Balvanera

Balvanera, with locations in NYC's Lower East Side and Pittsburgh's Strip District, is a true homage to Argentine cuisine and culture. Created by the talented Chef Fernando Navas and hospitality expert Meredith Boyle, this brasserie exudes porteño charm, blending European influences with Argentina's rich culinary heritage. The menu is a thoughtful journey through traditional Argentine flavors and innovative touches. Standouts include the Boquerones, delicate white anchovies paired perfectly with pan con tomate, and the Crudo, where yellowtail sashimi shines with guindilla pepper and Arauco olive oil. The ribeye options - whether the Ancho (Argentine Angus) or the USDA Prime dry-aged - are masterfully prepared and showcase the essence of Argentine grilling. The flavor was incredible. Paired with creamy Puré de Papas, these dishes are simply unforgettable. The beverage program deserves special mention, featuring sustainable Argentine wines and a curated selection of aperitifs like vermouth and sherry, ensuring there's a drink for every palate. With its vibrant atmosphere, impeccable service, and a dedication to authentic porteño cuisine, Balvanera is more than a restaurant; it's an experience. Whether in NYC or Pittsburgh, it's a must-visit for lovers of fine dining and Argentine culture. #GOUDapproved

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

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!

Oh, did someone say brunch in the strip? I'm in! I have yet to try this spot for dinner but was super excited to check them out for brunch!! I needed a crispy Diet Coke, and that's exactly what I got. It even came with a fun black and white striped straw. Who says a soda is boring! We were starving so we immediately put in an order for some empanadas! They come with 2 per order, but we were able to order 3 since that was our party size. We got the huevo, jamon, y queso empanadas. It was impossible to choose which kind we wanted, and I wish we were able to order one of each! However, these were delicious! Now I need to try them all!For my main, I was between steak & eggs, and the burger. I went with the burger and asked to add a fried egg to give it more of a brunchy feel. They were happy to do this for me! The burger was delicious! Definitely cooked on the more "rare" side which our server did warn be about! Keep this in mind if you prefer more well done red meat. I personally like some red and pink in my burger so the patty was super juicy and flavorful! Adding the egg was perfect. The fries on the side were delicious and they didn't skimp on the portions. Dipping the fries in the garlic aioli is a must. It's divine! It did take quite a while for our food to arrive, we didn't mind, we weren't in a rush and were happy to stay and chat. But our server did make note of this and was genuinely apologetic and offered us some champagne to end our meal. This was so so appreciated, and was not necessary but showed that they were attentive and responsive when a problem arises! I also just love the vibe of this place, with so many windows and tall ceilings it's beautiful during the day with so much natural light shining in!

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 :)

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.

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.

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

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