Tuesday 22nd of July 2014 07:47:05 PM

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The Sharp Edge was located close to my hotel. Good reviews made it my first choice to try.

Located on bustling Penn Avenue, it is blessed with a good location.

As you enter, there is a lounge like are to your right. Walk past that area for the bar. There is an elevated center section and table to your left and all the way in back. The serpentine bar must sit about 30. The décor is kind of blasé. I like all the Belgian beer memorabilia, but the carpet and tables and chairs look like they could be from a Lubbys or other chain cafeteria.

Heavy Belgian influence for draft and bottle choices. Still they have a nice selection of PA locals on draft and a huge bottle list with selections from both sides of the pond. You will have no problem finding multiple options. Note that the beer prices are pretty steep, but the PA sections are well priced and they have a mystery craft for only $4.50 per glass. Most of the glassware is 10 to 12 oz. but they do serve some beers in standard pints.

Service was harried during happy hour, but was friendly and was trying hard to keep-up with the crowd. Speaking of crowds, it is popular and their customers appear to be beer and wine centric.

The food is very good. I enjoyed both appetizers and main entrees on my visits here. I like their take on wings and thought their pizzas were a notch above normal.

This place is well worth a stop on your visit to Pittsburgh.

Sunday 15th of July 2012 02:14:30 PM

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One word describes this place....WOW!! At first the beer list will intimidate you but then you should just settle on the fact that you need to try as many of the Belgian beers they have on tap as you can. Understand, of course, that you will have to make numerous trips back to this beer bar before you sample them all, since they have 30 beers on tap and another 250 or so in the bottle. Almost all of the drafts are Belgian, with four to five domestic craft brews as well as another four to five imports. The bottled beer collection, however is astounding. Everthing from local favorites to $350 bottles of a 1986 vintage Thomas Hardy Old Ale.

If you can pull yourself away from the food, order the mussels...available in a variety of sauces. Or try something more traditional like the buffalo burger. Wide selection that fits almost anyone's tastes.

Probably the most amazing part of this place is that the bartender of two years...the shortest time of any of the bartenders...was as knowledgable about the beers as any bartender I've encountered outside a brewery setting. Great service and knowledgable staff coupled with great food and amazing beer make this on of my favorite places on my beer travels.