Loaded pierogies topped with kielbasa and bacon are just one reason to visit Revel in downtown Pittsburgh. This Forbes Avenue restaurant also serves chicken and waffles, Angus steaks, seafood, and funnel cake fries with bourbon caramel.
Located inside the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh Downtown, just steps from Market Square, Revel serves breakfast starting at 7 a.m., along with weekday lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Its spacious dining room, bar, and front windows that open to the street make it a convenient gathering spot throughout the day.
But the menu has a few surprises beyond the usual American comfort food. From crab cake and quiche at brunch to cappuccino crème brûlée for dessert, Revel offers several dishes worth a closer look.
A Multilevel Spot on Forbes Avenue
Revel sits at 242 Forbes Ave in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, right in the middle of the downtown action. Market Square is only a short walk away, which puts the restaurant close to shops, offices, and busy sidewalks.
The space is described as stylish and multilevel, with a focus on modern American food. In simple terms, the menu mixes familiar comfort dishes with a more polished, city-style presentation.
Inside, the room features high ceilings and big windows that let in plenty of daylight. That design keeps the space from feeling cramped, even when the downtown lunch crowd shows up.
What catches my attention is how the restaurant fits so many purposes. It can be a breakfast stop, a business lunch, a family dinner, or a casual meetup with friends after work.
The location also makes it easy to pair a meal with other downtown plans. You could stroll around Market Square before eating or head toward nearby attractions afterward.
Revel is a restaurant meant for gathering, and its name fits that idea well. To really understand its lively side, though, you need to look at the front of the building.
Front Windows That Open to the City
Big glass panels at the front of Revel open up, turning part of the dining room into an open-air section. On a nice day, the line between the restaurant and the street almost disappears.
The restaurant itself has called this area perfect for a lively atmosphere. It’s easy to picture why, since downtown Pittsburgh is full of people heading to work, shopping, or meeting friends.
People-watching is a real activity here. Sitting near the opening gives you a casual view of city life without needing to sit right on the curb.
I’d ask for a table near the front when the weather cooperates. Pittsburgh has plenty of gray days, so a warm afternoon with fresh air feels like something worth grabbing.
This setup also makes the restaurant feel more social. Instead of being shut away from the city, diners stay connected to the energy outside.
On cooler days, the high ceilings and tall windows still bring in light. Either way, the view sets a relaxed mood that suits almost any meal, starting with the very first one of the day.
Breakfast Starts Early
Seven in the morning is breakfast time at Revel, making it a convenient option for travelers, downtown workers, and anyone who prefers a sit-down meal before starting the day.
The restaurant serves breakfast Monday through Friday from 7 to 11 a.m. Weekend visitors get a separate brunch menu, available Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The weekday breakfast selection includes French toast, avocado toast, homemade waffles, and several egg scrambles. The Meat Lovers scramble combines eggs, cheese, prosciutto, bacon, and sausage with breakfast potatoes.
Chicken and waffles are another option, pairing homemade waffles with chicken breast and spiced maple syrup. For something simpler, the breakfast sandwich comes on an everything bagel with egg, Swiss cheese, bacon, and arugula.
That variety makes the restaurant useful for groups with different appetites. Someone can order a hearty egg dish while another sticks with toast or waffles.
Revel’s location inside the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh Downtown also makes breakfast convenient for hotel guests. They can start their morning at the restaurant before heading into the city.
Once Saturday arrives, the breakfast selection expands into a longer brunch menu with even more choices.
Weekend Brunch Brings the Buzz
Saturday and Sunday mornings give Revel a different personality. Weekend brunch runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., bringing breakfast favorites together with sandwiches, salads, and heartier dishes.
Chicken and waffles remain a popular-looking choice on the menu, combining homemade waffles, chicken breast, and spiced maple syrup. It’s the kind of sweet-and-savory combination that works especially well for a leisurely weekend meal.
For something less conventional, the crab cake and quiche pairs a spinach quiche with a crab cake, hollandaise sauce, and breakfast potatoes. Prime rib eggs Benedict offers another substantial option.
The menu also includes strawberry and banana Foster French toast, steak and eggs, and a farmhouse burger topped with a fried egg and candied pepper bacon.
That range makes brunch useful for groups who cannot agree on whether they want breakfast or lunch. One person can order waffles while another goes straight for a burger or salad.
I’d recommend reserving a table for a larger weekend group rather than assuming seating will be available immediately.
And if you want something that feels especially connected to Pittsburgh, the appetizer menu has a familiar local favorite with a few extra toppings.
Pierogies Get a Pittsburgh Twist
Pittsburgh takes its pierogies seriously, and Revel gives the regional favorite a loaded appetizer treatment. The restaurant’s current menu lists pierogies topped with cheddar kielbasa, bacon, caramelized onions, green onions, and herb crema.
Pierogies are dumplings commonly filled with ingredients such as potato and cheese. Eastern European immigrants helped make them a lasting part of western Pennsylvania’s food culture.
At Revel, the toppings make the dish feel more like a shareable starter than a simple side. Kielbasa adds another connection to the region’s Eastern European culinary traditions, while bacon and caramelized onions bring extra richness.
It’s an appealing choice for visitors who want to try something associated with Pittsburgh without leaving the downtown restaurant district.
The loaded pierogies appear alongside familiar appetizers such as wings, pretzel bites, and spinach and artichoke dip. That gives groups several options for building a meal around smaller plates.
I’d start with the pierogies if everyone at the table enjoys sharing. They offer a recognizable local connection while fitting Revel’s modern American approach.
Another appetizer worth considering is one that might surprise anyone who remembers Brussels sprouts as the least exciting vegetable on the dinner table.
Brussels Sprouts Worth a Second Look
Brussels sprouts have come a long way from the boiled vegetables many people remember from childhood. At Revel, they appear as a crispy appetizer finished with Parmesan cheese, sea salt, cracked black pepper, and balsamic drizzle.
That combination gives a familiar vegetable a more restaurant-worthy presentation. It’s also an easy dish to place in the middle of the table when everyone wants to try a few starters.
The appetizer menu offers plenty of company for those sprouts. Spinach and artichoke dip comes with Parmesan, pickled jalapeños, tomatoes, and tortilla chips.
Seafood lovers can choose the signature crab cake, made with jumbo lump crab and served with Cajun remoulade. Pretzel bites with beer cheese and honey mustard offer another approachable option.
These dishes help explain Revel’s appeal as a social dining spot. You can begin with a few appetizers, settle in for drinks, or turn smaller plates into a casual meal.
Guests with dietary restrictions should speak with the restaurant directly about ingredients and preparation. The menu lists some options that may suit particular preferences, but that does not guarantee protection from cross-contact.
Of course, anyone arriving with a bigger appetite will find plenty of main courses beyond the appetizer selection.
Steaks, Salmon, and Hearty Entrees
Dinner at Revel leans into familiar American favorites, with steaks, seafood, chicken, and pasta all represented on the menu.
Beef lovers can choose from an eight-ounce Angus Reserve filet, a twelve-ounce ribeye, or an eight-ounce Angus Reserve sirloin. The restaurant also offers a filet paired with its signature jumbo lump crab cake.
The beef dishes come with mashed potatoes and vegetables, giving the meal a traditional steakhouse feel without turning Revel into a dedicated steakhouse.
Seafood choices include blackened salmon, honey chipotle salmon, and a seafood trio featuring crab cake, garlic butter shrimp, and seared salmon. There’s also shrimp and crab fried rice for diners interested in something different.
Chicken dishes offer another direction. Tuscan chicken comes with a cream sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach, while honey garlic chicken brings a sweeter flavor combination.
For lunch, the selection becomes more casual. The menu includes a smashburger, flatbreads, salads, and sandwiches, making it easier to fit a meal into a busy downtown schedule.
That flexibility is one of Revel’s strengths. You can sit down for a steak dinner or keep things simple with a burger and fries.
And if you’ve managed to leave room, the dessert menu takes a more playful turn.
Desserts with a Playful Side
Funnel cake fries sound like something from a county fair, and that’s exactly what makes them stand out on Revel’s dessert menu. The restaurant serves them with bourbon caramel, raspberry sauce, cinnamon, and powdered sugar.
Instead of presenting funnel cake in its familiar tangled shape, the dessert comes in fry-like pieces that are easy to share. It’s a playful finish to a restaurant meal.
For something more traditional, the cappuccino crème brûlée combines espresso-infused custard with a caramelized sugar topping and fresh vanilla whipped cream.
The coffee flavor gives the classic dessert a slightly different direction without changing what makes crème brûlée so appealing.
Other current choices include seasonal cheesecake and bread pudding. The bread pudding comes with vanilla custard, candied pecans, vanilla ice cream, and bourbon caramel sauce.
These desserts offer different ways to finish a meal. Funnel cake fries are a natural choice for sharing, while crème brûlée works well for someone who wants a more classic restaurant dessert.
Seasonal selections may change, so it’s worth checking the dessert menu when you visit.
Revel also hosts special dining occasions throughout the year, although those events deserve a little planning of their own.
Holidays and Special Occasions
A regular dinner isn’t the only reason to visit Revel. The restaurant also promotes holiday gatherings, private celebrations, and special occasions, making it useful for people planning something beyond an ordinary meal.
The connection to Roost, an event space on the same property as the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh Downtown, gives organizers another option for larger gatherings.
Revel has previously promoted Easter brunch events at Roost, showing how special occasions can extend beyond the restaurant’s everyday dining room.
That distinction matters when making reservations. A holiday meal may take place in a different space or follow a different format from regular restaurant service.
For anyone organizing a birthday, business gathering, or family celebration, the restaurant’s website provides information about private events and larger parties.
The setting also works for smaller occasions, including date nights and dinners with friends. Its location near Market Square makes it easy to combine a meal with other downtown plans.
Special menus, prices, and event arrangements can change, so confirm the details before booking. It’s especially important to check the location of the event and whether a reservation or advance payment is required.
For ordinary visits, a few practical details can make the experience easier too.
Smart Tips Before You Go
Revel is located at 242 Forbes Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh, close to Market Square and inside the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh Downtown property.
The restaurant begins breakfast service at 7 a.m. every day. Weekday breakfast runs until 11 a.m., while Saturday and Sunday brunch continues until 2 p.m.
Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. According to the restaurant’s official location page, dinner runs until 7 p.m.
Monday, 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 6 p.m.
Sunday.
The bar may remain open later than the kitchen, so check the dining schedule rather than assuming the full menu is available until closing.
Parking is another consideration in the downtown area. The hotel property offers access to parking, although drivers should confirm current arrangements and rates before arriving.
Happy hour specials are advertised on Revel’s website, making the bar another option for a casual gathering after work. Promotions and participating hours can change.
For weekend brunch, larger groups, or special occasions, making a reservation is a sensible precaution.
Revel’s appeal comes from its flexibility. Whether you’re planning breakfast before sightseeing, a relaxed brunch, or a full dinner, its downtown location and varied menu offer several ways to enjoy the restaurant.
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