The 5 Pittsburgh restaurants Guy Fieri visited for ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’

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If you’re a fan of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” you’ll be happy to know these Pittsburgh comfort food restaurants are Guy Fieri-approved.

The Food Network TV show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” — celebrity chef and show host Guy Fieri’s love letter to homemade food in unpretentious digs — has been running for a whopping 48 seasons over nearly two decades. During that time, Fieri has visited a number of Pittsburgh institutions slinging delectable bar food, scrumptious breakfast, and of course, Pittsburgh pierogies.

There are five diners and dives that have appeared on the show that you can visit today in Pittsburgh. You may have to wait in line for a taste of the fare at these classic Pittsburgh institutions, but we promise it’s worth it.

The Dor-Stop

Guy Fieri visited the Dormont institution the Dor-Stop during the premiere episode of Season 5 of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” which aired in 2008.

Dormont, a working-class community just south of downtown Pittsburgh, features a homey, walkable business district with longtime establishments like Dor-Stop. Guy brought his family (it’s as adorable as it sounds) to experience breakfast at the Dormont favorite. They munched on delicious pumpkin hotcakes and delectable raspberry French toast. Fieri also tried the breakfast jumbo at the restaurant, which is an egg scramble containing any ingredients you could want — potatoes, peppers, sausage, etc. — all mixed together.

“Those aren’t mild peppers,” said Fieri after guzzling water.

Photo courtesy of Jimmy Emerson via CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Big Jim’s in the Run

Even though the restaurant has appeared on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” Big Jim’s in the Run is still somewhat of a hidden gem — largely because many a Pittsburgher is uncertain where exactly to find “the run.”

I’ll help clear things up. “The run” refers to Four Mile Run, a valley in the lower part of the Greenfield neighborhood, south of Schenley Park. You pass over it when you’re on the parkway — perhaps you’ve seen the domes of the neighborhood’s St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church? You can get to the run by way of Saline St. in Greenfield.

Now that you know how to actually find Big Jim’s, you’re one step closer to some tantalizing hometown fare. During the episode, which originally ran in 2009 during Season 5, Fieri tried the veal parmesan sandwich, served not on regular sandwich bread but on half a loaf of Italian bread. It was, he said, “ridiculous.”

Kelly O’s

A line out the door of a restaurant doesn’t always mean it’s a great place, but in the case of Kelly O’s Diner, the line doesn’t lie. The family restaurant, which first opened in a strip mall in the North Hills and then expanded to Warrendale and the Strip District, is incredibly popular. At the Strip District location, there’s a line snaking out the entrance most weekend mornings, hungry patrons waiting to sample the menu.

Because of Kelly O’s appearance during Season 5 of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” there’s a section of the restaurant’s menu titled “Triple D Nation Favorites” — Triple D Nation being fans of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” That menu includes haluski, biscuits and gravy, turkey pot pie, and Kelly O’s chili.

During the episode, Fieri helps owner Kelly O make haluski, a Polish dish made with noodles, onions, cabbage, and bacon; “exactly what I would want to eat every day,” according to Fieri.

Photo courtesy of Nick Normal via CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Nadine’s

Nadine’s, a bar and restaurant in Pittsburgh’s South Side, is a quintessential home-style haunt with cheap prices to match. The dive makes three meals a day that are sure to stick to your ribs, but you can wash them down with the bar’s inexpensive drinks! While the food is quality, the atmosphere may be even better — it’s fun and homey with no frills.

Sure, Nadine’s was visited by THE Guy Fieri for 2014’s Season 21 of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” but the restaurant still remains a local joint at heart. Head there for a breakfast hoagie, a famed Reuben, or some of the best french fries in town.

Starlite Lounge

Starlite Lounge in Blawnox, just outside Pittsburgh, made its “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” debut in 2008, when the TV show was only on its fourth season.

Starlite was featured in an episode dedicated to bar food. Locals love the bar’s pierogies, which you can enjoy at the bar or even buy frozen to take home, but you can also order haluski, burgers, and other classic bar food.

Fieri tried pierogies and stuffed pepper soup, and he especially loved Starlite’s chicken diablo, grilled chicken made with homegrown hot and sweet peppers. In fact, in his Guy Fieri way, our favorite Food Network host said the peppers were “dynamite.”

Photo courtesy of Wally Gobetz via CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

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