Prairie

I’ve been to Prairie twice now – once for a Valentines friends date and once for brunch with a friend visiting from NC. Overall, Prairie didn’t overwhelm me, but it did have its highlights – namely, the butternut squash soup that I was able to enjoy for my February dinner (I even tried to recreate it at home shortly afterwards, but it just wasn’t the same).

Amazing food, incredible drinks and excellent service! (Try the slow your roll cocktail!)

My group of about ten friends visited Prairie for dinner on a Thursday for their $ 5 Casa Verde Margarita special. The margaritas were super tasty, a generous glass with a great balance of flavors. Our table shared the kettle corn basket and cheese board, which were big hits. I felt like eating light so I ordered the spring salad, which had a really refreshing and original mix of flavors like pickled root vegetables and radishes. Our server was really attentive, but I never felt rushed during the two hours we stayed.
While I really enjoyed my food and drinks at Prairie, I probably won’t be back for dinner because nothing else on the menu is beckoning me to come back. Those are just my tastes though, so I would urge others to give Prairie a shot if they haven’t already!

Didn’t realize they closed from 3 – 5 to transition from brunch to dinner. Walked in at 2:45, was advised they was closing but would be willing to let us order. Waitress was very friendly and helpful. Ordered off the brunch menu
Food was fantastic and very fresh! Potatoes were thin, crispy and perfectly salted. The thick cut bacon was also super yummy. Def going back for dinner soon.

I Thought this place was great. Ambiance was really cool, with indoor and outdoor seating options. food was great across the board. Went for a Mother’s Day brunch and the pecan French toast was killer. Everything we ordered was actually great, which is saying something in and of itself. Menu is a bit limited but at least what they list is actually delicious. Service was good too. Also, exceptionally good coffee for a restaurant. They accommodated our toddler quite well too. We had a reservation and they had the high chair set up when we arrived. They were Chic but also quite family friendly. Great spot overall.

I was looking forward to Prairie opening and went during the first couple of weeks for Sunday brunch. The eggs, sausage and biscuits were delicious. Truly felt old west inspired as well as with the décor. Bloody Mary’s had just the right kick.

For months, I’ve been dying to dine at Prairie, and I’m glad I finally made it here. From their menu online, I could see there were good vegetarian options which makes it a must-​try. We came late on a Saturday evening, but the atmosphere was calm and relaxing. The waitress was very friendly and checked in on us often.
We ordered the cornbread as a starter. Overall, it tasted great: crispy on the outside, nice and fluffy on the inside. However, the jalapeño taste overpowered the rest of the flavors and made the cornbread spicier than I would have liked it to be. The green onions were an interesting touch. I was not a fan but my boyfriend loved it, so to each his own, I guess.
I chose the Seitan Hoagie as my entrée, and it was delicious! The seitan itself could have used more flavor. Most of the favor came from the marinated vegetable topping. I was excited to try the cauliflower «cheese» but there was barely any on the sandwich to be able to taste it — disappointing :(
My boyfriend got the Prairie burger which tasted good except for the fact that the patty was unevenly cooked. He ordered it medium rare but the center looked like it was ripped right off the cow while the sides were too well done.
Even though it wasn’t a completely smooth ride, I would still recommend trying out this place. It’s vegetarian-​friendly and the prices aren’t too bad for the quality of food you get. Definitely check it out!

They don’t allow outdoor seating for a group of more than 4. So, if you have more than 4 friends, and you would like to enjoy outdoor dining in Pittsburgh summer, forget about it.

Great food. Great space. Great whiskey mules. And great service.
We just went to Prairie for the first time on a Monday night. Our group started with the bbq kettle corn; and I was tempted to just order more and make that my meal. I had the spicy chicken Monday night special (in part, because it came with a cookie) and my husband had the bacon wrapped bison meatloaf. Both were excellent. But the cookie sealed our love of the place. It’s the best cookie I’ve experienced in the ‘Burgh so far.
The cookie, plus some certain other baffling negative reviews, and my overall positive experience with the bites and service all prompted this review. It’s not your new fancy and somewhat overpriced Lawrenceville spot, but maybe that’s why I love it. We will be back with some frequency. This place deserves to have 4.5 stars, so I’m rounding up.

Thank God for Restaurant Week! We found a true GEM!
Restaurant week has always been amazing for trying something new at an affordable price. After hearing Prairie won most mouthwatering at the kick off party, I knew we had to try it. I never heard of them… but they’re new to the scene so that makes sense.
Formerly Verde, Prairie is full of comfort and joy in your mouth. Our reservations allowed us to be seated immediately, which is good because within minutes of us entering, it was packed! Promptly greeted and drinks were recommended — if you like Bourbon, you’ll love Prairie!
Our RW menu selections were Brussel Sprouts, Mac N Cheese (apps); chicken and biscuit, mushroom sprouted rice risotto (main); bourbon bread pudding, Prairie cookie with vanilla ice cream (dessert). I cannot accurately describe the deliciousness we received. I will say this — I want that recipe for the Brussels! Also, I have dreamed of that cookie… oh goodness… the warm chocolate pecan cookie was incredible!
When we learned they serve brunch, we KNEW that Prairie was added to our favorites list. I cannot wait to try their full menu (which we looked at and sounds delicious and reasonably priced).
Most Mouthwatering? Yes I concur! Another successful restaurant week in Pittsburgh.

I went with a friend for restaurant week and enjoyed my meal. The last time I went to a restaurant week dinner, it was at Root 174, and I did not like it at all. I remember feeling that the menu they put together was a complete after thought. A bummer because I heard a lot of great things about the place, but it totally fell short for me.
I did get a chance to view Prairie’s menu prior to going and I thought it was more thoughtful and offered a range of different dishes for vegetarians, pescatarians and omnivores alike. The waitstaff was great. I actually was delayed getting there, but called them while en route and they assured me they’d save my table. And true to their word, when we arrived, we were promptly seated.
I ordered the winter salad, the walleye fish and the crème brulée. My friend had the brussel sprouts, the chicken breast, and I believe the rhubarb cake. I really enjoyed the winter salad and the walleye. The walleye was moist and flaky with a nice crisp skin. That was the standout dish for me. The crème brulée was fine, didn’t find it stellar. It was more than an ample serving. I remember not being able to finish it.
For cocktails, we both ordered the little mule. Didn’t realize it was going to be so little, but it was a solid drink, hands-​down.
I’m glad Prairie has taken over its predecessor Verde, another restaurant that I didn’t care for and had eaten there more than a handful of times. Prairie is very promising. Felt that I got my money’s worth from the restaurant week menu, let’s see if it holds up going forward.

My boyfriend and I went for Restaurant week. While I had planned to order something different than him, they changed the menu from what was posted online, so I couldn’t order what I had planned. I was a little disappointed about that but ordering the same thing meant we could both get a good idea about the dish and discuss.
We had the campfire mac and cheese to start. It was thick and creamy. I liked that they used cavatappi instead of shells or elbow macaroni. It’s just such a fun noodle and really held on to the thick sauce. The bacon was a little crispier than I expected, but it was good. The onions also provided a nice crunch and broke up some of the rich cheese sauce.
The chicken and biscuit entrée was really good. I liked the thick gravy and the evenly diced root vegetables. The beets and carrots went really well together. We noticed big differences in the size of our biscuits, and both thought they were a little dry. I reheated half of my food for lunch later and thought that warming up the biscuit actually made it seem better and less dry. The chicken was really moist. It was well seasoned, and we both liked that it was deboned. I expected to cut into it and have to pick meat off the bone but there was only the little wing drumstick at the end, so that made things easier.
Dessert was where we differed. My boyfriend ordered the cookie and ice cream, which was really good. The huge cookie looked a little silly with such a tiny scoop of ice cream, but it tasted good. I ordered the lemon thyme crème brûlée, which I loved. The lemon and thyme went really good together and mixed things up a bit from a typical super sweet crème brûlée.
I think that the food was good, but with their normal prices, seems a little over priced. Drinks were really the shining point of dinner. We each had one of their happy hour little mules, which defintiely have a spicier ginger flavor than most mules, and I love that. He had the blackberry gin fizz and I had the Prairie fire, which we didn’t get to see made but I saw made previously and they actually light the rosemary sprig on fire when making the drink.
Service was good and our waitress was really friendly. The space is really nice, though my boyfriend found their chairs a little uncomfortable. I love the look o the bar and the whiskey posters they have. I’d probably go back for drinks and because I really want to try the beer cheese bread bowl, but I’m not sure I’d be back for a full meal.

Not bad. Not great. Expensive.
We went here during restaurant week and I’m so glad that’s when we went, and not for the full-​price menu. The restaurant week price was $ 30.16 per person but I think my selections would have been around $ 40 at regular price. Between me and my husband, we got the two squash soup, chicken and biscuit, Great Lakes walleye, bourbon bread pudding and the crème brûlée. Soup was thick, like a purée, but it was tasty. $ 8 is steep for a vegetarian soup though. The chicken dish was prepared well but way too oversalted, but the biscuit was flaky and buttery. The walleye itself was prepared perfectly but paired with the earthy wild rice, cauliflower and beets, I’m not sure if the flavors complimented each other very well. Too many earthy flavors took away from the fresh, flaky fish, which should have been the star of the show. The bread pudding was dry, as if it was a loaf of bread with just a drizzle of honey and cinnamon. The crème brûlée was decent, but a little too much lemon flavor. You can see the granules of vanilla bean but couldn’t taste any of it with the overwhelming lemon flavor. Overall, I would come back if the prices dropped. Otherwise, it’s just a bit too expensive for what you’re getting.

We had a certificate for a glass class and decided to stop by Prairie’s HH. Props to the staff for not laughing at me struggling to open the wrong door (go in the one with the screen, away from the bar).
Prairie was pretty quiet at 5:30 on a Tuesday – there were only 3 other sets of customers. We opted to sit at the bar and the bartender was friendly without being overbearing, and she ensured that our every thirst was met (both water and booze).
I agree with the other reviewers – their regular menu is pretty pricy. We ordered two of the appetizers (sprouts and beer cheese) and the chicken and biscuit entrée to go with our drinks. The happy hour special on a Moscow Mule (or ‘lil mule, as it was called here) is tasty (nice and ginger-​y!), affordable, and served in an actual copper cup that didn’t require a deposit! Yay for trust! The sprouts were really tasty, although not as gratin-​y as I would have expected – no bechamel, just breadcrumbs, cheese, bacon, and a bit of a lemony broth. I liked the lightened up version as a foil to the decadent beer cheese bread bowl. The beer cheese was pretty good, but a little grainy, and the sourdough boule really had excellent flavor that was covered up by the cheese. I’d rather the cheese be served on the side so I can enjoy the tasty bread more!
The chicken and biscuit entrée was very large – two generous pieces of chicken, a ginormous biscuit, roasted beets (and possibly potatoes?), and thick brown gravy. We didn’t finish this or the beer cheese given their size, so perhaps the higher prices would be good value for heartier eaters. The biscuit was pretty dense, but the beets were phenomenal, and went really well with the roasted chicken. Gravy was well-​seasoned, but a little too gloppy for my preference.
Friendly service, tasty food, and excellent drinks – we’ll probably come back for RW and happy hour. Food is pretty heavy on the current menu… curious to see what they’ll do come spring!

I really enjoyed Prairie. I need to return on Mondays to see what their Nashville style hot chicken is like.
The cocktail menu is great. They have a nice variety of cocktails for every taste. The pricing seemed in line with the rest of Pittsburgh at $ 10 or so for a cocktail.
The food was astounding. I really liked the Mac and cheese. The pasta was well prepared and there was a balanced amount of cheese. I had the steak. The steak was good though the sauce and potatoes on the side were better than the steak.
We had the cookie & ice cream and the bread pudding. The cookie desert was good. The bread pudding was better.

We went for New Years brunch. I made reservations to pad my Open Table account, but we really didn’t need them at 11 am. True to form, we were the first and only table for only a few minutes.
The brunch menu is limited, but has some great ideas including the steak and eggs, which my friend got. The steak was cooked to medium rare, although the server never asked, but it was pretty much to perfection. I had the reuben quiche which was not on the menu, but the New year special. They had a specialty drink called «Hangover punch» which was quite boozy, but I get it. All of the portions were just enough, not the gluttonous portions that make you feel like you have to eat all of it.
Our service was great and we were out of there in an hour (good turnaround time for brunch)

Atmosphere ⁴⁄₅
Food ⁴⁄₅
Cocktails ³⁄₅
Mocktails ²⁄₅
Service ⁴⁄₅
Pleasantly surprised by the nice ambiance (lots of windows and hanging lights) of the place. Service was excellent aside from the very end when we had to ask for the check after a long wait.
Drinks: Both our guys ordered the old fashioned. It was good, but not great. Station does it better.
Mocktails: Us girls tried one of each (the R&B? and the Not in Kansas anymore). I like the R&B slightly better, however both were very sour, neither of us finished the drink.
Appetizers: We very much enjoyed the cheese board ($ 14) which easily satisfied the 4 of us sharing it, wish there was slightly more bread/​crackers tho. We also loved the corn break which comes with a flavored butter. However, the cornbread at Porch is better if not cheaper.
Veggie perspective: food is generally veggie friendly with at least two sandwiches and two mains that were veggie/​vegan friendly. I incredibly enjoyed the seitan hoagie which was HUGE (I took the other half home) with tasty good quality seitan sausage and spread on a generous and buttered bun. If you get a side, ask for the house salad (it is divine!, delicious endive/​frisee with the most amazing light dressing, beets, and cheese, my favorite part of the meal).
My husband enjoyed the steak ($ 26) however said the meat could have been a better cut for the price. It was perfectly cooked to what he asked for.
Dessert: We had the vegan apple crisp which is diced apples with granuola/​crumble on top. Not great, probably wouldn’t order again.
People complain about the price. It is pricey for what it is, which I would say a fancier version of «Porch». Splitting the check for 4 people who had a drink each, 2 appetizers, an entrée each, and 1 dessert it was more than $ 35 a person without tip.
Staff were very attentive during the majority of our meal and were lovely enough to realize it was my husband’s birthday and dessert came out with a candle on top. We absolutely appreciated that detail. However, we ended up waiting around for 20 minutes after dessert and having to flag someone down to get the waitress to split our check.
Will probably return again for a date night but this probably won’t be a favorite hang out.

Great vegetarian dishes. One of the best cheese boards in Pittsburgh, and one that showcases regional cheeses. Wonderful salads and soups. My risotto was delicious.
I think the the food is great but slightly overpriced.
The wine list is limited, but there’s some great choices in whiskey.

My dinner at Prairie a few nights ago was a solid 3.5 stars. The negative first: it’s overpriced. In my opinion they should drop the price of every sandwich and entrée by 2 – 3 dollars. I am not someone who has any qualms about a spendy meal, but the prices here seemed a bit excessive. My boyfriend had a $ 15 seitan hoagie that was good, but not, you know, Spak-​Brothers-​Good. Also my fancy grilled cheese could have been fancier, and elevated by addition of another type of cheese or a few more veggies to make it a bit less Basic. I like the fried sage on it, though, and the salad that came with it was super-​yum.
I have to give Prairie huuuge props for their solid vegetarian selection! When I heard about the concept, I figured it would be another meat-​themed Pittsburgh restaurant that would have one vegetarian option and zero vegan options on the menu. How nice to be pleasantly surprised by a number of choices, and I do really want to go back and try some of the dinner entrée items.
I am also impressed by the whiskey menu, the quality of the cocktails, and that there are good happy hour specials. We had both the house mule and the old fashioned, and both were quite tasty and well-​prepared. Our dessert– vegan apple crisp– was delicious! Seamless service and a relaxing vibe ensures that we will be back soon.

Okay so I just have to say that I was bummed to hear that Verde closed, but it turns out that it actually just turned into Prairie!
I visited Prairie last night and although it was generally a place I would recommend, there were a few things that made me miss Verde.
Hits:
–Vegetarian options!
–The flavors of all of the savory dishes were amazing and the lil’ mule I had was also delicious (but also seemed smaller than expected.) It was cheaper than the usual mule, but proportionately smaller in size. I had a vegetarian noodle and sausage dish that resembled a more refined, delicious stroganoff. We also had a beer cheese dip that was devoured.
–Service was really good and the staff seemed to be knowledgable about their new menus.
–Restaurant has a cool atmosphere and vibe without feeling too stuffy or inaccessible.
Misses:
–Most importantly– the carrot cake with yogurt icing tasted like carrot cake with butter icing. Massive amounts of butter flavored icing. I was so excited to see this huge piece of cake coming to our table, but boy was I sad and disappointed to taste butter instead of frosting. I think it’s supposed to be frosting, but it tastes like what I would imagine a buttercream with almost no sugar would taste like. Everything about that slice was great (the cake itself, the orange glaze, the size, etc) besides the butter that it was slathered in.
–The beer cheese dip was also runny and hard to eat because it’s served in a bread bowl that you have to cut or tear apart in order to dip the bread in the cheese.
Overall, the restaurant was comfortable and visually appealing, had great service, generally good food, but I honesty don’t know when I’ll be back again.