Another source for craft beer and gastropub fare has landed in Lawrenceville.
Cinderlands Beer Company, owned by brothers Jamie and Steve Warden and with a kitchen headed by Joe Kiefer, opened in early December in Lower Lawrenceville. The spot was formerly occupied by Eclipse Lounge, and more recently by Roasted Barrelhouse and Eatery. The latter’s tenure was relatively brief, beginning in the summer of 2016 and closing about a year later. That’s not much time to make a dent, but if you were a fan, you should know: Roasted’s Blues Brothers mannequins are gone, though the four sidewalk bar stools remain.
Cinderlands’ menu features a few fancier twists on Pittsburgh classics — haluski served with kielbasa, or pierogi with parsnips, crème fraiche and radicchio — but the eats selection also includes an appealing and straightforward “diner burger” and a brisket sandwich.
On my visit, I went with the “chicharrones,” traditionally made with fried pork rinds or pork belly, but here made vegetarian with fried spent grain (a byproduct from brewing beer). That dish was served with beer-cheese dipping sauce, which combined for a tasty, if a bit rich, and pleasing appetizer.
Their beer selection, brewed in-house, was pretty killer, too. Hazy IPAs figured in heavily at the time of my visit — try the Squish, if that’s your thing. The cocktail menu is stacked with local and local-ish spirits and, overall, reasonably priced. Worth a visit.
3705 Butler St., Lawrenceville. www.cinderlands.com
