The Vandal

I have dined at The Vandal close to 15 times and can confidently say, it is one of my favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh. The menu rotates frequently, with new dishes hitting every few weeks, so even as a somewhat regular, there’s always something new and intriguing to try. The oysters are always fresh, the steak tartare is always executed perfectly, and the flavors, ingredients and complexity of every other menu item is always superb. I love that they feature thoughtful non-alcoholic cocktails to round out their alcoholic counterparts. I love the natural lighting and minimalistic vibe. The service is always welcoming, kind, thoughtful and knowledgeable. I do suggest making a reservation.

Great venue with a view of the kitchen. Menu is exceedingly seasonal — dated to the day of your visit — and lovingly prepared. Dishes were varied and full-bodied, the atmosphere was elevated but exceedingly unpretentious. Highly recommend! On downside: it’s quite warm inside on a summer day. Not a dealbreaker at all, but if you’re sensitive to heat, request the seat under the A/C!

I love the Vandal. It was my second time there. It's a cozy upscale place with a thoughtful menu. I like to dine by myself, and the bar is great for solo dining there. Service is really attentive. The food was fantastic. I had oysters to start, a fish entree, and a strawberry rhubarb Eton mess for dessert - I wish it had slightly more rhubarb! All in all it was delicious and the vibes were immaculate.

Cant speak highly enough about this place. Food is always amazing. So many Pittsburgh restaurants are good, but get stale because you could go back a year later or in different seasons and will be looking at the exact same menu. Not the case at all with The Vandal. Always something new and exciting to try on the menu and whatever it is never misses. Can only imagine and appreciate the R&D and refinement that goes into everything on the menu. Because of this, my appreciation for this place grows every time I go. Artwork inside also super dope.

The Vandal was a nice date night on our visit to Pittsburg. My wife and I enjoyed drinks, apps, main course and dessert. Services was quality. Highly recommend!

We were so excited to be able to check out the renovations and new summer menu last night. As always the service was impeccable and the atmosphere had that perfect date night vibe. We can’t help but over order when we come here but everything was so delicious it was worth the need for sweats when we got home. We started with the fresh bread service and olives, the breads crust was baked to perfection but a tip I wish I would have known. Don’t butter all of your bread if you get the olives, dip a little of that crusty goodness into their amazing olive oil. Don’t debate on whether or not to get the pea and ricotta fritters, just do it. Whatever the green sauce is I wish I had a jar on hand at home. I loved the chicken and thought it was perfectly cook but would not have been made if there was more salsa verde for every bite. We also had the bass which was good but I saw the pork and should have gone with that only because the fish was slightly over cooked on the edges and the piece was smaller. Just figured if you are reading this and torn between the bass and anything else on the menu I’d go with option 2. We ended the night with the flourless chocolate cake and could have shoved another piece of that somewhere because it was divine. We both had the white Negroni which we LOVED and split whatever the tawny port with hits on raisins was and it was quite tasty and paired perfectly with the dessert. Definitely worth every penny.

We had an amazing time here with excellent food and environment. They really know how to make creative toasts, both food mousse and shrimp toasts were the best. Steak tartare and squid casarecce a bit salty but still flavorful. They also got good scallops, huge, buttery, and tender.

Food was great, service was great! 🙂 loved the hamachi crudo, oysters and arctic char especially!

Amazing! Amazing! Yummyyyy!! I went with my friend for a last minute dinner on a Friday and I was amazed. Their steak is out of this world!! Fries & Garlic Aioli? YES! Oysters? Absolutely!!! Great service and ambiance. It's a little dark so it's perfect for a date night but it's also loud. Pics are blurry because I was too excited to care lol Cannot wait to go back there again.

We came here last night for our anniversary and had the steak frites for 2. It's a 22oz steak with a side of French fries. Overall, it was good but not sure if it was worth $80. The garlic aioli was delicious, the steak was cooked more medium than the medium rare that was recommended and was pretty salty. I really enjoyed the Lillet Rose Spritz I had before dinner. It was so refreshing and perfect for a hot day. Dessert was also great, the caramel was my favorite part. Our server was wonderful, she was helpful with recommending a wine to pair with dinner. When we arrived there were no menus available which I thought was odd but we didn't wait long to have them brought to us. Overall, a nice place with a good service but the food seems a bit overpriced.

The love I have for the vandal is unreal. The vibe is perfect, cute, cozy, modern. The service was OUTSTANDING. And the food, well that speaks for itself. Went on burger night and have never had one like it - 20/10! The hangar steak? I could eat that every day and die happy. This is a spot that I don't think could get rid of me if they tried! PS - burger night is Thursdays, and they WILL run out. Get yourself in there and enjoy something so special from start to finish!

The Vandal is one of the few restaurants that I got to see grow over the years. I still remember coming here to eat brunch for the first time 6 years ago. I was beyond impressed. Everything about this place was perfect. The ambiance, the food, the service, the price...it was probably one of the most influencing restaurant experiences I had back then. I remember ordering the pancakes and the plattering was beautiful. It also had its own original twist to it. I came back multiple times for the same thing and they change up the presentation and flavors all the time. It was also a $15 and under brunch at the time so also a great deal. I used to bring everyone who visited Pittsburgh here for brunch. Dinner was also amazing. The steak and fries was the best I've had, even to this day after I've tried more top tier restaurants around the world, I still remember their steak vividly. It was grilled to perfection and the flavor profile was complex. I can't remember what sauce it was but it definitely left an impression. The drinks were spectacular as well. However, I felt that the Vandal has gotten significantly more expensive while the food quality has gone down. My third time there was for restaurant week and I was quite disappointed at the menu. I had the crab pasta and it was probably the most mid pasta I've had at a nice restaurant. You can't really taste the crab at all, so it was pretty bland. I blamed it on the fact we were here for restaurant week so it might not be the best menu or dining experience, and came back in a few weeks. It was a bit better, but still not as good as before. I felt the menu was less creative. The food was still interesting, but the quality and flavor doesn't hit as much as before. Plus, the cost of eating here have increased. Thus, I'd still give it a 4 as it's still not a bad restaurant but I miss the days where it really went above and beyond.

Came here on our first night (ever) in Pittsburgh and what a great way to be introduced to the city. Though it is a place that takes food seriously, they didn't take themselves so seriously as to be stuffy and unwelcoming. We appreciated the friendly yet professional vibe. We had a good sampling of the menu, from snacks, the shared plates, entrees and even desserts and we loved their creative interpretations of classic dishes. The cocktails were also both unique and delicious--you usually have to sacrifice one for the other, but not so here. Everything was on point from start to finish. We're just visiting, but we will most definitely return when we're back in town. It was also our son's 19th birthday and Vandal made it a most memorable night.

Third time at the Vandal and still loving it! This time we went for the Wednesday Happy Hour (yep, it's only on Wednesday). Oysters are $1/piece, so fresh and delicious!! (6/person min order, 12/person max order) Cheese plate is amazing too, everything from Chantal Cheese Shop, high quality insured! Other dishes are as good as they look in the picture. Shrimp toast and Foie Mousse Toast are definitely two of my go-to, so good! - Highly recommend - the lighting and environment are so good, if you are looking for a place for either girls night out or a date, you won't disappoint coming here.

The ambiance was so cute, cocktails were truly very good, but ultimately I wouldn't recommend the food for the price. By pictures and menu, this place seems like a win for the neighborhood. Ultimately the food was not up to par or what was expected. We ordered beef tartar that lacked flavor, an endive Caesar salad that only tasted of parmigiana cheese, the steak au poivre had not a peppercorn in sight or taste, and the duck was over which led to the skin being rubbery.

I came here for dinner on yesterday evening (Thursday). The space is pretty small so make a reservation if you can. I made a reservation at 5 pm for 7:15 the same day. No issue! I really like the ambiance of The Vandal. They incorporate little touches that I appreciate (I.e. fresh flowers in a cute little vase on each table, lights dimming as the evening goes on, a tea light candle with votive on each table, etc). This place is a great place for a low key date night. We started out with drinks. I ordered a glass of red wine (Merlot & Cab Sauv) and my date ordered the Lillet Spritz. We also ordered the smoked trout rillettes. For our entrees, the main reason we decided to come here on a Thursday, was for the burger night. We both ordered a burger. The waiter came back and said there was only one burger left, so we ordered the burger and the bucatini. Everything we ate and drank was really good! The only thing to be mindful is that the burger is very rich. It was really good, but really rich. My pasta had a little kick to it but it added to the dish. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at the Vandal. I will definitely be back!

Enjoyed their summer 2023 menu. They have a great happy hour on Wednesdays for oysters ($16 for dozen oysters) that comes with a yummy yuzu cucumber mignonette. The foie mousse was sweet and savory- perfect while the cherries are in season for summer. The cocktails were perfection, especially the cucumber gimlet. The steak tartare was delicious and reminded me of Yukhoe - marinated korean steak tartare served with a raw egg. Definitely worth trying out this summer menu!

had an excellent dinner this evening at vandal. the steak frite for two was perfectly cooked and seasoned, while our appetizers (steak tartare and melon/cucumber) highlighted the quality of ingredients. the service was attentive, friendly, and helpful! each member of the team made the dinner feel relaxed and special. the wine list was not super extensive, but well rounded. loved the back patio, but next time would love to eat in the main dining hall or try a seat at the wine bar!

Just FYI as I have tried to go twice, Vandal is CLOSED. I was so excited about it but I think it may well be out of business? Just posting for others who can save themselves the drive I did!

Outstanding experience. -- Oysters with yuzu mignonette and kimchi cocktail sauce. I've never had two oyster accoutrement complement each other so perfectly. -- Octopus with white bean puree and Calabrian chili oil. Tender octopus, the chili was quite spicy but in a way that made me crave more and more. -- Scallops with peas and beurre blanc. Deft touch from the chef, everything was delicate and seasonal. Perfect cook on the scallops. Might have been able to handle a few more grains of salt if I was nit picking. Can't wait to come back.

Staff was not as helpful as I would have linked when discussing their drink selections. The menu was minimal and expensive.

I was really excited to try this place, as the interior was cool and the menu items looked delicious. Everything was well plated, but out of all the items we ordered, only one thing really stood out. Oysters / yuzu - cucumber mignonette: the flavor of the yuzu and cucumber sauce just didn't work and through off the oytsters. Arancini / spring pea, parmesan fondue: bland and boring Wild Green Gnochetti - morel mushrooms, sherry cream: absolutely delicious. The morel mushrooms were fantastic with an earthy, meaty flavor that was really accentuated by the sherry cream. Portion size was small however. Roasted Half Chicken / English peas, pickled ramps, spring onion: the chicken was very bland and not at all appealing. The peas were the best part of this dish, which says a lot. Halibut / Manila clams, fava beans, artichokes, mint: the fish was perfectly cooked, light and flakey, but the flavor was lacking. My party ordered three cocktails, two of which my friends hated, and the special cocktail (which was pineapple based) which I really enjoyed. Would not come back to this place.

This spot in Lawrenceville is so beautiful! Great lighting and decor inside. Very trendy and the presentation is gorgeous. However, I found this place lacking in flavor and seasoning. They have 1/2 price oysters on Wednesday for happy hour. Friends said that the oysters were bland and only ok. It comes with a cucumber mignonette and hot sauce in a cute dropper bottle. I had the tuna crudo and while the elements accompanying were cool (strawberry gazpacho, pistachios), the tuna was bland and flavorless. The steak tartare was also bland but it was really pretty with the egg in the middle. The thing we tried with the most flavor was the foie gras toast, although I'm not the biggest fan of foie gras. I love that they give you sparkling water. Overall, great place to check out but I'm not sure if I'll be returning. They do change their menu a bit so maybe in the future I will come back if something catches my eye. I'd love to see some more vegan options here too since I do have dietary restrictions. Service was great since it was a Wednesday happy hour and we were the only table there.

Seasonal menu! Most important thing to note is that the menu constantly changes based on season Service was great- it's an intimate room with few tables, however we dined as a large group of 8 with a reservation. This would be a great place for a date night We ordered a few bottles of Champagne for the table as well as their Orange Wine feature which was awesome!!! I did have a friend order an espresso martini and they weren't really a big fan as it's a liquor based martini with no actual espresso Duck portion was small so glad we also got a few appetizers along side bread. However it was cooked to perfection and I do love a whole anchovy on a Caesar salad!

We came to the Vandal this month for our restaurant club and we all had a great time! I was initially worried that I wouldn't be able to eat anything being vegan but I called in advance to ask. I was told that one of the chefs was vegan and they would be able to make something special for me! They made me a vegan bucatini with mushrooms and asparagus and it was so good!! Everyone else enjoyed their food also! I really enjoyed the vibe and aesthetic of The Vandal too but I would definitely recommend making a reservation! The seating area is relatively small so making a reservation would be the best way to ensure you get a seat. I would definitely come back!

We had a family style milestone birthday celebration dinner for 11 and it was just a wonderful experience, from the neighborhoody hip vibe to the friendl staff. All the shared plates were delicious, creative, and of quality that one just can't procure without raising stock and planting one's own harvest :-)

Came for dinner during a weekend trip to Pittsburgh and was so impressed! The space is great, and the service was awesome. We sat at the bar and tried a bunch of cocktails, and the bartender was super fun and helpful. We tried a bunch and dishes loved the food! Can't say enough good things about this place.

The Vandal has been one of my favorite dinner restaurants in the city for special occasions, so I was sure to book a reservation for my friend's first ever visit to Pittsburgh this past Saturday. The drink menu offers a small but thoughtful and creative variety of wines, cocktails, beer, and NA. I settled on the Dia Carota as is, while my friend substituted tequila for the mezcal. It was so good that we both ordered a second round! The rest of our group enjoyed glasses of one of the red wines. The shareables were perfect for 4 people, we enjoyed the arancini (2 orders), grilled zucchini, and tuna crudo from the regular menu, in addition to specials including the fava bean and ricotta crostini with pickled green tomato and wild mushrooms with soft cooked egg, caramelized shallots and mustard vinaigrette. The other half of our group also ordered the steak frites as entrees. Lastly, we shared the polenta cake and another chocolate dessert. Overall, I love that the Vandal's menu is always evolving and find their quaint, romantic atmosphere so charming!

I had dinner here about 5 years ago and then again about a week ago. 5 years ago I would have given it 5 stars. The reason I now only give it 3 stars is that the quality of the food has declined while prices have gone up. Our food was overly greasy, salty, and flat in terms of flavor. For example, the steak dish was only meat and a huge pile of fries on a plate with a side of aioli. The steak and fries tasted good and the steak was very tender, but for $45, it needed something to elevate it a bit and round out the flavors. After a few bites it was just too one-note and heavy. The dish needed some veggies and/or acidic or herbal elements. Everything on the plate tasted the same. The small plates we had were also lacking in similar ways. On the plus side, I do like the small cafe vibe, friendly service, and NA drink options. The oysters were good and fresh.

Party of 4 on a Saturday night. All 4 meals came out lukewarm - at room temperature. Waiter offered to reheat meals. Came back still room temperature. We didn't eat. Asked waiter to give me a bill for wine we had. Waiter said there was nothing he could do. I paid full price. Left no tip tho. Reached out to owner following week - to no avail. Food was bad. Service was worse. There are better places to go. Don't water your time or money here

Came here for date night during restaurant week and was very pleasantly surprised! Location- busy lawrenceville. Parking can be tough. Small cozy venue with open kitchen concept and adorable bar. Drinks- fantastic. One of us did the wine pairing and the other got this amazing mezcal refreshing drink I would come back for. Food - we chose this place because we're not big dessert people and the dessert wasn't part of the restaurant week courses (but they did have them which look delicious). The dishes weren't necessarily complex but the ingredients were fresh and perfectly made. There were two people in the kitchen making things fresh and they still came out quickly. The summer salad was probably my favorite. Overall - will def be back. Cozy location perfect for date night or a small group of people. Highly recommend!

This is a cute little cafe in Lawrenceville! We made a reservation for lunch on a Sunday. The vandal didn't look particularly busy at 1:45pm. We were seated immediately and service was quick too. For starters, we ordered the bread service. It came with a butter croissant and cranberry pistachio bread. I like croissant but not so much the cranberry bread which my friend loved. I ordered the schnitzel and my friend got the omelette later on. The schnitzel tasted pretty good but was topped with apple sauce which I'm not a fan of. My friend's entree was big in portion and she was barely able to finish it. I finished my schnitzel but since it was sweetened by the apple sauce, I didn't feel like ordering dessert later on. Overall, the vandal is a cute spot to visit for some fast food.

I recently returned the The Vandal after a 2+year hiatus. Unfortunately, I still was not very impressed. The food was fine (serving sizes were small). Service was fine. You can make a reservation on Open Table which is nice. Not an ideal place for a group larger than 2 as tables are small. Sadly, the restaurant still just didn't impress me.

I was really hungry and this restaurant was the only one on the block without a wait. The ambiance was super cute. Ideal for a first date. They charge for bread and it was a few pieces. Everything including the entres could be finished in a few bites. The burrato was squished flat and oil and pepper and some veggies was sprinkled on it. Because it was squished flat, it didn't look like a whole burrata. The fish and chicken was dry. Overpriced. Service was slow. But ideal for a first date. There were a lot of candles and has a hipster vibe.

The food and drinks were very good!! The service not so much. We didn't get the wine list till we had eaten our steak. If not for the server being bad we would have given a 5

Atmosphere is great. Drinks are excellent. Staff was friendly and attentive. Menu very small for main dishes. I had the hanger steak...disappointed. Very expensive for a piece of steak and very salty fries (or frites because they are fancy...). Steak flavor great, supposed to be au poivre..i saw 2 peppercorns. Waiter said "med rare?" I said "medium". Well it was rare in some pieces. I brought some home to cook further. My date had the duck breast. Small serving with just a root vegetable puree. Duck had a lot of gristle. Again, very expensive for what we had. Not sure I would return for an actual meal.

Came in for brunch on a recent weekend while visiting my daughter at UPitt. Wait was not long and the place was hopping when we got there. Server was pleasant and attentive, helping us as necessary throughout the meal. We each ordered a coffee and settled in to try and determine if this would be a breakfast-based or lunch-based meal. My daughter chose breakfast and I chose lunch. My daughter's salmon Benedict on a potato latke had the fish cooked really nicely (medium rare). It was a thinner piece, which kept it from overwhelming the dish. The fish sat atop of homemade potato latke, flanked by two perfectly poached eggs and topped with some hollandaise sauce. A small bed of mixed greens accompanied the plate, topped with thinly sliced red onions and cucumbers. She seems to enjoy it. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich with a side of fries. It was offered either as a "regular" sandwich or spicy...I chose the regular and that may have been my problem in retrospect. The sandwich was incredibly dry and needed something to kick it up a notch. Looking back I probably should have gotten the spicier version in order to bolster the flavor. The accompanying fries were crispy and just about perfect. We also decided to order a side of bacon, which could have done with another minutes or so of cooking as most of the pieces were on the more rubbery side of doneness. Both my daughter and I prefer bacon a bit crispier, maybe I should have asked for that level of preparedness? I really liked the concept here, but execution was lacking. May be worth another try to see if this was a one-off fluke?

Really fancy and homey brunch place. I absolutely loved the brunch drinks and the chai and earl grey lattes. Highly recommend trying any of these. We didn't have trouble finding seats quickly on a Saturday morning. The seating area is small so there is definitely less privacy compared to other settings. I recommend reviewing the menu prior to going. The menu is very specific and does not have as many of your typical breakfast/brunch options. We got the cinnamon roll, a must, that uses an amazing citrus glaze. YUM. We got the salmon benedict and the breakfast sandwich. Both were delicious. The benedict uses cooked salmon over a potato pancake. The breakfast sandwich was large with a good amount if bread. I would recommend if you like bacon and a nice omelette style egg. Looking forward to coming back!

We came here for dinner and sat at the bar. the staff were nice and the food was SO good. We ordered a handful of appetizers between three of us. The meaty, marinated olives were not over seasoned. I loved that I could actually taste the olive and not all brine. The gnocchetti with sherry cream sauce and morels was my favorite... and the saffron arancini with the pepper purée was just the right amount of comfort and fresh. It was a great experience and we plan on going back.

*WOULD RECOMMEND* This place screams AESTHETIC. When we went, we had only 30 minutes before they close down for a private event. They were nice enough to seat and make sure we received our food with plenty of time to eat before they close. The presentation was all an instahoe like me could ask me. Price was just a bit high for the amount of food we get but it was still good. Plus their menus are seasonal so there's so much to try! *BRUNCH* I got their trout dish and it was pretty good! It came with some greens, pickled cucumbers, and fried potato pancakes. I wished the potato pancake had more flavor to it but the trout was very flavorful and fresh. Portions were just right for the meal. *VERDICT* I will definitely come back

Great service, beautiful interior design -- cute place to take pictures! Brunch was a bit pricey and took a while to get done. But the quality and taste definite were worth it!

Tried The Vandal for the first time on Saturday night and had a wonderful time! I was able to snag a reservation (for a "standard" table, not just the bar or high top) several days ago for 8:15pm. After seeing the restaurant layout, I was pleased that I was able to get a regular table as it was much more comfortable and intimate as the other options. Service was fantastic. The host was friendly, and our waiter was excellent. Our waiter did a nice job of checking on us and getting excited about the menu's offerings but not being too over the top or overwhelming. For drinks, I had both the orange wine and sparkling rosé. The orange wine was such a fun discovery. I am a huge fan of this hard to find variety so seeing it on the menu was exciting. The sparkling rosé was a beautiful wine and one of my favorite sparkling rosés that I've ever had. We started our meal with the Deviled Duck Egg. I love deviled eggs and this egg was the best I've ever had. The yellow of the egg was beautifully smooth in both texture and flavor. It was topped by chicken crackling and trout roe. The crackling was excellent adding both a crispy texture and salty flavor, while the trout roe didn't add much in flavor or in presentation (as the restaurant was a bit too dim to even see the roe delicately placed on top of the crackling). Next we had a pasta dish recommended by the waiter - the Pappardelle two ways. I enjoyed the onion topping but the dish left a bit to be desired in my opinion, especially as the pasta itself was too al dente for my taste. We split two entrees - the Vandal Burger and the Lamb Tenderloin. Both were tasty dishes, but in hindsight, were an odd pairing of items to share. The burger was very flavorful and casual and accompanied by a side of fries while the lamb was a much more formal plate. Finally, for dessert, we settled on the Chocolate Affogato and the Carrot Cake per the recommendation of our waiter. The Chocolate Affogato was way too soft in texture as both the soft chocolate cake and very loose espresso mousse was then doused with an americano sauce. The flavors were some of my favorite (chocolate and coffee) but the execution was poor. Thankfully, the carrot cake was incredible and was really made a home run by the addition of chèvre to the icing. Overall, I had a wonderful evening and enjoyed one of the few date nights that we've had since my daughter was born last year. However, though the service was excellent and several of the dishes were either excellent or good, a couple of the dishes did perform below expectations. I'd love to see The Vandal hitting it out of the park with every dish, and when that occurs, I think you'll see the restaurant climb in both popularity and ratings.

Wonderful date night. Lovely setting and very good food! Wait staff was extremely accommodating for food allergies. Can't wait to go back!

WOWZA. We had an amazing time here. Definitely need to make reservations. Enjoy the experience and take your time. There were 4 of us. We order cocktails and then a bottle (or 2 bottles of wine). We ordered 4 appetizers and 1 entrée and we all shared. D E L I C I O U S! We each had a favorite with regard to the appetizers. We had chicken liver mousse, mushroom salad, beef carpaccio, and trout croquettes. My favorite was the beef. We then shared the steak entrée-it was amazing. For dessert we had the chocolate panna cotta. The wine selection was really different-a good thing! They didn't rush us at all. We did ask them to turn the music down a bit-it was loud for conversation. It appears the menu changes a lot, so you may not get to experience the same as what we did-but, it was worth the adventure.

Cute, fun, and yum! In my opinion, this is one Pittsburgh's few "fun" brunch spots. They have a great ambiance and great food to match. They offer unique options with everything sweet and savory. I opted for an aperol spritz and the poached pear and shared some fries with friends. Everything was tasty, especially the fries. Though the wait can be lengthy, it's worth the wait!

The duck here is one of the worst overpriced pieces of duck out there. May as well put beef jerky in a plate with Worcestershire sauce and beats. Some of the other apps: okay at best.

I've been here once before, and I would say 4/5 stars is the most accurate rating for my overall experience at The Vandal. [Food] The first time I visited, I ordered a burger. It was honestly perfect. The right balance of hearty and healthy. The food filled me up but not to the point of a bad food coma. I also got a vanilla latte, which I found to be a little too sweet for my liking, but standard in terms of overall quality. My second visit, I had trouble figuring out what to order because I've recently gone vegan. Fortunately the waitress and chef were generous enough to offer me a vegan pasta dish. Honestly, the pasta was a bit salty, but who am I to complain? The saltiness paired well with my orange juice -- so it was, in a way, a match made in Heaven. The pasta had mushrooms, veggies and a kick of flavor. So thankful for the compensation. [Atmosphere] If you're into the minimalistic, classy aesthetic, this is the place for you! The windows and white interior allow for insta-worthy picture. Natural light really changes a space. [Service] The waitress for my first visit wasn't the friendliest, but she did her job well. She was a bit unhappy that my friend and I came in right at opening. I understood but was a it intimidated to be quite frank. The waitress for my second visit (I believe her name was Katie) was amazing. She went over the top in terms of welcoming, tailoring to and serving my table. I'd give her an A++!

What a gem we found last night! Had a great dinner with a group of 8. Our table was on the back porch, right below the garden! It was soo fun watching the owner run to the garden to get fresh basil for the Serrano ham!!! The meal was amazing. We tried every small plate, my favorites was the garlic shrimp (sorry no picture). And we had every main course (except the pappardelle) and I was able to try them all, they were all amazing!!! I had the scallops, but next time I'll get the pork. Dessert: I had the peaches & cream galette, so good. Others loved the olive oil cake. Can't wait to go back. And to tie it with a bow, the service was awesome!! Everyone was so nice! We can't wait to go back.

This place came highly recommended for breakfast so we were excited to check this place out! It is a pretty small location with only seating for about 30 people or so be prepared if you go during one of their busy times because you might have a wait time. The food is well worth the wait though...it is yummy and super interesting. I ordered the smoked trout with latkes and pickles...so yummy! It was like an eggs Benedict without the Hollandaise sauce and poached eggs...it was really tasty. My husband ordered the breakfast burger and he was very pleasantly surprised and satiated. The only issue we had was with the service. We had ordered a coffee and chai tea when we first sat down but didn't get them until we asked for them when our food was brought out...the place was not busy when we were there, it was just an oversight but it definitely tainted the experience.

This is a very cute place to brunch. Very quaint European bistro vibes inside. The food quality was outstanding! Really fresh ingredients. The service was friendly and the food came out at a fast pace. We ordered the bread Service as a starter. Bread service included salted butter which complimented the bread. I ended up ordering a quiche with fish I believe it was trout. Flavourful and fresh and was surrounded by leafy greens. The food also had great presentation. I will be coming back here to take my friends and also trying the dinner menu.

Intimate and casual restaurant serving up some of the best and creative food I've had. Can't speak enough about the lobster tartine and the scallop crudo.

Off-putting visit last night. It was my mother, sister, and I's first time visiting and the food and drinks were delicious. Unfortunately the female bartender whom was waiting on us was very judgmental and pretty snobby. As a past bartender, it was not good service. Although, the male hostess made great accommodations for us to sit at the bar prior to our arrival, and the other male bartender was polite and friendly.

We just left this amazing restaurant and wanted to jump on yelp and give them the best review possible. The restaurant is super nice and everyone we interacted with were also super friendly and attentive. So...A+ on venue and service. The food was incredible! We enjoyed every single bite and have already decided that The Vandal is on our list of Pittsburgh Favorites! We can personally recommend the following dishes: Steak Tartare w/ house-made potato chips (My favorite); oysters w/mignonette; Foie mousse (OMG!!!); Scallops; & Duck Breast. Everything was amazing. Cocktails were tasty, wine was great and after dinner Madeira topped off the evening. I don't often list every dish & drink but this dinner was just that delicious. We are new fans and will be returning soon!

Locally sourced, creative, delicious dining. Executive Chef, Csilla Thackray, certainly got the job done with her all woman crew. We ordered everything vegetarian from the menu and we were delighted with all of our choices. If you are a foodie, get here quick, there's lots to appreciate and enjoy. Our service was excellent and the arrival of the courses was perfectly paced. A $5 corkage for the wine seemed reasonable, it's a little less for beer. Overall, an excellent meal and we will be back again soon.

So to be clear, a good friend of mine, JJ, works in the kitchen here and he had been asking me to swing by and check out the place for months. I finally had the time and occasion to bring my girlfriend here the other day, and regardless of my buddy working here or not, it deserves more than 5 stars. The atmosphere of the place is quaint and cozy yet also exudes a subtle hint of class that made me feel foolish for wearing a hoodie and jeans. Alison our waitress was pleasant as could be, and was also able to answer a question or two about the wine selection that my girlfriend had without skipping a beat. She recommended a fantastic white that I can't remember the name of, but it was none the less delicious. I myself ordered a whiskey/amaretto cocktail that had a wonderful smoky aftertaste that caught us both completely by surprise. We started the meal with grilled asparagus on top of a ramp pesto, topped with a foamed ramp butter, fresh cracked pepper, and fresh greens grown the garden behind the establishment, and a special that my buddy recommended, which consisted of Toulouse sausage with charred fennel, green garlic soubise, orange slices, and salsa verde. The locally sourced sausage was cooked to perfection and when combined with the garlic and orange, made for a wonderful dance of flavors in my mouth as I ate it. Our main course was locally sourced chicken breast with fresh snow peas and pickled ramps. I had never thought that the phrase "fall off the bone" could apply to anything more than ribs, but the chicken was, again, cooked to absolute perfection. It fell right off the bones as we ate it and was easily one of the juiciest and most tender pieces of meat I've ever had in my life, and the peas and ramps were perfect compliments to the dish. To cap off our meal, we got a chocolate pot de creme for dessert, and if you want to talk about an exemplary use of Swiss dark chocolate, look no further that the dessert team at The Vandal. So to conclude our lovely evening with my wonderful date, we found out that my truck's battery was dead when we got back to it. As a Hail Mary, I texted JJ at the Vandal and asked if he could run out and help me jump it whenever he had a break next. Come to find out, one of his coworkers, Jeff, had a jump pack that he was kind enough to lend me, and we were able to get back on the road much faster than we expected. This alone is what, in my mind, sets an establishment like The Vandal above other places like it. As I told JJ, I wouldn't have expected such a "blue collar" favor from such a high class establishment, and what that tells me is that the whole staff there are as good people as the food they serve is delicious. My lady and I already have decided that this will be a place that we plan on frequenting much more in the future.

I have seen a lot of pictures of the Vandal, and decided to try it out for brunch with a friend. Upon walking in, I saw that the inside was very aesthetically pleasing and clean. The staff were friendly and nice, and we were quickly seated by the window (they currently have limited indoor seating). My friend and I ordered the smoked trout and biscuit sandwich. The food looked pretty, but overall I was not super impressed. The smoked trout was okay and the potato rosti that went along with it was a little burnt. The biscuit sandwich tasted fine, but I didn't think it was amazing. Overall, I'm glad I tried the Vandal, but I think it was a one time experience. The food was a bit pricey and tasted alright, but the staff and atmosphere were nice.

We came in early on a Sunday morning (just a wee bit past 9) for bunch. There were four other groups seated, so several spots still open. We were seated right by the door, not optimal when there were other tables against the wall and further away from the door. (This morning it was barely 10 degrees out.) They seated the next two pairs in the open spot, near the wall. Strange we didn't get that offer. We placed an order for a chicken sandwich and duck hash. It arrives in a timely fashion. The chicken sandwich is tasty, with a nice balance of sweetness from the honey. The duck hash was okay and liked the sweet potatoes in lieu of regular potatoes. The portions was were rather small and the hash needed some salt and pepper. Here is where I knock of stars. We wanted ketchup and salt and pepper, but couldn't seem to flag a waitress. I tried multiple attempts, even saying "excuse me" twice and didn't get so much as a blink in my direction. We had given up when I caught the eye of the barista and mouthed the condiments request. He promptly brought it over. We were heading out and the waitress ask if we needed a physical receipt. Strange question. No, we responded. We were told it's okay to pay up front. We did and now I see what she meant. You don't even see an itemized receipt at all, just the total. From a customer perspective, not great as you might want to review before paying should there be a mistake or question. Anyhoos, food is good (though relatively pricey) that we'll come back, but only in warmer weather. The number of people opening the door in/out left our food cold fast.