Butcher and the Rye

So here's my MO. Whenever I go somewhere, I always ask the server for a recommendation. Why? Because they're the experts! Also, I've a hard time making decisions so I'm cheating! DRINKS: something sweet and or fruit. FOOD: what would you feed a hungry football player? Someone who likes savory/ flavorful dishes but can't do "too spicy."Now that you know, we can continue our tipsy yelping. UPDATE: Butcher and the Rye closed 12/2020 due to covid-19 pandemic's tour of fine dining destruction. The location reopened 12/02/22 as Apres Ski Bar while the Butcher and Rye concept is reignited. ~~~~~~~~~~~~I've been here before and the food was delicious. It was about 2+ years ago, so I'd be lying if I told you what I ate. However, my subconscious causes my mouth to water when I think about eating here. Make that bit of information what you will. Yesterday I was out for drinks. The night's vict-- server was Erin. She recommended the Snowfall in Montego Bay. She made an excellent recommendation. It was made of a clove infused Jamaican rum, banana, cinnamon, rosemary, honey coconut, and apple cider. The blend of flavors was well-balanced and helped prevent any one flavor dominating the drink. So if you don't like any of the listed ingredients you should be safe to order because they all worked in harmony to prevent offending your palate. In the meantime, I need to make sure to return for dinner again.

I went on Friday evening for their new Spookeasy Halloween themed pop up bar. It was opening day of their new concept so I expected it to be super busy which it was. The five of us put our name in on the waitlist and proceeded to wait outside.I checked in not too long later and was told we were first on the list to get in. It started pouring rain and they were nice enough to let us wait in the entrance on the sides so that we didn't get soaked. They then proceeded to move us to the side of the bar where the entrance is into Tako, took our drink orders and my friend's card for the tab, and then told us that we would get our drinks and get seated shortly. We waited....then waited....then waited some more. It was not a great spot to put us since staff members kept walking from Butcher to Tako and back. We finally asked them if we could just got sit in Tako and get out drinks there since we were attending an after party there afterwards anyways. They said yes and let us go to the Tako side.After quite some time we got our drinks delivered to us at Tako and they were lazy in my opinion. I absolutely loved Apres Ski Bar and The Lost Cantina (the previous two pop up concepts there this year) so I badly wanted to love Spookeasy but it was not it for me. Pretty much all the drink were just drinks from the Lost Cantina tiki concept with a skull put in it or just a changed name. My friend and I split the Science Fiction Double Feature and it was almost unbearably sweet (although I did appreciate the popcorn container). The Purple People Eater was delightful but it was also That Purple Drink from the Lost Cantina. The Chupacabra drink was exactly the same drink, name and everything from the last concept. I also wanted to like the decor inside Spookeasy since the decor for Apres Ski Bar and The Lost Cantina were phenomenal. The decor for Spookeasy was also lazy. They kept all the Lost Cantina decor and just put skulls, spiders, and bats everywhere. Overall, Spookeasy was just not it for me. I will say it was their opening day when I went so maybe they just need more time to have more creative drinks and decor. But it felt like to me that they're just tired and the pop up bars need to stop (I'm sure it's exhausting to think of new themed drinks and decorations all the time) and it needs to go back to the regular Butcher and the Rye.

I was just walking by after having dinner in the area and didn't realize this place as actually open (no food, just drinks)! Loved the Christmas/holiday decor, good mood lighting, and had fun with our bartender. Wasn't overly crowded but had a nice trickle of people coming in and out. I had the Cloud 9 cocktail and it was tasty! My partner and I also enjoyed a shotski since he had never done one before. Definitely recommend stopping by for a drink (good mocktail options too if that's more up your alley!)

I went to Butcher and the Rye's newest concept, The Lost Cantina, on Friday with a group of 9. It's open Fridays and Saturdays only starting at 5pm. We enjoyed countless cocktails, with The Purple Drink being our unanimous favorite. The presentation of each drink was so aesthetically pleasing! We shared appetizers from adjoining täkō and the service overall was beyond attentive. The tropical decor and open air concept made for the perfect send off to summer!

I met some friends here post music concert for an after concert stink and snacks. We got a table right away and sat on the cool couch with the fur blanket. We enjoy the frittes and the shrimp cocktail. The server, the ambiance and food were all excellent. Happy we could enjoy the ski apres theme before it changes.

Met up with a friend at Butcher & The Rye's Aprés Ski Bar pop-up. It's so cute & cozy inside, highly recommend requesting inside if you make reservations & highly recommend reservations. This time we were in the outdoor tent. Definitely not equal vibes/ambience to the inside, but still fun.The seasonal drinks are creative and have a lot going on. The "Cloud 9" (not pictured) was my favorite both times we've visited. They were just suuuuper slow to come out this visit, but the inside was packed so it's understandable.The sauce on the mussels "Moules Mariniére" was divine - shallot, white wine, garlic, mustard, thyme & cream. So rich & great with the French baguette. The mussels themselves were ok. Some of them were a bit iffy imo - always a risk to order mussels in Pgh, but I love them.Also adding a pics from the first time we came with our other friends, but none of them really capture the decor inside. It's worth checking out for the atmosphere & some good food (currently a more limited menu with charcuterie boards, fondue, and apps) & cocktails!

Excellent all around. Rye/cayenne mule was excellent but the dirty pasta is not to be missed. Period. The recipe for it is also online, and it takes a long time to make, which is worth it if you've had it at the restaurant, because you'll remember how good it was and look forward the whole time to what you are about to eat. Service was also excellent. It's a little loud, but there are intimate spots throughout if that is why you are eating out. But if you want intimacy, make the meal at home for the third date...

I wanted to love this place but I can't. Ambiance is fantastic. Service was meh. Food was also meh. I hear they've got some structural problems here so it's a bit limiting. Hoping to try one more time. Alpine pop up was cool though.

This place is neat! I prefer to stay on the Tako side though. I got in trouble by an employee for buying a beer on one side and taking it to the other. Weird right?

Cozy spot in downtown Pittsburgh with good vibes and service. However, the food is just okay. We ordered the chicken and steak and it didn't really stand out.