I lived in Pittsburgh for 1 year when I turned 21 and I worked with people who knew food around there. Let me tell you WOW, the food there is so good; it is a blue collar town that has evolved and has made me a HUGE food lover. It has the cheesy chain restaurants but the Pittsburgh staples are there.

Big Burrito Company is a Pittsburgh restaurant company they own 5 different genre restaurants... Soba, Umi, Kaya, Mad Mex, Cashbah and the "up scale" Eleven... SOOO good all of them I would STRESS to go to Umi, a sushi restaurant like I have never been to. If you like California Rolls... please go to Giant Eagle and buy there.. this place puts a fantastic spin on fish, so good. If you are all about fun loud music.. Mad Mex is "mexi-cali" but the house "Big Azz" margaritas will put you on your azz.
Church brew works is great, and old church turned into a brew house.. the food is good the beer is better. Then there is Quaker Steak and Lube, some of the best wings I have EVER had.. and the people are real and have just got off work and are there just for a beer most the time. I love Pittsburgh, it is an American city that is suffering because of the economy but it is a great city. People are real and the calluses on their hands are real. Yes there are the suits but more t-shirts make up the city then suits. I love America and this city is America