Pittsburgh Tacos and Margs Crawl
Multiple locations, South Side. barcrawlnation.com/events
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a taco- and margarita-fueled day. On Sat., May 3, Bar Crawl Nation hosts the Pittsburgh Tacos and Margs Crawl, a fiesta-themed event that combines elements of a food festival, treasure hunt, and bar crawl. After a kickoff event at Jimmy D’s, revelers stop at bars and restaurants along East Carson St. Participating locations include The Urban Tap, La Bodega taqueria, and Twelve Whiskey Barbecue, which will offer tacos, specialty margarita pairings, and giveaways along the way. General admission tickets start at $24.99 and can be purchased online.
Derby Day 2025
Pittsburgh restaurants are getting festive with Kentucky Derby watch parties, traditional mint juleps, and opulent hats.
Pittsburgh Brewing Company hosts a Kentucky Derby Watch Party with Bella Terra Stables on Sat., May 3 from 2-8 p.m. For $55, celebrate “the most exciting two minutes in sports” with a buffet dinner, complimentary mint juleps, and live music by country artist Chris Higbee. Guests are invited to dress in their biggest hats and “finest Derby attire.” Tickets are available online.
Velum Fermentation saddles up with Jackworth Ginger Beer to host their first Kentucky Derby Watch Party. Head to the brewery on Sat., May 3 at 4 p.m. for a specialty cocktail menu with mint juleps and Oaks Lily (a berry cocktail), hat decorating with hat bar Feather and Felt, and horse race betting and prizes.
The Commoner
620 William Penn Pl., Downtown. thecommonerpgh.com
Experience the wines of Chile with a six-course wine-paring dinner. On Tue., May 6 from 6-8:30 p.m., The Commoner debuts its Dinner Series with a Wines of Chile event. Executive Chef Dave Racicot partners with Chilean wine ambassador Italo Jofre for a six-course “dining experience” that invites guests to sip varieties from the Andes Mountains to the Chilean coastline, while Jofre offers tableside insights.
The wines will be paired with razor clams and scallop dumplings, bass with radishes, turbot, asparagus and morels, duck, and cheesecake. The dinner features intimate seating in a private dining space. Tickets cost $244 (including a 7% tax and a 20% service fee) and can be purchased through Eventbrite.
The Industrialist Hotel
405 Wood St., Downtown. marriott.com/en-us/hotels
The Industrialist Hotel greets spring with a seasonal pop-up bar. The Industrialist: In Bloom transforms the hotel’s second-floor lounge into a “vibrant escape celebrating the season’s beauty.” Guests can try handcrafted spring cocktails while taking in “garden vibes” with a backdrop of floral installations and decor. The menu features botanical-themed drinks including Sambucus Canadensis, made with gin, elderflower liqueur, cucumber, mint, and Prosecco; and Lavandula Angustifolia, which blends vodka, blackberry brandy, lavender syrup, and lemonade. In Bloom runs through Sat., May 10.
YaJagoff! Strawberry Jell-O Pretzel Salad Stand-off
8013 McKnight Rd., Ross Township. yajagoff.com
Despite its questionable Pittsburgh origins, the strawberry Jell-O pretzel salad is often called the region’s favorite dessert. YaJagoff! honors the yinzer classic with the return of its Strawberry Jell-O Pretzel Salad Stand-off at The Block Northway. On Sat., May 10 from 12-2 p.m, the annual contest invites 12 confectioners and foodies to “put their twist” on the SJPS. Attendees will vote for their favorite entry along with official Jags Judges. In addition to bragging rights, the winner receives a $1,000 donation to a charity of their choice, an appearance on the YaJagoff Late Night podcast, and a spot at the Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival. Admission is $5 and tickets can be purchased through YaJagoff’s website.
Prantl’s Bakery
Multiple locations. prantlsbakery.com
The Prantl’s Bakery burnt almond torte was featured in the New York Times’ Wirecutter round-up of the best retirement gifts. The recommendation to gift the bakery’s signature 8-by-8-inch toasted almond torte cake (shippable through Goldbelly) came courtesy of writer Lesley Stockton’s aunt Brenda. Stockton noted that the torte would be “a welcome addition to the festivities, or any day, really.” The iconic dessert has been in Pittsburgh for about 50 years, with the Prantl family’s bakery dating back more than a century-and-a-half, beginning in 1863 on the North Side.
Kazoku Sushi
4609 Butler St., Lawrenceville. instagram.com/kazokusushi_lh
A new sushi vendor is coming to Lawrence Hall. The Lawrenceville food hall announced the arrival of Kazoku, meaning “family” in Japanese. The soon-to-be-opened sushi spot touts high-quality rolls, bowls, and bites “made with premium ingredients and healthy options.” Follow Kazoku Sushi’s Instagram page for updates.
Kyuramen x TBaar
20430 Rte. 19, Ste. 105, Cranberry Township. kyuramen.com
The North Hills welcomed Kyuramen, a Japanese and ramen restaurant touting “innovative ramen flavors, fluffy omurice, and much more.” The new spot celebrated its grand opening in Cranberry on April 25 and is located alongside TBaar, a bubble tea shop.
This is the international chain’s second location in the region, following an East Liberty restaurant that opened in December. The blog Pennsylvasia reiterated that while “some may look askance at chains,” the expansion “represents the growth of Pittsburgh’s food landscape.”
This article appears in Apr 23-29, 2025.
