Primanti Bros

Polite service, nice ambience, great local crowd, but the food is kinda disappointing. Still a good place to guzzle beer and zone out to tv

It’s Primanti’s. Who in Pittsburgh doesn’t know this joint?
You know the cliché: fries come on he sandwich, big portions, and it puts hair on your chest.
The only slightly interesting thing I can say is that this location is actually my favorite. Purists will say the Strip or South Side but this is definitely a contender for best Primantis (also don’t be fooled by the standalone chains or stadium varieties if that’s all you know, these are the ‘real’ locations).
Best combo: bacon egg and cheese with an IC Light. Seriously best thing possible.
Outdoor seating with a lot of TVs. The only downside is limited seating but what Primanti’s doesn’t have limited seating?
Go, eat, regret your gluttony, have a beer, repeat.

Hey not bad! Not bad at all! If you want a gut busting, filling, tasty meal on the cheap this is for you! They serve sandwiches. Yeah soup and wings and fries are there– but 90% of menu is sandwich– from egg to sardine to burger to all types of lunch meat. Formula: thick cut fresh fluffy white bread that barely holds it all together; very tasty shredded vinegar slaw with nice horseradish kick; very fresh soft-​fried fries (we call them Boardwalk style here– well cooked, browned, but not crispy– they are soft); fresh tomato, cheese– then the meat. I got fried fish; wife did pastrami; son did capicola. All very tasty and filling. Not high-​class, not organic or sustainable or remotely low carb or low fat– but simple, filling, tasty, protein-​carb calorie bomb to the gut! Good beer on tap; few liquors at bat but they can’t mix Manhattan (!). Service brusque but on point and quick to booze you up!
So as a Ravens fan Baltimore boy I’ll admit Primantis is good! But Steelers still suck ass! Caw Caw!!!

My wife and I stopped here on our most recent trip to Pittsburgh. Neither of us had had dined at this Pittsburgh institution before, and we both wanted to try it after being told by our Pittsburgh friends that we had to go here. We ate here on a beautiful Sunday at noon when the Pirates and Penguins were playing, so it seemed busier than normal and we had to wait to be seated. No worries, we were seated fairly quickly inside. The restaurant itself was styled like mid-​1900s diner and was really pretty cool. Service was quick and before I knew it I had a Pittsburgher sandwich — the quintessential Primanti Bros meal. It was a sizable sandwich stacked with Pittsburgh cheesesteak, coleslaw, fries, and tomatoes. The coleslaw was tangy but not creamy (a plus in my book), the fries were crispy, and the meat was tender. The meat and bread both left me wanting more. The Italian bread was thick… and that’s about all I can say for it. Wholly generic otherwise. The meat also lacked any distinguishing flavor other than «meaty.» I really could have used some more seasoning and flavor from the two biggest components of the sandwich. I’m glad we made it out to Primanti Bros, but I’m not sure I’d rush back, especially since Pittsburgh has so much else to offer. Chances are good that if you’re visiting from out of town, you’ll wind up here. You should try it once, then move on to better local establishments.

Quick service. There was a line outside waiting to get seated for lunch and it didn’t take too long to get seated. I ordered the colossal fish and cheese and it was good but it wasn’t as good as what everyone hypes it up to be. Maybe there are better choices other than the fish.

I visited Primanti Bros. for the first time during a girls’ weekend in Pittsburgh. We were visiting a friend who lives there and wanted the ‘full Pittsburgh’ experience, and a meal here was a must (in my book). I loved everything about the place: the location on Market Square has indoor and outdoor seating, including seating at the counter (which I highly recommend…), the food is great and and the overall atmosphere, though a little touristy, was really fun.
The day we went it was raining lightly, but the place was packed. The outdoor seating, and a portion of the line, are under cover, which was nice, but if the line was really long, and weather worse, you might be standing out in it. The guy at the door did his best to find us seating but we were a group of 8 and had to be split. Half were going to sit inside and half out, but then seating at the counter came up, so half sat at a table and half at the counter, but we were all close enough to see each other.
The counter service was fantastic. Being right in front of the grill guys not only lets you see their process, but lets you get their attention if you need something — like a beverage, a refill on your beverage, or if you just want to order or pay. The other half of our group who sat at a table felt their table service was slower, and because it was crowded and the waitress had to wind through the crowds, there was time in between their sitting and getting menus, then from getting menus to ordering… they actually ordered before those of us at the counter but got served after… and to pay took forever and we ended up taking it up to the register ourselves. Even with what seemed like slowness, all 8 of us were in and out of there in less than an hour.
In terms of the food, this place is really not for those with dietary restrictions… though they do have salads and other items on the menu that are not meat and/​or don’t have dairy. I split a sandwich with one of my friends — we had the angus beef with fries and slaw on the bread. I thought the sandwich was tasty and that a half was plenty for me. Portions really are large and because the fries come INSIDE the sandwich there’s no reason to have to order a side. However, others in our group felt that the chicken was bland and the burger was also flavorless — so maybe it is better to stick with the more flavorful meats like ham, pastrami, or something marinated or fried. Our one friend who had the fish sandwich thought it was awesome.
I would go back again, and I would recommend, especially for the experience. Immediately after posting my pics on FB, friends were messaging me begging me to bring back sandwiches for them (all the way from Pittsburgh to Rochester, NY), so that alone should tell you something! Last comment — for a foodie city like the ‘Burgh, sandwiches here are a great value! Just be prepared to wait in the line and wait a little for your food.

Primanti’s is a Pittsburgh classic, and I’ve always felt some sort of obligation to love this place. Although I can certainly appreciate the uniqueness of a Primanti’s sandwich, I just don’t understand all the hype. So there I was again, hoping this was the time I finally become a Primanti’s fanatic.
The restaurant was very busy when we came in for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. There was a bit of a wait, but the employees were efficient when it came to getting us seated as quickly as possible. Our waitress, however, seemed too preoccupied with other customers, so we spent a lot of time waiting to get her attention. Frustrating, but it is what it is.
They offer two vegetarian sandwich options: the Deluxe Double Egg & Cheese and the Southwest Black Bean Burger. Both are good, and I’ve always preferred the black bean burger, but I decided to give the egg & cheese another shot. It was an average quality sandwich. Nothing mind-​blowing. Though I usually love how they pile on the fries, these fries were so undercooked to the point where the insides were RAW. Once again, Primanti’s, you have failed to impress me.
Purely because it’s Primanti’s, I will probably be back. If it was any other sandwich shop, no thanks.

Stopped by here today since it’s on the list of «must see» places in Pittsburgh. I ordered the world famous «Pitts-​burger.» It’s unlike most other burgers in that French fries and cole slaw are placed on top of the meat in the sandwich. I e never had anything like that before.
It’s definitely unique and worth a try. I didn’t really like the sandwich that much but it’s unique and the service was really polite and fast. It’s a «must see» place while in Pittsburgh!

First time in Pittsburgh and I had heard about this place on Diners, drive in’s and dives. Guy said that this is a must visit place. It was a group of us and we sat outside. The service was prompt and friendly. I ordered a Angus steak and cheese sandwich and a draft Summer ale. The sandwich was huge (see pic). Every sandwich has coleslaw and french fries on it. The cole slaw is a vinegar based slaw. It is is a little different but it had a nice tang to the sandwich. Although the sandwich was huge there really is not a lot of meat. You can ask for additional meat for a small charge. Overall it was a good experience but not quite as mind blowing as Guy described.

Not worth even a one-​time visit.
«Hey, it’s my first time in Pittsburgh, and all the travel websites say to check out Primanti Bros!» That’s what I said to myself, at least. Spoiler alert: it sucks. For one, the service was terrible. My server just straight up forgot my order, and instead of asking me again, just ignored me for 20 minutes. And I was sitting right at the grill, so he walked by me about 30 times. I figured things were backed up since it was busy, but I finally spoke up after I overheard him and the cook whispering about how he didn’t know what I ordered.
The food sucks. Their «signature sandwich» is plain white bread, a tiny serving of unseasoned «sirloin,» a single slice of flavorless «provolone», a big stack of unseasoned French fries on the sandwich, and the blandest «cole slaw» I have ever had, then another slice of plain white bread.
You will leave smelling like cooking oil. And their beer selection sucks. They had one local beer, and it’s Iron City, which you can get anywhere. This place is surrounded by other restaurants, and I wish I had gone to literally any single one of them.

I am quite the Primanti’s expert, as the BF and I met while working in the Oakland store 10 years ago, and we are extremely brand loyal.
I really enjoyed getting a drink at this location. It was packed to the rafters, but we got good service for a good price. The small guy with glasses who was cooking put on a great show and was fun to talk to. If we hadn’t gorged on 5 Guys ten minutes earlier, I would have ordered myself a Double Egg and Cheese.

So Delicious!
Definitely worth the price and wait. I would maybe try to get in a little earlier as the line can be a little long.
I got the Pittsburgh + Cheese and it was enough to fill me up without eating an appetizer or sides.

Well, I wanted a place to hang out a bit and wait for the Sander’s event on the square. Service was excellent. This however was the worst food I’ve experience ever. Two big slabs of white bread, then an inch or more of fries… I asked for a knife and fork to help find the meat,
Waiters/​waitress excellent. But the food is horrible. McDonald’s is far better. And I do not at all like McDonald’s…
This is a venue on the Square?
Jeff

My favorite Primanti’s is still the original. The original is much smaller than the other three locations that I have now been to around town, but the service was unmatched and the food was better. Tough experience to beat.
We came here after a Penguins game for dinner. It was a short and easy walk from Consol to Market Square if you haven’t walked between them before. Feels quite safe too. You’ll get what you’re expecting here, and it is a great, lively location. We had quick and pleasant service last night at this Market Square location, but it was quite crowded and they really pack you in. I ordered the pastrami and cheese, and I wish there would have been just a bit more pastrami on it.
I love that this location is next to many different bars and pubs, and right around the corner from the ice skating rink.

I went here because Thrillist said I had to have it while in Pittsburgh.
I got the colossal fish sandwich, fried pickles, and smallman fries (i think thats what they were called).
The pickles tasted good (briny and slighlty spicy), but the texture was off. The spears were not crunchy at all, so a bite just pulls the entire spear out of the batter.
Smallman fries were a bargain. Theyre chili cheese fries with bacon and fresh jalepenos. You get enough to hate yourself for less than 6 bucks. This can easily be shared. However, i found that the whole thing gets overwhelmed by the amount of chili, and the chili is a bit on the sweeter side so thats not how i want my fries to taste.
Now the sandwich. I guess the sandwiches are tomatoes, fries, cheese, and cole slaw plus a meat source between two thick slices of italian bread.
The bread is pretty good. It’s soft, somewhat dense white bread with a hearty but not hard crust. The fries taste like handcut fries. Theyre soft and brown with little to no salt. The cole slaw is the kind i like: no mayonnaise. It tastes like the mayonnaisy kind of cole slaw without the mayo itself. The fish is sliced kind of thin (but its still a big piece of fish) and its in a crispy batter.
My overall impression of the sandwich was dry and kind of bland. The sandwich doesnt have any sauce in it; the only good source of moisture is the tomato and cole slaw. If the cole slwa wasnt a third of the sandwich’s volume, it would be too dry. I couldnt taste the cheese at all; i wouldnt be surprised if they simply forgot to add any. There werent any elements of the sandwich with a dominant flavor, and the ketchup and hot sauce at the table make the sandwich taste worst.
Despite the food not being good (in my opinion), i had a fun time. Its a great place to go with a group and watch a game on tv, and it has a Hooters-​like atmosphere minus the degradation of women.
With the great atmosphere but mediocre food, i found this place to be very average. However, the internet makes this place sound like an important place to try in Pittsburgh. Give it a shot of youre in town and looking for something casual and not too adventurous.

A group of us traveled to Pittsburgh to watch our Anaheim Ducks against the Pens. We had the opportunity to watch our team practice and afterward, a group of us decided to have lunch at the famous Primanti. We walked from the arena to the restaurant, which took about 20 minutes. The GPS used off Unilocal took us on a scenic route, and later we found out it would have been easier to take the Transit and get off the Gateway stop.
Seating inside is first come first serve and we grabbed a few tables. The menu had everything kind of sandwich you could think of, but according to the menu: it’s not a Primanti Brothers signature sandwich without a generous serving of crunchy, tart coleslaw and crisp French Fries piled high on top of soft Italian bread.
I shared a pastrami sandwich with Stephen, and they were served on waxed paper, not even on plates. Indeed their sandwich was served on top of a layer of french fries, coleslaw, and cheese, piled higher than a mouth could open. Fortunately for us, our server tossed in a few forks.
My friends LeeAnne and Sandy chose not to get the sandwich, and shared the BLT Tots, while Karen had the Pitts-​Burger. Lunch was relatively inexpensive, and the sandwiches were large enough to share.

Fast food, delicious, and cool scenery in Market Square. Arrived around 9pm with my pal jimmy and ordered the spicy ham sandwich — sooooo good. Parking sucks, so had to park in a local garage for $ 5 an hour.

Once again, Primanti’s delivers… delicious food at great prices.
Just know what you want because they’re always busy, and they look at you funny if you try to order something special.
Me, I like the fries on the side, and I like the sandwich grilled, but if I’m the last to order – which I usually am – I have to spit it all out at once and hope that I don’t sound like Meg Ryan ordering a sandwich.
I highly recommend the pastrami. It’s always lean and tender.

Seriously. Amazing.
Marissa, you rock. Thank you so much for your amazing service! Our bacon and egg sandwich was off the charts and we are so grateful we made it in time to meet the last call. I will be talking about this greasy and amazing meal for life! Primanti Bros has been on my list for a long time as a tourist, and I’m so glad I got to experience it first hand. Thank you, thank you!
Ps– for those who show up at 2:00 and expect to be served after last call.: and then proceed to act rude about it… Consider that each and every person who works at primanti Bros works hard and deserves to go home. Don’t be entitled and feel like you deserve to be served just because you’re inside the restaurant. Show respect!

Let’s see I think this this is one of those places you just have to say you have been. Honestly the burger or per Mantee sandwich it’s self was lacking in flavor but put together quite well from the very nice bread to the well cook fries the slaw and I got the corn beef style it was huge the reason I am giving this restaurant for stars is because we had great service I really feel like we got a bang for our buck I believe $ 15 dollars is the cheapest that I have spent on a meal In a long while.