Bistro 19

I have been wanting to try this place for a while and I finally did with some friends over the weekend. A cute, intimate spot on the main strip in Mt. Lebanon. We had a reservation and the table was ready when we got there. There was a good crowd for 8PM on a Friday and the seats at the bar will filled.
We started wit the hummus tray and bahn mi bowl. The bahn mi bowl was delicious!
For entrees, our table ordered the braised short rib (very good! Healthy portion! Tasty sauce!), the lobster gnocci (also very good!!), the black tiger shrimp (did not try– had a lot of the artichoke dip in the shrimp with a powerful flavor) and the center cut filet (did not try. Was told it was good, but cheesy).
I also had the lobster bisque. It was very good!
The wait staff was friendly and gave good recommendations. It was a little slow, but it was busy night.

Bistro 19 is our go-​to restaurant and never disappoints.
The wait staff is exceptional. The price is reasonable for the quality of the food. I usually get the pork tenderloin. It has a rich, smoky flavor that can’t be beat. I also love the caramel popcorn sundae. Its salty, sweet flavor and mixture of textures are unusual and delicious.

I’ve been an avid Unilocal user in my current digs in Shadyside for a long time, and I also rely heavily on my fellow Unilocalers when I’m traveling. Prior to my current visit back home to my parents in Carnegie (yes, that long arduous trek over the hills and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel), though, I hadn’t done much Unilocal-​sploring in the South Hills area of Pittsburgh. My mom and I were at our usual crossroads in deciding where to have dinner, so I went to Unilocal for a little assistance, and came across Bistro 19.
Nestled into a cute stretch of Washington Road bustling with boutiques, cafes, and restaurants, we were pleased to find a small, cozy, dimmed space and a table by the window (which was still very toasty despite the January temps outside!). As other reviewers have commented, one of the highlights of the meal was the bread basket: two different, warm varieties with some delicious whipped honey chive butter for good measure on the side. For our main courses, my mom got the lobster gnocchi, which came loaded with a whole king lobster tail perched on a bed of gnocchi swimming in a rich gouda leek sauce. I was lucky enough to sample a bite (or two), and it was absolutely delicious. My first generation Italian mama gave it her stamp of approval. As for me, I had the Bay of Fundy salmon, which came with sides of Basmati rice and asparagus, the latter of which was deliciously crunchy and fresh despite the time of year. The salmon itself was perfectly cooked with a sweet and savory maple Dijon glaze on top. The kicker, though, was the toasted pecans and goat cheese which sat atop the glaze. Some of my favorite salad accompaniments on top of salmon was definitely different, but absolutely delicious. He portion was generous (yay for leftovers!), so we were able to ration some room for dessert. We got the apple bread pudding (yum) and the popcorn sundae, which was like a grown-​up bowl of Cracker Jacks with salted caramel ice cream and real whipped cream.
Overall, Bistro 19 was a delicious find in the South Hills. For the quality meal we had, I thought the prices were very reasonable: with salad/​soup, main courses, and desserts (but no drinks), our bill came out to around $ 80. Hoping to be back soon for a special (or not-​so-​special) occasion!

*Angels Singing* *Harps Playing* Holy Moly! What a glorious restaurant experience at Bistro 19. This restaurant has been on my «to visit» list for years now, but I just never make it out to Mt. Lebanon. I finally got to visit with a group of friends during restaurant week and I have to say that I’m so glad I left the grit and grime of the city to venture across a very fancy crosswalk and into B19.
We made a reservation for 6:30 and were seated right away. I started off the night with an «Apples and Pears» cocktail which consisted of apple infused Boyd & Blair vodka, pear nectar, Angostura bitters, vanilla-​nutmeg syrup, fresh lime juice, and hard cider. It was like someone poured the spirit of Christmas into a mason jar– perfectly spiced and perfectly wonderful.
After drinks, we ordered a trio of hummus to share: plain, pesto, and red pepper. The hummus was a hit.
Next came a basket of bread and butter. The butter got some major praise around the table. I inquired about the butter because it was just too good and I couldn’t place the flavors. Turns out it’s a honey and chive whipped butter. Who knew that those flavors would go together so well.
We all decided to try out the Restaurant Week special menu. For $ 35.16 we got to pick between two appetizers, two main courses, and two dessert options. I opted for the wild burgundy snails and leek goat cheese fondue on a baguette for my first course, the roasted lamb gnocchi for my second course, and chocolate bundt cake to round it out. The snails were good and the cake was good, but the lamb + gnocchi really stole the show. The lamb was so tender and with just the right amount of fat, that it practically melted in my mouth. The gnocchi were seasoned perfectly and cooked perfectly. I think I lost the ability to speak for a good 15 minutes. The only sounds I could make were repeated «mmmmmms». It was definitely one of the best dishes I’ve eaten in Pittsburgh.
Overall, it was a great experience. The service was top-​notch and the atmosphere was the perfect mixture of comfy and classy. My only regret is not trying Bistro 19 sooner. Just think of how many honey chive butter experiences I could have had by now if I visited 5 years ago when I first heard of the place…

3.5 stars.
Decent brunch food in this part of Pittsburgh, and even comes with a pretty huge list of spiked coffees for you to enjoy with the food.
We were celebrating a birthday here, and had a reservation. They were pretty accommodating for our rather large group (~10 people) in their smallish space. I got their grilled salmon salad sandwich, while the mister got his usual eggs benedict. Their sandwiches were good (everyone raves about the croissant), but the eggs were just so-​so.
It definitely can be the star of a small town. Coming from a bigger Metropolitan area, this place is lacking a little bit — perhaps in the freshness of the ingredients? Where Pittsburgh is situated, that could be a bit of a problem that isn’t particularly the restaurant’s fault.
When you’re in town and want to go somewhere that’s slightly nicer with a contemporary flair, this is the place.

We travel to Pittsburgh quite often and have eaten At many of the fine restaurants downtown. I recommend this restaurant for any occasion. I had the filet. Amazing. My husband had the pork tenderloin. Delicious. Best he had ever eaten. The hot chocolates are awesome. But the perfect ending was the bananas foster. Love this restaurant. Service was fabulous. We will be back!

I went there for light up night with my kids and while eating dinner there was a mouse running on the side boards of the restaurant. I was so distraught we had to leave right away. Please do not ever eat here.

Stopped by recently on a visit through town and found the on-​street (metered) parking to be a little difficult, but once we dined we realized it was worth it. We were greeted and seated immediately and then our server brought us water and menus. He was attentive to our needs and friendly. We ordered the hummus appetizer and it was delivered with warm pita bread and three samplings of hummus. Herb, original, and roasted red pepper, the latter being my favorite. I ordered the veggie wrap and it was the best veggie wrap I’ve ever had. The vegetables were perfectly cooked, it was warm and messy. I would have preferred some paper napkins along with it because it was very drippy and was even running down my arm at one point. The tortellini salad that arrived with the wrap was tasty, but nothing extraordinary. My spouse ordered the steak salad and while he found it flavorful, he was not impressed with the cut of meat used, it was full of gristle and was a little tough. In all we were happy and would stop here again.

Very good food! Solid choice while I was here in town for business. Cute little place with limited seating, but you can order full menu at the bar.

This is a little gem on 19 in Mt Lebanon. Not a lot of seating in here, so o recommend making a reservation if you’ll be there during dinner rush.
Parking is all on street except for a few small lots nearby.
Went for dinner with a group of 6 around 8pm. Service was quick, but not rushed. Three of us had a glass of wine each, and the other 3 stuck with water.
There was a nice variety of breads brought to the table along with a flavored butter (maybe it was honey? Can’t recall). The piece I selected from the basket was tasty.
I had scoped out the menu online prior to going to the restaurant, and their menu appears to change seasonally to some degree. There were more items on the menu in the restaurant than I saw online.
I, along with 2 others at the table, ordered the butternut squash ravioli with cranberry Brie and crispy kale. It was divine. The portion size was perfect — not too much but I was able finish the plate and be full. Also, the cranberries were perfect and didn’t overwhelm the dish with tartness.
We didn’t test out the dessert menu.
Overall, I highly recommend this place and can’t wait to drag the better half here!

The food at Bistro 19 is top quality! Every dish my husband and I had was full of flavor, they really pay attention to every detail. I’ve eaten at Bistro 19 two times. The first time was many years ago shortly after they opened. I remember the food being good but for some reason it didn’t stick out to me. Well just the other week we decided to eat there again, pretty much the deciding factor was they had outside tables and wanted to eat outside on a nice summer evening. Well this time the food was unforgettable! Every dish we ordered was amazing! We ordered quite a few dishes. Really, it was too much food but there were so many items on the menu that sounded so good I couldn’t resist. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with having leftovers. :) They really nailed it on every dish, the appetizers, the entrees and even dessert. Don’t leave there without trying one of their deserts. They have some pretty creative dishes.
I certainly won’t be waiting another couple years before I eat there again… Bistro 19 will be a regular on my list now!
They really do deserve more than 5 stars!

I would not go as far as «up-​scale», Bistro 19 is one of those establishments with a number in the name, which have yet to be consistently great. To note, my personal rule for eating out in any city, jokingly, is if it has a number in the name, it generally just plainly sucks or simply thinks too highly of itself. Bistro 19 is no exception, but it can provide a good experience on the right night and it has the potential to become exceptional, especially if they renamed to simply «Bistro».
We traveled back after a few months and discovered the same menu items on a sparse menu. A big surprise to us for the small menu, kind of a bore considering the lack of cuisine options in the area. We actually ended up leaving and headed elsewhere and have yet to return, but it’s not entirely off our list. YET.
This was after taking some considerable time off from our second visit. Why? The first visit was friendly, the food was decent, although the price was not on par, and most importantly — the servers and management had listened to our request for no oil on a specific order very attentively with excellent service. The second visit, the same order was received with lavishly garnered oil, visible to the eye and tastebuds. After requesting the server twice to confirm, they had claimed they had spoken to the chef and that no oil was used. Apparently the servers and chef (if they did look at it) are blind to the shimmery effect of oil. In addition the service was meh at best. Oh well. We tried.
Although I had gone with ravioli on our first trip and it had hit the spot, I had pursued Bistro 19’s burger on the second experience, as a house-​made burger is one of the best ways to sample a restaurant’s quality. And the below par experience continued as the burger was poorly structured, turning into an absolute mess mid-​way through and offering no special restaurant flavor or experience to warrant the bistro price tag. Confusing at best. I simply wanted to finish it and move on, because I was hungry.
Bistro 19’s service is ranging between average to good, but overall the environment is a bit tense for the offerings in the category of «trying too hard» for what it is. It is not as relaxed as I wish it would be, and from the three experiences we have had, it is not offering enough, which leaves me yelling «Give me more Bistro 19!». You are on the right track! Just more! And just go with «Bistro», trust me.

Had a wonderful lunch here. The entrees and sandwiches were going to be larger portions than I wanted so had the beet salad (wonderful mix of flavors with feta) and scallop flatbread (awesome). We did not order the sundae but saw one and it is Huge! I would most definitely like to go back.

Bistro 19 is a quaint, upscale, modern/​classic setting. Listed below is what we had and comments abut each one.
My husband and I split the Carpaccio appetizer = Fabulous.
I had the beet salad = Fabulous
I split the Sea Bass with my sister-​in-​law and it was the BEST Sea bass I have had. I cook see bass frequently and never has it been this good. I asked them and they generously shared how the prepared it. They freely shared everything we asked about which is very nice!
My husband had the almond chicken served over risotto = Fabulous!
Service was excellent. If you are in the area, this restaurant is a MUST!

Quite good. It’s an upscale, modern/​classic setting that’s great for a quiet lunch or dinner. Food is fresh. The menu is concise but offers some variety. Service is efficient, supporting my dining experience without any song/​dance. (Sometimes I want a semi-​intimate dining experience without establishing a deep, personal relationship with my server.)
So I really liked this place. I’ll be back. My lovely wife liked it, too.

My hubby and I love this place! It’s our favorite in the South Hills. Very nice vibe, excellent service, beautiful and delicious food. We have been for Brunch, Lunch and dinner and they are all fantastic! We do recommend reservations– they get busy! The chef is also very accommodating to gluten free requirements and even bakes fresh gluten free bread that is delicious! Our favorite menu items are the tiger shrimp, steak & baked eggs, grilled vegetable stack, any of their soups, almond chicken, and duck breast.
The restaurant can get rather loud for dinner (esp between 7−9pm), but it’s all part of the atmosphere of a small, trendy bistro restaurant!

Bistro 19 is an intimate restaurant to get a classy dinner. Reservations recommended as seating is limited. Bar seating available. It can get loud but is not as bad as other places I have been. The server was professional and very friendly. We had reservations and we were seated immediately. The setting is intimate in the evening so I think it’s best for small groups.
I think this is moderate on the price scale as we spent around $ 100 for 2 people including drinks and desserts. However, I think the delicious meal is definitely worth the price paid.
My only complaint is that my pumpkin ravioli were a little al dente for my taste. The calamari appetizer and Caesar salad was slightly lacking in flavor and I would try something else should I return. The tiger shrimp dinner was phenomenal and I highly recommend it! Both the banana foster Napoleon and bread pudding were fantastic and I would get either one again.
Overall, I was very satisfied with my meal and experience and will be back!

Wonderful little find in Mount Lebanon. The restaurant is small and quaint but has some amazing flavors in their food. The décor is nice and you need a reservation to prevent you from waiting for a table. We have had almost everything off the menu and believe me when I say you can’t go wrong with anything you order. One of our personal favorites that we make sure we get everytime we come is the pork tenderloin. It is just amazing and so full of flavor that it is like a party in your mouth with each bite. Do youself a favor and try a meal here, I’m sure it won’t be your last.

Got my side business on Etsy started yesterday! Yay! So my husband and I went out to celebrate and decided to give Bistro 19 a try since we has heard so many great things from friends. Gotta say that everything was really good, all our food came out at the right temperature, wait staff was attentive and we didn’t feel rushed. Atmosphere was romantic and trendy but remotely quite, which we definitely appreciated after a long stretch with the business. Definitely have to give them 5 stars since it all went so smooth and I truly wish I had had room for dessert.
There was only thing however, I was disappointed in and that was their current summer menu. Many times I find summer menus to be overly saturated with «fresh» meals that are overpopulated with vegetables. That is what a salad section is for in my opinion. I wanted to see more of a variety of meats and styles but a friend told me that their fall and winter menus usually encompasses that more. I love summer but sometimes it is my downfall :). Looking forward to going back though and seeing what they have to offer.

I’m going to make a bold statement and say this is probably one of my favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh. Why? Because it’s ALWAYS consistently excellent.
My only experience had been for lunch, but I finally made it to dinner and I have to say, what took me so long? It was incredible.
I ordered «what they’re know for» (as the waitress said), the Chilean Seabass. Another bold statement, it may be one of the best dishes I’ve ever had! It was so light and fluffy, but packed with flavor. Mainly because the horseradish glaze was out of control good. Add on a delicious mix of slaw and rice and it was the perfect dish.
Please, city folks, do not poo poo coming out to the South Hills! It’s so worth the annoying ride up West Liberty, promise!