Portogallo Peppers N'AT — Restaurant in Braddock

I am giving three stars to give a neutral review. I could have really enjoyed this place. All the food that I saw looked amazing. The staff was friendly, and they had a pretty respectable draft selection. They have a big hall off of the bar where bands play, and there was a polka band playing the day I was there. So, they are aiming at recreating super old school Pittsburgh, with kielbasa and pierogies, and grandmas who pinch your cheek and give you another stuffed cabbage.

Where do I sign up, right? No one does down to earth like Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

So what was wrong? The sign prominently displayed behind the bar that says, 'Notice: This place is politically incorrect. We say 'Merry Christmas', We say 'One nation under God', We salute our flag and give thanks to our troops. If this offends you, LEAVE.'

I'm not offended, it just doesn't strike me as good hospitality. I find it odd that it hasn't occurred to them the owners that maybe some of their guests might be Jewish. Or perhaps just Atheist. Don't you want to sell pierogies to a nice Agnostic? Are they actually saluting the flag during service? If you want to try to advance the idea that America was founded as a Christian nation, well, I firmly disagree. But more importantly, my guess is no one is pledging allegiance to the flag during service, so what's the problem?

Seems pretty clear from the memorabilia on the walls that the owner served in the military. It seems the owner needs to learn something about the service industry, however, because that is just not good hospitality. The idea is to try as best as you can to make well-behaved people of all kinds welcome. Not just those with your religious and political views.

Take the sign down. You'll make...

Lots of fun for adults of any age and good food and beer.

I was visiting Pittsburgh to see my daughter and son-in-law—both in their mid-20s—and the three of us went on Polka Night. Beforehand, we weren’t polka fans. In fact, having grown up in the area, I thought I had a lifetime’s worth by the time I was 18. However, Mikey D is an excellent accordion player and has a good voice, and, overall, is a very good entertainer. If you are not sure if you would enjoy Polka Night but go with a light heart to enjoy yourself, you definitely will. It was wonderful to see of folks of all ages—up to 93, at least—dancing (much better than I could) and unselfconsciously, joyfully, having fun.

When you enter, it seems like a typical—though small—Pittsburgh neighborhood bar from the “old days,” but there is a large restaurant/entertainment area in the next room: well, not technically a room, but an enclosed area when it’s cold out. It seems like the guys at the bar and most of the folks there for Polka Night are regulars, but the customers take the lead of the owner and staff and are all very friendly and welcoming to newcomers. I’d argue that the atmosphere and the people at Peppers N’at are examples of the best of traditional Pittsburgh (with the added benefit of no hipsters), which makes me more nostalgic than I ever thought that I would be.

They have a wide selection of beer, and I regret not taking a couple growlers of draft with us. While they offer a variety of complete dinners, we had the large appetizers and then sandwiches, e.g., a Reuben and burgers and fries. Everything was good. The stuffed banana peppers and chicken wings were exceptional.

I look forward to going back the next time I’m...

Decided to drop in for dinner with my girlfriend tonight and can only describe the experience as frustrating and annoying. If you're looking for a local bar packed with really loud mouthed old men taking about religion and politics while sounding like the morons they are... you'll love it. I will say the food was great. Not a fan of the signature pepper stuff that tasted like hot peppers and vegetables soaked in mediocre italian dressing, but its really the only thing that remotely has anything to do with the name of the joint. The sandwiches were fantastic, but fries were a larger cut than typical for a fresh cut fry and thus undercooked in the center but still not bad. The environment is what really made the whole thing suck... a group of three old men from swissvale who were seated at the center of the only area for table service were so loud and obnoxious i couldn't sit six inches from my girlfriend and hear anything she said. The other three tables seemed equally annoyed, but the "gentleman" in the middle of the dining area were apparently good friends of the owner. The decor was nice, the food is good, and the place has potential. My best advice is to get your food to go though. Imagine the cast of good fellas with a yinzer twist, old and fat, with grumpy drunk old man syndrome ruining everyone's meal and you hit the nail on the head. Its a shame. I was really looking forward to going there but won't go back...