You like traditional goto, must have, sandwich from Pittsburgh? If you do, this place is for you. This place was started by Joe Primanti in 1933 to feed shift workers from the local warehouses (coal and iron) and railroads. They are known for big sandwiches which now includes fries and cole slaw. The sandwiches provided value to workers...who were looking for a place to feed themselves to keep their energy up for a long shift. When you sit at the bar and you can only imagine the workers that sat here to feed themselves with what little they had. They found a sandwich between two pieces of soft Italian bread with a good balance of meat, cheese, cole slaw and fries...think energy and value. The history here is real and intense. Would I rate this as a culinary destination? Not particularly but I would say it's a must see to be part of US history as the town righted itself and came to life. The sandwich? I had the pastrami with cole slaw, egg, fries and tomato on Italian bread. Remarkably, the sandwich was light...despite it sounding heavy. The cabbage and tomatoes bring a great balance to the sandwich which makes it messy and remarkably light. Be prepared to get messy..so eat fast! I am probably talking too much about the sandwich...just go try it. The food is probably a 3.5 but it gets the extra .5 for the amazing history there. The service was great...well educated on the product, accommodating in every way. If you are in Pittsburgh, this is a must try. read more

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Sigh, man this place was underwhelming. It's famous, it has a name, it has a reputation. But that seems to far outpace the quality of the food and service. One employee was VERY nice to my father who has mobility issues and let him sit inside in a chair while we stood in the line to get in, which did move relatively quick. I think 20 people ahead of us, and we were at a table in under 15 min. 5 of us ordered 5 different things, and only one person had an actually 'good' meal. That is not a high % of quality food. The rest were super bland and off the mark flavor wise. Our waitress was also nowhere to be found half the time, we often needed drink refills and she only came over to take our order and that was really it. We had to ask another employee for water and napkins. I just don't 'get' it. The hype is not worth it. read more

As an out-of-towner, Primanti Bros. was one of the places I had to try while visiting Pittsburgh because of all the hype. Unfortunately, it was a huge letdown. I ordered the New Yorker, and it tasted like a basic sandwich you could get just about anywhere. Nothing stood out or made it worth the hype. I also tried the Angus Sirloin Steak & Cheese, and it was dry, bland, and lacked flavor. Definitely skip that one. To make matters worse, the service was slow and the staff came across as rude. Between the long wait and the unfriendly attitude, the overall experience was disappointing from start to finish. I'm glad I can say I tried it, but once was enough. I won't be coming back, and I wouldn't recommend it based on my experience. read more

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar - New Yorker. Wasn't worth it - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The sandwiches were good, so I want to give credit where it's due. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience wasn't great. The restaurant itself didn't seem very clean. I had to go across the street to use the restroom because theirs were nasty. It required going down a steep set of stairs, and the women's bathroom floor was wet. There was also a bucket catching brown water dripping from somewhere, which was pretty concerning. The wings and onion rings were just average and didn't really stand out. There are newer locations of this restaurant that I'd recommend instead. Based on my experience, you'll likely have a much better overall visit at one of those locations read more

If you want the real deal strip district experience you need to have the sandwich that made this city famous. Sure they have sports teams, Warhol and ketchup. But this is also where the sandwich and salad with French fries and coleslaw on it came from. Yes there is a chain version of this place - and I like that too. But something about the sandwich coming off a greasy flat top that is way better than the chain version with new kitchens. I have been coming here for 30 years - love it. I have been all over the country for my travels and often see Pittsburgh style sandwiches named on the menu. Those sandwiches originate here. Now you know - so give it a go. The line in front means that something worth it awaits you. read more

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar - The front - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This place is awesome. Rich with history and very welcoming, obviously though it can be super busy but for good reason. If I were to go back I would try the pastrami instead of what I got but honestly what I got was super good too. We had to wait for a little while to get seated but it was to be expected. The man serving us was so funny and lively and you could tell he enjoys what he does. read more

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

So when you come to Pittsburgh, you have to eat at the original Primanti's. Quality and cleanliness may not be held to the same standard as some of the newer locations, but you're choosing legacy and experience over polish. The service was solid, the atmosphere feels authentic Pittsburgh with murals of local athletes and celebrities covering the walls, and the food still brought great flavor. It's one of those places where the history and vibe are part of the meal. read more

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar - Pastrami and Cheese - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

You come here for the tradition and unique sandwiches. Service is fun and personal. Two side to the restaurant but they also have a bar/counter to belly up to. Not fancy but old school vibe. Chose a nice, cold yuengling draft beer to go with my sammy. Had to try their staple which is a capicola and cheese with a fried egg. Great Italian bread. Fries and cole slaw in the sandwich is their magic touch. Not a lot of meat but it's made up with a heaping serving of fries. Would come back and try other sandwiches. read more

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I don't think I minded the slow service. Or the fact she forgot my drink. But for a place famous for their sandwiches my sandwich was cold. The fries were cold. And the bottom of the sandwich was disintegrated. It probably would have been a great sandwich. It also took forever to get my receipt. And it wasn't itemized when I got it. I'm pretty sure I was overcharged but I rolled with it because I didn't want to wait any more. read more

Had to come here while in Pittsburgh and I recommend you do too! The vibes are great, a down to earth bar teaming with people enjoying great, simple food and sports. I ordered the original pastrami and cheese. The cole slaw added a fresr vinegary, crunch to the sandwich and the fries soaked up all the goodness! I had a bite of my friends burger sandwich though, and I truly thought that was the star! Kiddos also loved it. Fast, friendly and attentive service. A very no frills place to get a quick, tasty bite! read more

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I'm likely rounding up a bit because I'd been looking to get to Pittsburgh for a long time and Primanti Bros is a local institution. They were busy but the staff was working hard! Waitress was nice. Went with the pastrami sandwich, certainly looks huge but the bread is pillowy, so it was manageable for me. The French fries were cooked nicely and the sandwich worked for me! read more

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar - Pastrami with Fries! - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Friend in town who wanted to try out Pittsburgh's famous sandwich. We had great service, it wasn't too crowded and the food was good. I feel like this is the sort of place you go when out-of-towners visit! read more

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Primanti Bros. was my girlfriend's first experience there. At first, she wasn't really interested in going because she felt like it was just a sandwich she could get back home in central PA. I told her it's not the same and that when you're in Pittsburgh, you have to try the original Primanti Bros.. We ended up ordering a bowl of chill and a corned beef sandwich, and both were delicious as always. She ended up really enjoying the food and the overall experience, and now she actually wants to go back read more

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Sat. Afternoon, line outside but we wanted to get to go so went in. Was jammed inside, no empty seats. Inside decently lit, just a tad dark. Sports on the TVs. Medium loudness, mainly from people's conversations. Went to bar area, little to right of entering and ordered. Asked for their special and the asked for the type of meat. Didn't know so they suggested I try pastrami and the capicola. Ordered and waited maybe 10-15min and they gave us our order in a big paper bag. It was heavy! Opened up one of the sandwiches to share and nicely the sandwich was cut in half already. Just need to tear the paper wrapper to separate. As you may know, sandwich has Cole slaw and fries on it, so it's thick. Preferred the capicola over the pastrami. Decent amount of meat on the sandwich but waaaayyy more fries than anything. The close slaw adds some crunch and tartness to a pretty mild sandwich. Overall, food was underwhelming. I'd stop by again but for some kielbasa or something ethnic. Otherwise I'd probably just try another nearby place to eat. read more

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couldn't miss "Pittsburgh's most famous sandwich" while in town. They have a bunch of locations so it's pretty easily accessible. We walked about 10 min and change from our hotel to the strip district location. It is a small little place made up for by its attention grabbing wall art of famous and loved Pittsburgh figures. The menu is easy enough. Pick a protein (there are many options) to go on the sandwich which is the standard cole slaw, cheese, tomato, and fries tucked between two slices of thick, soft white bread. As a vegetarian, I was pleased to see a vegetarian option with both a cheese and an egg and cheese version. GF and I shared and it is not a bad sandwich to share bc the thing is massive. That isn't to say that I couldn't have eaten another half bc I absolutely could have. The thing is so large and busting with ingredients I wondered how I could fit it for a bite but where there's a will, there's a way. It was excellent. What a great combo of flavors and textures. I only wish there was more cheese. I do feel like with the cheese version there should be more than what is in the version with meat but call me crazy. I could eat that every day. read more

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All right, I am going to say it - I absolutely do not understand the hype around these sandwiches. On a recent trip to Pittsburgh before heading to a Steelers game, my dad, my husband, and I felt that we had to do the quintessential Pittsburgh thing and get a Primanti Bros sandwich. I ordered what essentially was a burger-sandwich (the Pittsburgh sandwich) while my dad and my husband tried the pastrami sandwich. When the sandwiches arrived, we were blown away by how massive in size they were. Luckily, the bread is very soft and compacts down so that you can actually pick up the sandwich and take a reasonable bite. But without some sort of notable sauce or anything, we all felt that the sandwiches were extremely dry and unremarkable. Adding french fries did not help with the dryness but exacerbated it. I got so desperate I ended up dunking my Pittsburgh sandwich in ketchup just to have enough moisture to get it down. Again, if someone could please explain to me what the hype is around these sandwiches I would greatly appreciate it. Service was fast, but it's Pittsburgh so it wasn't very friendly. The space gave off a sports bar type vibe. I'm glad I tried it so that I could say I have but I highly doubt I would ever come back. read more

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar - Pitts-Burger and Cheese - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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When in Pittsburgh eating here is a must. Gotta enjoy their giant sandwiches piled high with meat, cheese, vinegar slaw and fries! We split a pastrami and cheese and it was plenty for lunch. Also tried a pint of Iron City light lager on tap. Quick, friendly service. They are proud of their sandwiches as they should be. Lots of sports and people painted on the walls by the table and chairs of the one dining area where we sat. read more

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I was in the area working and decided to try the most talked about restaurant for lunch. My favorite sandwich is the Roast beef and cheese, loaded with fresh roast beef, fries, cheese and slaw. Great fast friendly service! read more

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I wanted to like this place based on the Google reviews but should've followed my instincts as Yelp only rated it a 3 star. There was 5 of us and we all got different sandwiches. I got the bacon one and they were all bland. The sandwich looks appealing because it's stacked high but it's just a bunch of French fries that makes the sandwich huge. The atmosphere was ok. It was a bar like setting. The bathroom was located downstairs which was like walking down into a dungeon. To boot, 3 out of 5 of us got diarrhea for days. Wouldn't recommend and Won't be back. read more

This place is an obvious Pittsburgh institution and no visit to the strip would be complete without giving the flagship location a visit. The setting is ULTRA dive-y, in the best way. The bathroom is down in the basement, atrociously poor condition but kind of adds to the charm? Good luck if you're unable to do stairs though- no potty for you. The food- we got just a single pittsburger to split and one is enough for sure. It was immense. Stacked high with fries and served on only a sheet of parchment paper, it matched the setting with its rugged simplicity. Further adding to the charm was when the waitress saw I wanted to take a photo and she reached down bare handed and split the sandwich apart to reveal the cross section. Somehow this fit in just fine with the rest of the experience. The burger was good- it was an interesting flavor that says more "Salisbury steak" than burger to me, but we liked it a lot. The bread, cut in huge asymmetrical slabs, was exceptional. Go try it- it's a must. read more

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar - Pitts-Burger & Cheese - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

As an out of towner, I had heard about Primanti Bros for their unique style of sandwiches and couldn't wait to try them. This restaurant and bar serves sandwiches with a unique base including coke slaw, tomato, and French fries. Based on the servers recommendation, a friend and I split 2 sandwiches and tried the Capricola and cheese with a fried egg and the pastrami and cheese with a fried egg. The server also brought us malt vinegar to pair with the sandwiches. These sandwiches were huge, delicious, and filling. This was the first time trying malt vinegar too and I thought it was a nice touch. We also tried their $1 kosher whole pickles which were crispy and refreshing. This is a great spot! In a busy city, this restaurant has a small parking lot which is convenient. My bill was also only $13. I'm glad we got to try it out! read more

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar - Capicola & Cheese with egg (left) Pastrami & Cheese with egg (right) - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Delicious! The cook was a boss for sure! Handles his business well behind the counter and was nice enough to chat with us a little bit. It was our first time there. Definitely a staple in Pittsburgh and the decor was on point. Thanks a ton for an amazing sandwich and making time with my niece more special! read more

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Do you want a fast, filling meal? Primanti Brothers delivers! We had just half an hour one night to share a corned beef and cheese sandwich (with cole slaw and fries, of course!). The grill was hot and fast, and our server was great. Loved the colorful mural painted on the wall. read more

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar - Corned beef sandwich! - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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This place is a vibe all by itself. What a great spot. Great service as well. We ordered the original and some wings. The sandwich comes with French fries. Always welcome. It was good we are glad we visited. The wings were good as well read more

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I have a friend whose wife is from PGH. He told us to go to Primanti Bros. Whoa. The bread, the vinegar slaw with a touch of sweet, the meat, the fries. Its simple but works. Get the pastrami. Pair it with a Yuengling. Youre welcome. read more

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I had been wanting to come to Primanti Brothers in Pittsburgh for decades. I spent most of my Summers growing up back in PA, but on the other side of the state in Hawley. I had never been to Pittsburgh until this last week. Primanti Brothers was our first stop! Walked in and seated ourselves right by the door. Waiter came over and took our order. I went with a Capicola, my Brother went with a Pastrami, and my Mom and Aunt split something. Coke products to drink. How was it? Capicola and Pastrami Sandwich- My Brother and I went halves on our sandwiches. The pastrami was good, but the capicola was better IMO. I really loved how soft and sturdy the bread was. It kept everything together. This is a MASSIVE sandwich, too. The only thing I really didn't like were the fries. They were stuffed in there, but they were soggy and not crisp at all. If they were crispy, this is a 5 star sandwich. Nobody liked the fries, honestly. Cool idea, but could be executed better. The tomatoes, meat, cheese and cole slaw were delicious though! Super glad we stopped! Service was great! Would definitely stop by when I'm in Pittsburgh again! read more

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Better than Covid time. I was last here in 2021 and there was a huge line out the door and limited seating and the wait time was long. The sandwiches at that time were dry and it was hard to get condiments or water from our server at that time. This time, all those logistic problems were gone. We sat at the bar area and had speedy service, we went at opening so no line, and the food came out fresh and it was juicy. We didn't need condiments. The sandwich is good. It's tasty. It's quite big. It's just a novelty type of sandwich with fries inside. It's fresh fries too. It's more of a "I want to be part of history" or " I want to experience history". Type of place. Not something I would have on a regular basis, but something you want to try from time to time. The inside was older because of its long history. The bathroom definitely showcased that. It's down a tiny stairwell and around a murky hallway. Fun to try. Not really a spot I would come back. I only came back so my wife could experience it for the first time. But, glad I got to give this place another try. The first time gave me nightmares. read more

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This place came highly recommended as a PGH staple. As soon as my sandwich arrived I instantly understood! I should also note that I was warned not to try to alter the sandwich in anyway as it's highly frowned upon. I'm not...well I wasn't a fan of cole slaw but Primanti Bros made me a believer. This 2 handed sandwich was def in my top 2 of all time! I live 2.5 hours away and let's just say this sandwich is worth the drive on a random weekend! There are a couple locations but I went to the strip district. Parking wasn't super hard to find but I was patient and circled once or twice. The staff are all super nice and accommodating. I loved all the artwork or local legends. read more

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So I was looking to visit the original Primanti Brothers and this location seemed to be the one in my research. Of course I was reviewing the menu prior to visiting but the menu at this location is vague. We visited here our first night in Pittsburgh. We arrived at our hotel later in the evening so we had to rush here before they closed. Upon arriving, we decided to sit at the counter. This was the first business we visited besides our hotel and were not met with friendly attitudes. It took some time before we were greeted and given the opportunity to at least order drinks. They were not busy. We both ordered a local beer and I ordered the Pitts Burger with cheese and I believe hubs ordered the Pastrami sandwich. Both were good but not life changing. Hubs finished his but I had to take half of mine to go because it was really filling, it was cool to visit just based on the history and fame but I don't know if I would visit again if was in the area. read more

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The service was fast and friendly. The ambiance was not my speed (cold, overcrowded walls etc...) but to each their own. I would not come back to try other items. It's clear they don't believe in flavor. We ordered the signature sandwich -pastrami and chicken tenders. The food was extremely dry. Not a fan of thick bread with no type of sauce. Even the fries on the sandwich lacked salt. I explained that we never ate there before so if it's normal to add sauce that would have been a great suggestion. I assumed the coleslaw would have been drenched in mayo or something, but no. How can this be your staple with no type of sauce or dressing... doesn't make sense to me what am I missing here? read more

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When in Pittsburgh this is a MUST location to eat. It was recommended to us while we were there for a Steelers game. Completely understand why it's a must. Atmosphere is fun, food is amazing and service is top notch! Put it on your list while there, you'll be happy you did! read more

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According to my bestie, "It may not be that special of a sandwich. But it was cheap according to NYC standards. Water was bomb." My wife just simply said she liked it. She also said that the fries and cole slaw being in the sandwich is unique and makes it a Pittsburgh institution. As for me, I enjoyed the chili and it's the first place where I've managed to tolerate cole slaw despite my intense hatred of cole slaw. read more

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While visiting Pittsburgh, I had to try the famous sandwiches from Primanti Bros.. Soft bread piled high with fries and coleslaw, simple, messy, and ridiculously good. Lived up to the hype. read more

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I don't get to the Burgh very often but when I do, I have to eat here. The waiter this time was very quick and didn't provide a menu so we just looked at one off of the wall to make our order. The Primanti sandwich I ended up getting was fair but not the best. Maybe I miss ordered or he misunderstood what I was asking. I meant to order the Pittsburger, but ended up getting an Angus beef one which again was fair. I'm not a local so having a menu would've been better for me but again the server was very quick with us upon us sitting down. I had a better experience at the location in market Square a couple days later, but the strip district is the original so hoping it'll be better next time. read more

My third time at Primanti Bros, and while I like the experience, I just have no clue why people live or die for these sandwiches. There's an undeniable old school vibe, and everyone is super friendly, which keeps me returning, but the sandwiches that made them famous just aren't to my taste, I guess. read more

Tried both the Pitts-Burger and the pastrami & cheese sandwich. Both stacked, messy, and super satisfying. The fries and slaw inside the sandwich are what make it fun. Heavy, classic Primanti's vibes, and exactly what I expected. Service was excellent and food came out quick. Just note that they do have their own parking. I had to circle around looking for parking and didn't know they had their own lot! read more

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar - Pastrami & Cheese & Pitts-Burger & Cheese - Sandwiches Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

My buddy and I were in town to watch the Dodgers play the Pirates and it was his first time in the city, so I made sure he ate at this Pittsburgh institution. I had the New Yorker and was very pleased. It's not so much the meats that make the sandwich but the perfectly fluffy bread and perfectly soggy fries... it's legit like an American equivalent to a burrito. Employees here are super friendly and it's a great tavern like atmosphere where you can catch a game and enjoy a nice cold beer. My only knock is their payment systems are very old school. read more

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As a tourist, it is VERY overrated. Just fries on a sandwich. The atmosphere is nice. Pretty cheap. I'd come here just for the experience though, just to say you had it. The bread is good though! I heard they get it locally down the street! read more

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I was in Pittsburgh for business and my hotel was minutes from the Strip District. I needed a quick lunch and wandered down the street and saw the restaurant. I had seen it in TV enough to be curious It turns out this is the original location. This makes sense as you can see how they have retrofitted the nearby establishments but kept the warehouse feel. The whole neighborhood is really a lot of fun with all the places to eat and drink. The sandwiches are all similar. You order a grilled meat on the incredibly soft Italian bread. You can have cheese and they load French fries and then house made coleslaw on top. I had the pastrami which was excellent. The meat had just the right amount of salt and the bread is a soft pillow. The fries are just OK (they could be crispier) but the slaw is a winner. It's made with a vinegar base and it's the perfect complement to the meat. The service was fine, if distant. They like their regulars and they are friendly enough, but nobody really took much time with me. The food came out quickly and correctly and they refilled my drink. The place is fun with great murals and decorations around the bar. I'd go back, but only if so was introducing someone to the place. read more

Staff was awesome!! Food is still as good as it's been for years!! Sandwiches are still big as hell and filled with goodness. This is the original location and the BEST location. Many have tried to copy and have failed!! read more

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