1947 Tavern

Hmmm… I wonder out loud why I haven’t written a review for this place yet. It’s possible that I realize my subjectivity because I was in love with the Elbow Room, which use to be here about 5 years ago before moving to Walnut Street (where it has recently been closed). I actually refused to go to this place for a couple of years after it opened because I was really upset after the Elbow Room moved (it just was never the same on Walnut Street!) — but I’ve stopped in a couple of times in the last 2 or 3 years. While the cocktail menu is pretty creative and actually pretty good, the food (Arrrggghhhhhh brunch) is just not the same. The draft list is average, and the clientele is apart of the uppity Shadyside professionals and grad student crowd. This wouldn’t be my choice for a night out, but I wouldn’t be upset if a member of my party wanted to come here.

Came here with a big group for happy hour (5−7pm). We got here at 5:15 and it was empty, but filled up by 6:30. Happy hour specials were half off appetizers, drafts, their bourbon slushy, and bottles of wine. Food was hit or miss, the wings were good and the pork sliders were excellent, but the fish tacos were pretty flavorless.
I wish service was faster, don’t know if they were overwhelmed by our group size but drink orders were slow even early when the place wasn’t crowded and we were one of 3 tables. We also weren’t allowed to order at there bar for some reason, so a few of my friends didn’t get to order beers for the first 20 minutes.
I’ll definitely return for happy hour to sample more of the menu, probably with a smaller group next time.

This is the worst service I’ve ever received in my life. 45 minutes for drinks and he forgot half our order. The food sucks. Do not come here for a good meal.

Sorry 1947, you just don’t do it for me; You just don’t get me there.
After looking over the menu that contains about as many things as I can count on two hands, which is kind of disappointing, I decided on a cobb salad with chicken, and white bean chicken chili to start. The «chili» was actually really good, the only thing that really satisfied me here. The $ 14 cobb salad was not bad, but the way they cut the lettuce… its shredded like you’d get on a taco… just made the salad seem droopy and depressed. No one wants a depressed salad. It was also small. For $ 10 I could get Shady Grove’s cobb salad thats at least twice as big and NOT depressed.
My partner in crime and all things eating got the chicken pot pie. It was actually big. Like almost face sized. The top crust was nice and light, crispy and buttery. But the inside unfortunately was like thin soup, and the bread lining was a paper thin layer. It was basically just soup in a bowl with a pastry cap. Chicken pot pie in my experience has always been thick and creamy, but this was very thin.
I figured I’d give one last chance at redemption and order a cocktail. I looked over their cocktail menu, made a choice. When I finally got the waiters attention, I was informed they actually don’t have the cocktails in their cocktail book… what??? The only house cocktails they have are the ones on the little paper that lists their current draft beers. There were only about 7 cocktails on that pice of paper and they were all whiskey/​rye drinks… no thanks, bye. Why would you have a cocktail menu if you don’t serve those drinks? No cocktail for Nathan.
Overall, I think for the price, I’m just not satisfied. Im not a cheapskate, and this place isn’t super expensive or anything but for what you get it is definitely not worth the price at all. There were just too many negative things and almost nothing that stood out as great.
We both agreed that we would probably not order these items again (minus the white bean chili), and probably would not return unless someone else was going and asked us to accompany.

I’ve been wanting to go for almost a year now but never found the right time. Now I really wish I hadn’t waited so long! The place was nearly dead when I came in — about 5 people sitting at the bar and then me and my girlfriend — however the waiter and bartender did an awesome job of making the place feel lively with their friendly, cheerful personalities.
ATMOSPHERE — ³⁄₅
The décor of the place is. interesting. Beautifully drawn chalking on a couple walls proclaiming their alcoholic offerings, an eye-​catching bar and impressive whiskey/​scotch selection (will have to come back at just for that alone), low light and cozy seats that, combined with the dropped tile ceiling, funky looking drum pendant lighting, and the big front window with wooden blinds, give the impression that the place hasn’t really made up its mind about the mood its going for.
DRINKS — ⁴⁄₅
Their drink menu as is at once both predictable and inventive, with options for those who want to stick with the timeless, proven coctails (e.g. old fashioned, manhattan) as well as offerings for the adventuresome ones who are seeking their next favorite libation.
My girlfriend and I both left our fate to the lovely bartender, who made us two delectable concoctions based off our respective palettes. While nothing crazy, my Irish Old Fashioned was exactly what I was craving at the time and a refreshing take on my comfort drink that I’ll have to try at home now :).
FOOD — ⁴⁄₅
We split their chicken pot pie and pork tacos and both were great. The pot pie was HUGE and had an amazing delicate, buttery crust on top of the classic chicken pot pie soup (though, we agreed, the inside was a little too soupy and we’d have liked a creamier texture). The tacos were a delicious sweet, savory, crunchy mix with the right amount of everything, making for a perfect appetizer while we waited for our entrée.
This place was bordering between a 3 and 4 stars on my review but, because of the quick and super friendly service we received, I am more than happy to give a ⁴⁄₅ for 1947. Can’t wait to come back!

I’ve been here twice now and plan to go back. It can get kind of busy (first time I went my group had to squish into a small booth), but if you go early during the happy hour there are plenty of seats and good drink deals. I mainly love the fact that there is a bourbon bar here in Pittsburgh.
The last time I went, my friend and I got frozen bourbon lemonades. The bartender was super friendly and nice, since I was the first person there. We chatted a bit, and she called the frozen bourbon lemonades «adult slushees.» Spot on and delicious! It would be perfect for a hot summer day. It also looks like there are some solid food options, which I’ll have to try next time.
The drink prices are on the higher end for Pittsburgh, but I also usually go for cocktails and 1947 Tavern is a nicer venue for drinks. I believe the bartenders actually know what they’re doing and try to be creative with the drinks. Happy hour there is an awesome deal, so hit that up if you can!

I visited 1947 Tavern this evening with a friend for happy hour. We were looking for a non-​dive bar in Shadyside with a good happy hour, and 1947 fit the bill.
For drinks, my friend and I both ordered frozen bourbon lemonades ($ 3, HH price). My friend described this drink as an alcoholic slushee, and she was right on! The texture reminded me of water ice, but was finer and melted more easily. The flavor was quite sweet, though, and lacked the characteristic tartness of lemon water ice. I couldn’t taste any distinct bourbon flavor, but it was definitely there, given that my head started to tingle after drinking the last third of the drink.
For food, I ordered the mac and cheese, which was half off for happy hour ($ 4.50, HH price). Although it wasn’t the best mac and cheese I’ve had, it wasn’t bad. I particularly enjoyed the noodles, which consisted of Fede pasta, according to the menu. Thanks to the crispy top, the cheese sauce had interesting textural variation, but its flavor was mediocre. If you’re looking for a good mac and cheese, I recommend Harris Grill’s across the street. Unfortunately, I don’t believe that they discount it for happy hour like 1947 does, though.
Overall, my experience at 1947 was solid 3.5 star quality. The HH prices were right, but the drinks and food leave room for improvement. We sat at the bar, and service from the bartender was great, despite being the only customers for awhile. If you’re in the neighborhood and are looking for an alternative to the Harris Grill, consider giving 1947 a try.

We headed out here after my bff’s birthday dinner this past weekend. It was my first time at 1947, and I was pleasantly surprised. Inside, the restaurant itself has a bar area, booths and a long table… during our visit a group of at least 14 or 16 people came in and were seated in the middle of the restaurant at the long table. So, pro: they can accommodate large groups; con: it’s right in the middle of the place so difficult to maneuver around people.
Since it was a nice night, we opted to sit outside in the ‘beer garden’. Place is cute and comfortable. I can’t comment on the food, because we just had some drinks. I usually just go for a beer, cause I’m a simple gal, but I chose to get a frozen bourbon lemonade with framboise (which was lemonade and raspberry) because it just sounded so good. And it was! But, it was super sweet… so, for me, one was enough. Our waitress accidentally made my friend the wrong drink so she gave us a second frozen bourbon for free and I could only get a few sips down. Anyways, prices seemed reasonable, the staff were friendly… overall a decent experience. Due to the positive reviews on their meals, I would definitely come back for dinner!

My first time at 1947 Tavern was a little mixed. The drinks were good, but I found the service to not only be inattentive but downright rude. So when my friends and I headed there after having dinner I was a little suspect, but I noticed they had their Biergarten open and we really wanted to sit outside so no brainer we headed toward the door.
We were greeted by a very fun and colorful hostess/​server. He was upbeat and kind of dancing there as we came in. I asked if we could sit outside stating it was my birthday. He happily went out to find a table and treated me very nicely saying anything for the birthday girl! It was cute. The outside is very quaint, but open, I liked it a lot. The other server working was also just as friendly. My girlfriend and I started off with a frozen Bourbon Lemonade with Framboise, where as the men ordered a couple beers. They were very refreshing but also very, very sweet. I couldn’t drink another so I ordered a Manhattan (shocker). I asked for the Manhattan and she accidently brought another Bourbon Lemonade. I said quickly that I wanted a Manhattan. She apologized and went to take it away then said, just take this and I will bring your Manhattan. That worked out great, since my girlfriend was drinking the same thing, though she couldn’t finish both either, just really over-​the-​top sweet.
1947 Tavern proved to be a great stop on Saturday. With great service, nice atmosphere, good drinks, and best friends, I can’t ask for much more than that.

Visiting Pittsburgh for the first time from Manhattan
and we are staying right down the road from 1947 Tavern. Found this place on Unilocal and their great reviews. The drinks are amazing. So good and after looking at the menu we thought the food would meet our expectations and actually exceed them. We ordered crisp gnocchi bites with the «house sauce». This house sauce should be listed as Heinz and Sriracha sauce. After expressing our concerns to the server and offering get native suggestions as a condiment solution their was «nothing» she could do. At the time a flood of people came into the restaurant that was empty when we arrived and she was slammed since they seemed under staffed which is why I think we got the response that we did. This incident kind of ruined our experience there which up until that point was awesome.

I started coming to 1947 Tavern to see my favorite, awesome bartender, Ruth Ann, and discovered that they also have INCREDIBLE food! Tonight I had the Harvest Burger — all I can say is OMG the most delicious burger I really think I have ever had! The patty was hand patted — know this by the way the meat crumbled when I ate it — the mixture of caramelized sweet onion and apple on top was off the chart! I must say OMG good! Not to be outdone, the truffled cauliflower gratin was spectacular as well. Think of soft cauliflower in a creamy white cheese sauce with a hint of scallion and a crispy top. Oh my. Will certainly be back and HIGHLY recommend you check it out for yourself.

The perfect place to grab a drink with a friend or two, I absolutely loved the fries and drink that I ordered (it was the special, a very delicious summer drink). I’ve only been here once, but my experience was incredibly enjoyable. My friends and I are definitely heading back soon!

Love the drinks, but don’t love the food. I think the food here is very popular for carnivores, but it leaves us vegetarians hanging. In particular their veggie burger — a mysterious concoction of beets and who-​knows-​what — tastes strange and turns to mush in your mouth. Appetizers and bar-​type food are ok (though the options are limited).
I want to give this place 3.5 stars for its bar. I find the cocktails interesting and tasty. I also think the service is nice. However, fellow vegetarians, eat somewhere else.

O… M…G!
Tavern 1947 is the real deal! It’s so good we ordered delivery two nights in a row!
I had the fried chicken sandwich with tavern fries. The sandwich is huge, and so delicious. My boyfriend got the meatloaf, and was kind enough to share a few bites with me… AMAZING!
I’ll definitely spread the word about this awesome restaurant!

Happy good neighborhood restaurant and a good selection in Beers and Whiskeys. The atmosphere is uplifting and a good place to hang out with your MBA classmates after a 3.5 hours night class.
On the food side, the items are tasty, I definitely am a fan of comfort foods with a good Beer and good company.

The more I go here, the more I think it’s the most comfortable and enjoyable place in Shadyside to grab a drink with friends, especially at happy hour (update: they’ve now moved «happy hour» from 9 – 11, so I’ll probably adjust the times I go accordingly). It has great happy hour specials on food (half off apps) and drinks (the rock and rye cocktail is $ 4, I believe). It’s classy without being pretentious, and not annoying loud. It can get busy, but most nights you’re not elbowing past crowds of undergrads to get a drink at the bar and you can usually get a seat.
In general, I think the drinks are much better than the food. The classic cocktails are pretty great (Manhattan, sazerac, old fashioned). The largely unhealthy, breakfast-​for-​dinner menu seems like a puzzling choice for a fairly classy joint, and if I were a magician I’d re-​do the menu lose the Breakfast Schtick and have more healthy and light options. Among the apps/​happy hour discounted items, I do like the fried brussel sprouts and bruschetta. The gnocchi tots have a pasty texture resembling neither tater tots nor gnocchi, in my opinion.
Despite some flaws (mostly just that the food is not as excellent as the atmosphere), it’s still the place I’m most likely to pick if I’m wanting a long, comfortable conversation with a close friend or a date over drinks and snacks.

It’s my fav in the neighborhood. It isn’t super cheap and possibly a little stuffy, but it’s eventually more relaxed and a good time. There’s a large bar, window seating, huge party tables, and dark booths to slink into. The back patio is incredibly cute, little picnic style tables complete with the twinkle lights around the wooden fence. The wait staff is friendly, accommodating, no complaints here.
The cocktail list is all right. Changes too often. The whiskey list is crazy extensive. But the real gem are the whisky slushes. It sounds not great to call them slushes, but that’s what they are. A few variations of whiskey, honey, ice slush, and some stuff depending on what you like. I get the magical one that includes cider and a lil’ apple chip. They’re not too pricey (maybe $ 7?) and I’ve never had anything similar. Worth the trip just for those.
The food is fine. I tend to go overboard sometimes here so fried gnocchi is just what I need after some serious happy hour ($ 3 rock and ryes, whaaa). It’s really good bar food. Do not expect a damn five star dinner. Again, relax, it’s Bites and Brew’s kitchen trying to put your mac and cheese together. They do a decent job. Apparently they now even have brunch. I haven’t gotten up to Ellsworth that early.
The atmosphere is good. Music is always good too. Food, booze, staff is good. They even have a little TV that they will put the hockey game on for you, surprisingly. My only qualm here would be the run off from the hole across the street that is Harris Grill. Not that it’s this establishment’s fault. Just saying. Regardless of less than ideal company, it’s a popular, cute, enjoyable place.

The ambiance and atmosphere are tops. We walked in and were sat quickly, while there was a 25 minute wait at the harris grill across the street. Friendly staff and good background music. You feel as though you are in a trendy pub in the 1940s. The lighting was low but you could still admire your food and see your friends.
The menu was well rounded with modern American cuisine and some food from the UK. We all ordered different things, including several different kinds of meat and vegetable pot pies. The food was good but not great, the portions are a little smaller and prices a little higher than most other nearby options.
The beer list was VERY solid, and my friends loved their cocktails (including over 50 types of liquor) I’d happily come back for drinks in the cozy atmosphere, and maybe spring for a side appetizer. I’d reccomend coming here for the drinks before and planning to go somewhere else for your dinner.

After 2 years on the west coast, me and my wife made our trip back to PIttsburgh and this was by far the best dinner and best experience we had in our 3 days. The food was freaking amazing – the fried chicken was amazing, and the mac and cheese with short rib was mind blowing. it was the night that the power line blew outside Harris’, and we were glad for more reason than one that we were at 1947 Tavern.
This used to be our go-​to spot when we lived in Dover Gables, just around the corner. The food is incredible, the drinks are strong + bourbon-​lishiscous, and the vibe is super laid back. Hell, I’d move back JUST to live within walking distance again.

I don’t know why it took me so long to start coming here. My default happy hour choice on Ellsworth is Harris Grill, and so I guess for a long time I just overlooked 1947 completely.
I’ve been here a couple of times within the past month and have had good experiences. The first was for late night drinks with a group of friends. Long picnic tables on the back patio easily accommodated our group of eight. I’m a fan of eating (and drinking) outside, so we were all about the patio. They also offer a couple of tables out on the sidewalk (probably some good people-​watching here… Ellsworth on a weekend night can be entertaining) and the main seating area inside of the restaurant is great as well. It’s fairly dark and something about it just makes the place feel upscale and refined.
As for drinks, we ordered a variety of featured cocktails from the menu and everyone enjoyed them. I started with a Rock and Rye, which is one of their happy hour specials during the week (rye whiskey, lemon, orange, pineapple, rosemary, and rock candy). I followed that up with a classic Manhattan. Both were excellent and the service was quick.
On my most recent trip I ordered fish tacos (apps are ½ off during happy hour). I was fairly disappointed in these. There just wasn’t anything special about them and to me they were bland. Salsa or anything with a little bit of a kick would have gone a long way to help these. My friends ordered a variety of other apps and everything else seemed fine. Apparently their mac and cheese is amazing, so maybe next time I’ll go that route.
Overall it’s a nice place to get drinks with friends. Service has been great each time and I’m glad to have another reliable happy hour spot in Shadyside!