It seems that no Grandview Avenue restaurant can deliver on the perfect four: 1. Great view 2. Good food 3. High level of service 4. Reasonable price I had high hopes that Altius would crack this 4 pronged Fort Knox after learning it is run by the same group as Bistro 19, but alas, it fell short on #3 and #4. 1. The view is killer... Leave it at that and look at the pictures 2. The food, while not mind boggling, surpasses all other options on Mount Washington, so it gets a pass. 3. The service... oh, the service. A maybe it's because we dined at restaurant week, but it was lacking. No one offered to take our coats, we never received the raved about bread service, the wrong table's meals were delivered to our table twice and ours were delivered to another... It just was sub-par for a joint at this price point. 4. The price. While we dined on the restaurant week special, I took note of the main menu. Prices are easily inflated 10-20% over what similarly priced/quality food would be at other PGH locations and a $12 Captain Morgan mixed cocktail... Really? While i was glad we tried it, I had wanted to use this as a special occasion joint Instead, I'll likely be looking elsewhere.
(3)
Alex D.
I've gotta give this place the full 5 stars. I was fortunate enough to visit for a recent business dinner, and it really is a wonderful place. From the moment you arrive, Altius takes good care of you - the valet is completely (COMPLETELY) reasonable, and they are polite in helping your party inside. Once you enter, the staff are friendly, and the bar is well-stocked, with a very knowledgeable bartender ready to serve you a delicious aperitif or glass of wine. After your drink, you are exported to a nice table which is most likely within eyesight of one of the stunning hilltop views of this lovely city. The food is the real reason to come here, however. No million dollar views can make up for bad food or bad service, and Altius does not disappoint! Our server was extremely attentive and thoughtful, and really did know what "service" means. I shared several items with the table, including their oysters (absolutely fabulous), scallops (divine), and charcuterie plate (delicious). As a dedicated Yelper, I had, of course, checked out the reviews before my visit, and had read about the "Duck, Duck, Goose" entree, which piqued my interest. The dish was perfectly prepared and served at the correct temperature, with just the right amount of panache by our server team, who served the entire table simultaneously and with a well-practiced flourish. The portion was perfectly sized for a regular person, which is a refreshing take on restaurant food these days - I HATE to get heaping platters that are poorly arranged and prepared with mediocre ingredients. . Again, Altius appeared to use high quality ingredients, prepared in a multitude of delicious ways - loved it! To end the meal, I indulged in their peanut butter bar, which was absolutely the right way to end the evening - it is attractive, well assembled, and just the right size to share with another person, making it the perfect dessert. My only "beef" with Altius is their corkage fee, which I consider to be a bit predatory. I realize that establishments need to make up some of their revenue from beverage sales, but the high corkage fee was a bit surprising. It wasn't enough to make me take a star away, though. Overall, a great night, in a beautiful setting, with good friends enjoying great food and drink! Will definitely be back!
(5)
Beant G.
Wow. One of the best modern American restaurants I have been to in the Pittsburgh area. Overall an excellent place for a date given well-prepared and flavorful food, a fantastic view of the city and great atmosphere. Ambience: Having been to some of the neighboring restaurants in Mt. Washington, I can comfortably say this place has one of the best views. It is perched a bit higher than LeMont although without the ceiling to floor windows. I was a huge fan of the modern decor, which is a welcome change from LeMont and Monterey Bay next door. Food: Kudos to Chef Jessica! I had the short rib and holy hell was it moist and flavorful. I'm not a big red meat fan overall but I would return for that dish any day. The asparagus on the side was a bit bland and greasy but the risotto made up for it. The real winner of the night was the Pumpkin Cheesecake- creamy, well-spiced with plenty of pumpkin flavor! Definitely not for the non-pumpkin enthusiast. One of the best desserts I have had in quite some time. Price: Since it was a special event I didn't have to foot the bill, but based on their menu, expect to pay the usual Mt. Washington premium (~$50-75 per person). That being said, on the right occasion, it's well worth it.
(5)
Francesca F.
Everything about my experience here was flawless. I was celebrating a graduation and made a note of it on OpenTable - I was consequently congratulated by the host and server (a nice touch). The view is beautiful, which almost goes without saying. Even without a window seat, however, you'll still really enjoy the ambiance. I loved that it was a fine dining atmosphere but without stuffy white tablecloths. The service was top-notch - efficient, polite, friendly - my napkin was even folded when I went to the bathroom. (Speaking of the bathrooms - they're immaculately clean and modern). We liked our tasting and flavored popcorn before our meal and everyone is sent home with a mini dessert in a little paper bag. It's really about the small details here that make it worth the price. Our meals were also flawless - we had a strawberry salad, frites, Berkshire pork chop, ravioli, and a s'mores dessert. The highlight was definitely the pork chop - highly recommend. Only downside is that you basically have to valet your car, which costs $6. Good valet service, however.
(5)
Bill L.
As a foodie in Pittsburgh, the restaurant row of Grandview Avenue on Pittsburgh's Mount Washington is not a place I flock to often, but will change with the addition of Altius, which certainly ups the ante, by providing an outstanding dinging experience in addition to the view! The two level restaurant has a comfortable and very modern environment that is stylish, yet showcases the view off Pittsburgh, first and foremost. It may be pricey, but it's worth every penny, including the accoutrements, which include a cone of sea salt and kale popcorn upon seating; an amouse bouche from the chef, and bread service that includes three different awesome breads with two tasty spreads. They oysters and the accompanying sauce were rock star quality. The beet terrine was different from the usual beet salad, and was perfect when sampled with the accompanying goat cheese. Fellow diners raved about the sweet potato soup and "tongue and cheek" appetizers. The sea bass over lobster couscous was excellent, if not quite hot off the stove, and the person in my group who used to operate a restaurant himself, gushed about the pork chop and its accompanying sides. The baked chocolate mousse and a very unique version of pot de crème were two of the best chocolate desserts that I've had in quite some time. The wine list is great with a nice variety of options. Our server, Brenna, was friendly and true pro, who knew the menu well and provided flawless service, even if it felt a tad rushed toward the start of the meal.
(5)
Christina E.
The atmosphere, the food, and the service was amazing. No complaints here! Best tiramisu I've ever had!!
(5)
Justin J.
This was a wonderful experience and a refreshing one at that. Every restaurant on Mount Washington seems to rest on the laurels of the view, with either service or food suffering. Fortunately, Altius has fixed that. The service is friendly but not too in your face. The food is amazing. We even got a free appetizer (lightly fried zucchini blossom stuffed with goat cheese). We had the "Duck, Duck, Goose", and the salmon. The duck pate was wonderful, and the salmon was poached (I think?) to perfection. Even the bread service was phenomenal (foccacia and molasses stout) and came with great recommendations about which butter goes best on which bread. It is on the pricier side, but it's definitely worth it. Also, for the complainers that focus on the valet... there is more than enough on street parking (for free) after 6pm. We found a spot literally 20 feet from the entrance.
(5)
B B.
Had a fantastic brunch (Holiday Celebration) with my girlfriends. We all "shared" so I was able to sample a variety of everything!! Definitely going back. Desserts are beyond delish!!
(5)
Dave R.
Experience, Food, Atomsphere = all amazing!! Had a fantastic view to start with. Appetizer, dinner and desserts were excellent, very tasty and we would certainly go back again and again!!!!
(5)
Emily M.
Boyfriend and I came here for a special dinner and it exceeded our expectations. The design is beautiful and you can't beat the view! We had a few cocktails (both delicious), shared the charcuterie for a starter, and the duck duck goose and berkshire pork chop for our entrees. SO GOOD! I moved to Pittsburgh from NYC two years ago and this is easily the best meal I've had here so far. (Much prefer it to Cure or Meat and Potatoes for example). Often times fine dining = small portions. This is not the case at Altius. Portion sizes were large enough to feel full upon leaving the restaurant. Service was friendly and prompt. *The popcorn was a nice touch.
(5)
Zachary K.
Wanted to try something new and stumbled upon this place searching yelp for the best restaurants in Pittsburgh. Restaurant surpassed my expectations. I used to come here when it was the Georgetown Inn and wow was that place terrible. View was beautiful and I always seemed to go back despite the inexcusable food. I had always thought - if only this place would have decent food it would be one of the best restaurants around - has always had the best view in Pittsburgh in my opinion. Not only have they completely remodeled into a hip/modern restaurant but the food is true to the quality of their sister restaurant, Bistro 19, if not better. Wine list is good too, simple, ranging from approx $30 - $100/bottle. Had the short ribs and they were phenomenal. I almost gave this place a 4, just because I usually think of Alla Famiglia when I think of a true 5 star yelp review, but I thought to myself - hey, I don't have a bad thing to say about this place, why knock it the star. So there, 5 star, but really the 4.5 star average is about right.
(5)
Anthony B.
Fantastic place, great location and best view of Pittsburgh. Nice interior , appetizers were great any one you pick
(5)
Amarie E.
Fantastic atmosphere and mouth watering food. Absolutely wonderful service with a beautiful view. A Pittsburgh must.
(5)
Varuni S.
The food and service was incredibly good! We had pork chop and the lamb and they both were very delicious. Their vanilla ice cream had me licking the plate clean! And to top it all we had the best view in the city.
(5)
John A.
This place was fantastic. The food was amazing. The service was superb. Happy to have this gem in our neighborhood.
(5)
Omead K.
Great dinner! Its relatively pricey, but worth it!
(5)
Sarah L.
Went on 6/27 for our anniversary. The place has a GREAT view - one of the best in Pittsburgh. Very clean, upscale restaurant. The food was impeccable. My husband got the lamb chops and I got the pork - both cooked perfectly! The sides are equally as delicious - he had garlic rice pilaf with the lamb and my pork chops came with amazing skinned/ mashed potatoes. We could tell they were still working through the newness of the restaurant..... there was almost too many people working. That said - the service was outstanding and everyone was so nice. I would highly recommend this place. It's a little more expensive but worth the few extra dollars. Very nice atmosphere - not too stuffy - kinda perfect. Park at the bottom of the Duquesne Incline and ride it up - it's located right next to the incline overlook - so great people-watching during dinner and a great date. I honestly don't know if I have had that good of a meal in a while. It was just splendid. Again - the service was great - clearly the chef is extremely talented and all-in-all I can see this place doing quite well. A great night to celebrate 5 years!
(5)
Jonah P.
As good as it gets! Altius has finally combined great food (best lamb I have ever had), good service (offered to change our table for a better view), and awesome ambiance (decor was well done and the view is the view). My only critique is the food was a little on the pricey side but it is worth it. As a Mt. Washington resident, I hope Altius raises the ante for the other restaurants in the neighborhood.
(5)
Sheila F.
We went there for anniversary. Service was impeccable by all. We had duck,duck, goose and lamb chops. I am a bit discriminating, when it comes to food. These were two of the finest plates we eaten in a long time. No wait. No fuss. Terrific view and modern decor. I would say 95 out of 100. Why? The wine list contains great wines. However, there is no bottle as I recall under $50. Alcohol does not need to be so pricey! I plan to go again.
(5)
Lacy C.
The food is wonderful and the service has improved immensely.
(4)
James W.
This was my third time dining at altius and probably my last. First, as others mention, have your cash ready from the start. The valet requires that you pay up-front when dropping your car off. Food: The first time the food was amazing; I was very impressed. The second time the food was 'good.' Last night I had a business dinner here and was very disappointed- even embarrassed at my suggestion. I ordered the same starters and entrees as my first visit. Sadly, this time the food showed no resemblance to the first visit. Totally different taste. Also, the chef had a difficult time with cooking temperatures of our meals. Medium lamb showed up well done and a colleague who ordered rare steak had to send hers back for being cooked well done. The second attempt was just as over-cooked as the first. The marked variance in the food prompted me to ask if this was the same chef as before or someone else. Was she sick? On vacation? Or just overwhelmed? The consistency is not there. Ambiance: The interior is beautiful and, of course, the view is amazing.
(2)
Megan H.
I honestly hadn't heard of this place until I went on open table looking to make anniversary reservations. Guess I've fallen off the foodie scene. Anyhow, as a Bistro 19 fan, this place did not disappoint. Of course, the view was amazing and probably worth going just for a drink. The decor was modern and lovely as well. A tiny bit tight on space, but not uncomfortably so. (Side note: you could easily get seated in the bar area when we arrived at 5:15 and again. Around 6:30-45, it was completely empty again... This was Saturday night. So, if you're planning to stop by without a reservation and stay in the bar, it looks like if you do it either early or in the middle of the dinner hour, you're solid.) Speaking of drinks, they were fantastic. Huz had the East India and I had a French 75. We also had the charcuterie, which the husband raved about and he rarely raves. I was stunned as he kept shoveling meat and cheese into his mouth. Typically, I end up eating these sorts of plates by myself while he rants about how the restaurant thinks it's fancy... The popcorn was truffle flavor.... I don't really care for popcorn, but managed to eat most of it.... Delish and a fun touch. I also have no idea what they added to the butter ... salt and a seasoning... it was like crack butter.... For dinner, I had the goose goose duck, which was truly outstanding. I ate all of it. And I rarely eat meat. He had the steak, which didn't do much for me (I'm not much of a steak eater), but he thought it was perfect. And it was beautifully cooked. For dessert, we had chocolate cheesecake. He thought it was amazing. Again, not really my thing (or maybe I was just too full?), but tasty enough. The marinated cherries on the plate were my fave. Actually, I'd have eaten the cherries and the ice cream alone... And they sent us with a delightful little fruit cookie bar thing, so we really didn't need to order dessert. I also had a glass of delish zinfandel (with the duck) and a cappuccino (with dessert). He had a sparkling water with dinner. Total bill before tip was around $150. Completely worth it. Easily the best meal we've had in ages. And, frankly, if you had a single drink, still water, and skipped dessert, you could be close to the 50 pp mark. (Entrees were in the $30 ball park and certainly enough for a meal... ) But, if you're going to splurge, why not?! As noted by some of the other reviews, unlike a lot of fine dining places, the portions were very generous. Service was also near perfect. The server was prompt, polite and helpful. The sommelier was appropriately present and helpful. We thought about a bottle and he didn't bat an eyelash when I decided upon just a glass. The wine list was nicely comprehensive -- a little bit for everyone at a good range of prices. If you've got a special night out coming up, this is the place. Hands down. In the meantime, it gave me a hankering for a night just up the street at Bistro 19!
(5)
Jim O.
I loved everything about this place! It is conveniently located right next to the incline overlooking the confluence of the three rivers in Pittsburgh. Great view of the football stadium and of downtown. We started with some cocktails and the creative cocktail menu made it difficult to choose. I settled for an old-fashioned but made with tequila. It was incredible. The menu also left us wanting to try almost everything. I ended up with the pork chop and again was completely satisfied. The waitstaff was attentive but not overbearing and myself and all of my colleagues enjoyed a fantastic dinner and will definitely return next time business brings us to Pittsburgh.
(5)
Renee W.
First- we had a reservation for 8:30, and had specifically asked for windows - we were then seated at 8:40, at an awkward table, which did the waitresses no favors (think high end picnic tables). Everyone seemed super disorganized (how does a place this size need 5 hostesses??). We had to flag our waitress down to ask to order our food at 9:00- our food didn't come until 10:15. In between we had two watery cocktails (but expensive). When the food did arrive I expected mouth explosions (after all it took over an hour to cook!)- instead I got a mouth full of salt. The menu was blah so I ordered the asparagus, polenta and risotto. All of which had one main flavor- salt. My friend got the gnocchi-which was less gnocchi and more filler and also really really salty. This restaurant needs to get their service and food together if they hope to survive and call themselves fine dining. I certainly won't be back..
(1)
Ron C.
This new restaurant is exceptional. It is totally renovated into a very contemporary sleek restaurant with phenomenal views. The food is superb. The chef provides a complimentary taster. Homemade breads and butters are delicious and creative. The beet appetizer is one of the best apps I have ever eaten. Red and yellow beets layered and bonded with a little gelatin, served with warm goat cheese. Incredible! We were there for our anniversary. The salmon and fillet were prepared perfectly. A complimentary dessert was a special added treat. A very eclectic drink menu. Service was flawless. I highly recommend and will definitely return! This is well needed on Mt Washington and hope they have continued success.
(5)
Rachel B.
Very good dinner! I had the gnocchi and my husband had the salmon. Both were excellent dishes. The prices were also very reasonable. Mine was only $22 and his was around $29. The interior is very sleek and trendy but the largest problem we had were the lights. The flicked from very bright to completely turned off very frequently. When I asked our waitress she said they are working on it and it's caused from the incline next door.
(4)
Lisa S.
This place was wonderful. Even without the magnificent view from Mt. Washington, it would still be wonderful. Cocktails were delicious and they have a great wine list. We shared an charcuterie plate as an appetizer, then had salads and mains. I had the beet terrine and filet mignon while the hubby had a caesar made with kale and salmon. Dessert was a baked chocolate mousse with banana ice cream that we split. From beginning to end, there was not a misstep. Food was perfect and service fantastic. It is not a weekly destination for us as it is not inexpensive but we will definitely be back.
(5)
Jen F.
First time in Pittsburgh and only 2 nights. This restaurant is amazing and the view is spectacular.
(5)
Buzz B.
we were visiting Pittsburgh just for the night to see a show. we were recommended this restaurant in advance from a friend from the area. we were given an excellent table on the 2nd floor with a beautiful view. unfortunately even with advanced reservations, table placement is not guaranteed but every table seems to have some view. i guess we were lucky as the weather was terrible and the restaurant was not very busy. we shared quite a bit at our table of 5. charcuterie, sweetbreads, the duck duck goose and the pork chop entree were all stand outs. desserts of the vanilla pot de creme, baked chocolate mouse and the toffee bread pudding also made the rounds. three different food gifts from the chef were a nice touch. side note - i am unfortunately gluten free but was very pleased to find that a large portion of the menu was safe for me and they also offered some of the best gluten free bread ive come across for delivering sauces and perfumed butter. Maria was our fabulous server. professional, attentive, friendly. as others noted valet parking is $6. we were dressed in multiple winter layers, so nice shoes/sweaters fit fine for the ambiance. i would recommend as well as return if ever in Pittsburgh.
(5)
Megan D.
Delicious food and cocktails, great service, and an unbeatable view. This is a great addition to Grandview Ave. and I highly recommend to anyone and will return many times in the future.
(5)
Eric Z.
My wife and i went for our 18th wedding anniversary. The outside is still under construction and i hope they can liven it up to represent what the inside has to offer. Goodbye dark gloomy Georgetown Inn and Hello fresh new bright modern Altius. You walk into an open airy atmosphere with an immediate view of the three rivers. We arrived early and were immediately seated. We faced the windows and had a great view. The owner stopped over immediately and welcomed us and offer to start us off with a drink. The waitress (Jill P) came shortly and was adorable and bubbly. Made the experience memorable. They provided a complementary unique shooter that was a salsa mix and was fresh. Fresh bread from the bakery was offered and delicious with multiple spreads. We ordered Charcuterie for starters that had many meats and spreads all of which were awesome. I had the prosciutto wrapped veal tenderloin which was cooked perfectly and tender. My wife had the jamison farm lamb rack which again was cooked perfectly and very flavorful. Topped off w a bottle of Hess cab. Desert was a chocolate mousse that we shared and to our surprise had a happy anniversary note in chocolate on the dish and comped. We were stuffed when we left. Ive been eating out way to much recently and this experience tops the list. Top notch new restaurant in Pittsburgh with a great view, great food and great service. Altius did it right!
(5)
Jeff S.
The food here was simply amazing. My wife and I do a lot of home cooking so we are very critical of restaurant food in general. As a result of this experience, my we have decided that we are done eating out at cheap places. It is well worth it to save up the money and have a meal like this.
(5)
Kimberly R.
I live on Mt Washington and was so excited that someone came in and updated one of the "run down" buildings on Grandview! (hopefully more will follow in the footsteps of Altius!) We went on a double date to the restaurant on a Sunday night. I made a dinner reservation and we got a lovely front view table. Prob didnt need the reservation as the restaurant was not packed. I love what they have done with the space. It is a little modern and very classy! Great for a date or romantic night out! Our server was great! She was very friendly and let us take our time. They bring you popcorn and artisan breads. Yum! The menu is a little different. The food is very artsy and all the presentations are wonderful! I had the beet terrine and it was interesting for sure. Very tasty, with sweet and sour tastes and a little rich from the cheese. I liked it a lot. I also tried the Salmon with lobster for dinner. It was fine, very well cooked and great presentation.....but, it wasnt "mind blowing." I thought everything was good, but not amazing. I am very glad I tried it, as the view is amazing, but for the price I probably wont go back. Wine=very over priced! No one at our table got a cocktail, maybe those were the way to go.....but the wine was expensive! I would say I would give the restaurant 4 stars if they could offer nice wines without breaking the bank!
(3)
Chris D.
Start off your meal with a valet for $6, oh you don' t have cash?...that'll be $10 on a card. Things don't appear as advertised? That is apparently the theme. $32 for 'berkshire pork chop' that is listed as $28 on the website menu. The server informed me that it would be cooked 'medium' ( slightly pink) which is perfect. What came out was grey, over cooked. Like it was over cooked and held there for 20 minutes to dry it out on purpose. It truly takes talent to so thoroughly ruin an ingredient like this. Maybe this was just a fluke? Nope, another person at the table also had an identical ruined pork chop. The manager offered to comp desserts for the error which is nice but not a remedy. Another person at the table ordered the rack of lamb..$40+ and it was overcooked. Really... this is unforgivable. Also, the gnocchi. Flavorless and really not a pleasant texture. Apparently the red snapper was delicious. A gentleman behind us was ordering a steak at the time we were leaving...I should have warned him the 'chefs' can't handle cooking food to proper temps. There were some good points to the meal. The bread service was nice, the truffle popcorn was a hit and the desserts were excellent. The appetizers were decent, better than the mains. Service: Needs improvement but was acceptable. Overall the entire experience was painfully slow. Almost a 3.5 hour dinner. Took 25 minutes just to get the checks. Another table also had to inquire about their food after a lengthy wait. Restaurant was not even busy. Suggestion: Go to Altius for a drink and dessert with a view. Want a good meal look elsewhere.
(2)
Megan B.
one of the best!! we've found a new favorite! my husband and I had dinner here and were very impressed, from the house made popcorn, to the most delicious desserts, we loved every morsel! the staff and our server were very friendly and attentive the entire evening. the view is spectacular and the decor as well. we will definitely be back!!
(5)
Luke K.
I go to a lot of business dinners and am from Chicago, so I've been to many fine restaurants. I can easily say that this is the best meal I've ever had - to date. We started with the cocktails - i got the Clover Club - a bit fruitier than i expected, but mostly because they were using real ingredients. We also had the charcuterie appetizer - out of bounds, order two, you'll be happy you did. We had 7 people so we ordered 3 - all of which were swiftly decimated. I ordered the "tongue 'n cheek" appetizer, which was really great, but you have to like beef tongue. I also ordered the "Duck, Duck, Goose" - the goose pate portion of this dish alone made my mouth scream with passion - it's that good. I won't mention the baked chocolate mousse because i'm pretty sure it's illegal.
(5)
Rick K.
My wife and I went there last night for our anniversary. The service was first-rate, from start to finish. The wait staff was friendly and helpful without ever being obtrusive or (as is sometimes the case in high end restaurants) condescending. The food was delicious, from starters to main courses to dessert. There was a touch too much salt in a couple of the dishes for my taste, but otherwise everything was interesting, fresh, attractively presented, and tasty. The decor was spare, but tasteful. The view is, of course, magnificent. And there isn't really a bad table in the restaurant, upstairs or down. Finally, considering what you get, I think that the pricing is very reasonable. I will definitely go back!
(5)
Slj J.
The restaurant itself is beautiful, modern, and has a great space for private parties. I had the Chardonnay by the glass and unfortunately thought it was overpriced for such a brassy finish. I was excited for the green gazpacho and the presentation was fantastic, but I was confused by the addition of minced almonds which kind of texturally ruined an otherwise extremely promising starter with a nice kick. The texture confusion continued with the main course in a gnocchi that was gritty, along with it being under seasoned. The flavor profile and presentation were excellent though. Again, overall, nothing was bad, just mediocre. If you're trying to impress a date with food, just go to Isabela up the street. If your date is more into decor, go here. They both have the spectacular view.
(3)
Bobby T.
Great view, of course. That's the easy part. Went on its second night of operation and had a great meal. Service needed work but that's to be expected on day 2. Can't wait to go back again and see how menu changes and how the growing pains have how philly ironed themselves out. Living on the Mt. means having good restaurants is exciting.
(4)
Carlin C.
Finally mount Washington has a restaurant worth going to. I would highly recommend the "duck duck goose" entree. There were some minor things that could be better, but they are still working through Being a new restaurant.
(4)
Maria P.
I wish I could actually rate this place (yelp made me put atleast one star), but after three attempts at making a reservation for New Year's Eve I have given up and decided to go with our back up reservation at Eleven. I called at the beginning of November and they said they only take reservations 30 days in advance - understandable. So, I made a note on my calendar and called on December 1st. But, I was informed that they were still not taking reservations until tomorrow or the next day. Called back today and they said they started taking reservations yesterday (I guess after I called at 3PM?) but they still could only take my name and number and call me back in 24-48 hrs because the girl organizing all the reservations didnt work today and only one person was taking reservations to "keep it simple"...yea, simple for them. I'm not trusting this place with my New Year's Eve reservations if they are giving me thing much of a runaround....maybe next year Altius.
(1)
Arlene M.
What a wonderful place for a birthday dinner!!! It is really hard to believe that this restaurant was once the former Georgetowne Inn. They have free Wi FI and offer valet parking for $6.00. We knew to expect popcorn as our welcome food. Had to refrain from eating all of it so we could enjoy our meals. I choose the chiliean seabass that comes with saffron Lobster cous cous, brown butter broccolini, and carrot ginger emulsion. My husband opted for the PA Amish chicken breast with corn veloute, purple potato puree, fried green tomato and gold tomato aiul. Before our meal we got to sample a small glass of chilled potato soup. It was very creamy and good. Our waitress brought us a choice of 3 different breads along with accompanying butter or sauce for us to choose from. She was extremely attentive to our needs. Since we had made a reservation we were able to secure a table by the window. I noticed that if you sit down in this area the dress is business casual. Up a couple of stairs is a bar and seating area where dress is fairly casual. When our meals were served they came beautifully arranged My sea bass just seemed to melt in my mouth goodness. My husband's Amish chicken breast also came with a small thigh and leg attached to it. He loved every bite of it. The portions were just right so we decided to order dessert. I ordered the chocolate cake and he ordered the peanut butter bar. Just before the waitress brought them she brought me a birthday chocolate brownie with whipped cream and fruit with "Happy birthday" written on it. It was so good! Had I known this would happen I wouldn't have ordered dessert. However, the chocolate cake did not disappoint. It wasn't a large piece but it came with chocolate sorbet and blueberries which had a zing to it. My husband's peanut butter bar came with a chocolate stick and a caramel bar. He loved every bite of it. While we were dining the owner came around, wished me a happy birthday, and asked how we were enjoying our meal. I told him we were delightfully pleased. The place is well lit so we had good interior views as well as exterior. We settled our bill and as we were preparing to go they gave us a bag with triple chocolate macadamia nuts and sea salts. This restaurant is very pricey but for us since it was a special occasion well worth the money. I most definitely will return when the occasion warrants it.
(5)
Jessica B.
My fiance and I went here for our anniversary, and it's definitely worth the splurge -- maybe from the view alone! Very unique, high-end dishes and lovely service. I honestly cannot think of a more perfect spot for date night!
(4)
Alice M.
A few things stand out about Altius: 1. Altius does a fabulous job with service. They start off with some complimentary spiced popcorn, an amuse bouche, and some bread, and they finish by giving you a mini-dessert to go in a bag. Sometimes the little things count for a lot. 2. The VIEW. If you get seated near the window, count yourself lucky, because it's probably the best view in Pittsburgh. We came on a clear evening and walked around the sleek dining room to take some pictures while we waited. The restaurant extends into the cliffs of Mt. Washington, and it is gorgeous! 3. The Chilean sea bass. This was my favorite dish of the night by far. Beautifully presented, perfectly prepared, melted in your mouth and went well with all of its complements. I will definitely remember this dish for the next time I come back. Given both the food and the views/service, Altius deserves 5 stars. :)
(5)
Jane S.
Came here for date night on a weekday. It was quite busy but we had reservations so were seated quickly. Service here is great- attentive and friendly. You're started off with complimentary gourmet popcorn as well as a bread offering that's probably one of the best I've had in the city! Hard not to fill up first on the bread! We ordered the "duck duck goose" and a seasonal salmon dish as our mains. We skipped the appetizers as we tend to eat smaller portions to begin with, and already had plenty of bread and popcorn! The entrees were delicious and rich. Before our meal arrived, we were also treated to a complimentary amuse-bouche which tasted refreshing and perfect for summer (a halibut ceviche in a pastry shell). We skipped dessert as well since we already had plans to get ice cream elsewhere, but the dessert menu looked fantastic. Prices are on the higher end, but you're most likely paying a bit more for the location/view. We easily managed our meal for under $100 for 2 drinks and 2 entrees and were quite satisfied. Quality over quantity. Would certainly recommend for a special occasion or if you're showing off Pittsburgh to visitors.
(4)
Tim W.
Spectacular food and service matched with a spectacular view! My wife's birthday was coming up and I was trying to think of somewhere new to take her. We had gone to the Georgetowne Inn every Valentine's Day for years as they always ran a special and were the most affordable fine dining option on Grandview. I saw an article about Altius in Pittsburgh Magazine and immediately knew that, that is where I would be taking her. I easily made reservations through the Open Table App and notated that it was my wife's birthday and requested a table at the window if available. My wife had no idea where we were going for her birthday. I just told her to get dressed up and that I would be wearing a suit. Once we started to go up P.J. McArdle Roadway she got excited. She guessed as we past each restaurant on "Restaurant Row" on Grandview Avenue until we pulled up to the valet at Altius. Once inside we were greeted by the hostess and she also greeted my wife with a Happy Birthday as soon as I gave my name. We were about an hour and 15 minutes early for our reservation so we went over and had a seat in the bar area. We started off with drinks. I had "The Point" ($12) It had Absolut Vodka, Strawberries, Basil and Lemonade and my wife had a "Havana 75" ($12). It had Bacardi Superior, St. Germaine, Maraschino Juice, Lime Juice and Bubbly. We went with the Charcuterie plate ($14) as our appetizer. It features house made and local cured meats, Pennsylvania artisanal cheese, grilled breads, cornichons, pickled teardrop peppers, mustard, jam and honeycomb. While waiting for our appetizer we were brought some of that delicious complementary popcorn. It kind of took a while for our drinks and appetizer to arrive but, the place was packed and very busy. The Charcuterie plate was absolutely amazing. The meats and cheeses were just EPIC! About an hour later I settled our bill and we made our way over to the seat to wait to be called for our table for dinner. Twenty minutes later one of the hostesses, Kris came and took us up to our table on the second level. Upon seating us at a table right next to the window she told us who our waiter would be and also told my wife Happy Birthday. A few seconds later, Michael our waiter for the evening came over to tell us about the specials for the evening and also wished my wife a Happy Birthday. He took our drink orders which were the same as we had at the bar downstairs. A few minutes later he was back with our cocktails, a bottle of Nordaq Still water ($3) and more of that amazing popcorn. For entrees I went with the 28 Day Dry Aged Ribeye Special ($56) served with fingerling potatoes and baby carrots and the birthday girl started off with the Baby Greens Salad. ($9) It features pickled carrots, heirloom tomatoes, hot house cucumbers, aged balsamic vinaigrette and chose the Australian Lamb Rack as her entree. ($44) It featured herb crust, veal demi glace, risotto, grilled peach, crumbled gorgonzola, and roasted grapes. A few moments later a waitress came by and offered us a choice of three breads with two different spreads to try. Soon after our entrees came. My wife let me try her Lamb and let me just say that it was amazing! It was so good. My Ribeye was cooked to perfection. It was so tender and juicy it literally melted in my mouth. It was like beef flavored butter!. Once we were done with our meals Michael whisked our plates away to be packed to go so we could have desert. He told the birthday girl to pick any dessert off the menu since it would be on the house. She chose the Peanut Butter Bar (Chocolate flourless cake, peanut praline, peanut butter mousse, candied bacon peanut brittle, frozen banana custard, crème anglaise) It was simply amazing. Another waiter took our popcorn before we could say anything as we wanted to take it home since we had already had some at the bar. I let Michael know and he packed us a fresh full container of popcorn to take with us. Michael's level of service was exceptional the whole evening as he took great care of us and kept my glass full. I think he told my wife Happy Birthday no less than 5 times throughout the evening. Yes Altius is quite expensive as a dinner for two including an appetizer and a couple drinks can easily hit $250 with tax and tip but, the view, level of service and quality of the food warrant that type of price. Hell, even the water was the best I have ever tasted! Dinner here for a special occasion is a must!
(5)
Matthew S.
Altius is one of the nicest places in Pittsburgh. The renovations to the old Georgetown inn are striking. They modernized and I like the new look. The view is still amazing. Service was outstanding. Very attentive. Good was fantastic. Had the sea bass and bone in steak. Both were top notch. Also had a bunch of apps. All great. This is a must visit. Great for a date night.
(5)
Nicole B.
I thought the view would be the pinnacle of the meal. How wrong I was! From start to finish, this could not have been a more perfect evening. We came at the right time - just before sunset, and had time to linger at the top of Mount Washington. We came a few minutes before our reservation and had time to mingle for a moment at the bar, which was well stocked and staffed, with a pleasant atmosphere. The maitre'd seated us on the second floor and by the window. She started us off with a lovely bottle of french white wine from their well-curated collection. We enjoyed the she-crab soup to share, as well as the complimentary bread (they had warm, fresh gluten free bread for my dinner partner) and dill popcorn. The amuse bouche was a spectacular combination of goat cheese and fresh, flavorful peach. For our main course, my partner selected the duck, with a side of risotto, and I chose the vegetables and fresh ravioli. We elected not to order dessert this time (because we were stuffed), though the menu looked wonderful. I could not have imagined a more perfect Pittsburgh location, more well-designed menu, or more lovely service. I was impressed start to finish, and we will absolutely be back. If you are going to spend this kind of money on dinner, make sure you are going somewhere with this much attention to detail. This would be the perfect spot to impress someone thoroughly.
(5)
Amy M.
I live right around the corner from Altius and I was so excited to hear that a new restaurant was coming to the neighborhood. We decided to visit for brunch. At $29, the Prix Fixe brunch was a little more than I usually like to spend but man oh man it was worth it. I think my Crispy Amish Chicken Waffle Sandwich was blessed by sweet baby Jesus himself. The flavors were great, the chicken was juicy and perfect (local meat makes a difference) and the waffle was crispy and delicious! A lot of the restaurants up here depend upon the Mt. Washington view to dazzle diners. They are one trick ponies. But not Altius. Sure, the view is impressive here but the food stood up on it's own. The service was excellent and the decor was also impressive! Can't wait to visit again.
(5)
Tracy N.
You can't go wrong with Altius. It's got the food, the service, the view, and the ambiance. Great for special occasions, business dinners, and to impress friends who are visiting Pittsburgh. I've been a couple of times to Altius and have seen pretty much everything on their menu and it's all great. It's easy for a nice restaurant to be just about the view, but Altius really takes it away with their entrees. The meat dishes are awesome and the special (which is usually fish) is worth ordering every time. Just a note that some dishes come with sides so you may not need to order sides for the table. The service has been impeccable every time. Friendly, fast, and considerate. The view is iconic downtown Pittsburgh, you can see the rivers flow through the gothic buildings of downtown. It's especially beautiful during sunset. If you have someone visiting, seriously this is the place to take them to enjoy a night out!
(5)
Kylene W.
My husband and I recently dined here on a whim. No special plans or events. Pure spontaneity!! I've tried a few restaurants here on Grandview Ave and nothing can compare to Altius. This is by far one of my favorite restaurants in the city!! I love the design of the room, from the spectacular view, the comfortable chairs and tables, down to the place mats used. "Chilewich" to be exact. I'm not even going to mention the china they use for the espresso!! OMG, I want! They really thought about their customers when creating a space to experience this level of dining. We can appreciate that!! Once seated, I was immediately mesmerized by the view. Pittsburgh is beautiful. We were taken care of by a young gentleman, good manners, friendly. I don't think I can complain about anything. The customer service was stellar! But if you want to know why, it's because he never crossed or reached across our table while we ate, he never touched the rims of our glasses to fill our cup, he always came back to check on us and offered more wine and water (tap). The servers never touched the rims of our plates. The appetizers and food came out at appropriate times. Everyone who worked there looked like they LOVED their jobs. When you have a restaurant like this, all the minute (not minute ;p ) differences can make or break the experience. Appetizer Charcuterie with artisan cheeses from PA and house made and local cured meat. Comes with lots of fun things like honeycomb, jam, whole grain mustard, pickled veggies, grilled pita and focaccia bread. I love this because the favor combinations are endless and fun! Entree Berkshire pork chop Colorado rack of lamb Both were well seasoned, succulent, juicy, and cooked to perfection, large portions! Bone marrow red wine risotto: buttery, creamy, the red wine gives a slight tang flavor. It's delicious! Dessert Malted vanilla bean Pot de Creme with spiced cider sorbet and raspberry coulis and shortbread cookies. YUM! Limoncello - Sweet yet smooth and warms your soul. Food. The food was excellent! What I loved about this restaurant, is that they are very generous with their portions!!! (Don't you dare change!!) You go to these expensive restaurants expecting lots of food but you get a few bites. Not only that but Altius takes that extra step in making the experience complete. For example, we ordered an espresso. We got an espresso. BUT we got an espresso with a biscotti! Why? Because why wouldn't someone want a biscotti with an espresso? It's like them saying "Thank you for choosing Altius". I'm telling you, it's the little things or maybe I'm a sucker for those little details. 1. Stunning view/ambiance and design 2. Stellar service 3. Delicious food 4. Expensive but not overpriced 5. And little surprises along the way! For all the reasons I've mentioned above, I will always come back!
(5)
Amanda M.
A friend suggested Altius for the fourth of July. We made reservations weeks in advance but were not guaranteed a table against the windows. We actually ended up in the second row but the view was still incredible! If you remember Georgetown, you'll be blown away by the transformation. The inside is sleek and modern. It looks like a restaurant that would be located downtown. For the holiday there was a five course menu for $85 a person. Amuse bouche, appetizer, salad/soup, entree and dessert. (I don't consider an amuse bouche an actual course seeing it's one bite. In this case it was a blueberry inside a raspberry with a brie sauce) Each course had 4+ options. I went with the charcuterie plate, salad, 10 oz filet and chocolate Panna cotta. The table was also served a choice of three breads. If given the choice, pick the foccacia as it was incredible. Each course was presented in a timely manner. I really enjoyed the filet though my cut was a little fatty (hubs filet was not). The presentation of each plate was gorgeous especially the desserts. Each course was very good and met my expectations. However, the highlight of the evening was easily the fireworks. Viewing the fireworks from the comfort of our table without having to deal with the Mt. Washington crowd was priceless. Overall, I would go back to Altius for a very good meal with an amazing view.
(4)
Rachel C.
I'd been here twice for drinks, but was waiting for the right moment to enjoy the food. The right moment came with a tantlizing restaurant week menu! First, let's talk about ambiance. It's super swank and modern. If you'd ever been to the former restaurant here, The Georgetown Inn, forget about what you remember, because it's nothing like that! Are the views spectacular? YES! Will you be paying for those views? Probably. So the food. First, you are not only treated to complimentary popcorn, but also complimentary bread. A bread offering that is probably one of the best freshly baked bread assortments I may have ever had! I gluttonous, so I had to try all three... the faccacia, 12 grain and potato roll. All were fabulous. Pair it with the sea salt butter and you're really in carb heaven. Simply incredible fresh bread. The tasting menu I choose was $39.14 for a three course dinner First course squash blossom risotto Second course braised Jamison farm lamb orchiette with zucchini, sundried tomatoes, spinach, sheeps milk ricotta Third course half baked brownie The risotto was very good. I think it's hard to not have a bland risotto, and this definitely wasn't. The lamb was to. die. for. Seriously. Cooked medium rare, tender and flavorful. I could have had a little bit more, it was so good! The pasta was good, but there was something missing. I'm not sure if it was the flavoring. It had all the ingredients to be flavorful, and it just wasn't enough for me. Seasoning just didn't do it for me. But was by no means a bad dish. The brownie is every bit as good as it sounds. I hate when people try to pass off chocolate cake as a brownies. This was a legit fudge half baked obey gooey center brownie. Legit. The bite of my friends cheesecake further convinced me that their desserts are incredible! Is the food expensive? Yes, but not excessively priced. But I think what really adds up is the wine or cocktails on top of a meal. Their wine list is impressive, and they offer pairings. But just remember, you'll also be paying for the water. Yep. Bottled or sparkling you're charged for. Not sure if you can ask for tap. But , I think a fancy meal with a lovely view is totally okay once in a while!
(4)
Joel C.
Too often a restaurant with spectacular views will fall short on service and cuisine. Not the case here! The experienced and tenured staff are very attentive and professional and the food simply excels! The newly remodeled dining room is almost as spectacular as the views of downtown, rivers and the stadiums. Great for a special occasion or business outing. I will return.
I've driven past Altius's location numerous times, including when it housed the now-defunct Georgetowne Inn, and I was intrigued at first sight. Altius's exterior appearance is gorgeous... modern, clean, and inviting, all of which are reflected in the interior as well. Upon entering the restaurant, I already knew we were in for a treat. The lighting was low, the hostess was pleasant, and that view... do I really need to say much about it? You'd be hard pressed to find a better view of the city than from Mount Washington, and Altius is perfectly situated, providing panoramic views from the North Side to well past Oakland. When my boyfriend & I arrived, the hostess said our table would be ready shortly and invited us to grab a drink at the bar, which we did. The bartender was attentive, acknowledging us as soon as we sat down, and offered a wine list and cocktail menu. After settling on a glass of Santa Duc Côtes-du-Rhône ($12) and an ice water, Lee and I enjoyed some quiet chitchat as we waited. Within 5 minutes, the hostess was back to let us know our table was ready, and she offered to transfer my glass of wine to our dinner bill at the table (always a bonus point in my book). A gentleman soon appeared with menus and directed us to our table in the lower dining area. I was a tinge disappointed that we didn't get a seat right next to the window, but honestly there is not a bad seat in the house. You can see everything from everywhere! Our waiter quickly arrived and pointed out that all of their wines are selected and paired with particular menu dishes, and I was impressed that he took note of the wine I was drinking and offered to pair a menu item if I so desired. We took a few moments to review the menu and ultimately settled on the charcuterie board ($14) as an appetizer, watercress salad ($9), the Duck Duck Goose for me ($32) and the Chilean Sea Bass for Lee ($36). Prior to receiving the charcuterie board, our waiter brought out an amuse-bouche for each of us which is always a nice touch. The charcuterie soon arrived and was one of the better ones I've had the experience of consuming. There was just enough meat and cheese for us to split, the bread was grilled perfectly, and I'm still salivating over the stone ground beer mustard. Another waiter stopped by with a dish of sundried tomato spread and butter and offered us fresh bread. I highly recommend the rosemary foccacia -- outstanding. When the main courses arrived, I knew we weren't going to be anything short of blown away. The presentation alone was stunning, and after just one bite of the polenta that surrounded the duck & goose, I was hooked. I don't even know if I can explain the flavors... they were just phenomenal. The duck breast was seared to perfection and the rest of the dish came together perfectly. At some point, I managed to sneak a bite of Lee's sea bass and lobster couscous -- WOW. A few minutes later I was stuffed beyond belief and realized I'd have to throw in the cloth napkin and take the rest home. My leftovers were promptly boxed up once we signaled that we were finished eating, and the waiter delivered the check and a house-made toffee bar for each of us to take home. Nice little touch! Altius is unlike anything else I've experienced in Pittsburgh and I would highly recommend it for a romantic dinner with your significant other or classy night out with friends. It is a little on the expensive side, but the service and food are completely worth it.
(5)
Elizabeth M.
I wanted to enjoy this place. It has a great view and the decor is really sleek and modern. We came for brunch and I feel like the consensus was that everything we ordered underperformed. I got a hash that wasn't very hash-like...it was more cubed than the typical mash-type hash you expect. The Brussel Sprouts in it were overly salted to the point where I couldn't eat them...I actually chose not to eat most of my plate as I really didn't want to force myself to eat something I wasn't really enjoying. We got a shortbread topped with blueberries and a cinnamon roll as appetizers and they were both good. Other than that, it was a flop. I'd like to give it a second chance and try their dinner menu because from other reviewers, it looks like they fair much better with their dinner selection.
We went here for my birthday celebration and I wasn't disappointed. A great view of the city with contemporary decor (nice change from the stuffiness of other longtime Mt. Washington favorites) From the flavored popcorn to the variety of fresh breads the meal was off to a great start. Everyone in my group enjoyed their starters (baby kale, watercress salad and sea scallop), entrees (chilean sea bass/special, line caught halibut, butternut squash ricotta gnocchi and filet mignon) and the variety and creativeness of the mocktails and cocktails. Our nine year old rated the dinner 100 thumbs up :) Table service was attentive We plan on a return trip!
(5)
Kent S.
Altius was so good the first visit I just had to go back again. I started with crab bisque and charcuterie , bisque was by far the best I've ever had , the charcuterie was as expected.... Fantastic . For main course ordered aged bone in ribeye with carrots & purple potatoes , the steak was mouthwatering and absolutely delicious ...carrots were crisp and juicy , purple potatoes were like I've never had , fluffy & full of flavor . For desert was peanut butter cup and my tastebuds are still dancing ! Great atmosphere , great service , great food and just an overall terrific dining experience for the 2nd time . I will definitely be going back again !
(5)
Joanne A.
I was very excited to eat here for our first wedding anniversary when I saw the rating for this place and people raving about the great service and food. The beautiful view is a given being on Mt. Washington. The food was great! 4/5. My hubby and I shared the charcuterie bc my hubs is a fan of charcuteries. This was one of the best I've tasted. Barbuzzos in Philly is my fave. I had the sea bass and my hubby ordered the lamb. They were both delicious and cooked perfectly. We shared the apple crisp dessert, which was too sweet and too sour not complementing. That was disappointing because we love our desserts. Cocktails were just ok. Tried the dazed and infused and honey bourbon. I am critical of service when I write my reviews because other than food, it is the only other factor that can set a place apart (IMHO, it is the main factor that makes a difference anywhere, so why not give excellent service?!) When we got there, the host did not even greet us. Ok, no biggie, I like being a wallflower anyway, but why would I want to spend money somewhere where I feel unwanted? Second, not sure if (it's the maitre'd or whoever tells you about your dish) she wasn't nice at all when I asked her to repeat what cheeses were on the plate. Instead of telling me the names, she gave me a look like why would I ask and dismissingly said oh it's just brie. It's like implying this expensive plate is nothing special and I don't need to know. Lastly, my hubby told them it was our anniversary when he made the reservation, but they didn't even acknowledge that. Not even a verbal happy anniversary. Because of this experience, I do not recommend this place. Go to the other Mt. Washington rest that will treat you better. It's disappointing to me probably because I expected it to be great but my experience was not like other yelpers. I wish I had it in me to deduct tips for bad service but my hubby and I are taught to give 20% all the time by our parents. Please fix your customer service here. All I can think of is "rude!"
(2)
Megan Z.
Dined at Altius first time for a work networking event. Couldnt have been more pleased with the decor, ambiance, view, service, and food.
(5)
Maren V.
I am usually not a fan of the Mt Washington "fine dining" scene. Overpriced mediocre food with the hopes of a view of the city. Altius, however, was everything you could want in a meal with the added bonus of a fantastic view from any table in the house. My boyfriend and I decided to give it a try for Valentines Day based on the previews reviews and the fact that they had a four course (and then some- which I'll get to below) prix fixe menu for $85 a person- not too bad on a day restaurants can basically charge whatever they want. As soon as we were seated we were given a tasty bite of the truffle popcorn many other reviewers have mentioned and it did not disappoint! I was pleased to see that the prix fixe menu offered at least four options per course (more for some) and all sounded delicious. We ordered a bottle of wine and began the great menu draft of VDay dinner 2015. With so many delicious options we didn't want to order any of the same items, so we went through course by course carefully planning our winning teams. I ended up going with the tuna poke, baby kale salad with butternut squash and smoked bacon dressing, roasted lamb- crusted in mint & served with whole grain mustard sauce/berry compote/green beans/& leek mash, and the "half baked" brownie with cherries and salted caramel sauce. My boyfriend went with the oysters with Tabasco pearls (fun!), watercress salad with brie en croute and light vinaigrette, ribeye and jumbo gulf shrimp served with some delicious tomato horseradish aioli thing along with green beans and potatoes, and a mango/berry chocolate almond bomb. Phew, that was a lot to remember. While we both felt like mine was the winning menu (arms up in victory!), both meals were prepared perfectly and incredibly delicious. The lamb and steak were a perfect medium rare and all the flavors combined to make the perfect bites. In addition to the ridiculous amount of food listed above (all generous portions) we also received an amuse bouche of an edible spoon with chocolate/orange marscapone/strawberry on top, and homemade parker house rolls with seasoned butter and roasted red pepper pesto. Everything about the food was impeccable and even sitting at a table away from the windows we still had a nice view. My only two (very small) gripes were that while the wine was delicious, the cheapest bottle of red was $48. It couldn't hurt to add in one or two options in the $30-40 range. Also, the chairs are a mod style and, while comfortable, did not serve much in the way of a coat rack. I believe there was a coat check but neither of the two hostesses or the maître d who sat us offered it. All in all a great meal and we will definitely be back to try the regular dinner menu and/or the brunch!
(5)
Roger g.
Great food great service had to wait 20 minutes, had an 8:30 got there a little early. Other than that the duck duck was so good, wife had the halibut and that was awesome. Drinks, desert and service were great!!
(5)
Amanda R.
The Duck Duck Goose was perfectly cooked and was excellent. The ambiance was perfect. They have a terrific wine list. The service was impeccable. My only complaint was that the charcuterie board was kind of basic. Overall, a lovely experience.
(4)
Kostas P.
We had heard very good words for this new place on Mt. Washington and sine we were always looking for a place that could provide the great view with a good quality food we decided to give it a shot. We were not disappointed at all! The place is very elegant with a classy, modern ambiance. The stuff is extremely helpful and the food is great as well! I love when restaurants offer bread with the mean and this one does (and the bread is great as well!). The view is phenomenal. We were lucky enough to sit right by the window and we could see the whole city. I think Altius will be there for quiet some time since the combination of service, food and location makes it rather unique. I will be definitely going back to try more of their menu. It is also highly recommended for special occasions (e.g., first date, anniversaries etc.) :)
(5)
Eric S.
Took my girlfriend here for her birthday. It was an overall good experience. I had made reservations a few days in advance and called and asked for a window table (told they could not guarantee it); however, we arrived 10 minutes early and they were able to clear a window table for us. We used the valet service for $6 upfront even though we live within walking distance (didn't want to be walking up those hills in nice clothes). We started off with the charcuterie. It was yummy; however, most of the meats seemed to be saltier than other charcuterie I have had before. I got the Lamb Rack and she got the chicken. The lamb was a little more towards medium than medium rare, and they did not cut the rack up into individual slices (had to get my hands messy cutting the rack apart myself). But it had good flavor. The risotto was good but I could only eat a portion of it because it was just so salty. The chicken was a slightly dry but the glaze (girlfriend asked for it to be on the side which was a good choice as it was delicious but concentrated) helped to add some moisture. The vegetables were fantastic. We ended the meal with the Strawberry Pretzel Cake. OMG!!! Fantastic and a must try! The cocktails were good but nothing to get overly excited about. We would definitely go back!
(4)
Chuck C.
What a great venue! Great pairings, interesting offerings and top notch service. We were a party of a dozen with a plan to celebrate a great convention and decided to visit a local restaurant togethr. Chef Jessica put together a great evening for us, the staff were very attentive and the food offerings had a wide variety. We even toasted the brussel sprouts! Wine list was very nice with many good choices and not overly expensive for the expectations of the reataurant. The view of downtown Pittsburgh and all three rivers is unsurpassed. The evening started with day light and as we progressed through the courses and night time came the lights of downtown livened the atmospere. With the attentive staff, very fine wine and excellent food, I had goose goose duck, it was a night to remember. Then as the cherry on the top of the evening, Chef Jessica came out and thanked us for sharing her dream. What an honor and what an asset for Pittsburgh. With a parting gift of a most tasty triple fudge browny we were off, satisfied and happy to have shared at such a nice place.
(5)
Tom M.
Food was good. A bit overpriced but good quality. Biggest gripe for us was management. The head honcho (manager) was a bit pompous, told us right off that he couldn't guarantee us a window seat even though we reserved 2 weeks in advance. Fine, but seems to me they could've handled that better esp considering we were seated in pretty much the opposite location... Nowhere near a window. Also waited past reservation time for a table, and were given a defensive response when we politely asked abt it. The bartender was not very responsive, although it looked like she needed more help. The waiter was excellent. Nice guy, personable and quite knowledgeable. We won't be back any time soon.
(3)
Christina W.
I am visiting Pittsburgh so don't know anything about the area. A friend found a listing for this fairly new place so we thought we'd give it a try. The atmosphere was great - everything was clean and the view of the city and river awesome! Watching a storm roll through from that vantage point was fun. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about their food and wine menus. We had the tongue starter - neither of us had ever tried tongue. I was pleasantly surprised it was so good. The chef sent us a small sample of another starter - another pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, I can't remember what it was called but it was delicious. Some sort of chicken salad in a small tart-type crust. Yum! I had the pork chop and it nearly melted in my mouth - couldn't have asked for better. If I'm ever back in Pittsburgh, this place will be on my list again!
Dinner here for a special occasion is a must. I really enjoyed every bit of the experience here. We dined here on a Saturday night and we had reservations. Are reservations a must, I do not know but we didn't have to wait for our table which makes me very happy especially when you have reservations. Upon entering I immediately noticed how much attention was paid to the atmosphere. The bar area is very nice and I would like to stop in for a cocktail in the future. Very upscale design, appropriate light and sound levels. The valet costs $6 although I thought the time frame to retrieve my vehicle was a little excessive. The popcorn was delicious, it was flavored with truffle oil and truffle salt which made it taste almost too delicious, be careful to not eat too much. We tried the Charcuterie which was perfect for two but might be a stretch for 4 people, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys some unique cured meats and tasty cheeses. The Sweet potato bisque was creamy and smooth served at the perfect temperature. The main course Duck Duck Goose was also very tasty although I felt like there could have been a little more umph to the dish. Everything was cooked perfectly and the meat was tender but I felt like there needed to be some seasoning to the meat to really make this dish shine. The lady ordered Sea Bass which in all way shapes and form was the standout dish I have tried in a while. A real nice cut of fish both in quality and size. Served on top of a bed of what I believed to be Israeli couscous, I love this couscous because it is much large than the couscous that is served in middle eastern dishes. I'm not sure what kind of sauce was on top of the fish and couscous but it was incredibly savory. The service was by far the best service I have had in quite sometime. I really appreciated the attention to detail and understanding the server had of the menu. The view of the city from this place is pretty cool and certainly adds to the experience. Now experiences like these come with a price, so was it spendy? For sure, but it was totally worth it. I'll come back for a cocktail and when there is a special occasion I would certainly enjoy a dinner here.
(4)
Shaun E.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD GOOOOOOOOOD FOOD! Man this place is exactly why it excites me to see Pittsburgh grow as both a commmunity as well as a an up and coming city. No wait it is THE city to live. With all the new restaurants this one exemplifies why it is the place to live. Me and my gf went here during restaurant week. We had both the duck and fish cheek appetizer, the chicken stew and poached salmon, and apple crumble and peanut butter ice cream desert. Sooo good. Nothing to complain about. Everything was perfectly cooked. They obviously brought out bread and a tasting dish. Everything you would require from a 5 star restaurant. But in pittsburgh. The wines we tasted were also complementary of the meal. The one thing that did bother me was those damn lights!! Haha they said the incline are connected on the same power grid which dims the lights everytime the incline starts. So weird when your talking and every 2 minutes the lights dim for a couple seconds. Otherwise this is a great place for a date or even to get some nice drinks. This is the place you bring your parents when they visit or just to enjoy the view. Pricey? Yes. But well worth the money.
(5)
Marla K.
I don't do high scale dining often, so I'm very glad the one time that I did I went with this place. It is AMAZING with a capital A. First of all, the restaurant's interior is beautiful. Even if it didn't have the amazing Mt. Washington view, it'd still be gorgeous. It's extremely modern and interesting to look at. The wine list is very extensive. I can't remember exactly what my table got but it was a dry red from California and it was very good. Before they bring your food out you get a palette cleanser and an assortment of breads to choose from. The bread was so rich it was almost like a dessert, but I loved it. They even have a number of different butters and spreads you can try. For dinner, I had the Duck Duck Goose, and it was spectacular. I love duck and don't get to eat it very often. I have to say this was the best I ever had. The one thing I loved in particular about Altius is you get a good portion of food. Some fine dining establishments have great food, but they don't give you very much of it. Believe me, you will be full after you leave here. We didn't have any room for dessert, but I'm sure it would have been as delicious as everything else!
(5)
Tim M.
My wife and I recently had dinner at Altius and we enjoyed it very much. The view of the city is excellent and surprisingly the food was "5-star" quality. Food: I started with the Crab Bisque and was excellent as was the bread they served before the meal. I had the Chilean Sea Bass with couscous. It might not have been the best Sea Bass I've ever had, but was very good. My wife had the Pork Chop...WOW..that was a big pork chop and prepared just perfect. We shared the Peanut Butter (something) for dessert and was sumptuous. Service: When we first walked into this place I thought "oh no, it feels a little "stuffy" but Maria quickly put an end to that. She was so friendly and helpful and just made the evening enjoyable. The combination of the great view over the city, food, service, ambiance, I can only think of giving this place 5 stars.
(5)
Deborah G.
My husband and I went to Altius on a Tuesday night to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We were incredibly impressed with the service and the food. What I particularly loved was the little "gifts" from the chef. The popcorn du jour is a nice touch and the fresh baked bread was great. We had a lovely intermezzo from the chef in the form of a pickled egg with watercress that was divine. We had the butternut and marshmallow bisque to start and I thought it was delicious but my husband found it a bit too sweet. For our entrees, we chose the halibut and the filet mignon. My filet was perfectly prepared and came with wild mushrooms, baby carrots, and fingerling potatoes. I was surprised at how large the portion was. Normally, when you order filet in an upscale restaurant, it's a 6 ounce portion but this steak was 10 ounces! Granted, the entree is $44 bucks but the chef didn't disappoint and I consider it to be worth the money. My husband's halibut was a bit overcooked and dry. The manager cheerfully apologized and switched out the halibut for the Chilean sea bass over lobster couscous that was melt-in-your-mouth amazing! I was also very impressed with our server and her knowledge of the wines that were on the menu. She was spot on with her recommendations to pair with our meals. For our dessert, we shared the Vanilla Bean pot de creme and were glad we did because that dessert was HUGE. It came with a blackberry sorbet and a raspberry gastrique. The sorbet was light and not overly sweet and the gastric was a great accompaniment to the richness of the creme. A cute little touch from the chef was "Happy Anniversary" written across the top of the dish. Finally, the chef sent little bags of house-made cookies to go home with us. The view, by the way, is amazing! One caveat about Altius - it's expensive. Dinner for two with dessert (on the house because it was our anniversary) was $210 with tip. However, if you need a splurge and a reason to dress up and be pampered, Altius is the place to go. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Dds M.
Good food, great service, and an amazing view. It may take awhile to get a table next to the window but is very well worth it. Would recommend and would come back to visit.
(5)
Steven L.
Recently went here with my gf to celebrate and had a pleasant surprise. The updated interior, menu, staff, awesome food were all on point and somehow the tab was only around $100 before tip. This included a few vodkas (kettle one) and a few glasses of wine. Short review but long story short this place had good food, better service and was well under what I expected to pay. I will be back again.!
(5)
Elena T.
The food was good and the service excellent!
(4)
Nick J.
Have you ever planned a special evening out and had really high expectations? I did and Altius met every single one of them. I'm not kidding either, from the valet, hostess, bartender, assistant server, server, manager and the owner. Just a group of professional people there to make my night complete. They were helpful and the smiles were everywhere. I love that. I need to first mention we sat right on the window on the second floor and that alone was worth the price of admission. Our city is stunning and it was a busy beautiful Saturday night. The meal was awesome. They give you flavored popcorn to nibble on. Three types of homemade bread as well with this flavored butter and red fruity spread. No idea what it was but I could have ate a bucket of it. We had two appetizers a Sea Scallop/cornbread/pork belly w some type of vinaigrette. The other app was a Charcuterie of cured meats and cheeses. My words mean nothing! Look at those pics! The main courses were even better. I had the special of a Glazed peach Tuna w wasabi mashed potatoes and the wife had the Berkshire Pork Chop w a 4 cheese mashed potatoes and bacon wrapped asparagus. I blew it on the pic but it was better than mine. Honestly they were both 10's. :) We finished up with a few deserts. We shared the chocolate mousse and the cheesecake. There was a raspberry ice cream with the cheesecake that I swear I have since dreamt about. All told this is a legit $150 meal for two if you are drinking. The beer and wine lists are too notch. I plan on going back and trying more items. Put Altius on your list for a must dinner. It is well worth it. :)
(5)
M K.
I was really disappointed by the food here. Loved the atmosphere and service. I ordered the duck and while it should come medium rare to medium, this duck was still quacking and was like duck sushi. My wife got the shrimp which she enjoyed. An octopus feta taster came out from the kitchen and just tasted like feta. I will probably go back again sometime to give it a second chance. Everyone has a bad day, right?
(3)
Nathan K.
Awesome view! High end cuisine with excellent choices! Wine list is smart but not overly extensive. Service was fantastic and I requested a window seat for our anniversary at the time I made the reservation and they were happy to accommodate! Great food and superb ambiance. It doesn't get much better than Altius for a romantic dinner.
(5)
Xi Z.
Great view, good food with great friends makes a great Friday night. love the charcuterie plates, duck duck goose, and the peanut cake with banana ice cream dessert
(5)
Jaye L.
It was such a nice experience! The sea bass is a must try and while I had high hopes for the duck duck goose, it was just alright. The pork chop was huge but didn't taste that good. Still all the other food we got was great, and there's the amazing view!
(5)
Lindsey M.
This place is simply lovely, and by far the best restaurant on Grandview Ave. Not only is the view of the city amazing but the food is also delicious, which can't be said about the other fine dining restaurants on the Mount that rely mainly on their location to bring in patrons. We made reservations for a weekday night, and the dining room and bar were full much of the night. The host greeted us warmly at the door and led us to the sunken dining area. The decor is modern and comfortable, and the lighting is muted to allow the light from the city shine through the floor to ceiling windows. Our service was outstanding. The meal starts with popcorn with an espresso dusting that was delicious. It's little things like this that set Altius apart. There was also an amuse-bouche. When I told the waiter all of my food allergies, they changed it completely for me. They also changed my main entree to address my restrictions. I had the chicken, which was moist and delicious. The side of potatoes was a nice addition. My boyfriend had the "Duck-Duck-Goose," which he enjoyed but noted could have been plated differently so that the various flavors weren't lost. The cocktails were okay, but not amazing. Next time we go we plan on sharing a bottle of wine from their extensive list. This is a wonderful place for a romantic or celebratory dinner. I look forward to a second visit.
(4)
Barbara R.
Fabulous. Pittsburgh has been waiting for a chic restaurant on Mt. Washington. Beautiful atmosphere, great farm to table food, fantastic service. Everything is a la carte, a bit pricy for Pittsburgh, but well worth it. Loved it, Loved it, Loved it. Great evening.
(5)
Robin A.
Excellent all around. Food, service and view are fantastic. I had the green tomato salad with burrata and prosciutto, sea bass with lobster cous cous and peanut butter bar dessert. Fabulous! Modern decor and nice wine and cocktail selection. Valet parking available for $6.
I am not one to go to a place like Altius often, especially when the prices are even HIGHER, but I wanted to treat my girlfriend to a Grandview restaurant for Valentine's Day and Altius seemed like our best bet. Reading through some reviews of other Grandview restaurants on here, I had the following thought: restaurants like these can either make the diner feel special and that they're lucky to have you or make the diner feel like the restaurant is special and you're lucky to be there. Altius falls FIRMLY on the former. We slightly overdressed just to be safe but we were made to feel comfortable throughout the entire process. Not a single second of pretense. The valets, the greeters, our waiter, and every person who served our food or filled our water was great. I try to get around to as many places in town as I can. Granted, as already stated, I am not a veteran of PIttsburgh's high-end dining, but I know good food (at least I like to think so!) and this was one of the greatest meals I have had in my life. We were there for Valentine's Day so it was all about the prix fixe menu but there were plenty of options on there and we didn't feel limited at all. I ordered the veal sweetbreads, cauliflower bisque, lamb, and half-baked brownie. She ordered the tuna poke, she crab soup, ribeye and shrimp, and chocolate bombe. We both agreed that I had out-ordered her (a rare win!) but we both couldn't believe some of the flavors we were tasting. And I haven't even mentioned the INCREDIBLE bread and the tasty popcorn, both of which it seemed you could have as much of as you wanted if you so desired. My personal favorite of the night was the herb-crusted lamb. It was served with a cassis whole grain mustard, parsnip puree and green beans. I am a sucker for lamb so I may be easy to please here, but I thought the portion size was right on, it was cooked perfectly, and everything served along with it enhanced the flavor in fun, interesting ways. We were seated in the corner, right next to the windows. It may have been the best seat in the house. I'd like to thank Altius for giving my girlfriend and I a meal we'll never forget and nothing but fond memories of the entire experience. Amazing restaurant.
(5)
Marta N.
Heard good things, but left with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. To start- Valet is $6 up front with cash, but if you pay with a credit card later it jumps to $10. This is ridiculous, they should validate your parking anyways since you pay a premium to eat there. Maybe over a certain amount validate it, but still at least offer it to your patrons. The place is beautiful and they really did a nice job with all the windows and decor, but it was freezing. I asked if they could turn the air down a bit, and the guy responded with " Yes, you should have brought a Shaw" Sorry, host, I didn't realize I was going into the arctic tundra. The drink prices are outrageous, there was no glass of wine under $12. Hell, I think there was only one glass for $12. The rest went up, and up, and up. I appreciate the Stemware they served each varietal in, but cut us some slack. Drinks were $13 and higher. My first drink had a chip in the glass, the swapped it out. Pittsburgh is getting a bit crazy with drink pricing, it is now cheaper to drink in some parts of NYC. We got some appetizers, and while I appreciate the truffle popcorn they give you, it seems out of place, the charcuterie was $16 and it was all toasted bread, not a lot of meat. Crested Duck was the meat, and I know the cost of a thin slice of that stuff, so please put a bit more on the board. Beet terrine was good. Nothing crazy. For dinner I got the pork chop medium rare. It was so overcooked I couldn't cut it. I had to send it back, my friend got the gnocchi, and it was bland. Others got the fish dish and said it was good, not great. My pork was $32. The highlight of the meal were the desserts. Flan and a chocolate torte were very good. All in all I do not think I would return, way spend for what you get. They need to reevaluate their drink pricing. That may be why they don't post pricing online. I tried to look up wine prices, no luck. Only a note that if you wanted to bring your own bottle. It had to be of EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, and that they would charge $25 cooking fee, but would wave it if you bought a bottle of theirs. Silly. I Will spend my money on Avenue B any day of the week.
(3)
C L.
Altius provides excellent food and an outstanding view. The atmosphere is business casual, so no need to dress to the nines. The menu has something for everyone, from seafood to vegetarian dishes. However, if you are lactose intolerant like myself, it is very difficult to indulge in all courses, especially dessert. The most impressive aspect of the food is the mixture of textures. I ordered scallops for my first course, which were soft and flaky, and this was complimented by some crunchy vegetables slices. My main dish was salmon, coated with everything bagel crust. Again, the flaky salmon and the crunchy outer crust was fantastic. Other members of my party claimed that the deserts were delicious, but I only drank coffee. It was surprisingly bold and a fantastic alternative to dessert. The pastry chef sent guests home with a pastry sample that was divine with my coffee the next morning. It is possible to be seated at a table with no view, so if that's important to you, make sure that you request it. Overall, excellent service, food is worth the price, and the view is very romantic.
I took my girlfriend to Altius the first night we got in to Pittsburgh and we absolutely fell in love with it. We sat upstairs by the window and you get an amazing view of the entire city of Pittsburgh. We got there at 530 pm while it was still light outside and got to watch the transformation from day to night and it was truly a sight to see. Our server Sarah was amazing. She was very attentive and personable, and answered all of our questions. Great service. The food was outstanding. They give you complimentary popcorn, the days flavor was truffle! How sick is that?! Truffle popcorn?! Yes please! Then we got a complimentary little bite of seviche w/ cilantro & butternut squash served on a fancy apple slice (don't remember the name of the apple). Then we ordered the oysters appetizer. My girlfriend wanted to get them because she's never tried them before. I'm not crazy about oysters but I let her go with it because it's her birthday weekend...and these oysters were the best I've ever had. They were covered with an amazing salsa verde that was a perfect blend of spice that made the oysters really shine. The main courses were sublime. My girlfriend ordered the salmon with risotto & mushrooms and it was delicious. I ordered the special which was a black grouper encrusted with porcini mushrooms, black garlic risotto and sauteed broccoli rabe. I do don't care for the broccoli rabe but that was literally the only thing from the entire night that I didn't like. For dessert we split the black truffle cheesecake which was spectacular. It was served with pistachio praline, vanilla infused tangerines, and homemade vanilla bean ice cream. Ridiculous!
(5)
David C.
This evening we found a superlative way of YELPING a restaurant. I had the pleasure of having two wonderful lady's as my guest for birthday dinner at Altius Modern Bistro. My Mother in Law's birthday is July 5 and my wife's birthday is May 31. We were seated at a wonderful window table with a sweeping view of Pittsburgh and the three rivers. Mom gave a WOW for the view. We each ordered separate appetizers. Mom rated her She Crab Soup with WOW WOW as she demolished the bowl. My wife had the beet terrine. And I had the Charcuterie which were very unexpectedly delicious. That added two more WOW'S. Mom ordered Rack of Lamb. It was an unusual serving for a traditional older lady who is used to each lamb rib to be sliced and displayed around the plate. She chewed each chop. to the bone with another WOW! My wife had the Berkshire Pork Chop. She added a WOW! I had the Duck, Duck, Goose which had perfectly cooked Duck breast, leg confit and Goose pate mixed with polenta and another WOW was added to the dinner. Being the lady's birthday celebrations each was served a Malted Vanilla Bean Pot de Creme with a candle. Another WOW was entered into the list. Our server, Rob was delightful and very professional. The entire staff was helpful, efficient, professional and gracious. Another WOW! This was an 10 WOW dining experience. Thank you all for making our dining experience wonderful. FYI: We are all senior citizens and we have all traveled the world.
(5)
Dan K.
Took my wife to Altius for her birthday dinner and we were both quite impressed with this eatery. Everything you hope for in a fine dining experience was covered here, in spades. Decor? Modern and elegant. Ambiance? Unbeatable skyline view. Food? Nothing short of spectacular. Service? Felt like we were being waited on by 10 people. We look forward to our next opportunity to dine at Altius, because our first experience there was wonderful!
(5)
Daniel A.
The most rude and unprofessional people I have ever met. We made a reservation two weeks in advance for Mother's Day on OpenTable and specifically asked to have window view and that if they could not do that, they should let us know immediately. They waited till one hour before our reservation to tell us they could not supply window seats, essentially doing so in the hopes that we would be forced to go there without any other recourse as Mother's Day by then would be totally booked. We promptly cancelled our reservation and would never go there again. These people are out for making a buck without any respect to their customers.
(1)
Pamela T.
Came here for brunch. It was a cloudy day, but the view was still incredible. Service was slow, I think they were running understaffed. The fixed price menu is reasonable priced, including a cocktail/fresh juice, an appetizer, and an entree. I had a Virgin Mary, which was refreshing. I started with the fruit sampler, featuring local honey and cheeses. It was beautifully plated, and a great appetizer. For my main I ordered the challah french toast. It was decadent and delicious, but I could have done with a fourth of the serving size! Their coffee was also fantastic.
(4)
Ben R.
So this is my first time here after having been remodeled from the Georgetown inn. I happened to go to the GI right before it closed for a wedding rehearsal dinner. Let's just say it should have been closed years ago. The remodel was very upscale and nice. The views of the city are terrific. Easy valet parking so make sure you have cash. Our server was nice but could have taken a little better care of us. For such an upscale place I expect top notch service. Our party of 6 took over 2.5 hours which was really long. The fresh bread was a nice treat. I had the duck and so did one of our other guests. One thing I hate is when two dishes have different portions. Mine had two less pieces of duck. The skin could have been a lot more crispy. My wife's sea bass was really good and at the same cost as the halibut we choose the bass. Big portion and tender as can be. My biggest complaint were the bugs in thee restaurant. We had bugs all over the window next to us. When your restaurant is built around the views you better make sure the windows are clean and bug free. There were 15 little flying bugs all over the windows and got us thinking we had ticks!!! Yuck But I recognize that's a hard thing to control. Worth a second trip.
(4)
Adam M.
Went with my wife on opening night for our wedding anniversary. They are still working on the exterior and second floor but we were impressed with the main floor and view of the city. The service was above average and there were plenty of people checking up on us during the hour and a half we were there. The food overall was very good. By course, and I'll comment on both items because I did taste my wife's dishes: -starters: the tuna crudo was excellent and full of flavor. "Tongue and cheek" satisfied my beef craving and loved the pierogi. -entrees: "duck duck goose" was enjoyed by my wife and she really loved how well everything tasted together. I continued my beef streak with the filet mignon which was very tender but slightly smoked which it did not need. -sides: tried the pommes frites which were addicting -desert: ordered the chocolate mousse dish which was perfect for our sweet tooth -drinks: I had the seelbach which was a bourbon base-nice and strong, and then had a well paired Cabernet with my steak. My wife had the accomplice which was a well balanced vodka drink. She had the same Cab with her duck and finished with a desert wine which she enjoyed. We are looking forward to going back and trying other menu items and checking out the second floor once everything is finished. Definitely recommend checking it out!
(4)
Rob K.
Great option on Mount Washington. The food was very good and the fresh baked breads were outstanding. A fantastic view complements an atmosphere not as stuffy as some of its neighbors on Grandview. There are a nice selection of entrees on the menu that would appeal to just about any taste. The prices seemed to reflect the quality of food quite well. Also, we shared the vanilla bean mousse dessert. The dish came with homemade shortbread cookies for dipping - delicious!
(5)
Jen L.
Outrageously good. Last weekend, my fiance surprised me with reservations to Altius. It was our first time here, and I hope we will return many, many times. Our meal here was the very best meal I've had in Pittsburgh. We pulled up to the restaurant and we were very pleased to find that there was plenty of free on-street parking. As we entered the restaurant, my fiance gave his name and we were promptly seated upstairs. Of the times I've eaten on Mount Washington, the view from Altius has been my absolute favorite. The interior is modern without being busy. We were seated and greeted immediately by someone offering water and truffle oil popcorn. Our server next greeted us. She was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. She brought over our cocktails and amuse bouche. For a starter, we ordered the Tongue in Cheek. It was delicate, cooked to perfection, and the perfect size to split between two. I was very pleased, as was my FI. In addition to a really beautiful balance of flavors, the presentation was also lovely. Bonus points for quality heavy flatware to dine with. We were also given fresh baked bread with both butter and a tomato spread. Pick the focaccia bread and combine the two spreads. You'll thank me later. For our entrees, I ordered the Duck Duck Goose and my fiance ordered the rack of lamb. My duck was cooked perfectly, served over polenta and with pate. It was incredible and the flavors were absolutely perfect together. My fiances lamb was also perfectly cooked, and he absolutely loved his black garlic risotto. We also ordered a side of the parmesan risotto. It was all wonderful. To end the evening, we ordered the stone fruit cobbler and the chocolate mousse. I'm honestly not sure how we managed to eat these, because we had already eaten so much! The fact that we finished these, also, is a testament to how delicious they were. It was a lovely evening, a wonderful meal, and I hope to come back soon.
(5)
Steven B.
Wonderful! Dined here for a team dinner with work colleagues and loved both the food and the service. Pork chops were delicious and enormous and the desserts were all tasty. Service was impeccable. Even when we absentmindedly added a tip at the end for a large group, they called to say they figured we didn't want double gratuity and would only charge us the original amount!
(5)
Brett H.
Extremely clean and modern restaurant with beautiful views over looking Heinz and downtown Pittsburgh. Can take the trolley up the hill and walk. Came for a work event and the food was delicious. Service was great and staff was very accommodating. Great place for a date or to take a client for dinner.
(5)
Nolan C.
This is one of my favorite spots in Pittsburgh. The environment is young but upscale. The staff is incredibly friendly, and you will not regret any of the drinks you order (the wine list is phenomenal) and the food holds it own. One down fall, on busy nights they do struggle seating you on time.
(5)
Emma D.
I was so excited to go to Altius, but the experience left me lacking. I didn't hate it, but I wasn't blown away. I'll start with the positives. I love that every table starts with a bowl of popcorn. I'm not sure if the flavor changes, but we had this amazing savory chicken and waffles flavoring. The food is great, there is no doubt about it. It's pretty meat heavy, so vegetarians beware. The small plates were all delicious and I had an amazing short rib with mole for an entree. The cocktails were great too, and my party all commented on how great the wine list is. So what went wrong? Call me crazy, but I have certain expectations when I go to a restaurant where most entrees are $40+. One of those expectations? That it's properly, or should I say consistently lit. Due to sharing a power grid with the incline, the lights in the restaurant flickered every time the cars ascended or descended. I think this wouldn't be a problem early in the evening, but we had a late dinner. The lights were during up and down fairly often. it was really noticeable, it was like someone was playing with a dimmer switch. It took asking a few servers until we discovered why--most of them brushed it off, pretended they didn't know, or said "Our building is haunted". I think in the end, I would return here, but not for a full meal. The view is great, but I'd only stay for a drink as to avoid the dizzying light-changes.
(3)
Ryan B.
Fanfreakingtastic! The view of the city, appetizers, dinner and dessert were GREAT! Service was good and the overall experience was just the perfect cap to my long weekend in the Burgh.
(5)
Melissa B.
Great views, updated and modern design, attentive and friendly service but unfortunately food was not so great. Crab soup was good, not great. Sea bass was below average (disappointing) and peanut butter chocolate dessert was good, but not great. We were there for a Monday night work dinner where it was a pre-fix, shortened, 3 course menu. Wish I could give it more stars due to great staff and view but the food was truly 3 stars.
(3)
Carolyn P.
I have been to Altius twice. The view is superb, the food is good, not great, the service is good. Unfortunately, the selection of wines is poor and terribly overpriced. I enjoy having a good glass or two of full-bodied red wine. It doesn't exist at Altius. No Malbec's, no Cabernets by the glass. So, I ordered a bottle of wine for $68 that the waiter recommended. It was not full bodied as I had requested and had no depth. We didn't return it, but in the future, I'll bring my own bottle of wine.
(3)
Jodi H.
LOVE this place--the food is amazing and the view is spectacular! Been there twice and pleased with everything from the drinks to the service to the awesome food!
(5)
Mickey T.
Finally. Finally! A restaurant on Mt. Washington where the food and service match the spectacular views. Quite an upgrade from the old tired Georgetown it replaced. Highly recommended.
(5)
Russ D.
If you've read my review for CURE, this one will sound quite familiar. Made reservations for a birthday dinner 2 weeks in advance for a Sat night. Arrived and were promptly seated at an awesome table. Like CURE, a modern atmosphere. Despite being packed and tables fairly close together, noise level was totally fine. Didn't have to shout, didn't feel others were eavesdropping on your conversation. These 2 restaurants are essentially equal at this point with the exception of the spectacular view at Altius. That being said, I'm there to eat not look. So how about that food/drink? Started w/ the charcuterie plate with local meats and cheeses, as well as fresh bread. The rosemary foccacia was particularly stellar. The accompanying honey/molasses butter and sun-dried tomato olive oil were perfectly complimentary. At some point our server also brought out a gift from the chef that was a 'shooter' of some kind with onion in it. I can't remember any more detail than that - but it was good. For entrees we went w/ Duck, Duck, Goose and a Trout special. Both were fantastic and very well presented. Since it was a birthday dinner, we were provided a complimentary piece of vanilla bean cheesecake - unexpected and a nice touch. So at this point you may be asking - why only 3 stars? Remember I said this place is quite similar to CURE in my opinion? But first - there's that complimentary popcorn people talk of...at one point during the meal our server just came by and swiped it off the table. Didn't ask if we were done with it, or anything of the sort. We just kind of looked at each other as if 'did that just happen?". Now I don't eat popcorn so it wasn't necessarily an issue for me, but my date was enjoying it - until she was no longer able to! Strange. Second - drinks. I got 2 cocktails, my date one cocktail and a glass of wine. Wine is wine. Cocktails - pretty watered down, particularly at $12/pop. Pretty much sugar. Usually 2 cocktails has me feeling pretty good - I couldn't even tell I had a drink at all here. I would have ordered a beer, but $8 for a Great Lakes draft that's $3.50 at Giant Eagle of all places is just a little ridiculous on the mark-up. I'm sure the rent on Grandview is high, but c'mon. Third - while the food was excellent, just as CURE, it's simply over-priced for what you get. Portion size on my dish at least, simply didn't measure up to the price tag. One app, 4 drinks, 2 entrees, 1 shared dessert, and $160 later - and I'm still hungry. Compare that to the $95 I spent at M&P earlier in the week for a Southern Tier tasting with 5 courses and 5 beers where I left uncomfortably stuffed, and well... Fourth - Service. Overall - very friendly and genuine. But the pacing is SLOW. I don't think it was anything on the part of our server, it seems planned that way. It was a Saturday night as well, so it was busy. Were offered more bread and accepted, but it took almost 15 minutes for it to arrive it seemed. 2 hour seatings just aren't my thing. To be fair this is just a personal preference, as some are the complete opposite and are totally content sitting there all night long. One last thing that rubbed me the wrong way. I wanted to try the duck reuben off the bar menu IN ADDITION to my Duck, Duck, Goose entree - yes I eat a lot - but was told I could not do so where I was seated. What's the difference where I am seated?! It's the same kitchen?! One of the only times somebody has told me they DIDN'T want more of my money, and therefore more of a tip. Again, strange. So it's hard to justify, even for special occasions. If somebody wanted to go, I wouldn't turn it down or steer them away, but I wouldn't seek it out either. Just ok.
(3)
Ron E.
Top quality across the board. What you'd expect from a top 3 restaurant in a major city.
Awesome! I took my husband here for his birthday. I made a reservation a couple of weeks in advance via OpenTable. It's cool that they have the people dining on a lower level than those drinking/eating at the bar so everyone has a view of Pittsburgh. It was a clear night so we could see Pittsburgh's beautiful skyline even though we didn't have window seating. You will be stuffed by the time you get your entrees and even more so before you leave with the popcorn and bread to start off before your meals! Nonetheless we ordered the charcuterie to start off with and everything is from local/Amish businesses - delicious and then my husband had the pork chop which was ginormous! and I had the duck which was tenderly cooked, it melted in my mouth with each bite. I wish we had room for dessert because the options looked good but we received a treat to take home from the pastry chef - a piece of toffee bar. Modern vibe which makes Altius standout from the other places on Mt. Washington - a place for something special or a night out on the town! The only downer was that I called the day of to see if they could accommodate two more people and the person on the phone seemed rude about my question but it might have been that there was a lot going on.
(5)
Bill L.
As a foodie in Pittsburgh, the restaurant row of Grandview Avenue on Pittsburgh's Mount Washington is not a place I flock to often, but will change with the addition of Altius, which certainly ups the ante, by providing an outstanding dinging experience in addition to the view! The two level restaurant has a comfortable and very modern environment that is stylish, yet showcases the view off Pittsburgh, first and foremost. It may be pricey, but it's worth every penny, including the accoutrements, which include a cone of sea salt and kale popcorn upon seating; an amouse bouche from the chef, and bread service that includes three different awesome breads with two tasty spreads. They oysters and the accompanying sauce were rock star quality. The beet terrine was different from the usual beet salad, and was perfect when sampled with the accompanying goat cheese. Fellow diners raved about the sweet potato soup and "tongue and cheek" appetizers. The sea bass over lobster couscous was excellent, if not quite hot off the stove, and the person in my group who used to operate a restaurant himself, gushed about the pork chop and its accompanying sides. The baked chocolate mousse and a very unique version of pot de crème were two of the best chocolate desserts that I've had in quite some time. The wine list is great with a nice variety of options. Our server, Brenna, was friendly and true pro, who knew the menu well and provided flawless service, even if it felt a tad rushed toward the start of the meal.
(5)
Christina E.
The atmosphere, the food, and the service was amazing. No complaints here! Best tiramisu I've ever had!!
(5)
Justin J.
This was a wonderful experience and a refreshing one at that. Every restaurant on Mount Washington seems to rest on the laurels of the view, with either service or food suffering. Fortunately, Altius has fixed that. The service is friendly but not too in your face. The food is amazing. We even got a free appetizer (lightly fried zucchini blossom stuffed with goat cheese). We had the "Duck, Duck, Goose", and the salmon. The duck pate was wonderful, and the salmon was poached (I think?) to perfection. Even the bread service was phenomenal (foccacia and molasses stout) and came with great recommendations about which butter goes best on which bread. It is on the pricier side, but it's definitely worth it. Also, for the complainers that focus on the valet... there is more than enough on street parking (for free) after 6pm. We found a spot literally 20 feet from the entrance.
(5)
B B.
Had a fantastic brunch (Holiday Celebration) with my girlfriends. We all "shared" so I was able to sample a variety of everything!! Definitely going back. Desserts are beyond delish!!
(5)
Dave R.
Experience, Food, Atomsphere = all amazing!! Had a fantastic view to start with. Appetizer, dinner and desserts were excellent, very tasty and we would certainly go back again and again!!!!
(5)
Emily M.
Boyfriend and I came here for a special dinner and it exceeded our expectations. The design is beautiful and you can't beat the view! We had a few cocktails (both delicious), shared the charcuterie for a starter, and the duck duck goose and berkshire pork chop for our entrees. SO GOOD! I moved to Pittsburgh from NYC two years ago and this is easily the best meal I've had here so far. (Much prefer it to Cure or Meat and Potatoes for example). Often times fine dining = small portions. This is not the case at Altius. Portion sizes were large enough to feel full upon leaving the restaurant. Service was friendly and prompt. *The popcorn was a nice touch.
(5)
Zachary K.
Wanted to try something new and stumbled upon this place searching yelp for the best restaurants in Pittsburgh. Restaurant surpassed my expectations. I used to come here when it was the Georgetown Inn and wow was that place terrible. View was beautiful and I always seemed to go back despite the inexcusable food. I had always thought - if only this place would have decent food it would be one of the best restaurants around - has always had the best view in Pittsburgh in my opinion. Not only have they completely remodeled into a hip/modern restaurant but the food is true to the quality of their sister restaurant, Bistro 19, if not better. Wine list is good too, simple, ranging from approx $30 - $100/bottle. Had the short ribs and they were phenomenal. I almost gave this place a 4, just because I usually think of Alla Famiglia when I think of a true 5 star yelp review, but I thought to myself - hey, I don't have a bad thing to say about this place, why knock it the star. So there, 5 star, but really the 4.5 star average is about right.
(5)
Anthony B.
Fantastic place, great location and best view of Pittsburgh. Nice interior , appetizers were great any one you pick
(5)
Varuni S.
The food and service was incredibly good! We had pork chop and the lamb and they both were very delicious. Their vanilla ice cream had me licking the plate clean! And to top it all we had the best view in the city.
(5)
Amarie E.
Fantastic atmosphere and mouth watering food. Absolutely wonderful service with a beautiful view. A Pittsburgh must.
(5)
John A.
This place was fantastic. The food was amazing. The service was superb. Happy to have this gem in our neighborhood.
(5)
Omead K.
Great dinner! Its relatively pricey, but worth it!
(5)
Sarah L.
Went on 6/27 for our anniversary. The place has a GREAT view - one of the best in Pittsburgh. Very clean, upscale restaurant. The food was impeccable. My husband got the lamb chops and I got the pork - both cooked perfectly! The sides are equally as delicious - he had garlic rice pilaf with the lamb and my pork chops came with amazing skinned/ mashed potatoes. We could tell they were still working through the newness of the restaurant..... there was almost too many people working. That said - the service was outstanding and everyone was so nice. I would highly recommend this place. It's a little more expensive but worth the few extra dollars. Very nice atmosphere - not too stuffy - kinda perfect. Park at the bottom of the Duquesne Incline and ride it up - it's located right next to the incline overlook - so great people-watching during dinner and a great date. I honestly don't know if I have had that good of a meal in a while. It was just splendid. Again - the service was great - clearly the chef is extremely talented and all-in-all I can see this place doing quite well. A great night to celebrate 5 years!
(5)
Jonah P.
As good as it gets! Altius has finally combined great food (best lamb I have ever had), good service (offered to change our table for a better view), and awesome ambiance (decor was well done and the view is the view). My only critique is the food was a little on the pricey side but it is worth it. As a Mt. Washington resident, I hope Altius raises the ante for the other restaurants in the neighborhood.
(5)
Sheila F.
We went there for anniversary. Service was impeccable by all. We had duck,duck, goose and lamb chops. I am a bit discriminating, when it comes to food. These were two of the finest plates we eaten in a long time. No wait. No fuss. Terrific view and modern decor. I would say 95 out of 100. Why? The wine list contains great wines. However, there is no bottle as I recall under $50. Alcohol does not need to be so pricey! I plan to go again.
(5)
Lacy C.
The food is wonderful and the service has improved immensely.
(4)
James W.
This was my third time dining at altius and probably my last. First, as others mention, have your cash ready from the start. The valet requires that you pay up-front when dropping your car off. Food: The first time the food was amazing; I was very impressed. The second time the food was 'good.' Last night I had a business dinner here and was very disappointed- even embarrassed at my suggestion. I ordered the same starters and entrees as my first visit. Sadly, this time the food showed no resemblance to the first visit. Totally different taste. Also, the chef had a difficult time with cooking temperatures of our meals. Medium lamb showed up well done and a colleague who ordered rare steak had to send hers back for being cooked well done. The second attempt was just as over-cooked as the first. The marked variance in the food prompted me to ask if this was the same chef as before or someone else. Was she sick? On vacation? Or just overwhelmed? The consistency is not there. Ambiance: The interior is beautiful and, of course, the view is amazing.
(2)
Megan H.
I honestly hadn't heard of this place until I went on open table looking to make anniversary reservations. Guess I've fallen off the foodie scene. Anyhow, as a Bistro 19 fan, this place did not disappoint. Of course, the view was amazing and probably worth going just for a drink. The decor was modern and lovely as well. A tiny bit tight on space, but not uncomfortably so. (Side note: you could easily get seated in the bar area when we arrived at 5:15 and again. Around 6:30-45, it was completely empty again... This was Saturday night. So, if you're planning to stop by without a reservation and stay in the bar, it looks like if you do it either early or in the middle of the dinner hour, you're solid.) Speaking of drinks, they were fantastic. Huz had the East India and I had a French 75. We also had the charcuterie, which the husband raved about and he rarely raves. I was stunned as he kept shoveling meat and cheese into his mouth. Typically, I end up eating these sorts of plates by myself while he rants about how the restaurant thinks it's fancy... The popcorn was truffle flavor.... I don't really care for popcorn, but managed to eat most of it.... Delish and a fun touch. I also have no idea what they added to the butter ... salt and a seasoning... it was like crack butter.... For dinner, I had the goose goose duck, which was truly outstanding. I ate all of it. And I rarely eat meat. He had the steak, which didn't do much for me (I'm not much of a steak eater), but he thought it was perfect. And it was beautifully cooked. For dessert, we had chocolate cheesecake. He thought it was amazing. Again, not really my thing (or maybe I was just too full?), but tasty enough. The marinated cherries on the plate were my fave. Actually, I'd have eaten the cherries and the ice cream alone... And they sent us with a delightful little fruit cookie bar thing, so we really didn't need to order dessert. I also had a glass of delish zinfandel (with the duck) and a cappuccino (with dessert). He had a sparkling water with dinner. Total bill before tip was around $150. Completely worth it. Easily the best meal we've had in ages. And, frankly, if you had a single drink, still water, and skipped dessert, you could be close to the 50 pp mark. (Entrees were in the $30 ball park and certainly enough for a meal... ) But, if you're going to splurge, why not?! As noted by some of the other reviews, unlike a lot of fine dining places, the portions were very generous. Service was also near perfect. The server was prompt, polite and helpful. The sommelier was appropriately present and helpful. We thought about a bottle and he didn't bat an eyelash when I decided upon just a glass. The wine list was nicely comprehensive -- a little bit for everyone at a good range of prices. If you've got a special night out coming up, this is the place. Hands down. In the meantime, it gave me a hankering for a night just up the street at Bistro 19!
(5)
Renee W.
First- we had a reservation for 8:30, and had specifically asked for windows - we were then seated at 8:40, at an awkward table, which did the waitresses no favors (think high end picnic tables). Everyone seemed super disorganized (how does a place this size need 5 hostesses??). We had to flag our waitress down to ask to order our food at 9:00- our food didn't come until 10:15. In between we had two watery cocktails (but expensive). When the food did arrive I expected mouth explosions (after all it took over an hour to cook!)- instead I got a mouth full of salt. The menu was blah so I ordered the asparagus, polenta and risotto. All of which had one main flavor- salt. My friend got the gnocchi-which was less gnocchi and more filler and also really really salty. This restaurant needs to get their service and food together if they hope to survive and call themselves fine dining. I certainly won't be back..
(1)
Ron C.
This new restaurant is exceptional. It is totally renovated into a very contemporary sleek restaurant with phenomenal views. The food is superb. The chef provides a complimentary taster. Homemade breads and butters are delicious and creative. The beet appetizer is one of the best apps I have ever eaten. Red and yellow beets layered and bonded with a little gelatin, served with warm goat cheese. Incredible! We were there for our anniversary. The salmon and fillet were prepared perfectly. A complimentary dessert was a special added treat. A very eclectic drink menu. Service was flawless. I highly recommend and will definitely return! This is well needed on Mt Washington and hope they have continued success.
(5)
Rachel B.
Very good dinner! I had the gnocchi and my husband had the salmon. Both were excellent dishes. The prices were also very reasonable. Mine was only $22 and his was around $29. The interior is very sleek and trendy but the largest problem we had were the lights. The flicked from very bright to completely turned off very frequently. When I asked our waitress she said they are working on it and it's caused from the incline next door.
(4)
Lisa S.
This place was wonderful. Even without the magnificent view from Mt. Washington, it would still be wonderful. Cocktails were delicious and they have a great wine list. We shared an charcuterie plate as an appetizer, then had salads and mains. I had the beet terrine and filet mignon while the hubby had a caesar made with kale and salmon. Dessert was a baked chocolate mousse with banana ice cream that we split. From beginning to end, there was not a misstep. Food was perfect and service fantastic. It is not a weekly destination for us as it is not inexpensive but we will definitely be back.
(5)
Jen F.
First time in Pittsburgh and only 2 nights. This restaurant is amazing and the view is spectacular.
(5)
Buzz B.
we were visiting Pittsburgh just for the night to see a show. we were recommended this restaurant in advance from a friend from the area. we were given an excellent table on the 2nd floor with a beautiful view. unfortunately even with advanced reservations, table placement is not guaranteed but every table seems to have some view. i guess we were lucky as the weather was terrible and the restaurant was not very busy. we shared quite a bit at our table of 5. charcuterie, sweetbreads, the duck duck goose and the pork chop entree were all stand outs. desserts of the vanilla pot de creme, baked chocolate mouse and the toffee bread pudding also made the rounds. three different food gifts from the chef were a nice touch. side note - i am unfortunately gluten free but was very pleased to find that a large portion of the menu was safe for me and they also offered some of the best gluten free bread ive come across for delivering sauces and perfumed butter. Maria was our fabulous server. professional, attentive, friendly. as others noted valet parking is $6. we were dressed in multiple winter layers, so nice shoes/sweaters fit fine for the ambiance. i would recommend as well as return if ever in Pittsburgh.
(5)
Megan D.
Delicious food and cocktails, great service, and an unbeatable view. This is a great addition to Grandview Ave. and I highly recommend to anyone and will return many times in the future.
(5)
Eric Z.
My wife and i went for our 18th wedding anniversary. The outside is still under construction and i hope they can liven it up to represent what the inside has to offer. Goodbye dark gloomy Georgetown Inn and Hello fresh new bright modern Altius. You walk into an open airy atmosphere with an immediate view of the three rivers. We arrived early and were immediately seated. We faced the windows and had a great view. The owner stopped over immediately and welcomed us and offer to start us off with a drink. The waitress (Jill P) came shortly and was adorable and bubbly. Made the experience memorable. They provided a complementary unique shooter that was a salsa mix and was fresh. Fresh bread from the bakery was offered and delicious with multiple spreads. We ordered Charcuterie for starters that had many meats and spreads all of which were awesome. I had the prosciutto wrapped veal tenderloin which was cooked perfectly and tender. My wife had the jamison farm lamb rack which again was cooked perfectly and very flavorful. Topped off w a bottle of Hess cab. Desert was a chocolate mousse that we shared and to our surprise had a happy anniversary note in chocolate on the dish and comped. We were stuffed when we left. Ive been eating out way to much recently and this experience tops the list. Top notch new restaurant in Pittsburgh with a great view, great food and great service. Altius did it right!
(5)
Kimberly R.
I live on Mt Washington and was so excited that someone came in and updated one of the "run down" buildings on Grandview! (hopefully more will follow in the footsteps of Altius!) We went on a double date to the restaurant on a Sunday night. I made a dinner reservation and we got a lovely front view table. Prob didnt need the reservation as the restaurant was not packed. I love what they have done with the space. It is a little modern and very classy! Great for a date or romantic night out! Our server was great! She was very friendly and let us take our time. They bring you popcorn and artisan breads. Yum! The menu is a little different. The food is very artsy and all the presentations are wonderful! I had the beet terrine and it was interesting for sure. Very tasty, with sweet and sour tastes and a little rich from the cheese. I liked it a lot. I also tried the Salmon with lobster for dinner. It was fine, very well cooked and great presentation.....but, it wasnt "mind blowing." I thought everything was good, but not amazing. I am very glad I tried it, as the view is amazing, but for the price I probably wont go back. Wine=very over priced! No one at our table got a cocktail, maybe those were the way to go.....but the wine was expensive! I would say I would give the restaurant 4 stars if they could offer nice wines without breaking the bank!
(3)
Chris D.
Start off your meal with a valet for $6, oh you don' t have cash?...that'll be $10 on a card. Things don't appear as advertised? That is apparently the theme. $32 for 'berkshire pork chop' that is listed as $28 on the website menu. The server informed me that it would be cooked 'medium' ( slightly pink) which is perfect. What came out was grey, over cooked. Like it was over cooked and held there for 20 minutes to dry it out on purpose. It truly takes talent to so thoroughly ruin an ingredient like this. Maybe this was just a fluke? Nope, another person at the table also had an identical ruined pork chop. The manager offered to comp desserts for the error which is nice but not a remedy. Another person at the table ordered the rack of lamb..$40+ and it was overcooked. Really... this is unforgivable. Also, the gnocchi. Flavorless and really not a pleasant texture. Apparently the red snapper was delicious. A gentleman behind us was ordering a steak at the time we were leaving...I should have warned him the 'chefs' can't handle cooking food to proper temps. There were some good points to the meal. The bread service was nice, the truffle popcorn was a hit and the desserts were excellent. The appetizers were decent, better than the mains. Service: Needs improvement but was acceptable. Overall the entire experience was painfully slow. Almost a 3.5 hour dinner. Took 25 minutes just to get the checks. Another table also had to inquire about their food after a lengthy wait. Restaurant was not even busy. Suggestion: Go to Altius for a drink and dessert with a view. Want a good meal look elsewhere.
(2)
Megan B.
one of the best!! we've found a new favorite! my husband and I had dinner here and were very impressed, from the house made popcorn, to the most delicious desserts, we loved every morsel! the staff and our server were very friendly and attentive the entire evening. the view is spectacular and the decor as well. we will definitely be back!!
(5)
Alex D.
I've gotta give this place the full 5 stars. I was fortunate enough to visit for a recent business dinner, and it really is a wonderful place. From the moment you arrive, Altius takes good care of you - the valet is completely (COMPLETELY) reasonable, and they are polite in helping your party inside. Once you enter, the staff are friendly, and the bar is well-stocked, with a very knowledgeable bartender ready to serve you a delicious aperitif or glass of wine. After your drink, you are exported to a nice table which is most likely within eyesight of one of the stunning hilltop views of this lovely city. The food is the real reason to come here, however. No million dollar views can make up for bad food or bad service, and Altius does not disappoint! Our server was extremely attentive and thoughtful, and really did know what "service" means. I shared several items with the table, including their oysters (absolutely fabulous), scallops (divine), and charcuterie plate (delicious). As a dedicated Yelper, I had, of course, checked out the reviews before my visit, and had read about the "Duck, Duck, Goose" entree, which piqued my interest. The dish was perfectly prepared and served at the correct temperature, with just the right amount of panache by our server team, who served the entire table simultaneously and with a well-practiced flourish. The portion was perfectly sized for a regular person, which is a refreshing take on restaurant food these days - I HATE to get heaping platters that are poorly arranged and prepared with mediocre ingredients. . Again, Altius appeared to use high quality ingredients, prepared in a multitude of delicious ways - loved it! To end the meal, I indulged in their peanut butter bar, which was absolutely the right way to end the evening - it is attractive, well assembled, and just the right size to share with another person, making it the perfect dessert. My only "beef" with Altius is their corkage fee, which I consider to be a bit predatory. I realize that establishments need to make up some of their revenue from beverage sales, but the high corkage fee was a bit surprising. It wasn't enough to make me take a star away, though. Overall, a great night, in a beautiful setting, with good friends enjoying great food and drink! Will definitely be back!
(5)
Jeff S.
The food here was simply amazing. My wife and I do a lot of home cooking so we are very critical of restaurant food in general. As a result of this experience, my we have decided that we are done eating out at cheap places. It is well worth it to save up the money and have a meal like this.
(5)
Jim O.
I loved everything about this place! It is conveniently located right next to the incline overlooking the confluence of the three rivers in Pittsburgh. Great view of the football stadium and of downtown. We started with some cocktails and the creative cocktail menu made it difficult to choose. I settled for an old-fashioned but made with tequila. It was incredible. The menu also left us wanting to try almost everything. I ended up with the pork chop and again was completely satisfied. The waitstaff was attentive but not overbearing and myself and all of my colleagues enjoyed a fantastic dinner and will definitely return next time business brings us to Pittsburgh.
(5)
Beant G.
Wow. One of the best modern American restaurants I have been to in the Pittsburgh area. Overall an excellent place for a date given well-prepared and flavorful food, a fantastic view of the city and great atmosphere. Ambience: Having been to some of the neighboring restaurants in Mt. Washington, I can comfortably say this place has one of the best views. It is perched a bit higher than LeMont although without the ceiling to floor windows. I was a huge fan of the modern decor, which is a welcome change from LeMont and Monterey Bay next door. Food: Kudos to Chef Jessica! I had the short rib and holy hell was it moist and flavorful. I'm not a big red meat fan overall but I would return for that dish any day. The asparagus on the side was a bit bland and greasy but the risotto made up for it. The real winner of the night was the Pumpkin Cheesecake- creamy, well-spiced with plenty of pumpkin flavor! Definitely not for the non-pumpkin enthusiast. One of the best desserts I have had in quite some time. Price: Since it was a special event I didn't have to foot the bill, but based on their menu, expect to pay the usual Mt. Washington premium (~$50-75 per person). That being said, on the right occasion, it's well worth it.
(5)
Francesca F.
Everything about my experience here was flawless. I was celebrating a graduation and made a note of it on OpenTable - I was consequently congratulated by the host and server (a nice touch). The view is beautiful, which almost goes without saying. Even without a window seat, however, you'll still really enjoy the ambiance. I loved that it was a fine dining atmosphere but without stuffy white tablecloths. The service was top-notch - efficient, polite, friendly - my napkin was even folded when I went to the bathroom. (Speaking of the bathrooms - they're immaculately clean and modern). We liked our tasting and flavored popcorn before our meal and everyone is sent home with a mini dessert in a little paper bag. It's really about the small details here that make it worth the price. Our meals were also flawless - we had a strawberry salad, frites, Berkshire pork chop, ravioli, and a s'mores dessert. The highlight was definitely the pork chop - highly recommend. Only downside is that you basically have to valet your car, which costs $6. Good valet service, however.
(5)
Amanda M.
A friend suggested Altius for the fourth of July. We made reservations weeks in advance but were not guaranteed a table against the windows. We actually ended up in the second row but the view was still incredible! If you remember Georgetown, you'll be blown away by the transformation. The inside is sleek and modern. It looks like a restaurant that would be located downtown. For the holiday there was a five course menu for $85 a person. Amuse bouche, appetizer, salad/soup, entree and dessert. (I don't consider an amuse bouche an actual course seeing it's one bite. In this case it was a blueberry inside a raspberry with a brie sauce) Each course had 4+ options. I went with the charcuterie plate, salad, 10 oz filet and chocolate Panna cotta. The table was also served a choice of three breads. If given the choice, pick the foccacia as it was incredible. Each course was presented in a timely manner. I really enjoyed the filet though my cut was a little fatty (hubs filet was not). The presentation of each plate was gorgeous especially the desserts. Each course was very good and met my expectations. However, the highlight of the evening was easily the fireworks. Viewing the fireworks from the comfort of our table without having to deal with the Mt. Washington crowd was priceless. Overall, I would go back to Altius for a very good meal with an amazing view.
(4)
Rachel C.
I'd been here twice for drinks, but was waiting for the right moment to enjoy the food. The right moment came with a tantlizing restaurant week menu! First, let's talk about ambiance. It's super swank and modern. If you'd ever been to the former restaurant here, The Georgetown Inn, forget about what you remember, because it's nothing like that! Are the views spectacular? YES! Will you be paying for those views? Probably. So the food. First, you are not only treated to complimentary popcorn, but also complimentary bread. A bread offering that is probably one of the best freshly baked bread assortments I may have ever had! I gluttonous, so I had to try all three... the faccacia, 12 grain and potato roll. All were fabulous. Pair it with the sea salt butter and you're really in carb heaven. Simply incredible fresh bread. The tasting menu I choose was $39.14 for a three course dinner First course squash blossom risotto Second course braised Jamison farm lamb orchiette with zucchini, sundried tomatoes, spinach, sheeps milk ricotta Third course half baked brownie The risotto was very good. I think it's hard to not have a bland risotto, and this definitely wasn't. The lamb was to. die. for. Seriously. Cooked medium rare, tender and flavorful. I could have had a little bit more, it was so good! The pasta was good, but there was something missing. I'm not sure if it was the flavoring. It had all the ingredients to be flavorful, and it just wasn't enough for me. Seasoning just didn't do it for me. But was by no means a bad dish. The brownie is every bit as good as it sounds. I hate when people try to pass off chocolate cake as a brownies. This was a legit fudge half baked obey gooey center brownie. Legit. The bite of my friends cheesecake further convinced me that their desserts are incredible! Is the food expensive? Yes, but not excessively priced. But I think what really adds up is the wine or cocktails on top of a meal. Their wine list is impressive, and they offer pairings. But just remember, you'll also be paying for the water. Yep. Bottled or sparkling you're charged for. Not sure if you can ask for tap. But , I think a fancy meal with a lovely view is totally okay once in a while!
(4)
Christy C.
I've driven past Altius's location numerous times, including when it housed the now-defunct Georgetowne Inn, and I was intrigued at first sight. Altius's exterior appearance is gorgeous... modern, clean, and inviting, all of which are reflected in the interior as well. Upon entering the restaurant, I already knew we were in for a treat. The lighting was low, the hostess was pleasant, and that view... do I really need to say much about it? You'd be hard pressed to find a better view of the city than from Mount Washington, and Altius is perfectly situated, providing panoramic views from the North Side to well past Oakland. When my boyfriend & I arrived, the hostess said our table would be ready shortly and invited us to grab a drink at the bar, which we did. The bartender was attentive, acknowledging us as soon as we sat down, and offered a wine list and cocktail menu. After settling on a glass of Santa Duc Côtes-du-Rhône ($12) and an ice water, Lee and I enjoyed some quiet chitchat as we waited. Within 5 minutes, the hostess was back to let us know our table was ready, and she offered to transfer my glass of wine to our dinner bill at the table (always a bonus point in my book). A gentleman soon appeared with menus and directed us to our table in the lower dining area. I was a tinge disappointed that we didn't get a seat right next to the window, but honestly there is not a bad seat in the house. You can see everything from everywhere! Our waiter quickly arrived and pointed out that all of their wines are selected and paired with particular menu dishes, and I was impressed that he took note of the wine I was drinking and offered to pair a menu item if I so desired. We took a few moments to review the menu and ultimately settled on the charcuterie board ($14) as an appetizer, watercress salad ($9), the Duck Duck Goose for me ($32) and the Chilean Sea Bass for Lee ($36). Prior to receiving the charcuterie board, our waiter brought out an amuse-bouche for each of us which is always a nice touch. The charcuterie soon arrived and was one of the better ones I've had the experience of consuming. There was just enough meat and cheese for us to split, the bread was grilled perfectly, and I'm still salivating over the stone ground beer mustard. Another waiter stopped by with a dish of sundried tomato spread and butter and offered us fresh bread. I highly recommend the rosemary foccacia -- outstanding. When the main courses arrived, I knew we weren't going to be anything short of blown away. The presentation alone was stunning, and after just one bite of the polenta that surrounded the duck & goose, I was hooked. I don't even know if I can explain the flavors... they were just phenomenal. The duck breast was seared to perfection and the rest of the dish came together perfectly. At some point, I managed to sneak a bite of Lee's sea bass and lobster couscous -- WOW. A few minutes later I was stuffed beyond belief and realized I'd have to throw in the cloth napkin and take the rest home. My leftovers were promptly boxed up once we signaled that we were finished eating, and the waiter delivered the check and a house-made toffee bar for each of us to take home. Nice little touch! Altius is unlike anything else I've experienced in Pittsburgh and I would highly recommend it for a romantic dinner with your significant other or classy night out with friends. It is a little on the expensive side, but the service and food are completely worth it.
Too often a restaurant with spectacular views will fall short on service and cuisine. Not the case here! The experienced and tenured staff are very attentive and professional and the food simply excels! The newly remodeled dining room is almost as spectacular as the views of downtown, rivers and the stadiums. Great for a special occasion or business outing. I will return.
(5)
Elizabeth M.
I wanted to enjoy this place. It has a great view and the decor is really sleek and modern. We came for brunch and I feel like the consensus was that everything we ordered underperformed. I got a hash that wasn't very hash-like...it was more cubed than the typical mash-type hash you expect. The Brussel Sprouts in it were overly salted to the point where I couldn't eat them...I actually chose not to eat most of my plate as I really didn't want to force myself to eat something I wasn't really enjoying. We got a shortbread topped with blueberries and a cinnamon roll as appetizers and they were both good. Other than that, it was a flop. I'd like to give it a second chance and try their dinner menu because from other reviewers, it looks like they fair much better with their dinner selection.
I was very excited to eat here for our first wedding anniversary when I saw the rating for this place and people raving about the great service and food. The beautiful view is a given being on Mt. Washington. The food was great! 4/5. My hubby and I shared the charcuterie bc my hubs is a fan of charcuteries. This was one of the best I've tasted. Barbuzzos in Philly is my fave. I had the sea bass and my hubby ordered the lamb. They were both delicious and cooked perfectly. We shared the apple crisp dessert, which was too sweet and too sour not complementing. That was disappointing because we love our desserts. Cocktails were just ok. Tried the dazed and infused and honey bourbon. I am critical of service when I write my reviews because other than food, it is the only other factor that can set a place apart (IMHO, it is the main factor that makes a difference anywhere, so why not give excellent service?!) When we got there, the host did not even greet us. Ok, no biggie, I like being a wallflower anyway, but why would I want to spend money somewhere where I feel unwanted? Second, not sure if (it's the maitre'd or whoever tells you about your dish) she wasn't nice at all when I asked her to repeat what cheeses were on the plate. Instead of telling me the names, she gave me a look like why would I ask and dismissingly said oh it's just brie. It's like implying this expensive plate is nothing special and I don't need to know. Lastly, my hubby told them it was our anniversary when he made the reservation, but they didn't even acknowledge that. Not even a verbal happy anniversary. Because of this experience, I do not recommend this place. Go to the other Mt. Washington rest that will treat you better. It's disappointing to me probably because I expected it to be great but my experience was not like other yelpers. I wish I had it in me to deduct tips for bad service but my hubby and I are taught to give 20% all the time by our parents. Please fix your customer service here. All I can think of is "rude!"
(2)
Megan Z.
Dined at Altius first time for a work networking event. Couldnt have been more pleased with the decor, ambiance, view, service, and food.
Dinner here for a special occasion is a must. I really enjoyed every bit of the experience here. We dined here on a Saturday night and we had reservations. Are reservations a must, I do not know but we didn't have to wait for our table which makes me very happy especially when you have reservations. Upon entering I immediately noticed how much attention was paid to the atmosphere. The bar area is very nice and I would like to stop in for a cocktail in the future. Very upscale design, appropriate light and sound levels. The valet costs $6 although I thought the time frame to retrieve my vehicle was a little excessive. The popcorn was delicious, it was flavored with truffle oil and truffle salt which made it taste almost too delicious, be careful to not eat too much. We tried the Charcuterie which was perfect for two but might be a stretch for 4 people, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys some unique cured meats and tasty cheeses. The Sweet potato bisque was creamy and smooth served at the perfect temperature. The main course Duck Duck Goose was also very tasty although I felt like there could have been a little more umph to the dish. Everything was cooked perfectly and the meat was tender but I felt like there needed to be some seasoning to the meat to really make this dish shine. The lady ordered Sea Bass which in all way shapes and form was the standout dish I have tried in a while. A real nice cut of fish both in quality and size. Served on top of a bed of what I believed to be Israeli couscous, I love this couscous because it is much large than the couscous that is served in middle eastern dishes. I'm not sure what kind of sauce was on top of the fish and couscous but it was incredibly savory. The service was by far the best service I have had in quite sometime. I really appreciated the attention to detail and understanding the server had of the menu. The view of the city from this place is pretty cool and certainly adds to the experience. Now experiences like these come with a price, so was it spendy? For sure, but it was totally worth it. I'll come back for a cocktail and when there is a special occasion I would certainly enjoy a dinner here.
(4)
Shaun E.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD GOOOOOOOOOD FOOD! Man this place is exactly why it excites me to see Pittsburgh grow as both a commmunity as well as a an up and coming city. No wait it is THE city to live. With all the new restaurants this one exemplifies why it is the place to live. Me and my gf went here during restaurant week. We had both the duck and fish cheek appetizer, the chicken stew and poached salmon, and apple crumble and peanut butter ice cream desert. Sooo good. Nothing to complain about. Everything was perfectly cooked. They obviously brought out bread and a tasting dish. Everything you would require from a 5 star restaurant. But in pittsburgh. The wines we tasted were also complementary of the meal. The one thing that did bother me was those damn lights!! Haha they said the incline are connected on the same power grid which dims the lights everytime the incline starts. So weird when your talking and every 2 minutes the lights dim for a couple seconds. Otherwise this is a great place for a date or even to get some nice drinks. This is the place you bring your parents when they visit or just to enjoy the view. Pricey? Yes. But well worth the money.
(5)
Marla K.
I don't do high scale dining often, so I'm very glad the one time that I did I went with this place. It is AMAZING with a capital A. First of all, the restaurant's interior is beautiful. Even if it didn't have the amazing Mt. Washington view, it'd still be gorgeous. It's extremely modern and interesting to look at. The wine list is very extensive. I can't remember exactly what my table got but it was a dry red from California and it was very good. Before they bring your food out you get a palette cleanser and an assortment of breads to choose from. The bread was so rich it was almost like a dessert, but I loved it. They even have a number of different butters and spreads you can try. For dinner, I had the Duck Duck Goose, and it was spectacular. I love duck and don't get to eat it very often. I have to say this was the best I ever had. The one thing I loved in particular about Altius is you get a good portion of food. Some fine dining establishments have great food, but they don't give you very much of it. Believe me, you will be full after you leave here. We didn't have any room for dessert, but I'm sure it would have been as delicious as everything else!
(5)
Tim M.
My wife and I recently had dinner at Altius and we enjoyed it very much. The view of the city is excellent and surprisingly the food was "5-star" quality. Food: I started with the Crab Bisque and was excellent as was the bread they served before the meal. I had the Chilean Sea Bass with couscous. It might not have been the best Sea Bass I've ever had, but was very good. My wife had the Pork Chop...WOW..that was a big pork chop and prepared just perfect. We shared the Peanut Butter (something) for dessert and was sumptuous. Service: When we first walked into this place I thought "oh no, it feels a little "stuffy" but Maria quickly put an end to that. She was so friendly and helpful and just made the evening enjoyable. The combination of the great view over the city, food, service, ambiance, I can only think of giving this place 5 stars.
(5)
Steven L.
Recently went here with my gf to celebrate and had a pleasant surprise. The updated interior, menu, staff, awesome food were all on point and somehow the tab was only around $100 before tip. This included a few vodkas (kettle one) and a few glasses of wine. Short review but long story short this place had good food, better service and was well under what I expected to pay. I will be back again.!
(5)
Elena T.
The food was good and the service excellent!
(4)
Deborah G.
My husband and I went to Altius on a Tuesday night to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We were incredibly impressed with the service and the food. What I particularly loved was the little "gifts" from the chef. The popcorn du jour is a nice touch and the fresh baked bread was great. We had a lovely intermezzo from the chef in the form of a pickled egg with watercress that was divine. We had the butternut and marshmallow bisque to start and I thought it was delicious but my husband found it a bit too sweet. For our entrees, we chose the halibut and the filet mignon. My filet was perfectly prepared and came with wild mushrooms, baby carrots, and fingerling potatoes. I was surprised at how large the portion was. Normally, when you order filet in an upscale restaurant, it's a 6 ounce portion but this steak was 10 ounces! Granted, the entree is $44 bucks but the chef didn't disappoint and I consider it to be worth the money. My husband's halibut was a bit overcooked and dry. The manager cheerfully apologized and switched out the halibut for the Chilean sea bass over lobster couscous that was melt-in-your-mouth amazing! I was also very impressed with our server and her knowledge of the wines that were on the menu. She was spot on with her recommendations to pair with our meals. For our dessert, we shared the Vanilla Bean pot de creme and were glad we did because that dessert was HUGE. It came with a blackberry sorbet and a raspberry gastrique. The sorbet was light and not overly sweet and the gastric was a great accompaniment to the richness of the creme. A cute little touch from the chef was "Happy Anniversary" written across the top of the dish. Finally, the chef sent little bags of house-made cookies to go home with us. The view, by the way, is amazing! One caveat about Altius - it's expensive. Dinner for two with dessert (on the house because it was our anniversary) was $210 with tip. However, if you need a splurge and a reason to dress up and be pampered, Altius is the place to go. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Kent S.
Altius was so good the first visit I just had to go back again. I started with crab bisque and charcuterie , bisque was by far the best I've ever had , the charcuterie was as expected.... Fantastic . For main course ordered aged bone in ribeye with carrots & purple potatoes , the steak was mouthwatering and absolutely delicious ...carrots were crisp and juicy , purple potatoes were like I've never had , fluffy & full of flavor . For desert was peanut butter cup and my tastebuds are still dancing ! Great atmosphere , great service , great food and just an overall terrific dining experience for the 2nd time . I will definitely be going back again !
(5)
Nick J.
Have you ever planned a special evening out and had really high expectations? I did and Altius met every single one of them. I'm not kidding either, from the valet, hostess, bartender, assistant server, server, manager and the owner. Just a group of professional people there to make my night complete. They were helpful and the smiles were everywhere. I love that. I need to first mention we sat right on the window on the second floor and that alone was worth the price of admission. Our city is stunning and it was a busy beautiful Saturday night. The meal was awesome. They give you flavored popcorn to nibble on. Three types of homemade bread as well with this flavored butter and red fruity spread. No idea what it was but I could have ate a bucket of it. We had two appetizers a Sea Scallop/cornbread/pork belly w some type of vinaigrette. The other app was a Charcuterie of cured meats and cheeses. My words mean nothing! Look at those pics! The main courses were even better. I had the special of a Glazed peach Tuna w wasabi mashed potatoes and the wife had the Berkshire Pork Chop w a 4 cheese mashed potatoes and bacon wrapped asparagus. I blew it on the pic but it was better than mine. Honestly they were both 10's. :) We finished up with a few deserts. We shared the chocolate mousse and the cheesecake. There was a raspberry ice cream with the cheesecake that I swear I have since dreamt about. All told this is a legit $150 meal for two if you are drinking. The beer and wine lists are too notch. I plan on going back and trying more items. Put Altius on your list for a must dinner. It is well worth it. :)
(5)
Dds M.
Good food, great service, and an amazing view. It may take awhile to get a table next to the window but is very well worth it. Would recommend and would come back to visit.
(5)
Nathan K.
Awesome view! High end cuisine with excellent choices! Wine list is smart but not overly extensive. Service was fantastic and I requested a window seat for our anniversary at the time I made the reservation and they were happy to accommodate! Great food and superb ambiance. It doesn't get much better than Altius for a romantic dinner.
(5)
M K.
I was really disappointed by the food here. Loved the atmosphere and service. I ordered the duck and while it should come medium rare to medium, this duck was still quacking and was like duck sushi. My wife got the shrimp which she enjoyed. An octopus feta taster came out from the kitchen and just tasted like feta. I will probably go back again sometime to give it a second chance. Everyone has a bad day, right?
(3)
Xi Z.
Great view, good food with great friends makes a great Friday night. love the charcuterie plates, duck duck goose, and the peanut cake with banana ice cream dessert
(5)
Lindsey M.
This place is simply lovely, and by far the best restaurant on Grandview Ave. Not only is the view of the city amazing but the food is also delicious, which can't be said about the other fine dining restaurants on the Mount that rely mainly on their location to bring in patrons. We made reservations for a weekday night, and the dining room and bar were full much of the night. The host greeted us warmly at the door and led us to the sunken dining area. The decor is modern and comfortable, and the lighting is muted to allow the light from the city shine through the floor to ceiling windows. Our service was outstanding. The meal starts with popcorn with an espresso dusting that was delicious. It's little things like this that set Altius apart. There was also an amuse-bouche. When I told the waiter all of my food allergies, they changed it completely for me. They also changed my main entree to address my restrictions. I had the chicken, which was moist and delicious. The side of potatoes was a nice addition. My boyfriend had the "Duck-Duck-Goose," which he enjoyed but noted could have been plated differently so that the various flavors weren't lost. The cocktails were okay, but not amazing. Next time we go we plan on sharing a bottle of wine from their extensive list. This is a wonderful place for a romantic or celebratory dinner. I look forward to a second visit.
(4)
Jaye L.
It was such a nice experience! The sea bass is a must try and while I had high hopes for the duck duck goose, it was just alright. The pork chop was huge but didn't taste that good. Still all the other food we got was great, and there's the amazing view!
(5)
Barbara R.
Fabulous. Pittsburgh has been waiting for a chic restaurant on Mt. Washington. Beautiful atmosphere, great farm to table food, fantastic service. Everything is a la carte, a bit pricy for Pittsburgh, but well worth it. Loved it, Loved it, Loved it. Great evening.
(5)
Robin A.
Excellent all around. Food, service and view are fantastic. I had the green tomato salad with burrata and prosciutto, sea bass with lobster cous cous and peanut butter bar dessert. Fabulous! Modern decor and nice wine and cocktail selection. Valet parking available for $6.
I am not one to go to a place like Altius often, especially when the prices are even HIGHER, but I wanted to treat my girlfriend to a Grandview restaurant for Valentine's Day and Altius seemed like our best bet. Reading through some reviews of other Grandview restaurants on here, I had the following thought: restaurants like these can either make the diner feel special and that they're lucky to have you or make the diner feel like the restaurant is special and you're lucky to be there. Altius falls FIRMLY on the former. We slightly overdressed just to be safe but we were made to feel comfortable throughout the entire process. Not a single second of pretense. The valets, the greeters, our waiter, and every person who served our food or filled our water was great. I try to get around to as many places in town as I can. Granted, as already stated, I am not a veteran of PIttsburgh's high-end dining, but I know good food (at least I like to think so!) and this was one of the greatest meals I have had in my life. We were there for Valentine's Day so it was all about the prix fixe menu but there were plenty of options on there and we didn't feel limited at all. I ordered the veal sweetbreads, cauliflower bisque, lamb, and half-baked brownie. She ordered the tuna poke, she crab soup, ribeye and shrimp, and chocolate bombe. We both agreed that I had out-ordered her (a rare win!) but we both couldn't believe some of the flavors we were tasting. And I haven't even mentioned the INCREDIBLE bread and the tasty popcorn, both of which it seemed you could have as much of as you wanted if you so desired. My personal favorite of the night was the herb-crusted lamb. It was served with a cassis whole grain mustard, parsnip puree and green beans. I am a sucker for lamb so I may be easy to please here, but I thought the portion size was right on, it was cooked perfectly, and everything served along with it enhanced the flavor in fun, interesting ways. We were seated in the corner, right next to the windows. It may have been the best seat in the house. I'd like to thank Altius for giving my girlfriend and I a meal we'll never forget and nothing but fond memories of the entire experience. Amazing restaurant.
(5)
Marta N.
Heard good things, but left with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. To start- Valet is $6 up front with cash, but if you pay with a credit card later it jumps to $10. This is ridiculous, they should validate your parking anyways since you pay a premium to eat there. Maybe over a certain amount validate it, but still at least offer it to your patrons. The place is beautiful and they really did a nice job with all the windows and decor, but it was freezing. I asked if they could turn the air down a bit, and the guy responded with " Yes, you should have brought a Shaw" Sorry, host, I didn't realize I was going into the arctic tundra. The drink prices are outrageous, there was no glass of wine under $12. Hell, I think there was only one glass for $12. The rest went up, and up, and up. I appreciate the Stemware they served each varietal in, but cut us some slack. Drinks were $13 and higher. My first drink had a chip in the glass, the swapped it out. Pittsburgh is getting a bit crazy with drink pricing, it is now cheaper to drink in some parts of NYC. We got some appetizers, and while I appreciate the truffle popcorn they give you, it seems out of place, the charcuterie was $16 and it was all toasted bread, not a lot of meat. Crested Duck was the meat, and I know the cost of a thin slice of that stuff, so please put a bit more on the board. Beet terrine was good. Nothing crazy. For dinner I got the pork chop medium rare. It was so overcooked I couldn't cut it. I had to send it back, my friend got the gnocchi, and it was bland. Others got the fish dish and said it was good, not great. My pork was $32. The highlight of the meal were the desserts. Flan and a chocolate torte were very good. All in all I do not think I would return, way spend for what you get. They need to reevaluate their drink pricing. That may be why they don't post pricing online. I tried to look up wine prices, no luck. Only a note that if you wanted to bring your own bottle. It had to be of EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, and that they would charge $25 cooking fee, but would wave it if you bought a bottle of theirs. Silly. I Will spend my money on Avenue B any day of the week.
(3)
C L.
Altius provides excellent food and an outstanding view. The atmosphere is business casual, so no need to dress to the nines. The menu has something for everyone, from seafood to vegetarian dishes. However, if you are lactose intolerant like myself, it is very difficult to indulge in all courses, especially dessert. The most impressive aspect of the food is the mixture of textures. I ordered scallops for my first course, which were soft and flaky, and this was complimented by some crunchy vegetables slices. My main dish was salmon, coated with everything bagel crust. Again, the flaky salmon and the crunchy outer crust was fantastic. Other members of my party claimed that the deserts were delicious, but I only drank coffee. It was surprisingly bold and a fantastic alternative to dessert. The pastry chef sent guests home with a pastry sample that was divine with my coffee the next morning. It is possible to be seated at a table with no view, so if that's important to you, make sure that you request it. Overall, excellent service, food is worth the price, and the view is very romantic.
I took my girlfriend to Altius the first night we got in to Pittsburgh and we absolutely fell in love with it. We sat upstairs by the window and you get an amazing view of the entire city of Pittsburgh. We got there at 530 pm while it was still light outside and got to watch the transformation from day to night and it was truly a sight to see. Our server Sarah was amazing. She was very attentive and personable, and answered all of our questions. Great service. The food was outstanding. They give you complimentary popcorn, the days flavor was truffle! How sick is that?! Truffle popcorn?! Yes please! Then we got a complimentary little bite of seviche w/ cilantro & butternut squash served on a fancy apple slice (don't remember the name of the apple). Then we ordered the oysters appetizer. My girlfriend wanted to get them because she's never tried them before. I'm not crazy about oysters but I let her go with it because it's her birthday weekend...and these oysters were the best I've ever had. They were covered with an amazing salsa verde that was a perfect blend of spice that made the oysters really shine. The main courses were sublime. My girlfriend ordered the salmon with risotto & mushrooms and it was delicious. I ordered the special which was a black grouper encrusted with porcini mushrooms, black garlic risotto and sauteed broccoli rabe. I do don't care for the broccoli rabe but that was literally the only thing from the entire night that I didn't like. For dessert we split the black truffle cheesecake which was spectacular. It was served with pistachio praline, vanilla infused tangerines, and homemade vanilla bean ice cream. Ridiculous!
(5)
David C.
This evening we found a superlative way of YELPING a restaurant. I had the pleasure of having two wonderful lady's as my guest for birthday dinner at Altius Modern Bistro. My Mother in Law's birthday is July 5 and my wife's birthday is May 31. We were seated at a wonderful window table with a sweeping view of Pittsburgh and the three rivers. Mom gave a WOW for the view. We each ordered separate appetizers. Mom rated her She Crab Soup with WOW WOW as she demolished the bowl. My wife had the beet terrine. And I had the Charcuterie which were very unexpectedly delicious. That added two more WOW'S. Mom ordered Rack of Lamb. It was an unusual serving for a traditional older lady who is used to each lamb rib to be sliced and displayed around the plate. She chewed each chop. to the bone with another WOW! My wife had the Berkshire Pork Chop. She added a WOW! I had the Duck, Duck, Goose which had perfectly cooked Duck breast, leg confit and Goose pate mixed with polenta and another WOW was added to the dinner. Being the lady's birthday celebrations each was served a Malted Vanilla Bean Pot de Creme with a candle. Another WOW was entered into the list. Our server, Rob was delightful and very professional. The entire staff was helpful, efficient, professional and gracious. Another WOW! This was an 10 WOW dining experience. Thank you all for making our dining experience wonderful. FYI: We are all senior citizens and we have all traveled the world.
(5)
Dan K.
Took my wife to Altius for her birthday dinner and we were both quite impressed with this eatery. Everything you hope for in a fine dining experience was covered here, in spades. Decor? Modern and elegant. Ambiance? Unbeatable skyline view. Food? Nothing short of spectacular. Service? Felt like we were being waited on by 10 people. We look forward to our next opportunity to dine at Altius, because our first experience there was wonderful!
(5)
Daniel A.
The most rude and unprofessional people I have ever met. We made a reservation two weeks in advance for Mother's Day on OpenTable and specifically asked to have window view and that if they could not do that, they should let us know immediately. They waited till one hour before our reservation to tell us they could not supply window seats, essentially doing so in the hopes that we would be forced to go there without any other recourse as Mother's Day by then would be totally booked. We promptly cancelled our reservation and would never go there again. These people are out for making a buck without any respect to their customers.
(1)
Pamela T.
Came here for brunch. It was a cloudy day, but the view was still incredible. Service was slow, I think they were running understaffed. The fixed price menu is reasonable priced, including a cocktail/fresh juice, an appetizer, and an entree. I had a Virgin Mary, which was refreshing. I started with the fruit sampler, featuring local honey and cheeses. It was beautifully plated, and a great appetizer. For my main I ordered the challah french toast. It was decadent and delicious, but I could have done with a fourth of the serving size! Their coffee was also fantastic.
(4)
Ben R.
So this is my first time here after having been remodeled from the Georgetown inn. I happened to go to the GI right before it closed for a wedding rehearsal dinner. Let's just say it should have been closed years ago. The remodel was very upscale and nice. The views of the city are terrific. Easy valet parking so make sure you have cash. Our server was nice but could have taken a little better care of us. For such an upscale place I expect top notch service. Our party of 6 took over 2.5 hours which was really long. The fresh bread was a nice treat. I had the duck and so did one of our other guests. One thing I hate is when two dishes have different portions. Mine had two less pieces of duck. The skin could have been a lot more crispy. My wife's sea bass was really good and at the same cost as the halibut we choose the bass. Big portion and tender as can be. My biggest complaint were the bugs in thee restaurant. We had bugs all over the window next to us. When your restaurant is built around the views you better make sure the windows are clean and bug free. There were 15 little flying bugs all over the windows and got us thinking we had ticks!!! Yuck But I recognize that's a hard thing to control. Worth a second trip.
(4)
Adam M.
Went with my wife on opening night for our wedding anniversary. They are still working on the exterior and second floor but we were impressed with the main floor and view of the city. The service was above average and there were plenty of people checking up on us during the hour and a half we were there. The food overall was very good. By course, and I'll comment on both items because I did taste my wife's dishes: -starters: the tuna crudo was excellent and full of flavor. "Tongue and cheek" satisfied my beef craving and loved the pierogi. -entrees: "duck duck goose" was enjoyed by my wife and she really loved how well everything tasted together. I continued my beef streak with the filet mignon which was very tender but slightly smoked which it did not need. -sides: tried the pommes frites which were addicting -desert: ordered the chocolate mousse dish which was perfect for our sweet tooth -drinks: I had the seelbach which was a bourbon base-nice and strong, and then had a well paired Cabernet with my steak. My wife had the accomplice which was a well balanced vodka drink. She had the same Cab with her duck and finished with a desert wine which she enjoyed. We are looking forward to going back and trying other menu items and checking out the second floor once everything is finished. Definitely recommend checking it out!
(4)
Jen L.
Outrageously good. Last weekend, my fiance surprised me with reservations to Altius. It was our first time here, and I hope we will return many, many times. Our meal here was the very best meal I've had in Pittsburgh. We pulled up to the restaurant and we were very pleased to find that there was plenty of free on-street parking. As we entered the restaurant, my fiance gave his name and we were promptly seated upstairs. Of the times I've eaten on Mount Washington, the view from Altius has been my absolute favorite. The interior is modern without being busy. We were seated and greeted immediately by someone offering water and truffle oil popcorn. Our server next greeted us. She was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. She brought over our cocktails and amuse bouche. For a starter, we ordered the Tongue in Cheek. It was delicate, cooked to perfection, and the perfect size to split between two. I was very pleased, as was my FI. In addition to a really beautiful balance of flavors, the presentation was also lovely. Bonus points for quality heavy flatware to dine with. We were also given fresh baked bread with both butter and a tomato spread. Pick the focaccia bread and combine the two spreads. You'll thank me later. For our entrees, I ordered the Duck Duck Goose and my fiance ordered the rack of lamb. My duck was cooked perfectly, served over polenta and with pate. It was incredible and the flavors were absolutely perfect together. My fiances lamb was also perfectly cooked, and he absolutely loved his black garlic risotto. We also ordered a side of the parmesan risotto. It was all wonderful. To end the evening, we ordered the stone fruit cobbler and the chocolate mousse. I'm honestly not sure how we managed to eat these, because we had already eaten so much! The fact that we finished these, also, is a testament to how delicious they were. It was a lovely evening, a wonderful meal, and I hope to come back soon.
(5)
Rob K.
Great option on Mount Washington. The food was very good and the fresh baked breads were outstanding. A fantastic view complements an atmosphere not as stuffy as some of its neighbors on Grandview. There are a nice selection of entrees on the menu that would appeal to just about any taste. The prices seemed to reflect the quality of food quite well. Also, we shared the vanilla bean mousse dessert. The dish came with homemade shortbread cookies for dipping - delicious!
(5)
Steven B.
Wonderful! Dined here for a team dinner with work colleagues and loved both the food and the service. Pork chops were delicious and enormous and the desserts were all tasty. Service was impeccable. Even when we absentmindedly added a tip at the end for a large group, they called to say they figured we didn't want double gratuity and would only charge us the original amount!
(5)
Nolan C.
This is one of my favorite spots in Pittsburgh. The environment is young but upscale. The staff is incredibly friendly, and you will not regret any of the drinks you order (the wine list is phenomenal) and the food holds it own. One down fall, on busy nights they do struggle seating you on time.
(5)
Brett H.
Extremely clean and modern restaurant with beautiful views over looking Heinz and downtown Pittsburgh. Can take the trolley up the hill and walk. Came for a work event and the food was delicious. Service was great and staff was very accommodating. Great place for a date or to take a client for dinner.
(5)
Emma D.
I was so excited to go to Altius, but the experience left me lacking. I didn't hate it, but I wasn't blown away. I'll start with the positives. I love that every table starts with a bowl of popcorn. I'm not sure if the flavor changes, but we had this amazing savory chicken and waffles flavoring. The food is great, there is no doubt about it. It's pretty meat heavy, so vegetarians beware. The small plates were all delicious and I had an amazing short rib with mole for an entree. The cocktails were great too, and my party all commented on how great the wine list is. So what went wrong? Call me crazy, but I have certain expectations when I go to a restaurant where most entrees are $40+. One of those expectations? That it's properly, or should I say consistently lit. Due to sharing a power grid with the incline, the lights in the restaurant flickered every time the cars ascended or descended. I think this wouldn't be a problem early in the evening, but we had a late dinner. The lights were during up and down fairly often. it was really noticeable, it was like someone was playing with a dimmer switch. It took asking a few servers until we discovered why--most of them brushed it off, pretended they didn't know, or said "Our building is haunted". I think in the end, I would return here, but not for a full meal. The view is great, but I'd only stay for a drink as to avoid the dizzying light-changes.
(3)
Ryan B.
Fanfreakingtastic! The view of the city, appetizers, dinner and dessert were GREAT! Service was good and the overall experience was just the perfect cap to my long weekend in the Burgh.
(5)
Melissa B.
Great views, updated and modern design, attentive and friendly service but unfortunately food was not so great. Crab soup was good, not great. Sea bass was below average (disappointing) and peanut butter chocolate dessert was good, but not great. We were there for a Monday night work dinner where it was a pre-fix, shortened, 3 course menu. Wish I could give it more stars due to great staff and view but the food was truly 3 stars.
(3)
Jodi H.
LOVE this place--the food is amazing and the view is spectacular! Been there twice and pleased with everything from the drinks to the service to the awesome food!
(5)
Carolyn P.
I have been to Altius twice. The view is superb, the food is good, not great, the service is good. Unfortunately, the selection of wines is poor and terribly overpriced. I enjoy having a good glass or two of full-bodied red wine. It doesn't exist at Altius. No Malbec's, no Cabernets by the glass. So, I ordered a bottle of wine for $68 that the waiter recommended. It was not full bodied as I had requested and had no depth. We didn't return it, but in the future, I'll bring my own bottle of wine.
(3)
Mickey T.
Finally. Finally! A restaurant on Mt. Washington where the food and service match the spectacular views. Quite an upgrade from the old tired Georgetown it replaced. Highly recommended.
(5)
Russ D.
If you've read my review for CURE, this one will sound quite familiar. Made reservations for a birthday dinner 2 weeks in advance for a Sat night. Arrived and were promptly seated at an awesome table. Like CURE, a modern atmosphere. Despite being packed and tables fairly close together, noise level was totally fine. Didn't have to shout, didn't feel others were eavesdropping on your conversation. These 2 restaurants are essentially equal at this point with the exception of the spectacular view at Altius. That being said, I'm there to eat not look. So how about that food/drink? Started w/ the charcuterie plate with local meats and cheeses, as well as fresh bread. The rosemary foccacia was particularly stellar. The accompanying honey/molasses butter and sun-dried tomato olive oil were perfectly complimentary. At some point our server also brought out a gift from the chef that was a 'shooter' of some kind with onion in it. I can't remember any more detail than that - but it was good. For entrees we went w/ Duck, Duck, Goose and a Trout special. Both were fantastic and very well presented. Since it was a birthday dinner, we were provided a complimentary piece of vanilla bean cheesecake - unexpected and a nice touch. So at this point you may be asking - why only 3 stars? Remember I said this place is quite similar to CURE in my opinion? But first - there's that complimentary popcorn people talk of...at one point during the meal our server just came by and swiped it off the table. Didn't ask if we were done with it, or anything of the sort. We just kind of looked at each other as if 'did that just happen?". Now I don't eat popcorn so it wasn't necessarily an issue for me, but my date was enjoying it - until she was no longer able to! Strange. Second - drinks. I got 2 cocktails, my date one cocktail and a glass of wine. Wine is wine. Cocktails - pretty watered down, particularly at $12/pop. Pretty much sugar. Usually 2 cocktails has me feeling pretty good - I couldn't even tell I had a drink at all here. I would have ordered a beer, but $8 for a Great Lakes draft that's $3.50 at Giant Eagle of all places is just a little ridiculous on the mark-up. I'm sure the rent on Grandview is high, but c'mon. Third - while the food was excellent, just as CURE, it's simply over-priced for what you get. Portion size on my dish at least, simply didn't measure up to the price tag. One app, 4 drinks, 2 entrees, 1 shared dessert, and $160 later - and I'm still hungry. Compare that to the $95 I spent at M&P earlier in the week for a Southern Tier tasting with 5 courses and 5 beers where I left uncomfortably stuffed, and well... Fourth - Service. Overall - very friendly and genuine. But the pacing is SLOW. I don't think it was anything on the part of our server, it seems planned that way. It was a Saturday night as well, so it was busy. Were offered more bread and accepted, but it took almost 15 minutes for it to arrive it seemed. 2 hour seatings just aren't my thing. To be fair this is just a personal preference, as some are the complete opposite and are totally content sitting there all night long. One last thing that rubbed me the wrong way. I wanted to try the duck reuben off the bar menu IN ADDITION to my Duck, Duck, Goose entree - yes I eat a lot - but was told I could not do so where I was seated. What's the difference where I am seated?! It's the same kitchen?! One of the only times somebody has told me they DIDN'T want more of my money, and therefore more of a tip. Again, strange. So it's hard to justify, even for special occasions. If somebody wanted to go, I wouldn't turn it down or steer them away, but I wouldn't seek it out either. Just ok.
(3)
Ron E.
Top quality across the board. What you'd expect from a top 3 restaurant in a major city.
Awesome! I took my husband here for his birthday. I made a reservation a couple of weeks in advance via OpenTable. It's cool that they have the people dining on a lower level than those drinking/eating at the bar so everyone has a view of Pittsburgh. It was a clear night so we could see Pittsburgh's beautiful skyline even though we didn't have window seating. You will be stuffed by the time you get your entrees and even more so before you leave with the popcorn and bread to start off before your meals! Nonetheless we ordered the charcuterie to start off with and everything is from local/Amish businesses - delicious and then my husband had the pork chop which was ginormous! and I had the duck which was tenderly cooked, it melted in my mouth with each bite. I wish we had room for dessert because the options looked good but we received a treat to take home from the pastry chef - a piece of toffee bar. Modern vibe which makes Altius standout from the other places on Mt. Washington - a place for something special or a night out on the town! The only downer was that I called the day of to see if they could accommodate two more people and the person on the phone seemed rude about my question but it might have been that there was a lot going on.
(5)
Maren V.
I am usually not a fan of the Mt Washington "fine dining" scene. Overpriced mediocre food with the hopes of a view of the city. Altius, however, was everything you could want in a meal with the added bonus of a fantastic view from any table in the house. My boyfriend and I decided to give it a try for Valentines Day based on the previews reviews and the fact that they had a four course (and then some- which I'll get to below) prix fixe menu for $85 a person- not too bad on a day restaurants can basically charge whatever they want. As soon as we were seated we were given a tasty bite of the truffle popcorn many other reviewers have mentioned and it did not disappoint! I was pleased to see that the prix fixe menu offered at least four options per course (more for some) and all sounded delicious. We ordered a bottle of wine and began the great menu draft of VDay dinner 2015. With so many delicious options we didn't want to order any of the same items, so we went through course by course carefully planning our winning teams. I ended up going with the tuna poke, baby kale salad with butternut squash and smoked bacon dressing, roasted lamb- crusted in mint & served with whole grain mustard sauce/berry compote/green beans/& leek mash, and the "half baked" brownie with cherries and salted caramel sauce. My boyfriend went with the oysters with Tabasco pearls (fun!), watercress salad with brie en croute and light vinaigrette, ribeye and jumbo gulf shrimp served with some delicious tomato horseradish aioli thing along with green beans and potatoes, and a mango/berry chocolate almond bomb. Phew, that was a lot to remember. While we both felt like mine was the winning menu (arms up in victory!), both meals were prepared perfectly and incredibly delicious. The lamb and steak were a perfect medium rare and all the flavors combined to make the perfect bites. In addition to the ridiculous amount of food listed above (all generous portions) we also received an amuse bouche of an edible spoon with chocolate/orange marscapone/strawberry on top, and homemade parker house rolls with seasoned butter and roasted red pepper pesto. Everything about the food was impeccable and even sitting at a table away from the windows we still had a nice view. My only two (very small) gripes were that while the wine was delicious, the cheapest bottle of red was $48. It couldn't hurt to add in one or two options in the $30-40 range. Also, the chairs are a mod style and, while comfortable, did not serve much in the way of a coat rack. I believe there was a coat check but neither of the two hostesses or the maître d who sat us offered it. All in all a great meal and we will definitely be back to try the regular dinner menu and/or the brunch!
(5)
Roger g.
Great food great service had to wait 20 minutes, had an 8:30 got there a little early. Other than that the duck duck was so good, wife had the halibut and that was awesome. Drinks, desert and service were great!!
(5)
Amanda R.
The Duck Duck Goose was perfectly cooked and was excellent. The ambiance was perfect. They have a terrific wine list. The service was impeccable. My only complaint was that the charcuterie board was kind of basic. Overall, a lovely experience.
(4)
Kostas P.
We had heard very good words for this new place on Mt. Washington and sine we were always looking for a place that could provide the great view with a good quality food we decided to give it a shot. We were not disappointed at all! The place is very elegant with a classy, modern ambiance. The stuff is extremely helpful and the food is great as well! I love when restaurants offer bread with the mean and this one does (and the bread is great as well!). The view is phenomenal. We were lucky enough to sit right by the window and we could see the whole city. I think Altius will be there for quiet some time since the combination of service, food and location makes it rather unique. I will be definitely going back to try more of their menu. It is also highly recommended for special occasions (e.g., first date, anniversaries etc.) :)
(5)
Eric S.
Took my girlfriend here for her birthday. It was an overall good experience. I had made reservations a few days in advance and called and asked for a window table (told they could not guarantee it); however, we arrived 10 minutes early and they were able to clear a window table for us. We used the valet service for $6 upfront even though we live within walking distance (didn't want to be walking up those hills in nice clothes). We started off with the charcuterie. It was yummy; however, most of the meats seemed to be saltier than other charcuterie I have had before. I got the Lamb Rack and she got the chicken. The lamb was a little more towards medium than medium rare, and they did not cut the rack up into individual slices (had to get my hands messy cutting the rack apart myself). But it had good flavor. The risotto was good but I could only eat a portion of it because it was just so salty. The chicken was a slightly dry but the glaze (girlfriend asked for it to be on the side which was a good choice as it was delicious but concentrated) helped to add some moisture. The vegetables were fantastic. We ended the meal with the Strawberry Pretzel Cake. OMG!!! Fantastic and a must try! The cocktails were good but nothing to get overly excited about. We would definitely go back!
(4)
Chuck C.
What a great venue! Great pairings, interesting offerings and top notch service. We were a party of a dozen with a plan to celebrate a great convention and decided to visit a local restaurant togethr. Chef Jessica put together a great evening for us, the staff were very attentive and the food offerings had a wide variety. We even toasted the brussel sprouts! Wine list was very nice with many good choices and not overly expensive for the expectations of the reataurant. The view of downtown Pittsburgh and all three rivers is unsurpassed. The evening started with day light and as we progressed through the courses and night time came the lights of downtown livened the atmospere. With the attentive staff, very fine wine and excellent food, I had goose goose duck, it was a night to remember. Then as the cherry on the top of the evening, Chef Jessica came out and thanked us for sharing her dream. What an honor and what an asset for Pittsburgh. With a parting gift of a most tasty triple fudge browny we were off, satisfied and happy to have shared at such a nice place.
(5)
Tom M.
Food was good. A bit overpriced but good quality. Biggest gripe for us was management. The head honcho (manager) was a bit pompous, told us right off that he couldn't guarantee us a window seat even though we reserved 2 weeks in advance. Fine, but seems to me they could've handled that better esp considering we were seated in pretty much the opposite location... Nowhere near a window. Also waited past reservation time for a table, and were given a defensive response when we politely asked abt it. The bartender was not very responsive, although it looked like she needed more help. The waiter was excellent. Nice guy, personable and quite knowledgeable. We won't be back any time soon.
(3)
Christina W.
I am visiting Pittsburgh so don't know anything about the area. A friend found a listing for this fairly new place so we thought we'd give it a try. The atmosphere was great - everything was clean and the view of the city and river awesome! Watching a storm roll through from that vantage point was fun. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about their food and wine menus. We had the tongue starter - neither of us had ever tried tongue. I was pleasantly surprised it was so good. The chef sent us a small sample of another starter - another pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, I can't remember what it was called but it was delicious. Some sort of chicken salad in a small tart-type crust. Yum! I had the pork chop and it nearly melted in my mouth - couldn't have asked for better. If I'm ever back in Pittsburgh, this place will be on my list again!
(5)
Luke K.
I go to a lot of business dinners and am from Chicago, so I've been to many fine restaurants. I can easily say that this is the best meal I've ever had - to date. We started with the cocktails - i got the Clover Club - a bit fruitier than i expected, but mostly because they were using real ingredients. We also had the charcuterie appetizer - out of bounds, order two, you'll be happy you did. We had 7 people so we ordered 3 - all of which were swiftly decimated. I ordered the "tongue 'n cheek" appetizer, which was really great, but you have to like beef tongue. I also ordered the "Duck, Duck, Goose" - the goose pate portion of this dish alone made my mouth scream with passion - it's that good. I won't mention the baked chocolate mousse because i'm pretty sure it's illegal.
(5)
Rick K.
My wife and I went there last night for our anniversary. The service was first-rate, from start to finish. The wait staff was friendly and helpful without ever being obtrusive or (as is sometimes the case in high end restaurants) condescending. The food was delicious, from starters to main courses to dessert. There was a touch too much salt in a couple of the dishes for my taste, but otherwise everything was interesting, fresh, attractively presented, and tasty. The decor was spare, but tasteful. The view is, of course, magnificent. And there isn't really a bad table in the restaurant, upstairs or down. Finally, considering what you get, I think that the pricing is very reasonable. I will definitely go back!
(5)
Slj J.
The restaurant itself is beautiful, modern, and has a great space for private parties. I had the Chardonnay by the glass and unfortunately thought it was overpriced for such a brassy finish. I was excited for the green gazpacho and the presentation was fantastic, but I was confused by the addition of minced almonds which kind of texturally ruined an otherwise extremely promising starter with a nice kick. The texture confusion continued with the main course in a gnocchi that was gritty, along with it being under seasoned. The flavor profile and presentation were excellent though. Again, overall, nothing was bad, just mediocre. If you're trying to impress a date with food, just go to Isabela up the street. If your date is more into decor, go here. They both have the spectacular view.
(3)
Bobby T.
Great view, of course. That's the easy part. Went on its second night of operation and had a great meal. Service needed work but that's to be expected on day 2. Can't wait to go back again and see how menu changes and how the growing pains have how philly ironed themselves out. Living on the Mt. means having good restaurants is exciting.
(4)
Carlin C.
Finally mount Washington has a restaurant worth going to. I would highly recommend the "duck duck goose" entree. There were some minor things that could be better, but they are still working through Being a new restaurant.
(4)
Maria P.
I wish I could actually rate this place (yelp made me put atleast one star), but after three attempts at making a reservation for New Year's Eve I have given up and decided to go with our back up reservation at Eleven. I called at the beginning of November and they said they only take reservations 30 days in advance - understandable. So, I made a note on my calendar and called on December 1st. But, I was informed that they were still not taking reservations until tomorrow or the next day. Called back today and they said they started taking reservations yesterday (I guess after I called at 3PM?) but they still could only take my name and number and call me back in 24-48 hrs because the girl organizing all the reservations didnt work today and only one person was taking reservations to "keep it simple"...yea, simple for them. I'm not trusting this place with my New Year's Eve reservations if they are giving me thing much of a runaround....maybe next year Altius.
(1)
Richard M.
My Wife and I came to Pittsburgh for the Art Festival and thought we would have dinner at Altius, since we had received a recommendation from a local. The service was very good and we were very impressed with the over all attention; but the food was another story. I ordered the Salmon and Lobster which was excellent and my wife had ordered the Lamb, which arrived over cooked. Our server Cheryl, took the dinner back and 20-25 minutes later (and after I had finished my dinner) the second lamb arrived and it was raw, which again was verified by the server. So now, she took it back and my wife changed her order and waited another 20-25 minutes. I then watch my wife eat her dinner well over an hour and 15-20 minutes after arriving to Altius. It was a terrible experience, when ordering a lamb dinner at $40 bucks it would be nice to have it prepared correctly. You would have thought the entire dinner would have been compted, but no. My wife's dinner was compted but after such an experience, you would have though the management would have stepped up and said "hey guys we blew it" this dinner is on us. That never happened!. We think we have figured out why these things happened. At about the same time all this started to happened, the current Governor of California, Jerry Brown, arrived and it seemed that all attention was directed to him and I think our order was affected; since he had more servers than Mike Tyson had in his hay day. The next time we are in town we will give them another chance; my wife still wants to try the Lamb! Rick & Brenda
(3)
Christine H.
We went here for my birthday celebration and I wasn't disappointed. A great view of the city with contemporary decor (nice change from the stuffiness of other longtime Mt. Washington favorites) From the flavored popcorn to the variety of fresh breads the meal was off to a great start. Everyone in my group enjoyed their starters (baby kale, watercress salad and sea scallop), entrees (chilean sea bass/special, line caught halibut, butternut squash ricotta gnocchi and filet mignon) and the variety and creativeness of the mocktails and cocktails. Our nine year old rated the dinner 100 thumbs up :) Table service was attentive We plan on a return trip!
(5)
Arlene M.
What a wonderful place for a birthday dinner!!! It is really hard to believe that this restaurant was once the former Georgetowne Inn. They have free Wi FI and offer valet parking for $6.00. We knew to expect popcorn as our welcome food. Had to refrain from eating all of it so we could enjoy our meals. I choose the chiliean seabass that comes with saffron Lobster cous cous, brown butter broccolini, and carrot ginger emulsion. My husband opted for the PA Amish chicken breast with corn veloute, purple potato puree, fried green tomato and gold tomato aiul. Before our meal we got to sample a small glass of chilled potato soup. It was very creamy and good. Our waitress brought us a choice of 3 different breads along with accompanying butter or sauce for us to choose from. She was extremely attentive to our needs. Since we had made a reservation we were able to secure a table by the window. I noticed that if you sit down in this area the dress is business casual. Up a couple of stairs is a bar and seating area where dress is fairly casual. When our meals were served they came beautifully arranged My sea bass just seemed to melt in my mouth goodness. My husband's Amish chicken breast also came with a small thigh and leg attached to it. He loved every bite of it. The portions were just right so we decided to order dessert. I ordered the chocolate cake and he ordered the peanut butter bar. Just before the waitress brought them she brought me a birthday chocolate brownie with whipped cream and fruit with "Happy birthday" written on it. It was so good! Had I known this would happen I wouldn't have ordered dessert. However, the chocolate cake did not disappoint. It wasn't a large piece but it came with chocolate sorbet and blueberries which had a zing to it. My husband's peanut butter bar came with a chocolate stick and a caramel bar. He loved every bite of it. While we were dining the owner came around, wished me a happy birthday, and asked how we were enjoying our meal. I told him we were delightfully pleased. The place is well lit so we had good interior views as well as exterior. We settled our bill and as we were preparing to go they gave us a bag with triple chocolate macadamia nuts and sea salts. This restaurant is very pricey but for us since it was a special occasion well worth the money. I most definitely will return when the occasion warrants it.
(5)
Jessica B.
My fiance and I went here for our anniversary, and it's definitely worth the splurge -- maybe from the view alone! Very unique, high-end dishes and lovely service. I honestly cannot think of a more perfect spot for date night!
(4)
Alice M.
A few things stand out about Altius: 1. Altius does a fabulous job with service. They start off with some complimentary spiced popcorn, an amuse bouche, and some bread, and they finish by giving you a mini-dessert to go in a bag. Sometimes the little things count for a lot. 2. The VIEW. If you get seated near the window, count yourself lucky, because it's probably the best view in Pittsburgh. We came on a clear evening and walked around the sleek dining room to take some pictures while we waited. The restaurant extends into the cliffs of Mt. Washington, and it is gorgeous! 3. The Chilean sea bass. This was my favorite dish of the night by far. Beautifully presented, perfectly prepared, melted in your mouth and went well with all of its complements. I will definitely remember this dish for the next time I come back. Given both the food and the views/service, Altius deserves 5 stars. :)
(5)
Jane S.
Came here for date night on a weekday. It was quite busy but we had reservations so were seated quickly. Service here is great- attentive and friendly. You're started off with complimentary gourmet popcorn as well as a bread offering that's probably one of the best I've had in the city! Hard not to fill up first on the bread! We ordered the "duck duck goose" and a seasonal salmon dish as our mains. We skipped the appetizers as we tend to eat smaller portions to begin with, and already had plenty of bread and popcorn! The entrees were delicious and rich. Before our meal arrived, we were also treated to a complimentary amuse-bouche which tasted refreshing and perfect for summer (a halibut ceviche in a pastry shell). We skipped dessert as well since we already had plans to get ice cream elsewhere, but the dessert menu looked fantastic. Prices are on the higher end, but you're most likely paying a bit more for the location/view. We easily managed our meal for under $100 for 2 drinks and 2 entrees and were quite satisfied. Quality over quantity. Would certainly recommend for a special occasion or if you're showing off Pittsburgh to visitors.
(4)
Tim W.
Spectacular food and service matched with a spectacular view! My wife's birthday was coming up and I was trying to think of somewhere new to take her. We had gone to the Georgetowne Inn every Valentine's Day for years as they always ran a special and were the most affordable fine dining option on Grandview. I saw an article about Altius in Pittsburgh Magazine and immediately knew that, that is where I would be taking her. I easily made reservations through the Open Table App and notated that it was my wife's birthday and requested a table at the window if available. My wife had no idea where we were going for her birthday. I just told her to get dressed up and that I would be wearing a suit. Once we started to go up P.J. McArdle Roadway she got excited. She guessed as we past each restaurant on "Restaurant Row" on Grandview Avenue until we pulled up to the valet at Altius. Once inside we were greeted by the hostess and she also greeted my wife with a Happy Birthday as soon as I gave my name. We were about an hour and 15 minutes early for our reservation so we went over and had a seat in the bar area. We started off with drinks. I had "The Point" ($12) It had Absolut Vodka, Strawberries, Basil and Lemonade and my wife had a "Havana 75" ($12). It had Bacardi Superior, St. Germaine, Maraschino Juice, Lime Juice and Bubbly. We went with the Charcuterie plate ($14) as our appetizer. It features house made and local cured meats, Pennsylvania artisanal cheese, grilled breads, cornichons, pickled teardrop peppers, mustard, jam and honeycomb. While waiting for our appetizer we were brought some of that delicious complementary popcorn. It kind of took a while for our drinks and appetizer to arrive but, the place was packed and very busy. The Charcuterie plate was absolutely amazing. The meats and cheeses were just EPIC! About an hour later I settled our bill and we made our way over to the seat to wait to be called for our table for dinner. Twenty minutes later one of the hostesses, Kris came and took us up to our table on the second level. Upon seating us at a table right next to the window she told us who our waiter would be and also told my wife Happy Birthday. A few seconds later, Michael our waiter for the evening came over to tell us about the specials for the evening and also wished my wife a Happy Birthday. He took our drink orders which were the same as we had at the bar downstairs. A few minutes later he was back with our cocktails, a bottle of Nordaq Still water ($3) and more of that amazing popcorn. For entrees I went with the 28 Day Dry Aged Ribeye Special ($56) served with fingerling potatoes and baby carrots and the birthday girl started off with the Baby Greens Salad. ($9) It features pickled carrots, heirloom tomatoes, hot house cucumbers, aged balsamic vinaigrette and chose the Australian Lamb Rack as her entree. ($44) It featured herb crust, veal demi glace, risotto, grilled peach, crumbled gorgonzola, and roasted grapes. A few moments later a waitress came by and offered us a choice of three breads with two different spreads to try. Soon after our entrees came. My wife let me try her Lamb and let me just say that it was amazing! It was so good. My Ribeye was cooked to perfection. It was so tender and juicy it literally melted in my mouth. It was like beef flavored butter!. Once we were done with our meals Michael whisked our plates away to be packed to go so we could have desert. He told the birthday girl to pick any dessert off the menu since it would be on the house. She chose the Peanut Butter Bar (Chocolate flourless cake, peanut praline, peanut butter mousse, candied bacon peanut brittle, frozen banana custard, crème anglaise) It was simply amazing. Another waiter took our popcorn before we could say anything as we wanted to take it home since we had already had some at the bar. I let Michael know and he packed us a fresh full container of popcorn to take with us. Michael's level of service was exceptional the whole evening as he took great care of us and kept my glass full. I think he told my wife Happy Birthday no less than 5 times throughout the evening. Yes Altius is quite expensive as a dinner for two including an appetizer and a couple drinks can easily hit $250 with tax and tip but, the view, level of service and quality of the food warrant that type of price. Hell, even the water was the best I have ever tasted! Dinner here for a special occasion is a must!
(5)
Matthew S.
Altius is one of the nicest places in Pittsburgh. The renovations to the old Georgetown inn are striking. They modernized and I like the new look. The view is still amazing. Service was outstanding. Very attentive. Good was fantastic. Had the sea bass and bone in steak. Both were top notch. Also had a bunch of apps. All great. This is a must visit. Great for a date night.
(5)
Nicole B.
I thought the view would be the pinnacle of the meal. How wrong I was! From start to finish, this could not have been a more perfect evening. We came at the right time - just before sunset, and had time to linger at the top of Mount Washington. We came a few minutes before our reservation and had time to mingle for a moment at the bar, which was well stocked and staffed, with a pleasant atmosphere. The maitre'd seated us on the second floor and by the window. She started us off with a lovely bottle of french white wine from their well-curated collection. We enjoyed the she-crab soup to share, as well as the complimentary bread (they had warm, fresh gluten free bread for my dinner partner) and dill popcorn. The amuse bouche was a spectacular combination of goat cheese and fresh, flavorful peach. For our main course, my partner selected the duck, with a side of risotto, and I chose the vegetables and fresh ravioli. We elected not to order dessert this time (because we were stuffed), though the menu looked wonderful. I could not have imagined a more perfect Pittsburgh location, more well-designed menu, or more lovely service. I was impressed start to finish, and we will absolutely be back. If you are going to spend this kind of money on dinner, make sure you are going somewhere with this much attention to detail. This would be the perfect spot to impress someone thoroughly.
(5)
Amy M.
I live right around the corner from Altius and I was so excited to hear that a new restaurant was coming to the neighborhood. We decided to visit for brunch. At $29, the Prix Fixe brunch was a little more than I usually like to spend but man oh man it was worth it. I think my Crispy Amish Chicken Waffle Sandwich was blessed by sweet baby Jesus himself. The flavors were great, the chicken was juicy and perfect (local meat makes a difference) and the waffle was crispy and delicious! A lot of the restaurants up here depend upon the Mt. Washington view to dazzle diners. They are one trick ponies. But not Altius. Sure, the view is impressive here but the food stood up on it's own. The service was excellent and the decor was also impressive! Can't wait to visit again.
(5)
Tracy N.
You can't go wrong with Altius. It's got the food, the service, the view, and the ambiance. Great for special occasions, business dinners, and to impress friends who are visiting Pittsburgh. I've been a couple of times to Altius and have seen pretty much everything on their menu and it's all great. It's easy for a nice restaurant to be just about the view, but Altius really takes it away with their entrees. The meat dishes are awesome and the special (which is usually fish) is worth ordering every time. Just a note that some dishes come with sides so you may not need to order sides for the table. The service has been impeccable every time. Friendly, fast, and considerate. The view is iconic downtown Pittsburgh, you can see the rivers flow through the gothic buildings of downtown. It's especially beautiful during sunset. If you have someone visiting, seriously this is the place to take them to enjoy a night out!
(5)
Shawn O.
It seems that no Grandview Avenue restaurant can deliver on the perfect four: 1. Great view 2. Good food 3. High level of service 4. Reasonable price I had high hopes that Altius would crack this 4 pronged Fort Knox after learning it is run by the same group as Bistro 19, but alas, it fell short on #3 and #4. 1. The view is killer... Leave it at that and look at the pictures 2. The food, while not mind boggling, surpasses all other options on Mount Washington, so it gets a pass. 3. The service... oh, the service. A maybe it's because we dined at restaurant week, but it was lacking. No one offered to take our coats, we never received the raved about bread service, the wrong table's meals were delivered to our table twice and ours were delivered to another... It just was sub-par for a joint at this price point. 4. The price. While we dined on the restaurant week special, I took note of the main menu. Prices are easily inflated 10-20% over what similarly priced/quality food would be at other PGH locations and a $12 Captain Morgan mixed cocktail... Really? While i was glad we tried it, I had wanted to use this as a special occasion joint Instead, I'll likely be looking elsewhere.
(3)
Kylene W.
My husband and I recently dined here on a whim. No special plans or events. Pure spontaneity!! I've tried a few restaurants here on Grandview Ave and nothing can compare to Altius. This is by far one of my favorite restaurants in the city!! I love the design of the room, from the spectacular view, the comfortable chairs and tables, down to the place mats used. "Chilewich" to be exact. I'm not even going to mention the china they use for the espresso!! OMG, I want! They really thought about their customers when creating a space to experience this level of dining. We can appreciate that!! Once seated, I was immediately mesmerized by the view. Pittsburgh is beautiful. We were taken care of by a young gentleman, good manners, friendly. I don't think I can complain about anything. The customer service was stellar! But if you want to know why, it's because he never crossed or reached across our table while we ate, he never touched the rims of our glasses to fill our cup, he always came back to check on us and offered more wine and water (tap). The servers never touched the rims of our plates. The appetizers and food came out at appropriate times. Everyone who worked there looked like they LOVED their jobs. When you have a restaurant like this, all the minute (not minute ;p ) differences can make or break the experience. Appetizer Charcuterie with artisan cheeses from PA and house made and local cured meat. Comes with lots of fun things like honeycomb, jam, whole grain mustard, pickled veggies, grilled pita and focaccia bread. I love this because the favor combinations are endless and fun! Entree Berkshire pork chop Colorado rack of lamb Both were well seasoned, succulent, juicy, and cooked to perfection, large portions! Bone marrow red wine risotto: buttery, creamy, the red wine gives a slight tang flavor. It's delicious! Dessert Malted vanilla bean Pot de Creme with spiced cider sorbet and raspberry coulis and shortbread cookies. YUM! Limoncello - Sweet yet smooth and warms your soul. Food. The food was excellent! What I loved about this restaurant, is that they are very generous with their portions!!! (Don't you dare change!!) You go to these expensive restaurants expecting lots of food but you get a few bites. Not only that but Altius takes that extra step in making the experience complete. For example, we ordered an espresso. We got an espresso. BUT we got an espresso with a biscotti! Why? Because why wouldn't someone want a biscotti with an espresso? It's like them saying "Thank you for choosing Altius". I'm telling you, it's the little things or maybe I'm a sucker for those little details. 1. Stunning view/ambiance and design 2. Stellar service 3. Delicious food 4. Expensive but not overpriced 5. And little surprises along the way! For all the reasons I've mentioned above, I will always come back!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Shawn O.
It seems that no Grandview Avenue restaurant can deliver on the perfect four: 1. Great view 2. Good food 3. High level of service 4. Reasonable price I had high hopes that Altius would crack this 4 pronged Fort Knox after learning it is run by the same group as Bistro 19, but alas, it fell short on #3 and #4. 1. The view is killer... Leave it at that and look at the pictures 2. The food, while not mind boggling, surpasses all other options on Mount Washington, so it gets a pass. 3. The service... oh, the service. A maybe it's because we dined at restaurant week, but it was lacking. No one offered to take our coats, we never received the raved about bread service, the wrong table's meals were delivered to our table twice and ours were delivered to another... It just was sub-par for a joint at this price point. 4. The price. While we dined on the restaurant week special, I took note of the main menu. Prices are easily inflated 10-20% over what similarly priced/quality food would be at other PGH locations and a $12 Captain Morgan mixed cocktail... Really? While i was glad we tried it, I had wanted to use this as a special occasion joint Instead, I'll likely be looking elsewhere.
(3)Alex D.
I've gotta give this place the full 5 stars. I was fortunate enough to visit for a recent business dinner, and it really is a wonderful place. From the moment you arrive, Altius takes good care of you - the valet is completely (COMPLETELY) reasonable, and they are polite in helping your party inside. Once you enter, the staff are friendly, and the bar is well-stocked, with a very knowledgeable bartender ready to serve you a delicious aperitif or glass of wine. After your drink, you are exported to a nice table which is most likely within eyesight of one of the stunning hilltop views of this lovely city. The food is the real reason to come here, however. No million dollar views can make up for bad food or bad service, and Altius does not disappoint! Our server was extremely attentive and thoughtful, and really did know what "service" means. I shared several items with the table, including their oysters (absolutely fabulous), scallops (divine), and charcuterie plate (delicious). As a dedicated Yelper, I had, of course, checked out the reviews before my visit, and had read about the "Duck, Duck, Goose" entree, which piqued my interest. The dish was perfectly prepared and served at the correct temperature, with just the right amount of panache by our server team, who served the entire table simultaneously and with a well-practiced flourish. The portion was perfectly sized for a regular person, which is a refreshing take on restaurant food these days - I HATE to get heaping platters that are poorly arranged and prepared with mediocre ingredients. . Again, Altius appeared to use high quality ingredients, prepared in a multitude of delicious ways - loved it! To end the meal, I indulged in their peanut butter bar, which was absolutely the right way to end the evening - it is attractive, well assembled, and just the right size to share with another person, making it the perfect dessert. My only "beef" with Altius is their corkage fee, which I consider to be a bit predatory. I realize that establishments need to make up some of their revenue from beverage sales, but the high corkage fee was a bit surprising. It wasn't enough to make me take a star away, though. Overall, a great night, in a beautiful setting, with good friends enjoying great food and drink! Will definitely be back!
(5)Beant G.
Wow. One of the best modern American restaurants I have been to in the Pittsburgh area. Overall an excellent place for a date given well-prepared and flavorful food, a fantastic view of the city and great atmosphere. Ambience: Having been to some of the neighboring restaurants in Mt. Washington, I can comfortably say this place has one of the best views. It is perched a bit higher than LeMont although without the ceiling to floor windows. I was a huge fan of the modern decor, which is a welcome change from LeMont and Monterey Bay next door. Food: Kudos to Chef Jessica! I had the short rib and holy hell was it moist and flavorful. I'm not a big red meat fan overall but I would return for that dish any day. The asparagus on the side was a bit bland and greasy but the risotto made up for it. The real winner of the night was the Pumpkin Cheesecake- creamy, well-spiced with plenty of pumpkin flavor! Definitely not for the non-pumpkin enthusiast. One of the best desserts I have had in quite some time. Price: Since it was a special event I didn't have to foot the bill, but based on their menu, expect to pay the usual Mt. Washington premium (~$50-75 per person). That being said, on the right occasion, it's well worth it.
(5)Francesca F.
Everything about my experience here was flawless. I was celebrating a graduation and made a note of it on OpenTable - I was consequently congratulated by the host and server (a nice touch). The view is beautiful, which almost goes without saying. Even without a window seat, however, you'll still really enjoy the ambiance. I loved that it was a fine dining atmosphere but without stuffy white tablecloths. The service was top-notch - efficient, polite, friendly - my napkin was even folded when I went to the bathroom. (Speaking of the bathrooms - they're immaculately clean and modern). We liked our tasting and flavored popcorn before our meal and everyone is sent home with a mini dessert in a little paper bag. It's really about the small details here that make it worth the price. Our meals were also flawless - we had a strawberry salad, frites, Berkshire pork chop, ravioli, and a s'mores dessert. The highlight was definitely the pork chop - highly recommend. Only downside is that you basically have to valet your car, which costs $6. Good valet service, however.
(5)Bill L.
As a foodie in Pittsburgh, the restaurant row of Grandview Avenue on Pittsburgh's Mount Washington is not a place I flock to often, but will change with the addition of Altius, which certainly ups the ante, by providing an outstanding dinging experience in addition to the view! The two level restaurant has a comfortable and very modern environment that is stylish, yet showcases the view off Pittsburgh, first and foremost. It may be pricey, but it's worth every penny, including the accoutrements, which include a cone of sea salt and kale popcorn upon seating; an amouse bouche from the chef, and bread service that includes three different awesome breads with two tasty spreads. They oysters and the accompanying sauce were rock star quality. The beet terrine was different from the usual beet salad, and was perfect when sampled with the accompanying goat cheese. Fellow diners raved about the sweet potato soup and "tongue and cheek" appetizers. The sea bass over lobster couscous was excellent, if not quite hot off the stove, and the person in my group who used to operate a restaurant himself, gushed about the pork chop and its accompanying sides. The baked chocolate mousse and a very unique version of pot de crème were two of the best chocolate desserts that I've had in quite some time. The wine list is great with a nice variety of options. Our server, Brenna, was friendly and true pro, who knew the menu well and provided flawless service, even if it felt a tad rushed toward the start of the meal.
(5)Christina E.
The atmosphere, the food, and the service was amazing. No complaints here! Best tiramisu I've ever had!!
(5)Justin J.
This was a wonderful experience and a refreshing one at that. Every restaurant on Mount Washington seems to rest on the laurels of the view, with either service or food suffering. Fortunately, Altius has fixed that. The service is friendly but not too in your face. The food is amazing. We even got a free appetizer (lightly fried zucchini blossom stuffed with goat cheese). We had the "Duck, Duck, Goose", and the salmon. The duck pate was wonderful, and the salmon was poached (I think?) to perfection. Even the bread service was phenomenal (foccacia and molasses stout) and came with great recommendations about which butter goes best on which bread. It is on the pricier side, but it's definitely worth it. Also, for the complainers that focus on the valet... there is more than enough on street parking (for free) after 6pm. We found a spot literally 20 feet from the entrance.
(5)B B.
Had a fantastic brunch (Holiday Celebration) with my girlfriends. We all "shared" so I was able to sample a variety of everything!! Definitely going back. Desserts are beyond delish!!
(5)Dave R.
Experience, Food, Atomsphere = all amazing!! Had a fantastic view to start with. Appetizer, dinner and desserts were excellent, very tasty and we would certainly go back again and again!!!!
(5)Emily M.
Boyfriend and I came here for a special dinner and it exceeded our expectations. The design is beautiful and you can't beat the view! We had a few cocktails (both delicious), shared the charcuterie for a starter, and the duck duck goose and berkshire pork chop for our entrees. SO GOOD! I moved to Pittsburgh from NYC two years ago and this is easily the best meal I've had here so far. (Much prefer it to Cure or Meat and Potatoes for example). Often times fine dining = small portions. This is not the case at Altius. Portion sizes were large enough to feel full upon leaving the restaurant. Service was friendly and prompt. *The popcorn was a nice touch.
(5)Zachary K.
Wanted to try something new and stumbled upon this place searching yelp for the best restaurants in Pittsburgh. Restaurant surpassed my expectations. I used to come here when it was the Georgetown Inn and wow was that place terrible. View was beautiful and I always seemed to go back despite the inexcusable food. I had always thought - if only this place would have decent food it would be one of the best restaurants around - has always had the best view in Pittsburgh in my opinion. Not only have they completely remodeled into a hip/modern restaurant but the food is true to the quality of their sister restaurant, Bistro 19, if not better. Wine list is good too, simple, ranging from approx $30 - $100/bottle. Had the short ribs and they were phenomenal. I almost gave this place a 4, just because I usually think of Alla Famiglia when I think of a true 5 star yelp review, but I thought to myself - hey, I don't have a bad thing to say about this place, why knock it the star. So there, 5 star, but really the 4.5 star average is about right.
(5)Anthony B.
Fantastic place, great location and best view of Pittsburgh. Nice interior , appetizers were great any one you pick
(5)Amarie E.
Fantastic atmosphere and mouth watering food. Absolutely wonderful service with a beautiful view. A Pittsburgh must.
(5)Varuni S.
The food and service was incredibly good! We had pork chop and the lamb and they both were very delicious. Their vanilla ice cream had me licking the plate clean! And to top it all we had the best view in the city.
(5)John A.
This place was fantastic. The food was amazing. The service was superb. Happy to have this gem in our neighborhood.
(5)Omead K.
Great dinner! Its relatively pricey, but worth it!
(5)Sarah L.
Went on 6/27 for our anniversary. The place has a GREAT view - one of the best in Pittsburgh. Very clean, upscale restaurant. The food was impeccable. My husband got the lamb chops and I got the pork - both cooked perfectly! The sides are equally as delicious - he had garlic rice pilaf with the lamb and my pork chops came with amazing skinned/ mashed potatoes. We could tell they were still working through the newness of the restaurant..... there was almost too many people working. That said - the service was outstanding and everyone was so nice. I would highly recommend this place. It's a little more expensive but worth the few extra dollars. Very nice atmosphere - not too stuffy - kinda perfect. Park at the bottom of the Duquesne Incline and ride it up - it's located right next to the incline overlook - so great people-watching during dinner and a great date. I honestly don't know if I have had that good of a meal in a while. It was just splendid. Again - the service was great - clearly the chef is extremely talented and all-in-all I can see this place doing quite well. A great night to celebrate 5 years!
(5)Jonah P.
As good as it gets! Altius has finally combined great food (best lamb I have ever had), good service (offered to change our table for a better view), and awesome ambiance (decor was well done and the view is the view). My only critique is the food was a little on the pricey side but it is worth it. As a Mt. Washington resident, I hope Altius raises the ante for the other restaurants in the neighborhood.
(5)Sheila F.
We went there for anniversary. Service was impeccable by all. We had duck,duck, goose and lamb chops. I am a bit discriminating, when it comes to food. These were two of the finest plates we eaten in a long time. No wait. No fuss. Terrific view and modern decor. I would say 95 out of 100. Why? The wine list contains great wines. However, there is no bottle as I recall under $50. Alcohol does not need to be so pricey! I plan to go again.
(5)Lacy C.
The food is wonderful and the service has improved immensely.
(4)James W.
This was my third time dining at altius and probably my last. First, as others mention, have your cash ready from the start. The valet requires that you pay up-front when dropping your car off. Food: The first time the food was amazing; I was very impressed. The second time the food was 'good.' Last night I had a business dinner here and was very disappointed- even embarrassed at my suggestion. I ordered the same starters and entrees as my first visit. Sadly, this time the food showed no resemblance to the first visit. Totally different taste. Also, the chef had a difficult time with cooking temperatures of our meals. Medium lamb showed up well done and a colleague who ordered rare steak had to send hers back for being cooked well done. The second attempt was just as over-cooked as the first. The marked variance in the food prompted me to ask if this was the same chef as before or someone else. Was she sick? On vacation? Or just overwhelmed? The consistency is not there. Ambiance: The interior is beautiful and, of course, the view is amazing.
(2)Megan H.
I honestly hadn't heard of this place until I went on open table looking to make anniversary reservations. Guess I've fallen off the foodie scene. Anyhow, as a Bistro 19 fan, this place did not disappoint. Of course, the view was amazing and probably worth going just for a drink. The decor was modern and lovely as well. A tiny bit tight on space, but not uncomfortably so. (Side note: you could easily get seated in the bar area when we arrived at 5:15 and again. Around 6:30-45, it was completely empty again... This was Saturday night. So, if you're planning to stop by without a reservation and stay in the bar, it looks like if you do it either early or in the middle of the dinner hour, you're solid.) Speaking of drinks, they were fantastic. Huz had the East India and I had a French 75. We also had the charcuterie, which the husband raved about and he rarely raves. I was stunned as he kept shoveling meat and cheese into his mouth. Typically, I end up eating these sorts of plates by myself while he rants about how the restaurant thinks it's fancy... The popcorn was truffle flavor.... I don't really care for popcorn, but managed to eat most of it.... Delish and a fun touch. I also have no idea what they added to the butter ... salt and a seasoning... it was like crack butter.... For dinner, I had the goose goose duck, which was truly outstanding. I ate all of it. And I rarely eat meat. He had the steak, which didn't do much for me (I'm not much of a steak eater), but he thought it was perfect. And it was beautifully cooked. For dessert, we had chocolate cheesecake. He thought it was amazing. Again, not really my thing (or maybe I was just too full?), but tasty enough. The marinated cherries on the plate were my fave. Actually, I'd have eaten the cherries and the ice cream alone... And they sent us with a delightful little fruit cookie bar thing, so we really didn't need to order dessert. I also had a glass of delish zinfandel (with the duck) and a cappuccino (with dessert). He had a sparkling water with dinner. Total bill before tip was around $150. Completely worth it. Easily the best meal we've had in ages. And, frankly, if you had a single drink, still water, and skipped dessert, you could be close to the 50 pp mark. (Entrees were in the $30 ball park and certainly enough for a meal... ) But, if you're going to splurge, why not?! As noted by some of the other reviews, unlike a lot of fine dining places, the portions were very generous. Service was also near perfect. The server was prompt, polite and helpful. The sommelier was appropriately present and helpful. We thought about a bottle and he didn't bat an eyelash when I decided upon just a glass. The wine list was nicely comprehensive -- a little bit for everyone at a good range of prices. If you've got a special night out coming up, this is the place. Hands down. In the meantime, it gave me a hankering for a night just up the street at Bistro 19!
(5)Jim O.
I loved everything about this place! It is conveniently located right next to the incline overlooking the confluence of the three rivers in Pittsburgh. Great view of the football stadium and of downtown. We started with some cocktails and the creative cocktail menu made it difficult to choose. I settled for an old-fashioned but made with tequila. It was incredible. The menu also left us wanting to try almost everything. I ended up with the pork chop and again was completely satisfied. The waitstaff was attentive but not overbearing and myself and all of my colleagues enjoyed a fantastic dinner and will definitely return next time business brings us to Pittsburgh.
(5)Renee W.
First- we had a reservation for 8:30, and had specifically asked for windows - we were then seated at 8:40, at an awkward table, which did the waitresses no favors (think high end picnic tables). Everyone seemed super disorganized (how does a place this size need 5 hostesses??). We had to flag our waitress down to ask to order our food at 9:00- our food didn't come until 10:15. In between we had two watery cocktails (but expensive). When the food did arrive I expected mouth explosions (after all it took over an hour to cook!)- instead I got a mouth full of salt. The menu was blah so I ordered the asparagus, polenta and risotto. All of which had one main flavor- salt. My friend got the gnocchi-which was less gnocchi and more filler and also really really salty. This restaurant needs to get their service and food together if they hope to survive and call themselves fine dining. I certainly won't be back..
(1)Ron C.
This new restaurant is exceptional. It is totally renovated into a very contemporary sleek restaurant with phenomenal views. The food is superb. The chef provides a complimentary taster. Homemade breads and butters are delicious and creative. The beet appetizer is one of the best apps I have ever eaten. Red and yellow beets layered and bonded with a little gelatin, served with warm goat cheese. Incredible! We were there for our anniversary. The salmon and fillet were prepared perfectly. A complimentary dessert was a special added treat. A very eclectic drink menu. Service was flawless. I highly recommend and will definitely return! This is well needed on Mt Washington and hope they have continued success.
(5)Rachel B.
Very good dinner! I had the gnocchi and my husband had the salmon. Both were excellent dishes. The prices were also very reasonable. Mine was only $22 and his was around $29. The interior is very sleek and trendy but the largest problem we had were the lights. The flicked from very bright to completely turned off very frequently. When I asked our waitress she said they are working on it and it's caused from the incline next door.
(4)Lisa S.
This place was wonderful. Even without the magnificent view from Mt. Washington, it would still be wonderful. Cocktails were delicious and they have a great wine list. We shared an charcuterie plate as an appetizer, then had salads and mains. I had the beet terrine and filet mignon while the hubby had a caesar made with kale and salmon. Dessert was a baked chocolate mousse with banana ice cream that we split. From beginning to end, there was not a misstep. Food was perfect and service fantastic. It is not a weekly destination for us as it is not inexpensive but we will definitely be back.
(5)Jen F.
First time in Pittsburgh and only 2 nights. This restaurant is amazing and the view is spectacular.
(5)Buzz B.
we were visiting Pittsburgh just for the night to see a show. we were recommended this restaurant in advance from a friend from the area. we were given an excellent table on the 2nd floor with a beautiful view. unfortunately even with advanced reservations, table placement is not guaranteed but every table seems to have some view. i guess we were lucky as the weather was terrible and the restaurant was not very busy. we shared quite a bit at our table of 5. charcuterie, sweetbreads, the duck duck goose and the pork chop entree were all stand outs. desserts of the vanilla pot de creme, baked chocolate mouse and the toffee bread pudding also made the rounds. three different food gifts from the chef were a nice touch. side note - i am unfortunately gluten free but was very pleased to find that a large portion of the menu was safe for me and they also offered some of the best gluten free bread ive come across for delivering sauces and perfumed butter. Maria was our fabulous server. professional, attentive, friendly. as others noted valet parking is $6. we were dressed in multiple winter layers, so nice shoes/sweaters fit fine for the ambiance. i would recommend as well as return if ever in Pittsburgh.
(5)Megan D.
Delicious food and cocktails, great service, and an unbeatable view. This is a great addition to Grandview Ave. and I highly recommend to anyone and will return many times in the future.
(5)Eric Z.
My wife and i went for our 18th wedding anniversary. The outside is still under construction and i hope they can liven it up to represent what the inside has to offer. Goodbye dark gloomy Georgetown Inn and Hello fresh new bright modern Altius. You walk into an open airy atmosphere with an immediate view of the three rivers. We arrived early and were immediately seated. We faced the windows and had a great view. The owner stopped over immediately and welcomed us and offer to start us off with a drink. The waitress (Jill P) came shortly and was adorable and bubbly. Made the experience memorable. They provided a complementary unique shooter that was a salsa mix and was fresh. Fresh bread from the bakery was offered and delicious with multiple spreads. We ordered Charcuterie for starters that had many meats and spreads all of which were awesome. I had the prosciutto wrapped veal tenderloin which was cooked perfectly and tender. My wife had the jamison farm lamb rack which again was cooked perfectly and very flavorful. Topped off w a bottle of Hess cab. Desert was a chocolate mousse that we shared and to our surprise had a happy anniversary note in chocolate on the dish and comped. We were stuffed when we left. Ive been eating out way to much recently and this experience tops the list. Top notch new restaurant in Pittsburgh with a great view, great food and great service. Altius did it right!
(5)Jeff S.
The food here was simply amazing. My wife and I do a lot of home cooking so we are very critical of restaurant food in general. As a result of this experience, my we have decided that we are done eating out at cheap places. It is well worth it to save up the money and have a meal like this.
(5)Kimberly R.
I live on Mt Washington and was so excited that someone came in and updated one of the "run down" buildings on Grandview! (hopefully more will follow in the footsteps of Altius!) We went on a double date to the restaurant on a Sunday night. I made a dinner reservation and we got a lovely front view table. Prob didnt need the reservation as the restaurant was not packed. I love what they have done with the space. It is a little modern and very classy! Great for a date or romantic night out! Our server was great! She was very friendly and let us take our time. They bring you popcorn and artisan breads. Yum! The menu is a little different. The food is very artsy and all the presentations are wonderful! I had the beet terrine and it was interesting for sure. Very tasty, with sweet and sour tastes and a little rich from the cheese. I liked it a lot. I also tried the Salmon with lobster for dinner. It was fine, very well cooked and great presentation.....but, it wasnt "mind blowing." I thought everything was good, but not amazing. I am very glad I tried it, as the view is amazing, but for the price I probably wont go back. Wine=very over priced! No one at our table got a cocktail, maybe those were the way to go.....but the wine was expensive! I would say I would give the restaurant 4 stars if they could offer nice wines without breaking the bank!
(3)Chris D.
Start off your meal with a valet for $6, oh you don' t have cash?...that'll be $10 on a card. Things don't appear as advertised? That is apparently the theme. $32 for 'berkshire pork chop' that is listed as $28 on the website menu. The server informed me that it would be cooked 'medium' ( slightly pink) which is perfect. What came out was grey, over cooked. Like it was over cooked and held there for 20 minutes to dry it out on purpose. It truly takes talent to so thoroughly ruin an ingredient like this. Maybe this was just a fluke? Nope, another person at the table also had an identical ruined pork chop. The manager offered to comp desserts for the error which is nice but not a remedy. Another person at the table ordered the rack of lamb..$40+ and it was overcooked. Really... this is unforgivable. Also, the gnocchi. Flavorless and really not a pleasant texture. Apparently the red snapper was delicious. A gentleman behind us was ordering a steak at the time we were leaving...I should have warned him the 'chefs' can't handle cooking food to proper temps. There were some good points to the meal. The bread service was nice, the truffle popcorn was a hit and the desserts were excellent. The appetizers were decent, better than the mains. Service: Needs improvement but was acceptable. Overall the entire experience was painfully slow. Almost a 3.5 hour dinner. Took 25 minutes just to get the checks. Another table also had to inquire about their food after a lengthy wait. Restaurant was not even busy. Suggestion: Go to Altius for a drink and dessert with a view. Want a good meal look elsewhere.
(2)Megan B.
one of the best!! we've found a new favorite! my husband and I had dinner here and were very impressed, from the house made popcorn, to the most delicious desserts, we loved every morsel! the staff and our server were very friendly and attentive the entire evening. the view is spectacular and the decor as well. we will definitely be back!!
(5)Luke K.
I go to a lot of business dinners and am from Chicago, so I've been to many fine restaurants. I can easily say that this is the best meal I've ever had - to date. We started with the cocktails - i got the Clover Club - a bit fruitier than i expected, but mostly because they were using real ingredients. We also had the charcuterie appetizer - out of bounds, order two, you'll be happy you did. We had 7 people so we ordered 3 - all of which were swiftly decimated. I ordered the "tongue 'n cheek" appetizer, which was really great, but you have to like beef tongue. I also ordered the "Duck, Duck, Goose" - the goose pate portion of this dish alone made my mouth scream with passion - it's that good. I won't mention the baked chocolate mousse because i'm pretty sure it's illegal.
(5)Rick K.
My wife and I went there last night for our anniversary. The service was first-rate, from start to finish. The wait staff was friendly and helpful without ever being obtrusive or (as is sometimes the case in high end restaurants) condescending. The food was delicious, from starters to main courses to dessert. There was a touch too much salt in a couple of the dishes for my taste, but otherwise everything was interesting, fresh, attractively presented, and tasty. The decor was spare, but tasteful. The view is, of course, magnificent. And there isn't really a bad table in the restaurant, upstairs or down. Finally, considering what you get, I think that the pricing is very reasonable. I will definitely go back!
(5)Slj J.
The restaurant itself is beautiful, modern, and has a great space for private parties. I had the Chardonnay by the glass and unfortunately thought it was overpriced for such a brassy finish. I was excited for the green gazpacho and the presentation was fantastic, but I was confused by the addition of minced almonds which kind of texturally ruined an otherwise extremely promising starter with a nice kick. The texture confusion continued with the main course in a gnocchi that was gritty, along with it being under seasoned. The flavor profile and presentation were excellent though. Again, overall, nothing was bad, just mediocre. If you're trying to impress a date with food, just go to Isabela up the street. If your date is more into decor, go here. They both have the spectacular view.
(3)Bobby T.
Great view, of course. That's the easy part. Went on its second night of operation and had a great meal. Service needed work but that's to be expected on day 2. Can't wait to go back again and see how menu changes and how the growing pains have how philly ironed themselves out. Living on the Mt. means having good restaurants is exciting.
(4)Carlin C.
Finally mount Washington has a restaurant worth going to. I would highly recommend the "duck duck goose" entree. There were some minor things that could be better, but they are still working through Being a new restaurant.
(4)Maria P.
I wish I could actually rate this place (yelp made me put atleast one star), but after three attempts at making a reservation for New Year's Eve I have given up and decided to go with our back up reservation at Eleven. I called at the beginning of November and they said they only take reservations 30 days in advance - understandable. So, I made a note on my calendar and called on December 1st. But, I was informed that they were still not taking reservations until tomorrow or the next day. Called back today and they said they started taking reservations yesterday (I guess after I called at 3PM?) but they still could only take my name and number and call me back in 24-48 hrs because the girl organizing all the reservations didnt work today and only one person was taking reservations to "keep it simple"...yea, simple for them. I'm not trusting this place with my New Year's Eve reservations if they are giving me thing much of a runaround....maybe next year Altius.
(1)Arlene M.
What a wonderful place for a birthday dinner!!! It is really hard to believe that this restaurant was once the former Georgetowne Inn. They have free Wi FI and offer valet parking for $6.00. We knew to expect popcorn as our welcome food. Had to refrain from eating all of it so we could enjoy our meals. I choose the chiliean seabass that comes with saffron Lobster cous cous, brown butter broccolini, and carrot ginger emulsion. My husband opted for the PA Amish chicken breast with corn veloute, purple potato puree, fried green tomato and gold tomato aiul. Before our meal we got to sample a small glass of chilled potato soup. It was very creamy and good. Our waitress brought us a choice of 3 different breads along with accompanying butter or sauce for us to choose from. She was extremely attentive to our needs. Since we had made a reservation we were able to secure a table by the window. I noticed that if you sit down in this area the dress is business casual. Up a couple of stairs is a bar and seating area where dress is fairly casual. When our meals were served they came beautifully arranged My sea bass just seemed to melt in my mouth goodness. My husband's Amish chicken breast also came with a small thigh and leg attached to it. He loved every bite of it. The portions were just right so we decided to order dessert. I ordered the chocolate cake and he ordered the peanut butter bar. Just before the waitress brought them she brought me a birthday chocolate brownie with whipped cream and fruit with "Happy birthday" written on it. It was so good! Had I known this would happen I wouldn't have ordered dessert. However, the chocolate cake did not disappoint. It wasn't a large piece but it came with chocolate sorbet and blueberries which had a zing to it. My husband's peanut butter bar came with a chocolate stick and a caramel bar. He loved every bite of it. While we were dining the owner came around, wished me a happy birthday, and asked how we were enjoying our meal. I told him we were delightfully pleased. The place is well lit so we had good interior views as well as exterior. We settled our bill and as we were preparing to go they gave us a bag with triple chocolate macadamia nuts and sea salts. This restaurant is very pricey but for us since it was a special occasion well worth the money. I most definitely will return when the occasion warrants it.
(5)Jessica B.
My fiance and I went here for our anniversary, and it's definitely worth the splurge -- maybe from the view alone! Very unique, high-end dishes and lovely service. I honestly cannot think of a more perfect spot for date night!
(4)Alice M.
A few things stand out about Altius: 1. Altius does a fabulous job with service. They start off with some complimentary spiced popcorn, an amuse bouche, and some bread, and they finish by giving you a mini-dessert to go in a bag. Sometimes the little things count for a lot. 2. The VIEW. If you get seated near the window, count yourself lucky, because it's probably the best view in Pittsburgh. We came on a clear evening and walked around the sleek dining room to take some pictures while we waited. The restaurant extends into the cliffs of Mt. Washington, and it is gorgeous! 3. The Chilean sea bass. This was my favorite dish of the night by far. Beautifully presented, perfectly prepared, melted in your mouth and went well with all of its complements. I will definitely remember this dish for the next time I come back. Given both the food and the views/service, Altius deserves 5 stars. :)
(5)Jane S.
Came here for date night on a weekday. It was quite busy but we had reservations so were seated quickly. Service here is great- attentive and friendly. You're started off with complimentary gourmet popcorn as well as a bread offering that's probably one of the best I've had in the city! Hard not to fill up first on the bread! We ordered the "duck duck goose" and a seasonal salmon dish as our mains. We skipped the appetizers as we tend to eat smaller portions to begin with, and already had plenty of bread and popcorn! The entrees were delicious and rich. Before our meal arrived, we were also treated to a complimentary amuse-bouche which tasted refreshing and perfect for summer (a halibut ceviche in a pastry shell). We skipped dessert as well since we already had plans to get ice cream elsewhere, but the dessert menu looked fantastic. Prices are on the higher end, but you're most likely paying a bit more for the location/view. We easily managed our meal for under $100 for 2 drinks and 2 entrees and were quite satisfied. Quality over quantity. Would certainly recommend for a special occasion or if you're showing off Pittsburgh to visitors.
(4)Tim W.
Spectacular food and service matched with a spectacular view! My wife's birthday was coming up and I was trying to think of somewhere new to take her. We had gone to the Georgetowne Inn every Valentine's Day for years as they always ran a special and were the most affordable fine dining option on Grandview. I saw an article about Altius in Pittsburgh Magazine and immediately knew that, that is where I would be taking her. I easily made reservations through the Open Table App and notated that it was my wife's birthday and requested a table at the window if available. My wife had no idea where we were going for her birthday. I just told her to get dressed up and that I would be wearing a suit. Once we started to go up P.J. McArdle Roadway she got excited. She guessed as we past each restaurant on "Restaurant Row" on Grandview Avenue until we pulled up to the valet at Altius. Once inside we were greeted by the hostess and she also greeted my wife with a Happy Birthday as soon as I gave my name. We were about an hour and 15 minutes early for our reservation so we went over and had a seat in the bar area. We started off with drinks. I had "The Point" ($12) It had Absolut Vodka, Strawberries, Basil and Lemonade and my wife had a "Havana 75" ($12). It had Bacardi Superior, St. Germaine, Maraschino Juice, Lime Juice and Bubbly. We went with the Charcuterie plate ($14) as our appetizer. It features house made and local cured meats, Pennsylvania artisanal cheese, grilled breads, cornichons, pickled teardrop peppers, mustard, jam and honeycomb. While waiting for our appetizer we were brought some of that delicious complementary popcorn. It kind of took a while for our drinks and appetizer to arrive but, the place was packed and very busy. The Charcuterie plate was absolutely amazing. The meats and cheeses were just EPIC! About an hour later I settled our bill and we made our way over to the seat to wait to be called for our table for dinner. Twenty minutes later one of the hostesses, Kris came and took us up to our table on the second level. Upon seating us at a table right next to the window she told us who our waiter would be and also told my wife Happy Birthday. A few seconds later, Michael our waiter for the evening came over to tell us about the specials for the evening and also wished my wife a Happy Birthday. He took our drink orders which were the same as we had at the bar downstairs. A few minutes later he was back with our cocktails, a bottle of Nordaq Still water ($3) and more of that amazing popcorn. For entrees I went with the 28 Day Dry Aged Ribeye Special ($56) served with fingerling potatoes and baby carrots and the birthday girl started off with the Baby Greens Salad. ($9) It features pickled carrots, heirloom tomatoes, hot house cucumbers, aged balsamic vinaigrette and chose the Australian Lamb Rack as her entree. ($44) It featured herb crust, veal demi glace, risotto, grilled peach, crumbled gorgonzola, and roasted grapes. A few moments later a waitress came by and offered us a choice of three breads with two different spreads to try. Soon after our entrees came. My wife let me try her Lamb and let me just say that it was amazing! It was so good. My Ribeye was cooked to perfection. It was so tender and juicy it literally melted in my mouth. It was like beef flavored butter!. Once we were done with our meals Michael whisked our plates away to be packed to go so we could have desert. He told the birthday girl to pick any dessert off the menu since it would be on the house. She chose the Peanut Butter Bar (Chocolate flourless cake, peanut praline, peanut butter mousse, candied bacon peanut brittle, frozen banana custard, crème anglaise) It was simply amazing. Another waiter took our popcorn before we could say anything as we wanted to take it home since we had already had some at the bar. I let Michael know and he packed us a fresh full container of popcorn to take with us. Michael's level of service was exceptional the whole evening as he took great care of us and kept my glass full. I think he told my wife Happy Birthday no less than 5 times throughout the evening. Yes Altius is quite expensive as a dinner for two including an appetizer and a couple drinks can easily hit $250 with tax and tip but, the view, level of service and quality of the food warrant that type of price. Hell, even the water was the best I have ever tasted! Dinner here for a special occasion is a must!
(5)Matthew S.
Altius is one of the nicest places in Pittsburgh. The renovations to the old Georgetown inn are striking. They modernized and I like the new look. The view is still amazing. Service was outstanding. Very attentive. Good was fantastic. Had the sea bass and bone in steak. Both were top notch. Also had a bunch of apps. All great. This is a must visit. Great for a date night.
(5)Nicole B.
I thought the view would be the pinnacle of the meal. How wrong I was! From start to finish, this could not have been a more perfect evening. We came at the right time - just before sunset, and had time to linger at the top of Mount Washington. We came a few minutes before our reservation and had time to mingle for a moment at the bar, which was well stocked and staffed, with a pleasant atmosphere. The maitre'd seated us on the second floor and by the window. She started us off with a lovely bottle of french white wine from their well-curated collection. We enjoyed the she-crab soup to share, as well as the complimentary bread (they had warm, fresh gluten free bread for my dinner partner) and dill popcorn. The amuse bouche was a spectacular combination of goat cheese and fresh, flavorful peach. For our main course, my partner selected the duck, with a side of risotto, and I chose the vegetables and fresh ravioli. We elected not to order dessert this time (because we were stuffed), though the menu looked wonderful. I could not have imagined a more perfect Pittsburgh location, more well-designed menu, or more lovely service. I was impressed start to finish, and we will absolutely be back. If you are going to spend this kind of money on dinner, make sure you are going somewhere with this much attention to detail. This would be the perfect spot to impress someone thoroughly.
(5)Amy M.
I live right around the corner from Altius and I was so excited to hear that a new restaurant was coming to the neighborhood. We decided to visit for brunch. At $29, the Prix Fixe brunch was a little more than I usually like to spend but man oh man it was worth it. I think my Crispy Amish Chicken Waffle Sandwich was blessed by sweet baby Jesus himself. The flavors were great, the chicken was juicy and perfect (local meat makes a difference) and the waffle was crispy and delicious! A lot of the restaurants up here depend upon the Mt. Washington view to dazzle diners. They are one trick ponies. But not Altius. Sure, the view is impressive here but the food stood up on it's own. The service was excellent and the decor was also impressive! Can't wait to visit again.
(5)Tracy N.
You can't go wrong with Altius. It's got the food, the service, the view, and the ambiance. Great for special occasions, business dinners, and to impress friends who are visiting Pittsburgh. I've been a couple of times to Altius and have seen pretty much everything on their menu and it's all great. It's easy for a nice restaurant to be just about the view, but Altius really takes it away with their entrees. The meat dishes are awesome and the special (which is usually fish) is worth ordering every time. Just a note that some dishes come with sides so you may not need to order sides for the table. The service has been impeccable every time. Friendly, fast, and considerate. The view is iconic downtown Pittsburgh, you can see the rivers flow through the gothic buildings of downtown. It's especially beautiful during sunset. If you have someone visiting, seriously this is the place to take them to enjoy a night out!
(5)Kylene W.
My husband and I recently dined here on a whim. No special plans or events. Pure spontaneity!! I've tried a few restaurants here on Grandview Ave and nothing can compare to Altius. This is by far one of my favorite restaurants in the city!! I love the design of the room, from the spectacular view, the comfortable chairs and tables, down to the place mats used. "Chilewich" to be exact. I'm not even going to mention the china they use for the espresso!! OMG, I want! They really thought about their customers when creating a space to experience this level of dining. We can appreciate that!! Once seated, I was immediately mesmerized by the view. Pittsburgh is beautiful. We were taken care of by a young gentleman, good manners, friendly. I don't think I can complain about anything. The customer service was stellar! But if you want to know why, it's because he never crossed or reached across our table while we ate, he never touched the rims of our glasses to fill our cup, he always came back to check on us and offered more wine and water (tap). The servers never touched the rims of our plates. The appetizers and food came out at appropriate times. Everyone who worked there looked like they LOVED their jobs. When you have a restaurant like this, all the minute (not minute ;p ) differences can make or break the experience. Appetizer Charcuterie with artisan cheeses from PA and house made and local cured meat. Comes with lots of fun things like honeycomb, jam, whole grain mustard, pickled veggies, grilled pita and focaccia bread. I love this because the favor combinations are endless and fun! Entree Berkshire pork chop Colorado rack of lamb Both were well seasoned, succulent, juicy, and cooked to perfection, large portions! Bone marrow red wine risotto: buttery, creamy, the red wine gives a slight tang flavor. It's delicious! Dessert Malted vanilla bean Pot de Creme with spiced cider sorbet and raspberry coulis and shortbread cookies. YUM! Limoncello - Sweet yet smooth and warms your soul. Food. The food was excellent! What I loved about this restaurant, is that they are very generous with their portions!!! (Don't you dare change!!) You go to these expensive restaurants expecting lots of food but you get a few bites. Not only that but Altius takes that extra step in making the experience complete. For example, we ordered an espresso. We got an espresso. BUT we got an espresso with a biscotti! Why? Because why wouldn't someone want a biscotti with an espresso? It's like them saying "Thank you for choosing Altius". I'm telling you, it's the little things or maybe I'm a sucker for those little details. 1. Stunning view/ambiance and design 2. Stellar service 3. Delicious food 4. Expensive but not overpriced 5. And little surprises along the way! For all the reasons I've mentioned above, I will always come back!
(5)Amanda M.
A friend suggested Altius for the fourth of July. We made reservations weeks in advance but were not guaranteed a table against the windows. We actually ended up in the second row but the view was still incredible! If you remember Georgetown, you'll be blown away by the transformation. The inside is sleek and modern. It looks like a restaurant that would be located downtown. For the holiday there was a five course menu for $85 a person. Amuse bouche, appetizer, salad/soup, entree and dessert. (I don't consider an amuse bouche an actual course seeing it's one bite. In this case it was a blueberry inside a raspberry with a brie sauce) Each course had 4+ options. I went with the charcuterie plate, salad, 10 oz filet and chocolate Panna cotta. The table was also served a choice of three breads. If given the choice, pick the foccacia as it was incredible. Each course was presented in a timely manner. I really enjoyed the filet though my cut was a little fatty (hubs filet was not). The presentation of each plate was gorgeous especially the desserts. Each course was very good and met my expectations. However, the highlight of the evening was easily the fireworks. Viewing the fireworks from the comfort of our table without having to deal with the Mt. Washington crowd was priceless. Overall, I would go back to Altius for a very good meal with an amazing view.
(4)Rachel C.
I'd been here twice for drinks, but was waiting for the right moment to enjoy the food. The right moment came with a tantlizing restaurant week menu! First, let's talk about ambiance. It's super swank and modern. If you'd ever been to the former restaurant here, The Georgetown Inn, forget about what you remember, because it's nothing like that! Are the views spectacular? YES! Will you be paying for those views? Probably. So the food. First, you are not only treated to complimentary popcorn, but also complimentary bread. A bread offering that is probably one of the best freshly baked bread assortments I may have ever had! I gluttonous, so I had to try all three... the faccacia, 12 grain and potato roll. All were fabulous. Pair it with the sea salt butter and you're really in carb heaven. Simply incredible fresh bread. The tasting menu I choose was $39.14 for a three course dinner First course squash blossom risotto Second course braised Jamison farm lamb orchiette with zucchini, sundried tomatoes, spinach, sheeps milk ricotta Third course half baked brownie The risotto was very good. I think it's hard to not have a bland risotto, and this definitely wasn't. The lamb was to. die. for. Seriously. Cooked medium rare, tender and flavorful. I could have had a little bit more, it was so good! The pasta was good, but there was something missing. I'm not sure if it was the flavoring. It had all the ingredients to be flavorful, and it just wasn't enough for me. Seasoning just didn't do it for me. But was by no means a bad dish. The brownie is every bit as good as it sounds. I hate when people try to pass off chocolate cake as a brownies. This was a legit fudge half baked obey gooey center brownie. Legit. The bite of my friends cheesecake further convinced me that their desserts are incredible! Is the food expensive? Yes, but not excessively priced. But I think what really adds up is the wine or cocktails on top of a meal. Their wine list is impressive, and they offer pairings. But just remember, you'll also be paying for the water. Yep. Bottled or sparkling you're charged for. Not sure if you can ask for tap. But , I think a fancy meal with a lovely view is totally okay once in a while!
(4)Joel C.
Too often a restaurant with spectacular views will fall short on service and cuisine. Not the case here! The experienced and tenured staff are very attentive and professional and the food simply excels! The newly remodeled dining room is almost as spectacular as the views of downtown, rivers and the stadiums. Great for a special occasion or business outing. I will return.
(5)Anna B.
I really tried to find a reason not to give 5 stars, but there simply isn't one! Altius is a wonderful restaurant for a special occasion. They will make you feel like royalty. My husband and I took my mom here for her birthday. I had called ahead and requested a window seat but they let me know they can't reserve a seat but would do their best. When we arrived, there was no window seating available, but who cared because every seat pretty much has a view of the city! Beautiful space. Our waiter seated us and promptly explained that we'd be receiving a savory popcorn with lemon butter and poppy seeds. Delicious! By the time the salt in the popcorn had made us parched, our waiter took our drink orders and brought water. I enjoyed a delicious infused vodka with pineapple and habanero peppers, their special house drink of the evening. My mom ordered a Yuengling (which she'd never had!) and my husband got a mojito. He commented at first that it wasn't correctly made, but after his first sip he admitted it was pretty good. The breads... these alone are a big reason to come here! Before any appetizer or main course you order a server offered us a basket of bread featuring three types: asiago fennel bread, onion chia focaccia and pretzel roll. The spreads were a sweet butter and a finger-licking-good red pepper pesto. We asked for more of the pesto and more bread with our main course, and it was no problem. For an appetizer, we ordered the charcutterie. Amazing. All locally-sourced cheeses and meats with yummy flatbread and buttered focaccia. More bread! While we were devouring the meats and cheeses, our server surprised us with a wonton-wrapped gnocci seafood treat, compliments of the chef. Another delicious bite! For our meals, my mom ordered the halibut, my husband ordered the salmon and I ordered the "Duck, Duck, Goose". They were both very pleased with their choices, and I couldn't have asked for a more delicious dinner. The creamy creamy goose pâté polenta combined perfectly with the melted leek & pea confit. This is a house specialty and I highly recommend you try it once! After dinner, our server surprised us AGAIN with a complimentary cheesecake with "Happy Birthday" scrawled on the plate for my mom's birthday. Such a nice touch, and delicious, too! It was big enough for all three of us to share. One more surprise - well two! As we paid the check, our waiter came back with three individually-packed caramel treats in white sacks for us to take home. Who does that?! This restaurant. Then, my husband, who was quite a fan of the focaccia bread and red pepper pesto, asked the server for a small sack for the bread he had set aside. Our waiter disappeared and returned a minute later with a larger sack packed with focaccia and a container of the pesto! We were feeling very thankful at this point for such a lovely night. I can't recommend Altius enough if you're looking to make yours or someone special's night. The prices are high, but I was expecting that. For the money we spent, the atmosphere, the view, the service, and the food all made it well worth it!!
(5)Christy C.
I've driven past Altius's location numerous times, including when it housed the now-defunct Georgetowne Inn, and I was intrigued at first sight. Altius's exterior appearance is gorgeous... modern, clean, and inviting, all of which are reflected in the interior as well. Upon entering the restaurant, I already knew we were in for a treat. The lighting was low, the hostess was pleasant, and that view... do I really need to say much about it? You'd be hard pressed to find a better view of the city than from Mount Washington, and Altius is perfectly situated, providing panoramic views from the North Side to well past Oakland. When my boyfriend & I arrived, the hostess said our table would be ready shortly and invited us to grab a drink at the bar, which we did. The bartender was attentive, acknowledging us as soon as we sat down, and offered a wine list and cocktail menu. After settling on a glass of Santa Duc Côtes-du-Rhône ($12) and an ice water, Lee and I enjoyed some quiet chitchat as we waited. Within 5 minutes, the hostess was back to let us know our table was ready, and she offered to transfer my glass of wine to our dinner bill at the table (always a bonus point in my book). A gentleman soon appeared with menus and directed us to our table in the lower dining area. I was a tinge disappointed that we didn't get a seat right next to the window, but honestly there is not a bad seat in the house. You can see everything from everywhere! Our waiter quickly arrived and pointed out that all of their wines are selected and paired with particular menu dishes, and I was impressed that he took note of the wine I was drinking and offered to pair a menu item if I so desired. We took a few moments to review the menu and ultimately settled on the charcuterie board ($14) as an appetizer, watercress salad ($9), the Duck Duck Goose for me ($32) and the Chilean Sea Bass for Lee ($36). Prior to receiving the charcuterie board, our waiter brought out an amuse-bouche for each of us which is always a nice touch. The charcuterie soon arrived and was one of the better ones I've had the experience of consuming. There was just enough meat and cheese for us to split, the bread was grilled perfectly, and I'm still salivating over the stone ground beer mustard. Another waiter stopped by with a dish of sundried tomato spread and butter and offered us fresh bread. I highly recommend the rosemary foccacia -- outstanding. When the main courses arrived, I knew we weren't going to be anything short of blown away. The presentation alone was stunning, and after just one bite of the polenta that surrounded the duck & goose, I was hooked. I don't even know if I can explain the flavors... they were just phenomenal. The duck breast was seared to perfection and the rest of the dish came together perfectly. At some point, I managed to sneak a bite of Lee's sea bass and lobster couscous -- WOW. A few minutes later I was stuffed beyond belief and realized I'd have to throw in the cloth napkin and take the rest home. My leftovers were promptly boxed up once we signaled that we were finished eating, and the waiter delivered the check and a house-made toffee bar for each of us to take home. Nice little touch! Altius is unlike anything else I've experienced in Pittsburgh and I would highly recommend it for a romantic dinner with your significant other or classy night out with friends. It is a little on the expensive side, but the service and food are completely worth it.
(5)Elizabeth M.
I wanted to enjoy this place. It has a great view and the decor is really sleek and modern. We came for brunch and I feel like the consensus was that everything we ordered underperformed. I got a hash that wasn't very hash-like...it was more cubed than the typical mash-type hash you expect. The Brussel Sprouts in it were overly salted to the point where I couldn't eat them...I actually chose not to eat most of my plate as I really didn't want to force myself to eat something I wasn't really enjoying. We got a shortbread topped with blueberries and a cinnamon roll as appetizers and they were both good. Other than that, it was a flop. I'd like to give it a second chance and try their dinner menu because from other reviewers, it looks like they fair much better with their dinner selection.
(3)Nicki Z.
Came here on Wednesday and Friday for dinner. (What can I say, it was a big week)! On Wednesday, it was absolutely amazing! I had the Pennsylvania Amish Chicken, which comes with surprisingly delicious blue mashed potatoes. The chicken was tender and juicy and flavorful and delicious. On that day, I sat downstairs. The view was breathtaking. Absolutely breathtaking. Service was also good. The server was well-informed, patient, and attentive. I couldn't wait to come back! On Friday, we called late for a reservation and honestly, it was just 'eh. I had the ravioli, which actually tasted undercooked. It came with tomatoes of varied sizes and had a thin white sauce that I would classify as "just ok." My fiancé ordered the duck and I don't think he was super impressed either. That night we sat upstairs. The view is the same (plus a story), but the ambience wasn't as nice. I don't know why, but I didn't like it nearly as much. Bottom line: Order the chicken, sit downstairs, and make reservations early!
(3)Christine H.
We went here for my birthday celebration and I wasn't disappointed. A great view of the city with contemporary decor (nice change from the stuffiness of other longtime Mt. Washington favorites) From the flavored popcorn to the variety of fresh breads the meal was off to a great start. Everyone in my group enjoyed their starters (baby kale, watercress salad and sea scallop), entrees (chilean sea bass/special, line caught halibut, butternut squash ricotta gnocchi and filet mignon) and the variety and creativeness of the mocktails and cocktails. Our nine year old rated the dinner 100 thumbs up :) Table service was attentive We plan on a return trip!
(5)Kent S.
Altius was so good the first visit I just had to go back again. I started with crab bisque and charcuterie , bisque was by far the best I've ever had , the charcuterie was as expected.... Fantastic . For main course ordered aged bone in ribeye with carrots & purple potatoes , the steak was mouthwatering and absolutely delicious ...carrots were crisp and juicy , purple potatoes were like I've never had , fluffy & full of flavor . For desert was peanut butter cup and my tastebuds are still dancing ! Great atmosphere , great service , great food and just an overall terrific dining experience for the 2nd time . I will definitely be going back again !
(5)Joanne A.
I was very excited to eat here for our first wedding anniversary when I saw the rating for this place and people raving about the great service and food. The beautiful view is a given being on Mt. Washington. The food was great! 4/5. My hubby and I shared the charcuterie bc my hubs is a fan of charcuteries. This was one of the best I've tasted. Barbuzzos in Philly is my fave. I had the sea bass and my hubby ordered the lamb. They were both delicious and cooked perfectly. We shared the apple crisp dessert, which was too sweet and too sour not complementing. That was disappointing because we love our desserts. Cocktails were just ok. Tried the dazed and infused and honey bourbon. I am critical of service when I write my reviews because other than food, it is the only other factor that can set a place apart (IMHO, it is the main factor that makes a difference anywhere, so why not give excellent service?!) When we got there, the host did not even greet us. Ok, no biggie, I like being a wallflower anyway, but why would I want to spend money somewhere where I feel unwanted? Second, not sure if (it's the maitre'd or whoever tells you about your dish) she wasn't nice at all when I asked her to repeat what cheeses were on the plate. Instead of telling me the names, she gave me a look like why would I ask and dismissingly said oh it's just brie. It's like implying this expensive plate is nothing special and I don't need to know. Lastly, my hubby told them it was our anniversary when he made the reservation, but they didn't even acknowledge that. Not even a verbal happy anniversary. Because of this experience, I do not recommend this place. Go to the other Mt. Washington rest that will treat you better. It's disappointing to me probably because I expected it to be great but my experience was not like other yelpers. I wish I had it in me to deduct tips for bad service but my hubby and I are taught to give 20% all the time by our parents. Please fix your customer service here. All I can think of is "rude!"
(2)Megan Z.
Dined at Altius first time for a work networking event. Couldnt have been more pleased with the decor, ambiance, view, service, and food.
(5)Maren V.
I am usually not a fan of the Mt Washington "fine dining" scene. Overpriced mediocre food with the hopes of a view of the city. Altius, however, was everything you could want in a meal with the added bonus of a fantastic view from any table in the house. My boyfriend and I decided to give it a try for Valentines Day based on the previews reviews and the fact that they had a four course (and then some- which I'll get to below) prix fixe menu for $85 a person- not too bad on a day restaurants can basically charge whatever they want. As soon as we were seated we were given a tasty bite of the truffle popcorn many other reviewers have mentioned and it did not disappoint! I was pleased to see that the prix fixe menu offered at least four options per course (more for some) and all sounded delicious. We ordered a bottle of wine and began the great menu draft of VDay dinner 2015. With so many delicious options we didn't want to order any of the same items, so we went through course by course carefully planning our winning teams. I ended up going with the tuna poke, baby kale salad with butternut squash and smoked bacon dressing, roasted lamb- crusted in mint & served with whole grain mustard sauce/berry compote/green beans/& leek mash, and the "half baked" brownie with cherries and salted caramel sauce. My boyfriend went with the oysters with Tabasco pearls (fun!), watercress salad with brie en croute and light vinaigrette, ribeye and jumbo gulf shrimp served with some delicious tomato horseradish aioli thing along with green beans and potatoes, and a mango/berry chocolate almond bomb. Phew, that was a lot to remember. While we both felt like mine was the winning menu (arms up in victory!), both meals were prepared perfectly and incredibly delicious. The lamb and steak were a perfect medium rare and all the flavors combined to make the perfect bites. In addition to the ridiculous amount of food listed above (all generous portions) we also received an amuse bouche of an edible spoon with chocolate/orange marscapone/strawberry on top, and homemade parker house rolls with seasoned butter and roasted red pepper pesto. Everything about the food was impeccable and even sitting at a table away from the windows we still had a nice view. My only two (very small) gripes were that while the wine was delicious, the cheapest bottle of red was $48. It couldn't hurt to add in one or two options in the $30-40 range. Also, the chairs are a mod style and, while comfortable, did not serve much in the way of a coat rack. I believe there was a coat check but neither of the two hostesses or the maître d who sat us offered it. All in all a great meal and we will definitely be back to try the regular dinner menu and/or the brunch!
(5)Roger g.
Great food great service had to wait 20 minutes, had an 8:30 got there a little early. Other than that the duck duck was so good, wife had the halibut and that was awesome. Drinks, desert and service were great!!
(5)Amanda R.
The Duck Duck Goose was perfectly cooked and was excellent. The ambiance was perfect. They have a terrific wine list. The service was impeccable. My only complaint was that the charcuterie board was kind of basic. Overall, a lovely experience.
(4)Kostas P.
We had heard very good words for this new place on Mt. Washington and sine we were always looking for a place that could provide the great view with a good quality food we decided to give it a shot. We were not disappointed at all! The place is very elegant with a classy, modern ambiance. The stuff is extremely helpful and the food is great as well! I love when restaurants offer bread with the mean and this one does (and the bread is great as well!). The view is phenomenal. We were lucky enough to sit right by the window and we could see the whole city. I think Altius will be there for quiet some time since the combination of service, food and location makes it rather unique. I will be definitely going back to try more of their menu. It is also highly recommended for special occasions (e.g., first date, anniversaries etc.) :)
(5)Eric S.
Took my girlfriend here for her birthday. It was an overall good experience. I had made reservations a few days in advance and called and asked for a window table (told they could not guarantee it); however, we arrived 10 minutes early and they were able to clear a window table for us. We used the valet service for $6 upfront even though we live within walking distance (didn't want to be walking up those hills in nice clothes). We started off with the charcuterie. It was yummy; however, most of the meats seemed to be saltier than other charcuterie I have had before. I got the Lamb Rack and she got the chicken. The lamb was a little more towards medium than medium rare, and they did not cut the rack up into individual slices (had to get my hands messy cutting the rack apart myself). But it had good flavor. The risotto was good but I could only eat a portion of it because it was just so salty. The chicken was a slightly dry but the glaze (girlfriend asked for it to be on the side which was a good choice as it was delicious but concentrated) helped to add some moisture. The vegetables were fantastic. We ended the meal with the Strawberry Pretzel Cake. OMG!!! Fantastic and a must try! The cocktails were good but nothing to get overly excited about. We would definitely go back!
(4)Chuck C.
What a great venue! Great pairings, interesting offerings and top notch service. We were a party of a dozen with a plan to celebrate a great convention and decided to visit a local restaurant togethr. Chef Jessica put together a great evening for us, the staff were very attentive and the food offerings had a wide variety. We even toasted the brussel sprouts! Wine list was very nice with many good choices and not overly expensive for the expectations of the reataurant. The view of downtown Pittsburgh and all three rivers is unsurpassed. The evening started with day light and as we progressed through the courses and night time came the lights of downtown livened the atmospere. With the attentive staff, very fine wine and excellent food, I had goose goose duck, it was a night to remember. Then as the cherry on the top of the evening, Chef Jessica came out and thanked us for sharing her dream. What an honor and what an asset for Pittsburgh. With a parting gift of a most tasty triple fudge browny we were off, satisfied and happy to have shared at such a nice place.
(5)Tom M.
Food was good. A bit overpriced but good quality. Biggest gripe for us was management. The head honcho (manager) was a bit pompous, told us right off that he couldn't guarantee us a window seat even though we reserved 2 weeks in advance. Fine, but seems to me they could've handled that better esp considering we were seated in pretty much the opposite location... Nowhere near a window. Also waited past reservation time for a table, and were given a defensive response when we politely asked abt it. The bartender was not very responsive, although it looked like she needed more help. The waiter was excellent. Nice guy, personable and quite knowledgeable. We won't be back any time soon.
(3)Christina W.
I am visiting Pittsburgh so don't know anything about the area. A friend found a listing for this fairly new place so we thought we'd give it a try. The atmosphere was great - everything was clean and the view of the city and river awesome! Watching a storm roll through from that vantage point was fun. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about their food and wine menus. We had the tongue starter - neither of us had ever tried tongue. I was pleasantly surprised it was so good. The chef sent us a small sample of another starter - another pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, I can't remember what it was called but it was delicious. Some sort of chicken salad in a small tart-type crust. Yum! I had the pork chop and it nearly melted in my mouth - couldn't have asked for better. If I'm ever back in Pittsburgh, this place will be on my list again!
(5)Sherri S.
Spectacular views of the city, beautiful ambiance and excellent seasonal menu. It was just me, so I ate at the bar and had a delicious meal! I started with a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and paired that with the Lolla Rossa -- fresh greens with strawberries, ricotta salata, almond tuile, balsamic pearls, orange blossom honey vinaigrette, pink peppercorn ($8). This salad was incredible! So beautiful, fresh, light and layered with so many flavors. Prior to my salad one of the servers brought me a cleansing drink (size of a shot) from the chef. It included fresh strawberries and ginger and was perfect for a summer night. For my main course, the delightful bartender (named Kristy) recommended *Chilean Sea Bass -- saffron lobster couscous, brown butter broccolini, carrot ginger emulsion ($36) and it was incredibly delicious! I avoided the broccolini as my salad was so great and concentrated on the fish and lobster couscous. And then I let Kristy talk me into trying the Peanut Butter Bar -- chocolate flourless cake, peanut praline, peanut butter mousse, candied bacon peanut brittle, frozen banana custard, crème anglaise ($10) and I paired that with a nice Pinor Noir as the dessert is very rich. I couldn't finish the dessert, so I took it home. Something to note is on Sunday's ALTITUDE stops seating at 9 pm. So go early--about 30 mins before sunset so you can enjoy the spectacular views! To make your experience even more special, suggest taking the Duquesne Incline up to the restaurant. A one-way ticket is $2.50 per person and a round-trip ticket will cost you $5 per person. And note they only take cash and exact change at that. ALTIUS is located less than 20 yards from the Incline's observation deck. One more thing to note...they are known for their handmade cocktails! The call the. "Elevated Cocktails"--which I am going back to try because they looked so incredible!! ELEVATED COCKTAILS Mexican War Streets El Mayor Tequila, Green Chartreuse, Basil, Lime Juice 12 The Frick Grey Goose L'Orange, Lillet Blanc, Cranberry Juice 12 Grandview Boyd & Blair Vodka, Grand Marnier, Pineapple 12 Sazerac Le Reviseur VS, Bitters, Absinthe Rinse 12 The Point Absolut Vodka, Strawberries, Basil, Lemonade 12 Honey Bourbon Maker's Mark, St. Germaine, Orange Honey Syrup 12 Havana 75 Bacardi Superior, St. Germaine, Maraschino Juice, Lime Juice, Bubbly 12 Coal Hill Wild Turkey 101, Lemon, Egg White, Scotch Rinse 12 Trés Jolie Absolute Vodka, Cocchi Rosa, Orange Bitters, Chambord, Orange Twist 12 Riverside Mount Gay Rum, Dubonnet, Lime Juice, Peach Bitters, Mint, Ginger Beer 12 Reposado Old Fashioned Hornitos Black Barrel, Amber Agave, Bitters, Orange Twist 12 Negroni Sbagliato Campari, Sweet Vermouth, Bubbly 12 Dazed & Infused Pineapple, Mango, hint of Habanero 12 The Altius Mule Peach Ginger Infused Vodka, Lime Juice, Ginger Beer 12 Jalepeño Mint Cucumber Margarita Fresh Mint, Cucumber, Jalepeño Infusd Tequila, Grand Marnier, Lime Juice 12
(5)Jeremia F.
Dinner here for a special occasion is a must. I really enjoyed every bit of the experience here. We dined here on a Saturday night and we had reservations. Are reservations a must, I do not know but we didn't have to wait for our table which makes me very happy especially when you have reservations. Upon entering I immediately noticed how much attention was paid to the atmosphere. The bar area is very nice and I would like to stop in for a cocktail in the future. Very upscale design, appropriate light and sound levels. The valet costs $6 although I thought the time frame to retrieve my vehicle was a little excessive. The popcorn was delicious, it was flavored with truffle oil and truffle salt which made it taste almost too delicious, be careful to not eat too much. We tried the Charcuterie which was perfect for two but might be a stretch for 4 people, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys some unique cured meats and tasty cheeses. The Sweet potato bisque was creamy and smooth served at the perfect temperature. The main course Duck Duck Goose was also very tasty although I felt like there could have been a little more umph to the dish. Everything was cooked perfectly and the meat was tender but I felt like there needed to be some seasoning to the meat to really make this dish shine. The lady ordered Sea Bass which in all way shapes and form was the standout dish I have tried in a while. A real nice cut of fish both in quality and size. Served on top of a bed of what I believed to be Israeli couscous, I love this couscous because it is much large than the couscous that is served in middle eastern dishes. I'm not sure what kind of sauce was on top of the fish and couscous but it was incredibly savory. The service was by far the best service I have had in quite sometime. I really appreciated the attention to detail and understanding the server had of the menu. The view of the city from this place is pretty cool and certainly adds to the experience. Now experiences like these come with a price, so was it spendy? For sure, but it was totally worth it. I'll come back for a cocktail and when there is a special occasion I would certainly enjoy a dinner here.
(4)Shaun E.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD GOOOOOOOOOD FOOD! Man this place is exactly why it excites me to see Pittsburgh grow as both a commmunity as well as a an up and coming city. No wait it is THE city to live. With all the new restaurants this one exemplifies why it is the place to live. Me and my gf went here during restaurant week. We had both the duck and fish cheek appetizer, the chicken stew and poached salmon, and apple crumble and peanut butter ice cream desert. Sooo good. Nothing to complain about. Everything was perfectly cooked. They obviously brought out bread and a tasting dish. Everything you would require from a 5 star restaurant. But in pittsburgh. The wines we tasted were also complementary of the meal. The one thing that did bother me was those damn lights!! Haha they said the incline are connected on the same power grid which dims the lights everytime the incline starts. So weird when your talking and every 2 minutes the lights dim for a couple seconds. Otherwise this is a great place for a date or even to get some nice drinks. This is the place you bring your parents when they visit or just to enjoy the view. Pricey? Yes. But well worth the money.
(5)Marla K.
I don't do high scale dining often, so I'm very glad the one time that I did I went with this place. It is AMAZING with a capital A. First of all, the restaurant's interior is beautiful. Even if it didn't have the amazing Mt. Washington view, it'd still be gorgeous. It's extremely modern and interesting to look at. The wine list is very extensive. I can't remember exactly what my table got but it was a dry red from California and it was very good. Before they bring your food out you get a palette cleanser and an assortment of breads to choose from. The bread was so rich it was almost like a dessert, but I loved it. They even have a number of different butters and spreads you can try. For dinner, I had the Duck Duck Goose, and it was spectacular. I love duck and don't get to eat it very often. I have to say this was the best I ever had. The one thing I loved in particular about Altius is you get a good portion of food. Some fine dining establishments have great food, but they don't give you very much of it. Believe me, you will be full after you leave here. We didn't have any room for dessert, but I'm sure it would have been as delicious as everything else!
(5)Tim M.
My wife and I recently had dinner at Altius and we enjoyed it very much. The view of the city is excellent and surprisingly the food was "5-star" quality. Food: I started with the Crab Bisque and was excellent as was the bread they served before the meal. I had the Chilean Sea Bass with couscous. It might not have been the best Sea Bass I've ever had, but was very good. My wife had the Pork Chop...WOW..that was a big pork chop and prepared just perfect. We shared the Peanut Butter (something) for dessert and was sumptuous. Service: When we first walked into this place I thought "oh no, it feels a little "stuffy" but Maria quickly put an end to that. She was so friendly and helpful and just made the evening enjoyable. The combination of the great view over the city, food, service, ambiance, I can only think of giving this place 5 stars.
(5)Deborah G.
My husband and I went to Altius on a Tuesday night to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We were incredibly impressed with the service and the food. What I particularly loved was the little "gifts" from the chef. The popcorn du jour is a nice touch and the fresh baked bread was great. We had a lovely intermezzo from the chef in the form of a pickled egg with watercress that was divine. We had the butternut and marshmallow bisque to start and I thought it was delicious but my husband found it a bit too sweet. For our entrees, we chose the halibut and the filet mignon. My filet was perfectly prepared and came with wild mushrooms, baby carrots, and fingerling potatoes. I was surprised at how large the portion was. Normally, when you order filet in an upscale restaurant, it's a 6 ounce portion but this steak was 10 ounces! Granted, the entree is $44 bucks but the chef didn't disappoint and I consider it to be worth the money. My husband's halibut was a bit overcooked and dry. The manager cheerfully apologized and switched out the halibut for the Chilean sea bass over lobster couscous that was melt-in-your-mouth amazing! I was also very impressed with our server and her knowledge of the wines that were on the menu. She was spot on with her recommendations to pair with our meals. For our dessert, we shared the Vanilla Bean pot de creme and were glad we did because that dessert was HUGE. It came with a blackberry sorbet and a raspberry gastrique. The sorbet was light and not overly sweet and the gastric was a great accompaniment to the richness of the creme. A cute little touch from the chef was "Happy Anniversary" written across the top of the dish. Finally, the chef sent little bags of house-made cookies to go home with us. The view, by the way, is amazing! One caveat about Altius - it's expensive. Dinner for two with dessert (on the house because it was our anniversary) was $210 with tip. However, if you need a splurge and a reason to dress up and be pampered, Altius is the place to go. We will definitely be back!
(5)Dds M.
Good food, great service, and an amazing view. It may take awhile to get a table next to the window but is very well worth it. Would recommend and would come back to visit.
(5)Steven L.
Recently went here with my gf to celebrate and had a pleasant surprise. The updated interior, menu, staff, awesome food were all on point and somehow the tab was only around $100 before tip. This included a few vodkas (kettle one) and a few glasses of wine. Short review but long story short this place had good food, better service and was well under what I expected to pay. I will be back again.!
(5)Elena T.
The food was good and the service excellent!
(4)Nick J.
Have you ever planned a special evening out and had really high expectations? I did and Altius met every single one of them. I'm not kidding either, from the valet, hostess, bartender, assistant server, server, manager and the owner. Just a group of professional people there to make my night complete. They were helpful and the smiles were everywhere. I love that. I need to first mention we sat right on the window on the second floor and that alone was worth the price of admission. Our city is stunning and it was a busy beautiful Saturday night. The meal was awesome. They give you flavored popcorn to nibble on. Three types of homemade bread as well with this flavored butter and red fruity spread. No idea what it was but I could have ate a bucket of it. We had two appetizers a Sea Scallop/cornbread/pork belly w some type of vinaigrette. The other app was a Charcuterie of cured meats and cheeses. My words mean nothing! Look at those pics! The main courses were even better. I had the special of a Glazed peach Tuna w wasabi mashed potatoes and the wife had the Berkshire Pork Chop w a 4 cheese mashed potatoes and bacon wrapped asparagus. I blew it on the pic but it was better than mine. Honestly they were both 10's. :) We finished up with a few deserts. We shared the chocolate mousse and the cheesecake. There was a raspberry ice cream with the cheesecake that I swear I have since dreamt about. All told this is a legit $150 meal for two if you are drinking. The beer and wine lists are too notch. I plan on going back and trying more items. Put Altius on your list for a must dinner. It is well worth it. :)
(5)M K.
I was really disappointed by the food here. Loved the atmosphere and service. I ordered the duck and while it should come medium rare to medium, this duck was still quacking and was like duck sushi. My wife got the shrimp which she enjoyed. An octopus feta taster came out from the kitchen and just tasted like feta. I will probably go back again sometime to give it a second chance. Everyone has a bad day, right?
(3)Nathan K.
Awesome view! High end cuisine with excellent choices! Wine list is smart but not overly extensive. Service was fantastic and I requested a window seat for our anniversary at the time I made the reservation and they were happy to accommodate! Great food and superb ambiance. It doesn't get much better than Altius for a romantic dinner.
(5)Xi Z.
Great view, good food with great friends makes a great Friday night. love the charcuterie plates, duck duck goose, and the peanut cake with banana ice cream dessert
(5)Jaye L.
It was such a nice experience! The sea bass is a must try and while I had high hopes for the duck duck goose, it was just alright. The pork chop was huge but didn't taste that good. Still all the other food we got was great, and there's the amazing view!
(5)Lindsey M.
This place is simply lovely, and by far the best restaurant on Grandview Ave. Not only is the view of the city amazing but the food is also delicious, which can't be said about the other fine dining restaurants on the Mount that rely mainly on their location to bring in patrons. We made reservations for a weekday night, and the dining room and bar were full much of the night. The host greeted us warmly at the door and led us to the sunken dining area. The decor is modern and comfortable, and the lighting is muted to allow the light from the city shine through the floor to ceiling windows. Our service was outstanding. The meal starts with popcorn with an espresso dusting that was delicious. It's little things like this that set Altius apart. There was also an amuse-bouche. When I told the waiter all of my food allergies, they changed it completely for me. They also changed my main entree to address my restrictions. I had the chicken, which was moist and delicious. The side of potatoes was a nice addition. My boyfriend had the "Duck-Duck-Goose," which he enjoyed but noted could have been plated differently so that the various flavors weren't lost. The cocktails were okay, but not amazing. Next time we go we plan on sharing a bottle of wine from their extensive list. This is a wonderful place for a romantic or celebratory dinner. I look forward to a second visit.
(4)Barbara R.
Fabulous. Pittsburgh has been waiting for a chic restaurant on Mt. Washington. Beautiful atmosphere, great farm to table food, fantastic service. Everything is a la carte, a bit pricy for Pittsburgh, but well worth it. Loved it, Loved it, Loved it. Great evening.
(5)Robin A.
Excellent all around. Food, service and view are fantastic. I had the green tomato salad with burrata and prosciutto, sea bass with lobster cous cous and peanut butter bar dessert. Fabulous! Modern decor and nice wine and cocktail selection. Valet parking available for $6.
(5)Allyson H.
The food is a 4 and the view is a 5. Be sure to go early to see the city in daylight, but still be there when the sun sets. Make reservations and request a table next to a window. We didn't order an appetizer because there were only two of us and we weren't very hungry. This turned out to be a good decision since they bring you bread, the entrées are large, and we wanted dessert. My girlfriend had the Filet and substituted in Brussel Sprouts, which were delicious. I had the Sea Bass; also delicious.
(4)Steve M.
I am not one to go to a place like Altius often, especially when the prices are even HIGHER, but I wanted to treat my girlfriend to a Grandview restaurant for Valentine's Day and Altius seemed like our best bet. Reading through some reviews of other Grandview restaurants on here, I had the following thought: restaurants like these can either make the diner feel special and that they're lucky to have you or make the diner feel like the restaurant is special and you're lucky to be there. Altius falls FIRMLY on the former. We slightly overdressed just to be safe but we were made to feel comfortable throughout the entire process. Not a single second of pretense. The valets, the greeters, our waiter, and every person who served our food or filled our water was great. I try to get around to as many places in town as I can. Granted, as already stated, I am not a veteran of PIttsburgh's high-end dining, but I know good food (at least I like to think so!) and this was one of the greatest meals I have had in my life. We were there for Valentine's Day so it was all about the prix fixe menu but there were plenty of options on there and we didn't feel limited at all. I ordered the veal sweetbreads, cauliflower bisque, lamb, and half-baked brownie. She ordered the tuna poke, she crab soup, ribeye and shrimp, and chocolate bombe. We both agreed that I had out-ordered her (a rare win!) but we both couldn't believe some of the flavors we were tasting. And I haven't even mentioned the INCREDIBLE bread and the tasty popcorn, both of which it seemed you could have as much of as you wanted if you so desired. My personal favorite of the night was the herb-crusted lamb. It was served with a cassis whole grain mustard, parsnip puree and green beans. I am a sucker for lamb so I may be easy to please here, but I thought the portion size was right on, it was cooked perfectly, and everything served along with it enhanced the flavor in fun, interesting ways. We were seated in the corner, right next to the windows. It may have been the best seat in the house. I'd like to thank Altius for giving my girlfriend and I a meal we'll never forget and nothing but fond memories of the entire experience. Amazing restaurant.
(5)Marta N.
Heard good things, but left with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. To start- Valet is $6 up front with cash, but if you pay with a credit card later it jumps to $10. This is ridiculous, they should validate your parking anyways since you pay a premium to eat there. Maybe over a certain amount validate it, but still at least offer it to your patrons. The place is beautiful and they really did a nice job with all the windows and decor, but it was freezing. I asked if they could turn the air down a bit, and the guy responded with " Yes, you should have brought a Shaw" Sorry, host, I didn't realize I was going into the arctic tundra. The drink prices are outrageous, there was no glass of wine under $12. Hell, I think there was only one glass for $12. The rest went up, and up, and up. I appreciate the Stemware they served each varietal in, but cut us some slack. Drinks were $13 and higher. My first drink had a chip in the glass, the swapped it out. Pittsburgh is getting a bit crazy with drink pricing, it is now cheaper to drink in some parts of NYC. We got some appetizers, and while I appreciate the truffle popcorn they give you, it seems out of place, the charcuterie was $16 and it was all toasted bread, not a lot of meat. Crested Duck was the meat, and I know the cost of a thin slice of that stuff, so please put a bit more on the board. Beet terrine was good. Nothing crazy. For dinner I got the pork chop medium rare. It was so overcooked I couldn't cut it. I had to send it back, my friend got the gnocchi, and it was bland. Others got the fish dish and said it was good, not great. My pork was $32. The highlight of the meal were the desserts. Flan and a chocolate torte were very good. All in all I do not think I would return, way spend for what you get. They need to reevaluate their drink pricing. That may be why they don't post pricing online. I tried to look up wine prices, no luck. Only a note that if you wanted to bring your own bottle. It had to be of EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, and that they would charge $25 cooking fee, but would wave it if you bought a bottle of theirs. Silly. I Will spend my money on Avenue B any day of the week.
(3)C L.
Altius provides excellent food and an outstanding view. The atmosphere is business casual, so no need to dress to the nines. The menu has something for everyone, from seafood to vegetarian dishes. However, if you are lactose intolerant like myself, it is very difficult to indulge in all courses, especially dessert. The most impressive aspect of the food is the mixture of textures. I ordered scallops for my first course, which were soft and flaky, and this was complimented by some crunchy vegetables slices. My main dish was salmon, coated with everything bagel crust. Again, the flaky salmon and the crunchy outer crust was fantastic. Other members of my party claimed that the deserts were delicious, but I only drank coffee. It was surprisingly bold and a fantastic alternative to dessert. The pastry chef sent guests home with a pastry sample that was divine with my coffee the next morning. It is possible to be seated at a table with no view, so if that's important to you, make sure that you request it. Overall, excellent service, food is worth the price, and the view is very romantic.
(4)Michael B.
Sunday brunch ($29 prix fixe for appetizer, entree & cocktail or fresh juice) was steller. The space is gorgeous, the food local and the waitstaff helpful. Our party had: -Beet cured salmon lox - caper creme fraiche, pickled onion, toasts. Just incredible. Cured in house, vibrant, fresh lox. -Local cheese/fruits - PA cheeses, summer fruit, grissini, honeycomb chunk to spread on everything. Holy cow good. -Grilled flatbread - blueberry jam, lemon cream cheese, oatmeal streusel -Eggs Benedict - heavy/traditional, toasted bread, ham, gruyere, poached eggs, hollandaise, fingerling potatoes -Shirred Eggs - really the big winner of the day. Great blend of mushroom and baked eggs. Pennsylvania mushrooms, ricotta salata, fried kale, baby greens salad -Grilled Jamison Farm Lamb Sausage - sweet potato biscuits, velouté (a French prep mother sauce, think bechamel X chicken gravy and you've got the idea), sunny side eggs Everything was delicious. Homemade pastries ($3 extra ea) were bandied about before food and we got a CInnamon Monkey Bread to split. It was a delight. The view is crazy at Altius and the space is a hyper-sleek grey/wood NYC style that Pittsburgh SORELY lacks (Yes, I'm over your banjo, suspenders and handlebar moustache everything PGH). I dug it. House cocktails looked great. I had a fresh pinneapple juice that was lovely and the menu (ie not included) cocktails all read as fun and cool. We had a great time in all and everyone was very impressed. Dishes were just a touch innovative without being clever. I will warn you that we were offered still or sparkling water when we sat down, then, after 2 bottles, offered to be topped off with tap water. We paid $6 for our artisinal water (and our bill was $115ish), so i would be cool if they would just offer plain water from the start. I hold no bones for restaurants offering premium choices (and I often prefer sparkling water with meals), so long as they don't forget the "choice" part.
(5)Mimi K.
We dined at Altius last night. The view was nice.
(2)John S.
I took my girlfriend to Altius the first night we got in to Pittsburgh and we absolutely fell in love with it. We sat upstairs by the window and you get an amazing view of the entire city of Pittsburgh. We got there at 530 pm while it was still light outside and got to watch the transformation from day to night and it was truly a sight to see. Our server Sarah was amazing. She was very attentive and personable, and answered all of our questions. Great service. The food was outstanding. They give you complimentary popcorn, the days flavor was truffle! How sick is that?! Truffle popcorn?! Yes please! Then we got a complimentary little bite of seviche w/ cilantro & butternut squash served on a fancy apple slice (don't remember the name of the apple). Then we ordered the oysters appetizer. My girlfriend wanted to get them because she's never tried them before. I'm not crazy about oysters but I let her go with it because it's her birthday weekend...and these oysters were the best I've ever had. They were covered with an amazing salsa verde that was a perfect blend of spice that made the oysters really shine. The main courses were sublime. My girlfriend ordered the salmon with risotto & mushrooms and it was delicious. I ordered the special which was a black grouper encrusted with porcini mushrooms, black garlic risotto and sauteed broccoli rabe. I do don't care for the broccoli rabe but that was literally the only thing from the entire night that I didn't like. For dessert we split the black truffle cheesecake which was spectacular. It was served with pistachio praline, vanilla infused tangerines, and homemade vanilla bean ice cream. Ridiculous!
(5)David C.
This evening we found a superlative way of YELPING a restaurant. I had the pleasure of having two wonderful lady's as my guest for birthday dinner at Altius Modern Bistro. My Mother in Law's birthday is July 5 and my wife's birthday is May 31. We were seated at a wonderful window table with a sweeping view of Pittsburgh and the three rivers. Mom gave a WOW for the view. We each ordered separate appetizers. Mom rated her She Crab Soup with WOW WOW as she demolished the bowl. My wife had the beet terrine. And I had the Charcuterie which were very unexpectedly delicious. That added two more WOW'S. Mom ordered Rack of Lamb. It was an unusual serving for a traditional older lady who is used to each lamb rib to be sliced and displayed around the plate. She chewed each chop. to the bone with another WOW! My wife had the Berkshire Pork Chop. She added a WOW! I had the Duck, Duck, Goose which had perfectly cooked Duck breast, leg confit and Goose pate mixed with polenta and another WOW was added to the dinner. Being the lady's birthday celebrations each was served a Malted Vanilla Bean Pot de Creme with a candle. Another WOW was entered into the list. Our server, Rob was delightful and very professional. The entire staff was helpful, efficient, professional and gracious. Another WOW! This was an 10 WOW dining experience. Thank you all for making our dining experience wonderful. FYI: We are all senior citizens and we have all traveled the world.
(5)Dan K.
Took my wife to Altius for her birthday dinner and we were both quite impressed with this eatery. Everything you hope for in a fine dining experience was covered here, in spades. Decor? Modern and elegant. Ambiance? Unbeatable skyline view. Food? Nothing short of spectacular. Service? Felt like we were being waited on by 10 people. We look forward to our next opportunity to dine at Altius, because our first experience there was wonderful!
(5)Daniel A.
The most rude and unprofessional people I have ever met. We made a reservation two weeks in advance for Mother's Day on OpenTable and specifically asked to have window view and that if they could not do that, they should let us know immediately. They waited till one hour before our reservation to tell us they could not supply window seats, essentially doing so in the hopes that we would be forced to go there without any other recourse as Mother's Day by then would be totally booked. We promptly cancelled our reservation and would never go there again. These people are out for making a buck without any respect to their customers.
(1)Pamela T.
Came here for brunch. It was a cloudy day, but the view was still incredible. Service was slow, I think they were running understaffed. The fixed price menu is reasonable priced, including a cocktail/fresh juice, an appetizer, and an entree. I had a Virgin Mary, which was refreshing. I started with the fruit sampler, featuring local honey and cheeses. It was beautifully plated, and a great appetizer. For my main I ordered the challah french toast. It was decadent and delicious, but I could have done with a fourth of the serving size! Their coffee was also fantastic.
(4)Ben R.
So this is my first time here after having been remodeled from the Georgetown inn. I happened to go to the GI right before it closed for a wedding rehearsal dinner. Let's just say it should have been closed years ago. The remodel was very upscale and nice. The views of the city are terrific. Easy valet parking so make sure you have cash. Our server was nice but could have taken a little better care of us. For such an upscale place I expect top notch service. Our party of 6 took over 2.5 hours which was really long. The fresh bread was a nice treat. I had the duck and so did one of our other guests. One thing I hate is when two dishes have different portions. Mine had two less pieces of duck. The skin could have been a lot more crispy. My wife's sea bass was really good and at the same cost as the halibut we choose the bass. Big portion and tender as can be. My biggest complaint were the bugs in thee restaurant. We had bugs all over the window next to us. When your restaurant is built around the views you better make sure the windows are clean and bug free. There were 15 little flying bugs all over the windows and got us thinking we had ticks!!! Yuck But I recognize that's a hard thing to control. Worth a second trip.
(4)Adam M.
Went with my wife on opening night for our wedding anniversary. They are still working on the exterior and second floor but we were impressed with the main floor and view of the city. The service was above average and there were plenty of people checking up on us during the hour and a half we were there. The food overall was very good. By course, and I'll comment on both items because I did taste my wife's dishes: -starters: the tuna crudo was excellent and full of flavor. "Tongue and cheek" satisfied my beef craving and loved the pierogi. -entrees: "duck duck goose" was enjoyed by my wife and she really loved how well everything tasted together. I continued my beef streak with the filet mignon which was very tender but slightly smoked which it did not need. -sides: tried the pommes frites which were addicting -desert: ordered the chocolate mousse dish which was perfect for our sweet tooth -drinks: I had the seelbach which was a bourbon base-nice and strong, and then had a well paired Cabernet with my steak. My wife had the accomplice which was a well balanced vodka drink. She had the same Cab with her duck and finished with a desert wine which she enjoyed. We are looking forward to going back and trying other menu items and checking out the second floor once everything is finished. Definitely recommend checking it out!
(4)Rob K.
Great option on Mount Washington. The food was very good and the fresh baked breads were outstanding. A fantastic view complements an atmosphere not as stuffy as some of its neighbors on Grandview. There are a nice selection of entrees on the menu that would appeal to just about any taste. The prices seemed to reflect the quality of food quite well. Also, we shared the vanilla bean mousse dessert. The dish came with homemade shortbread cookies for dipping - delicious!
(5)Jen L.
Outrageously good. Last weekend, my fiance surprised me with reservations to Altius. It was our first time here, and I hope we will return many, many times. Our meal here was the very best meal I've had in Pittsburgh. We pulled up to the restaurant and we were very pleased to find that there was plenty of free on-street parking. As we entered the restaurant, my fiance gave his name and we were promptly seated upstairs. Of the times I've eaten on Mount Washington, the view from Altius has been my absolute favorite. The interior is modern without being busy. We were seated and greeted immediately by someone offering water and truffle oil popcorn. Our server next greeted us. She was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. She brought over our cocktails and amuse bouche. For a starter, we ordered the Tongue in Cheek. It was delicate, cooked to perfection, and the perfect size to split between two. I was very pleased, as was my FI. In addition to a really beautiful balance of flavors, the presentation was also lovely. Bonus points for quality heavy flatware to dine with. We were also given fresh baked bread with both butter and a tomato spread. Pick the focaccia bread and combine the two spreads. You'll thank me later. For our entrees, I ordered the Duck Duck Goose and my fiance ordered the rack of lamb. My duck was cooked perfectly, served over polenta and with pate. It was incredible and the flavors were absolutely perfect together. My fiances lamb was also perfectly cooked, and he absolutely loved his black garlic risotto. We also ordered a side of the parmesan risotto. It was all wonderful. To end the evening, we ordered the stone fruit cobbler and the chocolate mousse. I'm honestly not sure how we managed to eat these, because we had already eaten so much! The fact that we finished these, also, is a testament to how delicious they were. It was a lovely evening, a wonderful meal, and I hope to come back soon.
(5)Steven B.
Wonderful! Dined here for a team dinner with work colleagues and loved both the food and the service. Pork chops were delicious and enormous and the desserts were all tasty. Service was impeccable. Even when we absentmindedly added a tip at the end for a large group, they called to say they figured we didn't want double gratuity and would only charge us the original amount!
(5)Brett H.
Extremely clean and modern restaurant with beautiful views over looking Heinz and downtown Pittsburgh. Can take the trolley up the hill and walk. Came for a work event and the food was delicious. Service was great and staff was very accommodating. Great place for a date or to take a client for dinner.
(5)Nolan C.
This is one of my favorite spots in Pittsburgh. The environment is young but upscale. The staff is incredibly friendly, and you will not regret any of the drinks you order (the wine list is phenomenal) and the food holds it own. One down fall, on busy nights they do struggle seating you on time.
(5)Emma D.
I was so excited to go to Altius, but the experience left me lacking. I didn't hate it, but I wasn't blown away. I'll start with the positives. I love that every table starts with a bowl of popcorn. I'm not sure if the flavor changes, but we had this amazing savory chicken and waffles flavoring. The food is great, there is no doubt about it. It's pretty meat heavy, so vegetarians beware. The small plates were all delicious and I had an amazing short rib with mole for an entree. The cocktails were great too, and my party all commented on how great the wine list is. So what went wrong? Call me crazy, but I have certain expectations when I go to a restaurant where most entrees are $40+. One of those expectations? That it's properly, or should I say consistently lit. Due to sharing a power grid with the incline, the lights in the restaurant flickered every time the cars ascended or descended. I think this wouldn't be a problem early in the evening, but we had a late dinner. The lights were during up and down fairly often. it was really noticeable, it was like someone was playing with a dimmer switch. It took asking a few servers until we discovered why--most of them brushed it off, pretended they didn't know, or said "Our building is haunted". I think in the end, I would return here, but not for a full meal. The view is great, but I'd only stay for a drink as to avoid the dizzying light-changes.
(3)Ryan B.
Fanfreakingtastic! The view of the city, appetizers, dinner and dessert were GREAT! Service was good and the overall experience was just the perfect cap to my long weekend in the Burgh.
(5)Melissa B.
Great views, updated and modern design, attentive and friendly service but unfortunately food was not so great. Crab soup was good, not great. Sea bass was below average (disappointing) and peanut butter chocolate dessert was good, but not great. We were there for a Monday night work dinner where it was a pre-fix, shortened, 3 course menu. Wish I could give it more stars due to great staff and view but the food was truly 3 stars.
(3)Carolyn P.
I have been to Altius twice. The view is superb, the food is good, not great, the service is good. Unfortunately, the selection of wines is poor and terribly overpriced. I enjoy having a good glass or two of full-bodied red wine. It doesn't exist at Altius. No Malbec's, no Cabernets by the glass. So, I ordered a bottle of wine for $68 that the waiter recommended. It was not full bodied as I had requested and had no depth. We didn't return it, but in the future, I'll bring my own bottle of wine.
(3)Jodi H.
LOVE this place--the food is amazing and the view is spectacular! Been there twice and pleased with everything from the drinks to the service to the awesome food!
(5)Mickey T.
Finally. Finally! A restaurant on Mt. Washington where the food and service match the spectacular views. Quite an upgrade from the old tired Georgetown it replaced. Highly recommended.
(5)Russ D.
If you've read my review for CURE, this one will sound quite familiar. Made reservations for a birthday dinner 2 weeks in advance for a Sat night. Arrived and were promptly seated at an awesome table. Like CURE, a modern atmosphere. Despite being packed and tables fairly close together, noise level was totally fine. Didn't have to shout, didn't feel others were eavesdropping on your conversation. These 2 restaurants are essentially equal at this point with the exception of the spectacular view at Altius. That being said, I'm there to eat not look. So how about that food/drink? Started w/ the charcuterie plate with local meats and cheeses, as well as fresh bread. The rosemary foccacia was particularly stellar. The accompanying honey/molasses butter and sun-dried tomato olive oil were perfectly complimentary. At some point our server also brought out a gift from the chef that was a 'shooter' of some kind with onion in it. I can't remember any more detail than that - but it was good. For entrees we went w/ Duck, Duck, Goose and a Trout special. Both were fantastic and very well presented. Since it was a birthday dinner, we were provided a complimentary piece of vanilla bean cheesecake - unexpected and a nice touch. So at this point you may be asking - why only 3 stars? Remember I said this place is quite similar to CURE in my opinion? But first - there's that complimentary popcorn people talk of...at one point during the meal our server just came by and swiped it off the table. Didn't ask if we were done with it, or anything of the sort. We just kind of looked at each other as if 'did that just happen?". Now I don't eat popcorn so it wasn't necessarily an issue for me, but my date was enjoying it - until she was no longer able to! Strange. Second - drinks. I got 2 cocktails, my date one cocktail and a glass of wine. Wine is wine. Cocktails - pretty watered down, particularly at $12/pop. Pretty much sugar. Usually 2 cocktails has me feeling pretty good - I couldn't even tell I had a drink at all here. I would have ordered a beer, but $8 for a Great Lakes draft that's $3.50 at Giant Eagle of all places is just a little ridiculous on the mark-up. I'm sure the rent on Grandview is high, but c'mon. Third - while the food was excellent, just as CURE, it's simply over-priced for what you get. Portion size on my dish at least, simply didn't measure up to the price tag. One app, 4 drinks, 2 entrees, 1 shared dessert, and $160 later - and I'm still hungry. Compare that to the $95 I spent at M&P earlier in the week for a Southern Tier tasting with 5 courses and 5 beers where I left uncomfortably stuffed, and well... Fourth - Service. Overall - very friendly and genuine. But the pacing is SLOW. I don't think it was anything on the part of our server, it seems planned that way. It was a Saturday night as well, so it was busy. Were offered more bread and accepted, but it took almost 15 minutes for it to arrive it seemed. 2 hour seatings just aren't my thing. To be fair this is just a personal preference, as some are the complete opposite and are totally content sitting there all night long. One last thing that rubbed me the wrong way. I wanted to try the duck reuben off the bar menu IN ADDITION to my Duck, Duck, Goose entree - yes I eat a lot - but was told I could not do so where I was seated. What's the difference where I am seated?! It's the same kitchen?! One of the only times somebody has told me they DIDN'T want more of my money, and therefore more of a tip. Again, strange. So it's hard to justify, even for special occasions. If somebody wanted to go, I wouldn't turn it down or steer them away, but I wouldn't seek it out either. Just ok.
(3)Ron E.
Top quality across the board. What you'd expect from a top 3 restaurant in a major city.
(5)Rick X.
I took my wife here for our one year anniversary and it couldn't have been a better choice. Since I don't live in Pittsburgh anymore and it was her first time visiting, I really wanted her to eat atop Mt. Washington. After speaking to my friends (who are hardcore foodies) and reading reviews on tripadviser and yelp, it became clear that Altius was the place to go. Making a reservation was painless and I asked for a window with a view since it was our anniversary. Making no guarantees, they said they would try their best to accommodate. When we arrived, the valet (I think it was $6-8) was polite and quick. Since we arrived about 15 minutes early, our table wasn't ready, but they did seat us in the bar. They had an excellent choice of wines, cocktails and craft beers. I ordered a wheat beer and my wife ordered a cocktail. The bartender gave us some crunchy snacks that were well-flavored. After five or so minutes we were seated along the window (as requested) and it was an AMAZING view. The maitre d' brought over our unfinished drinks as the server was brining their signature flavored popcorn appetizer (complimentary). For appetizers my wife ordered the oysters and I ordered a creative gourmet take on a caesar salad that utilized kale, thick cut bacon pieces, hand shaved fresh cheese, duck egg and fresh anchovies. Everything had proper texture, flavor and the portion sizes were just right. The oysters came with an angel hair, cucumber melody that was slightly sweet. A great compliment to the saltiness of the oyster. For the main course my wife had the duck duck goose, while I ordered lamb and pom frites. All the meat was savory, well-portioned and cooked to proper textures. While it came with sauce on the side, the infused seasoning and quality of the meats made them delicious and well enough to stand on their own. The duck, duck, goose was paired with polenta and kale. We also added a side of grilled asparagus that were done right. My rack of lamb had wonderful sautéed mushrooms, a garlic risotto and carrots to accompany, all of which were top notch. The added pom frites came with ketchup, aioli and a foie gras-based sauce. For desert, we coconut fruit plate and soufflé were outstanding. They were not overly rich or fatty tasting but fresh, light and just the right amount of sweetness to finish a meal. I also had a cup of the house coffee which was rich and flavorful. The service was wonderful. Our server was polite, moved quickly and made excellent wine recommendations. He also made sure our table always had enough free space and our water glassed full. The best touch of all? They surprised us with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate sauce on our dessert plate. We actually ended up staying about 20 minutes past closing (on accident) and not one time did we feel rushed or that the staff was annoyed. Very classy move by Altius. The restroom was five star quality with artistic fixtures, scented candles and real hand towels. The overall decor was modern, minimalistic and clean. It was not old and stuffy like some of the other older restaurants on Mt. Washington. The crowd was relatively younger professionals but not too young. We had a great time and though expensive, it was worth every penny.
(5)Teresa T.
Awesome! I took my husband here for his birthday. I made a reservation a couple of weeks in advance via OpenTable. It's cool that they have the people dining on a lower level than those drinking/eating at the bar so everyone has a view of Pittsburgh. It was a clear night so we could see Pittsburgh's beautiful skyline even though we didn't have window seating. You will be stuffed by the time you get your entrees and even more so before you leave with the popcorn and bread to start off before your meals! Nonetheless we ordered the charcuterie to start off with and everything is from local/Amish businesses - delicious and then my husband had the pork chop which was ginormous! and I had the duck which was tenderly cooked, it melted in my mouth with each bite. I wish we had room for dessert because the options looked good but we received a treat to take home from the pastry chef - a piece of toffee bar. Modern vibe which makes Altius standout from the other places on Mt. Washington - a place for something special or a night out on the town! The only downer was that I called the day of to see if they could accommodate two more people and the person on the phone seemed rude about my question but it might have been that there was a lot going on.
(5)Bill L.
As a foodie in Pittsburgh, the restaurant row of Grandview Avenue on Pittsburgh's Mount Washington is not a place I flock to often, but will change with the addition of Altius, which certainly ups the ante, by providing an outstanding dinging experience in addition to the view! The two level restaurant has a comfortable and very modern environment that is stylish, yet showcases the view off Pittsburgh, first and foremost. It may be pricey, but it's worth every penny, including the accoutrements, which include a cone of sea salt and kale popcorn upon seating; an amouse bouche from the chef, and bread service that includes three different awesome breads with two tasty spreads. They oysters and the accompanying sauce were rock star quality. The beet terrine was different from the usual beet salad, and was perfect when sampled with the accompanying goat cheese. Fellow diners raved about the sweet potato soup and "tongue and cheek" appetizers. The sea bass over lobster couscous was excellent, if not quite hot off the stove, and the person in my group who used to operate a restaurant himself, gushed about the pork chop and its accompanying sides. The baked chocolate mousse and a very unique version of pot de crème were two of the best chocolate desserts that I've had in quite some time. The wine list is great with a nice variety of options. Our server, Brenna, was friendly and true pro, who knew the menu well and provided flawless service, even if it felt a tad rushed toward the start of the meal.
(5)Christina E.
The atmosphere, the food, and the service was amazing. No complaints here! Best tiramisu I've ever had!!
(5)Justin J.
This was a wonderful experience and a refreshing one at that. Every restaurant on Mount Washington seems to rest on the laurels of the view, with either service or food suffering. Fortunately, Altius has fixed that. The service is friendly but not too in your face. The food is amazing. We even got a free appetizer (lightly fried zucchini blossom stuffed with goat cheese). We had the "Duck, Duck, Goose", and the salmon. The duck pate was wonderful, and the salmon was poached (I think?) to perfection. Even the bread service was phenomenal (foccacia and molasses stout) and came with great recommendations about which butter goes best on which bread. It is on the pricier side, but it's definitely worth it. Also, for the complainers that focus on the valet... there is more than enough on street parking (for free) after 6pm. We found a spot literally 20 feet from the entrance.
(5)B B.
Had a fantastic brunch (Holiday Celebration) with my girlfriends. We all "shared" so I was able to sample a variety of everything!! Definitely going back. Desserts are beyond delish!!
(5)Dave R.
Experience, Food, Atomsphere = all amazing!! Had a fantastic view to start with. Appetizer, dinner and desserts were excellent, very tasty and we would certainly go back again and again!!!!
(5)Emily M.
Boyfriend and I came here for a special dinner and it exceeded our expectations. The design is beautiful and you can't beat the view! We had a few cocktails (both delicious), shared the charcuterie for a starter, and the duck duck goose and berkshire pork chop for our entrees. SO GOOD! I moved to Pittsburgh from NYC two years ago and this is easily the best meal I've had here so far. (Much prefer it to Cure or Meat and Potatoes for example). Often times fine dining = small portions. This is not the case at Altius. Portion sizes were large enough to feel full upon leaving the restaurant. Service was friendly and prompt. *The popcorn was a nice touch.
(5)Zachary K.
Wanted to try something new and stumbled upon this place searching yelp for the best restaurants in Pittsburgh. Restaurant surpassed my expectations. I used to come here when it was the Georgetown Inn and wow was that place terrible. View was beautiful and I always seemed to go back despite the inexcusable food. I had always thought - if only this place would have decent food it would be one of the best restaurants around - has always had the best view in Pittsburgh in my opinion. Not only have they completely remodeled into a hip/modern restaurant but the food is true to the quality of their sister restaurant, Bistro 19, if not better. Wine list is good too, simple, ranging from approx $30 - $100/bottle. Had the short ribs and they were phenomenal. I almost gave this place a 4, just because I usually think of Alla Famiglia when I think of a true 5 star yelp review, but I thought to myself - hey, I don't have a bad thing to say about this place, why knock it the star. So there, 5 star, but really the 4.5 star average is about right.
(5)Anthony B.
Fantastic place, great location and best view of Pittsburgh. Nice interior , appetizers were great any one you pick
(5)Varuni S.
The food and service was incredibly good! We had pork chop and the lamb and they both were very delicious. Their vanilla ice cream had me licking the plate clean! And to top it all we had the best view in the city.
(5)Amarie E.
Fantastic atmosphere and mouth watering food. Absolutely wonderful service with a beautiful view. A Pittsburgh must.
(5)John A.
This place was fantastic. The food was amazing. The service was superb. Happy to have this gem in our neighborhood.
(5)Omead K.
Great dinner! Its relatively pricey, but worth it!
(5)Sarah L.
Went on 6/27 for our anniversary. The place has a GREAT view - one of the best in Pittsburgh. Very clean, upscale restaurant. The food was impeccable. My husband got the lamb chops and I got the pork - both cooked perfectly! The sides are equally as delicious - he had garlic rice pilaf with the lamb and my pork chops came with amazing skinned/ mashed potatoes. We could tell they were still working through the newness of the restaurant..... there was almost too many people working. That said - the service was outstanding and everyone was so nice. I would highly recommend this place. It's a little more expensive but worth the few extra dollars. Very nice atmosphere - not too stuffy - kinda perfect. Park at the bottom of the Duquesne Incline and ride it up - it's located right next to the incline overlook - so great people-watching during dinner and a great date. I honestly don't know if I have had that good of a meal in a while. It was just splendid. Again - the service was great - clearly the chef is extremely talented and all-in-all I can see this place doing quite well. A great night to celebrate 5 years!
(5)Jonah P.
As good as it gets! Altius has finally combined great food (best lamb I have ever had), good service (offered to change our table for a better view), and awesome ambiance (decor was well done and the view is the view). My only critique is the food was a little on the pricey side but it is worth it. As a Mt. Washington resident, I hope Altius raises the ante for the other restaurants in the neighborhood.
(5)Sheila F.
We went there for anniversary. Service was impeccable by all. We had duck,duck, goose and lamb chops. I am a bit discriminating, when it comes to food. These were two of the finest plates we eaten in a long time. No wait. No fuss. Terrific view and modern decor. I would say 95 out of 100. Why? The wine list contains great wines. However, there is no bottle as I recall under $50. Alcohol does not need to be so pricey! I plan to go again.
(5)Lacy C.
The food is wonderful and the service has improved immensely.
(4)James W.
This was my third time dining at altius and probably my last. First, as others mention, have your cash ready from the start. The valet requires that you pay up-front when dropping your car off. Food: The first time the food was amazing; I was very impressed. The second time the food was 'good.' Last night I had a business dinner here and was very disappointed- even embarrassed at my suggestion. I ordered the same starters and entrees as my first visit. Sadly, this time the food showed no resemblance to the first visit. Totally different taste. Also, the chef had a difficult time with cooking temperatures of our meals. Medium lamb showed up well done and a colleague who ordered rare steak had to send hers back for being cooked well done. The second attempt was just as over-cooked as the first. The marked variance in the food prompted me to ask if this was the same chef as before or someone else. Was she sick? On vacation? Or just overwhelmed? The consistency is not there. Ambiance: The interior is beautiful and, of course, the view is amazing.
(2)Megan H.
I honestly hadn't heard of this place until I went on open table looking to make anniversary reservations. Guess I've fallen off the foodie scene. Anyhow, as a Bistro 19 fan, this place did not disappoint. Of course, the view was amazing and probably worth going just for a drink. The decor was modern and lovely as well. A tiny bit tight on space, but not uncomfortably so. (Side note: you could easily get seated in the bar area when we arrived at 5:15 and again. Around 6:30-45, it was completely empty again... This was Saturday night. So, if you're planning to stop by without a reservation and stay in the bar, it looks like if you do it either early or in the middle of the dinner hour, you're solid.) Speaking of drinks, they were fantastic. Huz had the East India and I had a French 75. We also had the charcuterie, which the husband raved about and he rarely raves. I was stunned as he kept shoveling meat and cheese into his mouth. Typically, I end up eating these sorts of plates by myself while he rants about how the restaurant thinks it's fancy... The popcorn was truffle flavor.... I don't really care for popcorn, but managed to eat most of it.... Delish and a fun touch. I also have no idea what they added to the butter ... salt and a seasoning... it was like crack butter.... For dinner, I had the goose goose duck, which was truly outstanding. I ate all of it. And I rarely eat meat. He had the steak, which didn't do much for me (I'm not much of a steak eater), but he thought it was perfect. And it was beautifully cooked. For dessert, we had chocolate cheesecake. He thought it was amazing. Again, not really my thing (or maybe I was just too full?), but tasty enough. The marinated cherries on the plate were my fave. Actually, I'd have eaten the cherries and the ice cream alone... And they sent us with a delightful little fruit cookie bar thing, so we really didn't need to order dessert. I also had a glass of delish zinfandel (with the duck) and a cappuccino (with dessert). He had a sparkling water with dinner. Total bill before tip was around $150. Completely worth it. Easily the best meal we've had in ages. And, frankly, if you had a single drink, still water, and skipped dessert, you could be close to the 50 pp mark. (Entrees were in the $30 ball park and certainly enough for a meal... ) But, if you're going to splurge, why not?! As noted by some of the other reviews, unlike a lot of fine dining places, the portions were very generous. Service was also near perfect. The server was prompt, polite and helpful. The sommelier was appropriately present and helpful. We thought about a bottle and he didn't bat an eyelash when I decided upon just a glass. The wine list was nicely comprehensive -- a little bit for everyone at a good range of prices. If you've got a special night out coming up, this is the place. Hands down. In the meantime, it gave me a hankering for a night just up the street at Bistro 19!
(5)Renee W.
First- we had a reservation for 8:30, and had specifically asked for windows - we were then seated at 8:40, at an awkward table, which did the waitresses no favors (think high end picnic tables). Everyone seemed super disorganized (how does a place this size need 5 hostesses??). We had to flag our waitress down to ask to order our food at 9:00- our food didn't come until 10:15. In between we had two watery cocktails (but expensive). When the food did arrive I expected mouth explosions (after all it took over an hour to cook!)- instead I got a mouth full of salt. The menu was blah so I ordered the asparagus, polenta and risotto. All of which had one main flavor- salt. My friend got the gnocchi-which was less gnocchi and more filler and also really really salty. This restaurant needs to get their service and food together if they hope to survive and call themselves fine dining. I certainly won't be back..
(1)Ron C.
This new restaurant is exceptional. It is totally renovated into a very contemporary sleek restaurant with phenomenal views. The food is superb. The chef provides a complimentary taster. Homemade breads and butters are delicious and creative. The beet appetizer is one of the best apps I have ever eaten. Red and yellow beets layered and bonded with a little gelatin, served with warm goat cheese. Incredible! We were there for our anniversary. The salmon and fillet were prepared perfectly. A complimentary dessert was a special added treat. A very eclectic drink menu. Service was flawless. I highly recommend and will definitely return! This is well needed on Mt Washington and hope they have continued success.
(5)Rachel B.
Very good dinner! I had the gnocchi and my husband had the salmon. Both were excellent dishes. The prices were also very reasonable. Mine was only $22 and his was around $29. The interior is very sleek and trendy but the largest problem we had were the lights. The flicked from very bright to completely turned off very frequently. When I asked our waitress she said they are working on it and it's caused from the incline next door.
(4)Lisa S.
This place was wonderful. Even without the magnificent view from Mt. Washington, it would still be wonderful. Cocktails were delicious and they have a great wine list. We shared an charcuterie plate as an appetizer, then had salads and mains. I had the beet terrine and filet mignon while the hubby had a caesar made with kale and salmon. Dessert was a baked chocolate mousse with banana ice cream that we split. From beginning to end, there was not a misstep. Food was perfect and service fantastic. It is not a weekly destination for us as it is not inexpensive but we will definitely be back.
(5)Jen F.
First time in Pittsburgh and only 2 nights. This restaurant is amazing and the view is spectacular.
(5)Buzz B.
we were visiting Pittsburgh just for the night to see a show. we were recommended this restaurant in advance from a friend from the area. we were given an excellent table on the 2nd floor with a beautiful view. unfortunately even with advanced reservations, table placement is not guaranteed but every table seems to have some view. i guess we were lucky as the weather was terrible and the restaurant was not very busy. we shared quite a bit at our table of 5. charcuterie, sweetbreads, the duck duck goose and the pork chop entree were all stand outs. desserts of the vanilla pot de creme, baked chocolate mouse and the toffee bread pudding also made the rounds. three different food gifts from the chef were a nice touch. side note - i am unfortunately gluten free but was very pleased to find that a large portion of the menu was safe for me and they also offered some of the best gluten free bread ive come across for delivering sauces and perfumed butter. Maria was our fabulous server. professional, attentive, friendly. as others noted valet parking is $6. we were dressed in multiple winter layers, so nice shoes/sweaters fit fine for the ambiance. i would recommend as well as return if ever in Pittsburgh.
(5)Megan D.
Delicious food and cocktails, great service, and an unbeatable view. This is a great addition to Grandview Ave. and I highly recommend to anyone and will return many times in the future.
(5)Eric Z.
My wife and i went for our 18th wedding anniversary. The outside is still under construction and i hope they can liven it up to represent what the inside has to offer. Goodbye dark gloomy Georgetown Inn and Hello fresh new bright modern Altius. You walk into an open airy atmosphere with an immediate view of the three rivers. We arrived early and were immediately seated. We faced the windows and had a great view. The owner stopped over immediately and welcomed us and offer to start us off with a drink. The waitress (Jill P) came shortly and was adorable and bubbly. Made the experience memorable. They provided a complementary unique shooter that was a salsa mix and was fresh. Fresh bread from the bakery was offered and delicious with multiple spreads. We ordered Charcuterie for starters that had many meats and spreads all of which were awesome. I had the prosciutto wrapped veal tenderloin which was cooked perfectly and tender. My wife had the jamison farm lamb rack which again was cooked perfectly and very flavorful. Topped off w a bottle of Hess cab. Desert was a chocolate mousse that we shared and to our surprise had a happy anniversary note in chocolate on the dish and comped. We were stuffed when we left. Ive been eating out way to much recently and this experience tops the list. Top notch new restaurant in Pittsburgh with a great view, great food and great service. Altius did it right!
(5)Kimberly R.
I live on Mt Washington and was so excited that someone came in and updated one of the "run down" buildings on Grandview! (hopefully more will follow in the footsteps of Altius!) We went on a double date to the restaurant on a Sunday night. I made a dinner reservation and we got a lovely front view table. Prob didnt need the reservation as the restaurant was not packed. I love what they have done with the space. It is a little modern and very classy! Great for a date or romantic night out! Our server was great! She was very friendly and let us take our time. They bring you popcorn and artisan breads. Yum! The menu is a little different. The food is very artsy and all the presentations are wonderful! I had the beet terrine and it was interesting for sure. Very tasty, with sweet and sour tastes and a little rich from the cheese. I liked it a lot. I also tried the Salmon with lobster for dinner. It was fine, very well cooked and great presentation.....but, it wasnt "mind blowing." I thought everything was good, but not amazing. I am very glad I tried it, as the view is amazing, but for the price I probably wont go back. Wine=very over priced! No one at our table got a cocktail, maybe those were the way to go.....but the wine was expensive! I would say I would give the restaurant 4 stars if they could offer nice wines without breaking the bank!
(3)Chris D.
Start off your meal with a valet for $6, oh you don' t have cash?...that'll be $10 on a card. Things don't appear as advertised? That is apparently the theme. $32 for 'berkshire pork chop' that is listed as $28 on the website menu. The server informed me that it would be cooked 'medium' ( slightly pink) which is perfect. What came out was grey, over cooked. Like it was over cooked and held there for 20 minutes to dry it out on purpose. It truly takes talent to so thoroughly ruin an ingredient like this. Maybe this was just a fluke? Nope, another person at the table also had an identical ruined pork chop. The manager offered to comp desserts for the error which is nice but not a remedy. Another person at the table ordered the rack of lamb..$40+ and it was overcooked. Really... this is unforgivable. Also, the gnocchi. Flavorless and really not a pleasant texture. Apparently the red snapper was delicious. A gentleman behind us was ordering a steak at the time we were leaving...I should have warned him the 'chefs' can't handle cooking food to proper temps. There were some good points to the meal. The bread service was nice, the truffle popcorn was a hit and the desserts were excellent. The appetizers were decent, better than the mains. Service: Needs improvement but was acceptable. Overall the entire experience was painfully slow. Almost a 3.5 hour dinner. Took 25 minutes just to get the checks. Another table also had to inquire about their food after a lengthy wait. Restaurant was not even busy. Suggestion: Go to Altius for a drink and dessert with a view. Want a good meal look elsewhere.
(2)Megan B.
one of the best!! we've found a new favorite! my husband and I had dinner here and were very impressed, from the house made popcorn, to the most delicious desserts, we loved every morsel! the staff and our server were very friendly and attentive the entire evening. the view is spectacular and the decor as well. we will definitely be back!!
(5)Alex D.
I've gotta give this place the full 5 stars. I was fortunate enough to visit for a recent business dinner, and it really is a wonderful place. From the moment you arrive, Altius takes good care of you - the valet is completely (COMPLETELY) reasonable, and they are polite in helping your party inside. Once you enter, the staff are friendly, and the bar is well-stocked, with a very knowledgeable bartender ready to serve you a delicious aperitif or glass of wine. After your drink, you are exported to a nice table which is most likely within eyesight of one of the stunning hilltop views of this lovely city. The food is the real reason to come here, however. No million dollar views can make up for bad food or bad service, and Altius does not disappoint! Our server was extremely attentive and thoughtful, and really did know what "service" means. I shared several items with the table, including their oysters (absolutely fabulous), scallops (divine), and charcuterie plate (delicious). As a dedicated Yelper, I had, of course, checked out the reviews before my visit, and had read about the "Duck, Duck, Goose" entree, which piqued my interest. The dish was perfectly prepared and served at the correct temperature, with just the right amount of panache by our server team, who served the entire table simultaneously and with a well-practiced flourish. The portion was perfectly sized for a regular person, which is a refreshing take on restaurant food these days - I HATE to get heaping platters that are poorly arranged and prepared with mediocre ingredients. . Again, Altius appeared to use high quality ingredients, prepared in a multitude of delicious ways - loved it! To end the meal, I indulged in their peanut butter bar, which was absolutely the right way to end the evening - it is attractive, well assembled, and just the right size to share with another person, making it the perfect dessert. My only "beef" with Altius is their corkage fee, which I consider to be a bit predatory. I realize that establishments need to make up some of their revenue from beverage sales, but the high corkage fee was a bit surprising. It wasn't enough to make me take a star away, though. Overall, a great night, in a beautiful setting, with good friends enjoying great food and drink! Will definitely be back!
(5)Jeff S.
The food here was simply amazing. My wife and I do a lot of home cooking so we are very critical of restaurant food in general. As a result of this experience, my we have decided that we are done eating out at cheap places. It is well worth it to save up the money and have a meal like this.
(5)Jim O.
I loved everything about this place! It is conveniently located right next to the incline overlooking the confluence of the three rivers in Pittsburgh. Great view of the football stadium and of downtown. We started with some cocktails and the creative cocktail menu made it difficult to choose. I settled for an old-fashioned but made with tequila. It was incredible. The menu also left us wanting to try almost everything. I ended up with the pork chop and again was completely satisfied. The waitstaff was attentive but not overbearing and myself and all of my colleagues enjoyed a fantastic dinner and will definitely return next time business brings us to Pittsburgh.
(5)Beant G.
Wow. One of the best modern American restaurants I have been to in the Pittsburgh area. Overall an excellent place for a date given well-prepared and flavorful food, a fantastic view of the city and great atmosphere. Ambience: Having been to some of the neighboring restaurants in Mt. Washington, I can comfortably say this place has one of the best views. It is perched a bit higher than LeMont although without the ceiling to floor windows. I was a huge fan of the modern decor, which is a welcome change from LeMont and Monterey Bay next door. Food: Kudos to Chef Jessica! I had the short rib and holy hell was it moist and flavorful. I'm not a big red meat fan overall but I would return for that dish any day. The asparagus on the side was a bit bland and greasy but the risotto made up for it. The real winner of the night was the Pumpkin Cheesecake- creamy, well-spiced with plenty of pumpkin flavor! Definitely not for the non-pumpkin enthusiast. One of the best desserts I have had in quite some time. Price: Since it was a special event I didn't have to foot the bill, but based on their menu, expect to pay the usual Mt. Washington premium (~$50-75 per person). That being said, on the right occasion, it's well worth it.
(5)Francesca F.
Everything about my experience here was flawless. I was celebrating a graduation and made a note of it on OpenTable - I was consequently congratulated by the host and server (a nice touch). The view is beautiful, which almost goes without saying. Even without a window seat, however, you'll still really enjoy the ambiance. I loved that it was a fine dining atmosphere but without stuffy white tablecloths. The service was top-notch - efficient, polite, friendly - my napkin was even folded when I went to the bathroom. (Speaking of the bathrooms - they're immaculately clean and modern). We liked our tasting and flavored popcorn before our meal and everyone is sent home with a mini dessert in a little paper bag. It's really about the small details here that make it worth the price. Our meals were also flawless - we had a strawberry salad, frites, Berkshire pork chop, ravioli, and a s'mores dessert. The highlight was definitely the pork chop - highly recommend. Only downside is that you basically have to valet your car, which costs $6. Good valet service, however.
(5)Amanda M.
A friend suggested Altius for the fourth of July. We made reservations weeks in advance but were not guaranteed a table against the windows. We actually ended up in the second row but the view was still incredible! If you remember Georgetown, you'll be blown away by the transformation. The inside is sleek and modern. It looks like a restaurant that would be located downtown. For the holiday there was a five course menu for $85 a person. Amuse bouche, appetizer, salad/soup, entree and dessert. (I don't consider an amuse bouche an actual course seeing it's one bite. In this case it was a blueberry inside a raspberry with a brie sauce) Each course had 4+ options. I went with the charcuterie plate, salad, 10 oz filet and chocolate Panna cotta. The table was also served a choice of three breads. If given the choice, pick the foccacia as it was incredible. Each course was presented in a timely manner. I really enjoyed the filet though my cut was a little fatty (hubs filet was not). The presentation of each plate was gorgeous especially the desserts. Each course was very good and met my expectations. However, the highlight of the evening was easily the fireworks. Viewing the fireworks from the comfort of our table without having to deal with the Mt. Washington crowd was priceless. Overall, I would go back to Altius for a very good meal with an amazing view.
(4)Rachel C.
I'd been here twice for drinks, but was waiting for the right moment to enjoy the food. The right moment came with a tantlizing restaurant week menu! First, let's talk about ambiance. It's super swank and modern. If you'd ever been to the former restaurant here, The Georgetown Inn, forget about what you remember, because it's nothing like that! Are the views spectacular? YES! Will you be paying for those views? Probably. So the food. First, you are not only treated to complimentary popcorn, but also complimentary bread. A bread offering that is probably one of the best freshly baked bread assortments I may have ever had! I gluttonous, so I had to try all three... the faccacia, 12 grain and potato roll. All were fabulous. Pair it with the sea salt butter and you're really in carb heaven. Simply incredible fresh bread. The tasting menu I choose was $39.14 for a three course dinner First course squash blossom risotto Second course braised Jamison farm lamb orchiette with zucchini, sundried tomatoes, spinach, sheeps milk ricotta Third course half baked brownie The risotto was very good. I think it's hard to not have a bland risotto, and this definitely wasn't. The lamb was to. die. for. Seriously. Cooked medium rare, tender and flavorful. I could have had a little bit more, it was so good! The pasta was good, but there was something missing. I'm not sure if it was the flavoring. It had all the ingredients to be flavorful, and it just wasn't enough for me. Seasoning just didn't do it for me. But was by no means a bad dish. The brownie is every bit as good as it sounds. I hate when people try to pass off chocolate cake as a brownies. This was a legit fudge half baked obey gooey center brownie. Legit. The bite of my friends cheesecake further convinced me that their desserts are incredible! Is the food expensive? Yes, but not excessively priced. But I think what really adds up is the wine or cocktails on top of a meal. Their wine list is impressive, and they offer pairings. But just remember, you'll also be paying for the water. Yep. Bottled or sparkling you're charged for. Not sure if you can ask for tap. But , I think a fancy meal with a lovely view is totally okay once in a while!
(4)Christy C.
I've driven past Altius's location numerous times, including when it housed the now-defunct Georgetowne Inn, and I was intrigued at first sight. Altius's exterior appearance is gorgeous... modern, clean, and inviting, all of which are reflected in the interior as well. Upon entering the restaurant, I already knew we were in for a treat. The lighting was low, the hostess was pleasant, and that view... do I really need to say much about it? You'd be hard pressed to find a better view of the city than from Mount Washington, and Altius is perfectly situated, providing panoramic views from the North Side to well past Oakland. When my boyfriend & I arrived, the hostess said our table would be ready shortly and invited us to grab a drink at the bar, which we did. The bartender was attentive, acknowledging us as soon as we sat down, and offered a wine list and cocktail menu. After settling on a glass of Santa Duc Côtes-du-Rhône ($12) and an ice water, Lee and I enjoyed some quiet chitchat as we waited. Within 5 minutes, the hostess was back to let us know our table was ready, and she offered to transfer my glass of wine to our dinner bill at the table (always a bonus point in my book). A gentleman soon appeared with menus and directed us to our table in the lower dining area. I was a tinge disappointed that we didn't get a seat right next to the window, but honestly there is not a bad seat in the house. You can see everything from everywhere! Our waiter quickly arrived and pointed out that all of their wines are selected and paired with particular menu dishes, and I was impressed that he took note of the wine I was drinking and offered to pair a menu item if I so desired. We took a few moments to review the menu and ultimately settled on the charcuterie board ($14) as an appetizer, watercress salad ($9), the Duck Duck Goose for me ($32) and the Chilean Sea Bass for Lee ($36). Prior to receiving the charcuterie board, our waiter brought out an amuse-bouche for each of us which is always a nice touch. The charcuterie soon arrived and was one of the better ones I've had the experience of consuming. There was just enough meat and cheese for us to split, the bread was grilled perfectly, and I'm still salivating over the stone ground beer mustard. Another waiter stopped by with a dish of sundried tomato spread and butter and offered us fresh bread. I highly recommend the rosemary foccacia -- outstanding. When the main courses arrived, I knew we weren't going to be anything short of blown away. The presentation alone was stunning, and after just one bite of the polenta that surrounded the duck & goose, I was hooked. I don't even know if I can explain the flavors... they were just phenomenal. The duck breast was seared to perfection and the rest of the dish came together perfectly. At some point, I managed to sneak a bite of Lee's sea bass and lobster couscous -- WOW. A few minutes later I was stuffed beyond belief and realized I'd have to throw in the cloth napkin and take the rest home. My leftovers were promptly boxed up once we signaled that we were finished eating, and the waiter delivered the check and a house-made toffee bar for each of us to take home. Nice little touch! Altius is unlike anything else I've experienced in Pittsburgh and I would highly recommend it for a romantic dinner with your significant other or classy night out with friends. It is a little on the expensive side, but the service and food are completely worth it.
(5)Anna B.
I really tried to find a reason not to give 5 stars, but there simply isn't one! Altius is a wonderful restaurant for a special occasion. They will make you feel like royalty. My husband and I took my mom here for her birthday. I had called ahead and requested a window seat but they let me know they can't reserve a seat but would do their best. When we arrived, there was no window seating available, but who cared because every seat pretty much has a view of the city! Beautiful space. Our waiter seated us and promptly explained that we'd be receiving a savory popcorn with lemon butter and poppy seeds. Delicious! By the time the salt in the popcorn had made us parched, our waiter took our drink orders and brought water. I enjoyed a delicious infused vodka with pineapple and habanero peppers, their special house drink of the evening. My mom ordered a Yuengling (which she'd never had!) and my husband got a mojito. He commented at first that it wasn't correctly made, but after his first sip he admitted it was pretty good. The breads... these alone are a big reason to come here! Before any appetizer or main course you order a server offered us a basket of bread featuring three types: asiago fennel bread, onion chia focaccia and pretzel roll. The spreads were a sweet butter and a finger-licking-good red pepper pesto. We asked for more of the pesto and more bread with our main course, and it was no problem. For an appetizer, we ordered the charcutterie. Amazing. All locally-sourced cheeses and meats with yummy flatbread and buttered focaccia. More bread! While we were devouring the meats and cheeses, our server surprised us with a wonton-wrapped gnocci seafood treat, compliments of the chef. Another delicious bite! For our meals, my mom ordered the halibut, my husband ordered the salmon and I ordered the "Duck, Duck, Goose". They were both very pleased with their choices, and I couldn't have asked for a more delicious dinner. The creamy creamy goose pâté polenta combined perfectly with the melted leek & pea confit. This is a house specialty and I highly recommend you try it once! After dinner, our server surprised us AGAIN with a complimentary cheesecake with "Happy Birthday" scrawled on the plate for my mom's birthday. Such a nice touch, and delicious, too! It was big enough for all three of us to share. One more surprise - well two! As we paid the check, our waiter came back with three individually-packed caramel treats in white sacks for us to take home. Who does that?! This restaurant. Then, my husband, who was quite a fan of the focaccia bread and red pepper pesto, asked the server for a small sack for the bread he had set aside. Our waiter disappeared and returned a minute later with a larger sack packed with focaccia and a container of the pesto! We were feeling very thankful at this point for such a lovely night. I can't recommend Altius enough if you're looking to make yours or someone special's night. The prices are high, but I was expecting that. For the money we spent, the atmosphere, the view, the service, and the food all made it well worth it!!
(5)Joel C.
Too often a restaurant with spectacular views will fall short on service and cuisine. Not the case here! The experienced and tenured staff are very attentive and professional and the food simply excels! The newly remodeled dining room is almost as spectacular as the views of downtown, rivers and the stadiums. Great for a special occasion or business outing. I will return.
(5)Elizabeth M.
I wanted to enjoy this place. It has a great view and the decor is really sleek and modern. We came for brunch and I feel like the consensus was that everything we ordered underperformed. I got a hash that wasn't very hash-like...it was more cubed than the typical mash-type hash you expect. The Brussel Sprouts in it were overly salted to the point where I couldn't eat them...I actually chose not to eat most of my plate as I really didn't want to force myself to eat something I wasn't really enjoying. We got a shortbread topped with blueberries and a cinnamon roll as appetizers and they were both good. Other than that, it was a flop. I'd like to give it a second chance and try their dinner menu because from other reviewers, it looks like they fair much better with their dinner selection.
(3)Nicki Z.
Came here on Wednesday and Friday for dinner. (What can I say, it was a big week)! On Wednesday, it was absolutely amazing! I had the Pennsylvania Amish Chicken, which comes with surprisingly delicious blue mashed potatoes. The chicken was tender and juicy and flavorful and delicious. On that day, I sat downstairs. The view was breathtaking. Absolutely breathtaking. Service was also good. The server was well-informed, patient, and attentive. I couldn't wait to come back! On Friday, we called late for a reservation and honestly, it was just 'eh. I had the ravioli, which actually tasted undercooked. It came with tomatoes of varied sizes and had a thin white sauce that I would classify as "just ok." My fiancé ordered the duck and I don't think he was super impressed either. That night we sat upstairs. The view is the same (plus a story), but the ambience wasn't as nice. I don't know why, but I didn't like it nearly as much. Bottom line: Order the chicken, sit downstairs, and make reservations early!
(3)Joanne A.
I was very excited to eat here for our first wedding anniversary when I saw the rating for this place and people raving about the great service and food. The beautiful view is a given being on Mt. Washington. The food was great! 4/5. My hubby and I shared the charcuterie bc my hubs is a fan of charcuteries. This was one of the best I've tasted. Barbuzzos in Philly is my fave. I had the sea bass and my hubby ordered the lamb. They were both delicious and cooked perfectly. We shared the apple crisp dessert, which was too sweet and too sour not complementing. That was disappointing because we love our desserts. Cocktails were just ok. Tried the dazed and infused and honey bourbon. I am critical of service when I write my reviews because other than food, it is the only other factor that can set a place apart (IMHO, it is the main factor that makes a difference anywhere, so why not give excellent service?!) When we got there, the host did not even greet us. Ok, no biggie, I like being a wallflower anyway, but why would I want to spend money somewhere where I feel unwanted? Second, not sure if (it's the maitre'd or whoever tells you about your dish) she wasn't nice at all when I asked her to repeat what cheeses were on the plate. Instead of telling me the names, she gave me a look like why would I ask and dismissingly said oh it's just brie. It's like implying this expensive plate is nothing special and I don't need to know. Lastly, my hubby told them it was our anniversary when he made the reservation, but they didn't even acknowledge that. Not even a verbal happy anniversary. Because of this experience, I do not recommend this place. Go to the other Mt. Washington rest that will treat you better. It's disappointing to me probably because I expected it to be great but my experience was not like other yelpers. I wish I had it in me to deduct tips for bad service but my hubby and I are taught to give 20% all the time by our parents. Please fix your customer service here. All I can think of is "rude!"
(2)Megan Z.
Dined at Altius first time for a work networking event. Couldnt have been more pleased with the decor, ambiance, view, service, and food.
(5)Sherri S.
Spectacular views of the city, beautiful ambiance and excellent seasonal menu. It was just me, so I ate at the bar and had a delicious meal! I started with a lovely Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and paired that with the Lolla Rossa -- fresh greens with strawberries, ricotta salata, almond tuile, balsamic pearls, orange blossom honey vinaigrette, pink peppercorn ($8). This salad was incredible! So beautiful, fresh, light and layered with so many flavors. Prior to my salad one of the servers brought me a cleansing drink (size of a shot) from the chef. It included fresh strawberries and ginger and was perfect for a summer night. For my main course, the delightful bartender (named Kristy) recommended *Chilean Sea Bass -- saffron lobster couscous, brown butter broccolini, carrot ginger emulsion ($36) and it was incredibly delicious! I avoided the broccolini as my salad was so great and concentrated on the fish and lobster couscous. And then I let Kristy talk me into trying the Peanut Butter Bar -- chocolate flourless cake, peanut praline, peanut butter mousse, candied bacon peanut brittle, frozen banana custard, crème anglaise ($10) and I paired that with a nice Pinor Noir as the dessert is very rich. I couldn't finish the dessert, so I took it home. Something to note is on Sunday's ALTITUDE stops seating at 9 pm. So go early--about 30 mins before sunset so you can enjoy the spectacular views! To make your experience even more special, suggest taking the Duquesne Incline up to the restaurant. A one-way ticket is $2.50 per person and a round-trip ticket will cost you $5 per person. And note they only take cash and exact change at that. ALTIUS is located less than 20 yards from the Incline's observation deck. One more thing to note...they are known for their handmade cocktails! The call the. "Elevated Cocktails"--which I am going back to try because they looked so incredible!! ELEVATED COCKTAILS Mexican War Streets El Mayor Tequila, Green Chartreuse, Basil, Lime Juice 12 The Frick Grey Goose L'Orange, Lillet Blanc, Cranberry Juice 12 Grandview Boyd & Blair Vodka, Grand Marnier, Pineapple 12 Sazerac Le Reviseur VS, Bitters, Absinthe Rinse 12 The Point Absolut Vodka, Strawberries, Basil, Lemonade 12 Honey Bourbon Maker's Mark, St. Germaine, Orange Honey Syrup 12 Havana 75 Bacardi Superior, St. Germaine, Maraschino Juice, Lime Juice, Bubbly 12 Coal Hill Wild Turkey 101, Lemon, Egg White, Scotch Rinse 12 Trés Jolie Absolute Vodka, Cocchi Rosa, Orange Bitters, Chambord, Orange Twist 12 Riverside Mount Gay Rum, Dubonnet, Lime Juice, Peach Bitters, Mint, Ginger Beer 12 Reposado Old Fashioned Hornitos Black Barrel, Amber Agave, Bitters, Orange Twist 12 Negroni Sbagliato Campari, Sweet Vermouth, Bubbly 12 Dazed & Infused Pineapple, Mango, hint of Habanero 12 The Altius Mule Peach Ginger Infused Vodka, Lime Juice, Ginger Beer 12 Jalepeño Mint Cucumber Margarita Fresh Mint, Cucumber, Jalepeño Infusd Tequila, Grand Marnier, Lime Juice 12
(5)Jeremia F.
Dinner here for a special occasion is a must. I really enjoyed every bit of the experience here. We dined here on a Saturday night and we had reservations. Are reservations a must, I do not know but we didn't have to wait for our table which makes me very happy especially when you have reservations. Upon entering I immediately noticed how much attention was paid to the atmosphere. The bar area is very nice and I would like to stop in for a cocktail in the future. Very upscale design, appropriate light and sound levels. The valet costs $6 although I thought the time frame to retrieve my vehicle was a little excessive. The popcorn was delicious, it was flavored with truffle oil and truffle salt which made it taste almost too delicious, be careful to not eat too much. We tried the Charcuterie which was perfect for two but might be a stretch for 4 people, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys some unique cured meats and tasty cheeses. The Sweet potato bisque was creamy and smooth served at the perfect temperature. The main course Duck Duck Goose was also very tasty although I felt like there could have been a little more umph to the dish. Everything was cooked perfectly and the meat was tender but I felt like there needed to be some seasoning to the meat to really make this dish shine. The lady ordered Sea Bass which in all way shapes and form was the standout dish I have tried in a while. A real nice cut of fish both in quality and size. Served on top of a bed of what I believed to be Israeli couscous, I love this couscous because it is much large than the couscous that is served in middle eastern dishes. I'm not sure what kind of sauce was on top of the fish and couscous but it was incredibly savory. The service was by far the best service I have had in quite sometime. I really appreciated the attention to detail and understanding the server had of the menu. The view of the city from this place is pretty cool and certainly adds to the experience. Now experiences like these come with a price, so was it spendy? For sure, but it was totally worth it. I'll come back for a cocktail and when there is a special occasion I would certainly enjoy a dinner here.
(4)Shaun E.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD GOOOOOOOOOD FOOD! Man this place is exactly why it excites me to see Pittsburgh grow as both a commmunity as well as a an up and coming city. No wait it is THE city to live. With all the new restaurants this one exemplifies why it is the place to live. Me and my gf went here during restaurant week. We had both the duck and fish cheek appetizer, the chicken stew and poached salmon, and apple crumble and peanut butter ice cream desert. Sooo good. Nothing to complain about. Everything was perfectly cooked. They obviously brought out bread and a tasting dish. Everything you would require from a 5 star restaurant. But in pittsburgh. The wines we tasted were also complementary of the meal. The one thing that did bother me was those damn lights!! Haha they said the incline are connected on the same power grid which dims the lights everytime the incline starts. So weird when your talking and every 2 minutes the lights dim for a couple seconds. Otherwise this is a great place for a date or even to get some nice drinks. This is the place you bring your parents when they visit or just to enjoy the view. Pricey? Yes. But well worth the money.
(5)Marla K.
I don't do high scale dining often, so I'm very glad the one time that I did I went with this place. It is AMAZING with a capital A. First of all, the restaurant's interior is beautiful. Even if it didn't have the amazing Mt. Washington view, it'd still be gorgeous. It's extremely modern and interesting to look at. The wine list is very extensive. I can't remember exactly what my table got but it was a dry red from California and it was very good. Before they bring your food out you get a palette cleanser and an assortment of breads to choose from. The bread was so rich it was almost like a dessert, but I loved it. They even have a number of different butters and spreads you can try. For dinner, I had the Duck Duck Goose, and it was spectacular. I love duck and don't get to eat it very often. I have to say this was the best I ever had. The one thing I loved in particular about Altius is you get a good portion of food. Some fine dining establishments have great food, but they don't give you very much of it. Believe me, you will be full after you leave here. We didn't have any room for dessert, but I'm sure it would have been as delicious as everything else!
(5)Tim M.
My wife and I recently had dinner at Altius and we enjoyed it very much. The view of the city is excellent and surprisingly the food was "5-star" quality. Food: I started with the Crab Bisque and was excellent as was the bread they served before the meal. I had the Chilean Sea Bass with couscous. It might not have been the best Sea Bass I've ever had, but was very good. My wife had the Pork Chop...WOW..that was a big pork chop and prepared just perfect. We shared the Peanut Butter (something) for dessert and was sumptuous. Service: When we first walked into this place I thought "oh no, it feels a little "stuffy" but Maria quickly put an end to that. She was so friendly and helpful and just made the evening enjoyable. The combination of the great view over the city, food, service, ambiance, I can only think of giving this place 5 stars.
(5)Steven L.
Recently went here with my gf to celebrate and had a pleasant surprise. The updated interior, menu, staff, awesome food were all on point and somehow the tab was only around $100 before tip. This included a few vodkas (kettle one) and a few glasses of wine. Short review but long story short this place had good food, better service and was well under what I expected to pay. I will be back again.!
(5)Elena T.
The food was good and the service excellent!
(4)Deborah G.
My husband and I went to Altius on a Tuesday night to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We were incredibly impressed with the service and the food. What I particularly loved was the little "gifts" from the chef. The popcorn du jour is a nice touch and the fresh baked bread was great. We had a lovely intermezzo from the chef in the form of a pickled egg with watercress that was divine. We had the butternut and marshmallow bisque to start and I thought it was delicious but my husband found it a bit too sweet. For our entrees, we chose the halibut and the filet mignon. My filet was perfectly prepared and came with wild mushrooms, baby carrots, and fingerling potatoes. I was surprised at how large the portion was. Normally, when you order filet in an upscale restaurant, it's a 6 ounce portion but this steak was 10 ounces! Granted, the entree is $44 bucks but the chef didn't disappoint and I consider it to be worth the money. My husband's halibut was a bit overcooked and dry. The manager cheerfully apologized and switched out the halibut for the Chilean sea bass over lobster couscous that was melt-in-your-mouth amazing! I was also very impressed with our server and her knowledge of the wines that were on the menu. She was spot on with her recommendations to pair with our meals. For our dessert, we shared the Vanilla Bean pot de creme and were glad we did because that dessert was HUGE. It came with a blackberry sorbet and a raspberry gastrique. The sorbet was light and not overly sweet and the gastric was a great accompaniment to the richness of the creme. A cute little touch from the chef was "Happy Anniversary" written across the top of the dish. Finally, the chef sent little bags of house-made cookies to go home with us. The view, by the way, is amazing! One caveat about Altius - it's expensive. Dinner for two with dessert (on the house because it was our anniversary) was $210 with tip. However, if you need a splurge and a reason to dress up and be pampered, Altius is the place to go. We will definitely be back!
(5)Kent S.
Altius was so good the first visit I just had to go back again. I started with crab bisque and charcuterie , bisque was by far the best I've ever had , the charcuterie was as expected.... Fantastic . For main course ordered aged bone in ribeye with carrots & purple potatoes , the steak was mouthwatering and absolutely delicious ...carrots were crisp and juicy , purple potatoes were like I've never had , fluffy & full of flavor . For desert was peanut butter cup and my tastebuds are still dancing ! Great atmosphere , great service , great food and just an overall terrific dining experience for the 2nd time . I will definitely be going back again !
(5)Nick J.
Have you ever planned a special evening out and had really high expectations? I did and Altius met every single one of them. I'm not kidding either, from the valet, hostess, bartender, assistant server, server, manager and the owner. Just a group of professional people there to make my night complete. They were helpful and the smiles were everywhere. I love that. I need to first mention we sat right on the window on the second floor and that alone was worth the price of admission. Our city is stunning and it was a busy beautiful Saturday night. The meal was awesome. They give you flavored popcorn to nibble on. Three types of homemade bread as well with this flavored butter and red fruity spread. No idea what it was but I could have ate a bucket of it. We had two appetizers a Sea Scallop/cornbread/pork belly w some type of vinaigrette. The other app was a Charcuterie of cured meats and cheeses. My words mean nothing! Look at those pics! The main courses were even better. I had the special of a Glazed peach Tuna w wasabi mashed potatoes and the wife had the Berkshire Pork Chop w a 4 cheese mashed potatoes and bacon wrapped asparagus. I blew it on the pic but it was better than mine. Honestly they were both 10's. :) We finished up with a few deserts. We shared the chocolate mousse and the cheesecake. There was a raspberry ice cream with the cheesecake that I swear I have since dreamt about. All told this is a legit $150 meal for two if you are drinking. The beer and wine lists are too notch. I plan on going back and trying more items. Put Altius on your list for a must dinner. It is well worth it. :)
(5)Dds M.
Good food, great service, and an amazing view. It may take awhile to get a table next to the window but is very well worth it. Would recommend and would come back to visit.
(5)Nathan K.
Awesome view! High end cuisine with excellent choices! Wine list is smart but not overly extensive. Service was fantastic and I requested a window seat for our anniversary at the time I made the reservation and they were happy to accommodate! Great food and superb ambiance. It doesn't get much better than Altius for a romantic dinner.
(5)M K.
I was really disappointed by the food here. Loved the atmosphere and service. I ordered the duck and while it should come medium rare to medium, this duck was still quacking and was like duck sushi. My wife got the shrimp which she enjoyed. An octopus feta taster came out from the kitchen and just tasted like feta. I will probably go back again sometime to give it a second chance. Everyone has a bad day, right?
(3)Xi Z.
Great view, good food with great friends makes a great Friday night. love the charcuterie plates, duck duck goose, and the peanut cake with banana ice cream dessert
(5)Lindsey M.
This place is simply lovely, and by far the best restaurant on Grandview Ave. Not only is the view of the city amazing but the food is also delicious, which can't be said about the other fine dining restaurants on the Mount that rely mainly on their location to bring in patrons. We made reservations for a weekday night, and the dining room and bar were full much of the night. The host greeted us warmly at the door and led us to the sunken dining area. The decor is modern and comfortable, and the lighting is muted to allow the light from the city shine through the floor to ceiling windows. Our service was outstanding. The meal starts with popcorn with an espresso dusting that was delicious. It's little things like this that set Altius apart. There was also an amuse-bouche. When I told the waiter all of my food allergies, they changed it completely for me. They also changed my main entree to address my restrictions. I had the chicken, which was moist and delicious. The side of potatoes was a nice addition. My boyfriend had the "Duck-Duck-Goose," which he enjoyed but noted could have been plated differently so that the various flavors weren't lost. The cocktails were okay, but not amazing. Next time we go we plan on sharing a bottle of wine from their extensive list. This is a wonderful place for a romantic or celebratory dinner. I look forward to a second visit.
(4)Jaye L.
It was such a nice experience! The sea bass is a must try and while I had high hopes for the duck duck goose, it was just alright. The pork chop was huge but didn't taste that good. Still all the other food we got was great, and there's the amazing view!
(5)Barbara R.
Fabulous. Pittsburgh has been waiting for a chic restaurant on Mt. Washington. Beautiful atmosphere, great farm to table food, fantastic service. Everything is a la carte, a bit pricy for Pittsburgh, but well worth it. Loved it, Loved it, Loved it. Great evening.
(5)Robin A.
Excellent all around. Food, service and view are fantastic. I had the green tomato salad with burrata and prosciutto, sea bass with lobster cous cous and peanut butter bar dessert. Fabulous! Modern decor and nice wine and cocktail selection. Valet parking available for $6.
(5)Allyson H.
The food is a 4 and the view is a 5. Be sure to go early to see the city in daylight, but still be there when the sun sets. Make reservations and request a table next to a window. We didn't order an appetizer because there were only two of us and we weren't very hungry. This turned out to be a good decision since they bring you bread, the entrées are large, and we wanted dessert. My girlfriend had the Filet and substituted in Brussel Sprouts, which were delicious. I had the Sea Bass; also delicious.
(4)Steve M.
I am not one to go to a place like Altius often, especially when the prices are even HIGHER, but I wanted to treat my girlfriend to a Grandview restaurant for Valentine's Day and Altius seemed like our best bet. Reading through some reviews of other Grandview restaurants on here, I had the following thought: restaurants like these can either make the diner feel special and that they're lucky to have you or make the diner feel like the restaurant is special and you're lucky to be there. Altius falls FIRMLY on the former. We slightly overdressed just to be safe but we were made to feel comfortable throughout the entire process. Not a single second of pretense. The valets, the greeters, our waiter, and every person who served our food or filled our water was great. I try to get around to as many places in town as I can. Granted, as already stated, I am not a veteran of PIttsburgh's high-end dining, but I know good food (at least I like to think so!) and this was one of the greatest meals I have had in my life. We were there for Valentine's Day so it was all about the prix fixe menu but there were plenty of options on there and we didn't feel limited at all. I ordered the veal sweetbreads, cauliflower bisque, lamb, and half-baked brownie. She ordered the tuna poke, she crab soup, ribeye and shrimp, and chocolate bombe. We both agreed that I had out-ordered her (a rare win!) but we both couldn't believe some of the flavors we were tasting. And I haven't even mentioned the INCREDIBLE bread and the tasty popcorn, both of which it seemed you could have as much of as you wanted if you so desired. My personal favorite of the night was the herb-crusted lamb. It was served with a cassis whole grain mustard, parsnip puree and green beans. I am a sucker for lamb so I may be easy to please here, but I thought the portion size was right on, it was cooked perfectly, and everything served along with it enhanced the flavor in fun, interesting ways. We were seated in the corner, right next to the windows. It may have been the best seat in the house. I'd like to thank Altius for giving my girlfriend and I a meal we'll never forget and nothing but fond memories of the entire experience. Amazing restaurant.
(5)Marta N.
Heard good things, but left with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. To start- Valet is $6 up front with cash, but if you pay with a credit card later it jumps to $10. This is ridiculous, they should validate your parking anyways since you pay a premium to eat there. Maybe over a certain amount validate it, but still at least offer it to your patrons. The place is beautiful and they really did a nice job with all the windows and decor, but it was freezing. I asked if they could turn the air down a bit, and the guy responded with " Yes, you should have brought a Shaw" Sorry, host, I didn't realize I was going into the arctic tundra. The drink prices are outrageous, there was no glass of wine under $12. Hell, I think there was only one glass for $12. The rest went up, and up, and up. I appreciate the Stemware they served each varietal in, but cut us some slack. Drinks were $13 and higher. My first drink had a chip in the glass, the swapped it out. Pittsburgh is getting a bit crazy with drink pricing, it is now cheaper to drink in some parts of NYC. We got some appetizers, and while I appreciate the truffle popcorn they give you, it seems out of place, the charcuterie was $16 and it was all toasted bread, not a lot of meat. Crested Duck was the meat, and I know the cost of a thin slice of that stuff, so please put a bit more on the board. Beet terrine was good. Nothing crazy. For dinner I got the pork chop medium rare. It was so overcooked I couldn't cut it. I had to send it back, my friend got the gnocchi, and it was bland. Others got the fish dish and said it was good, not great. My pork was $32. The highlight of the meal were the desserts. Flan and a chocolate torte were very good. All in all I do not think I would return, way spend for what you get. They need to reevaluate their drink pricing. That may be why they don't post pricing online. I tried to look up wine prices, no luck. Only a note that if you wanted to bring your own bottle. It had to be of EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, and that they would charge $25 cooking fee, but would wave it if you bought a bottle of theirs. Silly. I Will spend my money on Avenue B any day of the week.
(3)C L.
Altius provides excellent food and an outstanding view. The atmosphere is business casual, so no need to dress to the nines. The menu has something for everyone, from seafood to vegetarian dishes. However, if you are lactose intolerant like myself, it is very difficult to indulge in all courses, especially dessert. The most impressive aspect of the food is the mixture of textures. I ordered scallops for my first course, which were soft and flaky, and this was complimented by some crunchy vegetables slices. My main dish was salmon, coated with everything bagel crust. Again, the flaky salmon and the crunchy outer crust was fantastic. Other members of my party claimed that the deserts were delicious, but I only drank coffee. It was surprisingly bold and a fantastic alternative to dessert. The pastry chef sent guests home with a pastry sample that was divine with my coffee the next morning. It is possible to be seated at a table with no view, so if that's important to you, make sure that you request it. Overall, excellent service, food is worth the price, and the view is very romantic.
(4)Michael B.
Sunday brunch ($29 prix fixe for appetizer, entree & cocktail or fresh juice) was steller. The space is gorgeous, the food local and the waitstaff helpful. Our party had: -Beet cured salmon lox - caper creme fraiche, pickled onion, toasts. Just incredible. Cured in house, vibrant, fresh lox. -Local cheese/fruits - PA cheeses, summer fruit, grissini, honeycomb chunk to spread on everything. Holy cow good. -Grilled flatbread - blueberry jam, lemon cream cheese, oatmeal streusel -Eggs Benedict - heavy/traditional, toasted bread, ham, gruyere, poached eggs, hollandaise, fingerling potatoes -Shirred Eggs - really the big winner of the day. Great blend of mushroom and baked eggs. Pennsylvania mushrooms, ricotta salata, fried kale, baby greens salad -Grilled Jamison Farm Lamb Sausage - sweet potato biscuits, velouté (a French prep mother sauce, think bechamel X chicken gravy and you've got the idea), sunny side eggs Everything was delicious. Homemade pastries ($3 extra ea) were bandied about before food and we got a CInnamon Monkey Bread to split. It was a delight. The view is crazy at Altius and the space is a hyper-sleek grey/wood NYC style that Pittsburgh SORELY lacks (Yes, I'm over your banjo, suspenders and handlebar moustache everything PGH). I dug it. House cocktails looked great. I had a fresh pinneapple juice that was lovely and the menu (ie not included) cocktails all read as fun and cool. We had a great time in all and everyone was very impressed. Dishes were just a touch innovative without being clever. I will warn you that we were offered still or sparkling water when we sat down, then, after 2 bottles, offered to be topped off with tap water. We paid $6 for our artisinal water (and our bill was $115ish), so i would be cool if they would just offer plain water from the start. I hold no bones for restaurants offering premium choices (and I often prefer sparkling water with meals), so long as they don't forget the "choice" part.
(5)Mimi K.
We dined at Altius last night. The view was nice.
(2)John S.
I took my girlfriend to Altius the first night we got in to Pittsburgh and we absolutely fell in love with it. We sat upstairs by the window and you get an amazing view of the entire city of Pittsburgh. We got there at 530 pm while it was still light outside and got to watch the transformation from day to night and it was truly a sight to see. Our server Sarah was amazing. She was very attentive and personable, and answered all of our questions. Great service. The food was outstanding. They give you complimentary popcorn, the days flavor was truffle! How sick is that?! Truffle popcorn?! Yes please! Then we got a complimentary little bite of seviche w/ cilantro & butternut squash served on a fancy apple slice (don't remember the name of the apple). Then we ordered the oysters appetizer. My girlfriend wanted to get them because she's never tried them before. I'm not crazy about oysters but I let her go with it because it's her birthday weekend...and these oysters were the best I've ever had. They were covered with an amazing salsa verde that was a perfect blend of spice that made the oysters really shine. The main courses were sublime. My girlfriend ordered the salmon with risotto & mushrooms and it was delicious. I ordered the special which was a black grouper encrusted with porcini mushrooms, black garlic risotto and sauteed broccoli rabe. I do don't care for the broccoli rabe but that was literally the only thing from the entire night that I didn't like. For dessert we split the black truffle cheesecake which was spectacular. It was served with pistachio praline, vanilla infused tangerines, and homemade vanilla bean ice cream. Ridiculous!
(5)David C.
This evening we found a superlative way of YELPING a restaurant. I had the pleasure of having two wonderful lady's as my guest for birthday dinner at Altius Modern Bistro. My Mother in Law's birthday is July 5 and my wife's birthday is May 31. We were seated at a wonderful window table with a sweeping view of Pittsburgh and the three rivers. Mom gave a WOW for the view. We each ordered separate appetizers. Mom rated her She Crab Soup with WOW WOW as she demolished the bowl. My wife had the beet terrine. And I had the Charcuterie which were very unexpectedly delicious. That added two more WOW'S. Mom ordered Rack of Lamb. It was an unusual serving for a traditional older lady who is used to each lamb rib to be sliced and displayed around the plate. She chewed each chop. to the bone with another WOW! My wife had the Berkshire Pork Chop. She added a WOW! I had the Duck, Duck, Goose which had perfectly cooked Duck breast, leg confit and Goose pate mixed with polenta and another WOW was added to the dinner. Being the lady's birthday celebrations each was served a Malted Vanilla Bean Pot de Creme with a candle. Another WOW was entered into the list. Our server, Rob was delightful and very professional. The entire staff was helpful, efficient, professional and gracious. Another WOW! This was an 10 WOW dining experience. Thank you all for making our dining experience wonderful. FYI: We are all senior citizens and we have all traveled the world.
(5)Dan K.
Took my wife to Altius for her birthday dinner and we were both quite impressed with this eatery. Everything you hope for in a fine dining experience was covered here, in spades. Decor? Modern and elegant. Ambiance? Unbeatable skyline view. Food? Nothing short of spectacular. Service? Felt like we were being waited on by 10 people. We look forward to our next opportunity to dine at Altius, because our first experience there was wonderful!
(5)Daniel A.
The most rude and unprofessional people I have ever met. We made a reservation two weeks in advance for Mother's Day on OpenTable and specifically asked to have window view and that if they could not do that, they should let us know immediately. They waited till one hour before our reservation to tell us they could not supply window seats, essentially doing so in the hopes that we would be forced to go there without any other recourse as Mother's Day by then would be totally booked. We promptly cancelled our reservation and would never go there again. These people are out for making a buck without any respect to their customers.
(1)Pamela T.
Came here for brunch. It was a cloudy day, but the view was still incredible. Service was slow, I think they were running understaffed. The fixed price menu is reasonable priced, including a cocktail/fresh juice, an appetizer, and an entree. I had a Virgin Mary, which was refreshing. I started with the fruit sampler, featuring local honey and cheeses. It was beautifully plated, and a great appetizer. For my main I ordered the challah french toast. It was decadent and delicious, but I could have done with a fourth of the serving size! Their coffee was also fantastic.
(4)Ben R.
So this is my first time here after having been remodeled from the Georgetown inn. I happened to go to the GI right before it closed for a wedding rehearsal dinner. Let's just say it should have been closed years ago. The remodel was very upscale and nice. The views of the city are terrific. Easy valet parking so make sure you have cash. Our server was nice but could have taken a little better care of us. For such an upscale place I expect top notch service. Our party of 6 took over 2.5 hours which was really long. The fresh bread was a nice treat. I had the duck and so did one of our other guests. One thing I hate is when two dishes have different portions. Mine had two less pieces of duck. The skin could have been a lot more crispy. My wife's sea bass was really good and at the same cost as the halibut we choose the bass. Big portion and tender as can be. My biggest complaint were the bugs in thee restaurant. We had bugs all over the window next to us. When your restaurant is built around the views you better make sure the windows are clean and bug free. There were 15 little flying bugs all over the windows and got us thinking we had ticks!!! Yuck But I recognize that's a hard thing to control. Worth a second trip.
(4)Adam M.
Went with my wife on opening night for our wedding anniversary. They are still working on the exterior and second floor but we were impressed with the main floor and view of the city. The service was above average and there were plenty of people checking up on us during the hour and a half we were there. The food overall was very good. By course, and I'll comment on both items because I did taste my wife's dishes: -starters: the tuna crudo was excellent and full of flavor. "Tongue and cheek" satisfied my beef craving and loved the pierogi. -entrees: "duck duck goose" was enjoyed by my wife and she really loved how well everything tasted together. I continued my beef streak with the filet mignon which was very tender but slightly smoked which it did not need. -sides: tried the pommes frites which were addicting -desert: ordered the chocolate mousse dish which was perfect for our sweet tooth -drinks: I had the seelbach which was a bourbon base-nice and strong, and then had a well paired Cabernet with my steak. My wife had the accomplice which was a well balanced vodka drink. She had the same Cab with her duck and finished with a desert wine which she enjoyed. We are looking forward to going back and trying other menu items and checking out the second floor once everything is finished. Definitely recommend checking it out!
(4)Jen L.
Outrageously good. Last weekend, my fiance surprised me with reservations to Altius. It was our first time here, and I hope we will return many, many times. Our meal here was the very best meal I've had in Pittsburgh. We pulled up to the restaurant and we were very pleased to find that there was plenty of free on-street parking. As we entered the restaurant, my fiance gave his name and we were promptly seated upstairs. Of the times I've eaten on Mount Washington, the view from Altius has been my absolute favorite. The interior is modern without being busy. We were seated and greeted immediately by someone offering water and truffle oil popcorn. Our server next greeted us. She was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. She brought over our cocktails and amuse bouche. For a starter, we ordered the Tongue in Cheek. It was delicate, cooked to perfection, and the perfect size to split between two. I was very pleased, as was my FI. In addition to a really beautiful balance of flavors, the presentation was also lovely. Bonus points for quality heavy flatware to dine with. We were also given fresh baked bread with both butter and a tomato spread. Pick the focaccia bread and combine the two spreads. You'll thank me later. For our entrees, I ordered the Duck Duck Goose and my fiance ordered the rack of lamb. My duck was cooked perfectly, served over polenta and with pate. It was incredible and the flavors were absolutely perfect together. My fiances lamb was also perfectly cooked, and he absolutely loved his black garlic risotto. We also ordered a side of the parmesan risotto. It was all wonderful. To end the evening, we ordered the stone fruit cobbler and the chocolate mousse. I'm honestly not sure how we managed to eat these, because we had already eaten so much! The fact that we finished these, also, is a testament to how delicious they were. It was a lovely evening, a wonderful meal, and I hope to come back soon.
(5)Rob K.
Great option on Mount Washington. The food was very good and the fresh baked breads were outstanding. A fantastic view complements an atmosphere not as stuffy as some of its neighbors on Grandview. There are a nice selection of entrees on the menu that would appeal to just about any taste. The prices seemed to reflect the quality of food quite well. Also, we shared the vanilla bean mousse dessert. The dish came with homemade shortbread cookies for dipping - delicious!
(5)Steven B.
Wonderful! Dined here for a team dinner with work colleagues and loved both the food and the service. Pork chops were delicious and enormous and the desserts were all tasty. Service was impeccable. Even when we absentmindedly added a tip at the end for a large group, they called to say they figured we didn't want double gratuity and would only charge us the original amount!
(5)Nolan C.
This is one of my favorite spots in Pittsburgh. The environment is young but upscale. The staff is incredibly friendly, and you will not regret any of the drinks you order (the wine list is phenomenal) and the food holds it own. One down fall, on busy nights they do struggle seating you on time.
(5)Brett H.
Extremely clean and modern restaurant with beautiful views over looking Heinz and downtown Pittsburgh. Can take the trolley up the hill and walk. Came for a work event and the food was delicious. Service was great and staff was very accommodating. Great place for a date or to take a client for dinner.
(5)Emma D.
I was so excited to go to Altius, but the experience left me lacking. I didn't hate it, but I wasn't blown away. I'll start with the positives. I love that every table starts with a bowl of popcorn. I'm not sure if the flavor changes, but we had this amazing savory chicken and waffles flavoring. The food is great, there is no doubt about it. It's pretty meat heavy, so vegetarians beware. The small plates were all delicious and I had an amazing short rib with mole for an entree. The cocktails were great too, and my party all commented on how great the wine list is. So what went wrong? Call me crazy, but I have certain expectations when I go to a restaurant where most entrees are $40+. One of those expectations? That it's properly, or should I say consistently lit. Due to sharing a power grid with the incline, the lights in the restaurant flickered every time the cars ascended or descended. I think this wouldn't be a problem early in the evening, but we had a late dinner. The lights were during up and down fairly often. it was really noticeable, it was like someone was playing with a dimmer switch. It took asking a few servers until we discovered why--most of them brushed it off, pretended they didn't know, or said "Our building is haunted". I think in the end, I would return here, but not for a full meal. The view is great, but I'd only stay for a drink as to avoid the dizzying light-changes.
(3)Ryan B.
Fanfreakingtastic! The view of the city, appetizers, dinner and dessert were GREAT! Service was good and the overall experience was just the perfect cap to my long weekend in the Burgh.
(5)Melissa B.
Great views, updated and modern design, attentive and friendly service but unfortunately food was not so great. Crab soup was good, not great. Sea bass was below average (disappointing) and peanut butter chocolate dessert was good, but not great. We were there for a Monday night work dinner where it was a pre-fix, shortened, 3 course menu. Wish I could give it more stars due to great staff and view but the food was truly 3 stars.
(3)Jodi H.
LOVE this place--the food is amazing and the view is spectacular! Been there twice and pleased with everything from the drinks to the service to the awesome food!
(5)Carolyn P.
I have been to Altius twice. The view is superb, the food is good, not great, the service is good. Unfortunately, the selection of wines is poor and terribly overpriced. I enjoy having a good glass or two of full-bodied red wine. It doesn't exist at Altius. No Malbec's, no Cabernets by the glass. So, I ordered a bottle of wine for $68 that the waiter recommended. It was not full bodied as I had requested and had no depth. We didn't return it, but in the future, I'll bring my own bottle of wine.
(3)Mickey T.
Finally. Finally! A restaurant on Mt. Washington where the food and service match the spectacular views. Quite an upgrade from the old tired Georgetown it replaced. Highly recommended.
(5)Russ D.
If you've read my review for CURE, this one will sound quite familiar. Made reservations for a birthday dinner 2 weeks in advance for a Sat night. Arrived and were promptly seated at an awesome table. Like CURE, a modern atmosphere. Despite being packed and tables fairly close together, noise level was totally fine. Didn't have to shout, didn't feel others were eavesdropping on your conversation. These 2 restaurants are essentially equal at this point with the exception of the spectacular view at Altius. That being said, I'm there to eat not look. So how about that food/drink? Started w/ the charcuterie plate with local meats and cheeses, as well as fresh bread. The rosemary foccacia was particularly stellar. The accompanying honey/molasses butter and sun-dried tomato olive oil were perfectly complimentary. At some point our server also brought out a gift from the chef that was a 'shooter' of some kind with onion in it. I can't remember any more detail than that - but it was good. For entrees we went w/ Duck, Duck, Goose and a Trout special. Both were fantastic and very well presented. Since it was a birthday dinner, we were provided a complimentary piece of vanilla bean cheesecake - unexpected and a nice touch. So at this point you may be asking - why only 3 stars? Remember I said this place is quite similar to CURE in my opinion? But first - there's that complimentary popcorn people talk of...at one point during the meal our server just came by and swiped it off the table. Didn't ask if we were done with it, or anything of the sort. We just kind of looked at each other as if 'did that just happen?". Now I don't eat popcorn so it wasn't necessarily an issue for me, but my date was enjoying it - until she was no longer able to! Strange. Second - drinks. I got 2 cocktails, my date one cocktail and a glass of wine. Wine is wine. Cocktails - pretty watered down, particularly at $12/pop. Pretty much sugar. Usually 2 cocktails has me feeling pretty good - I couldn't even tell I had a drink at all here. I would have ordered a beer, but $8 for a Great Lakes draft that's $3.50 at Giant Eagle of all places is just a little ridiculous on the mark-up. I'm sure the rent on Grandview is high, but c'mon. Third - while the food was excellent, just as CURE, it's simply over-priced for what you get. Portion size on my dish at least, simply didn't measure up to the price tag. One app, 4 drinks, 2 entrees, 1 shared dessert, and $160 later - and I'm still hungry. Compare that to the $95 I spent at M&P earlier in the week for a Southern Tier tasting with 5 courses and 5 beers where I left uncomfortably stuffed, and well... Fourth - Service. Overall - very friendly and genuine. But the pacing is SLOW. I don't think it was anything on the part of our server, it seems planned that way. It was a Saturday night as well, so it was busy. Were offered more bread and accepted, but it took almost 15 minutes for it to arrive it seemed. 2 hour seatings just aren't my thing. To be fair this is just a personal preference, as some are the complete opposite and are totally content sitting there all night long. One last thing that rubbed me the wrong way. I wanted to try the duck reuben off the bar menu IN ADDITION to my Duck, Duck, Goose entree - yes I eat a lot - but was told I could not do so where I was seated. What's the difference where I am seated?! It's the same kitchen?! One of the only times somebody has told me they DIDN'T want more of my money, and therefore more of a tip. Again, strange. So it's hard to justify, even for special occasions. If somebody wanted to go, I wouldn't turn it down or steer them away, but I wouldn't seek it out either. Just ok.
(3)Ron E.
Top quality across the board. What you'd expect from a top 3 restaurant in a major city.
(5)Rick X.
I took my wife here for our one year anniversary and it couldn't have been a better choice. Since I don't live in Pittsburgh anymore and it was her first time visiting, I really wanted her to eat atop Mt. Washington. After speaking to my friends (who are hardcore foodies) and reading reviews on tripadviser and yelp, it became clear that Altius was the place to go. Making a reservation was painless and I asked for a window with a view since it was our anniversary. Making no guarantees, they said they would try their best to accommodate. When we arrived, the valet (I think it was $6-8) was polite and quick. Since we arrived about 15 minutes early, our table wasn't ready, but they did seat us in the bar. They had an excellent choice of wines, cocktails and craft beers. I ordered a wheat beer and my wife ordered a cocktail. The bartender gave us some crunchy snacks that were well-flavored. After five or so minutes we were seated along the window (as requested) and it was an AMAZING view. The maitre d' brought over our unfinished drinks as the server was brining their signature flavored popcorn appetizer (complimentary). For appetizers my wife ordered the oysters and I ordered a creative gourmet take on a caesar salad that utilized kale, thick cut bacon pieces, hand shaved fresh cheese, duck egg and fresh anchovies. Everything had proper texture, flavor and the portion sizes were just right. The oysters came with an angel hair, cucumber melody that was slightly sweet. A great compliment to the saltiness of the oyster. For the main course my wife had the duck duck goose, while I ordered lamb and pom frites. All the meat was savory, well-portioned and cooked to proper textures. While it came with sauce on the side, the infused seasoning and quality of the meats made them delicious and well enough to stand on their own. The duck, duck, goose was paired with polenta and kale. We also added a side of grilled asparagus that were done right. My rack of lamb had wonderful sautéed mushrooms, a garlic risotto and carrots to accompany, all of which were top notch. The added pom frites came with ketchup, aioli and a foie gras-based sauce. For desert, we coconut fruit plate and soufflé were outstanding. They were not overly rich or fatty tasting but fresh, light and just the right amount of sweetness to finish a meal. I also had a cup of the house coffee which was rich and flavorful. The service was wonderful. Our server was polite, moved quickly and made excellent wine recommendations. He also made sure our table always had enough free space and our water glassed full. The best touch of all? They surprised us with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate sauce on our dessert plate. We actually ended up staying about 20 minutes past closing (on accident) and not one time did we feel rushed or that the staff was annoyed. Very classy move by Altius. The restroom was five star quality with artistic fixtures, scented candles and real hand towels. The overall decor was modern, minimalistic and clean. It was not old and stuffy like some of the other older restaurants on Mt. Washington. The crowd was relatively younger professionals but not too young. We had a great time and though expensive, it was worth every penny.
(5)Teresa T.
Awesome! I took my husband here for his birthday. I made a reservation a couple of weeks in advance via OpenTable. It's cool that they have the people dining on a lower level than those drinking/eating at the bar so everyone has a view of Pittsburgh. It was a clear night so we could see Pittsburgh's beautiful skyline even though we didn't have window seating. You will be stuffed by the time you get your entrees and even more so before you leave with the popcorn and bread to start off before your meals! Nonetheless we ordered the charcuterie to start off with and everything is from local/Amish businesses - delicious and then my husband had the pork chop which was ginormous! and I had the duck which was tenderly cooked, it melted in my mouth with each bite. I wish we had room for dessert because the options looked good but we received a treat to take home from the pastry chef - a piece of toffee bar. Modern vibe which makes Altius standout from the other places on Mt. Washington - a place for something special or a night out on the town! The only downer was that I called the day of to see if they could accommodate two more people and the person on the phone seemed rude about my question but it might have been that there was a lot going on.
(5)Maren V.
I am usually not a fan of the Mt Washington "fine dining" scene. Overpriced mediocre food with the hopes of a view of the city. Altius, however, was everything you could want in a meal with the added bonus of a fantastic view from any table in the house. My boyfriend and I decided to give it a try for Valentines Day based on the previews reviews and the fact that they had a four course (and then some- which I'll get to below) prix fixe menu for $85 a person- not too bad on a day restaurants can basically charge whatever they want. As soon as we were seated we were given a tasty bite of the truffle popcorn many other reviewers have mentioned and it did not disappoint! I was pleased to see that the prix fixe menu offered at least four options per course (more for some) and all sounded delicious. We ordered a bottle of wine and began the great menu draft of VDay dinner 2015. With so many delicious options we didn't want to order any of the same items, so we went through course by course carefully planning our winning teams. I ended up going with the tuna poke, baby kale salad with butternut squash and smoked bacon dressing, roasted lamb- crusted in mint & served with whole grain mustard sauce/berry compote/green beans/& leek mash, and the "half baked" brownie with cherries and salted caramel sauce. My boyfriend went with the oysters with Tabasco pearls (fun!), watercress salad with brie en croute and light vinaigrette, ribeye and jumbo gulf shrimp served with some delicious tomato horseradish aioli thing along with green beans and potatoes, and a mango/berry chocolate almond bomb. Phew, that was a lot to remember. While we both felt like mine was the winning menu (arms up in victory!), both meals were prepared perfectly and incredibly delicious. The lamb and steak were a perfect medium rare and all the flavors combined to make the perfect bites. In addition to the ridiculous amount of food listed above (all generous portions) we also received an amuse bouche of an edible spoon with chocolate/orange marscapone/strawberry on top, and homemade parker house rolls with seasoned butter and roasted red pepper pesto. Everything about the food was impeccable and even sitting at a table away from the windows we still had a nice view. My only two (very small) gripes were that while the wine was delicious, the cheapest bottle of red was $48. It couldn't hurt to add in one or two options in the $30-40 range. Also, the chairs are a mod style and, while comfortable, did not serve much in the way of a coat rack. I believe there was a coat check but neither of the two hostesses or the maître d who sat us offered it. All in all a great meal and we will definitely be back to try the regular dinner menu and/or the brunch!
(5)Roger g.
Great food great service had to wait 20 minutes, had an 8:30 got there a little early. Other than that the duck duck was so good, wife had the halibut and that was awesome. Drinks, desert and service were great!!
(5)Amanda R.
The Duck Duck Goose was perfectly cooked and was excellent. The ambiance was perfect. They have a terrific wine list. The service was impeccable. My only complaint was that the charcuterie board was kind of basic. Overall, a lovely experience.
(4)Kostas P.
We had heard very good words for this new place on Mt. Washington and sine we were always looking for a place that could provide the great view with a good quality food we decided to give it a shot. We were not disappointed at all! The place is very elegant with a classy, modern ambiance. The stuff is extremely helpful and the food is great as well! I love when restaurants offer bread with the mean and this one does (and the bread is great as well!). The view is phenomenal. We were lucky enough to sit right by the window and we could see the whole city. I think Altius will be there for quiet some time since the combination of service, food and location makes it rather unique. I will be definitely going back to try more of their menu. It is also highly recommended for special occasions (e.g., first date, anniversaries etc.) :)
(5)Eric S.
Took my girlfriend here for her birthday. It was an overall good experience. I had made reservations a few days in advance and called and asked for a window table (told they could not guarantee it); however, we arrived 10 minutes early and they were able to clear a window table for us. We used the valet service for $6 upfront even though we live within walking distance (didn't want to be walking up those hills in nice clothes). We started off with the charcuterie. It was yummy; however, most of the meats seemed to be saltier than other charcuterie I have had before. I got the Lamb Rack and she got the chicken. The lamb was a little more towards medium than medium rare, and they did not cut the rack up into individual slices (had to get my hands messy cutting the rack apart myself). But it had good flavor. The risotto was good but I could only eat a portion of it because it was just so salty. The chicken was a slightly dry but the glaze (girlfriend asked for it to be on the side which was a good choice as it was delicious but concentrated) helped to add some moisture. The vegetables were fantastic. We ended the meal with the Strawberry Pretzel Cake. OMG!!! Fantastic and a must try! The cocktails were good but nothing to get overly excited about. We would definitely go back!
(4)Chuck C.
What a great venue! Great pairings, interesting offerings and top notch service. We were a party of a dozen with a plan to celebrate a great convention and decided to visit a local restaurant togethr. Chef Jessica put together a great evening for us, the staff were very attentive and the food offerings had a wide variety. We even toasted the brussel sprouts! Wine list was very nice with many good choices and not overly expensive for the expectations of the reataurant. The view of downtown Pittsburgh and all three rivers is unsurpassed. The evening started with day light and as we progressed through the courses and night time came the lights of downtown livened the atmospere. With the attentive staff, very fine wine and excellent food, I had goose goose duck, it was a night to remember. Then as the cherry on the top of the evening, Chef Jessica came out and thanked us for sharing her dream. What an honor and what an asset for Pittsburgh. With a parting gift of a most tasty triple fudge browny we were off, satisfied and happy to have shared at such a nice place.
(5)Tom M.
Food was good. A bit overpriced but good quality. Biggest gripe for us was management. The head honcho (manager) was a bit pompous, told us right off that he couldn't guarantee us a window seat even though we reserved 2 weeks in advance. Fine, but seems to me they could've handled that better esp considering we were seated in pretty much the opposite location... Nowhere near a window. Also waited past reservation time for a table, and were given a defensive response when we politely asked abt it. The bartender was not very responsive, although it looked like she needed more help. The waiter was excellent. Nice guy, personable and quite knowledgeable. We won't be back any time soon.
(3)Christina W.
I am visiting Pittsburgh so don't know anything about the area. A friend found a listing for this fairly new place so we thought we'd give it a try. The atmosphere was great - everything was clean and the view of the city and river awesome! Watching a storm roll through from that vantage point was fun. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable about their food and wine menus. We had the tongue starter - neither of us had ever tried tongue. I was pleasantly surprised it was so good. The chef sent us a small sample of another starter - another pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, I can't remember what it was called but it was delicious. Some sort of chicken salad in a small tart-type crust. Yum! I had the pork chop and it nearly melted in my mouth - couldn't have asked for better. If I'm ever back in Pittsburgh, this place will be on my list again!
(5)Luke K.
I go to a lot of business dinners and am from Chicago, so I've been to many fine restaurants. I can easily say that this is the best meal I've ever had - to date. We started with the cocktails - i got the Clover Club - a bit fruitier than i expected, but mostly because they were using real ingredients. We also had the charcuterie appetizer - out of bounds, order two, you'll be happy you did. We had 7 people so we ordered 3 - all of which were swiftly decimated. I ordered the "tongue 'n cheek" appetizer, which was really great, but you have to like beef tongue. I also ordered the "Duck, Duck, Goose" - the goose pate portion of this dish alone made my mouth scream with passion - it's that good. I won't mention the baked chocolate mousse because i'm pretty sure it's illegal.
(5)Rick K.
My wife and I went there last night for our anniversary. The service was first-rate, from start to finish. The wait staff was friendly and helpful without ever being obtrusive or (as is sometimes the case in high end restaurants) condescending. The food was delicious, from starters to main courses to dessert. There was a touch too much salt in a couple of the dishes for my taste, but otherwise everything was interesting, fresh, attractively presented, and tasty. The decor was spare, but tasteful. The view is, of course, magnificent. And there isn't really a bad table in the restaurant, upstairs or down. Finally, considering what you get, I think that the pricing is very reasonable. I will definitely go back!
(5)Slj J.
The restaurant itself is beautiful, modern, and has a great space for private parties. I had the Chardonnay by the glass and unfortunately thought it was overpriced for such a brassy finish. I was excited for the green gazpacho and the presentation was fantastic, but I was confused by the addition of minced almonds which kind of texturally ruined an otherwise extremely promising starter with a nice kick. The texture confusion continued with the main course in a gnocchi that was gritty, along with it being under seasoned. The flavor profile and presentation were excellent though. Again, overall, nothing was bad, just mediocre. If you're trying to impress a date with food, just go to Isabela up the street. If your date is more into decor, go here. They both have the spectacular view.
(3)Bobby T.
Great view, of course. That's the easy part. Went on its second night of operation and had a great meal. Service needed work but that's to be expected on day 2. Can't wait to go back again and see how menu changes and how the growing pains have how philly ironed themselves out. Living on the Mt. means having good restaurants is exciting.
(4)Carlin C.
Finally mount Washington has a restaurant worth going to. I would highly recommend the "duck duck goose" entree. There were some minor things that could be better, but they are still working through Being a new restaurant.
(4)Maria P.
I wish I could actually rate this place (yelp made me put atleast one star), but after three attempts at making a reservation for New Year's Eve I have given up and decided to go with our back up reservation at Eleven. I called at the beginning of November and they said they only take reservations 30 days in advance - understandable. So, I made a note on my calendar and called on December 1st. But, I was informed that they were still not taking reservations until tomorrow or the next day. Called back today and they said they started taking reservations yesterday (I guess after I called at 3PM?) but they still could only take my name and number and call me back in 24-48 hrs because the girl organizing all the reservations didnt work today and only one person was taking reservations to "keep it simple"...yea, simple for them. I'm not trusting this place with my New Year's Eve reservations if they are giving me thing much of a runaround....maybe next year Altius.
(1)Richard M.
My Wife and I came to Pittsburgh for the Art Festival and thought we would have dinner at Altius, since we had received a recommendation from a local. The service was very good and we were very impressed with the over all attention; but the food was another story. I ordered the Salmon and Lobster which was excellent and my wife had ordered the Lamb, which arrived over cooked. Our server Cheryl, took the dinner back and 20-25 minutes later (and after I had finished my dinner) the second lamb arrived and it was raw, which again was verified by the server. So now, she took it back and my wife changed her order and waited another 20-25 minutes. I then watch my wife eat her dinner well over an hour and 15-20 minutes after arriving to Altius. It was a terrible experience, when ordering a lamb dinner at $40 bucks it would be nice to have it prepared correctly. You would have thought the entire dinner would have been compted, but no. My wife's dinner was compted but after such an experience, you would have though the management would have stepped up and said "hey guys we blew it" this dinner is on us. That never happened!. We think we have figured out why these things happened. At about the same time all this started to happened, the current Governor of California, Jerry Brown, arrived and it seemed that all attention was directed to him and I think our order was affected; since he had more servers than Mike Tyson had in his hay day. The next time we are in town we will give them another chance; my wife still wants to try the Lamb! Rick & Brenda
(3)Christine H.
We went here for my birthday celebration and I wasn't disappointed. A great view of the city with contemporary decor (nice change from the stuffiness of other longtime Mt. Washington favorites) From the flavored popcorn to the variety of fresh breads the meal was off to a great start. Everyone in my group enjoyed their starters (baby kale, watercress salad and sea scallop), entrees (chilean sea bass/special, line caught halibut, butternut squash ricotta gnocchi and filet mignon) and the variety and creativeness of the mocktails and cocktails. Our nine year old rated the dinner 100 thumbs up :) Table service was attentive We plan on a return trip!
(5)Arlene M.
What a wonderful place for a birthday dinner!!! It is really hard to believe that this restaurant was once the former Georgetowne Inn. They have free Wi FI and offer valet parking for $6.00. We knew to expect popcorn as our welcome food. Had to refrain from eating all of it so we could enjoy our meals. I choose the chiliean seabass that comes with saffron Lobster cous cous, brown butter broccolini, and carrot ginger emulsion. My husband opted for the PA Amish chicken breast with corn veloute, purple potato puree, fried green tomato and gold tomato aiul. Before our meal we got to sample a small glass of chilled potato soup. It was very creamy and good. Our waitress brought us a choice of 3 different breads along with accompanying butter or sauce for us to choose from. She was extremely attentive to our needs. Since we had made a reservation we were able to secure a table by the window. I noticed that if you sit down in this area the dress is business casual. Up a couple of stairs is a bar and seating area where dress is fairly casual. When our meals were served they came beautifully arranged My sea bass just seemed to melt in my mouth goodness. My husband's Amish chicken breast also came with a small thigh and leg attached to it. He loved every bite of it. The portions were just right so we decided to order dessert. I ordered the chocolate cake and he ordered the peanut butter bar. Just before the waitress brought them she brought me a birthday chocolate brownie with whipped cream and fruit with "Happy birthday" written on it. It was so good! Had I known this would happen I wouldn't have ordered dessert. However, the chocolate cake did not disappoint. It wasn't a large piece but it came with chocolate sorbet and blueberries which had a zing to it. My husband's peanut butter bar came with a chocolate stick and a caramel bar. He loved every bite of it. While we were dining the owner came around, wished me a happy birthday, and asked how we were enjoying our meal. I told him we were delightfully pleased. The place is well lit so we had good interior views as well as exterior. We settled our bill and as we were preparing to go they gave us a bag with triple chocolate macadamia nuts and sea salts. This restaurant is very pricey but for us since it was a special occasion well worth the money. I most definitely will return when the occasion warrants it.
(5)Jessica B.
My fiance and I went here for our anniversary, and it's definitely worth the splurge -- maybe from the view alone! Very unique, high-end dishes and lovely service. I honestly cannot think of a more perfect spot for date night!
(4)Alice M.
A few things stand out about Altius: 1. Altius does a fabulous job with service. They start off with some complimentary spiced popcorn, an amuse bouche, and some bread, and they finish by giving you a mini-dessert to go in a bag. Sometimes the little things count for a lot. 2. The VIEW. If you get seated near the window, count yourself lucky, because it's probably the best view in Pittsburgh. We came on a clear evening and walked around the sleek dining room to take some pictures while we waited. The restaurant extends into the cliffs of Mt. Washington, and it is gorgeous! 3. The Chilean sea bass. This was my favorite dish of the night by far. Beautifully presented, perfectly prepared, melted in your mouth and went well with all of its complements. I will definitely remember this dish for the next time I come back. Given both the food and the views/service, Altius deserves 5 stars. :)
(5)Jane S.
Came here for date night on a weekday. It was quite busy but we had reservations so were seated quickly. Service here is great- attentive and friendly. You're started off with complimentary gourmet popcorn as well as a bread offering that's probably one of the best I've had in the city! Hard not to fill up first on the bread! We ordered the "duck duck goose" and a seasonal salmon dish as our mains. We skipped the appetizers as we tend to eat smaller portions to begin with, and already had plenty of bread and popcorn! The entrees were delicious and rich. Before our meal arrived, we were also treated to a complimentary amuse-bouche which tasted refreshing and perfect for summer (a halibut ceviche in a pastry shell). We skipped dessert as well since we already had plans to get ice cream elsewhere, but the dessert menu looked fantastic. Prices are on the higher end, but you're most likely paying a bit more for the location/view. We easily managed our meal for under $100 for 2 drinks and 2 entrees and were quite satisfied. Quality over quantity. Would certainly recommend for a special occasion or if you're showing off Pittsburgh to visitors.
(4)Tim W.
Spectacular food and service matched with a spectacular view! My wife's birthday was coming up and I was trying to think of somewhere new to take her. We had gone to the Georgetowne Inn every Valentine's Day for years as they always ran a special and were the most affordable fine dining option on Grandview. I saw an article about Altius in Pittsburgh Magazine and immediately knew that, that is where I would be taking her. I easily made reservations through the Open Table App and notated that it was my wife's birthday and requested a table at the window if available. My wife had no idea where we were going for her birthday. I just told her to get dressed up and that I would be wearing a suit. Once we started to go up P.J. McArdle Roadway she got excited. She guessed as we past each restaurant on "Restaurant Row" on Grandview Avenue until we pulled up to the valet at Altius. Once inside we were greeted by the hostess and she also greeted my wife with a Happy Birthday as soon as I gave my name. We were about an hour and 15 minutes early for our reservation so we went over and had a seat in the bar area. We started off with drinks. I had "The Point" ($12) It had Absolut Vodka, Strawberries, Basil and Lemonade and my wife had a "Havana 75" ($12). It had Bacardi Superior, St. Germaine, Maraschino Juice, Lime Juice and Bubbly. We went with the Charcuterie plate ($14) as our appetizer. It features house made and local cured meats, Pennsylvania artisanal cheese, grilled breads, cornichons, pickled teardrop peppers, mustard, jam and honeycomb. While waiting for our appetizer we were brought some of that delicious complementary popcorn. It kind of took a while for our drinks and appetizer to arrive but, the place was packed and very busy. The Charcuterie plate was absolutely amazing. The meats and cheeses were just EPIC! About an hour later I settled our bill and we made our way over to the seat to wait to be called for our table for dinner. Twenty minutes later one of the hostesses, Kris came and took us up to our table on the second level. Upon seating us at a table right next to the window she told us who our waiter would be and also told my wife Happy Birthday. A few seconds later, Michael our waiter for the evening came over to tell us about the specials for the evening and also wished my wife a Happy Birthday. He took our drink orders which were the same as we had at the bar downstairs. A few minutes later he was back with our cocktails, a bottle of Nordaq Still water ($3) and more of that amazing popcorn. For entrees I went with the 28 Day Dry Aged Ribeye Special ($56) served with fingerling potatoes and baby carrots and the birthday girl started off with the Baby Greens Salad. ($9) It features pickled carrots, heirloom tomatoes, hot house cucumbers, aged balsamic vinaigrette and chose the Australian Lamb Rack as her entree. ($44) It featured herb crust, veal demi glace, risotto, grilled peach, crumbled gorgonzola, and roasted grapes. A few moments later a waitress came by and offered us a choice of three breads with two different spreads to try. Soon after our entrees came. My wife let me try her Lamb and let me just say that it was amazing! It was so good. My Ribeye was cooked to perfection. It was so tender and juicy it literally melted in my mouth. It was like beef flavored butter!. Once we were done with our meals Michael whisked our plates away to be packed to go so we could have desert. He told the birthday girl to pick any dessert off the menu since it would be on the house. She chose the Peanut Butter Bar (Chocolate flourless cake, peanut praline, peanut butter mousse, candied bacon peanut brittle, frozen banana custard, crème anglaise) It was simply amazing. Another waiter took our popcorn before we could say anything as we wanted to take it home since we had already had some at the bar. I let Michael know and he packed us a fresh full container of popcorn to take with us. Michael's level of service was exceptional the whole evening as he took great care of us and kept my glass full. I think he told my wife Happy Birthday no less than 5 times throughout the evening. Yes Altius is quite expensive as a dinner for two including an appetizer and a couple drinks can easily hit $250 with tax and tip but, the view, level of service and quality of the food warrant that type of price. Hell, even the water was the best I have ever tasted! Dinner here for a special occasion is a must!
(5)Matthew S.
Altius is one of the nicest places in Pittsburgh. The renovations to the old Georgetown inn are striking. They modernized and I like the new look. The view is still amazing. Service was outstanding. Very attentive. Good was fantastic. Had the sea bass and bone in steak. Both were top notch. Also had a bunch of apps. All great. This is a must visit. Great for a date night.
(5)Nicole B.
I thought the view would be the pinnacle of the meal. How wrong I was! From start to finish, this could not have been a more perfect evening. We came at the right time - just before sunset, and had time to linger at the top of Mount Washington. We came a few minutes before our reservation and had time to mingle for a moment at the bar, which was well stocked and staffed, with a pleasant atmosphere. The maitre'd seated us on the second floor and by the window. She started us off with a lovely bottle of french white wine from their well-curated collection. We enjoyed the she-crab soup to share, as well as the complimentary bread (they had warm, fresh gluten free bread for my dinner partner) and dill popcorn. The amuse bouche was a spectacular combination of goat cheese and fresh, flavorful peach. For our main course, my partner selected the duck, with a side of risotto, and I chose the vegetables and fresh ravioli. We elected not to order dessert this time (because we were stuffed), though the menu looked wonderful. I could not have imagined a more perfect Pittsburgh location, more well-designed menu, or more lovely service. I was impressed start to finish, and we will absolutely be back. If you are going to spend this kind of money on dinner, make sure you are going somewhere with this much attention to detail. This would be the perfect spot to impress someone thoroughly.
(5)Amy M.
I live right around the corner from Altius and I was so excited to hear that a new restaurant was coming to the neighborhood. We decided to visit for brunch. At $29, the Prix Fixe brunch was a little more than I usually like to spend but man oh man it was worth it. I think my Crispy Amish Chicken Waffle Sandwich was blessed by sweet baby Jesus himself. The flavors were great, the chicken was juicy and perfect (local meat makes a difference) and the waffle was crispy and delicious! A lot of the restaurants up here depend upon the Mt. Washington view to dazzle diners. They are one trick ponies. But not Altius. Sure, the view is impressive here but the food stood up on it's own. The service was excellent and the decor was also impressive! Can't wait to visit again.
(5)Tracy N.
You can't go wrong with Altius. It's got the food, the service, the view, and the ambiance. Great for special occasions, business dinners, and to impress friends who are visiting Pittsburgh. I've been a couple of times to Altius and have seen pretty much everything on their menu and it's all great. It's easy for a nice restaurant to be just about the view, but Altius really takes it away with their entrees. The meat dishes are awesome and the special (which is usually fish) is worth ordering every time. Just a note that some dishes come with sides so you may not need to order sides for the table. The service has been impeccable every time. Friendly, fast, and considerate. The view is iconic downtown Pittsburgh, you can see the rivers flow through the gothic buildings of downtown. It's especially beautiful during sunset. If you have someone visiting, seriously this is the place to take them to enjoy a night out!
(5)Shawn O.
It seems that no Grandview Avenue restaurant can deliver on the perfect four: 1. Great view 2. Good food 3. High level of service 4. Reasonable price I had high hopes that Altius would crack this 4 pronged Fort Knox after learning it is run by the same group as Bistro 19, but alas, it fell short on #3 and #4. 1. The view is killer... Leave it at that and look at the pictures 2. The food, while not mind boggling, surpasses all other options on Mount Washington, so it gets a pass. 3. The service... oh, the service. A maybe it's because we dined at restaurant week, but it was lacking. No one offered to take our coats, we never received the raved about bread service, the wrong table's meals were delivered to our table twice and ours were delivered to another... It just was sub-par for a joint at this price point. 4. The price. While we dined on the restaurant week special, I took note of the main menu. Prices are easily inflated 10-20% over what similarly priced/quality food would be at other PGH locations and a $12 Captain Morgan mixed cocktail... Really? While i was glad we tried it, I had wanted to use this as a special occasion joint Instead, I'll likely be looking elsewhere.
(3)Kylene W.
My husband and I recently dined here on a whim. No special plans or events. Pure spontaneity!! I've tried a few restaurants here on Grandview Ave and nothing can compare to Altius. This is by far one of my favorite restaurants in the city!! I love the design of the room, from the spectacular view, the comfortable chairs and tables, down to the place mats used. "Chilewich" to be exact. I'm not even going to mention the china they use for the espresso!! OMG, I want! They really thought about their customers when creating a space to experience this level of dining. We can appreciate that!! Once seated, I was immediately mesmerized by the view. Pittsburgh is beautiful. We were taken care of by a young gentleman, good manners, friendly. I don't think I can complain about anything. The customer service was stellar! But if you want to know why, it's because he never crossed or reached across our table while we ate, he never touched the rims of our glasses to fill our cup, he always came back to check on us and offered more wine and water (tap). The servers never touched the rims of our plates. The appetizers and food came out at appropriate times. Everyone who worked there looked like they LOVED their jobs. When you have a restaurant like this, all the minute (not minute ;p ) differences can make or break the experience. Appetizer Charcuterie with artisan cheeses from PA and house made and local cured meat. Comes with lots of fun things like honeycomb, jam, whole grain mustard, pickled veggies, grilled pita and focaccia bread. I love this because the favor combinations are endless and fun! Entree Berkshire pork chop Colorado rack of lamb Both were well seasoned, succulent, juicy, and cooked to perfection, large portions! Bone marrow red wine risotto: buttery, creamy, the red wine gives a slight tang flavor. It's delicious! Dessert Malted vanilla bean Pot de Creme with spiced cider sorbet and raspberry coulis and shortbread cookies. YUM! Limoncello - Sweet yet smooth and warms your soul. Food. The food was excellent! What I loved about this restaurant, is that they are very generous with their portions!!! (Don't you dare change!!) You go to these expensive restaurants expecting lots of food but you get a few bites. Not only that but Altius takes that extra step in making the experience complete. For example, we ordered an espresso. We got an espresso. BUT we got an espresso with a biscotti! Why? Because why wouldn't someone want a biscotti with an espresso? It's like them saying "Thank you for choosing Altius". I'm telling you, it's the little things or maybe I'm a sucker for those little details. 1. Stunning view/ambiance and design 2. Stellar service 3. Delicious food 4. Expensive but not overpriced 5. And little surprises along the way! For all the reasons I've mentioned above, I will always come back!
(5)