Bites and Brews

Mediocre food, very poor service.

Went to watch 2^nd to last pirate game, TVs all around… Forced to watch 1 – 3 vs 2 – 2 college football game, because Mike (owner) was fearful of offending other guests that did not exist. Been coming to mike’s restaurants for 20 years, understand why buffalo blues shut down. Off to the yard…

This is just an OK place on a street with better options. Large beer selection but nothing stand out about it. They were out of several different meats for the build your own sandwich (no ham? Really?) and the chips were overcooked and burnt. The service also brought it down a notch. We never saw our server after the food came out, but never received napkins/​silverware, not did they ask us how everything was. My friends said their food was OK but nothing spectacular. The $ 2.50 slice of pizza would make the stop worth it, but there’s so much else in the surrounding blocks, a mediocre place just isn’t worth it.

Stopped in here for some drinks and snacks last week and was pretty disappointed. The service was SUPER SLOW, and our server didn’t even bring us glasses for our boilermakers. I ordered a hot pretzel with beer cheese sauce — the pretzel tasted like Pillsbury crescent roll dough, and the «beer cheese sauce» tasted like french onion soup mix dip. I will not be back!

My friend and I went here last night and ordered a large pizza. We customized it and ordered the bacon and pepperoni toppings because, well, meat.
The pizza is huge. I think it had 13 big slices. It is not gourmet or anything, but I prefer it to the pizza you get from your regular take out pizza places. The crust was fluffy, which was a huge plus, and their cheese was melt-​y and thick. It’s always a good pizza when the cheese is hot and melts in your mouth. The bacon and pepperoni worked well together, but I think in the end, it could have used more flavor. I put a lot of hot peppers on my pizza slices which gave it more depth. Next time I may opt for a veggie and meat topping.
If you come here for the pizza I suggest you go during the happy hour, which is half off their pizzas. I think the large ended up being $ 20? Price-​wise, it is not worth it. I also judge pizza on how well they taste when they are cold. I know it’s unfair, but some pizzas taste like cardboard the next day while others just… don’t. Bites and Brews’ cold pizza taste like an oily cheese sandwich, but to be fair, the amount of meat probably had something to do with it. Still it was a decent cold pizza.
Definitely a good place to hang on a Friday night.

Don’t order on grub hub if you want your food today. Hostess was a challenge when we called for follow up 1 ½ hours after ordered. A totally unpleasant experience. Too bad — the food is usually good.

Happy hour deal on pizza is really good. I found the pizza delicious. Decent beer prices and good selection. They had an awful smell briefly take over the bar area last night. No one in my group said anything about it, but they comped our food anyhow. That speaks well of the management to me; I’ll be back again!

Bites and Brews is ok. The interior is typical sports bar. I do like the beer selection, but I really don’t understand the raves about the pizza here. Maybe I’ve just had bad luck. Of the two times I’ve had pizza here, once it was kind of cold, and the second time they forgot the cheese (?). When we pointed it out, they sprinkled cheese on top of the toppings on the same pizza and cooked it, so that the cheese ended up more grilled than melted – not tasty. I have no idea why they didn’t just remake it from scratch, but we were too hungry to complain or send it back at that point.
I’d rather go next door to 1947 Tavern for better drinks/​atmosphere or across the street to Harris Grill for a more varied food menu and equally great beer selection. Just sayin’.

Have you ever visited a place that’s new to you, yet SO OLD to everyone else that you feel embarrassed to admit that it’s your first time? That was me on Friday at Bites & Brews. I’m sure glad I didn’t let my first-​timer anxiety get the best of me cuz DA-​AMN they have some good pizza! Our group of 10+ dined on a bevy of baked pies suited to every taste. Sausage, olives, pepperoni, mushroom, banana peppers, spinach — anything and everything. The Nut Roll ale on tap finished it all off to Pittsburgh pizza place perfection. Now that I’m a well-​seasoned veteran of Bites, I’ll be sure to expand my horizons past their delicious pizza fare and their other amazing menu items. Mama, I’m home!

This is one of the best spots for happy hour in Shadyside. Half off make your own 12″ pizza, which means each time you go, you know you’ll get exactly what you have a taste for. The pizza crust is perfectly seasoned and no matter how hungry you get, you will always have at least a little pizza left over for the next day… or later that night.
During happy hour, it’s also $ 1 off all drafts and the draft list is always a crowd-​pleaser. If you want your familiar brew, they have a few options, but a lot of them are not your average joe picks, which gives you plenty of opportunities to check-​in on Untapped or just experience something new. Every time I have gone, the waitress has been very knowledgeable about the draft list and has always helped me pick a great option when indecisive me had some difficulty.
Bottom line is if you and your group of friends or maybe you and a date are looking for a relaxing happy hour joint, search no further than Bites & Brews. And if you aren’t even in the mood for sitting in, you can order the pizzas to go!

Great Pizza, Good Service, Lukewarm beer.
Went there with fiancé after striking out at two other places at 8PM on a Sunday… yes, PM.
There are two sizes of pizza, small (12″) or large (18″). I’m a pig and the small pizza was big enough to share. We split the Margarita which was amazing… no canned tomato sauce here. Pictures don’t lie. Factoring in the happy hour specials and half-​priced small pizzas M-​F, this might be the best meal deal in Shadyside.
Our host/​server was friendly and happy to seat us at any available table. It was a non-​issue for us, but the table behind us sat uncleared for the better part of our visit. She offered timely beer/​water refills and the check was prompt (when requested).
Unfortunately, we weren’t interested in those refills because because the beer was barely cold. I ordered a Yuengling draft and the better half opted for the B2 on special — which was decent, other than being warm.
Would come back, hopefully they fix that keg room.

You’d be hard pressed to find a better place in Shadyside for happy hour. Located off of Ellsworth Avenue, Bites and Brews is connected to 1947 (a more «classy bar/​restaurant). Parking could and should be your only complaint about this place. As with any spot in Shadyside, parking is at a premium.
You can design your own pizza or choice from several on the menu. Excellent thin crust oven baked deliciousness. And the price is amazing — especially if you go for happy hour when almost everything is half off. That’s right — and that is a deal that you can’t find at almost any other place nearby.
They have a really great deep selection of craft beers here. I always try something new or different each time I’m here.
Honestly, Bites and Brews might just be my first choice for happy hour — and for pizza!

I love the build-​a-​sandwich option. The no-​meat option is so very reasonable at 6 bucks, and it comes with your choice of chips or a side salad. You get your choice of bread, for which you should always choose the focaccia, because a) focaccia is delicious, and b) it’s the biggest bread they serve, giving you more sandwich for the same price. Then you pick 4 veggie toppings (including ones like hummus), and a dressing of your choice (order it on the side and put it on yourself to get a bigger quantity). You’ll also have your choice of one cheese, but I ask to substitute an extra veggie option instead for +.50 and I’ve never had an issue doing that.
The atmosphere is okay, a little too bar-​y for my taste, but sitting at a table you can still be off in your own world with friends and have a really enjoyable meal. Service has always been pretty good, too.

Oh, how I wish I lived down the street from here liked I used to. Whether it’s busy and packed or less populated and quiet (er), its ambiance is totally comfortable and makes it a great place to go with friends for both the bites and the brews. The draft list is long and doesn’t disappoint.
The pizza I cannot really comment on, as I’m always drawn to the choose-​your-​own sandwich option, and I’ve pretty much perfected my own monster of a fully illogical-​but-​delicious sandwich — and no, I won’t divulge my greatest secret. I will recommend getting the focaccia bread, as it is easily twice the size of other types of breads and therefore you get more sandwich fillings.
Overall I’m always down to come here, even if I’ve been recently, because I know I’ll get exactly what I’m looking for.

One of the best pizza places in pittsburgh. I have ordered some pretty unique pizzas with off the wall ingredients, and they always have turned out great. An ideal place to grab a beer and split a pizza with friends– also good for a date. Be in the mood to deal with the uppity shadyside crowd, however, if you decide to stop in.

I’ve been here twice, most recently last Sept., and I’ve been kind of underwhelmed by the quality of the food here. Last time, my dining partner and I ordered the cheese breadsticks and the buffalo blue pizza, which comes with pulled chicken, crumbled blue cheese, caramelized onions, and bacon. With that list of ingredients, I thought the pizza would be super-​flavorful, but unfortunately, it was kind of… bland. The chicken in particular didn’t taste like much, and there wasn’t much bacon or blue cheese. Sauce was minimal and weak. As for the cheese breadsticks, I would have expected them to have more cheese on them, although they were crispy. As far as I know, this is one of the few restaurants in PGH that serves wheat-​crusted pizza, which is nice, but it doesn’t make up for the lack of flavor. They need to step it up a notch!
Since I didn’t order beer, I can’t comment on that aspect of the experience. (I ordered a Woodchuck cider, which is bottled.) I get the feeling that this is a restaurant that people come to more for the drinks and the atmosphere than the food.

Great option for happy hour. Half priced pizzas, you can choose your toppings, and you even have the option to order a whole wheat crust. It’s hard not to get excited about the options!
They have a great draft list as well, and there is always a cider on tap, which I love.
I love coming here with friends, especially because we can all order a few rounds of drinks, share a few pizzas, and never spend more than $ 40 for four people. Love it.

Perfect place for happy hour! The drafts are $ 1 off and the small pizzas are half price from 4:30 — 6:30. They always have a nice selection of drafts and had a special section on the menu of all the pumpkin beers they had on tap. I tried the Flying Dog Pumpkin which was a little dark for my taste. My next selection was Mackenzie’s black cheery cider which I highly enjoyed. The small pizzas are huge and perfect to split between two people. We choose to get ham and pineapple on ours to make it a Hawaiian pizza-​my favorite. I can honestly say this is the best pizza in Pittsburgh. The crust is amazing and they did not skimp on the toppings. On nice days you can sit outside and bring your dog. Also kid friendly.

This is one of those restaurants you can go to where everyone will be happy!
I like pizza, but I don’t LOVE it, so I usually get a sandwich or a salad. You build your food item from their list of ingredients which is extremely extensive… I love it!
Great number of beers on tap too!

I get the fact that they are called bites, so right there you’re not going to expect 5 course gourmet meal. But I’m a big believe in awesome bar food too! This place missed that mark.
This place has lots of cool things going for them. They have a make your own pizza, sandwich and salad menu. Very cool. Reminds me of Burgatory, except they have great burgers! I picked my own veggie sandwich and loaded it with roasted peppers, portobello mushrooms, artichoke and spinach. You’re even able to pick if you want it hot or cold. Mine came warmish, that was not the option I wanted. It was okay, but not great. I think if it came hot it may have tasted a little better, but oh well.
The other cool thing is the word «brew» in their name. I think when I go to these places I expect the servers to be schooled in what kind of beer selection they have. Our server was slightly schooled, but nothing close to explaining the beers in a way I’d want to purchase one. I got lazy and just ordered a Yeungling… I know, I’m lame! I also looked up at the huge blackboard that said «craft beers» and it was completely blank. I guess I just expected it to be more about what specialty brews they offered.
I don’t think it was horrible by any means, but I wasn’t blown away. I think maybe they just need to find their identity again…