E2

E2 has been on my brunch hit list for a long time, and I finally made it over the Sat. before last. The occasion was that some friends decided to get together with me one last time before I leave PGH for good. Having called ahead of time to check, I knew that they weren’t too busy, so I suggested that we head over to try it, and they assented.
After a 15 min. wait during which we enjoying complimentary hot beverages and checked out the bakery next door, we were seated out front. Having read the previous reviews, I knew that the donuts were popular and mentioned this to my friends. We ordered the berry white donuts to share ($ 6), which are powdered donut holes topped with a berry compote. They were absolutely delicious, and were most definitely the highlight of the meal! The donuts were of the cake variety and were rather dense, and the compote was a nice consistency – not too thick or thin, but just right, made from real fruit and its juices.
For our entrees, one of my friends ordered the biscuit and gravy ($ 12), whereas my other friend and I both ordered the breakfast flatbread with bacon ($ 13). The flatbread resembled a sauceless pizza and was topped with eggs, ricotta cheese, mixed greens, and small pieces of thick cut bacon. The flavors, which were surprisingly muted, were enhanced by the addition of arrabbiata sauce served on the side, which had a bright tomato flavor enhanced by a slight kick of heat. Initially, my friend was a bit surprised by the non-​traditional nature of the biscuit and gravy, which resembled chili in texture and flavor. He quickly warmed up to it, however, and enjoyed it, despite that it wasn’t exactly what he had in mind when he ordered it.
E2 is a small restaurant, so it was nice to be able to take advantage of the pleasant weather to brunch al fresco. As others have mentioned, it’s BYOB, but we weren’t able to take advantage of this policy because my friends were driving. Overall, it was definitely an enjoyable brunch, and if I were staying in PGH, I’d definitely return to try some more of their delicious entrees – and donuts!

I don’t know what I liked more, the beignets or the seafood entrée that I had. Either way, I want more!

Though no fault of E2… it must be said that if there is something to spoil a dining experience it’s sitting beside a woman displaying a complete lack of self awareness, talking throughout the meal about herself so loudly that it was impossible to hear anything else except her incessant, irritating voice. Exhausting. Thankfully the interesting flavor combinations of the food saved the day. The slightly burned donuts achieved a measure of success with raspberry glaze + lime zest. And the seasonal omelette and frittata really hit the mark. The coffee was surprisingly subpar. Ultimately why E2 rises above the brunch competition is their well balanced flavors + attention to detail. It’s cash only and hopefully next time…‘inside voices’ only!

I love this place! They have excellent dinner and brunch menus, and the ambiance is casual but nice. It’s a little expensive but worth it, and it’s BYOB, which is great. It is a small area, though, and they’re often very busy and only take reservations for 6 people or more, so be prepared to wait a bit or plan to come at less popular times.

Just dined here for brunch and had such a nice morning! We arrived 10 min before they opened at 9, and we were very glad we did because there was a line before they even opened the door. We were seated immediately. We brought our own champagne and they supplied fresh orange juice, so we were able to have yummy mimosas!
We ordered their special donut of the day, honey and sesame seed, we loved them! I ordered the chickpea and chorizo gravy on a biscuit entrée (it had a sunny side up egg too), and even though it was a pretty big portion, I ate the entire thing. It had just the right amount of spice. My mom ordered the arugula and sunny side egg flatbread, she could only eat half, but she also really enjoyed it!
The service was awesome! Not only were they super efficient (we had OJ and donuts less than a few minutes from sitting down), but very helpful for first timers with the menu. In addition, it was a beautiful, sunny morning and they had the door open to the patio, so the natural light really created a nice atmosphere! The only thing to be aware of is that they’re cash only for brunch, but there was an ATM across the street in the market, so no big deal. I would 100% come back sometime! Maybe for dinner next?

The wait for this place can be long because it’s so tiny, but they have an area downstairs where you can have a cup of coffee and wait. Luckily for us (group of 5), it was a bit cold outside so they hadn’t opened up the outside seating yet. We were fine with keeping our jackets on and asked if we could just sit outside so we were seated immediately.
Our food was so good, everyone loved everything. I had the chorizo dish, a friend had the goat cheese omelette, another had the bagel and lox plate. Hot, tasty, and well worth the money. The waitress was really friendly.
Have tried to go back a couple of times but the wait was just too long for our starving and likely a bit hungover group.
Cash only

1^st time brunch at Pittsburg & it’s great!!! The place is small but so cute. We came around 9:15am and is crowded already. The doughs are freshly made (all ingredients are FRESH) donuts are A MUST! I heard the pasta dishes are also good, but I have no space anymore after the bagel plate LOL. The portion is huge and each dish is around $ 12 so not too bad. Remember it’s CA$h ONLY for brunch~ the decorations are so home like. In general, it’s a great place for brunch, might need to wait if you come later ~

(This review is for Sunday Sauce.)
A group of my friends and I went to Sunday Sauce, which is an event E2 does that you have to pre-​buy tickets to ($ 40/​person). Basically it’s located in the lower level and they set up this long table. There were probably 30 some people there all at the same long table. It’s BYOB and even though I didn’t bring anything, the people sitting next to me were so kind they offered me some of their wine.
When we sat down (they label the seats so if you’re going in a group and want to sit together, you might want to buy tickets at the same time), they had focaccia bread and some antipasto dishes on the table already. Then, they promptly brought out a snap pea salad with fresh mint and goat cheese, a salad with mozzarella chunks, charred broccolini and sausage, and a roasted carrot and radicchio gratin (which was so good). I really liked how they made vegetables the center of attention. Even my friend who doesn’t normally like veggies was a huge fan of everything they served. It all tasted very fresh, too. They then followed that by serving a lamb bolognese with gnocchi (the gnocchi could’ve been fluffier), grilled asparagus with egg and blue cheese dressing (odd but delicious combo), a kale caesar salad, and a risotto with mushrooms (yum). Everything was family style (which I love) and you just take as much as you want and then pass it on. At the end of the meal, they had coffee available to go with the Pittsburgh crème pie slice that everyone got. It was scrumptious. Seriously, it’s been two days and I’m still raving about how great and how delicious the Sunday Sauce experience was. Oh, also they pack up leftovers and leave it on a counter for people to choose what they want to take home when they leave (tip: get there fast or there won’t be anything left). I know the menu won’t be the same next time, but I’m positive it’ll still be an amazing experience, so I’m eager to go back!
Overall, awesome food, good company (the kind who offer to share their wine), and nice service/​ambiance!

My workplace rented out the basement event space for our holiday party on a December Sunday, and the space was a great size for our party of 50 or 60. My S.O. and I don’t eat out for Italian food often, as I find it relatively easy to replicate at home, but E2 surprised us with its extreme deliciousness.
The appetizers we were served included 4 types of crostini, a tasty tuna chunk-​topped variety, an anchovy-​topped, a delightfully sweet pepper selection, and a smoked salmon with egg salad that was my favorite bite of the night. There may have also been some polenta bites or something-​or-​other in the starch family, but I was too busy stalking the lox to give it much notice.
Entrees were served family style and included a pasta and meatballs dish, a cappelletti dish, pasta carbonara, roasted beets and carrots with charred broccoli, and a salad that I just didn’t have time for, although I’m sure it was tasty. All the pasta dishes were sinfully good, but it was the sweetest beets I’ve ever had that blew me away.
All in all, we’re a picky inner-​food industry bunch, and we had nothing but good remarks. I will definitely be back to try their normal dinner or brunch menu.

Went here to celebrate my sister-in-law’s birthday. I was on Whole30 so my options were limited, but I did have options! So my personal experience is limited to fried eggs, potatoes, and bacon. Boy, it was the best fried eggs, potatoes (rosemary) and bacon. I asked them to cook my food in olive oil instead of butter and they were happy to accommodate my request. Others got the Charizo and biscuit, the omelette, a croissant sandwich, and some sort of soup/​chili looking dish. Sorry, I didn’t pay attention to all the official names since I just had eggs, potatoes and bacon (farmer’s breakfast), but they all looked (and according to them), very delicious!
Others had the donuts (lemon rosemary, Nutella and whipped cream, and powered benguets) and they were gone within seconds. I did drink their coffee black, so that says a *lot* for me (I can only drink coffee that I really like without unsweetened coconut milk, which I didn’t have with me).
We went for Brunch, so it was cash only! Not sure if this is the case with all of their meals, but that is a bit of a bummer.
The staff was so nice and helpful. Am looking forward to returning here when I am off Whole30 :).

I visited Pittsburgh this past weekend and finally got to try E2’s brunch. It has been on my list of «must try» places in the city for some time, I’ve heard so many good things. The staff at E2 definitely did not disappoint.
Lucky for us, there wasn’t a line outside (thanks, polar vortex). The dining room is small, and feels exclusive without seeming at all pretentious. We were promptly seated and ordered some really good coffee. We tried an order of the berry compote/​powdered sugar donuts and they were fantastic. And generously portioned! They come 5 to an order which were more than enough for our party of 3 to share.
I split the steak sandwich with my husband, along with the biscuits and chorizo gravy (which was more of a spicy chili). Both items were delicious. And again, very large portions. I really wasn’t expecting so much food. Everything is really reasonably priced considering the freshness and food quality. I wish I could’ve tried everything!
I’ll definitely return on my next trip to the Burgh. I’d really love to try dinner!

I finally got to eat at E2 after two failed attempts (once they were closed for a private event and the second the wait was waay too long.)
It was really nice, our waitress was very attentive. She saw our bottle of bubbly and brought over some OJ without us having to ask which was cool. The décor is classy rustic (my favorite). We got our own plates and some zeppolis to share. We got the berry ones which were delicious. Id be interested to try the traditional beignets next time.
The bill ended up being more than I’m used to — probably because we got a bunch of OJ, a corkage fee and donuts in addition to my plate. I would likely reserve this venue for a «special» brunch in the future since it has a lot of valuable stuff to offer but can’t break the budget by making this place a regular.

Food: 3.5 (split between 3 for brunch and 4 for dinner)
Ambiance: 2
Service: 3.5
We have been here multiple times for brunch, which is okay but nothing to write home about. Generally sizable portions. We have tried all the donut hole flavors (lemon rosemary is our favorite) and the black pepper/​parm zeppolis — solid but slightly underwhelming given the hype about them.
We finally came for dinner, and were so glad we did! A huge step up from brunch. We came with a large group, were seated pretty close to our reservation time though had to wait downstairs for a bit. The citrus radicchio salad was fresh and the flavors were paired well. The root vegetable gratin looks small but is chock full of melted cheese (and probably butter) and thus very filling. The complimentary grilled bread was served with a tangy, pungent Gorgonzola spread (Ms Beffrey loved it, but it was surprisingly polarizing).
The wild mushroom ravioli was packed with mushroom flavor, though aesthetically not the most appealing. The Brussels sprouts carbonara was sadly quite light on the sprouts, and served with a thick noodle, but overall tasty (definitely add the sausage!). The porcini cappelletti was the favorite — decent amount of mushrooms, though the pancetta felt a little lost. All the pasta dishes were delicious, and frankly what we expected for $ 20 dishes.
The bourbon pecan pie with vanilla ice cream was crunchy and you could taste just a whiff of bourbon. The vanilla ice cream is smooth and creamy, and (surprise!) is from Trader Joe’s! Points to our server for his honesty. We’re going to go stock up on TJ ice cream now.
Ambiance was the biggest gripe for us. It’s really just a cramped room, not much separation from neighboring tables. All you will hear is your neighbor’s conversation. We think they’re going for a hipster vibe, but it feels drab and slightly dingy.
Regardless, would come back for dinner (and pass on their brunches).

Just tried this place for dinner and was blowing away!
They host a great brunch but save your moola and make reservations for an unforgettable dinner (only accepts reservations for 6+ people).
Vegetarian perspective– lots of great options here but very pasta heavy entrees :
Tonight we took full advantage of BYOB (6 $ corkage fee) and brought some high end beers. We enjoyed the roasted vegetable gratin (salty in the best way possible, veggie heaven) and the citrus salad (fresh but found the combo with radicchio too sour) as starters. The bread was stellar and I liked the funky Gorgonzola spread (polarizing for other members of the dining party).
For mains– the wild mushroom ravioli was super flavorful and with a lush thick mushroom sauce. Excellent. We enjoyed the tortellini en brodo which came in a nice rich sauce (meat broth, ordered by my husband). We aren’t the biggest pasta people but E2 finds a way to make them decadent and somewhat worth the price ($ 18+).
Dessert of chocolate meringue pie and pecan pie did not blow us away. Save your dollars there.
Service and pace were noteworthy. Excellent dining experience in intimate atmosphere.

Brunch review: we love donuts, and since this is one of E2’s specialties, I’ve been trying to get here for awhile.
We got the Berry White Donuts– powered sugar and berry compote: pretty good cakey donut, we both agreed that they were OK. It would be nice if we could mix/​match some donuts (½ this, ½ that), but it’s not allowed.
I got the Mush– polenta with maple syrup, bacon and sausage. This dish was pretty good, and I thought each component was tasty.
He got the Housemade Bialy– salmon, capers, egg and chili cream cheese. It comes deconstructed and he enjoyed it very much.
Overall, a solid restaurant in a cozy atmosphere.

Have only been here for brunch. I should say up front that I am giving this place 4 stars for the donuts. If I hadn’t ordered them, I’d probably be giving it a 3.
Even coming for brunch at 10am, we still had to wait close to an hour to get a table for just 3 people. The coffee and tea they provided during the wait were a nice touch, but seriously, how early do you have to get up to beat the crowd?
The donuts we ordered were the rosemary-​lemon (delicious) and the sriracha. The latter were out. of. this. world. Crispy yet fluffy donuts are coated in a magical sriracha sauce that puts boring buffalo to shame. And it came with an incredible blue cheese dip. So, so good. Going to be thinking of those for a while.
The actual main dish I had was pretty disappointing. I got the deep-​fried risotto cake. The cake had been smothered in a frankly bland tomato sauce to the point that I could no longer tell it had been fried — all crispness was lost. It was altogether too much sauce and it felt very gooey overall. There were other veg options — perhaps I just got unlucky.

Our foodie dinner date proved to be successful once again, this time at e2. If I didn’t have my GPS I would have drove right past it, but I’m thrilled I didn’t.
We brought some tasty adult beverages and ordered some app. Mix & match of course. Their OMG! items are incredibly delicious… you must try their Gorg Mess! Cheesey yet spicy… just try it and thank me later. I also ordered their salad special: Grilled Escarole. I’ve never had a grilled salad before, but I not salivate at the thought.
For dinner we faced some difficult decisions… Friends ordered the ricotta ravioli which was savory and a hint of sweet. Incredible! Another ordered the Capanelli which looked amazing. However I’m a mushroom fan and ordered the Wild Mushroom Ravioli. Oh that earthy flavor :) If you love mushrooms like I do, please order this dish! Yum!
For dessert we had to order some doughnuts and chocolatey goodness… unfortunately we ate them all before we could take photos… whoops! Needless to say, they completed a delicious meal.
I may not have found e2 if I had not heard such great things, but I am so thankful we went. I cannot wait to go back and try something new on their always new, always fresh menu.

YUM. Chef Kate Romane is a genius. Pittsburgh is very lucky to have her. Doing Italian food is relatively easy, but she does it extraordinarily well.
The special of the evening was corn fritters. They were absolutely delicious. They were also super filling so I was very glad we decided to share.
I had the wild mushroom ravioli. It was very good. Definitely had an earthy flavor to it, which our waitress described perfectly. My guest had the ricotta ravioli, which was much sweeter (too sweet for me), but it was excellent as well.
The servings are very generous and it was a struggle to stay for dessert, but we did it for the beignets. There are five in a serving, so good for sharing. They are perfectly done and topped with lots and lots of powdered sugar.
It is pretty hard to get in here, but if you go right as they open on a week night there shouldn’t be an issue. If you’re a fan of Italian or just good food in general, I highly recommend E2.

I went to E2 again last night and had the best service and amazing food. Kate Romane is one of the most talented, creative and hardworking chefs in Pittsburgh, and her food is always thoughtfully prepared, locally sourced, and delicious.
I participated in the Kickstarter for the room downstairs, and I have been there many times for their private events. Simply top notch!
What I love about this place is that the appetizer menu is designed for sharing. You buy plates for the table, and you end up with a lot of variety. It’s a fun factor that is hard to describe, suffice to say it’s relaxed, exciting, and very satisfying.
The entrees explore a wide range of gourmet taste sensations, but at an affordable price. Delicious food that will not bust your budget.
The desserts are amazing. I had a strawberry rhubarb dish with currants that was amazing.
The last thing I want to emphasize is that E2 is vegetarian friendly. You don’t have to worry that your vegetarian friends will have limited choices, they have so much to choose from, more than almost any other restaurant in Pittsburgh.
One small issue with E2 is that the room is rather loud. It’s an issue with the acoustics. You can have a nice conversation here, it’s just a little noisy and not ideal for quiet conversation. That’s why I recommend sitting outside, which is probably the best way to experience this amazing restaurant in Highland Park.
In summary, highly recommended, lots of fun, and great food.

SETTING
Small and intimate. If there is a wait, you can make your way downstairs into their huge basement. There, they have complimentary coffee or tea and a super large table to sit at. The drinks are self serve and you can bring them upstairs once you get called.
FOOD
There are 2 menus, one for their donuts and the other for their entrees.
For donuts we got the Chocolate Espresso and also the Zeppolli. Have these donut holes been working out? They were huge! Came in about 5 – 6 pieces per plate. The Chocolate Espresso looked super rich, but it was only coated with chocolate and not chocolate in its entirety. I was expecting it to be soft, but these were a bit more dense (you can stick a fork in it and cut it). The Zeppolli had a chewy and starchy texture. Came with a side of marinara sauce (much needed or it would taste too dry).
From the other menu, we went for the Patatas Bravas which had sliced chorizo with sauteed red potatoes, onions, red peppers, and fresh greens. A spicy sauce dressed it up and there was an egg and toast on top. Good sized portion.
SERVICE
Kind and patient staff who explained their menus very well. Kept waters filled and we never felt like we needed to wait for anything. Came by a few times to check on us.
IMPRESSIONS
If you are with another person, one entrée and one donut dish is plenty enough to share. Definitely a unique place where you can get your hands on some gourmet donuts and filling entrees. I preferred the chocolate to the Zeppolli. The Patatas Bravas was pretty good, but I felt the spiciness took over the dish a little too much. Plenty of chorizo and all the fixins made me a happy camper. Everything tasted okay, but for some reason I had higher expectations. I do want to come back, though, to try other donuts and entrees because E2 is definitely a unique spot.
*Cash only