Kretzler’s Tavern

So we sat down and had to wait 15 minutes for our server to come over and ask about drinks. Then it took another 15 minutes for the two waters to come. Then we ordered the provolone sticks, which were pretty good, but a little greasy. The problem was that we didn’t have any utensils or napkins to wipe our hands off with. We asked our waitress for some and we still did not get any. Then, she gave us bread and butter, with no knife to cut the bread with. About 15 minutes after we got the bread, she came over with a side salad, which again, we asked for utensils. She finally came over with utensils, but one of the forks was dirty with leftover food stuck in it.
Our food came at 7:20, which was an hour after we ordered. I got a chicken caesar salad. There was way too much dressing on it, to the point of making the lettuce soggy and the chicken had veins stuck in it.
Overall, the appetizer was good, but the service was very very slow. My salad was way too soggy.

I often drive past this place and always thought that it looks more like a bar then a restaurant from the outside. However, during my first visit here last night I found out that this is not the case. You do, however, enter the bar area to go into the rather large sized dining room. The first thing that caught my attention was the unique looking dining room chairs. They appear to be custom made and tree branches were used to form the backs of the chairs. Further beyond the main dining room is another separate, more private dining room for parties etc. I also noticed a door in the rear of the building allowing access to both the main dining room and the private one.
The menu looked very inviting with plenty of good options. I finally decided to try their fish sandwich since this is one of their known specialties and my friend decided on the Reuben. We ended up splitting our sandwiches and both were of good quality and very filling.
The server mentioned that they offer homemade soups on a regular basis but it is hard to know which soup will be featured on any given day. Last night featured a hearty navy bean soup.
The prices are very reasonable and we look forward to another visit.

Ok everyone knows about the HUGE fish sandwich … and all you can eat fish on Fridays. … but October fest is coming. . and the parking lot will be busier than fish on Fridays during Lent.
Their soups are made on site. The cream of spinach and broccoli soups are delicious … the navy bean soup is OUTSTANDING.
This restaurant is like Cheers that the waitresses know the regulars — a very large group of people. It is a comfort food menu … you won’t find tofu or sushi here.
They also have a party room — meetings, wakes, card players.
Did I mention the 28 beers on tap?

Kretzler’s has become my family’s go-​to stop for Good Friday fish sandwiches for years though I find myself there a few other times throughout the year. I find I’m either here for the bar/​drinks or here for the food/​restaurant, depending on the group I’m with. Family, friends, co-​workers, drinking buddies? It doesn’t matter, Kretzler’s will please any crowd.
Surprisingly diverse list of beers on tap, including a few craft brews along side your Coors and Miller Lite. They’ll let you order food at the bar which I’ve never done however I have noticed that food seems to be served faster at the bar.
The hostess may not seem like the friendliest person when you first arrive for the restaurant side, especially when it’s busy. But when that place is hopping she keeps things organized and moving efficiently. Wait staff is friendly. I’ve had several food items on the menu over my many visits including the Tavern Salad (stacked with veggies and mixed greens), always satisfying appetizers and munchies, and several sandwiches and hoagies (turkey club, reuben, classic burger and of course the fish sandwich). The portions will not leave you hungry and if you doubt that, just know that they have a new burger challenge called the Buzzy Dunkle Schnitzel Burger. This menu item is described as an «obnoxious» two 8 oz burger patties, two fried eggs, cheese, bacon, fries and slaw. I’m very tempted by the challenge and reward of a free t-​shirt if I consume this hefty burger. Stay tuned for updates.

Kretzlers brings me back to my childhood in Northwest PA — true comfort food. Please note, you’re not coming here for a gluten-​free, kale-​pureed, quinoa-​crusted foo foo meal. No, my friends, this is Western PA cookin’ at its finest. The fried fish is perfect, and huge. Frighteningly so. But it’s delicious. The sandwiches are fuel for the defensive line of an upstate, redneck football team, and they are spectacular. The French Onion Soup is blanketed in a thick, delicious drape of warm, bubbly cheese. The waitresses are total chocolate covered pretzel ladies — a little sweet, a little salty. The décor is nonexistent, and I’m ok with that. Bring a sweater and pants with elastic, it’s freezing in there and the portions are gargantuan.

I always pass this place and I wanted to give it a try. I will never go back. Order a stuffed pretzel to start it was a pretzel cut in half with cheeses in the middle weird right not what I think when I think stuffed pretzel but not bad. My boyfriend ordered ranch wings with fries and I got chicken strips with potato pancakes, Then we waited a loooonnng time.
When the food came they gave me fries instead of the potato pancakes I ordered and the chicken strips were aweful all I could taste was burnt grease. At this point I was so disappointed I didn’t even want to complain just get out of there.
Also my boyfriend and I are an interracial couple and were being stared at meanly by many tables which added to an even more upsetting night. I’ve read other reviews and seen they have a good fish sandwich that would not be enough to get me back in these doors.

Large menu and great for family dining

I cannot say enough good things about this place. It is my frequent «go to» place. Separate dining area from the bar so you can go for a family dinner or a fun happy hour. This is my favorite place. Comfort food at its best. Oh and during lent such an awesome fish sandwich.

It’s the best fish sandwich in Pittsburgh! During lent you can’t get a seat, so get take out. It’s quick, organized and they wrap the bun in foil, so it doesn’t get soggy. Huge portion size, you could make two fish sandwiches if you wanted. I always eat half the next day, it is so big. I also love the potato pancakes jus like my Dad used to make and they offer sour cream to go with them. Sometimes they run out of the potato pancakes if you don’t get there before 6. Very disappointing. All the staff is friendly and the menu is very economical. So, I couldn’t wait till lent again to get a fish sandwich and potato pancakes. My husband and I got a seat in the bar area immediately tonight, watched the Pirate game and still delish:)

Great fish sandwich. Good service. Fun atmosphere.

I went there for a lunch with my parents during the week, as it is one of my parents favorite places and they have been talking it up for quite a while. We were sat immediately and they easily accommodated our request to have a booth even though we were first brought to a table. I had the hot sausage sandwich which comes with grilled onions and peppers, and melted provolone cheese on an Italian roll. This thing was tastyyyyyy! I definitely recommend a little marinara sauce either on it or on the side, because you just can’t have hot sausage without some sauce in my humble partially Italian opinion. I really enjoyed how the sausage was a patty so there was no biting into a link and having it shoot out the back end of the sandwich or that gross snap of biting into casing. I had the potato pancakes as my side (I know, weird combo but I was told I had to try them). They were good, but a little too thick and a little bland. Not really a reason to come here, but definitely not a reason to avoid the place. My mom had the fries which were quite tasty.
The service was very friendly in the classic Pittsburgh fashion. My drink was always filled and I left well caffeinated after my many glasses of Pepsi. The wait for the food was a little longer than average, but didn’t leave me hungry for too long. I’ll definitely be back here when I’m in the mood for some tasty, no frills kind of food.

Oh my god I LOVE this place. Been coming here since I was a little kid. The food is outstanding. It tastes like home cooking. We like going here on Fridays and Saturdays because it’s not loud and crazy usually. The only thing I could really complain about was having a DJ there on Saturday night playing rap from the 90s that no one really wants to hear. Other than that, we always have a great time here.

In my office, Kretzler’s is the only place we go during Lent. Their fish sandwiches are delicious, french dips are great (just not on Fridays!), and their Macaroni and Cheese (offered only on Friday, I think) is beyond delicious. Honestly, I have never been disappointed in a meal from this place. Between the food quality and the low prices, it’s a tough one to beat.

On our way back home from some house hunting my wife and I passed Kretlzers and figured, «lets give it a shot, something new!» We started with a stuffed pretzel, which was merely a pretzel roll cut in half and less than half way melted cheese set in the middle… It wasn’t bad, but not what one would expect when they see «stuffed pretzel». My wife ordered the meatball hoagie with potato pancakes, and me, the beef and cheddar melt. The meatball, my wife said, was just average, but the potato pancakes, we both agreed, were pretty darn good. The beef and cheddar, oh the beef and cheddar… AWFUL! It was tasteless and so dry that I could barely swallow it… I asked for some au jus thinking it would help… It didn’t, mainly because the au jus sucked as well.
Our waitress was nice, no overly personable, but nice, young and a bit shy I believe. She apologized for the sandwich and took it off the bill…
I don’t see any reason to ever go back…

Big menu, decent to very good food, big bar, efficient service, and reasonable prices. I went with one other person, but I feel like this might be a perfect place to go with a group. It’s hard to imagine someone not finding something they like on the menu; it fits any budget; and the dining room is spacious. Nothing struck me as particularly wonderful about this local mainstay – so I’m not sure I’d go out of my way for a second visit – but if I’m hungry and in the neighborhood, I’ll definitely be back for more.

Best thing about this place– food prices.
I had a pretty good italian wedding soup, not bad at all.
Private parking lot and easy to find.
Not a bad place to eat for someone on the go (like me) from out of town.

Good food, Great prices, Huge bar. Lots of seating for the bar and dining areas. It’s a bit out of the way, but well worth it if your in the area. 4 people can easily eat for under $ 50

I was working at our sub-​office, filling in for the site manager and a couple of the contract staff members and I decided to head out to lunch. They recommended Kretzlers.
Kretzlers is another one of those hidden little Pittsburgh gems. Yes the place has been around for awhile. Yes the menu is out of the ‘70s. Ain’t nuthin’ wrong with that! As far as I’m concerned, if a place can do a great BLT, then it’s aces in my book!
And boy can Kretzlers do a great BLT. This was better than any I’d ever had at Eat-​n-​Park! And I’m a huge fan of Eat-n-Park’s BLTs! I’d even have to say that it was better than any I’d ever had at a Chicago Greek joint. How does a great BLT taste? The toast has to go «ka-​runch» when I bite into it; the lettuce and tomato has to be fresh, and the bacon has to be crispy. Was this ever! Mmmmm! Next time I’ll have to try it with the fried egg on top.
And the prices here are dirt cheap too. $ 4.29 for my BLT including fries or soup.

Want to check out a local blue collar tavern in Pittsburgh’s North Hills that serves excellent fare? Then try Kretzler’s!
Kretzler’s has been around forever. The menu is right out of the ‘70s, with period appetizers such as «spinach artichoke dip», «potato skins», and «wing dings». A typical meat and seafood heavy menu, the quality of food is anything but typical!
Reasonable prices, good Pittsburgh-​style food, heaps of local «color», and a friendly staff makes Kretzler’s a great place for families and friends. And, as always, a satisfying and uniquely Pittsburgh dining experience.
Note: Hands down, best fish sandwich in town!