This is definitely a hidden gem of a North Hills BBQ joint. We may have had to wait a bit for our food but gave us time to enjoy the cocktails and great live music. We both had the brisket and pulled pork, which did not disappoint but the Sweet Potato Fries & grilled veggies were out of this world. I am looking forward to coming back with friends. I need to amend to ensure you leave room for a Leona's Ice Cream sandwich for dessert. Can even share but you may not want to! read more

The service and food was amazing. I sat at the bar and the bartender was awesome and welcoming. I got fish tacos and sweet potato fries, which came out surprisingly super fast. I used all 3 of the bbq sauces on my fries because I couldn't pick one. Idk if the sauce is made in house but if so they should bottle it. I came by myself but I will be back with my daughter. read more

Wheelfish - Fish taco & sweet potato fries - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Stopped in on a little road trip and everything was fantastic. We enjoyed the chicken wings appetizer, and the Farmhouse Sandwich and Ribs were both excellent as well. Service was friendly and prompt. Would definitely come back when I'm in the area. read more

Delicious food, fun/comfortable atmosphere, fantastic service! We got the fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. They were good, but we wouldn't order them again. The wheelfish farmhouse sandwich was perfect, along with a side of sweet potato fries! We also enjoyed the ribs, brisket, mac and cheese, and hand cut fries as a combo platter. All of it was very good! read more

We were pleasantly surprised to find this nearby barbecue place. The food is always very good, including their appetizers and smoked meats. We particularly enjoy their fries and brisket! The service is usually just fine, not great but not terrible. the tables are pretty bare boned, and I do wish they upgraded the inside a bit but overall it is a good spot! I believe they also do takeout which may be a good option. read more

For those that have lived in the North Hills, they may know this location by its former name "Frank N Steins". A few years ago this place had a makeover and theme change. And, I for one, am glad they did. The house smoked meets and house made barbecue sauces are amazing!! I'm a fan of the brisket. Today I ordered the Nashville Hot chicken sandwich and it made my knees a little weak. Absolute perfection!! read more

Wheelfish - Sitting outside to enjoy the last bit of sunshine before winter comes! - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Delicious BBQ and great atmosphere. The Mac and cheese and chicken were fantastic. Fried devil eggs very good, too. It took a little while to be served but it was busy and perhaps they were short of staff. read more

Found this place by accident and so happy we did! The food is amazing! We've had the smoked brisket and salmon platters and the wings and Nashville hot chicken sandwich. All were superb! I have to say I still think about that sandwich, yum! Great atmosphere and fun trivia night! read more

They have live music on weekends. Check their schedule. meat was delicious. Service was great. Definitely recommend it

Excellent food - service was good - we ate outside so the ambiance was casual and laid back. Would (and have) recommend the Wheelfish, we'll be back! read more

First time here take out. Very nice menu and location amazing I hadn't been here earlier as so many good comments for a place in the north hills and not a chain!! We had the 2 meats and 2 sides. Brisket was excellent ribs were cooked perfect with a little char on the outside but not dry inside. The sides were fries nothing special there but the Mac and cheese was really good and a must add for me going forth. Also got the pulled pork nochos and with the obvious home made chips was good also. As an extra got the grilled vegetables and with the usual onion/zucchini were baby corn which really added something. Overall great addition to the north hills. read more

This place is a gem. I went there for lunch and had the tacos. The fish taco is absolutely delicious. I mixed it with a pulled pork taco. You have to try these you will not be disappointed Now we were there for lunch and it was very empty. I understand that it gets busy in the evening so lunch could be a good option. read more

Wheelfish - Really cool dining room with a small stage - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The service was wonderful. Kind, welcoming and excellent service. First time visitors so tried a huge variety from the menu. Servings were plentiful and hot, fresh. The restaurant is very clean with the smoker removed from interior. Picnic tables outside are terrific for an outdoor meal. read more

Great food, amazing barbecue sauces. Quick and friendly service. Cool- laid back atmosphere! In and out in an hour!! Which for Pittsburgh is amazing, considering most places are a 2hr wait to be seated!! Totally recommend to anyone with small kids too! read more

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On a Saturday night, the place was packed but they managed to squeeze us into a side table with a great view of the stage. We had to flag down the manager to ask if we had a server because other tables around us were all being served and we were thirsty. Evidently, the hostesses need to inform the wait staff who has which table and she forgot to assign someone to us. Both the manager and the hostess were supremely apologetic. Perfect response in such a situation. Now, the service is chaotic, grant you, and a little slow but this mom and pop BBQ joint gets the job done. We ordered the smoked eggplant, the grilled veggies side, and a few beers to start. The grilled veggies were al dente and perfectly cooked. The eggplant came with a tomato ragout over it. Eggplant being the super porous veggie that it is, absorbed all of the smoke in the smoking process so it sort of overpowered you with smoky flavor. Some might like it that smoky but I would maybe recommend a shorter smoke time for that so it has a hint of smokiness instead of a sock in the mouth of smokiness. Otherwise, as did the grilled veggies, they need to find their salt and pepper shakers because nothing was seasoned. For entrees, we both got the salmon. I ordered the quarter and my partner, the half pound portion (see pics of side by side sizing so you have an idea of the portions). The salmon was very good other than needing some seasoning and the mac and cheese was superbly creamy and delicious. The pork and beans were a little on the runny side and tasted really good. The live music started at 8PM and added a nice background and they adjusted the volume to ensure people weren't being blasted out but could hear her. Mary Lou Scherder did a nice set of 1970's and 1980's era hits and some country songs. Looks like she plays once a month. We will try it again because everyone, patrons and staff, were super nice. Think we'll try the brisket or ribs next time and maybe order up some bourbon to go with it. read more

Wheelfish - Salmon - 1/4 LB w/ MAC & Cheese and 1/2 LB w/ Pork & Beans - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Just a very cute restaurant in here middle of no where I feel. The best bbq we have had around here that's for sure. And the service was so friendly and welcoming. I would love to go back when it's nice enough to sit outside! read more

Food was very good - especially the nachos with pulled pork! Outdoor atmosphere was pleasant.

Good bbq. Portions are by weight. Sides and pork are very good. Brisket was not cut to order or possible got an end if one. It was gray

Love the barbecue here, the best definitely in the north suburbs. Service is excellent as well. Good bar choices.

It was our first visit to the place. We received a warm welcome at the door. So ice-breaking. The music was lovely. Service was great and so timely. The food was delicious. I like the brisket a bit moister but it was not their fault. We all like this place and will be back in the near future. P.s I forgot to mention that desert was amazing too. read more

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Stopped by to get a sandwich but then noticed that on Taco Tuesday's the tacos are $2. So off I went and ordered two delicious tacos. My order of Brisket and a Pulled Pork tacos were very tasty and both had different toppings. There are four sauces. One is a Spicy Hawaiian that I do not remember and is real tasty with some nice spicy heat. All the sauces are good. The tacos are really a good size with plenty of tasty meat. What a good choice for tacos. read more

Wheelfish - $2 Taco Tuesday & sweet potato fries - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

WheelFish is one of the best BBQ places in Pittsburgh. It deserves all the hype! The food is absolutely incredible and speaks for itself. The service is great and you'll always feel welcome. read more

Wheelfish - Nachos - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Tried this place a second time recently. I like their choice of sauces they provide. The pulled pork was very good. The brisket was good but had too much fat on for my liking. Grilled vegetables and mac and cheeses also good. The service was very friendly. read more

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I use to come here all the time I loved my service the little blondie named Mally believe or something like that. The food was okay and ambiance was okay as well. read more

My husband and I chose to have lunch at Wheelfish after craving something new and browsing yelp reviews. We went on a Thursday at noon and there was only one other person. They have one of those Touch Tune digital jukeboxes and it just so happened to play a perfect mix of classic rock that day. It looks like there is a small stage, so I assume they have live music some nights too. This place has this rustic, cozy cabin vibe to it. Before you even walk inside, you can smell the meat smokin'! I ordered the Dark and Stormy drink (kraken and ginger beer) and I am already wanting to remake it at home! My husband got a highball. Both our drinks were well made and tasty. We got an order of the deep fried deviled eggs. They did not disappoint! For our main meal, I got the smoked salmon sandwich and he got the brisket. When our waitress brought our food, she also brought a handy carrier with napkins and an array of sauces. She proceeded to tell us about each sauce and even shared her favorite (the Gold, which I also thought was superb!). Overall, a great place to grab a bite for lunch. We will be back! read more

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Smoked meats were excellent. Got the platter. Coleslaw and potato salad were very good. Beer selection is very limited. Very limited. And then they charge $8.50 for a 16 oz Guinness??? You can go to a brewery and get a fresh 16oz beer for $6. Weird. All in all a good experience. A bit pricey for where you are. read more

We were actually there for a private event, which might slant my review. But...that said-Wheelfish is terrific! The food was definitely made with care and skill. The flavors were wonderful, the options were plentiful, and the staff were terrific! The BBQ sauces and the smoky flavor were perfect. The mac/cheese-delicious! Staff was also knowledgeable about the ingredients as well. read more

We love the food and drinks. The atmosphere is great too! Some of our favorite menu items are the deviled eggs, smoked wings, and brisket!

Good food. Good service. Lots of good sounding options. I would really recommend this to anyone looking for this type of meal option. Fries are good. Mac and cheese was delicious. read more

Ok, I'm not sure how I forgot to review this restaurant, but, no worries, I'm kicking myself right now and writing, because, it's absolutely SPECTACULAR! (Not kidding; that last word should be in bold, italicized, underlined, and showing up in font 90394 on your screen) I ordered from here on my birthday a few months ago, and remember it vividly; I wish the entire spread of my order was in front of me this very moment. I would devour it. They offer true blue BBQ created in the time honored tradition associated with the South. Moreover, they also offer multiple sauces that will please any pallet (and hopefully end fiery arguments over which southern style is the best). My family ordered three bbq sandwiches, a side of ribs, and more sweet potato fries. We also snagged an order of their deep fried deviled eggs which were atrociously delicious. (Good God, don't skip the eggs, not kidding). I must say, their entree sizes are beyond fair, and we actually over ordered for two adults and two kids under 10 - no worries though - can't complain about too much food (well, I guess you can, from crappy restaurants, but certainly not here.) Final thought for credence - I lived in the Raleigh area and once ate from five different southern bbq joints driving from the beach (Wilmington) back to home on a weekend - i stopped everywhere I saw a joint and ordered a sandwich, my wife almost killed me, but alas, I'm writing this and still alive. I also make my own bbq, and stock up in NC sauces during the classic Pittsburgh retreat to the OBX (George's and Scott's). I hope you all know how much time and effort it takes to make true BBQ; they are selling their food at an incredibly reasonable price. It's not like dropping a hamburger on the grill. Look, this restaurant has it down pat. If you don't like their food, well, we can't be friends. :) No, seriously, if you don't like it, we aren't going to work out. read more

Needed a BBq fix so me and a friend headed over to Ross. Their menu is solid and includes staples such as slaw, smoked potato salad and mix and match meat platters. Their beer offering is impressive and I got a couple of cocktails that were made well. We ordered an egg roll app and split a three meat bbq platter. I was surprised how good everything was and how quickly we were served. Everything was 10/10 up to this point. Now here's the negative.... There was a small three piece band playing and the music wasn't overly loud so it was manageable but they were friggin terrible. Musically they could play their instruments fine, but none of them could sing. So I guess mgmt and the regulars would rather have live music than a jukebox and I can respect that but it ain't always gonna be pretty. All in all this place is an awesome neighborhood restaurant and the locals should be thrilled to have such a great little place. read more

Fantastic barbecue with flavorful sides. Atmosphere is fun and comfortable with friendly locals. Highly recommend!

This place was recommended to me earlier this year by someone whose recommendations I trust, so I didn't do much research on it before I tried it. It seems like an odd little place at first, set up in what looks like a barn on a quiet residential street sort of off by itself, but the parking area was packed so we figured it must be good. It isn't good, it's excellent. Wheelfish features the best barbecue I ate this year and is overall one of my top three places I tried in that same span. The smoked brisket is the big draw, but their chicken and pulled pork are also delightful. If you don't like it plated, you can get some of the meats in sandwich or taco form. Their sauces are great and they might have the best sweet potato fries in the Pittsburgh area. I would recommend you come hungry and plan for an appetizer. We've had the pulled pork eggrolls and the deep fried deviled eggs and both were absolutely worth it. The setting inside is pretty laid back and the staff is always friendly and more than accommodating. They feature live music fairly often and do it such that it isn't ear-piercingly loud. You can enjoy it but still talk across the table without having to shout. Their draft list is small but always features a real gem or two and there are extra bottled options at a cooler near the door. This place is, for sure, a must visit. read more

Wheelfish - Deep Fried Deviled Eggs - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I was out for a funeral and found this place by my hotel. It's exactly what I needed. Live music and unbelievable food. Service was amazing and wish this was closer to home. read more

5 stars! Yes, I did..... First off, as other Yelpers mentioned, this is a "hidden gem" and not only is it off the beaten path, it is so far off the path, that the path disappears, you hit B.F.E., then go another 100 miles..... My experience was totally Yelp random. I was at the Three Rivers Harley Davidson Dealership and searched for BBQ, this place popped up. I am so happy that it did!!!! Getting down to business----- 1. Deep Fried Deviled Eggs - The best I have ever had. The Bullet bourbon bacon jam with a jalapeño is a killer combination. The bread crust gives it a snap, yet the inside is devilishly delish! 2. The Chopping Block - Warning! Addictive as hell! Crispy Pork Bites are to die for, in fact, after it was all said and done, I ordered an order just of the bites. Marinated pork butt then fried. So basically, you have a caramelized crust with a fatty inside, can you say "flavor explosion"? Bacon is to die for, I could live on their bacon alone. Kielbasa was to be expected, pretty good smoked flavor (I am not a Kielbasa expert). Bacon jam and chili hurry - yes please!!!!!! One bitch, its small and not really shareable. I could prob eat two of these!!!! 3. Brisket - Very good smoked flavor with a perfect crust. They slice to order. Perfect! 4. Homemade BBQ sauces. What? Yes!!!! All equally phenomenal.. Jonathan, who is local, was my bartender. Great personality. The "executive chef" ---- BBQ has an exec chef, wtf? ---- was friendly and chatty, explaining his secrets. They do a great job, it is a pity that they are about 10 miles way past B.F.E. I was there for lunch, but it looks like it would be a great place to hang out and listen to music, I was liking the craft beer list and bourbon list!!!!!!!! As General MacArthur said, "I shall return" read more

This was a find from google for a ribs hankering. Quiet, set back, and very much a local place. I had the 2 combo with ribs and salmon sweet potato fried and pork and beans. Everything was cooked to perfection. Mom had the 2 combo with ribs and pulled pork. She doesn't like the pork dressed and this wasn't. She had cole slaw too. We overheard that the ice cream sandwiches were a house favorite. Would definitely go back for eat in or take out. Outside seating was nice. read more

Yum! Love this place so much. Great bbq in the north hills. Last night I had the salmon sandwich. I know, Salmon at a bbq place? It is seriously awesome! So juicy and big. Fries on the side are awesome as well. I can't get enough of the sauces too. Bold is my personal favorite but the sweet and spicy mixed together are great too. I've also had the pulled pork nachos and chicken wings. There hasn't been something I didn't love. Finally, last night I got the Mexican Mule from the bar. Mostly ice but the flavor was good. Just wish it was a little more drink and a little less filler. read more

Wheelfish - Salmon sandwich - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Wheelfish is worth the drive wherever you live in the greater Pittsburgh area! It is on Thompson's Run Road and I came from the Babcock Blvd side. There are many signs warning of the road being closed ahead, but the road is open to Wheelfish from this direction. Just ignore the detours. They have a small selection of craft draft beers and a much larger list of bottled crafts. I sat at the bar and enjoyed listening to the local patrons. This is their neighborhood bar. It was $2.00 Taco night so I ordered 2 with a salad and Mac n cheese. My salad was so fresh, with lovely greens and a homemade citrus vinaigrette. The Mac n cheese was just like mom used to make and topped with garlic breadcrumbs! Delicious! The tortillas were brown on edges like they were warmed on the grill. YUM! My Pork taco was outstanding. So full of flavor! I tried each of the homemade BBQ sauces in separate bites. Every sauce was good, but I favored the Spicy Texas sauce. The Brisket taco was a little shy on the brisket but the green peppers and onions were so good and the chimchurri was excellent! I will definitely return to this hidden gem BBQ place out in the wilds of the North Hills. read more

This was our first time to Wheelfish. We had previously been there when it was Frank N Steins and could see all the work they did outside & inside to renovate the property. It has a cool rustic feel. There is a bar area, separate restaurant area & little stage for live music. They are only open over the weekend. Everything is a la carte. My husband and I shared the chicken (moist & delicious with the skin), smoked beef brisket (delicious, brought to you dry & they have multiple sauces they bring to you that you can put on - I didn't care for the sauces, but my husband did like the Cowboy), delicious sweet potato fries & the corn muffin (my husband loved it. I thought it had a weird taste). It was definitely enough food for both of us. You don't get a lot of brisket (small portion), but do get a lot of chicken (small portion). When the chicken first came it was not cooked enough. My husband sent it back & they were very nice about it. The owner brought it out, apologized & gave it to us for free because she wanted us to have a good first experience. The waitress was also very nice. They know good customer service & could teach a few local restaurants a thing or two. They have a cooler that you could get mix & match 6 packs to go. They have a great craft beer selection & good imports. The only bad thing was they thought Blue Moon was domestic. Great place! You definitely need to check it out. We'll be back & are happy to have a great local place. read more

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Good food. Casual dining environment. Good service. Will be back in the future. Large parking lot.