BALVANERA

Came by for a weeknight dinner recently -- we had reservations for around 7pm and were able to get seated immediately, and it seemed that the place was pretty full throughout the time we were there. Our group of 5 ordered a bunch of dishes to share -- some highlights: - We tried a few different cuts of steak. My favourite was the lomo (filet mignon), which was so tender and juicy and just cooked perfectly. I also really liked the entraña (skirt steak). - The chorizo especial was delicious. The pork/guanciale mix was so savoury, and I liked it didn't feel too oily or fatty. Peppers were an interesting touch. - Milanesa de pollo was great. The chicken was fried really nicely, crispy without being too oily. - We had the flan for dessert, definitely would recommend. The caramel flavour was rich without being too heavy or sickly sweet. Price point was fair for the quality of food -- good for an occasional splurge, I think. Service was very kind although a bit slow at times (but no fault to the servers -- they seemed to have had their hands busy with a full restaurant). Ambiance can be a little loud for conversation.

We went for Sunday Brunch. The place looks really nice, keeping some of the industrial feel of the old building while giving it a clean and modern vibe. They were fairly busy and frequented by quite a few Spanish classy looking Spanish speakers which I think is a good sign for a Spanish restaurant. Their bar has a lot of high end tequilas and whiskeys, and the drinks were very good. The menu for brunch is tightened, which is good, although outside of salad everything was a bit rich and heavy, fortunately the drinks did a good job of cutting the food, however it might be nice to have some acidic dishes that can pair along side empanadas, steaks, and sausages. They have an espresso machine and can whip up I nice drink in that regard too. There were a bunch of little cookies they were saving for a special preparation of one of their coffees, which is a cool idea... But if you are going to tease them, at this price point, they should be generally available to go beside any coffee, which they were not. Price was fairly high, but the food and atmosphere mostly justify it. We got the empanadas, chorizo and guanchale sausage, and the steak, all of which I would recommend. I would caution that the steak serving size is like a two person affair for brunch. There is a parking garage right next door, which was very convenient.

My wife and I were seated at a small table near the window facing the terminal. It was a nice spot and I had fun watching people fail at parallel parking right outside on Smallman. (I think this is where club Zoo used to be come to think of it) I ordered the Angosto from Argentina, medium rare, and it was VERY delicious. I ate the whole thing which I normally don’t do. My wife ordered the chicken, also delicious. Very thin with a light covering of breading. Came with dill which was a nice touch. Side of Fries comes with ketchup and mayo, good but not $10 good. I think it was $9-10. Wonderful food and excellent service. A little on the pricier side though. But a great place for a date night or to celebrate.

Wow! What an amazing experience! We didn’t make a reservation on Valentine’s Day, but happened to be close to Balvanera. They found a table for us and even offered us sparkling rose for waiting, so thoughtful! The food was outstanding, we tried yellowtail appetizer (10/10), empanadas (10/10), dessert (10/10) and most importantly steak was on point! The only thing I’d say we didn’t really get the veggies that were served with the steak, tasted a bit weird. Drinks were also great. Atmosphere was nice and welcoming. Service was greatly appreciated. We will definitely be back many more times! P.S. I really love that these guys have lotion in their bathroom;)

Love this place for some quality Argentine meat. The cocktails are delicious especially if you like vermouth. The small plates and sausage are all lovely, the arancini and the tartare in particular are delightful. I've had most of the meats here, and I love all of them. I have a soft spot for the entraña as I grew up eating a lot of skirt steak, but it's all good. Service is always exceptional and the food is always tasty. You really can't go wrong here, it's a little pricey but it's worth it. A very good date night spot or restaurant for special occasions.

Had an outstanding experience at Balvanera from start to finish. The service and ambiance are very nice. A bit loud but I'd more call it energetic. The food.... oh the food. That's why you should come here. My friend and I shared a variety of dishes including boquerones, tartare, empanadas de humita (corn empanadas), arancini, crispy skate, potato puree, and finally brûléed Basque cheesecake for dessert. Every single bite of food was on point. We loved their variations on classic dishes (like serving the boquerones on pan con tomate or serving the tartare covered with grated parmesan and with crispy potato chips for scooping). Their portion sizes were perfect for sharing, and my friend (who is from Pittsburgh) agreed that this is the best restaurant in Pittsburgh we've dined at together (and there have been bunches over the years). Hands down, this is the first Pittsburgh restaurant I would plan to revisit on future trips to town, no contest :)

The food was absolutely delicious. From the starters to the desserts. Great place for a date night. If you're in the strip district, you must visit.

Say what you will about Pittsburgh but It is rapidly becoming a food destination. Balvanera, arguably, maybe Pittsburgh's crown jewel. I'm not sure where to start. But suffice to say both the service and the food exceeds any meal I've had in the city. Balvanera feel like you are dining in a fine European restaurant. The level of service is impeccable. There are so many people who cater to the table and one of my favorite things is that my water glasses never empty. The waiters are friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about the food they serve. There's always somebody coming by and making sure that the tables clean or that we have everything we need. It's just that level of service that you don't see much anymore A big thank you to everyone who over the past few months have served us. The service has just been exemplary and I wish you saw it more often in finer restaurants. Now let's get to why you're reading this review. The food. My favorite appetizer is the steak tartar It's so filled with nuance. But mostly it's just damn good. The wife got the empanadas. We shared a plate of Jamon. That's my favorite of the appetizers. The salsa on the bread is just so fresh and flavorful. My only complaint is they give you three pieces of bread when you have two people, you have to cut one. It's a minor complaint but still valid. The Jamon so fresh and delicious that it's startling. As for the main course we get the pureed potatoes which are amazingly good and then we get the strip steak and the ribeye. I love the crust on the ribeye and they use this really nice salt that makes me hungry as I talk about it. Dessert is the cheesecake creme brulee which is basically what I expect that they will serve me if I die and go to heaven. Cheesecake. The wife tells me it's a bruleed Basque cheesecake with a citrus fruit puree that tastes like magic. Delicious. I recommend this place with my entire heart.

I'm (still) obsessed with Balvanera Pgh. If you haven't been here yet make your reservations now! & plan to get the: - Romera Spritz or the Julep American cocktails - the the lamb sausage & cauliflower arancini small plates are a must - and the tarta de chocolate with dulce de leche for dessert is absolutely everything I want in a dessert

Front desk staff in a restaurant are likely the least paid, but they are the first contact to customers and set the tone for the entire experience. Balvanera knows this lesson, and their greeters and seaters the night we went were cheerful, positive, and welcoming. My husband thought he had made a reservation for my birthday at another high-in-demand restaurant, but when we arrived, we were informed he had only been placed on a notify list, not securing a table. But enough of that. We ended up at the Strip at a place we'd been wanting to try. Balvanera offers both small plates and full entrees. We chose the former: beef empanadas with onion and egg, their take on Cesar salad, beet salad with whipped ricotta, and seared octopus. All were excellent. A special appreciation for Bill, the manager and sommelier who was not only very wine savvy but extremely personable. Having the time to chat with a somm is my husband's idea of a good time, and mine too for that matter. Jack, our friendly and attentive server, the candle in my birthday dessert, along with a stunning ambiance in what was old warehousing all combined to beautifully salvage the evening. Thanks so much to all. We'll be back!

I made a reservation and we showed up right on time. The hostess said that the table was just finishing up, so we were able to grab drinks at the bar to start. I ordered the espresso martini because I had heard such good things...This is definitely in the top 3 of my fav espresso tinis (and it might even be number 1 !?!?) I tried my friend's dirty martini (I'm slowly easing my way into them lol) and I liked it! We got a few small plates to share: -Harlow's Caesar - this was good, I loved the croutons! But tbh I don't know if anything will top my homemade Caesar -Tartare - my first time having beef tartare! I was nervous to try it but I loved it! So flavorful and delicious, and the chips paired with it were tasy. -Empanadas de carne - smaller than I was expecting but absolutely delish! Amazing flavors. I love me some empanadas! -Pure de papas - I think these were the best mashed potatoes I've ever had! They were perfect. We were putting spoonfuls on top of our empanadas, which was a fire combo and kind of resembled shepherd's pie. Also the complimentary cookies they gave us with the check were scrumptious! Overall the service was great from everyone (the hostess, the bartenders, our main server, and the manager checking on everyone)! The ambience was perfect! You can definitely tell this restaurant originated in New York. Next time I want to try a steak dish; I don't normally get steak at restaurants (would rather cook it at home) but I saw some other guests' plates with steak and it looked incredible. Definitely recommend this spot.

Came here with a few friends for the first time. We order a bunch of small plates for the table. The highlights were definitely the sardines and the crudo. I got the ribeye steak and it was delicious. Perfectly cooked. For dessert I got the cheese cake and it was truly amazing. All the cocktails I got were good. The espresso martini with dessert was excellent. Can't wait to go back again.

We snagged the first rezy available on a stormy Friday night at 5PM so the place was not full when we were seated but gradually filled up a bit. There was a huge team of servers/bussers that, at times, were clearing our plates before we had finished. I almost had to karate chop this poor woman's hand to keep the last tasty morsel of Iberico ham from being whisked away. Our server was really great and very attentive as was the front of house manager. This is clearly a great team that cares about your experience. The front dining area is a very beautiful and open area. I was glad we walked back to see the cute private booths and back room dining areas that would be great to try on a date night. They also allow bar seating for walk ins or popping by for a delicious cocktail. We marveled at how wonderful the Strip District dining scene and general walkable ambiance is becoming. This restaurant really adds to the options for upper scale casual dining. The three of us started with some tasty craft cocktails that were perfect for the tapas menu. We ordered a special menu item of spring hummus that came with toasted bread that was so delicate and perfectly seasoned. We loved that dish. And, you know you're somewhere special when even the dish of orange spiced olives is fantastic. Those paired so well with our white wines and other foods. The Iberico ham is truly unique and "light as air" thin. I kiddingly said I think they cut it with razors. I could eat three plates of just that with the delicious tomato bruschetta bread that came with it. It's pricey but unique and worth trying. The grilled octopus was tasty and very tender but could have been crispier on the edges. We really enjoyed the corn empanadas and the lamb sausage with a super yummy herb salad and pear chutney. We ended with the basque cheesecake that was very delicious but on the too small side. This was a great meal and we really had fun trying all of these dishes. We'll definitely return.

Came by for a weeknight dinner recently -- we had reservations for around 7pm and were able to get seated immediately, and it seemed that the place was pretty full throughout the time we were there. Our group of 5 ordered a bunch of dishes to share -- some highlights: - We tried a few different cuts of steak. My favourite was the lomo (filet mignon), which was so tender and juicy and just cooked perfectly. I also really liked the entraña (skirt steak). - The chorizo especial was delicious. The pork/guanciale mix was so savoury, and I liked it didn't feel too oily or fatty. Peppers were an interesting touch. - Milanesa de pollo was great. The chicken was fried really nicely, crispy without being too oily.  - We had the flan for dessert, definitely would recommend. The caramel flavour was rich without being too heavy or sickly sweet. Price point was fair for the quality of food -- good for an occasional splurge, I think. Service was very kind although a bit slow at times (but no fault to the servers -- they seemed to have had their hands busy with a full restaurant). Ambiance can be a little loud for conversation.

Excellent dinner here! Steak was perfectly cooked. Chicken dish was wonderful. The space is bright, modern & beautiful. Great service as well. Enjoyed dessert too!

We had a very nice meal here and ordered a variety of small plates. I guess it's a compliment that many of them looked so good I forgot to take pictures of them before I ate them. The Steak Tartare is the best I have ever had and bursted with flavor. The fries were another star and were perfectly brown and crisp. The waitress (Kaitlyn I think her name was) was outstanding and made sure we were always well taken care of. She also had a very positive attitude which helped make the meal enjoyable. Negatives: It was very noisy as it was all hard surfaces with nothing to absorb sound. Also, we tried to order several small plates and then get some more later but were told we had to order everything at once. This is the only place I have encountered with this policy.

everything here was divine. we had the best time, the service was amazing, and i loved the casually chic atmosphere. Me and my friends ordered a bunch of different tastings, but the octopus and crudo really stood out to me!! mouth watering. also side note: if you collect match boxes like i do, they have them here!

I was underwhelmed. The food was good but nothing special, which I had assumed because there was a lot of buzz about this restaurant opening here. The breakfast empanadas were delicious. Steak and eggs were pretty bland, but the potatoes were delicious. I also tried the Cosmosa, a cosmo-mimosa, and it was very refreshing! Our waiter was very nice and made great recommendations. The big windows made the space feel very bright and open on a gloomy Pittsburgh day. It wasn't too busy for a Sunday brunch, but I'd like to come back for dinner.

I feel strongly that Balvanera is one of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh at this time, and I'm eager to see them continue to thrive! I've now been twice for dinner, and on both occasions, the service and food were both absolutely wonderful. It's elegant, modern, and cozy all at once! I remember when the building that houses this beautiful restaurant was home to a nightclub and costume warehouse, so to see it so fully transformed is astonishing. All the food I've tried here has been delicious and flavorful. It's fun to try a lot of different things and split them with the table, but you can also easily build a more traditional steakhouse meal if you're less inclined to try the smaller plates. The drinks are great, too! They seem to lean into their great wine selection most of all, but I think their cocktail menu is also lovely and sophisticated. The sausages and empanadas are a must-try, in my opinion, as are the desserts. This would be my suggestion for where to take folks from out of town for a nice dinner, where to celebrate a special occasion, or where to simply have a great meal with a friend or partner. It ticks all the boxes!

I so badly want to give this place 5 stars. The food is simply phenomenal. The arancini, empanadas and the salchicha were all fantastic. Had a great glass of sauv blanc. However, this is the second time in a row I've waited for a food item for 30+ minutes. Our arancini and empanadas arrived promptly. And we sat and waited over 30 more minutes for one small plate of sausage. I'd understand if these were larger entree plates but for just sharing 3 small plates we shouldn't have been here for an hour and a half. Our server was very kind, but it's easy to feel forgotten about when waiting so long and seeing all the tables around you get food. With all this said, I will certainly return to try more of their dishes. I absolutely love the vibe in here whether it's day or night time. Great date night spot!

Balvanera is a great new addition to the Strip District! Ambiance is intimate and modern with high ceilings and dim lighting. Good fast service. We didn't try any steaks which I think is what they're mostly known for, but everything else was still great. Definitely recommend making a reservation online. We tried: Apps: Empanadas De Humita, Arancini De Coliflor Entrees: Pollo, Salchicha Parrillera Desserts: Bruleed Basque cheesecake, flan Our favorites were the Pollo, Salchicha, and cheesecake. The flan was a complimentary birthday dessert which was a nice gesture. With how many great fine dining options in Pittsburgh, I'm not sure I'll be back anytime soon, but for those that are looking to try something new I would recommend it for a special occasion or date night!

I have been so excited to check this place out. The inside is really cool looking with some exposed beams and brick. It doesn't look that big when you first walk in, but if you have to use the restroom, you walk past the kitchen and there are more booths along the way and the back opens up to another room. We were there on a Friday night and it was packed. I started with a spicy margarita, which was delicious. We had the empanadas, fried cauliflower, Caesar salad, and roasted beet salad. The arancini cauliflower bites were my favorite. And the dough on the empanadas was flaky and delicious. My husband and I were there with my aunt and uncle. My aunt and I knew that we could not eat a full entrée, so we split the Argentinian filet. It was cooked to perfection, better than any steakhouse. And we did a side of mashed potatoes with it. The potatoes were so incredibly smooth. My uncle had the chorizo, which he loved. And my husband had the skirt steak, which they are very well known for. He could not believe how tender it was. For dessert, we all shared the chocolate torte and the cheesecake. The cheesecake was not overly sweet and had a unique flavor, but we all loved it. I also indulged in the espresso martini. I saw one go by and it looked delicious so I had to have it. If you were a fan of espresso martinis, make sure you get one here. The only small thing that I was disappointed in was our server. It's not that he wasn't attentive. He just wasn't overly friendly or helpful in trying to manage the menu. I love a server who is personable and willing to give recommendations, especially in a nice dining establishment. But all in all, it was a wonderful experience.

The interior is gorgeous with a lot of natural lighting and simplistic decor. There is outdoor seating for when the weather is nice. The server came around very often to check up on us. The food came very fast and each dish was amazing.

I can't say enough great things about this place. The atmosphere is both modern and welcoming, creating the perfect setting for a relaxed meal. We went for brunch and shared a few small plates--the Iberico ham and the empanadas were especially delicious. Every drink we tried was fantastic, and the service was truly top-notch. We're already looking forward to our next visit!

Wow! We were super impressed with Balvanera! Arrived early on a Friday night. The restaurant has a nice vibe, mix of modern in an older industrial building in the strip district in pittsburgh. We started with drinks and small plates, then shared a steak, and finished with desserts. The gin and tonic with bergamotto and amaro was very good. An interesting twist on G&T, a little sweet, but I liked it. Others got the Manhattan and raved about it. The empanadas were the best I've ever had. Not dry, not too doughy. The corn empanadas with roasted red pepper and provolone was the hit! So moist and delicious! The beet salad with ricotta and a little pistachio! Caesar salad was super lemony. The steak was also great, perfectly cooked and paired with chimichurri sauce. We finished with a lemon ice cream over cookies and topped with merengue and a chocolate torte. All in all a great meal. We will be back!

This restaurant is absolutely wonderful. My wife and I dined here last Sunday, and it was one of our best dining experiences anywhere ever. From the service to the food to the ambience and everything else, all is exceptional. Kudos to our server Amanda R who was fabulous, as were all the service providers including the bar. Top notch experience all round. We definitely will be back.

I recently went back to Balvanera with some of my cousins. We made a reservation online for a Friday evening. After my second time dining here, I can say that this is one of my favorite spots in the city right now. I started off with a glass of Malbec. For my entree, I ordered Harlow's Caesar (so good!) and the angosto, cooked medium rare (strip loin steak). The steaks come with fresh chimi and salsa criolla. My cousins also ordered a variety of different items. Everyone was blown away by how flavorful everything was. Our service was also great. They also give you a complimentary taste of their house made shortbread cookies. I can't wait to dine here again- would love to try their brunch at some point!

I came here for brunch this past Saturday with 2 of my friends. We had a really lovely meal! It was my first time here, and I am pretty picky with breakfast/brunch since it's a meal that is so simple to make at home. I had their classic breakfast- 2 eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes, and a side of sourdough toast. Everything was excellent! The bacon was great, very thick and cooked perfectly. Potatoes were also good, and eggs were cooked to my liking. For my drink- I had an iced latte with dulce de leche syrup which was fab!! Loved my coffee. Service was very kind, attentive, and she had a great sense of humor ( I was running very late because it took me forever to find parking- they do have a garage next door but I was on the opposite side of traffic and couldn't get over) I will definitely be back for dinner, or for brunch again- Jesus will have to take the wheel if I am driving in the Strip District on another Saturday- it was a ZOO. I will Uber next time or have my fiancé drive us to dinner here

Had an outstanding experience at Balvanera from start to finish. The service and ambiance are very nice. A bit loud but I'd more call it energetic. The food.... oh the food. That's why you should come here. My friend and I shared a variety of dishes including boquerones, tartare, empanadas de humita (corn empanadas), arancini, crispy skate, potato puree, and finally brûléed Basque cheesecake for dessert. Every single bite of food was on point. We loved their variations on classic dishes (like serving the boquerones on pan con tomate or serving the tartare covered with grated parmesan and with crispy potato chips for scooping). Their portion sizes were perfect for sharing, and my friend (who is from Pittsburgh) agreed that this is the best restaurant in Pittsburgh we've dined at together (and there have been bunches over the years). Hands down, this is the first Pittsburgh restaurant I would plan to revisit on future trips to town, no contest :)

Madi strikes again! Her recommendations and service was on point once again. Delicious food and a pisco sour cocktail to start with a Malbec chaser! Who knew? The Balvanera experience would be so freaking good! This is my "go to " business dinner spot. See you in a few weeks!!!!

Wowza what an incredible restaurant I wish I could give them more stars because they deserve it! We started with Jamin Iberico and Arancini Coliflor for our main dishes we selected Rueda De Cordero, Dry Aged Ancho, and I selected the special Chilean Sea Bass for dessert we shared the Bruleed Basque Cheesecake and espresso. This is one of the Best Restaurants we have tried in Pittsburgh. The place was packed on a Saturday night and the staff did an excellent job. We most definitely will be back.

This restaurant was one of the best I've been at in the States. My family is from Argentina, and my parents took the time to thank the chefs at the end of our meal for making them feel that they were finally back home. While we did have to wait a while to be seated despite having a reservation, the quality of the food and the staff more than made up for it. Would highly recommend this to anyone visiting the area.

Balverna exceeded my expectations and was such a fun, new restaurant to experience in Pittsburgh! The vibes were Modern and trendy with low lighting, it is loud but in a good way, full of conversations. The service was impeccable. I couldn't believe how knowledgeable and professional our waiter was. He was helpful, followed through and ensured we received what we expected. My steak wasn't cooked the way I requested and it was immediately taken care of. I highly recommend the Caesar salad, a bit on the saltier side but it was one of the best I had. It is a fairly large portion too. The empanadas were mouth watering. I could have made a meal off of 3 orders! The grass fed strip loin was way bigger than expected, super juicy and filling. I ordered mine medium well. One thing to note is they do require a cc for the reservation and have a pretty hefty cancellation policy ($20 per guest on the reservation within 24 hours), that's a bit steep if you ask me! Can't wait to go back

I have had a number of really great meals here solo and with others. I tend to lean more on the side of the vegetable, and am a fanatic for the chicory salad and their seasonal appetizers. The pollo with herb salad and avocado is shockingly good- the best combination of fresh and savory. The space is lovely and the staff are thoughtful. Price is moderate to high for Pittsburgh and it's on par for what you get, but there are plenty of reasonably priced items to choose from too. The steaks are solid, but competition for this in the Burgh is tough. I'll leave further discussion of the meat to experts!

Excellente ! My wife and I were visiting Pittsburgh for my son's graduation and he recently moved to the area and he picked Balbanera for our celebratory dinner. My understanding is that Balbanera just celebrated their ONE YEAR anniversary, and that this is the second restaurant opened by the husband and wife team, the first being in lower Manhattan. We certainly had a great meal tonight and would readily return. Ever dish hit the "nail on the head". We started with the Beef Tartar which was excellent, with hand made potato chips. Next was the grilled octopus- also delicious. The beef empanadas were remarkably flavorful and juicy. Yum. We then had one of their grilled handmade sausages which was picante and moist ! We finished with a medium rare skirt steak prepared masterfully. For dessert we had the Basque cheese cake which was creamy with a charred crust. Their wine list was also nicely diversified with a wide selection from Latin America. We ended up with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc that was seemingly fairly priced and perfect for the meal. Overall we had a really excellent dinner and we'd return in a minute. Great vibe, excellent service and delicious food. Do yourself a favor and give these folks a try if in the Pittsburgh area. Thank me later.

Balvanera was so good from start to finish! As it was my first time there, I wanted to try a bunch of things. The highlights for me were the rotisserie beets, the chorizo, and my mezcal cocktail. The chorizo was unreal. So delicious and flavorful and I'd go back for that alone. The steak was good (clearly a delicious and high quality cut of meat) but there wasn't any seasoning other than some flaky salt. The endive salad didn't have the right flavors - the salad is so bitter on its own, and it would have been better with more citrus to balance the bitter, and a different cheese entirely that was not as pungent. The empanadas were so good, as expected at an Argentine restaurant, and the complimentary alfajores were such a nice touch. And they were SO good. I loved the lemon flavor, which was unexpected. I enjoyed my experience overall and think that the quality of food is so worth the money, even if there were a few things I'd change. Loved my first time at Balvanera and can't wait to go back!

This restaurant is 10/10. Our cocktails were amazing, our waitress was attentive but didn't hover, the vibe was upscale but not snooty, and the food was absolutely superb. I travel all over the U.S., and this is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants at which I've eaten. I am partial towards tapas so that skews my rating, but our waitress (Bee, short for Elizabeth) helped guide us to only the best dishes! I will be back and hopefully able to introduce others to this amazing dining experience!

Food came out quickly and was good but not what you think of when you hear "Argentinian steakhouse". If you're looking for a true argentinian steakhouse, this may not be the place for you. Service was great. We got the chicken cutlet, steak and lamb sausage.

My boyfriend and I went here on Valentine's Day and we ended up sharing 3 small plates, the ribeye steak, a side of mashed potatoes, and a dessert and it was honestly perfect amount wise - we didn't have any leftovers but felt full but not overfull. Small plates - - the harlow's Cesar salad was raved about by our friends so we got it and what makes it really good is the croutons because they are homemade bread drenched in this delicious olive oil or something so for a ceasar salad, it's great! -the empanadas - these were good but im not exactly raving about them. - the tuna tostadas - best of the small plates we had, if you like raw tuna you'd love this. Was pricey bc of the truffles but was delightful and wish i had 14 of them, no notes - the ribeye steak - delightful and loved the chimichuri and the salsa thing that came with it and would deff get again - but at the end of the day it's just steak lol but you can't get the chimichuri and salsa at normal steak places so that i would come back for -pure de papas - absolutely fire mashed potatoes, so creamy silky smooth, deliciously seasoned garlicky butter, no notes - would bathe in these - dessert: brûléed basked cheesecake - this was served on like an apple butter of some sort and was delicious I got the Romera Spritz for my drink and it was okay but if I were to go back I'd prob try something else. Overall great experience, service, and super nice inside! Good date spot, definitely pricey though!

Went for brunch on Saturday and it was the most lovely experience! The ambiance was relaxing and upscale with excellent food and service. The fresh bread basket was so delicious, I may go back and order it go LOL. The clasico breakfast was perfect and my fluffy oj was so fun! Cannot wait to go back!

The food and drink was amazing! The location is convenient and the space was well designed. Our waiter seemed to be having a bad day and wasn't the most friendly, but he did his job and got us our orders. I wouldn't rely on him for recommendations, but we mostly knew what we wanted anyways. Overall we highly recommend and would go again!

Fantastic food and service, not to mention the atmosphere was amazing as well. We decided to order pretty much everything. Only thing I didn't like was was the endive salad but that was a me thing. All the food was so flavorful and next time I'm in Pittsburgh I will definitely be a repeat customer!

We showed up at our reservation time and were greeted and seated immediately. The ambiance was beautiful. Suitable for a date night. We ordered empanadas and ribeye steak. They were very well prepared and tasty. For dessert we tried the chocolate cake that was fantastic. The service was timely and friendly. We enjoyed our visit and would come back frequently if it was not so expensive.

We went to brunch here on Easter and well the food was very good. It is a limited brunch menu. My only recommendation is to be aware and look at the menu before hand! However, with that being said, I just got eggs, sausage, and potatoes, just a simple breakfast meal and it was very delicious. We ordered lamb sausage on the side à la carte and that was absolutely delicious. They don't really have a kids menu so they were able to break down their French toast for my son, which was still just as good! They have a really awesome and chill place and I love the atmosphere!

Lovely place. The vibe is so nice. Cozy and inviting. I started off with the empanadas and they were delicious. Crispy and full of flavor. I had the tartare and puré de papas as my entree. The steak tartare was beautifully seasoned and a perfect portion. The papas were creamy and delectable. I enjoyed the Pisco 75 during my dinner, so refreshing. I ended my night with the flan with Fernet Branca and caramel and one of the best restaurant espresso martinis

We went to Balvanera for dinner yesterday and the food was even better than I remembered!! It's adorable in there (although that wooden mannequin in the foyer scared me again) and our server was super friendly and gave us a free dessert because he accidentally spilled water on my one friend. I will say, there were a couple of odd one off things with the service. When I got there about 10 minutes early they refused to seat me and made me wait at the bar for my friends which meant I had to awkwardly stand there for a few minutes. Also, it took a while before anyone even came to our table to give us water at the beginning of the meal. Once we finally got someone it was pretty good service there on out. We ordered a few things to share family style and it was the perfect amount of food for three people. My favorites were the chicken milanesa dish, our mushrooms, and the delightful almendrado dessert!

Birthday dinner at Balvanera! Overall my girlfriend and I really enjoyed our meal. We loved the aesthetic of the restaurant and the food was delicious. We will definitely be going back with some friends to share a bottle of wine and enjoy some small plates. Food: Everything we ate was really tasty and cooked to perfection. I got the Ancho (grass-fed Ribeye ) and my girlfriend got the Angosto (grass-fed striploin) Both of these were cooked perfectly medium rare and were portioned really well. For our side we got the Papas Fritas which were a good compliment to our steak. The surprise of the meal was Harlow's Caesar. The salad was incredible and a perfectly light and salty appetizer. Service: Our waiter was great! He offered great recommendations and was extremely knowledgeable of the menu and told us what drinks would complement our dinner choice. Whenever we were low on water a runner would make sure we were topped off. Ambiance: I really loved the open concept of the restaurant space. The high ceilings and big windows allowed for a lot of natural light! Great for taking pictures of your food btw! I personally really liked the aesthetic of the exposed steel beams which blend in the Pittsburgh influence.

My partner and I went here for brunch and it was fantastic!! The restaurant is really beautiful, all of the servers were very friendly and the food and drinks were spot on! Be warned - the Bloody Mary is very spicy, very delicious but very spicy, lol. I would go back just to get more empanadas though, the dough is perfect! We had the ham and egg ones and I can't wait to try the other flavors. We both had the steak and eggs and YUM!! The sauces they provide are both great, the steak was very flavorful and the potatoes were cooked perfectly. Loved every bite and can't wait to return.

Way fancier than I'm used to, in a good way! I dined here alone, I don't recommend you do that. All the food is very good and very much ala cart, kinda like a tapas setup. The meat was incredible, as was the perfectly curated selection of drinks. They also have really fun outdoor dining that almost makes you think you're not in America anymore.

Whenever we go to the symphony we always try someplace new after. Tonight was amazing. Everything about Balvanera is amazing. The dirty martini rivals Meat & Potatoes as does the Old Fashioned. My husband isn't much of a vegetable eater but he devoured the beets and carrots. The pastry on the empanada was perfectly tender and not dry at all! We were pretty full after three small plates so we shared the Milanese. I wasn't a fan of the herb salad on top (loaded with dill ), but the avocado crema was fantastic and the cook on the chicken perfectly moist and crispy! I can't wait to go back and try more!

food was fresh and well seasoned I sat at the bar and it was full service, big kisses to the ladies who helped me out tonight and gave me wonderful recommendations despite being here in Pittsburg myself it was such a peaceful atmosphere, I enjoyed the ambiance and stunning decor

We had great service from everyone(devin was our server). Tried a few of the sausages. Fish was solid. Great cocktails

I love trying new spots, and Balvanera really lived up to the hype! The location is in the newly completed terminal in the strip district, and the ambiance fits its location with the restaurant being bright, airy, & open. Our server was really educated on the menu & gave great suggestions on small plates, and you can always notice a great restaurant by the number of people who touch your table. I think we had 4-5 different servers attending to water, delivering food/drinks, & talking us through wine options. Speaking of food & drinks, both were amazing! The small plates & wine list, for me, were the stars of the show. We went with five small plates for four people, which was the perfect amount to not be too full to try the steaks as well (as it is a! Argentine steakhouse!). The group favorites were the roasted carrots, mushrooms with soy & a poached egg, & yellowtail crudo. We also got sweetbreads (had to try it!) & roasted beets. I already want to go back to try more as they had such an expansive small plate menu! The wine list was amazing with pretty much all (if not completely all) the wines being sourced from Argentina. They even had a torrontes (my favorite wine!), so I had a glass with our small plates. The cocktail list was nice as well, but the wine was definitely the standout. The steaks that we got as an entree were cooked perfectly, and the chimichurri accompaniment was herbaceous & delicious. Honestly, the only critique I had is that service started out a little slow (waiting for our first round of drinks, especially), but once food service started, the pacing was great. I can't wait to go back! Food: A Drinks: A- Service: A- Ambiance: A-

Veal cheeks special were on special. I sat at the small but beautiful bar. Next to the iberico station. I got a blood sausage for my dad to go too but it isn't a kishka more like sausage with blood in it. I'd go back just for empanadas. I had the corn but I'd try the roast beef too. Most men would probably like their steak and whipped potatoes. You get four potato cakes with the caviar. The bar is really nice. They had cab franc and brut by the glass. Negroni stuff . Good Sunday spot. I think they might even have a brunch.

A friend wanted to stop here for a birthday drink before dinner down the street. The bar is clean and trendy, with a wine list featuring some specialties I haven't heard of (what the heck is a txakoli?!). Bartender gave us a few samples to let us learn. Although we didn't eat the food smelled great. Enjoyed our time here, will come back. It's def pricey tho- our four glasses of wine totaled $60 pre tip.

I went with a few friends and we split some small bites. Everything we ordered was delicious. We could not decide which empanadas we liked better both has such good flavor. The fries were so crispy! The Caesar salad was good. The Arancini were so good. I got the picante but removed the cilantro (I don't like the taste). I definitely recommend making a reservation. It was busy but we did have a reservation. The staff was very nice and helpful with their recommendations.

4.5 stars. Excellent service, atmosphere, wine selection, and tapas. I had the fish special and it was good but not terribly flavorful. The prices are definitely on the high side, but I think it's mostly worth it!