Kelly O’s Diner

Disappointed. For having been featured on the Food Network’s «Diners, Drive-​Ins and Dives,» Kelly O’s wasn’t anything to rave about. Maybe I had high expectations or I didn’t order the right things. I ordered the Pittsburgh Benedict and the hubby ordered the hot turkey sandwich. My Pittsburgh Benedict was decent, creative version of your traditional eggs benedict. Instead of Canadian bacon or ham, it had kielbasa along with a pierogi and sautéed onions. I enjoyed it but the hot turkey sandwich was a disgrace. It should be a diner staple so I’m not sure how Kelly O’s managed to mess it up. The turkey was so dry; you might as well have called it a turkey jerky sandwich. We asked for cranberry sauce because the sandwich was drier than the Sahara, but of course they didn’t have any. When someone can make a better turkey sandwich at home using oscar mayer, a microwave, and some wonder bread, it’s time to 86 that sammy for good. Moral of the story, if you’re hungry and in the area, there’s a Shop’N’Save right next door.

My friend and i stopped in yesterday. We’re obsessed with Kelly Os in the strip. We met up at Ross Park Mall to carpool to renaissance fair and decided to stop here for breakfast on the way to fair.
I ordered my usual– breakfast burrito with shredded potatoes. It’s so tasty i just dont even want to try anything else, lol. My friend ordered an omelet and we split their «famous cinnamon roll»
We may just stick to the strip for our Kelly O’s experience. When ordering drinks, we asked for coffee and water. No water but honestly no big deal. It also took a veryyyyyyy long time for our food. My friend just came back from a 2 week trip to Paris. We talked about the entire trip before our food came out, lol. Also, we both asked for onions and peppers in our potatoes and neither of us had any.
I can let the food wait time slide. I went to the restroom which is surprisingly in the kitchen. The kitchen is pretty small and only a few cooks. There seemed to be more tables than the strip district one so i can understand the wait time. The food was tasty so in a sense that’s what matters. But if it looks busy and you’re pressed for time, this may not be the best option.
We are still obsessed with Kelly O’s… but the strip district location.

Love how everything is homemade! I personally know the owners and they strive for amazing customer service as well as excellently prepared foods. Have never been disappointed when sending someone from outside of state to the diner! Amazing potato pancakes and I love the Seana!

Tried the Kelly O’s in the Strip District for a Saturday Lunch. Small and noisy as well as quite busy. Had a few minute wait which wasn’t bad given how busy they were.
I decided a sample of a number of things was in order. The World Famous Breakfast was good but not «world famous». I tried the Turkey Pot Pie soup — awesome. The Mush with crumbled bacon, the way Guy from Triple D’s likes it was good. Finally I had the Pittsburgher — ¹⁄₃ lb burger, pierogi, Polish Sausage, and cheese. Quite good but the Polish Sausage was 2 very small pieces.
The diner is quite noisy so you may need some quiet time to decompress.

I used to come here when I still lived in Pittsburgh a few years ago. When the owners were coming in more frequently, the service was a lot better. My boyfriend and I are in town from NC and last minute decided to go get breakfast here. It was 2:50 (ten minutes before close) when we arrived. We walked in and one male server with blonde hair sarcastically chuckled (how welcoming…) because the other server was going to be taking care of us so close to closing time. Our server, «Staci» had an attitude from start to end. How she has a job baffles me. Throws down our silverware and asks what we want, we ask for another minute, she comes back and says «what are you getting?» As if we can’t have one more second to look at the menu… brings out food with one less piece of toast stating the other piece got burnt but then brought out another burnt piece as a substitute.weird. She doesn’t come back over until we are finished and just throws the check down. We wrote a note on the bill explaining how we work in the restaurant industry and she would’ve got a 100% tip if she didn’t act so rudely. I hope the owners find new servers who will treat the customers right and appreciate having a job.

Great breakfast food! Travelled from Chicago to try Guy Fieri recommendation of Kelly O’s. Turns out our waitress is from our hometown, from the Chicagoland suburb. Waitstaff vey friendly and attentive to our needs.

Worst service ever.
If I could put 0 stars I would, by default it gets a 1
I went here the other day after being told for a few years now how great the food was. I sat at the diner and this blonde woman who reminded me of Jim Carrey in «The Grinch» both in attitude and in physical appearance came over and asked me if I’m ready to order in a demanding voice. She never said welcome to Kelly O’s or good morning, no greeting or anything. I hadn’t even been there for 2 minutes and didn’t even have a menu which I told her, so she asked if I needed more time. I asked for a water and told her to give me a few minutes. About five minutes later she comes back again with the same attitude asking if I’m ready yet. I told her no I’ve never been here and I’m still looking, give me a few more minutes.
After a few more minutes the grinch came back once again asking if I’m ready yet as if she has somewhere to be and I’m wasting her time. I ordered my food and before I could finish ordering she turned around and began entering my order into the computer. After noticing a fresh squeezed orange juice machine in front of me, I said excuse me before you finish on the computer can I get an orange juice. She was standing less than 2 feet away and apparently acted as if she didn’t hear me. So when she finally finished and turned around I asked again for an orange juice.
Now at this point I had been in this diner for about 15 – 20 minutes before ordering my food. So after asking her for the orange juice she became even more disgruntled, nodded her head, huffed and puffed, and proceeded to get my orange juice. I watched her put her finger on the button to start squeezing fresh OJ but then looked down into a styrofoam cup under neath the spout and saw there was orange juice already squeezed in the cup. I had been in there 20 minutes and nobody had touched that machine until now, so who knows how long that orange juice had been sitting there, if it was someone’s leftovers, or if bugs had been flying around in it, or something dropped in it. So she decides to take the warm leftover crap from the styrofoam cup and dump it into a cup for me. How lucky of me to pay for leftover garbage. I told her I watched what she did and I didn’t want it. I wanted fresh orange juice not leftover crap that had been sitting there. She dumped it out, nodded her head and told me that’s how we do it here, it is fresh and mumbled asshole. I was in shock, I have never had such terrible service anywhere. I watched this grinch of a woman walk to the back kitchen and point me out to 2 other staff members and call me an asshole.
Other than that the food wasn’t that great. The bacon was burnt and black, the sausage was hard and greasy, the eggs were greasy, but the pancakes were some of the best I had.
Despite my treatment and against my better judgement I still managed to be the better person and give that miserable bitch a good tip. But I will never go back to dine there again. I may just call ahead to order pancakes to go but I would never recommend this place to anyone for dine in service

The food here was decent for a diner, my steak and cheese omelet was a bit greasy, but that is to be expected for a diner. Her pancakes were large and she enjoyed them. The service was a little less than friendly, and also a little less than professional. Unfortunately, that is what really stuck out at my visit. My waitress gave the impression that she really did not care to be waiting on our table. Overall, the experience was OK.

such a cute little old fashion place. absolutely love the old fashion diner décor, and they have just about the best french fries and chicken strips around. I live about 15 minutes away, but whenever we go out for breakfast for Mother’s Day or a special holiday or just anything — it’s always here. so cute and good. a little on the over priced side though, but the food is worth it.

I pained over not giving my favorite breakfast joint 5 stars. However, I don’t like the omelets or the breakfast burrito. That’s the only reason for 4 stars.
On the HUGE plus side, everything else here is great. Yes, the décor is wacky and dated, but the food is spot-​on. Get the french toast on Mancini’s bread, and you won’t be disappointed. Or, get the grilled sticky bun; your arteries may hate you, but your mouth will be in heaven. My personal favorite, though, is just their eggs/​sausage patty/​hash brown breakfast. The sausage is a hand-​made patty, so you can’t go wrong with it.

This is a good Pittsburgh diner. I’ve only ever visited for breakfast and really don’t have any complaints. It’s good, but not spectacular.

I love breakfast and I love diners, so I was pretty eager to check out Kelly O’s. It definitely lived up to my expectations! I got the «World Famous Breakfast» which consisted of two eggs, homefries or shredded potatoes, bacon or sausage and toast. I got the homefries with green peppers and onions and felt that they were absolutely amazing. Crispy, but not burnt. Peppers and onions were a perfect addition and really shouldn’t be missed. The bacon was crispy, not greasy and limp. And the toast is Mancini’s, and if there’s one thing I love, it’s Mancini’s. Was the breakfast super creative and out of the box as far as a concept? No. But was it perfectly executed and the ideal picture of a good diner breakfast? Yes!
Loved the décor inside with the great diner feel. My only complaint really was the booths. My church pews at my Catholic elementary school were probably more comfortable. Straight up and down in the back, no padding, and very narrow. Two medium adults JUST fit. If you’re big boned and try to fit two people in there, it’s not going to be pretty.
Overall, will DEFINITELY be back. Love the food, service, the Pittsburgh love throughout.

Been here a handful of times for breakfast. Food is decent. Last time we were here I found a hair in my food. Haven’t been there since.

I’m a regular at Kelly O’s and I adore the joint. Yes, it’s a dive, but it’s my dive, dammit. I’m here at least once a week for breakfast. I’m a sucker for the breakfast sandwich and any of their pancakes — especially the pumpkin ones they whip up in the fall.
The spot itself is tucked into a little strip mall complex, ironically the same one that my gym is in (for extra guilt, I suppose). It can get pretty swamped on the weekends, so I recommend either getting there early or visiting on a weekday. You’re not getting white glove service here, and it’s certainly not a mimosas and crumpets joint, but the staff is friendly, the food is solid, and the kitchen looks pretty clean.
Minus one star because of all the Guy Fieri crap around. If I wanted to be inundated by Von Douche himself, I’d watch the Food Network.

WAITRESS WAS A TOTAL BITCH. I came in with my two kids (7 and 9) today (12÷6÷2014) at 2.45pm. We went to sit down at a booth and were asked not to sit there «because we just cleaned that side for tomorrow.» So we sat on the other side. Before we were asked what we wanted to drink she asked in a rushed and annoying tone «Well is this going to be cash or credit?» I told her «I don’t know». She walked away and said something under her breath that I couldn’t hear. She came back about 30 seconds later with our utensils and asked «what do you want?». I said «i don’t know yet.» So she leaves us for a few minutes and comes back then takes our order. Food was average at best. Food is comparable to a Kings or Eat-​N-​Park except the space is small and dirty. If the waitress was a sweet girl that didn’t act like a total bitch the experience would have been what I expected… an ok burger in a little diner. Not great, not bad… but good enough. But, this girl was the worst waitress I’ve ever had in my life. Long dark hair, brown eyes and an absolute bitch. How can this place employ someone like this is beyond my comprehension. If she’s this miserable with only one table what is she like when that dump is packed on a Sunday morning?
Do yourself a favor and avoid the Kelly O’s diner on Perry Highway!
Oh, and don’t bother using the bathroom that literally is in the middle of the kitchen. We went in to wash our hands before our meal and right as you open the bathroom door which is just a few feet from where they grill your food is the toilet. I opened the door and inside the toilet was a monster turd that someone didn’t flush. I can only assume that the classless person that decided not to flush that log down the toilet was none other than our bitchy waitress.
SUMMARY: Waitress was a bitch and acted so annoyed and bothered that we were in there. Restaurant was dirty. Only bathroom is in the kitchen. I hope the owner reads this review and fires that waitress. I’m sure there are many people in the area that could use a job and would do a much better job than this girl. If you don’t fire her then at least stop letter her eat for free so she doesn’t leave any more huge shits in the toilet for all the customers to ponder. Good Lord what the hell are you people thinking? Something tells me Guy from Diner Drive-In’s and Dives didn’t get treated like shit by a super annoyed waitress…

Previous review still stands but adding another star because since that last review the food was better. Tip: Order the Turkey Pot Pie Soup, It’s really great!

Pittsburgh Bound! Part XII
(For Part XI, go to:
)
Everywhere I’ve Unilocaled about Pittsburgh thus far have been places I’ve been to before many times over, so I thought that on my last day in town, I would try some new places that I’ve never been to before but have always said that I should try.
First stop, Kelly O’s. The diner, buried in a nondescript strip mall about 20 minutes north of the city was featured on Diner’s, Drive-In’s, and Dives back in 2009, but by the looks of it, you’d think they film full episodes there three times a year. From the moment you enter the building, you are slapped in the face with the fact that a 5-​year old, 7 minute video exists in time and space. Signs around the bar, «As seen on…» coffee mugs, «Daily Triple-​D specials», a menu item that reads «the way Guy F likes it», and so on. I understand hanging on to the glory, but it’s a lot like that douche that shows up at your 20-​year high school reunion still wearing his letterman jacket and reminiscing about the only game he ever scored in.
When I watch Diner’s, Drive-In’s, and Dives, I typically see owners and chefs who pride themselves in their hands-​on, scratch-​made creations with some «dives» actually growing their own herbs, and curing their own bacon; taking sincere pride in providing a quality meal. I have to assume that if they had made the cut for Food Network, they must be doing something right.
I was a little disappointed. The service was good, and the coffee was fantastic, but it pretty much ended there. My friend and I each received our meals, and it was clearly obvious that her omelet was made with powdered eggs, and the mushrooms pouring out of it were right out of a can. I’m not a professional chef by any means, but my friend is, and we both agreed that there is almost nothing in the world easier to cook than mushrooms.
I ordered steak and eggs and ended up with an under-​seasoned steak (which was actually cooked well), and shredded potatoes which were fairly uncooked below the crusty surface. The saving grace of the meal was the Mancini bread which, for those that don’t know, is a primo Italian bread made locally.
Before I left, I ran to the restroom, which is adjacent to the kitchen. I’m always fearful of diner kitchens that are hidden out of site, but theirs was clean and the staff was busting ass with a full griddle of eggs, pancakes and meats.
For me, Kelly O’s was a nice, local diner, but there was nothing that really stood out to me as overly special. I guess the Triple D thing got me in the door in the first place, so marketing it must be doing something right, but seriously, lighten up on it a little.
(PS: I watched the clip of the show when I got home, and they made Haluski, a Polish staple, and I’m pretty sure any novice cook could replicate it to a tee making me even more confused as to how this place entered Guy Fieri’s gravity.)
(For Part XIII, go to:
)

At best a three star and only because my breakfast sandwich was actually delicious and not greasy at all. The eggs were light and fluffy and the bread they use is just so good. Although they could cut back on the butter slightly.
The negatives? Well there are MANY!!! First the place looks like a dump, the tables were dirty, the waitstaff simply put, looked unclean. Our «waitress» was rude and acted as though we were an inconvenience to her, this is her job mind you.
We ordered two identical egg sandwiches (again delicious, props for having dynamite food), two glasses of water and a coffee. Now the most disgusting thing was not that she pulled the creamer off the dirty table behind me and served it to me, or that it was warm when she did, but in fact it had CURDLED and had huge chucks in it. Needless to say, I very nicely asked for a new one. Without even apologizing she grabbed it off the table and brought me another one, ALSO CURDLED AND CHUNKY… I decided to drink my horrid coffee, black at this point, and when I drew the waitresses attention just to let her know the stock might be bad, she got in my face and proceeded to «explain» to me, that this is what it looks like, as she just poured it from the fridge. Then when I expressed my apologies for not knowing that «this is how coffee creamer is», yeah right lady… I was just grossed out by her horrible dentition and breath, and wanted her to back out of my face… then I asked for some whole milk, hoping that wasn’t also curdled. She threw the milk on the table in a 2oz plastic container, like you would use for sauces… she never came back to refill my coffee, or check on us.
Even I can make an egg sandwich delicious, so I would skip this place and the curdled milk and rude waitress it comes with.
Pittsburgh, you can do better!

I am a big fan of Kelly O’s in the North Hills and in the Strip. As far as diners go, they have great breakfasts. I usually tend to get the Mixed Grill for breakfast, most often with the addition of ham (you can add a choice of meat to the mixed grill for an upcharge). I usually don’t get cheese on top, but this past Saturday, January 18, I did. My only complaint was that all the cheese wasn’t melted. Still, the Mixed Grill was satisfying and generally done very well.
My frequent breakfasting partner got his usual, the Outrageous Breakfast sandwich. This sandwich is very large, and comes on (the best!) Mancini toast. He always raves about it, and this is someone who is a bit of a foodie.
Overall a great breakfast experience!

They sure do love to advertise that they were on Diners Drivein’s and Dives. It was written everywhere inside. The waitress was ok, not too friendly but she got our stuff without a big wait. I was really excited that they have Bratwurst for breakfast and you MUST get the Turkey Pot Pie, no matter what time of day.