Burgatory

This place is amazing — you can’t beat the atmosphere (except the heat could have been up a little higher) — everything about the place is cool and the burgers are exceptional — fantastic quality meat and a substantial burger — the service and the price aren’t half bad either.

After flying all day, I just wanted a beer and a burger.
Well, I went here and I understand that it was 30 minutes until closing. The bartender was a surly and stupid hipster. She told me «fill this paper out so we don’t mess up your burger» OK? I thought.
She asked me, how do you want it cooked. I said medium.
The burger was just average, it was cooked medium rare. I was just so tired.
I left disappointed. I don’t think I will be back. $ 7.00 beers??? No way!

I had a burger that had bacon in the patty and added rubs, sauces, etc. for a really rich, custom burger. Not bad! Next time I would opt out of the bacon to allow for a less well done burger, keep it simpler.
We also had Salted Nutella Crunch milkshake to share, and it was over the top.
Overall, good service and food, not a bad wait time for such a popular place, and someplace I’d visit again!

Pleasantly surprised! Although the it is a chain it seemed to have a local flair. Our waiter was attentive and took time to explain the menu. I also tried the Korean Tacos. They were ok but the sauce was watery. The rest of the meal was great. The burgers are excellent and the Nachos were unique in a good way.

After speaking with our friends about how exceptional this place was, hubby and I took a drive over to have lunch and then do some shopping. By no means am I a connoisseur of gourmet hamburgers, but this really was a major disappointment. My «pink» burger was so dry and tasteless that I only ate about a ¼ of it and boxed the remainder for my dog. Hubby ordered the «Meat your Maker» and he also said it was terrible. I’ve come to realize that I’m just a Wendy burger girl myself, they are always so fresh and the fries are the best. I really don’t like the idea of all those different toppings, somehow they drown out what should be the main star — the Burger itself!
Hubby also ordered the Bourbon milkshake but didn’t care for all the whip cream that just wouldn’t melt – it drowned out what should have been a delicious smooth drinking shake. I’ll take a Wendy’s Frosty any day over this.

I’ve always sat at the bar at this location because unlike the original, there really isn’t anywhere fun to pass the wait. It depends on when you go but I always end up here during busy times with a45−60 minute wait which isn’t as bad as the original but this location has more seats too. So long story short, I just go to the bar. It’s first come first serve, they have a pretty decent craft beer selection and I like to banter with the bartenders. There are TVs at the bar and it is centrally located.
I’ve had several specialty burgers like alligator and duck but typically build my own with either Wagyu or Bison. I love the Diablo rub, onion straws and horseradish cheddar. Those typically find their way onto my burger but I’m always switching it up. My advice is don’t overload it because then you miss out on flavors. 4 – 5 toppings aside from your cheese and rub is probably good. The fries can be hit or miss sometimes but I typically get a side of Sriracha Romulade to dip them in. The Chips that come free with the burger are excellent! The Jalapeño Cornbread is a must try! Just make sure they warm the butter for you. I normally get a shake to go (I can’t eat a burger, fries, cornbread and shake in one sitting… I tried once and was miserable after) and really like the Fluffer Nutter Butter. You can always ask what their special is. I’ve had a few hard shakes and like Gran-Dad’s Secret.
I was disappointed my last visit to find that they got rid of banana ketchup and Bangkok Steak Fries. They were both 2 of my favorites but didn’t see them on the menu anymore. A waitress at another location suggest I try the honey habanero sauce instead and it was good.
I’ve never had a bad experience here. The staff is very friendly and talkative. They always seem to be up for a good time and interact with patrons. The food has always been consistent. I prefer the original only because of sentimental value.
This place isn’t cheap if you go all out. You might have to wait a decent amount of time for a seat. If either of these two things turns you off then save yourself the frustration. If you want a truly unique experience with gourmet burgers then do yourself a solid and get to a Burgatory right now! It is my #1 place to get a burger these days!

I’m just going to come out and say it, I’m not a fan in the least of this place. I’ve been to several locations, and go way more often than I should but between really «wanting» to like it, and friends that do, I keep giving it a shot.
I really love the idea of the place. A build your own gourmet burger with a large selection of proteins, breads, seasonings, veggies and condiments as well as trendy adult shakes. Unfortunately, both typically fall short. Anyways, in no particular order, the airing of the grievances:
No burger is worth a 90 minute wait. This seems a bigger issue at Fox Chapel or the Waterfront for me. The burger is good, but not worth the wait at all.
The best sip of their milkshake is the first. Each one thereafter gets a little less good.
Speaking of the milkshakes, what the hell is the «whipped cream» on top. It doesn’t move or melt. I took a picture…
The buns/​bread. You don’t think about the bread until it isn’t good, and i have never been impressed with the bread here. The last burger i had i took off the ciabatta. It was dry and broke to pieces while I tried to eat. It was such a waste i just left it on the plate.
The service is about a wash. I’ve never had bad service per se, but haven’t really had exceptional either. Case in point on a recent visit, we had to wait a pretty long time to get back the receipt to sign. It was only after about 15 minutes we were told there was an issue with the credit card processing system. No back up plan, no way to expedite, just a genuine apology and still having to wait. I’m not sure what they could really do here, but at my last visit to a fast food chain, it took five minutes to receive my order and the manager comped the whole thing for what he (not me) deemed and unacceptable wait.

Good Burgers, good shakes, good fries fun atmosphere! Do it! That Kona shake is incredible!

Comparable to BRGR in my opinion. Our server was very polite and helpful. Our meals seemed a little slow coming out. This was one of the best veggie burgers I have ever had and I highly recommend it. Not a fan of the seasoned fries which I think were heavy on the thyme. Homemade chips good but a little bland. The restaurant seemed clean but was very cold inside. Not sure if it was because we were seated by the door. Bathroom clean and updates but small. Prices average.
I’m not a huge burger fan but I would suggest this to those that are. Would like to try one of the hard milkshakes next time!

Some of the best burgers in the city. This place really blew up over the past few years to the point where it might seem overhyped, but I honestly feel like it deserves the praise. The only drawback I can think of is that the prices are kind of high and it can get really busy. Definitely worth checking out though.

The only reason I gave 5 stars was because the burger I ordered knocked my socks off! Piggy Butter and Jelly: Cajun Dusted Ground Beef & Ground Bacon Burger with White American Cheese, Candied Bacon, Bread & Butter Pickles, Peanut Butter & Habanero Jelly.
OMG. I was skeptical, but man this burger was so good.
I have no idea what else was going on in the restaurant because my burger was THAT good!

So most of my thoughts about the Waterfront’s Burgatory apply to this Burgatory, too. That said, a key difference is that I’ve actually never had any problems getting a table here. I guess that’s mostly because when I visit the Robinson location I plan on going during its slower hours in the day, whereas I only ever visit the Waterfront with friends and as a result we tend to hit that Burgatory during meal rushes. (That and, let’s be real, out of all the places to eat in the Waterfront Burgatory’s one of the best — so everyone wants to eat there!)
Like its sister location, this Burgatory carries the famous Burgatory custom burger option while also offering a menu full of fries, sandwiches, and even salads that you can order, too. However, while I’ve mentioned some dissatisfaction with the quality of beef burger I’ve gotten at the Waterfront, I admit that I haven’t really put this location to the test yet beef-​wise. This is because I usually end up eating here when they have a special milkshake that I just MUST have, right now, before they disappear, because oh my Lord is anything better than a Burgatory milkshake… But since shakes with alcohol can’t be taken home, I’ve started ordering salads with my boozy milkshakes since they’re easier to take home. Yep, I’m that person who orders salad at a burger joint. Sorry — not sorry!
The exception to my «milkshake and salad» rule here was when I stopped in to try the Thanksgiving turkey burger recently. OMG. I told a friend that the Gobblerito has met its match in this burger, and I meant it. Every Thanksgiving «must» had been crammed onto that meal, and it was the one time I ended up eating my burger with a fork rather than my hands. After eating that delicious monstrosity, I’m honestly ready to come back and eat more burgers… well played, Burgatory. Well played.
Anyway, my final thought on this location is, if you like Burgatory in general, you’ll like it here. They make AMAZING milkshakes, as we’ve come to expect from Burgatory. The burgers can also be quite amazing — although I’d honestly recommend a salad even more than a burger, if you’re looking to get your money’s worth. Even the hungriest diner probably won’t be able to finish those massive salads. So go ahead: stop on in and justify your milkshake order with a big ol’ salad to go with it!

Delicious! Even though it’s a burger restaurant there are lots of non-​beef options that are more than a dried out garden burger. The psychedelic ‘shroom is amazing and I love the make your own burger option. The milkshakes are ridiculously delicious. The «toothpick» for the burger is a pitchfork and they give fortune cookies with cute fortunes. Great theme!
Biggest complaint is the wait is almost always painfully long.

This is a fine place for a burger and shake — overpriced to me ($ 10 basic burger) and trying a little too hard, but the burger was cooked as I ordered it, service was reasonably prompt and courteous, and the atmosphere is ok. I had the Farmer Brown, which has an egg and bacon. It’s all right, but not juicy and drippy like a truly awesome burger. The meat was as I said cooked to the right temperature but somehow they dried it out.
was unthrilled by the hostess trying to put me at a high top in an almost empty restaurant without asking, but she complied quickly when I objected. It gets four stars primarily because I’m grading on a curve — it’s in a real desert and is by far the best choice among a hundred terrible chains like Ditka’s and tgi Friday’s.

As you can see in other reviews, the burgers and shakes here are good, maybe even great. I will focus my review on the atmosphere and beer selections.
When arriving to Burgatory, you will undoubtedly be welcomed by a line of individuals waiting for a table and complaining about the long wait. Regardless of lunch or dinner/​weekdays or weekends, there will be a wait. Once inside, the restaurant is tightly packed and loud. As you can imagine, the turnover is important to keep the aforementioned line moving, so meals are served quickly and the staff seemingly pressures patrons to finish and relinquish their table. I am a fan of Burgatory as the take-​out options are of the same quality and you do not need to put up with 45 minutes of the above mentioned atmosphere.
The beer selections, however, may keep you tuned at the bar while you wait for your take out order or make the stale atmosphere more palatable. From rotating taps, to local craft bottles, the selections will usually have a discovery for even the well traveled brew explorer.

I don’t know, but I wasn’t impressed. Yeah, its neat that they have these meat options like elk and bison. But they seem to me to be lacking enthusiasm. Our order took a long time to come to our table, like 20 to 30 minutes and there was no sense of urgency or concern for our time. I had a question about one of the beers, and the waitress took out her phone and googled it. She didn’t find an answer, and her response was «Hmm, I don’t know!».
I had a quinoa salad which was very tasty. I forget the name but it was the only one.
In the end, for 3 people including tip and one beer, the bill came to $ 60. A bit pricey for lunch so I doubt I will be back in the foreseeable future.

I was meeting my sister for lunch when I was up in the Pittsburgh area. We had to decide where to go near Robinson so of course we followed fellow Unilocalers and said we HAVE to try out Burgatory. Surely this is a meal that would not disappoint. Sigh. Oh my did it ever. Preface: There were three of us eating and we checked it at around 2 p.m. after the major lunch crowd and before dinner.
When we entered we were greeted by the world’s most depressing hostess. We laughed about this afterwards because each time she came to seat another group near us her angst was almost palpable… the subtle scent of bitterness wafted through the air with her every approach. Then, my sister and I went to use the ladies room before we went to our table. The bathrooms are so dark you almost need to use your cell phone as a night light. They were only semi-​clean and one of the two soap holders was completely empty and the other barely hanging on.
We made our way to their patio section which is open to the main bar. It is a nice area and if the weather permits, I suggest sitting there because not only is it covered to avoid rain, but you get an excellent view of the bar/tv’s, etc without being totally indoors. We were then greeted again by one of the worst waitresses I have ever had. I could go on and on, but she consistently rushed us and made us feel as if we were imposing on her schedule (again, not during a rush time of dining). For example, one time when she came back to our table to see if we were ready to order, I told her that my sister was outside taking a business call (politely left the dining area not to disturb other customers) and she acted as if this was an imposition.
Food and drink. There are only two wines that Burgatory offers. Neither of these are listed on the drink menu; rather, they are listed within the main menu. You are supposed to intuitively know this, otherwise your waitress will make you feel like a dummy. At $ 8 per glass they do give you a generous pour (probably 6 ounces) but they brag about how many beers they have on tap and their mixed cocktails and yet only provide a «red» and «white» wine selection. Also, I don’t want to spend $ 4.50 for a Yeungling draft beer when I am in PA. Down in the south where it is a domestic «import», yes I would.
For appetizers we ordered the onion rings and the nachos (with chicken chili on the side because I am a veg/​pesc.) The onion rings are $ 8 for five onion rings. They were large and amply breaded but I thought they were not as crispy or worth the price tag in my opinion. At $ 1.30/piece I expect perfection. The nachos were a mess. They are huge and full of wonderful toppings but by the time you receive them, all but the outer chips are soggy and a mess. We left most of the plate uneaten.
For dinner the hubby ordered the Meat Your Maker burger ($ 14). I tried one of his fries after he said they were terrible and I agreed. They were soft, no crispiness at all. He ordered it with the beef option and said that it was OK. My sister and I split the Crab Shack burger (portions, beside the onion rings, are huge). This was the saving grace of the experience. If you go there, this is the burger to get. Ample crab meat, few fillers and pan fried perfectly. However, the «chips» they serve along side were overly cooked, almost burnt. Not at all a good accompaniment.
In total our bill was $ 109 for 3 people for three draft beers, two glasses of wine, 2 apps and 2 sandwiches including an 18% tip (after tax so really 20%, as opposed to my usual 25%…because of terrible service). That price tag is right for an excellent lunch but certainly not appropriate for our experience.
In short, highly overrated and highly overpriced. Even if my expectations were elevated by its reputation, this restaurant falls dramatically short of a 5 star rating.
P. s. When we went back to the restroom after dinner the soap dispensers were still empty and we did not receive a thank you from the depressed hostess. As Unilocal says, «Me thinks not.»

WOW. So many great things rolled into one to make my trip to Burgatory one of the top dining experiences I’ve ever had.
I’ll start with the service. It was top notch. Our waiter (wish I remembered his name) was EXCELLENT and was always back checking on us, gave great recommendations, and showed that he really cared.
Next, the food. I’d heard rave reviews about this place so I was excited for the chance to try. We started with the gorgonzola truffle fries… again wow. I am not usually a big fry person, but I devoured these flavor-​packed bad boys. (Also great to get them ½ off during happy hour!) For the burger side of things, a friend and I ordered two different things and split so I got to try the Crab Cake burger (from the menu) as well as the PB burger with Habanero jelly. LOVED them both, but I think the PB burger won.
To cap it all off, the shakes are definitely worth it. I got the S’mores variety and was quite pleased.
Safe to say I will definitely be back next time I’m in Pittsburgh.

I absolutely LOVED our waiter here. He was attentive and hilarious and really made the experience great.
Came here for lunch with some friends before catching a flight out of PIT. I got the farmer brown burger (beef burger, over easy egg, maple cured ham, farmhouse cheddar) and friend got Morty’s steakhouse burger (peppercorn crusted beef burger with horseradish cheddar, haystack onions & cabernet sauce — «like the greatest steak dinner you’ve ever had reincarnated as a burger»). Very tasty! Comes with housemade chips or fries. Mmm. All very tasty! Was also tempted to order one of their «adult» shakes but since I was catching a flight out, I didn’t want to be to stuffed, since I couldn’t take any leftovers home.
One thing that wasn’t so great. they bring fortune cookies at the end of the meal. I love fortune cookies BUT my fortune said: today is the day you meat your maker. I get that «meat your maker» is the name of one of their signature burgers BUT I was 2.5 hours from getting on a plane across the country so I wasn’t all that amused.
Luckily I’m still here.

Ok, by far the best burger place I have found out here in Pittsburgh while spending more and more time here for work.
Don’t come here if you want to eat light. Good Lord I almost couldn’t eat my meal when I got a shake first. It started to fill me right up.
So, as I said, I started with the Fluffy Nutter Butter something shake– OMG, heaven in a straw… one of the best… ok actually… the best milkshake I have had in years. I started sipping its deliciousness, only to fill up quickly… so I stopped and shared with the table. Thank goodness, since I didn’t want to miss what is next.
Ordered some parmesan fries… GREAT!!! I love when the fries have some of those tiny crunchy pieces. YUM. And of course, the burger. Super good, not dry, cooked just right… none of that grease (save that for the fry basket.)
Yes, Good. Great. Just so super satisfying. Not fast food, just good food… worth a try!!!