Such a cute diner! Always have great service with friendly waiters/waitresses. Went there today and got the Florentine omelette-- my personal favorite! Service is always fast and efficient! Great spot for a weekend brunch. read more

I gave this place a couple tries. The food is nothing special, neither is the service. Everytime I walk in there with my kids I feel soo uncomfortable. I walked in today and literally got a sigh , like I am sorry me coming in was an inconvenience. Sure maybe some would think I took it the wrong way but I have come on atleast two other occasions cause I really wanted to like this place. Both times I felt like I wasn't welcomed and I was an annoying or out of place. I was super upset, I would tell a lot of people to come here and bring my family and friends to see this cute little place. The food wasn't beyond amamzing but it was ok . It was a cheap quaint place for a quick bite. But after today I just can't anymore. I almost felt embarrassed. I shouldn't feel that way just because I brought my kids . read more

I remember my first experience at a diner: Art Deco-inspired architecture, narrow and long floorplan, jukeboxes, neon signs, quick service, and extremely tasty pancakes with chocolate syrup! Granted I was only 7 or 8 years old then, but I can recall everything (how can I forget the taste of those pancakes?!). Since then, I've been to quite a few diners, including diner-restaurants (i.e. faux diners). I would go particularly on the morning after a night of partying and/or drinking, when I'm feeling too lazy or hung over to cook something decent without burning myself and my kitchen. On these mornings, I would typically order pancakes or omelettes with a side (usually hash browns) and coffee. Honestly, I've never eaten anything other than these breakfast staples at a diner. My friends and I arranged to have a late brunch one day at Ritters Diner. Now, I didn't have much to eat the night before, so I couldn't wait until we met to have something to eat. So, I came to the diner having already eaten a light breakfast. A quick observation of the diner made me realize that this isn't a traditional diner; instead, it seemed more like a diner-restaurant. Oh well, there was still the service and the food to worry about. We sat down at a booth in the large room in the back of the restaurant. The waitress greeted us and took our drink orders immediately: two cups of coffee and two glasses of water. Several minutes later, we got our coffee and water, but weren't ready to order just yet. We spent several more minutes deciding, and when we were ready, we placed our menus in a neat stack in the center of the table to show that we were ready to order. We waited...and waited...and waited some more. Minutes turned into half an hour and longer. By that point, my friends were getting quite hangry. I was sitting there feeling sorry for them and very concerned with the poor service. This whole time, I was monitoring discreetly the other diners who had our waitress and arrived after we did. A few of them actually have gotten their food, have paid, and have left. After what seemed like an eternity, our waitress suddenly materializes and takes our order. We get our food: chocolate chip pancakes; club sandwich; spinach omelette with cheese and buttered toast; and something else (sorry, I must've had too much coffee). My omelette was decent; I would have preferred if they hadn't used too much cheese, especially what I think was American cheese (it could've been cheddar, but the taste didn't seem right). The toast was good, but I was too full to keep eating. I did try a bite of the chocolate chip pancakes, and it was so rich and delicious! My other two starving friends pretty much inhaled their food in minutes. Based on this one experience, I would come only for the pancakes. Service was really bad even though the place was half empty. I might experiment with this diner once or twice more to get a better feel for it. So to summarize: not a real diner, service was bad, food was decent, and come for the pancakes. read more

This is my new favorite diner in Pittsburgh. I had the ham breakfast and it was so tender it almost melted in my mouth. And if you sit at the bar you might get to chat with Hosea, (if you're lucky!). read more

We had turkey dinners here and we loved them. The only negative comment would be that the place could use a good cleaning or remodel.

We waited 40 minutes for our breakfast and when I asked the waitress if it was coming soon, she just said probably not. It was Sunday at 1:00, not particularly busy. Then she gave me the bill for $5 for the coffee. I told the cashier how we didn't even get our breakfast and wasn't happy, she just said you're not the only one. Don't know I'll be back for a while, too many other good breakfast places around. read more

I really don't understand the appeal other than it's open 24 hours but then again so is Eat n Park which is actually a little better than Ritter's. The food just isn't that great. I actually make a better omelet at home and the other downside is that it's cash only. Yes, they have an ATM on site but it's not from any local bank so the fees are outrageous. The only breakfast diner in Pittsburgh that was truly spectacular was Jojo's in the Strip which had been replaced by the equally unspectacular Kelly O's. read more

Great place for a solid meal, especially breakfast. Dinner and lunch is pretty good too. The menu is rather extensive worth reading all of it since they offer most of it all day long. read more

I'd like to preface this by saying I am not one to go out of my way to write a negative review and am really easy to please. Nevertheless... A few of us went out after late night bowling to get some food. We went to Ritters because it was literally the only place open within a 5 mile radius and we were starving. Anyways, we made our way past the pack of chain smoking waitresses on the front steps and were seated. Every surface in this place is covered in a thin layer of oily grime. It's clear that cleanliness is not a priority here. Your hand will stick to the table if you touch it. And the bathroom looks and smells like something out of the movie Saw. The waitstaff didn't even pretend to be friendly and honestly looked like they just rolled in from a halfway house. Also, our frail, elderly waitress was clearly extremely ill and really shouldn't have been handling food. The food itself was pretty terrible, but it's a diner and the only option around after midnight, so whatever. We got the bill and proceeded to the counter to pay. The little old white-haired curmudgeon who I guess runs the place shuffles over to the counter, rips the bill out of my hand and says "Give me $28.38". I politely ask if we could pay separately (there were four of us). He grunts something inaudible with a sourpuss look on his face and I ask him to repeat himself. He then raises his voice and rudely says "Give me $28.38. I don't have time for this, I'm very busy". It was 1:00 am, there were maybe 10 people in the entire place, and all he was doing was sipping coffee at the counter. He could have just said "Sorry, we don't split checks" and it would have been fine. No need to be nasty. He's like the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld but not nearly as funny. You shouldn't be mean and condescending to your customers if you want them to return. I know that neither I nor my friends ever will. read more

In the marred depths of Pittsburgh's North Oakland, caddy-corner to yet another old church stands a modest sign that reads "Ritters Diner." You'll walk through the doors and it looks like any other mom-and-pop diner -- the classic red-and-white checkered walls and blue breakfast bar with the rotating stools provides a comfortable familial atmosphere. "Turn the Page" by Bob Seger plays quietly from a jukebox in a booth where a man and his wife sit in comfortable silence sipping coffee. Though you probably wouldn't call Ritters Diner a "breath of fresh air" in terms of typical diners you've frequented, it surely delivers if you're looking for a place to hunker down with a fresh cup of coffee and a stack of varied buttermilk pancakes. That being said, there's certainly no shortage of menu items to choose from. While other restaurants in the area are thematically limited in what they do and do not include on the menu, chances are you'll find whatever it is you're looking for at Ritters. Like many diners that offer a large menu, however, nothing on the menu really surpasses what they might serve at any other 2-star restaurant. Don't get me wrong, the food has a home-cooked, Grandma's-house feel that most other restaurants are too stuck in their routine to imitate. The grilled cheese is essentially the same as dad used to make when the grill wasn't quite firing right, but he certainly made the best of it. The omelets are the rushed kind mom used to make in the half-hour before she'd send you off on the bus to school time and time again. The food isn't perfect, but it certainly brings you back. The staff is friendly and accommodating, especially when dealing with customers seeking comfort food on their late-night tirades out with the gang. They'll smile, make casual conversation, and are more than likely to help you out with the one member of your posse who found themselves with a bottle in hand singing one too many karaoke songs at one of the bars on Ellsworth just 30 minutes prior. In this case, it's probably convenient that Ritters Diner does not serve alcohol, and is open nearly every day, all night (Wednesday thru Sunday). So take the family, friends, or the rodeo posse to Ritters Diner. It may be the only place open around the time you go, but I guarantee it'll be the far better compromise between whatever other low-key restaurant you're debating on visiting. read more

Ummm, we're pretty sure my boyfriend got food poisoning here. That was the last thing we had eaten for hours, and the next morning he DEFINITELY had eaten something bad after waking up... yikes. read more

24-hour diner. The food isn't overwhelmingly good. It's been around for a long time. Anytime is a good time to eat there. Go after 2 and watch the drunks stumble through their meal. Go in the morning and catch some early birds or old regulars scarfind down a cheap breakfast. The servers are as pleasant as one can be when working at a 24 hour diner. It's near UPMC Shadyside, located close enough to Oakland, and right by Bloomfield. read more

Fantastic service, incredibly inexpensive, surprisingly tasty - that pretty much sums it up. As long as you come here knowing it is a cheap diner and not expecting something different, you will enjoy your experience. I had the spinach and feta omelet with tomato, which came with a side of hashbrowns. Each of these was great. read more

This restaurant is a blast from the past! The setting brings you back to an old school diner. I am not a fan of the food. The food was just okay. I got chicken fingers, and my girlfriend bought some chicken entree. Both meals looked like they were just microwaved. The staff was great though! It is important to know they are a cash only restaurant. While this is not my favorite restaurant, I would recommend if your looking for an old fashioned American meal. read more

This place lives up to the true, old diner standard, with friendly waitresses who call everyone "hon", jukeboxes at each table, and greasy spoon food that arrives at the table mere moments after it's ordered. Regardless of the time of day I visit, I've always eaten breakfast at Ritter's, and it's always been good. Around 1:00 AM, the after-bar crowd shows up, and around 5:00 AM, the plumbers and handymen arrive. It's always people-watching time at Ritter's. read more

Stopped in Friday night and had the best experience & It was our first visit. Our waitress Karen was very personable and provided exceptional service even when it was extremely busy. She was ontop of it all. With her menu knowledge and The chefs skills we had a truly exceptional meal. From appetizers to dessert.The fried green tomatoes and omelettes were awesome. We left the best homemade pies ever. Real food., nothing frozen or processed and loved the atmosphere . Made a lasting impression ! We will be back! read more

Awesome place. Nice shapely ladies. Will be a patron of again. Just don't get anything with cheese. It seems like faux cheese.

Don't get me wrong, the foods great, but when there's only a handful of booths full it shouldn't take an hour and a half to get breakfast. If you get to the point that you'd rather leave and go to McDonalds just so you can eat something it's too long of a wait. read more

It's a throw back to yesteryear...and a longstanding 412 institution. Classic Bloomfield denizens, O.G. jukebox, tight booths and formica table tops enhance the experience. There's a large menu, but you can essentially build your own breakfast from French toast to omelets to various combos. Nothing to write home about, just good ole breakfast blockbusters. Add the endless cup o' coffee and 24x7 schedule (now only on weekends), and you've got yourself a go-to diner for the yinzers. Service was spot on, but as with any greasy spoon you will leave feeling rather grubby. read more

This is a typical diner but I was less than impressed. I went there for breakfast and the food was what I expected, okay but nothing to write home about. The wait staff was pretty moody and not very helpful. I ordered an ice tea that was absolutely rancid-cloudy, tasted awful, and had most likely been made the week before. Pancakes were ok... But that's really all I can say about this place... there are too many other great places to go with nicer servers in the area than to return to here. read more

Ritter's might be one of the only true, old school diners left in Pittsburgh. And I absolutely adore it. I get the impression that most of the waitresses at Ritters have been employees for multiple decades, as well as most of the cooks. The food is classic hearty diner fare, the prices are low, and the ambiance is everything you could ask for, plus it's open 24 hours a day. Definitely worth a try. read more

This place is exactly what it should be: good greasy spoon diner food. Bougie foodies with high expectations stay calm! I've only had good food here, and I always leave stuffed and satisfied. The Greek Hobo omelette is my absolute favorite. If you get coffee, the only way to get the most bang for your two plus bucks is to get a few refills while you're there. Other than that, it's pretty much what you'd expect from a diner. read more

This is an institution. I hit the counter with a 15 minutes window - ordered two eggs over, hash browns and dry rye- 5 min later- bingo and the hot sauce was waiting. I llike the Greek items- the cheap prices and the open 24 hours- the cranky servers are the best and worst of Pittsburgh read more

This place is one of only a couple open in the burgh 24 hours. That's an automatic star in this dead city. They have plenty of food choices (hence the other star), but the food is actually pretty terrible. The only items that are good there are the bacon and toast. read more

Food is good enough. A standard diner in the city that's been here forever. The place is filled with old-timer's who seem to be regulars since the 60's... the waitresses are all middle-aged and would probably get a more youthful & better tipping crowd in here if they used their social skills to converse with their guests rather than talk to each other about their baby daddy issues. Cash-only is a smart move and keeps the menu prices down, though it seems the cashier (owner?) only cares about counting dimes and nickels instead of ensuring guests are satisfied. Nonetheless, a good stop for simple quick and easy diner food. Good luck to all the staff with their personal issues :) read more

Been going there since I was a kid, loved loved this place but seems they have hit rock bottom. Had breakfast on 10/14/18 and the dishes were dirty, the wait was crazy long, waited an hour for the food, the omelet was dried out , the waitress was the worst, lack of care, she giggles when I said tables came, ate and left and we were still waiting, she threaten me with getting the owner and I said good.... here comes Mr. Mumbles and he shrugs,and says " what can he do, they are busy." Busy I get but the place has never been worse, they should sell to someone who wants to be there and give good service and food. The waitress forgot the gravy , the toast was cold, meal cold ... and by the way , please spend $100 on the filthy bathroom and at least paint it... They broke my heart today, I will never go back...... read more

Horrible excuse of a slop house. DONT EAT HERE!! Food recooked and disgusting. There are many other choices on the Pittsburgh area. Do NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE AND EAT HERE. read more

I have been going to Ritter's since the 70's. It's an awesome place and the food is the best. Try the holubki aka pigs in the blanket on wednesdays. They are very good. The servers are always spot on. The food is always good. Love it. read more

We were skeptical to eat here based on the mixed reviews. We can now say we've tried it and we probably won't go back. We were greeted by a hostess who sounded and smelled like she just got done smoking. Instead of escorting us to a seat, she told us which tables to pick and to seat ourselves. I ordered the sirloin of beef with mashed potatoes and my fiance got the steak and eggs. The food was just okay. Our server was friendly and attentive. We were thankful we didn't have one of the other servers, who was clearly dying of pneumonia or bronchitis or something. She was coughing up a lung in front of everyone and sniffling every 5 seconds. She washed her hands a lot, but the hostess did not wash her hands upon returning from smoking outside. Kind of gross if you ask me. read more

Sometimes this place is a hit or miss... Unless you get breakfast related items, then you're good to go. They're desserts are delicious too!

Ritter's is a typical old-fashioned diner. It's cash only with an ATM inside. There's a parking lot which is convenient. Overall, my experience eating here has been inconsistent. Sometimes the food is good; sometimes I could barely eat it. Sometimes the servers are attentive and very friendly; sometimes they have a terrible attitude. I've had delicious meals, such as the breakfast items, sandwich melts, and honey-dipped fried chicken. And while breakfast is usually solid, lunch and dinner varies. For example, my most recent trip here (a few days ago) was dismal. My friend ordered pierogis like he always does because they are usually very very good, but this time we sent it back for some butter because it was bone dry. When it was brought back, there was a small hair in it. I ordered a grilled chicken salad; it's hard to screw up a salad but Ritter's managed to do so. Yes, the portion was huge, but I found yet another hair in it and there was a pool of water at the bottom of the bowl. My tip is to order breakfast foods because they don't mess that up and it's good. Going in during the day seems to bring about better service and food. Even though eating here is a hit or miss, I have a feeling I'll be back to try my luck. It's one of the few places open late after the bars close, so... read more

Excellent late breakfast this morning after a Dr apt. Very large and diverse menu, I will be back. Great food, good prices and excellent service.The Greek lasagna sounds amazing from the decription in the menu. It's been open since 1951. Can't believe it's right down the block from where I went to nursing school and I never ate here. read more

Just writing this now because it's funny but at the time it wasn't. Went to Ritter's many times because I am from Bloomfield. Once years ago while at breakfast with my sister, I went to put sugar in my coffee and out of the sugar shaker plopped a GIANT dried booger onto the spoon. HA!!!! Ewwwww! read more

Amazing little diner! My girlfriend and I went here one night a bit after midnight for some late breakfast. It was just like my small town diner. Huge array of different food on the menu. Polite waitress, they don't take card but there is an ATM here. Try the peanut butter pancakes! read more

This place is definitely a throwback. Whether you come in here at 3AM in a drunken stupor or 7PM for a quick meal the food is fantastic. The breakfast items are all pretty standard but I do enjoy getting it sometimes for dinner. Some of the other things you must try are the grilled chicken on a pita or the diner burger. The menu is large and I constantly flip through it even though I know it like the back of my hand. The service is usually very good and I love the quarter jukeboxes at the tables. read more

my friend and i came around 10:15 one night to grab a bite to eat. the diner was pretty empty, and we were seated next to a couple who could speak russian spanish and english ("vanderful!") this place does serve the typical diner food, and with a decent quality, actaully. the server (i wish i had gotten her name, but i'm sure she's the main one there) was extremely friendly, saying "you're welcome" every time i said "thank you", and making sure that our water cups remained full. when I ordered my burger that ordinarily came with fries, i was telling my friend that i was craving hash browns. so when i ordered a side of hash browns, she kindly offered me to allow me to substitute my fries for their hash browns. it was wonderful! we looked through their jukebox playlist, and there were quite a few good tunes available, albeit it costs 50 cents a play (i think), which is very very pricey for a jukebox. our food came out quickly, the receipt was given to us at the table, and we went up to pay. i left a tip at the cashier, who immediately called the waitress over, who took it and said thank you to us. 3.5-4 stars for the food, 2 stars for the wonderfully courteous staff! yes i know that it doesn't add up to 5, but so much the better! read more

Ritters is an institution of a sort in the east end. For me, I like breakfast here but not much else. I love greasy diner breakfasts like Pamela's or, for those of you who have experienced it, the Venus diner; it's out of this world! (ha ha! I kill me) I feel like Ritter's is one of those love it or hate it kind of places. Love it or not, there are some things that make this place really unique....the waitresses all wear scrubs, like nursing scrubs...which I find ironic because sometimes after clogging my arteries with my three meat omelet I feel like I need medical assistance. The coffee, I swear on my life it's that chicory crap that southerners love. It def has a....distinct...taste. The atmosphere is decidedly grubby-chic, but in a good way. They clearly have not put a dime into the place, but it works somehow. They, like Pamela's, only take cash, but there is a little ATM in the foyer. Like I said, the breakfast is greasy and delicious, as it should be. Of all the other things I've had there, the burgers are kinda icky, like frozen semi-meat rounds. The specials, ie stuffed cabbage, tuna casserole, meat loaf, usually need salt or some other flavor factor. You will notice a Greek theme, because the family is Greek. They have a few different Greek foods like Gyros and grape leaves and things. I've had the gyro and it's not bad, but if you go and they have the lemon chicken soup on special, GET IT! I loved it. Never would have thought it, but I did. I've never had a problem with the staff. Some are more talkative than others but they are all pretty nice and accommodating. Oh, and they are pretty good on pies too!! read more

I've always loved Ritters. It's a Pittsburgh staple. But this morning I was treated so kindly by my server I decided to write a review. I ordered a burger with no bun and a salad instead of fries and she didn't put any croutons on the salad because she recognized I was trying to avoid carbs. Then I had some left over salad, so when she brought me a box she put it just a little extra lettuce so I could have a full salad for later. Wish I remembered her name so I could give her full recognition. read more

Food is ok and it is kind of greasy spoon.. The decor is interesting.

LOVED THIS PLACE. The service was not particularly fast....but the waitresses were great. THIS IS A CASH ONLY PLACE (Just know that in advance, it's posted on the door, but who reads signs...obviously not me...but I did have cash on me so ...wooo hooo). The food was fantastic. It's a greasy spoon...PERFECT if that is what you want. Gyro was yummy....so was the soup and we stayed around for dessert- chocolate cream pie! I would say that the bathrooms could have used some attention- but this is a dive...so i am more forgiving...I guess...do pee scented bathrooms give food extra taste? read more