Emil's Lounge

I saw a post from a friend who lives in Pgh a month or so ago, and told my family who lives here that the next time I'm in the area we need to try the fish sandwich. To say it was likely the best fish sandwich I've ever eaten is not an overstatement. Approximately 1 lb of fish lightly battered on a Mancini roll, it really doesn't get any better. The less fortunate members of the group had the Reuben and a grilled chicken sandwich. All were excellent, but I felt they were jealous of my fish. Nothing fancy and not in the best area, but you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you don't try this place for lunch. Prices were good given the times we live in.

The food was fabulous! I had a hot roast beef and fries. My friend had the reuben. The decor is a bit outdated, and there is some type of droopy plastic covering a big hole in the dining room. But it's cozy, and the place is clean looking. We had originally gone for the stuffed cabbage, but they were out. We had a fabulous time with our server, who was just helping out because they were short staffed. I do highly recommend giving them a try. I'll be going back for sure.

What a pleasant surprise! When people tell you there’s this place in Rankin with great food, you think they are nuts. Well it true! From the outside you wonder if you are in the wrong place but the moment you get there, the staff go out of their way to make you feel right at home. By the time we left, I felt like they were all old friends! The prices are very reasonable. We both got the Reuben and it was humongous but I always a FOMO and wished I got the holupki or the meatloaf sandwich… so I am going to definitely have to return. Oh and the onion rings! Bam! So good!!! Tons of free parking across the street too. There’s really no reason not to support a place like this.

An awesome Pittsburgh treasure! We came for the Reuben and were impressed by their Friday specials menu. I landed on the prime rib, which was excellent, especially for the price! The whole Reuben weighs about a pound. The waitress was so kind. Will definitely be back.

Friendly neighborhood place that definitely needs a makeover, but happens to have the best Reuben in town. It's so massive, only order a half if you want fries or anything else, you won't come near finishing it. But oh so good!

Owner kicked me out cause they took 2 hrs for my food to get done . My father and friend had they food for a hour . So I told them I dont want to eat after watching my table eat before I got anything. Owner is rude. And doesn't take responsibility for how poorly she runs it

Excellent, local local local restaurant and bar serving the area for over 70 years. Wide range of menu items including all of the normal staples of french fries, onion rings, etc. An American local classic with full and complete bar and table service. The ONE pound Reuben or fish sandwich is a must have served on locally baked Mancini's Italian bread... Excellent service and very hospitable from the time you walk in and take your own seat when they're not crowded. Be sure to ask for Tera who provided excellent service and representation of the complete menu and history of Emils. I will be back and hope that I see you there. #SUPPORTLOCAL #BUYLOCAL #RANKIN

Had a reuben for lunch ready in 10 minutes. Best reuben I ever had hands down, and I had 1 or 2 in my day. And the fountain rootbeer was excellent. I can only imagine it over ice cream.

My husband and I polled a Facebook group called "Pittsburgh foodies" to get recs on everyone's favorite Reuben sandwich in the greater Pittsburgh area. With at least 50 responses, Emil's came up in the top 5 so we knew we had to give it a try. We drove all the way from cranberry during rush hour so it was quite the ordeal to get to Rankin but well worth the trip. The restaurant was very busy and service was slightly slow, but not terrible. It's a fairly rundown looking establishment, but the food was great and the server was friendly. I wouldnt say it's the best Reuben I've ever had but it was big and flavorful and definitely satisfied the craving. I would have loved just a little more sauce too! If you love a good Reuben definitely add Emil's to your list!

I've been on the hunt for a good Reuben and several friends and associates mentioned Emil's Lounge. As it was a Friday during Lent, in my party of two, one of got the Jumbo Fish Sandwich and the other got the Reuben and we shared. Both meals were really great and I enjoyed the flaky fried fish and what I believe was house-made tartar sauce. The Reuben was absolutely loaded with meat and the bread was nicely buttered and toasted too. I wish there had been a little more sauerkraut in the sandwich to even out the meaty and cheesy flavors, but all-in-all it was a solid sandwich and well worth the drive!

Such a friendly place , neighborhood bar , I can not come here and not get the Rueben,, it's huge and amazing !!!!

If you're not getting dinner from here at least once a week you're missing out! All homemade food, the nicest and most attentive service. This chicken Parmesan I got for my takeout order was SO good! I got to pick from spaghetti or rigatoni noodles. I ordered this on a Thursday, FYI Thursday is their Italian menu. Also not pictured is their delicious fish sandwich! Highly recommend this place. It is just straight up good food!

Excellent chow! Stopped in with a large group of fellows today for lunch...about 14 guys. No worries being seated...they were ready for us. Friday in Lent? Yeah I'm getting that big fish sandwich! It was delicious, and so was the cole slaw! Perfect! All the guys wolfed down their various selections with zero grumbling! Our server was great and kept up with drinks, refills, and keeping it neat around us sloppy fellows. An excellent place to stop into...a gem in Rankin!

Great corned beef sandwiches. Quick service , and unusual ambience. I look forward to trying their steaks.

BEST SHRIMP IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very nice waiters that work hard. Also very good burgers but not the greatest. Good place that doesn't look too good from the outside but the inside is very fancy and clean. This place will always have somewhere special in my heart. This place is fucking EPIC. I would go here EVERY FUCKING DAY after work if I could!!!!!!!!!!!

Reuben is great Just a neighborhood eaterie with limited items on the menu but what they got is good Have not been there in a while but I will be going back

We've had the fried fish, fried mushrooms, coleslaw, fries, onion rings, reuben corned beef sandwich, all delicious! Hope to visit again and try their other items as the rest of the menu looks great!

I give it 5 stars yet again. Old school Pittsburgh. Grabbed an Iron to be like the olden days. Owner was here and spent a few minutes talking to me and making suggestions. She is so darn friendly. Definitely a neighborhood place, but as a stranger I was made to feel as though I've lived here my entire life. Ordered tonight the stuffed cabbage just like Zimmern did. Wonderful with homemade mashed potatoes. Like my grandmother would make. The people are what make this place special.

Fantastic service, people and food!!! We love to dine here, wish they were close to home. Food is always fresh, and homemade. The staff is friendly and greet you with a smile to make you feel like a regular. Please don't make the mistake of letting the neighborhood fool you to not come here.... The food, people, and staff are absolutely amazing.

This is an old bar in an old neighborhood. My husband spent a lot of time in Rankin as a child and wanted to touch base. It is clearly a locals neighborhood bar. The waitress was familiar with all the patrons and still spent time trying to get to know us. There were screaming noisy kids and parents in the place and she apologized ,a lot, for the extra noise and seated us away from them. She was a kick and she didn't fluster with all the extra noise. We had the 1/2 fish sandwich that, when you get it, you think you won't finish it but you can't stop. We also had a burger and fries which was also very good. It was a fun place to stop on memory lane.

5 Stars for the food! Excellent portion for the main meals and lots of good choices which made it hard to decide. This made our list of places to eat in Pittsburgh based on seeing it on Delicious Destinations with Andrew Zimmern. If he says it's good, it probably is. It's not something you'll typically drive by accidentally, so put on your GPS and head here for some good food. Everyone loved their food. Nice, thick, meaty burgers for the kids. Glorious homemade stuffed cabbage with mashed potatoes. Crispy thick chicken parmesan. And the Reuben was huge with a ton (not literally) of meat inside. The only disappointment was the portion size of the side of haluski. It was a small bowl with hardly any cabbage in it. It was more like buttered noodles than noodles and cabbage. The service on this particular night was lacking. Water glasses ran empty and she said she'd get more, and never came back. We finally went to the bartender to ask for some water. Check their hours online as you have to kinda plan around when they're open for dinner. But it's worth the trip!

Great neighborhood restaurant. I got the stuffed cabbage. It reminded me of Sunday dinner at Grandma's house. During previous visits, I had the fish sandwich and the ruben... both excellent.

Food is always spot on, the only thing better than that is the outstanding service. I just wish that I lived closer.

Had lunch here last fall while in town visiting family. Perfect Pittsburgh neighborhood bar with great food at a good value

Excellent. Neighborhood gem. Best kept secret. Fish Fry. Friendly. Food is consistently good and fair prices.

As very avid fish fry attendees during lent, my husband and I have a hard time narrowing down our list and Good Friday, the last Friday of lent is the hardest of all because we always want to go out with a bang. We've always heard so much hype about the food here we decided it was time to finally check it out and we were so glad that we did. Don't let the wood paneled walls fool you, this is a dining experience in Pittsburgh not to be missed. I got the junior fish sandwich on a Mancini bun, 10/10 for quality, bun, crispness and flavor! We got coleslaw (good), haluski (best we had all lent) and Mac n cheese (would skip next time). The tarter and cocktail were also some of the best we've had. We both agreed it was the best fish dinner we had all lent and will likely make it a yearly tradition. You can tell by how packed it is and the number of takeout orders going out that this place is truly an institution. Be patient, service may not be fast but the food is most definitely worth the wait!

Really a Pittsburgh legend for local restaurant that is a landmark in Rankin, PA. Thurs they have Italian special menu and their chicken Parmigiana is fantastic, great sauce and served with Italian noodles. Great local atmosphere and very friendly servers.

Full disclosure: this is an overdue review from the pre-COVID days... remember those? My family is from the Steel Valley and I've heard whispers about Emil's for so long... a sunny Saturday afternoon seemed like the perfect time to make the drive and give it a try. Emil's is everything I want in a neighborhood restaurant. I love that this place has stood the test of time, making it feel like somewhere my Pap would've gone after a day in the mill. Something about it just felt instantly homey (maybe it's the wood paneling?), and you know the food just HAS to be great in a place like that. My SO and I decided to split a fish sandwich and Reuben, since they seem to be the most holiest of menu items according to previous reviews and local lore. We were informed by our waitress that this is known as the "Rankin Surf And Turf." Genius. The fish sandwich was HUGE and hot. The fish itself was tender and flaky, and there was a great bun to fish ratio (very important). I learned on this day that I really dig cocktail sauce with a fish sandwich. I am no longer a strictly tartar kind of gal! Next up... from Rankin, PA... weighing in at the size of a small infant... the Emil's Reuben! This thing is amazing. It is absolutely, completely, without a doubt worth the hype. I don't know what voodoo magic they do to this sandwich, but I like it. I like it a lot. There were several minutes of silence as my SO and I savored the first glorious bites. Pro tip: this is one of those sandwiches that you don't want to put down once you start eating it, lest it get away from you. I am a big fan of the Reuben and this is the best one I've ever had, no question. The two sandwiches and an order of onion rings, even when split between two very hungry people, were a LOT of food but for not a lot of dough. Come hungry, leave very, very happy.

A Rankin institution! Great food, great people! Great home cooked comfort food! Bring the whole family.

Great traditional steelworker tavern and restaurant with friendly service, a great owner, and really good traditional Pittsburgh food. The Ruben is monstrous.

Haven't been to Emil's in a long time, but was nearby and it was time for lunch so had to stop. As others have written, this is an old dive bar type place that is a big favorite with really good food and friendly service. The sandwiches are big and good. My reuben was delicious and piping hot. Look at the pictures of the size. Know the size I did not order any sides. Will have to stop back soon and have a few of my other favorites.

First time at Emil's and it was wonderful! The food was fantastic! I had the liver which was melt in your mouth, Jamie had the enormous Rueben that she got two meals out of and Renae got the famous stuffed cabbage! Our plates were clean! The women that waited on us could not be any nicer! Made you feel like home!!! Definitely will be back

Great atmosphere, prompt friendly courteous service by our server who returned to ensure we were satisfied. Additionally, the food was well prepared plentiful and delicious. I definitely recommend this place!

Best stuffed cabbage in town. Super chill and family run. Other food looks great but I can never get myself to order anything else.

I don't really even know what to review here other than GET THE REUBEN. It's your standard neighborhood bar, which I love. And they dish out great meals. Honestly though the Reuben will blow you away. One thing I'd say is ask for your pickles in a cup or something, the pickle juice kinda soaked my bread on the bottom so next time I'll definitely know to avoid that. But that's just me being picket to ensure that this Reuben gets the amazing credit it deserves.

Visited Emil's after having my first Covid vaccine. This was the second time I've eaten inside a restaurant since last year at the start of the pandemic. Last time it was a trip to Emil's too. I love Pittsburgh bar food! Emil's is such a great Pittsburgh place. I ate the same thing I had last time, a half of a huge Reuben and half of a huge one pound fish sandwich. So good, so nice. All is well. Ommmmmmm......

Friday night after V-Day. Very busy but still only waited 10 minutes for a table. Great selections. We had fried shrimp, stuffed shrimp, and chicken parmigiana. All came with salads (or soup or coleslaw) and a potato or mac & cheese. Had a few beers and the total was still only $75. Huge portions we took half of the fried shrimp and chicken home with us. Service is always great - love Tara!!! Gotta go back on a Thursday sometime - when they have an Italian selection.

awesome food, awesome service & the place is adorable inside !! will definitely be back ASAP!

Great food! Gigantic reubens! Server not so good....neither was the bartender. Missed bringing food and soft drinks. Ignored after food was delivered or would have asked for the missing 3 orders of fries. Party of nine, celebrating a birthday, however, we offered to set the table with the paper placemats and silverware and passed out the waters. Had to go to the bar for straws and were told they only had 4. So??????? Tried to get the forgotten soft drink up there too. Server said, "oh" and cracked open a can and poured it in a glass and never brought it over! When asked about it, was told they were out. Only 2 other tables on the other side. Not that busy!?!? No mention of the birthday (even though we sang, had cupcakes and a birthday crown on!) Not very personable. Sad..... got tipped really well too.

Homely neighborhood spot off the beaten path, with friendly staff and generous portions. Unfortunately, I couldn't have the popular fish sandwich since its beer-battered, so had the shrimp basket, which was so-so.

I've only beef here once if I remember correctly I had the biggest mouthwatering fish sandwich I ever saw and ate.

Delicious, old school, neighborhood restaurant in Rankin. Comfortable, casual, friendly atmosphere. I had the 1 lb fish sandwich. Tender, juicy cod in a light breading and a French roll. Delicious. People I came with had the Reuben and stuffed cabbage. I think the corned beef was different than the kosher meat that she is used too but the sandwich was generous and good. The stuffed cabbage was tasty but a little on the mushy side. I would like to come back and try more items on the menu. Oh, and draft root beer is delicious!!!

Super clean, super friendly place. We had the stuffed cabbage which was just like mom used to make. We also had chicken soup and a Reuben as big as my head. Everything was delicious. We will be coming back here before we go back home for the Cod on Friday

Food is good to very good, service is sometimes lacking , not enough servers. Friendly staff, they don't rush you out and allow groups to sit and talk which is nice since we go there as a retired group.

First time I went to Emils Bar and grille was the most majestic day of my life The service is more than friendly. There is a strong connection and respect between customer and server in this establishment. The server and owner are great people and are always fun to talk to. The aesthetics and location of the building is magnificent. It's the homey feel of a small suburb in a concrete jungle mixed with some of the most mesmerizing food you have ever had. Personal favorites: Bacon Cheeseburger; Shrimp; Chrissy Burger; Fries PS; Portions are super good for their price

I know that everyone says that their local sandwich shop has the "best fish sandwich", but Emils has to rank very high on the list of BFS. Not only huge portions but great taste. Highly recommend!

Not my favorite neighborhood bar restaurant; it's my favorite restaurant period, and the perfect example of comfort food. Situated in Rankin beside the police station, don't be put off by the outside appearance. The inside is smallish but comfortable and the rest rooms are clean. A review of the fish sandwich brought me in the first time. It's as good as Nieds on Butler St. but 30-40% larger, crisp outer crust and flaky inside. Be careful during Lent, there can be lines. My other go to meals include the Chicken Parm (Thurs. only), Chopped Sirloin Steak, Stuffed Cabbage, Rueben Sandwich, and the burgers; all are tops. I haven't tried the other sandwiches but they sure look great. The soups stand out as well. Portions can be on the large side and for me meals are priced on the low end. The staff is very friendly and efficient; Tara usually is my server, and with Krissy, the second generation owner, they make the whole experience even better.

My mom and I could have shared a Reuben sandwich. It was huge. It was delicious and affordable but its certainly a two part meal or perfect to share. The bar could use updated but its not in disrepair just a bit old school. The restaurant is close to the Rankin Police so they frequently come through. Parking is plentiful and seating is too. They have a full service bar so you can have a drink with lunch or dinner. They close at 7 so ordering take out is probably in my near future. The staff is friendly and made us feel welcomed. I have to force myself to try other menu items because that sandwich was a winner for me.

Emil's was featured on 25 things I love about Pittsburgh last year and have been meaning to come through and check it out. One year later I finally made it and boy was I glad!! The surrounding area is a little sketch... but once you arrive at Emil's all your worries melt away. My husband and I were greeted with a friendly hello and welcoming service. The owner is so friendly and down to earth and so are the other staff. It felt like we were visiting friends. Anyway, the food. OMG the food is pure comfort!! I had the fried fish sandwich. It was seriously 1 pound! Perfectly fried and nestled in a warm soft flaky bun, actually, it's more like half a loaf of bread. The burgers are juicy and scrumptous. Soup of the day was cream of mushroom soup. Have you ever had homemade c.o.m.s.? I am not talking about the gelatinous stuff out of the can! Ya'll this soup was the bomb diggity! I've also had their wedding soup and it was super delicious!! The featured beer on tap was pumpkin beer. (I don't think it was a feature, or at least it wasn't presented that way. But for me it was their featured beer) It honestly tasted like Thanksgiving in a cup, it was great! Oh and I really like the root beer on tap too. Lastly, they have different specials throughout the week. I can't wait to come back. Next I want to try the Ruben sammies! For me, I believe Emil's Lounge is as close to southern comfort food (if not better) I can get here in Pittsburgh. I absolutely love it!

I had a hankering for some fried fish tonight and the fish fry at Maximilian Kolbe was going to close before I got home on the bus, and I suggested to my wife and 12 year-old daughter that we try Emil's lounge as WQED's Rick Seback loved the place as did Andrew Zimmern when he visited for the Bizarre Foods America episode featuring Pittsburgh. The place is in Rankin - a rough around the edges town in the Mon Valley between Swissvale and Braddock. Don't be put off at first - the outside doesn't have much decoration to speak of and looks like the sort of place that you might think twice about it. A TGI Fridays it isn't... And thank god for that. The place is well-kept but a little dated - no fripperies here. But we're not here for the Decor - we're here for some dinner. The menu is basic with reasonable prices. The meats and seafood are high quality and everything is made to order. Their stuffed cabbage is regarded as the best in Pittsburgh. I love stuffed cabbage but I just made a batch a couple of weeks ago and I'm cabbaged out. Their Ruebens are also killer (our waitress raved about them). My wife and I both settled on fish sandwiches. These are true Pittsburgh fish Sammiches - fresh fried fish in crispy breading, crammed between enormous pillows of soft, yet chewy and crispy Mancini's Italian bread. No adornments - just a boatload of hot crispy fish. Emil's uses thick cod fillets piled high rather than a thin fillet that needs to be broken up to fit in the bun. Truly a great sandwich. My daughter had the BLT - looked good and on good bread and they weren't skimpy with the bacon. The service was very pleasant and friendly and the crowd was a great group of folks. We all had fun with 4 other tables when my wife pulled up a Trivial Pursuit game on her iPhone and pretty much everyone joined in and had a good laugh. Overall, if you consider yourself a true Pittsburgher - you must visit this place. It's one of the few places (Big Jim's in the Run is another) where the spirit of Pittsburgh is alive and hungry. Please go.

Long story short...chicken parm Thursday, fish on Fridays. Chrissy club any other day. Huge grilled chicken or steak salads. And a burger you can eat for lunch and save half for dinner. Great comfort food on the menu as well. I come here during my lunch break and need a nap when I get back to work cause the portions are so big. Very hospitable staff and relaxing atmosphere. You should see this place during lent. Line is out the door. If you live in West Mifflin, Duquesne, Whitaker, Munhall, Homestead and haven't eaten here you're missing out. Rankin, Braddock, Swissvale you already know.

Seen this restaurant on 25 best places in Pittsburgh with Rick Seback ack. Went there with my girlfriend she grew up with the owner. She's very nice all employees are super nice service was excellent i had the fish sandwich my girlfriend had the Ruben more than you could possibly eat very reasonable prices. Going back to try the burgers i heard there enormous and very tasty.

I think the people who give this more than two stars have never eaten in an actual restaurant. OK, its got that old fashioned neighborhood bar vibe (you know, ratty ceiling tiles, old beat up decor, etc). Service was painfully slow, and they were not busy. Just two tables and the usual local alcoholics at the bar. Took forever to just get water, beer. Thursday is Italian day so what better day to try a meatball hoagie? As I said to my wife, these are not the WORST meatballs I ever had, but close. Dry, no flavor, canned sauce. At least the bread was ok. Wife had salad with chicken, with ranch dressing. Did it come with the dressing? Nope. Had to get up and go ask for it. On the plus side, the chicken was actually tasty. The rest of the salad, was just iceberg lettuce with a few things thrown on. Ok. If you live here, and are a regular, you probably know what to order that is good. I did not have that kind of luck. Ok if you are around and need lunch, but I would not drive far to get here.

Another Pittsburgh institution for those in the know. You go to Emil's for the fish sandwich and the Rueben. The ambience is a bonus. This space has what the hip kids would call "authenticity." Which is to say, there's history and integrity in the food and in the atmosphere. It's the difference between trying too hard and working hard for what you wanted. Some people might even call it soul. It's a bit off the beaten path, and not in the best neighborhood, but you go anyway for the same reason you go to church: to sustain the soul.

Stuffed Cabbage w/ lots of subtly flavored meat & a large side of homemade mashed potatoes, so satisfyingly good! 5 stars! If I could eat it once a week, I would be happy. We should have ordered some to take home. If it was closer to CMU, the students would be there everyday for the stuffed cabbage. Waitstaff: 5 stars- super warm & friendly, real family and neighborhood feel. Italian food is only on Thursdays! Meatball hoagie: 2 big meatballs, in big hoagie bread, good sauce, only $5.99! Same for the Sausage Hoagie. Fish Sandwich- super big & crispy. The table next to us had the Reuben sandwich on big slices of rye bread. Only the cup of soup was tiny, maybe it was included, not sure? We visited bc we saw this place on Andrew Zimmern's travel channel show. It's a little out of the way, but we used google maps. Can of Soda was only $1.00. The bathrooms are sparkling new. The interior & exterior of the restaurant doesn't reflect the good experience we had (normally I wouldn't go in, but hubby is adventurous & loves to support local businesses). We went after the lunch rush.

I retired from the Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock. I lived in Uniontown so I traveled tp work. Ate there a bunch of times after work. Since I retired I have not been there. I have to say the Ruben is the best sandwich hands down I have ever had. Thinking about just coming back for one very soon. Also miss the Triangle bars subs too. Glad to see you are still open.

This was a pleasant surprise. The restaurant we wanted to try in the area doesn't open for lunch and I found Emil's on Yelp. The portion sizes were huge, the prices were good, and the service was wonderful. I'd definitely go back.