4. Restaurants

Nine On Nine

900 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222
  • (412) 338-6463
  • Store is closed

Nine On Nine Menu

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  • Leiha K.

    Our table was ready when we arrived and I asked for them to turn the table so that my boyfriend and I could sit closer, they happily did so. The ambiance was wonderful, low lightly, quiet, and romantic. We started by ordering drinks from their "prohibition" drink selection. Very tasty. One was a mint drink (sadly don't remember the names) and the other a more creamy drink. Both delicious. Moved on to cocktails and they were well made. I'm fairly picky with my alcoholic beverages and I was pleased here. Our waiter was on the new side, and seemed a little timid. He didn't explain anything on the menu, he asked if we had questions though. He was kind, but you could tell he was new. We ordered the tasting menu, everything was elegant, and I had never tried a few things on this menu...such as bone marrow, foie gras,etc. I enjoyed them all. Only qualm was I needed the waiter to remind me what each course was because they were so intricately prepared I forgot the details. I would definitely go back again. Cheers!

    (4)

  • Eric A.

    Good food Good cocktails Steep prices but it's not like you didn't make the decision to go to an expensive restaurant. Kind of a boring place to eat but it sure is fancy.

    (4)

  • Matthew S.

    This was a great eating experience. Started with the fiox and the salad. Foix is rich and tasty. We then had the scallops and the steak. Scallop dish might be the best I've ever had. The Swiss chard with the scallops is a great pairing and the sweet potato puree is like desert with your dinner. the steak dish has a blue cheese hash that is ridiculously flavorful and pairs perfectly with the steak. Service was fantastic. Ali rocks. And cam from the kitchen came out to provide a little personal touch, along with JP. Cool drink selections as well. Very happy with our overall night and definitely suggest it for a romantic night out

    (5)

  • Larissa G.

    While Nine On Nine seems to offer a wonderful dining experience to many, I can't say I had a great time during my meal here. From the moment we walked in the door I knew I wasn't going to have a great dinner. The fact that it took an incredibly long time for the staff to come and seat us should have been a hint that this was not the dining establishment for me. When they did finally seat us, we were put at an uncomfortable high table in a dark, creepy, melancholic corner in the back of the bar area. It was either sit there, or sit at the table right by the door, where we'd shiver every single time someone opened the door. After waiting even longer for the staff to bring us a menu, we gave up and went to pick one up from the front ourselves, and then proceeded to squint and try to read said menu in our dark and poorly lit corner. Unfortunately their one-page dinner menu did not impress me at all; I spent more time mulling over the ten page booklet that was their wine menu. I've said before, I'm a girl who likes real choice on her menu. This was the exact opposite of that. I also really wasn't too excited to try much on this menu. The items on it just didn't really match my palette. When I tried one of these main dishes, which my guest ordered and offered to share, I was proven correct in my fears. The lobster mac and cheese just...tasted...off. I still can't put my finger on why, either. It wasn't outright bad, but one bite later I knew I wouldn't ever be ordering the dish for myself. I eventually ordered the kobe beef sliders and noticed when the sliders came out that they were on mini poppy seed buns, which the menu didn't mention (I don't particularly love poppy seed anything). The menu also didn't bother telling us what exactly Nine On Nine put on the sliders other than ketchup and meat. I honestly still don't know what I ate. It was an ok combo, but not at all what I expected, and just a little offputting. While any one of these things isn't a dealbreaker, together they led to a very unimpressive dining experience. Honestly I really have no intention of coming here again, seeing as my night at Nine On Nine can be summed up in one word: disappointing.

    (2)

  • Guy P.

    Walked in here for dinner on a Monday night. The bar had some good happy hour specials (1/2 off bar menu), so decided to do that. Service was kind of slow, considering we were 2 of 6 people in the entire place. Joseph made some pretty good drinks. Check out the sweet and spicy (basically a margarita with muddled jalepeños). Food was average, even at happy hour prices. Tacos, mussels, and lobster Mac were decent, but really lacking any type of wow factor. Don't think I would come here and pay full price for what they have.

    (3)

  • Carly K.

    Some of my work friends and I ordered takeout from the lunch menu. Because it was restaurant week, we just decided to order the restaurant week menu: soup, salad, and 1/2 a sandwich. It was nice of them to accomodate us with our takeout request, so that was much appreciated. I had 1/2 of a turkey club (with real applewood smoked bacon and real, oven roasted turkey on toasty bread), a small garden salad, and the soup of the day, which happened to be cream of mushroom. The salad was on the small side, as in there were only about five pieces of lettuce and two small grape tomatoes, but the dressing was nice and light, and for lunch, this was plenty of food. The sandwich was delicious, even without the mayo. Win! The bread was fresh and lightly toasted, and the sandwich was large for being just 1/2 of a sandwich. My favorite item was the mushroom soup. Super creamy, yet there was enough tang from the mushrooms to cut through the cream. Really delicious. Needless to say, I just had a small sampling of the lunch menu, so I look forward to reviewing the dinner menu soon!

    (4)

  • Michael Y.

    Best business lunch in town. This place is a block away from my office so it's hard not to go here weekly if not daily. Great place to take clients, your boss, or a lunch date.

    (4)

  • Lauren C.

    My experience here was a mixed bag. We went in around 7:45 on a Friday evening without a reservation and were able to get seated before the bartender even had a chance to finish making my white grapefruit martini which was very refreshing. For dinner, I opted to start with the spring salad minus the pig ear bacon. This was FABULOUS!!! I would have ordered a second one if it wasn't $10. I followed this up with the Tagliatelle Pasta (tomatoes, garlic and squash, oh my) which could have been amazing but was only so-so because I was served the most undercooked pasta ever. The flavors in the dish were awesome. I wanted to lick the plate but it was hard to get past the chewy pappardelle noodles (not tagliatelle) which were 2 minutes short of al dente. I did mention this to the waiter who passed along the info to the chef which I appreciated (witnessed it since the kitchen is so open). We passed on a dessert which is a rarity because they just didn't have many options and the ones they did weren't up our alley. I was craving cheesecake or some kind of fall dessert (maybe an apple turnover). Now here's the weird part. When the bill came, there were only three items on the menu (my dinner wasn't listed). I thought my pasta had been comped because it was so undercooked but then I realized the items in the bill totaled $16 less than the total bill (ie something was in the total that wasn't in the itemized listing). It just so happened to be my pasta. When I pointed it out the waiter, he just said it was an error in the system. Perhaps I'm reading into it, but I just thought it was shady that I was paying for it but it wasn't appearing on the bill. I don't know; must be the accountant in me. The inside of the restaurant is pleasant and the service was so-so. The waiter was a little inattentive given how few tables were filled. Overall though, I was pretty pleased. I really loved their use of flavors so I was more than willing to pay the higher-end prices but I was disappointed in my undercooked pasta.

    (4)

  • Crystal W.

    Food 4 Service 4 Decor 4 Atmosphere 4 My boyfriend visited me at Pittsburgh and took me to this place. He had made a reservation, and our table was ready when we arrived. So we got seated immediately. Our server came shortly to greet us, and offer us water. We knew exactly what we wanted, the taster menu, so we went ahead and put our order in. The service was pretty good, our server described every course that was served and check up on us to see if everything was good in the middle of every course. However, some courses were served by the another server, who explained the meal to us, and our server would come by and do it again. So it was a tad bit disorganized. The decor of this place was similar to any nice fine dining place. We were seated next to the full pane windows, so we could see Pittsburgh outside, so that was nice. The atmosphere was nice and intimate, so its nice for a date setting. We had a table next to us, who was a group of 5. They had a few to drink, so they got a little loud towards the end of the night. Finally the food. The meal started off very well. The bread served was delicious. We had the rosemary bread, chocolate bread and current bread with delicious whipped almond butter. The chocolate bread and rosemary bread was delicious. We asked for seconds. Our server warned us not to eat too much or we might not finish the meal (which was good for him to do), but he served it to us, and we happily nibbled away. The first course of the taster menu was a pumpkin bisque with cinnamon marshmallow. This was delicious, rich and creamy. The drops of vinaigrette, which balanced the sweetness of the marshmallow and pumpkin. This left us licking our spoons by the end of the dish and eagerly anticipating for the next. Next was the bone marrow with foie and toasted rye bread. This was absolutely divine. The bone marrow was silky and creamy and melted in your mouth along with the foie. The rustic flavor of the foie combined with the richness of the bone marrow was a burst of flavor in the mouth. More over, the play with texture, with the crunch of the crispy bread and the silkiness of the bone marrow and the foie melting in our mouths. We were scraping the edges of the plate for more. Next was the truffle risotto. This had good flavor. The risotto was a good consistency. It could have been more aldente in my perspective, but my boyfriend liked it, so it is a matter of preference. Nonetheless, still a great dish. Next was the scallop with sriracha foam, candied carrots and capers. We were exited to hear about the srirach foam, however, the flavor did not quite come out. The scallops were perfectly cooked though, with a seared crusty layer on the outside, and the tenderness of the meat when you bite into the scallop. Next was the foie gras with seasonal preparation, which was mainly berries and candied hazelnuts. I like the crunch the nuts added to the dish. The sweet and sourness of the berries also gave the foie gras a nice touch, cutting through the fattiness. My boyfirend thought the berries overpowered the foie gras, he prefers the traditional apply or pear paring, but I thought it was good. Next was our pallet cleanser. Mojito sorbet. This was when the meal, for me, started to plato, or maybe even gradually decline (The food was not bad, it was just not great, and did not compare with the previous courses). We were excited to hear that we got mojito sorbet, but when we tried it, the sorbet was simply too sweet, especially for a pallet cleanser. It also did not have the citrusy lime taste and minty taste of mojitos, but rather had a more sugary taste. Next we had the hanger steak with carrot and smoked potatoes. Maybe cause I am not a potato fan, or I was just really full, but there was nothing special about the potatoes to make me want to eat them after all those previous courses. The hanger steak was a little too well done and chewy for me, which was a let down from the previous courses. The steak was well seasoned though. However, it did not leave me wanting more. Finally, dessert...we had switched our dessert from the original three chocolate option on the menu to a kulfi like dessert with toaster merengue on top. This was a decent dessert. To be honest thought, it looked better than it tasted -- considering they it on fire and everything in front of us. For dessert, I usually judge how good it is by if I want to finish it even if I am really full (which I usually am). This was a dessert where you, poke at a few times, but is not so heavenly that you will devour the whole thing after a full meal. All in all, the beginning of the meal was amazing, but then started to go on a gradual decline towards the end. The dishes at the end were not bad, they just set our expectations very high in the beginning, and could not live up to them. I would recommend going here for a date, or a nice intimate meal.

    (4)

  • Nikki A.

    i'm not certain where the negative review are coming from. i've been to nine on nine multiple times, and it has never failed to disappoint. the food has been excellent, and prepared perfectly. i'll return again and again. as far as "needing more time to enjoy it", yes, i believe that is what dinner is supposed to be. obviously you don't make reservations for 6 when you have a show at 7. common sense. if you require additional cutlery, ASK ! i'm certain any server would be happy to bring whatever you desire. i'm also not certain its really a big deal for the server to place the incorrect meal in front of you... switch them ! so easy ! if you prefer to eat bar fare, go to a bar. if you enjoy applebees, go to apple bees and let the others that truly enjoy 9on9 eat their meal in peace.

    (5)

  • Scott S.

    Mediocre and Disappointing. (Pittsburgh restaurant scene way too competitive for this sort of thing). Saturday evening dinner with friends, a party of 4. NoN has a formal atmosphere and an impressive looking menu, but it failed to deliver in both service and in preparation and flavor. We had spotty service, with attention, followed by long gaps of inattention. I won't go into detail, but it took too long for each part of our order to be taken, too long with empty glasses on the table, too long to deliver bread (like 45 min after arriving), drinks delivered and dirty plates not removed (from a small table). If you're going to be this formal, even bordering on stuffy, then you're going to have to hold up tour end of the bargain. NoN did not. Appetizer of octopus salad: Large oblong plate, with salad on one half, and a streak of sauce on the other half. Sauce was weakly flavored, and the octopus grilled to dryness. Unremarkable. The other salad was a Beet salad. Again fussy looking, but nobody commented that it was actually good tasting. Then the mains. Pork Osso Bucco described as "maple root vegetables, porter reduction, blackberry, corn shoots" The pork was tender, but over salted, without any other contrasting notes. The root vegetables were roasted, and served with the now ubiquitous roasted kale (or was it brussels greens, I couldn't tell). No contrasting flavors, no maple, blackberry, etc. just umami roasted veg. Now the truly telling dish. The "Daily Vegetarian Offering." A plate with rice and chick-pea mini "burger patties" that were flavorless and dried out, with just a sprinkling of greens and small potatoes for garnish. Another nondescript sauce. The waiter said it was "really good." It was not. This is always such a disappointment. If you can't cook vegetables, just say so. If it's too hard to not fall back on something with "short rib" in the name, then just fess up. We understand. Not like there aren't entire cuisines that are almost entirely vegetarian with absolutely mind-blowing flavor combinations and inventiveness. We'll just order another salad for the main, and save it for a trip to any of a dozen local Thai, Indian or Vietnamese restaurants that know how great a veg dish can be. Or, while we're at it, any one of a dozen or so new entrants to the local scene that really care about the food their serving, even the "vegetables". Friends don't let friends take out-of-towners to NoN. Pittsburgh does so much better elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Pam M.

    Very disappointed at Nine on Nine. On September 27, 2014, an attentive manager could not make up for the inexperienced server and less than mediocre food served here. We were a party of twenty, with reservations made at least two weeks in advance. We were presented with a modified "party" menu that had a cold section (choice of 2 or 3 items), warm section (2-3 items), entrees (I think there were 4-5 choices including salmon, chicken, steak, vegetarian, and something else. Even with this reduced menu, the kitchen staff nor bar staff could not keep up. No one at our table was served any courses at the same time, so we we all eating separately, trying to save the evening by politely picking at the plate when it was set down. Very underwhelmed, and will not return. Ever.

    (1)

  • Jenny B.

    My husband and I stopped here last night before a movie at the Harris Theatre. We sat in the bar, and got good service--although we were one of two parties when we arrived. We each had a glass of wine and shared some risotto (amazing!) and some pizza (just ok). It's been commented on before, but the portion sizes are quite small for the price here--I get that it's not the Golden Corral, but I didn't feel satisfied when we left, and that rarely happens even when I'm just eating "bar food." I would probably come back for drinks (they have a decent wine list too), but not for a full meal, especially with so many other great options in the same area.

    (3)

  • Christine T.

    Came here for happy hour on a Friday after work. Got a seat at the bar and ordered the happy hour special - a $3 domestic beer. The bartender essentially scoffed at my husband and I and told us to expand our horizons and order a seasonal beer ($17 for Southern Tier Pumking). Why offer a happy hour special of it comes with a heavy side of judgment? I know this place is considered upscale, but I could do without the pretentiousness.

    (2)

  • I.E. C.

    For the price... this place is just not worth it. First, our flowers had dirty vases with dirty water. Our server took forever to come over to us. Plus our server had somewhat of an attitude and our food took forever. Nonetheless, for the most part the food was OK to good. The bread was quite tasty. The spring salad was a bit of a disappointment, as it was rather simple. However, the seared foie gras was absolutely delicious. As for the lobster mac 'n cheese... it was very good, but not the best I've ever had. And at last, the scallops were just OK, nothing special at all. Sadly there was just nothing here that I would ever want to come back for.

    (2)

  • Louis B.

    Outstanding. That's all I can say. We went there with a group of six people and came out extolling the virtues of this restaurant. Nestled in the redone cultural center of Steel City, close to the water yet exuding urban modern decor, the restaurant has a prime location. Upon entering, we were quickly ushered to our tables in a prime location near the windows. Wonderful salads of Field Greens, poached pears, caramelized walnuts, and blackberry dressing, and another Roasted Beet Salad with spring mix, red onions, french beans, fennel, and goat cheese poppy dressing waited for us. They were large enough to share. The main courses consisted of a succulent Moroccan Spiced Tuna, with curry yogurt, golden raisins, quinoa, sweet peas, and carrots; and a tasty Monkfish dish. For dessert, the carrot cake is amazing. We couldn't finish it though...

    (5)

  • Colleen C.

    Last Friday I felt like the ultimate party crasher yet, judging by the sandwich board signage, I thought I was invited. My boyfriend and I were excited to celebrate Friday happy hour and, instead of the usual spot, I convinced him to go to Bar Nine at Nine on Nine. Why try and convince him? Because the last two experiences within the year were not so good. Let me start by saying it is definitely NOT the food. After we literally had to send a "Bat" signal to get the attention of the unmotivated bartenders and snarky host, we had the opportunity to order from the bar menu. The truffle fries didn't last long...so good ...and I love the presentation in wax paper cone. The Kobe Beef sliders were delicious, flavorful, meaty. And, last but not least, the Lobster Mac'n Cheese. It was the perfect amount of cheese, lobster, and seasonings. Also, the wine list and happy hour specials are a VERY good deal. (SUGGESTION: Combine with tapas or other bar menu specials to compete with the other restaurants Downtown.) So why can't the staff be nicer! We came in with smiles. Even "God Blessed" the bartender who had the sniffles! What is with the ATTITUDE! THREE TIMES WITHIN THE YEAR. Here's an idea. Try smiling. Smiling and eye contact can boost a 20% tip to 30% or even 50%! Especially when there are only 8 customers and you have the time to give face. And, offering water to everyone else, including the very rude, loud gentleman on his cell phone sitting next to us was a bit of an insult -- not to mention your attempts to make conversation with him to see if he was comfortable and needed anything (I guess he was a loyal since you were on a first name basis). Wow. We must have a new superpower of invisibility only known to the NON staff. I really tried to shake this off and move on but, sorry, you not only ruined our Friday night, you insulted the many great restaurant staff within the Pittsburgh area that we would have graciously given our money to, who always deserve it. Training staff to take ownership of their brands and appreciate guests who can be potential loyals is so important. I see it at its best with young restaurant hosts, servers, bartenders, etc. in Portland, Oregon. And, newsflash, it's a revenue and traffic builder. So...with that in mind. I will miss the 5 or 6 course Valentine's Day dinner we had in February 2012 and the happy hour menu (damn it, I love those sliders!) But, I guess it's good news that they will no longer be bothered with our patronage.

    (2)

  • Rebecca C.

    Excellent service, excellent food, fantastic jazz. 9 on 9 is among my favorites in pgh!

    (5)

  • Linda W.

    What happened? My go-to spot for business lunches just isn't the same. Its not bad, don't get me wrong, it just doesn't sparkle anymore. The pommes frites that used to be amazing? Average. The formerly heavenly black tuffle aioli? Where was the truffle? The service? Attitude. Its been months since I've been here...the gang and I have been gravitating to Market Square and the crazy selection of fantastic dining there. I think its going to be a long while before giving Nine on Nine a try again. Why settle for average when there are so many outstanding options available downtown?! Nine on Nine, you can do better!

    (3)

  • JIM B.

    This place needs a complete makeover. It has an old feel to it. It could be really cool, but just doesn't cut it in 2014.

    (2)

  • Bob M.

    In followup to Courtney, Nine on Nine owner's reply to my posted review. Here is additional commentary on the evening. As for returning my entree: Myself and my wife were six of eight at our table that ordered the Hanger Steak entree. My wife did indeed return the cold entree to the server. It was not replaced, but returned to the table after being placed under the broiler to be heated. This just made the meat more "over-done". After the others in the group saw this, they just kept their entrees, including myself. In fact, most chuckled at another disappointment. Since my review, I talked to other diners in our group seated at another table and their salads were all served undressed as well. Evidently, their server brought dressing to their table, but none was offered to ours? Note: At no time during the entire dinner did our server's ask anyone as to how their dinner was tasting. At no time did a Manager approach our table to ask how things were going. As for the comment about dessert, and why not complain? At this point the meal was a disaster, and when the failed dessert arrived, everyone was so unhappy, we were just wanting to exit the closest door. Again, almost everyone at our table ordered the Creme Brule, and they all were not eaten. Did anyone notice this on your team?? Yes, you are correct that I we did not complain profusely, my group said to just get over it and not to let a crappy meal ruin our fabulous 5 day trip to Pittsburgh. My wife asked me to not make a scene, but I was so unhappy, I did abruptly confront the manager on the way out. As I would want others to post their disappointment to let me know their bad experiences, I posted my bad experience. As an additional followup: I noticed in another posted Yelp review of your restaurant, that your Chef did indeed leave to open his own place: Meat and Potatoes. Interesting enough, we dined their two night's previously, and had a wonderful meal with great service. We were indeed asked many times how things were going throughout the night. Attached below is my original post: Horrible Experience! Stay away! You have been Warned!! Oh My God, is this place terrible. Did they lose there chef? If not, they need too. Well, we arrived, a pre-set event with 12 couples for dinner. We arrived, and they were not ready for us. We actually arrived about 10 minutes after our confirmed time. It was a Chinese fire drill to get us seated 20 minutes later, 30 minutes after our confirmed reserved time. "Strike One": Our salads arrived at the table and the kitchen failed to dress them! "Strike Two": Then our Hanger Steak entrées arrived Cold and Overcooked on the meat and the sides were raw and under-cooked. We should have known it was a goner when we asked for medium-rare and the server said the kitchen only does medium? If, we were there ourselves, we would have got up and left. "Strike Three": The Dessert arrives. They called it: Blood Orange Crème Brule?? It was un-edible. Who ever made this and then let it be served should be fired on the spot. There is not a Culinary School in America that would call this Crème Brule. Ugh!! Take this as a warning and head over the "Eleven" where we dined last night, which was spot on for 3 magnificent courses. If this place is in business 12 months from now, I will be surprised. Take my advice and head somewhere else.

    (1)

  • Jason F.

    I had lunch at this restaurant this past Friday with a dining companion. The interior is what you would expect from a fine dining establishment, white table cloth and classic decor which was nicely lit. Since it was during our lunch hour, we each ordered only an entree. My dining companion had the Pappadella while I had the Steak and Frites. The pappeadella was fantastic with a ton of flavor. Not to be outdone, the Steak was also very good and I could not stop eating the Frites which had truffle salt. Everything from the Steak and pappardale to the fries were served at the perfect temperature . The service was also excellent. The bottom line for me is that this was the best lunch that I have eaten downtown this year. The service, the food and even the price (less than $30 pretip) all created a perfect storm and I look forward to trying a dinner here in the future.

    (5)

  • Jess B.

    AMAZING.MUSHROOM.RISOTTO. Order it every time. I have only eaten at the bar side, so this review is only concerning the left side of the restaurant. The mussels were also excellent done with a curry lemongrass sauce. The drinks are good as well as a small but good selection of wines for a restaurant at this price point. Each time I've been in here, its been packed. So I'm sure that is why our service was slightly slow. My friend just texted me yesterday asking where we had gone with the fabulous Risotto....she was on her way there. This side of the restaurant wasn't too loud and the hightop tables were set up along the wall to give some intimacy to your dining and conversation. I'll keep going back.

    (4)

  • Rachel C.

    I'm going to be all over the place with this review. That will pretty much match the experience I had here. First drink, PERFECTION! I chose the White Grapefruit Cosmopolitan with Absolut Ruby Red, white cranberry juice and lime. Second drink, not so much. Way too much white cranberry juice and not enough Absolut. No one likes a weak drink, lame! Since it was my first time here, I didn't realize that if you sit outside, you're only allowed to order off the bar menu. I like that and I don't. The "cheap" side of me likes it because, well, I'm cheap. Cheap here equals $16 compared to $32 for a full menu item. The other part of me thinks if it's a nice night out, why wouldn't I want to dine outside with a full menu. Whatevs, no biggie. My eyes zeroed in on the Lobster Mac-N-Cheese, of course! And for $16 it better be darn good! Totally worth it. The cheese was nice and creamy with big pieces of lobster and bread crumbs on the top. I'd give that 4 stars! We also ordered a mix between a meat, cheese and Charcuterie Platter. So the cheese, solid (how do you mess cheese up?). Sweet pickles, best part of the platter. The meat....straight outta the Giant Eagle deli section. It was a poor mans excuse for prosciutto and bologne. Gross. Don't order! Factor in pretty inconsistent service between our server being there ALL the time to totally disappearing at the end of the meal when we wanted the check and you've got a iffy experience. I'm not throwing in the towel, I would come back and try out the full menu in the dining room. All I would ask for is a complete package...that's not too much to ask for, is it?!

    (3)

  • Jonathan D.

    My date and I were recently looking for a cute spot for some beverages and light fare, so we decided to go to Nine on Nine. What I most like about this restaurant is that the bar and main dining area are nicely separated. We stayed in the bar area on this particular evening. We each had one drink. I chose a very delicious apple margarita. My guest chose a gin and tonic. We also shared a chicken flatbread pizza. In addition to the chicken, there also appeared to be fig on the pizza. The crust, however, was quite flaky and easily broke apart. Next time, however, I will forgo the appetizer and stick with a beverage. Overall, the atmosphere of this restaurant is warm and cozy, and I will return

    (3)

  • Kristin P.

    I was skeptical, but this place is worth the price! We had two app's and split an entree. The bread they brought out at the beginning of the meal was delicious. There were three different varieties. My salmon pizza app was great - spicy and fresh. We also spilt the bone marrow app. I loved the crispy onions and sauce that was poured all over it. The seared scallops were very tasty and had various sauces that were all very well done. The server was great. I'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Celeste B.

    I visit Pittsburgh often on business, and while the food scene in general is excellent, Nine on Nine is my favorite restaurant for a dinner out after a long business day. The food has been consistently excellent (I love the small plate menu!) and the service is super. I was in town last week during the latest cold snap, and when I asked the manager, Joe, to call me a cab to get back to my hotel, he told me it was too cold to wait, and he drove me back to my hotel himself. Talk about making a visitor feel at home!

    (5)

  • Lai S.

    Once upon a midnight dreary while we wandered weak and weary...we sought refuge in this little restaurant in hopes to fill our rumbling tummies. Service: It was around 8pm on a Tuesday with a five minute wait, not bad. The staff was pleasant and the waitress was helpful and very soft spoken, which i loved (I hate it when people shout menus at me). She was extremely attentive and friendly. Food: We started off with the bone marrow. It was amazing! The perfectly baked bread, the roasted bone marrow, along with the garlic green sauce thing... amazing! I would go back just for bone marrow. It was definitely the highlight of the meal. For entrees we had the scallop and squab which were cooked to perfection. The portion size was just enough, we weren't overly stuffed and we weren't hungry for more (I could've gone for more bone marrow though=). For dessert we had the pineapple panna cotta. The texture was spot on and the bits of pineapple chunks combo was wonderful. What wasn't so wonderful was the caramelized bits of what I believed to be tamarind. It had a good texture but it had a burnt bitter after taste which I did not enjoy. I will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Evan B.

    Gastronomy, refinement and diversity are the words I would use to describe 9 on 9. The Dinner menu has 3 sections, Warm, Cold and Entrée` The warm consists of items that could be appetizers but are a bit large to just be that, they would make a great bar meal mostly ranging from $12-16 The entrée's are a bit higher priced at $25-30 but are well worth it. I had the Barramundi $28 that came on a bed of potato risotto, green beans and was garnished with "basil caviar" which was made using some food science trickery. The fish was seared with a nice curst yet soft and flakey inside, the potatoes were just right, firm and packed with a stubble flavor. The basil caviar was a fun and flavorful garnish. My coworker had the salmon, served with seared bock choy, green beans and a mushroom corn sauce. The portion looked huge and it was topped with a foam. $26 The ambiance matches the food, dim, modern yet luxurious. Great for a date, celebration meal or just a great meal out.

    (5)

  • Ricardo T.

    Disillusioned. The food while good, but tried to do too much with the palate. I had the Monte Cristo and while I applaud the use of brioche to make a turkey sandwich...I really wish they wouldn't have drizzled the syrup all over it. At that point either make it an open-faced item or keep the drizzle so it can be eating without sticky fingers. The ambiance was pretty nice, I did enjoy the decor. The service was a little overflowing in the repressed attitude department. We all have bad days or rough patches...but seriously...when your body language clearly establish we're not worth your time it REALLY detracts from the eating experience. In general, I find it really uneasy when the waiter (or waitress) roll their eyes if the entire party chooses to drink water ... newsflash it's just being healthy and not necessarily cheap...so don't act like "there goes your tip." I probably wouldn't go back unless it was with a group of friends that were fans of the place. If I did go back, it would give me a chance to taste something different, but I would rather spend my money elsewhere. Maybe it'll be better next time.

    (2)

  • Lisa B.

    We dined here for Valentine's Day and I was looking forward to the tasting menu. I enjoyed the sunchoke purée, lobster risotto and coeur la creme. The duck confit salad and steak were nothing impressive. However, the service was just horrible. No one took the time to describe the menu or offer the wine tasting with each course. We sat a long time waiting on service and our plates were literally tossed on the table with no explanation of the dish. There seemed to be mass confusion amongst the wait staff and we were even served a course 2 times and had to tell the server he had the wrong table. We ordered bottled water and when finished, no one offered more and filled out glasses with tap water instead. I just cannot forgive paying $80/person and having such horrible service. We will not be returning nor recommending this place to anyone.

    (1)

  • Keri K.

    There are some mixed reviews on here so I was pleasantly surprised with this place because it was very good. Started the night with a dirty martini which was made very well. It was not too olive juicy...the house bread was an assortment and yummy! next up the house salad with white balsamic vinigrette dressing which was excellent. The dressing always makes the salad and this dressing was very good. Next course was the lobster Mac and cheese which was so rich and really to die for...loved the lobster flavoring and how the macaroni were shells...oh so delicious. For the main course I ordered the Bronzino...oh that white flakey fish was perfection....it came with cauliflower which I didn't even know I liked! It goes to show veggies are delicious when properly prepared. My hubs ordered the scallops and loved them. We finished with the choc cake and it was average...that was the only part of the meal I wasn't that in to....and I'm I big dessert fan. Very good experience and good food!

    (4)

  • Brian C.

    It appears to be an okay restaurant, but nothing special and seemingly not worth the price. I sat at the bar for my first visit and thankfully Nine On Nine has a good happy hour with half price food from the bar menu as well as discounted wine and drinks. The wine list is pretty good and lots of choices by the glass so that's a positive. The cocktails didn't look very exciting so I didn't try any cocktails. As for food, thankfully I went for half price happy hour dishes because neither the mussels nor the risotto I ordered was would have been worth the full prices of $16 and $14, respectively. Don't get me wrong, there were a huge number of mussels in the bowl, but they were overcooked and a bit stringy, some hadn't been cleaned properly and were grainy, and the sauce (which is one of my favorite parts of a good mussel dish) didn't add much flavor other than when it soaked into one of the 6 or 7 tiny little crouton-sized pieces of bread that were sprinkled on top of the dish. The mushroom risotto was fine but nothing special - slightly too al dente and missing salt or something so it just didn't have much flavor. At $8 and $7 per plate I've had a lot worse, but these dishes definitely weren't worth their full menu prices. Oh, and the ceviche of the day - which I did not get - was tilapia. I've rarely ever seen that before - nothing like a cheap, typically muddy tasting fish for a good ceviche... I may go back and order off the full menu because I can't argue with some nicely chosen wines by the glass for $6 during happy hour - and a lot of people seem to like the food here - but the next visit will confirm whether it's worth ever going back after that. The prices aren't cheap so my expectations are high and food on my first visit didn't come close to meeting them.

    (2)

  • Rahul G.

    Very good food. Something about it feels quite different(in a good way), the cocktails were decent tho

    (5)

  • Megan P.

    Ahhh, I still love it. I went in for lunch, alone, on a weekday when I was downtown. I sat at the bar, alone. The manager, bartenders and staff were still running around prepping (the bar isn't that busy at say 12:30 pm) but they were all extremely attentive to me. The manager gave me the remote for the TV-which had Mob Wives on-and the bartender chatted off and on with me. Both were just talkative enough, but not too much, to make a solo eater feel good. On to the fish tacos (the $16 fish tacos)! Ohhh myyy goooooness. Those are the best fish tacos I have ever eaten in my life. I would have paid $25. It came with 3, which is way more than I could eat, and this sauce, and avocado, and...I could go on. Get the frickin fish tacos. The bartender surprised me with an "afternoon drink" which was made up of Hendricks, St Germain, cucumber, sour and simple syrup. The best drink ever to go with the best tacos ever. He was letting the servers taste it and they were all in love. You have to try this place!

    (5)

  • Eric K.

    My family and I had the chef's tasting menu here, which consisted of eight courses. The decor was clean and modern, and the service was very good. It was nice that the executive chef or the pastry chef personally came out to present every dish of the tasting menu to us. Generally, the food was always good and the presentation was nice, though there was some variation in quality between courses. Portion sizes were larger than expected. By the time we were served the meat course, we were all starting to get uncomfortably full. So pace yourself and don't eat too much bread (though the bread assortment is quite good). Comments on the specific courses: - The soup was poured tableside. Tasted like a more refined, less salty and fatty version of a french onion soup. The best part was actually the simplicity of the fresh mushrooms and spring vegetables. - Roasted bone marrow was good, but not great. It wasn't as wonderfully fatty as I wanted it to be. The onion marmalade made the dish for me, adding a much-needed sweetness to balance out everything. - The chef shaved fresh white truffle over the risotto tableside. I really liked this course. The risotto was creamy with a deep parmesan and truffle flavor. It was also cooked perfectly. Only comment is that it was a tad too salty. - The scallops were beautifully seared. I thought that the pea puree was a bit sweet. I actually preferred to eat the scallop by itself. - Palate cleanser featured edible flowers. Very interesting and unique. The bitterness of the flowers were balanced nicely with the sweetness of the foam and the tapioca crumbles. Job well done in terms of successfully cleansing our palates. - Duck was very good and seasoned well. Skin was crispy and the ratio of meat to fat was nice. I loved the beets and quinoa accompaniments as well. - Cheese course: Three different cheeses served with a jam, macadamia nuts, and crisp toast. My favorite was the truffled asiago. - Dessert was indian spiced donuts served with some sort of berry/rose sauce. The donuts were not sweet at all and had a great texture, perfectly fried. It paired nicely with the sweetness of the sauce. I thought that the presentation sort of lacked on this one since they used the same bowl and set-up as that of the soup. So my family and I had a good meal here. There were some interesting combinations of flavors, some that worked for me and some that didn't. But I liked the fact that the chef wasn't afraid to take some risks.

    (4)

  • Stephanie L.

    Most of these reviews are correct when it comes to service. Our party was actually seated right on time. It was getting someone to actually come to the table which was the first problem. It took over 10 minutes for someone to come and even give us the specials and they didn't even offer to take our drink order. By the time we did order it was 20 minutes into our visit and since we were going to the theatre we were on a time constraint. (We allowed for almost 2 hours.) so the server took our orders and then had to be reminded that we wanted drinks. Service was sub par. Now for the food. Way to pricey for what was served. I will say that my pear salad and my friends carpaccio was fantastic but that's where it ended. Our other salads were heavily dressed. The scallop dish was undercooked and unappealing. The risotto was nothing to write home about and the lobster Mac and cheese was the best of this group. Perfectly cooked, huge portions of meat but the noodles had so much sauce and it was so heavy that I could only eat about half of the portion. Overall I'd say try another restaurant in town. There are plenty to choose from.

    (2)

  • Christi P.

    I had a delicious lunch here on a Tuesday afternoon! They have a really nice selection of items to choose from. My colleague and I ended up splitting the lobster mac n' cheese and the cobb salad. Everything was delicious! My only criticism is it is a little pricey for a lunch and I probably wouldn't have paid that much if it wasn't a work trip. if you are open to spending a little more for a lunch- try it out! The decor is charming and warm and you'll leave with a warm, full tummy too! :)

    (4)

  • Kelly T.

    Nothing has yet to surpass my dinner at Eleven in terms of ambience, wine and food...though Nine on Nine comes close. I ate at the bar (Bar Nine) but the same menu was being served on both sides of the wall. The bartenders were a little slow (for a Tuesday night with .05 patrons), but I'm a total 'give me my drink now!' snot. One bartender was being trained and went looking for the Malbec in the white wine fridge. Food. I had a wonderful yet simple roasted beet salad with just the right amount of Point Reyes cheese and honey-lavendar dressing. The vinegarette pulled me in--it wasn't sweet and perfectly complimented the other flavors in the salad. I totally loved my little simple balanced salad. Lobster mac n' cheese. Creamy, delish but the topping wasn't quite right. Big old hunks o' lobster. I've never really been a fan of lobster mixed into dishes and I'm probably the only person who picks the hunks of lobster OUT of their mac n' cheese. Don't worry...I ate some...just not all!! It was good. I wish I had someone with me to share the charcuterie.

    (4)

  • N H.

    Easily the best meal I have had in ten years of working and going out to eat in downtown Pittsburgh. The appetizers and entrees were beautiful with delightfully blended and layered textures and flavors. Our server was pleasant and recommended an excellent wine pairing. I have only been once so I cannot speak for the restaurant's consistency -- but given how superb this meal was, I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Dennis Y.

    Took 4 days to get a return call for a reservation and then told they had sold out

    (1)

  • Jeff S.

    Very nice plates and the menu should have a food challenge for all.

    (4)

  • Jean Marie D.

    After walking past this place a million times and wishing I could cozy into one of their white cloth covered tables, I checked this place out for lunch. Yes, the prices are a bit steep but much better than their dinner menu. I had a completely satisfying plate of fish tacos that I will definitely go back for. So far they are the best fish tacos I've had in the Burgh (beating out Penn Ave Fish Co and Kaya). The fish was seasoned and grilled perfectly and not overwhelmed by the cabbage and sauce. My only proverbial beef with all of the fish tacos I've tasted in this city is that they come in a flour tortilla. Maybe it's due to the lack of Latin Americans in the area but tacos come on corn tortillas people! Regardless, I'll definitely check this place out again. My waitress was very friendly and accommodating, service was quick and their lunch menu seems ever-changing. Stop by if you're in the area.

    (3)

  • Natasha K.

    I came here for lunch on a Thursday! Space: Intimate and cute, the tables were not ridiculously close together and the ambiance was pleasant. Not extremely crowded for lunch. Food: Really grood. I asked for chicken on my salad, and it was the softest juiciest chicken I have ever eaten. Compliments to the chef. My friend ordered the BBQ burger and was very pleased, a giant hung of beef, ribs, cheese, relish.

    (4)

  • Maher H.

    Came here for lunch with a friend. Very nice atmosphere. Intimate and classy but not pretentious. The wait staff were friendly and patient as my friend was a little late to arrive. I had the BBQ burger, which was outstanding. Heaped with toppings - matchstick fries, ribs, cheese. Cooked to order, juicy and very tasty. My friend had a salad, which she enjoyed as well. Would recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Laura P.

    My biggest problem with my recent experience at Nine on Nine was the service. The host staff was very friendly and accomodating (we didn't have a reservation on a Friday night) but it took no fewer than fifteen minutes to get water and another ten to get a glass of wine. The food was . . . interesting. I chose sweetbreads for my first course. The dish was served with "celery air" (I can't make this up), blue cheese, and tomato confit. Once I tasted it, I appreciated what the chef was doing - deconstructed buffalo wings. But the thing was, it tasted *exactly* like buffalo wings. Perhaps I'm missing the point of deconstructed food, but if I wanted wings, I would have gone to a place where I can get 25 of them for five bucks. For my second course, I had a wild boar bolognese, which was truly excellent, and I highly recommend it.

    (2)

  • Joyce S.

    Great white sangria, super infused with chunks of pineapple, peaches and melon. Delicious seared foie gras appetizer that was incredibly generous in size...a great deal for under $20. Mustard seed crusted salmon was just a tad too mustard seedy for me, but a nice dish nonetheless. But the best part? They serve a "deconstructed" carrot cake!! Venue was nice, service very friendly, and I like how they bring over the purse hooks for ladies...nice touch.

    (4)

  • S G.

    Wonderful dinner last night! On arrival for our pre-theater reservation, we were greeted by the maitre d' and seated immediately by a window. The waitstaff were prompt and attentive throughout and able to answer all of our questions regarding ingredients and preparations. The varied assortment of breads that were served once seated was delicious. We were off to a good start. The menu included many seasonal choices. We had the 9on9 salad and steak tartare to start. The portions were very generous and the flavors of everything on the plate were varied and creative. I was skeptical about the white chocolate and red peppercorn but it was actually delicious with the tartare and not as sweet as I would have thought and I made sure to use it all! We had the salmon and duck entrees. Both were prepared perfectly according to our preferences and again, all the accompaniments were creative and delicious. I was amazed by the preparation of the popcorn risotto. I had never heard of this before but loved it and will try it myself at home (good luck to me!) We had a lovely evening and a wonderful dinner and I would go back in a minute! Can't wait 'til the next time.

    (4)

  • Raquel C.

    Delicious!! One of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh

    (5)

  • Bill G.

    Thumbs up on the fish tacos.

    (4)

  • Carleigh B.

    High prices for small amounts of food. My mother and I ordered the mussels and the kampachi sashimi for appetizers to split, I had the monkfish for my entree, and my mother had the vegetarian special (couscous salad with tofu scramble on top). We expected with ordering all of those things that we would leave with leftovers but not even close. The bill was $91. It would be one thing if the taste of the food was outstanding but that fell way short also. The mussels were bland and boring, the sashimi was so small in portion size that we were turned off to it from just looking at it, the monkfish was way over salted, and the couscous salad was very bitter from what seemed to be a vinegar-y dressing of some sort. We will not return.

    (1)

  • Aveek D.

    I've eaten here several times. It's a little pricey, but not unreaonably so for the 3-5 course meal you get. The courses are generally smaller -- which is good; you don't get stuffed like at other restaurants and instead get delicacies prepared by skilled chefs. Service is always excellent, and with the multiple course meal it often feels like food just keeps coming; you finish one course and the next one just arrives. Only negative is I've been seated near the door and it can be really cold there; so if you have an option, sit further back!

    (4)

  • Rosalind C.

    By far one of the best meals I have ever had, in Pittsburgh or otherwise. My dining companions and I had the 6 course meal, which was definitely worth the money. Our six courses consisted of: 1. Hamachi sashimi 2. Diver scallops 3. Rabbit stew 4. Sea Bass 5. Quail 6. Banana creme brulee Everything was absolutely fantastic, from the service to the ambiance to the food itself. The sommelier made a great wine selection, which was tricky, given the variety of food we were having. All in all, absolutely excellent. I plan on coming back here a lot more (when it's not on my tab). Spendy! But well worth it.

    (5)

  • Megan H.

    We took a group here for a business lunch for 7 people - with a wide variety of tastes - but everyone was very pleased. I had the roasted chicken...a pretty safe choice, and something I typically wouldn't order....but they cooked it Sous vide and I was anxious to try this style. It was served with goat cheese mac & cheese. It was delicious! Others had the lobster mac & cheese, served with a small salad. I have never seen chunks of lobster this big! Even though mine was delicious - I had food envy! I'm going back just to try this. (Later that day another friend told me - they always order this as an appetizer for the table!!) Another item on the table I wish I tried was the Barbecue Burger - A beautiful looking burger topped with bbq rib meat. Looked messy and delicious. The wait staff was fantastic. Knowledgeable, attentive, and extremely helpful. The lunch prices were very reasonable - sandwiches/salads $14-19ish...and entres $17-25 ish... They also have some tables outside and a great happy hour menu! Definitely heading back, there are too many things on the menu I want to try!

    (4)

  • Dean J.

    A-OK. Great internal ambience, wide selection of interesting food, terrific portions that are larger than expected without being too big. I had the Moroccan Tuna, which was impressively plated, and had the most wonderful flavor to it, but just didn't have much going on as a whole; it needed a side dish or second course served simultaneously to not get bored with the same taste over and over again. The tuna itself was good enough to eat raw, but probably was destined to be sliced thinner; the butterknife I had wasn't quite enough to go cross-grain. The other person I ate with had the venison, which was the exact opposite of my dish; at least five distinct flavors on the plate, almost too much going on, but pretty darn awesome nonetheless. This seemed to be the winner on the menu, from what we could tell. Was told we were getting bread, and had to ask for it from another waiter after the first course because it'd been forgotten. They forgot a steak knife with the venison. Overall, service was slowish, although never so slow that it was a problem. The "French 75" at the bar was probably the best I've had. For $75ish a person (three courses, one drink) plus another $12 on a drink at the bar waiting for our reservation, it just didn't feel worth going back anytime soon; at that price range, I'm looking for amazing, outstanding, perfect, superb... not just A-OK. I might head back for lunch sooner, as that seems to be reviewed well.

    (3)

  • Ron A.

    We dined at Nine on Nine on a recent trip to Pittsburgh. We appreciated that the hostess was accomodating- our table was originally near the door and when we requested to be moved it was no problem. Our waitress, while overall pretty good, was very slow in coming to the table to greet us and take drink orders. I ordered a cosmo and it was made Perfectly- I only wish the glass had been filled instead of the short pour I got. The food is very good. I had the special lamb chops and, while a little more fatty than I prefer, were tasty and cooked to my specifications.

    (4)

  • TJ M.

    Pate, hanger steak, reasonably priced wine list, decent service. Those are memories of a great lunch there. Lunch is a better vibe & cheaper than the cultural district night crush , in my opinion.

    (4)

  • Steven T.

    Nine on Nine Your typical upscale bistro style dining experience located in downtown Pittsburgh. Rustic looking faux wood floors, trendy colors on the wall, white table cloths and an eclectic mix of dining patron rounded out the scene. The service was upbeat and professional, without being pompous, the wine list seemed rather sparse but I am comparing it to other large metro areas where they may have more selection, however there were good choices in most categories, although I thought the prices to be a tad high. The menu was varied and we had difficulty choosing, for starters I decided to let y cholesterol be dammed and try the veal Milanese (sweetbreads) - interesting title since it was not Milanese style except for the breading and pan frying of the product. Sweetbreads have a very rich but blandish taste to them so they need an accompany flavor and imho a decent amount of acid to cut through the richness. Nine on Nine performed admirably on inducing flavor and cutting the satiety of the thymus gland. First off the flavor came from the panko breading and the beurre blanc that accompanied the dish, the acid from the capers and small slices of petite grapefruit. A wonderful mix that greatly enhanced the balance and depth of the dish. Good Job We also had the beet salad, that had greens, beets, beans and shaved fennel and a goat cheese poppy dressing. First off all it was NOT drenched in dressing - yeah. Second the combinations of flavors were good and third the beets were al dente - even better. Another smashing success. The third dish we tried was the king trumpet mushrooms served with oriental style with a miso-chili vinaigrette. For entrees we had the hanger steak and scallops. The flat iron steak was served on cheesy grits and had a nice Creole sauce. The dish was good but lack of vegetables seemed or color dulled the dishes presentation, plus if we had not filled up on 3 appetizers (split between 2 people, one a light eater) this dish would have been less then filling. The scallops were served on a base of corn and chorizo (Pittsburgh seems to be in love with chorizo, there didn't seem to be a restaurant we went into that didn't have it as some component on the menu) The presentation was good and we got 4 large sea scallops topped with ramp aioli and cilantro. While the flavor itself was good, it was not ohhhh or awww, good, but nothing really fantastic. For desert I got to choose from a nice selections of port by the glass while my son had the strawberry sorbet, homemade nicely balanced and topped with kiwi. Very light and refreshing and not overly sweet. Bottom Line: Bottom Line: Service: 5 stars Ambiance: 4.5 stars Sweetbread Appetizer: 5 stars Salad: 5 stars Mushroom appetizer 4.5 stars Hanger Steak - 4 stars - needed more color on plate and portion size was a little small Scallop Entrée - 4 stars - Presentation was nice but needed more flavor/ pizzazz Dessert - 4.5 stars 4.6 Stars apps, salad, and dessert were excellent the entrees very good (small deduction because of those), service excellent, atmosphere very nice. I would recommend them, but I would also be in search of a truly stellar dining experience in Pittsburgh.

    (5)

  • joyce h.

    Try the wagyu strips -- super good! This place also has good selection of wine.

    (4)

  • Glenn C.

    Over the years, Pittsburgh has developed some great dining options. However, none of them have ever approached the complexity and sheer amazement of Kevin Sousa's Alchemy Dinner in the Doubletree Hotel. After attending 2 of these extraordinary ventures into the world of molecular gastronomy (an earlier crazy 25-course version and a later more sophisticated 12-course version) I felt that this was the greatest thing to ever happen to Pittsburgh dining. Unfortunately, Alchemy ended when Chef Sousa departed the Doubletree Hotel and Pittsburgh lost the most avant garde dining experience ever to grace the city. Fortunately for us, Chef Sousa has (at least for now) reappeared at Nine on Nine downtown. My wife and I recently contacted him about arranging a special dinner for us and he graciously put together a 9-course tasting menu with wine pairings. We were seated right in front of the glass looking into the kitchen so we could see all of the platings. The wine pairings were extremely generous. I apologize that I can't remember the wine names but it had been a long day as our flight was delayed getting into the Burgh. In a nutshell and from what I can remember, here's the way the dinner went: 1st: salmon tartare, cilantro, ponzu 2nd: scallop sashimi, jalapeno, avocado Wine pairing: prosecco 3rd (my wife's favorite): seared fois-gras, seared tuna 4th: venison, cinnamon, nutmeg, beef tartare with bacon powder Wine pairing: meritage 5th (my personal favorite): squab, butternut squash soup 6th: lavender-smoked rabbit Wine pairing: chardonnay 7th: sea bass 8th: lamb, cassoulet Wine pairing: cabernet sauvignon 9th: banana chocolate dessert creation that looked like a modern-art sculpture Wine pairing: sauternes This ended up being a wonderful dinner and one of the the best dinners (outside of Umi, which is great but a completely different style) that we've had in Pittsburgh since Alchemy. The final price ended up being $187/person. That is certainly not cheap by Pittsburgh standards, but we felt was very fair given the outstanding quality and presentation of the food (and they were quite generous with the wine). Those looking for an outstanding fine dining experience in Pittsburgh should not miss Kevin Sousa's tasting menu at Nine on Nine.

    (5)

  • Teresa T.

    Incredible experience! My boyfriend and I went to Nine On Nine for dinner as we had received a gift certificate to this restaurant, which was a great excuse for us to venture downtown. It was confusing at first as when we had entered the restaurant we were in the bar room, thriving with activity and no one had greeted us, though soon realized we needed to walk through into the next room (such newbs!). The atmosphere was cozy with dim lighting and modern decor. You just wanted to snuggle up with somebody in a corner. We looked at the menu and were having issues deciding between dishes until seeing that they were both on the tasting menu. At that moment we had decided to go big and try the eight 'small' course tasting which from there our culinary adventure began. Looking back on what and how much we ate I wish I had not done the rookie mistake of eating the bread. Every bite was delicious and each course was better than the last until we got to desert. I am not a big chocolate eater but will try it anyway if it is in front of me. I just didn't get it but was so full by then I was okay on not finishing. That aside we were both really impressed by caliber of the tasting and while it isn't an everyday thing for us we would hands down go back and do it again. The waiter was awesome - paced the courses well, checked on us periodically and answered our questions on the food. If you can splurge the dollars on a meal I would do it on the tasting menu at Nine On Nine.

    (4)

  • David C.

    REALLY enjoyed dinner here with my friends who live in Pittsburgh. Quite a small restaurant but the dining was most definitely fine. The chef even popped out to ask if everything was OK as I had mentioned I was vegetarian and they went to town with a tasting menu full of surprises. Not exceptionally cheap at $72 a head, plus wine, but we had a wonderful meal. Highly recommended purely down to the fact that they made an effort for Jocie and I (the outcast veggies!)

    (4)

  • Natalie K.

    What a total disappointment! Dinner here after a show was truly awful. The menu appeared to be fine, it is the execution of the food that was lacking. A butternut squash "cold" starter was sorely misnamed, as the thinly sliced squash made a very scant appearance on the bottom of a handful of greens which were drizzled with a balsamic dressing and topped with some salty bacon. A measly, tiny fig was cut into six miniscule pieces and placed around the outside of the starter. Not great and not worth the price tag. My companion"s starter of mixed greens was also not great and lacked any zip or standout flavor. We did note that the two tiny gems blue cheese rounds were two mouthfuls of joy on an otherwise sad cold plate. Our entrees continued to disappoint. My risotto could have been great, the creamy texture was there. However, the chef did not sautee and carmelize the white onion chunks which were tossed into the risotto, thus creating crunchy, harsh oniony bites. Likewise, perfectly beautiful mushrooms should have been sauteed and then blended into the risotto in order to bring out the rustic, earty flavor. These were instead thrown in and tossed with the risotto and remained sort of uncooked, bland and uncharacteristic of the mushroomy goodness a risotto could be. My companion's dish of black cod was totally unimpressive. Three, bland, small portions of cod were topping a melange of offerings that were tasteless and nondescript. Our bottle of wine and the bread tray were the only good things about the visit. Sorry Nine on Nine. I have season tickets to a bunch of venues and you are smack in the middle of the theater district I visit frequently. However, you won't be seeing me or my theater companions again.

    (1)

  • Marcus C.

    My dining companions and I came to Nine On Nine because someone told us it was the "best new restaurant" in the city. I don't know what the other restaurants are like here, but this was pretty damn good! We each started out with tasty cocktails and I opened with the summer salad, full of really nice and tasty peas! For my entree, I had the barramundi, which was nicely prepared. My dining companions each had the scallops which must have been pretty good because they both devoured their dinners quickly. We polished everything off with the bread pudding and a selection of cheeses, both of which were quite yummy. And to top it off, our server was really nice, engaging and pleasant. Definitely a good dining experience, even if we did feel under-dressed!

    (4)

  • Rochelle H.

    Why didn't anyone tell me to dine at Nine on Nine sooner, rather than later? I feel so stupid! I have been there twice in the past couple of weeks and I have worked not far from this place forever. Somehow, I thought that this place was farther away than it is. Oh, idiot, idiot , idiot! The décor and atmosphere of Nine on Nine reminds me of an intimate spot that you can go to, relax, eat, drink and be very merry! There used to be this show back in the Nineties, called "New York Undercover" where one of the main character's father owned a nightclub. Even though, the club was imaginary, somehow Nine on Nine gives me the same vibe, but in a restaurant version. The only thing missing from this place, for me, is a live jazz trio strumming along quietly in the background. Now let's talk about the food and service... Love, love, love the menu! The appetizer and salad menu isn't really that expansive, but what they offer is lovely. Daily Ceviche, soup, roasted chicken and salmon offerings that change based upon what's fresh at the market. On a recent visit, they offered the chicken with a blueberry barbecue sauce and fiddlehead ferns. WHAT??? In Pittsburgh??? Come again? My buddies ordered their home-made cream of mushroom soup and I think that they may have wanted to order seconds. My buddies also ordered the Korean Barbeque Brisket with pickled vegetables, jalapeño peppers, Napa slaw, Sriracha mayo on a baquette. I ordered the Crab Po' Boy with chive aioli, arugula and charred tomatoes served on a baquette. Both sandwiches were served with Nine on Nine's Pomme Frites. I love fresh cut fries and these were scrumpdillyicious, as well as the crabcakes! My buddies also thoroughly enjoyed their brisket sandwiches. (They said that they would order the sandwiches again, but leave off the jalapeños. Those jalapeño peppers kicked their azzes!) On another recent visit, I got the same Crab Po' Boy, but I ordered the Pommes Frites with black truffle aioli. OMG! (Picture Martin Lawrence in the background as his character Sheneneh, saying, "Oh mah goodneshhh!") Seriously, my mouth is still watering a little, RIGHT NOW! My lunch partner ordered the Fish Tacos with blackened fish, pico de gallo, avocado, cilantro, cabbage, spice crème and jalapeno peppers. I wish that you could hear the sounds that we were making on both occasions. (Picture Pac Man chewing through things with that sound he makes in the background.) Ridiculous, I know, but sometimes you just have to surrender to your base instincts. I want to go to Nine on Nine for their Chef's Tasting. At $90 per person, it's a little steep for a mom who pays quite a buck for their kid's high school tuition. However, it's a treat that I want to meet sometime this year. "I die" for Roasted Bone Marrow and I even have my teenage daughter Muff wrapped up in marrow love. They have Roasted Bone Marrow here too, along with other dishes that I have swooned over in other cities! Who knew and where have I been? Anyway, run and don't walk to Nine on Nine. The staff will treat you with kid gloves and it may be your next home.

    (4)

  • Jason R.

    I was very impressed with this place. I took a group of 6 there for dinner and had a great time. To start the bartender was great (always a restaurant tell for me). Service was top notch, food and wine were equally good. We had a culinary adventure of bone marrow, General Tso sweetbreads and Salmon pizza to start, the group had skate, chicken and the Kobe strip for the entrees. After all that we passed on dessert. I'd go back in a heart beat.

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    My boyfriend and I were looking to eat at one of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh and Nine On Nine frequently came up in our search. The place lives up to its title. Nine On Nine would have gotten five stars if it weren't for our server Todd's attitude. The food was phenomenal. We ordered the foie gras, lobster mac n cheese, duck breast, and diver scallops. The foie gras was tiny, but excellent. I wish there was double the amount, but then it would have cost twice as much! The lobster mac n cheese was good, but it is rich and filling. I wouldn't recommend it if you plan on feasting here. The diver scallops were cooked to perfection and probably the best I ever had. The scallops are served with spaghetti squash and a sweet potato puree--a great combination. The duck was also cooked to perfection and served with heirloom carrots and couscous (supposedly). The couscous looked and tasted like red quinoa. However, I really enjoyed a little bit of all three in each bite. For dessert we ordered the warm honey cornbread. I'm not sure it was sweet enough to be considered dessert, but it was good nonetheless. We also ordered what we were told was deconstructed red velvet. When our server brought it over, it was brown, not red. He told us the pastry chef did not use enough dye, or something like that. As we ate it, we realize that it tastes nothing like red velvet--it tastes like chocolate cake. My boyfriend believes he overheard another server telling his table it was deconstructed devil's food cake. When our server brought us the bill, it said devil cake and not red velvet. So, we were told they were serving red velvet. We ordered red velvet. And we did not receive red velvet. But we paid for it anyway. Not happy about that. We got a good laugh out of it though. Service was good--poured our glasses of wine properly, checked back after each course, bussed and set our table after each course. However, his attitude was piss poor. Our reservation was for 830 and they close at 10. He immediately did not look happy to see us or serve us. It was obvious. Too bad! You're there to work and make money. It's your job. The experience would have been so much better if our server liked us and we liked him.

    (4)

  • Adam L.

    The food tasted good. We started with the mushroom risotto and added the truffle shavings. I highly recommend it. It actually overshadowed the main course. The atmosphere was very classy and is fitting for a fancy dinner. However the service was lacking. About 30 minutes after we received the appetizer the server came over and asked me what the entree I ordered was. We waited about another 15 minutes for our food. My steak was cooked properly but my wife's salmen was over cooked and dry. Judging by the temperature of her plate it must have been sitting under the heat lamps for a long time. For the price they charge for food they shouldn't have served it like that. She should have sent it back but didn't since it already took 45 minutes and she wanted to eat with me. If she had sent it back I would have been finished by the time the re cooked her order. It's a good thing she decided that because the server didn't check on us until we were finished eating. The desert met our expectation and we were pleased with it. Overall I think it is too pricy for the portions and the lack of proper service. We might have gone back despite of the service since the food did taste very good. With the kitchen sacrificing food quality and integrity for saving on their food cost, we will not be back.

    (2)

  • Jill R.

    On Saturday, September 12th, 2015, my roommate and I decided to meet with our two friends during our vacation at the restaurant, Nine on Nine. They were already engaged in their meal, but we had not decided on which cuisine to eat. I said I wanted Thai, but would be okay with Mexican. He wanted Italian. So, we stopped outside the restaurant, and viewed the menu before heading in. I saw something on the Bar menu listed that I would be interested in eating--tilapia tacos. We head in, and the waitress gives us two seats at our friends' table. She hands us menus, but I already know what I want. When she returned to take our order, I told her the tacos. Waitress: Sorry, we don't serve bar food in the restaurant. Me: But you have it in plain view outside. Waitress: Yeah, it's house rules. Me: Then why are you advertising it? Waitress: That's just what it is. Would you like something else? Me: No, I would not. She walked away, and my friends were appalled at the exchange, and apologized on her behalf. I told them it was okay. A few moments later, I decided to go to the bar, and attempt to locate a manager. The Assistant Manager approached first. I explained the situation, and he reiterated what the waitress said. Asst Mgr: We can't serve bar food in the dining area. Me: But you do serve dining room food in here? Asst Mgr: Yes.. Me: *squints* It's the same kitchen. There's no reason why you can't bring the food in there. I'm not going to eat at the bar alone, or uproot my friends from their meal. Asst Mgr: Well, in high end restaurants, they don't serve bar food. Me: Excuse me, but, I live in Chicago and dine at "high end restaurants" all the time on the Gold Coast. I assure you, they do. Asst Mgr: ...I'll talk to the Chef. The chef. Really? The chef just makes the food; he has nothing to do with the front of the house. But thanks for condescending that I had never stepped foot in a fine dining establishment, guy. Finally, the manager comes over, and gives me the spiel about wanting to give a "dining experience." Me: That's fine and all, but you should change your sign, or make it clear that the food isn't available in the same room, even though they're in the same building. Manger: Well, I can do it just this once, but that's it. Me: Yeah, okay, that's fine. I figured they might spit in the food, but it looked fine, from what I could tell. Frankly, the tacos were quite good. The ice cream for dessert was okay, though there were frozen i.e. chunks throughout. I saw my bill, and they labeled me as "female." Even though at my table, there were three females, including myself, and one male. This label was unnecessary. It made me even MORE suspicious. Several hours later, however, I started experiencing an irritation of my system. It has progressed throughout the day, and grows worse as I write this. Coincidence, or is this the result because I dared to complain? I surmise the manager thought I should experience the lavatory as often as possible. There's nothing I can do about it now except to warn anyone who may be in that neck of the woods in Pittsburgh. Save your money and dine elsewhere.

    (1)

  • AJA J.

    There's nothing like lunching al fresco on a gorgeous Pittsburgh day to really put a cherry on your Thursday. Stop 2 of 3 for Pittsburgh Restaurant Week this week was at Nine on Nine. Their RW menu offered choice of Tomato Bisque or the Soup du Jour (Chicken Curry today) and a choice of a brisket sandwich or blackened tilapia Pittsburgh salad. I opted for the Chicken Curry soup and salad and both were very solid choices. My man had the opposite menu and wasn't as impressed, but good thing his company was so stellar. At $15 I can't complain. Our server was courteous and quick and we were in and out in less than an hour. The place was empty and the manager? seemed to be having a bit of a bad day, but other than that, I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

    (4)

  • Elaine M.

    Sat outside to people watch/ have a drink with my friend before I left town. The staff was very sweet and friendly. I also ordered the watermelon salad, I believe it was $12 for 4-5 slices of watermelon, feta and a small mint leaf on top. The presentation was beautiful, what you should expect from this quality of place. I'd stick to just drinks next time unless you want to splurge a little.

    (4)

  • Amanda M.

    I've had several experiences here but my last was great. The dessert menu was perfect. We ordered one of everything and loved it! The wait staff was wonderful. In past experiences with lunch I want pleased but the desserts were a home run!

    (4)

  • Chelsea C.

    Nine on Nine has fairly well executed but underwhelming food with a chaotic atmosphere and a somewhat overpriced menu. I so very wanted to be able to give them four stars but... I ordered the Baby Spinach salad and the Lobster Mac-N-Cheese; and, my friends had the Diver Scallops. The spinach salad was a deconstructed version of what you'd typically expect. I loved the rich duck egg and salty marcona almonds; however, my salad was missing the pancetta and--I mean, come on--what's a spinach salad without bacon? My lobster mac was pretty darn good - a whole perfect claw and huge hunks of meat, creamy pasta, topped with a basil breadcrumb. (My friends appeared to be over the moon for the scallops.) And our choices from the wine menu turned out to be very tasty for $12/glass wine. But, here's the thing: the prices on this menu had me expecting excellence when all we got was average. One of the first things our waitress emphasize when we sat down was that the restaurant wanted us to really *experience* the full expression of our meal, which I found to be a little flowery and overly inflated as compared to the food we actually received. On top of this all, the whole restaurant was filled with meat smoke (I think their grill needs better ventilation); it was above average loud; the chairs were uncomfortable; and, there was coat check drama all night. I think every person we watched who attempted to leave hadn't been given a coat check tag, plus someone actually got their coat stolen while we were there. I think the restaurant is going for trendy and upscale, when, in reality, it comes off as inconsistent and disappointing. Bottom line: There's plenty of other places in Pittsburgh where I'd rather spend $150+ for three people. On a Saturday night at 9pm, I should have realized why Nine on Nine was the only restaurant out of FIFTEEN we called that had open tables...

    (3)

  • James L.

    SETTING: Dressy, Fancy, Sexy. Mood lighting? Check. FOOD: We came for restaurant week, and believe me, we were hyped for Nine on Nine. On paper, the 3-course dinner looked beyond delicious. We could not wait to have our bellies filled with food of the gods. But first, let me ask you a question. A bread basket is a bread basket, right? False. The complimentary focaccia bread was phenomenal. It was cut into small pieces and had some garlic, tomato slices, and probably some other fancy herbs in it. I could eat a whole loaf, no problem. Starter: Roasted Tri Color Beets Entree: Short Rib & Ricotta Gnocchi Dessert: Creme Brulee The starter was presented in a "deconstructed" fashion, with beets cut into small sizes, guanciale (cured meat), candied walnuts, a small block of brie, and drizzled miso vinaigrette. Just a heads up if you're thinking, "Hmm vinaigrette and candied walnuts? Must be sweet". Not this case--it actually leaned towards the savory and spicy side. I'm pretty sure the walnuts and brie had some herbs on it to made it just a little spicy. It threw me off a bit, but I still liked it because it came together well. The Gnocchi was presented in a what looked like a jambalaya--the concoction simmering in a savory sauce. Short-ribs cut into mini chunks were mixed in with the gooey-cheesy gnocci. Topped off with arugula, smoked bleu cheese, onions. The dish was a little light on the amount of meat, but it was still quite filling and satisfying. Imagine your favorite comfort food pasta. Now, imagine it dressed up and upgraded with additional delicious ingredients. Kate Upton in jeans, now, Kate Upton in a cocktail dress. You get the idea--I didn't know something great could become something so AMAZING. Creme Brulee unfortunately was not anything special. Good, but pretty ordinary. SERVICE: Very professional staff and waiters for the most part. Coat check available. Our waiter was very good with explaining our dining options and offering his opinion. But the one girl who helped clear our table and refill waters just seemed like she was having the worst day ever! Never smiled, no "you're welcome"s when we said thank you...a little off putting. Other than that, they took good care of us. IMPRESSIONS: More on the expensive side, but a great deal for restaurant week. Good portions. Not gonna lie, I wish I could have that bread again, right about now.

    (4)

  • Gregg H.

    Went there for Pittsburgh Restaurant Week today. Got seated. Got waters. Asked the server for a beer list. 20 minutes go by without so much as a look from the server. No beer list. Nothing. We even have the "I'm ready to order" look with our menus down and trying with wreck less abandon to make eye contact with the server. Nothing. 20 minutes. I get that we weren't as fancily dressed as the maybe 10 others there, but still. So we left. Nobody cared. Nobody does.

    (1)

  • G T.

    One of the best meals I've had in the 'burgh! We had the tasting menu and couldn't help but be reminded of memorable meals at the French Laundry and Per Se. So while the execution may not be at the level of a FL or PS, the prices aren't either. The food, however, was was superb - I'm still thinking about the scallop ceviche and it's been a couple of months - and the service was attentive and competent. I went back a few weeks later and had the 3-course prix fixe. It was not up to the tasting menu experience, but for $30, it was still a very nice meal.

    (5)

  • Tim H.

    I am updated my rating from a 4 to a 5 because of my recent dining experience. I came here starving and although the kitchen was about to close they decided to accommodate me. I ordered the Nine on Nine House Salad and then the Peking Duck. The salad was pretty tasty although the presentation wasn't great, which I'd attribute to them about to close. However, the Peking Duck was amazing and, what's more, I was told that the Head Chef actually came in just to make it for me. I feel that kind of service, where someone goes well out of their way to accommodate a hungry guest, warrants a high rating and a positive review. To top it all off I had the French Chocolate Cake drizzled with raspberry sauce and that was also amazing. The service was very friendly and I also liked the outdoor seating. Overall an excellent dining experience that has earned them a repeat customer.

    (5)

  • H P.

    My company basically took over the entire restaurant for a large Board of Trustees dinner in April, and everything was just delightful. Joe the manager was so accomodationg and nice, and the food was fantastic. I had the miso salmon and it was out of this world, but everyone seemed to enjoy their food and the ambience was lovely too.

    (5)

  • Kristy A.

    This place is a mixed bag for me. It's not bad, but there's nothing about it that screamed "make me your favorite" either. It's an upscale place for sure and it appears to cater to the theater crowd. The thing with theater restaurants is that if you go at 6, it's packed. If you go at 8, it's dead. Really dead and eerily quiet because their music wasn't working. We were the only people there, which was sort of awkward since it felt like the entire staff could hear everything we said all night. What pulled up the star rating was the Lobster Mac-N-Cheese. Completely worth the $16! Creamy and flavorful with a hint of herbs (which also make it look extra good). Big chunks of lobster and bread crumbs on the top rounded it out nicely. Overall, I just didn't get a warm and fuzzy feeling from this place, despite the good food. I would describe it more as stuffy and uppity than warm and inviting. I might try it again in the dining room since the food was good, but then again, maybe not.

    (3)

  • Karl F.

    Sit in the bar and make sure you ask for Joe. Incredible service, complete with a lot of laughs and great food. Joe made our evening and was more entertaining than the show we went to.

    (5)

  • J G.

    Probably the rudest waiter we've ever come across. Went in at Happy Hour. Waited for at least 10 minutes for someone to acknowledge us. The bartender slammed a menu down. Finally the waiter rudely asked what we wanted. When I asked if I could deviate from the martini menu, he repeated the choices lin an even ruder tone. We should have listened to our guts when we watched another couple walk out... Which is what we did. Great intro to Pittsburg! Luckily we went to Sonoma and had a phenomal waiter...

    (1)

  • A. C.

    (11/10/2014) Was wondering around downtown on a self-guided restaurant crawl and after having a failed experience at Sienna Mercato down the street came across Nine on Nine. Was in Pittsburgh in 2011 and remember a good bar experience with Nine on Nine. Place was quiet for a Monday night, music was set to someone's mid-70s playlist (just fine by us), we sat at the bar. Space was small, plush, gilded, draped, bejeweled, with some whimsy. One other local and what seemed like a group of family members or friends of the owners/managers were there. The menu read as pretty pedestrian on the day we were there, so was going to skip eating...then they announced they had foie gras. It was phenomenal, so, so glad we got to have it. The livers were seared perfectly, had a caramelized crust that was sweet and savory a little like burnt sugar. The garnishes or condiments complemented the unctuous foie gras well, cut some of the richness with tart fruit flavors (green apple, mandarin, dried cherries) and balance the creamy mouthfeel with contrasting texture (Marcona almonds, mache, brittle). It was possible the dish was made on the fly, if so, genius! Our bar experience also a highlight. The Monday special is $8 vodka drinks all night. For dahntahn, that's a steal. Joseph made us fresh muddled cucumber vodka gimlets with fresh limes. Delicious! Atmosphere is upscale without being stuffy and sophisticated while still down to earth. Perfect for date night, out on the town with friends or flying solo.

    (5)

  • David F.

    Went there tonight. Food was good. Portions very small. Gazpacho was the best part of the meal. Duck was fatty. Waiter was non attentive after the main course was served. We ordered desserts. They apparently ran out of the chocolate bomb. Not happy. Who runs out of desserts?

    (2)

  • Beth E.

    We were seated in the most comfortable chairs in the restaurant, so we thought we were off to a good start. We advised our server that we had show tickets and needed to leave by 7, which he agreed would not be a problem with us arriving at 6. The menu is very limited and truly for people who are more adventurous eaters. I advised the server that my mother needed a gluten free meal and he stated that since all meals were made to order, each item on the menu could be made gluten free. We both ordered the pork chop. Mine was to be medium, and hers was to be medium well and gluten-free. After waiting 35 minutes, our meal finally arrived, but not served by our waiter who we hadn't seen in the last 30 minutes, but by someone else. As he started to put the plate in front of me, the server finally came over and then asked which one was which. The person carrying the food had no idea. The server said he could tell by looking at them. After we started eating, and got further into the meal, it was obvious by the meat temperature that he had switched our orders. Not sure how much gluten was in the meal, but my mother had eaten some. They had also only given us butter knives to cut the chop and since again, no sign of our server, we muddled through it. I had handed the server my credit card when he brought our food as we only had 20 minutes to eat our meal. Truly disappointing. The food was nice and hot, somewhat tasty, although more BBQ sauce was certainly needed. Service was almost non-existent. You should only come here if you have plenty of time to enjoy a long, leisurely meal

    (2)

  • Keith M.

    About three weeks ago, I had a bad experience at Nine on Nine. It started with inattentive service and culminated with a kitchen that couldn't deliver the proper cook on an expensive piece of meat. Shortly after I posted my first review, I was contacted by the owner and GM, and given an opportunity to try the restaurant again, and that was today. They've changed my mind. The food, service, ambiance, and overall experience was as good as it gets tonight. Our faithful server Ziggy was friendly, knew the menu, had specific recommendations for us, and was there every time we needed something. The ambiance at NoN is upscale, modern, and comfortable. The Brazilian hardwood floor has a unique coloration. The hanging lights are cool. The twenty-one tables seat fifty-six hungry customers. In the current configuration, there is plenty of room and space between the tables for a more intimate feel. They can accommodate up to 75. Now, why we came here: the food. The salads were good, both the Asian Pear salad and Baby Beets salad. The wild mushroom risotto (with white truffle oil) was very good --- and executed perfectly. There was a nice texture and cook on the rice ---- creamy but not mushy. I'm not a fan of truffles, but truffle oil is not usually made with them.[1] I find the truffle fries, ala the Capital Grille, to be disgusting and too strong. The blue crab cream soup I had a few weeks ago at NoN was fantastic. The Lobster mac and cheese was definitely the richest thing we ate, and was as good as the first time. It's rich. I had the Diver Scallops which had a beautiful presentation and was equally tasty. The carrot foam and emulsion were great for great dipping. The homemade sweet potato chips were understated and added a nice texture difference. I wish the sear was stronger and on both sides, but it was fine. The Salmon with roe was good. Overall, our experience this time was much better. I'm glad that the management met my original complaint head on, and didn't try to "blame the customer" like we sometimes see happen. It's for that reason that we gave them another opportunity to change our minds. It worked. [1] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tr…

    (5)

  • Joseph W.

    My mother and I enjoyed this place. Service was great, wine was good, and food was good. The only issue I had was the entree needed more seasoning.

    (4)

  • Adam V.

    Delicious. Wonderful Saturday night with friends, service was excellent and food was delicious.

    (4)

  • Tony F.

    Easy to make reservation, comfy dining spot for a great meal. Staff was helpful and kind and those that weren't warmed up as the meal continued! Brought our own wine for $20 corkage fee-very reasonable. Good selections, wonderful variety of ingredients that added to the main dish. Great spot for meal to a show! Will return when back in Pittsburgh!

    (4)

  • John D.

    I read the reviews and I was really excited to try something other than Mortons or Ruth's Chris. Pittsburgh deserves good food. I ordered the sweetbreads but they had been prepared like cheap chicken wings with kraft blue cheese dressing. Not the best way to start an evening. The wine what should have been a nice wine a Italian wine at 9 dollars was old and flavorless. On the other hand the monkfish and spare ribs was nice and tasty. I ordered a coffee to finish the nite and a diner would have better. It was not a strong tasty version but a watery and flavorless cup of Joe. It did not leave me with a great view of the place. Missed on the starter, wine and coffee.

    (2)

  • Maria I.

    I came here for restaurant week and was surprised. We arrived right on time and our table was ready. They took our coats and seated us. Someone quickly arrived to inquire about drinks, which was nice. Our waitress was attentive and my two drinks were always filled. I didn't have any alcoholic beverages so I can't comment on that. The menu first called for a salad and when I first saw it I thought it was just some lettuce leaves and a little pile of veggies. It was actually incredibly delicious and I kept commenting on the homemade balsamic dressing (you can buy it too!). The veggies were wonderfully seasoned and very tasty. Next we had chicken which was SO GOOD! Not overcooked at all. Everything tasted on point and flowed so well. I cleared my plate. For dessert I had creme brûlée and that was just fabulous too. Of course everything was presented so nicely on the plates. The atmosphere was pretty nice - it was a tad darker than I would have liked but that's not big deal. There was music in the background with a lot of songs that I knew, which was fun. I do have to say their bathroom was very clean and updated. I would definitely come back!

    (5)

  • Jeffrey C.

    Went in for happy hour. Tacos were excellent. I want to write about the servers at the bar. We had excellent service which made the experience! Very friendly wait staff and very helpful. Had a few drinks. Above average place, but excellent bar tenders. Id recommend to anybody wanting a light bite and a drink or two!

    (4)

  • Ryan J.

    We came in for apps and drink and had a wonderful time. The service was impeccable and the food delicious. The beef sliders were excellently seasoned and surprisingly light on the palette, the pomme frittes were easily some of the best tasting fries we've ever had, and the brussels sprouts fondue was deliciously delicate. Overall our favorite part was Joseph's witty and welcoming demeanor. We'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Marta N.

    I used to love it here. I don't know when they decided to downgrade their service, and quality, but it showssss. This place has become the high priced, low quality dinner theater restaurant, in my eyes. Don't get me wrong, I love their happy hour. Half priced selected appetizers are now the only reason why I would stop here to eat. My hubby and I came for dinner, and basically flushed $200 down the drain. Everything was bland, and if it wasn't bland it was overly salty. The wine list made us laugh because they had a $42 bottle of Pinot and then it jumped to $700 bottle of Pinot. Nothing in between. It was just bad. Do yourself a favor and hit up their happy hour for the truffled mac and cheese. It is the same portion, as if you would order it for a sit down dinner, and the slashed price feels better going down.

    (2)

  • Brian G.

    Had great happy hour specials and the bartender was nice. I only tried a few apps and they were good. The dinners looked great but I didn't have a chance becuase I enjoyed happy hour so much.

    (4)

  • Cassie S.

    Tried on a whim while in Pittsburgh for first time. Food was superb--risotto, seared morocan tuna, and chicken--and they had a great wine selection. The "chocolate" dessert was delicious...might make me come back to Pittsburgh! Service was excellent. The ambiance was relaxed and to romantic.

    (5)

  • Anthony N.

    ***The chefs at Nine On Nine did a good job sourcing and cooking proteins (foie gras, squab); while I was not a huge fan of all of the flavor combinations, there is definitely good food here even if it is a little expensive*** Nine On Nine is a fine dining spot located in Downtown Pittsburgh (not too far from PNC Park and apparently near some theaters in the city). The restaurant has a small neighborhood restaurant or cafe feel with hardwood floors and an open (but cozy and not industrial) kitchen. The restaurant's decor feels very warm and approachable, but the menu sounds quite ambitious. Nine On Nine has a tasting menu as well as ingredients you don't often see like squab. The bread was standard stuff. There was a mix of focaccia, country bread and a decent and hearty fruit and nut bread. The bread was sliced unevenly, but I did like the creamy whipped butter, which was topped with strong salt. I started with the seared foie gras, which was a small portion. The foie gras was garnished with spring onion marmalade, brioche, gelatin, and crispy meringue-like pieces. There were a lot of sweet elements on the plate, but they went well with the foie gras, which had an expected salty flavor. I thought the onion marmalade was very good--definitely sweet but still with an onion flavor. I liked the brioche--great outside sear but still soft and moist. The foie gras was good--buttery, creamy and flavorful. For my entree, I went with the squab, which featured both the breast and the legs. The squab was served with hominy, chorizo, zucchini, arugula, and lemon. I thought the squab was very good. The breast was moist, juicy and tender. It was a little like duck breast but had a bouncier texture. The legs were crispy and good. I liked all the sides individually though it was not my favorite combination of flavors. There was definitely a strong lemon flavor to the dish. For dessert, I had the coconut panna cotta, which was garnished with compressed pineapple, kiwi, pink peppercorn brittle, and a kaffir lime sauce. The panna cotta was good. It did not have a strong coconut flavor, but I liked the creaminess and lightness of it. The fruit was really good. I liked the brightness, sweetness and tartness that the pineapple and kiwi provided. The brittle was on the chewy side and did not have that crunch and snap you get with a lot of brittle (but I still liked it). The brittle had a very strong pink peppercorn flavor. The kaffir lime sauce did not add much to the plate. It did not have a distinct flavor. It did not have a bad flavor, but I was not a fan of the consistency, which was kind of like snot. Service was good. My server was pleasant, polite, professional, and knowledgeable about the menu. Prices were high. Entrees were in the high $20s and $30s, which made Nine On Nine feel more expensive than Pittsburgh's Salt of the Earth (which seems like a more impressive restaurant). Nine On Nine is a good restaurant. I thought they did a good job with the foie gras and the squab. While I was not a huge fan of all of the flavor combinations (especially with the squab), I liked a lot of what was served. I definitely enjoyed Avenue B more and thought Salt of the Earth felt much more original, but Nine On Nine is still a decent option for an upscale dinner in Pittsburgh. I am not sure what the parking situation is. I think there are a few nearby paid lots.

    (4)

  • Nora C.

    My go to place when in Pittsburgh had been Eleven. Over time, it has deteriorated with both food and service. I ate at Nine On Nine last week. Food and service were superb. I travel a lot, and have eaten at the best restaurants in many cities and countries. Nine on Nine ranks high among the "best". We sat outside, it was lovely.

    (5)

  • Jim R.

    Food was great, if a bit on the salty side. I had the tasting menu. Lots of food and food vino. My server was Svetanka and she was outstanding. My only complaint was the amount of salt and the fact that the duck was a bit overdone. Did I say Svetanka was a great server? Anyways, I had a great meal here.

    (5)

  • Sharon G.

    i've been puzzling over how to write this review for weeks.... there are far too many cliches that i can fall into when summarizing how great my experience was at this lovely restaurant. how can i avoid getting lyrical and poetic about the original, creative and fantastic food? how do i describe the friendly, informed service without sounding like every other wanna-be reviewer on this site? how do i describe a dining experience in a city that for the most part is totally and undeservedly underrated? i don't know if i can pop out a unique review, but i can tell you this: this has to be one of the best meals i've had in a long, long time. better than a lot that i've had in some top-tier cities like new york, los angeles and london. there was no pretense, the flavor combinations were unique and outstanding, the service was impeccable. i would high recommend the surf n' turf (a remarkable combination of pork belly, seared scallop and tempura onion) and the risotto (which is so delicious and rich that the portion size is perfect). on this note, i would also suggest not listening to the first review. the portion sizes are fine. if you placed them all of your dishes they would fill a large plate. the food is served individually so that you can enjoy the unique experience of the individual dish. this is food that is absolutely prepared with love.

    (5)

  • Amy M.

    Excellent food, fantastic, fast, friendly service. I went here with an out of town relative before going to the showing of Falstaff at the Benedum Theater. We were running a little late as he got into town later than expected. The staff at Nine on Nine stepped it up for us and we had a fabulous meal on a major time budget. Thankfully I planned to splurge as a gift for said relatives recently obtained doctorate. This place is not cheap, but the food was more than exceptional. Fresh and seasonal, the salads were great and creative. His salmon entree was a hit, my venison was divine. No time for dessert, but I'm certain it would have been sensational. Highly recommend if you have the budget.

    (5)

  • A M.

    Good for you "Nine on NIne". I'm really happy I have a reason to update my review and add another star. It's fitting that I wrote the first review for this joint almost a year ago and 12 short months later there is marked improvement in food qualilty for price. The space remains beautiful and the staff has gotten even better with the addition of Angel who last worked at "Dish" in the southside. She's a true pro and knows how to make a good dirty martini. My review really pertains mostly to "Bar NIne" which is off of the main dining room and has a smaller bar menu. I'm also going to focus this review mainly on the food since I noted ambiance and servie prior. I'm not familiar with the current chef (Rick DeShantz), but I know he's not the chef who prepared my food the last time I was here and they may have had a few chefs the past couple of years including a brief stint of talented chef (Kevin D'Sousa) which I think has had a few stints including red room and a few weeks at this place. I was here at about 730 on Tuesday after spending some time at the new downtown office site. Gus, Tom and I found plenty of open seating at the bar. They stuck mostly with beer (pretty good selection of micros/imports) and I had a stiff dirty martini and a glass of great shiraz (two hands I think?), a little pricey at $15 a glass, but this really isn't the kind of place you should go on a budget. We started with a nice generous selection of three or four cheeses. I don't recall the exact types, but they were great quality cheeses, served room temperature with a little fruit. The price of $15 was also pretty good for what we got. I was at mio in aspinwall a few weeks ago and got a similiar cheese plate with less quantitiy for $25. Next we tried the "Kobe" sliders which were really amazing. The meat was extremely flavorful cooked medium rare and served with braised short rib (very rich and tender). They also had some crispy shallots (their version of onion rings I guess). The only thing missing is that Gus asked for one without the blue cheese and unfortunately they didn't serve any with cheese. We also tried the pate which was very rich and a good sized portion of rich flavorful well seasoned chicken liver some pickled vegetables and roasted toast points. We had to ask for a few more toast points, but not a big deal and no extra cost. Next we moved on to the "salmon pizza". This was great quality smoked salmon on a crispy pita/tortilla type thing served with an aioi (mayo) with a lemon/caper flavor. They also scattered some jalepeno and micro greens on top. We also tried their version of ahi tuna. It was totally "deconstructed" and it looks like the chef has some fun toys in the back because it was one of the few "molecular gastronomy" dishes I've tried that I really liked. He did something where he took like the essence of olives (puree) and somehow formed it into a gentle ball that spilled the essence out when punctured (like a soft boiled egg). He also turned the tomatoe into some type of jelly. And of course the tuna was cooked perfectly. Finally, we had the calamari which was perfectly tender grilled octupus with a nice light sauce. The calamari was stuffed with some type of sausage and was also another hit. We may have sampled something else I'm forgetting, but this chef didn't miss a beat all night long. I am very happy I'll be downtown and will most certainly become a regular at bar nine. A few other things to note. For some reason they have a relatively extensive sake menu. This is a "foodie" (hate that term) place. Lots of interesting items cooked in unique ways. I took my girlfriend home a dessert of carrot cake. This was also deconstructed and looked beautiful with the nuts, and other sauces drizzled on the side of the cake. She would have probably preferred just chocolate cake, but nothing on this menu is ordinary.

    (4)

  • Ima Yelp r.

    This is a "Must Eat" when you come to Pittsburgh, PA. Every time we come to town we don't go home without stopping by. This time was really great as we had a "Happy Hour" special of 1/2 off bar food (which is not your average ordinary "bar food"- ex: Saffron Mussels and Lobster Mac-N-Cheese) in addition to specials on some mixed drinks. Same fabulous food, but 1/2 the price with regular menu portioned sizes. The G.M., Tolga, always makes sure to check on us to see how things are going while Ryan, tends bar and makes some great drinks. Both Marie and Lizzie took turns servicing the tables and made sure we had what we needed. I have noticed that when it gets busy you may have to wait only slightly longer than usual (mostly, if you're sitting outside) but it's a very popular place and we always allow some time for that. The wine and beer lists are extensive and the overall atmosphere is divine. Whether you live in Pittsburgh, lucky enough to have this little gem or just passing through in your travels, make sure you stop in at Nine On Nine, you'll go home very satisfied.

    (5)

  • Tom B.

    An excellent restaurant. The best meal I've had in Pittsburgh. The risotto was outstanding.While we haven't been there for a while we'll return next month and we are looking forward to it.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Garage, Street, Private Lot
    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 : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Nine On Nine

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