The Vandal

My boyfriend and I went to Vandal for breakfast over the holidays. We both got the egg and bacon biscuit and the food was great — you can tell that it’s all quality ingredients. The restaurant is also beautiful and full of light. I just got takeout this morning and it was a similar, great experience. The staff is also extremely hospitable. I’ll definitely be back!

The vandal has fresh, innovative food, a friendly staff and a great atmosphere. It’s consistently good and they always have something new or different on the menu. I especially recommend the ham biscuit for brunch. It’s breakfast sandwich nirvana!

On a chilly Thursday morning after a night shift, I found myself in Lawrenceville wanting to treat myself to a nice breakfast (or would that be dinner?). In any case, I had heard the good vibes coming from the Vandal, so I traipsed down to Butler from Penn to check it out for myself. With only one other patron who eventually came in during my meal, it was a quiet yet very much welcoming atmosphere that I encountered, mostly due to the friendly staff who greeted immediately upon entering. After hearing about the breakfast menu options, I selected one of the toasts and a vanilla lemonade to accompany it. I was quickly served a thick slice of perfectly toasted bread (think chewy-​to-​the-​point-​of-​cloud texture in the middle with a perfect char on the outside, with just a hint of smoky campfire flavor here and there) slathered with the lightest, creamiest ricotta I’ve ever tasted. On top of that came several generous pats of apple jam and a few thinly sliced pieces of an Italian cured meat (whose name is unfortunately escaping me).
Sometimes I find that I enjoy food most when the contrasts between flavors play themselves out on the plate, but not so at the Vandal. The individual components of my toast melded so beautifully that the sum of the parts was far greater than any contrast each individual ingredient might have provided. (But, okay, real talk – I knew I was a goner when I found myself wanting to lick my plate… only two bites into my toast.) The toast itself was generously cut, so I found myself perfectly satisfied at the end of my meal. And then to wash it down with that lovely vanilla lemonade… I don’t care if it’s 15 degrees and snowing or more lemonade-​drinking appropo weather, all lemonade in all seasons should be so sweetly accented with vanilla. Who knew?
At the end of the meal, one of the staff members reminded me that the Vandal also serves lunch and dinner. If my breakfast was any indication, I am sure I’ll be back soon for more delicious adventures at the Vandal.

I guess it’s about time I wrote a review, because I have literally eaten here or gotten takeout at least once or twice a week since they opened! I mean, I like this place so much that they are on speed dial on my phone. It is my favorite lunch spot in Lawrenceville. The ingredients are always fresh, and locally sourced when possible, the food is almost always delicious (I’ve had a few misses but overwhelmingly hits), and the staff is super friendly and accommodating.
The atmosphere is great — minimalist, clean, but welcoming, with tons of natural light. The staff is super laid back, and the manager Joey always makes a point to engage with visitors and to check that they are enjoying their food.
The chicken sandwich is absolutely killer, and the burger is very solid as well. I am glad they changed it to include fries! Also, I have enjoyed the pork sandwich (which changes regularly, but usually involves crispy kale) most of the times I have had it here.
This is a must-​try place if you haven’t been already!

The Vandal menu is so simple yet the food is very complex. Tons of flavors going on with the Pork Sandwich on wonderful rye bread. The Chicken Sandwich is hearty, slaw-​y, and yummy, but you’ll need your napkin. Today I had the Burger, which was tastes and filling, but those fries man. Super hot and fresh, with just a dash of salt, oh so crispy. Heinz ketchup of course. Get to The Vandal, ya filthy vanimals!

Absolutely. Do this. Go there. Make it happen. There need to be more places like it. I can still taste the carrots… (drool)
I was home for the holidays and my family has been dying to try the Vandal for months. I made them wait for me (thank god).
Where to even begin? The restaurant is in the heart of Lawrenceville. Immediately when you walk in you get a very calm peaceful vibe. This is not a fast food place, although you can get great food fast. This is the kind of place where people come to savor incredible food and have conversation. It’s the kind of place you want to spend time in.
The menu is small — which I actually prefer. They do a select list of items, sourced locally, and they do them with absolute finesse. There are approximately five sandwich options (as it stands today) — offering everything from Pork, Burger, Carrot, Confit to Catfish. There were also «snacks» in the form of soup, salad, farro and beats.
The catfish was unfortunately sold out on the evening that we went, but we got two burgers and two carrot sandwiches and all of the sides (yes, all of them). Also it’s important to note we brought our own wine (bonus!).
I’m going to start backwards because I can and because I can’t stop thinking about it… THE CARROT SANDWICH. It sounds weird, right? Carrots, a sandwich… why? How? But shut your mouth and stop asking questions. Why does the sun shine and the rain fall — it just does. It’s what is supposed to happen. Just like you, and everyone else, are supposed to eat this carrot sandwich. I ALMOST don’t even want to try to describe it to you for fear of not doing it justice. I’m also just sitting here wondering why I’ve never had a carrot sandwich before? Did my parents not love me? Mouth watering fresh bread, Apple cider glazed carrots, chicabiddy cheese and parsley sauce. I cannot even. I can’t.
Let’s move on before I self-​combust and have to drive back to Pennsylvania and mug someone for a carrot sandwich. My parents got the burgers — I had a bite of my moms and WOW. It was one of those bites that you want to scarf down because it’s so good, but also savor so you remember what great tastes like. The fries might have stolen the show though… I’m sorry to say. Imagine kennywood fries but 1000x better. Yea, I said it.
Digressing to the starters — Watermelon soup. Hot, flavorful, savory. We licked the bowls. Farro/​Potato — YES. Fun, different, a little taste punch in your mouth. Beats — we were fighting over them.
If I could give The Vandal 10 stars, I would. My parents have already invited their entire friend group to go back — and I’m jealous. See you when I get home Vandal!

Love the scrapple. Chicken biscuits and gravy. It was delicious definitely will be back

Home for Christmas and was walking down the street and this new place caught my eye. Walked in bc I loved the décor and it reminded me of a little NYC spot.
Staff helped me make up my mind as I wanted to try everything. I’ve been in the restaurant industry for close to 10 years and have been in every position from bus boy, manager and chef. I always wanna eat everything lol.
Anyways got the pork sandwich and it was fabulous. Great flavor and combination of ingredients. Would def make a stop back here for sure next time I’m home.
As mentioned it’s not really a 1^st date place but great for couples to come in and hang for a little. Order a few things and have them come out at different times.
For those n00bs out there. This isn’t a fast food joint. It’s pretty apparent you order and then take your number and sit down and the food is brought to you. It’s also a BYPB place so yeah hence why no drink list.
I feel like on any review people are so worried on focusing on he bad things or small bits that the good is lost.
Sure it also may be on the pricy side but all ingredients are sourced locally and are premium. These so called foodies on Unilocal just crack me up sometimes. They think they know it all yet thy never even spend a minute on the other side of the counter or in a kitchen.

After lusting over the impeccable interior design on Instagram for weeks (seriously, I want to move in), my boyfriend and I decided to stop by for brunch on a Saturday around noon. The entire time we were there, almost every table was full but due to fairly quick turnovers, there was never a wait for a table.
We started with coffees and an order of beignets. The Vandal gets their coffee from nearby Constellation Coffee and I highly recommend it – so smooth and delicious! Our order of beignets came with two large beignets in a creamy pear sauce. Totally worth it!
I got the butternut squash toast for my entrée, which is a spongy yet crisp bread from Five Points Bakery topped with butternut squash purée, caramelized onions, and crispy kale. Light yet filling, I wish I could eat this everyday! My boyfriend went with the burger, which he didn’t have any complaints about other than the lack of side dish. At $ 11, it seemed deserving of a small side with it. Adding a $ 3 side of fries would have pushed the price point a little too high for the casual vibe of the place.
The staff was friendly and attentive throughout our meal. The Vandal definitely fills the void of a quick, high quality meal in Central Lawrenceville (other nearby restaurants that I consider comparable are not known for short waits and speed), however be prepared to pay for the quality. I’m looking forward to future visits!

I tried a bite of my friends burger and fries ($ 11). The burger was excellent, the spread was rich but not overwhelming and the meat was very tasty. Fries were excellent.
I had the shiitake sandwich ($ 11), which was grilled mushrooms, cheese, and shavings of a cured pork. Good blend of flavors and overall tasty sandwich, but I thought the baguette was too chewy and wish it came with a small side or some fries like the burger does. Lastly, the Mac n cheese was really disappointing. It was $ 4 for a small, really flavorless portion. I ended up adding salt and pepper, but didn’t finish it anyways. Unfortunately the other sides were pretty pricy ($ 7), so it’s hard to sample the menu without spending a good amount. I feel like when your menu is composed of 5 sandwiches and 5 sides, it’s worthwhile to make sure each dish is up to par, and was surprised that they haven’t improved the Mac n cheese!
Overall the burger certainly lived up to the hype! I will definitely be back for that.

I really enjoyed my meal here! The food was great and I loved the tile/​exposed brick décor. Plus, it is right next to Kickback, so grab a sandwich and then go play some pinball! You order at the counter, find a seat and they will give you a number and bring you the food. I personally liked the counter at the window, but there were plenty of table tops available too.
My boyfriend and I split the Burger, the Chicken sandwich and a side of Mac & Cheese and they were all delicious! The burger was cooked well, the chicken was crispy and both types of meat were super juicy. Sometimes mac and cheese noodles are overdone and too mushy, but this was perfect… I am a macaroni and cheese maniac and theirs was very creamy and delicious!
A little pricey for sandwiches, but if you are more concerned with the quality/​preparation of your food than getting the cheapest deal, you will be very satisfied like I was! The sandwiches were not huge, but definitely worth it for a good quality meal.

As other have written, this is a nice space.
The staff stopped by a couple of times to see how we were doing and if everything was good. It was!
My burger with tomato mayo and pickles was tasty. Loved the pickles and burger. Some of the tomato mayo dripped on my fries, Oh so good. Just like in Europe with some mayo on you fries! Should have asked for a little to dip my fries into. The mayo probably could have a tad more tomato for flavor.
The lavender tea was tasty.
Surprised they did not have WiFi.

Love, love, love this addition to Lawrenceville!
The restaurant is kind of unique and bears description — you order your food and pick it up at the counter, though the food is the same quality that you’d eat at any of Pittsburgh’s fine dining restaurants. That said, The Vandal is fabulous for breakfast and lunch, but not necessarily the place you’d take a date or go for a special occasion.
The staff is always wonderfully friendly, and I love that the Vandal has fun with themselves (no, not in that way) by doing things like theme nights.

Parking in Lawrenceville is nearly impossible except on Sundays when it is free! I pulled in to a small lot near this place and when I went to register the car I noted the free parking.
So I walked in, the place is small but packed with people but I managed to find a table. The menu is on a chalkboard above the counter, you place your order and they bring it out to you. Since today was Sunday brunch I saw that the special was a plate of bacon or ham with fried eggs, kale salad, and toast for $ 11.00. I saw one of them and thought too much fat on the bacon or it was burnt on another order so I decided to opt for something else.
I asked the counter manager his recommendation since this was my first time here. He said that I would enjoy the «squash toast». It is toast topped with caramelized onions and kale. I also ordered the yogurt and granola parfait to go with it. For a drink he recommended the lavender lemonade. So I went with that. Most everything else here is ala carte but I got away with $ 16.00 for my selections.
I paid for my breakfast and sat down. At each table they have tap water in a closed bottle. I received my meal fairly quick and the same man who took my order helped me out. I noticed that although I loved the toast it was a bit hard to cut with a knife. He took it back and had it cut for me. I asked him what type of bread they use for their toast. I was told they use sourdough bread from 5 points which is some bakery over on Wilkins Ave in Squirrel Hill.
The food was very good and I got to chat with a couple at the next table. He was having a fried doughnut with a crème filling before the main course. He said that he often comes here for lunch and recommends I try the fried chicken sandwich. Sounds like a plan to me!
I noticed that they have take out and by the time I was finished this place was packed with people waiting for tables. My advice would be to get here early since this must be a popular place. When I left I took note of other businesses I thought interesting so it will definitely mean a return trip.
Eat like a vandal! The food is ravenously good!

A friend of mine recommended this place, and as I walked up the street, I saw a sandwich board out front that said Pawpaw Beignets. I got pretty excited. Unfortunately, they were sold out for the day, and it just went downhill from there.
The décor is nice. It’s a lunch counter style where you order and they bring your food out to you (although when you enter, this isn’t readily apparent, so we ended up just standing there as the wait staff made eye contact with us and then ignored us. We finally just walked up to the counter without as much as a hello or welcome from the staff.) My dining companion ordered a burger, and I ordered the 2 eggs and ham plate. I ordered coffee, and asked for water, which they said they had at the table. They did not offer us any other drinks, and none were listed on the chalkboard menu, so not sure if they have anything else.
So the table did in fact have a glass stopper bottle of water, which turned out to be warm Pittsburgh tap water. We had no glasses, and no silverware, and no server to be found (too bad I added that tip on my credit card at the beginning.) I walked back up to the counter. When no one appeared, I just grabbed 2 glasses off the bar and headed back. We finally got someone’s attention and asked them for ice. They brought the ice, but we still didn’t have silverware.
Our food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. I asked the food runner for silverware. She muttered something under her breath and walked away. I looked at my friend and asked what she said, to which he replied, I have no idea. So, I walked back up to the counter, (where she had started taking a food order from the line) and she shot me a look before I even said anything and said, «I know you need silverware» and kept ringing up the customer. So I sat back down. She brought us silverware a few minutes later.
It’s too bad I was hungry, because the food was simply not good. The eggs we slimy and bland. The thin sliced ham tasted like it had been getting cold for the last half hour. I got a few leaves of dressed lettuce… I’m not sure if that was a garnish or part of my meal. The thick sliced toast was ok. My friend got a burger where the pattie was literally the size of a dollar menu fast food burger, not kidding you.
No one ever stopped back to our table. Not once, not to check on how the food was, not to ask if we needed anything, nothing. I ate 3 bites of my eggs and ham, ate the toast, and then we just left, never to return again.

I don’t think it gets any more delicious in Lawrenceville than The Vandal! I had the pork sandwich (pork, kale chips, apple topping, dijon mustard on italian-​style bread), macaroni and cheese and lavender vanilla lemonade. I can’t say a single bad thing about my meal. It was beyond amazing and I immediately starting thinking about when I can come back to eat there again. The only downside is that it is a little expensive to enjoy as a regular lunch spot. I spent $ 20+ when it was all said and done, but don’t regret it at all obviously. The food is served on pastel-​colored trays reminiscent of the kind of trays you’d get in the grade school cafeteria, but more stylish.

Dear Lord this place is good. Like really good. Like I want this in my life every day good. It’s a simple menu of only a handful of choices, but I have no doubt every single item is delicious.
This is because my pork sandwich, with apple jam and a perfectly crisped kale chip on top was pure heaven. The side dish of green beans, ricotta, apple jam and egg was the perfect pairing. To top this off, I had the most delicious vanilla lemonade.
One thing I will note is that this does not come cheap. The total was $ 22. Honestly, it was totally worth it. But if you’re looking for a cheap lunch, this is not your place.
The décor is GORGEOUS too. It looks like that home décor magazine you subscribe to and want for your own. Exposed brick, herringbone hardwood floors, marble tables and exposed beams.
That’s it. I gotta go once a week to feed my craving!

Came here after I saw that a couple of my friends have been here as of late. The décor of the place is quite interesting … very trendy, very hip … and has both window seating and small sit-​in tables.
Unfortunately, the food … probably not as up to par. No, I’m not necessarily or merely talking about how the food tasted, because the burger with the tomato mayo was quite delicious (that tomato mayo was especially quite tasty), the mac & cheese was alright (amount of cheese used was sufficient, but I found it to taste overly milky for some strange reason), and the fries were alright, but the price is a bit hard to swallow. Portion size for the mac & cheese appetizer ($ 4) came in a weeny small tray and that’s not even referring to the burger ($ 11), that of which I could have gotten a bigger one almost anywhere else and most likely for cheaper. The iced coffee was alright … they also give you squeeze bottles to use before you take it so that you can adjust the levels of milk and sugar to your liking.
So overall impression … overhyped & underwhelming. Definitely see the potential though. Might give it a try again later down the road after it’s had some time to acclimate and grow.

I’m so happy this past weekend I got to try out the Vandal. I saw some hype for it through Instagram and was eager to stop in. First off, the décor is awesome. I don’t know design terms, but to me it felt very LA and hip. There are cool marble table tops, a big bar (with a huge menu sign above) where you order your food and can see into the kitchen, and green plants throughout the space. I was originally going to get a burger, but the chicken meal of the day was recommended (4 pieces of chicken with 4 sides consisting of mac and cheese, pickled green beans, fried okra, and cornbread). The meal was awesome! We ate every last bit of our decent portioned meal.
My only reason for giving this 4 instead of 5 stars is the wait for our take out order. It took a little over 20 minutes to get our meal, which was definitely cooked to order. I saw them coating the chicken before frying it. So it was quite fresh and I totally appreciated it but compared to other fresh take away places in town it felt a little long to wait. But the staff was so friendly and had us take a table and got us water.
I’ll be happy to go back and try everything else on the menu, honestly! Looking forward to a long run in Lawrenceville!

I always used to walk by the empty store front on Butler that is now The Vandal, and hope that someone would turn it into something great. Once I started to see construction going on inside, I was really happy to find out that it was going to be another exciting food option on Butler; not just another restaurant, but somewhere that offered breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a counter-​service format for eat-​in or take-​out. Nothing against the typical take-​out options, but sometimes you want to eat interesting, high-​quality food AND watch Netflix at the same time, you know?
The menu is small but the options are varied enough that it was no problem finding something that sounded appealing. My friend and I both decided to try the burger (with marrow, pickles, cheese, tomato mayo, and greens). The meat was juicy and packed with flavor; the toppings added additional interesting flavors and textures while still allowed the meat to be the star. I am a huge fan of the tomato mayo. I thought this was a really interesting (and delicious) alternative to the traditional slab of tomato on top. I love pickles and was glad to see them included, and these did not disappoint. They were super thin and had a potent vinegary punch. I wish I could get these by the jar and put them on all of my sandwiches.
The burger came with a side of thin, crispy fries which we also enjoyed. There was no sauce served for dipping, but this was perfectly fine for us as they were flavorful on their own. My friend ordered a side of the mac and cheese (which I stole a few bites of). This was really interesting as the cheese sauce was thinner than your average mac, and the noodles were actually al dente. Mac and cheese is often a gelatinous blob of thick sauce and mushy noodles, so I loved that there were texture differences. The flavor was slightly sweet but the sea salt and chives on the top really rounded this out. They could serve a larger portion as an entrée option – I would be into that.
Overall I’m excited to go back. I’ve seen pictures of some pretty tasty-​looking breakfast items that I am excited to try. Seems like another great addition to Lawrenceville!