowd in downtown. By the evening, you'll have the trendy, young types. (I'm also fully convinced that this is where trendy wanna-be types will go to dress up, as-if they were at work for the day, and then go to hang out to rub elbows with those who actually do work! lol) This is a great place to go before or after baseball games, theater shows, and just because. PROS: Atmosphere is a pro, here. Pretty laid back, IMO; Great idea-inducing drink menu if you have no idea what you'd like to drink; Lots of suggestions if you want to "try something new"; Also serves food. CONS: Parking is terrible (as with all things, Pittsburgh. Try the garage across from the Renaissance Hotel); eh... a tad bit pricey for "just a lot of vodka", lol; it gets pretty full, pretty quick (which can also be a PRO depending on whom you ask). *Update to follow, soon. (Its been a little while since I was there last) read more

Used to come here a lot when I was in college for apps and drinks before Benedum & Heinz Hall shows. Rather small dining area- you have to make a reservation or get here a little early on those show nights. The sticky wings & buffalo chicken dip w/ chips are the best! Also enjoyed the chicken Caesar salad ... but this place is also known for the Martini Sampler during Happy Hours... You'll see many people during Happy Hour testing the different selections of Martinis! Consider Olive or Twist the next time you want a modern, mellow spot for grabbing a bite & a drink w/ a friend or significant other, especially before/after watching a Broadway show nearby! Cons: Wait staff isn't the greatest - you may be waiting a while for a drink refill or check. Restaurant area is very small. A little pricey for the portions. read more

Wonderful place! My wife and I got married here. We needed a nice venue near our hotel to do the wedding and the reception -- and Olive Or Twist delivered. They served good food and great drinks. Brandon Thompson, their Director of Sales & Events, was so helpful and helped make the evening a joy. If you're going to be in Pittsburgh, stop by this fine establishment. You'll have a great time. read more