Kaleidoscope Café

Honestly I probably would have walked right by this hidden little gem had my daughter not heard good things. It’s nothing fancy to look at but the food is amazing. Service was outstanding. There were seven of us and we all got meals plus three appetizers (small plates) and two desserts and it came out to about $ 25 per person. Great food great prices. Definite winner.

Another really good dinner. We shared the crab appetizer which is very tasty. Also shared the duck cannoli which was loaded with Duck and just a little sweetness. I had the cow jumped over the moon and my wife had the perch from the new summer menu. Both very enjoyable. The summer menu looks great but I still like the regular offerings so much. Really a nice restaurant. Byob very reasonable.

When you travel in search of food as much as I do, you start to look for the not so ordinary. Boy does this fit the bill. The menu is a lesson in creativity and corkyness (is that a word?). Duck cannoli? Fried gnocchi? Who thinks of the stuff. Kaleidoscope does! I am not a big fan of gnocchi, but this preparation transforms it to something unrecognizable, but oh so magical. A stroke of genius! My only knock would be the interior of the restaurant which I feel can use a little more TLC, a little paint, fresh décor to match the menus personality and we have an absolute winner.

The sign on Butler street said that the café was 2 blocks down the side street. However they are 2 very long blocks. There are a couple of cute houses on the way as well as a place for Pittsburgh cyclists. The café building is beautiful. It is like a huge mural. The inside décor was a let down. The walls are covered by fabric covered triangles. The café takes reservations and is BYOB. We went early on a Friday night and we were able to get in without reservations. The dining room is small but filled up quickly. There were 2 big tables of older women. Both groups brought a lot of wine so it’s safe to say that they were going to be there for awhile. One of the tables was very loud.
My husband ordered an entrée called something along the lines of a Cow Jumping Over the Moon. It was steak medallions over a bed of creamy mushroom sauced linguine. The steak was cooked nicely but the cream sauce had zero flavor. I mean zero. He was disappointed.
I ordered a scallop dish that was severed over bow tie pasta. The scallops were salty and my pasta had no flavor either. It had tiny pieces of tomato and an a brown butter sauce but none of it had any flavor. I had not eaten all day so I was starving. Being served a bad dish is beyond disappointing. Their menu is small and they have been serving the same dishes for quite awhile. That means the dishes should have been perfected not bland. About a third of my bow tie pasta was overdone to the point of being brown and crispy. At first I tried to pick those pieces out but it wasn’t worth it. The whole experience was extremely disappointing. We won’t go back.

Had Lunch today with my Dee, warm Brussel Sprout Salad. so delicious!!! Perfect serving size, light yet filling. Ordered with chicken. Really so good. Plan on seeing if I can get take out for lunch! Work in Shaler, 15 minutes away. Great place, desert was great as well. Highly recommend

just not very good or fresh. I tried it twice thinking I must be missing something because of the good reviews. food is bland, lettuce wilted, dining room not very tidy. too many good places to go in the area to bother with it again.

Good food and service. As many others have stated the duck cannoli was good, but not worth all the hype. The salads were tasty and the gnocchi were delicious though. I reallyappreciate that it is byob, I’ll be back with some wine next time. 5 stars if it were a bit cheaper.

Low key and delicious. It’s byob which is awesome. Food was great, price was good. Would def go back. Don’t expect much ambiance but it’s cute.

We go to this BYOB restaurant on a fairly regular schedule and just realized have never done a review. The food here is excellent. Last night my wife had a pork tenderloin with sweet potato hushpuppies which she loved. I had the beef filet which compares to any high end steak house. Served with fries, roasted zucchini and topped with portobello mushrooms. With a crab dip with pita bread as a starter dinner was excellent. Service as always very good. Everything homemade and Dan the chef is very creative and good. Lots of variety of food choices on the menu. Everything I have had has been good. A Casual but nice setting would highly recommend.

This is our favorite hidden-​away spot in Lawrenceville to grab a bottle of wine and have a date night. The space is small and cozy, so I recommend making a reservation just in case. Everything on the menu is fresh and delicious– we especially love the chicken apple sausage small plate with Brie and the scallop pasta, but we’ve never had a bad meal here. The specials and seasonal menus are also quite good. The service is friendly and it’s great if you want to dress up a bit on the weekend or pop over in jeans on a weeknight. We also like to bring out of town guests here for dinner and show them there’s amazing food in Pittsburgh tucked away off the main drag of Butler and outside of downtown.

Delish food and great staff! They let ud order off the lunch menu at dinner time since we were interested in the pulled pork sandwich :)

The night we went, our server informed us that they were particularly busy and that it would take some extra time for the food to come out. We didn’t mind waiting, so this was fine with us. We weren’t too crazy about the entrees (especially since a quarter of them weren’t available that night…), so we shared three appetizers (crab dip, apple sausage, and the duck cannoli) and one entrée (chicken pot pie). Nothing about the food was spectacular: the crab dip was just crab dip, the apple sausage was a bit too heavy for me, the duck in the cannoli was very dry, and I found the chicken pot pie too sweet. However, the deep-​fried gnocchi that the table next to us got looked good. The tables were kinda cool, but I thought the theme of the restaurant was poorly executed everywhere else. This was not worth going off Butler for.
Taste | 2
Atmosphere | 2
Presentation | 3
Service | 3
OVERALL | 2.5

Came here once I saw the hype regarding this place and decided to check it out.
I ended up getting the Scallops Beurre Noisette & the Duck Cannoli.
Scallops Beurre Noisette
Pros — the scallops … freshly cooked and had wonderful flavor. I could tell from one bite that they were authentic and from the way they were cooked, done so to retain maximum flavor and juice.
Cons — the pasta was only just average … not so sure if I’m a fan of it literally being doused head to toe in oil. taking just one look at the pasta itself told me as much.
Duck Cannoli
Pros — the duck meat was fantastic. ended up being really juicy and full of flavor, not dry and bland.
the cannoli shell and general appearance — made it quite appetizing and pleasing to the eye
Cons — the white chocolate cardamom burre-​blanc … or maybe the lack thereof? didn’t really taste any of that when I ate the dish. hmm …
At any rate, I found this generally to be a good place for dinner. The interior could be a little brighter, but other than that, it was good. worth a try

My friend had been harassing me to come here for the longest! My reason for taking so long to go was because I looked at the menu several times and didn’t see anything that jumped at me. So finally I gave in and decided to go. I was excited to try the smoked jalapeño corn custard. I was extremely disappointed. I definitely gave this meal a chance. The polenta like aspect was ok at first then underneath was the custard. I should’ve known better but that corn custard was not good at all. It looked like eggs under the top layer. I ate everything but the corn custard. I would not get this again.

Had a get together today with my meet up group and they decided to dine here. Located in Lawrenceville it has a tiny parking lot in the back and there is a dumpster which partially blocks it.
The place was virtually empty so we had a nice long table for ourselves. We had a very attentive waitress who made sure we got our drinks and met our needs. They have a BYOB for a modest fee which we shared while munching on gnocchi appetizers with marinara sauce.
The owner told us the menu was undergoing some changes so there were some substitutions on the entrees. I settled for a portobella mushroom sandwich with a side of fruit. The lady next to me had a new dish. It was Ahi tuna with cole slaw and pasta. The Kaleidoscope salad is also one of their favorites.
We had to wait quite a while for the food but I figured since we were a large group that it would take extra time. My sandwich was good. The lady next to me let me sample her tuna. It was to die for!
The restaurant is very small and they have decorative art on both the tables, the ceiling, and the walls. Prices can be reasonable to a bit pricey depending upon what you order. Since we had shared the appetizer the sandwich was enough for me.
It is a great place to visit but street parking is terrible. I was grateful we arrived before it opened at 11 so that I could park in their lot. There is a sign telling you that the lot is monitored so you must move your car if you intend to go anywhere else.
I look for different experiences and was glad to partake in a new restaurant which I hadn’t tried yet.

Finally able to make it around to this hidden away gem in Lawrenceville. While there is a plethora of good restaurants on Butler street itself, if you actually hipster out of leave the beaten path down 43^rd street you come across this inconspicuous, yet mural painted food spot.
I came here on a Wednesday after running a ton of errants and with a good friend who I will miss after he moves to London. [you will be missed greatly] As we have a habit of making good of BYOB spots we scraped up a bottle of bubbly made our way down. The hostess [who was also our waitress] sat us at a two seater in the corner and gave us the specials and asked for our drink preferences. With brunch in mind we ordered a tall glass of orange juice and promptly we had ourselves mimosas.
The menu is set up a little oddly put together, well at least we found have rearranged some sections, however no matter what the setup, our eyes were bouncing all over the place. We had no idea where to start.
For our appetizer we ordered the deep fried gnocchi, served with a side of home marinara sauce. This appetizer is a great, light version of typical mozzarella sticks, but the gnocchi will melt in your mouth. The portion is quite small and there is plenty of sauce of go along with it. The marinara [must be mentioned] is excellent. Very tomato, a tad natural sweet and just so good. I could have eaten it just on its own.
For an entrée I finally decided on the Tuna Gyro, which was just absolutely excellent. The tuna was perfect and pink in the middle, which were splendidly tender. I was given a side of very green cucumber sauce which reminded me of green potion [but in a good way]
The waitress/​hostess was continuously checking in on us making sure it was all alright. The slight thing to mention is that she didn’t quite understand what we intended with the orange juice, so she served it like a regular glass which was difficult to pour into the wine glasses to make mimosas.
Cam had the Chicken Breast Sandwich, for which the highlight was the awesome sauce [which was a style of 1000 island]. Good things were report for the sandwich.
Great little hideaway spot, you didn’t end up over full at the end of the meal and I cannot wait to come back.

This is my absolute favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh. It’s off the beaten path in Lawrenceville and it’s not a large space but the food is always excellent!
My absolute favorite dish on the menu is the «cow jumped over the blue moon» pasta. Gorgonzola cream sauce sauce, sweet onion confit, steak, and almonds to garnish. This dish is sinful and something I often crave.
We also love the fried gnocchi small plate. I’m not a fan of traditional gnocchi; I find it too dense, but this dish is very light and fluffy. Oh, and the marinara that comes with the gnocchi is perfect!
During our most recent visit, my husband ordered the curry polenta and raved about it. He’s also enjoyed the gnocchi nirvana and some of the fish specials.
Kaleidoscope is BYOB and accepts reservations. It’s important to mention that the food is made to order so there will be a little bit of a wait. The chef usually sends out pitas with a unique butter while you wait. The dining space is a bit small, only fitting about 10 tables, but the overall atmosphere is unique and features local artwork on the tables.
This should definitely be on your list of places to try — we are never disappointed!

This café not only has good vibes but also the food was great!
We found street parking right in front of the café and went in a few minutes after when they opened at 11am on Saturday. We were the only ones there for a good hour. The waitress was very attentive and super friendly.
We shared the Duck Cannoli and Crab Dip. They were both delicious — the cannoli had a great crispy shell and the duck itself was tender and had great flavor; the crab dip came with a lot of pita triangles that were crispy but soft, and the dip itself was ADDICTIVE. By the time our main dishes came out, we were both really full. My friend got the Fried Gnocchi and I got the Cow Jumped Over the Blue Moon pasta. They were both great, but since we were so full we took them to go.
We both enjoyed the food and atmosphere, and I would go back to try something else! A perfect place to visit for a hearty meal.

I gave 5 stars based on the food alone. I would give the service 4 stars.
I called about 4 days in advance to make reservations for my birthday lunch with 5 of my girlfriends for 3pm on a Saturday. I was told over the phone before the guy hung up «parking is on the side of the building and we prefer cash.» Kind of weird IMO about the cash thing but I knew from reading previous reviews. The day of the reservation I called a few hours prior to see if I could add 2 more to the table, I was told «umm, yeah we should be able to do that.» When we showed up at 3pm, there was not a single person in the restaurant, which was good because 8 girlfriends who haven’t seen each other in a while sharing 8 bottles of wine can get a little rowdy. Our waitress was friendly and patient and took good care of us. Between the group, we had the tuna gyro, fresh cut fries, chicken sandwich w/​awesome sauce, fried gnocchi, Mediterranean salad, scallop pasta and the soup of the day (a broth based bean and sausage soup) and every single one of us licked our plates clean. The food at this place is EXCELLENT. It would be a fun little spot to go on a date and it was perfect for a late lunch for my group.
After lunch was winding down, the head chef came out to see how everything tasted. He was extremely friendly and personable and stayed for a minute to talk to us about his previous restaurants, the menu and his wife, All in all — a good experience. I would suggest reservations if you think of it, though, because I can see it getting bit tight and crowded at more peak times.

I’ve been here twice – once for restaurant week, once this past Friday – and the experiences differed. My first time, I was not too pleased with the food (we got the coconut curry polenta and it was much drier than expected). However, this past Friday, the food our group got was delicious. We got the crab dip, a salad, chicken pot pie, sweet potato pasta, and the cow jumps over the moon pasta. Everyone was very happy with their orders.
In terms of ambience I’ve been happy both times. It’s a great place for a date. It’s cozy and intimate, BYOB, and the servers are very friendly.
Lastly, I think the prices are very fair. Portion sizes are relatively large (we had extra both times) and the food is tasty.
I suggest checking it out even if it is a bit out of the way. You’ll be happy you did!

Second trip to Kaleidoscope Café, both before downtown events — so this is an Early Bird Review!
Staff — extremely friendly and accomodating — yes, it’s easy to do when the place is almost empty at 5:30pm, but it is appreciated nonetheless!
The food here is amazing. Every dish, both times.
Duck Cannolli with pistashio dust — stuffed with tender, juicy duck.
Deep Fried Gnocchi were very light and the marinara was so flavorful that I was compelled to eat a forkful by itself.
The salads are all beautiful, unique and tasty.
The Cow Jumped over the Blue Moon is a pasta dish that I have seen twice — both times receiving high praises.
I have had the Scallops and the Michigan Chicken Pot Pit — both were yummy.
Here’s another thing — The Menu. The Kaleidoscope Menu is extremely descriptive. This is very helpful when ordering. One friend has a no-​thanks issue with beets, the other amore significant issue with walnuts — neither were hindered in choice because they were able to request those items left out. LOVE A DESCRIPTIVE MENU!
Parking is not awesome, even at 5:30pm on Thursday. Wouldn’t guess at how busy they would be if this were not a factor.
Great place when heading into the city from the east and worth the trip across the city from the west!

This restaurant is quite tight on space, but they made good use of the space they have. If you plan on coming with a larger party, do rsvp in advance to ensure you don’t have to wait. The menu is limited, but well thought out. The service was phenomenal! They treated us so well and were super patient with us even when we had complicated requests.
As for food, I had the chance to try the crab dip with pita bread, and the gnocchi nirvana. The crab dip was tasty enough, but the texture was a bit too runny. The gnocchi nirvana was smaller than I expected. For an entrée, it was the size of an appetizer. The gnocchi was super tasty though with a hint of Indian spices. Other than the teeny weeny portion, I really enjoyed the gnocchi. The chef even threw in a complimentary plate of pita bread and some sort of exotic butter. Freebies are always a plus in my book!
Overall I had a great dining experience at Kaleidoscope. I will definitely return here again and highly recommend this little charm! Amazing service and well-​prepared food!

Nothing about my experience here was either mediocre or bad… And the food and service far exceeded my expectations. That’s always a good thing.
Kaleidoscope is tucked away not on the main drag in Lawrenceville, so it can be easy to miss. It’s an interesting little BYOB establishment… Upon entering, we didn’t know what to expect. We’ve been back several times now bc both the service and food were awesome (and each visit was consistent with the others). I have had a number of items, some of which include the scallops, a gnocchi dish, and the kaleidoscope salad… I would recommend all of the above.
If you haven’t been here, you must give it a shot! You won’t be disappointed.

Ever since I first found Kaleidoscope Café two years ago when I was looking for dinner in Lawrenceville and they couldn’t seat me, I’ve been wanting to come back and try it out. When I saw that they were participating in PGH Restaurant Week, I made a reservation for Fri. evening at 6:30 for CM and I to ensure that this time, I’d be able to try their unique culinary offerings.
Because of the PGH Restaurant Week promotion, CM and I ordered more than we usually would, so we were able to try a good portion of the menu. We ordered the following: Deep-​fried gnocchi (shared), Kaleidoscope salad (CM), autumn harvest salad (me), miso glazed salmon with risotto (CM), chicken cherry pot pie (me), and flourless chocolate torte (shared). Additionally, the chef included a complimentary serving of pita bread with pineapple-​mango (?) infused butter.
In general, I was quite impressed with the flavors and quality of the dishes that we ordered. The deep-​fried gnocchi was quite unique, and the marinara sauce that accompanied it was tasty – Darren W.‘s description of this dish is very apt. The bright, citrusy notes of the butter made for a wonderful accompaniment to the pita bread, with a mouthwatering sweet-​salty balance. The salads both had a nice variety of flavors and textures, and were quite fresh and pleasant. Unfortunately, the Kaleidoscope salad was missing avocado due to a kitchen shortage, so it wasn’t as texturally balanced as it would have been, even though CM subbed in walnuts. Although a bit small, the flourless chocolate torte was rich, smooth, and creamy, and was one of the best renditions I’ve tasted.
For my entrée, I was originally planning to order the sweet potato tagliatelle per another Unilocaler’s recommendation, but the chicken cherry pot pie also captured my interest, so I asked my waitress which dish she’d recommend. Without hesitation, she recommended the pot pie, so I decided to order it instead. In terms of diameter, this was the largest chicken pot pie I’ve ever eaten at about 10,” and it was quite tall as well, due to a light-​as-​air puff pastry top. While it was delicious and unique, the overall flavor turned out to be a bit sweeter than I’d have liked due to the cherries in the filling. CM’s salmon, on the other hand, had a great balance of savory flavors and textures, and was more to my taste.
Aside from the food, service was on point, with dishes being served and cleared at a perfect pace, and attentiveness to our needs. The one disappointment was that the chef didn’t come out to greet us – it’s my understanding that he usually does this, and I saw him do it for the next table over as we were waiting for our entrees, so perhaps he was too busy (?). I really enjoyed the décor and the intimate setting, as well.
Overall, despite a few small hiccups, CM and I had a wonderful dinner at Kaleidoscope, and enjoyed sampling the menu. Our check came to $ 63, which I felt was very reasonable, given the amount of food that we received. I’d highly recommend Kaleidoscope to anyone looking for a cozy, intimate, and delicious dinner in L-​ville, especially for dates. 4.5 stars.

Wow, that curry polenta is quite a dish. As in, seriously go there as soon as you can and get it. It’s one of the more creative and tastier dishes I’ve had in the past year. Just bring your wallet – it isn’t cheap! The deep fried gnocchi was also good. The dessert (flourless chocolate cake) was quite tasty but it was also very small.