Gasoline Street Coffee Company — Restaurant in Pittsburgh

Although I sometimes joke that seemingly any place in this day and age can be turned into some sort of Indie-themed 'foodie' or 'cafe/barista' haven, I have to admit that places like this actually are indeed enjoyably cozy little spots to sit and bask in the ambiance of an artistically cool atmosphere while enjoying the basic likes and needs (coffee/etc.) that we all crave on some sort of daily basis. And being that this place isn't exactly in the most touristy area of town (adjacent to the Pittsburgh Municipal Court, Allegheny County Jail, First Avenue [parking] Garage, and monstrous multi-level Liberty Bridge), this actually carries it's own unique positive point as well by offering a little oasis within a perhaps more drab few block radius. Although a relatively small location all in all, the inside is set up in an interestingly terraced configuration that gives the illusion of both nicely separate little spaces to hang out in as well as a larger overall establishment than it actually is. The interior is indeed gasoline themed (as the name suggests) and is done in a pretty fun and tasteful way with cool pop-art posters, old gas station relics, and trendy music. Especially neat is the small alcove that gives the illusion and motif of an oldschool phonebooth while offering real life practicality and separation for phone calls. And although the theme is clean 'retro-vintage', it's up to date and has modern amenities such as plugs in convenient places for cell phone and laptop/device charging. Although I personally didn't order anything, I did try my friend's plain black coffee and it was rather good (good roast/ not too bitter/etc.) - which in my opinion is a good sign; because if the base coffee is tasty, then I'm assuming that the signature drinks layered on top of this are more likely to be pleasing as well. As for the staff, all I have to say (which is a good sign I suppose) is that they honestly seemed friendly/attentive enough and also looked the part for this type of coffeehouse setting (hippie-Indie barista look). All in all, I'm glad that I stopped in while passing by this way and surely enjoyed the 50-ish minutes that...

My search for good coffee in Pittsburgh led me to here and I have to say the service is REALLY good. We got a fantastic barista who quickly realized we weren't locals and then spent the next 10 minutes just talking to us about really cool places to visit in Pittsburgh. He ended up recommending some amazing places to look and admire. So I have to give him a particular shout out for being great.

As for the cafe, I really loved how they took the decor and just went crazy went with it. The place is open and has a lot of great comfortable seating among a lot of really interesting 'car' and 'gasoline' paraphernalia. You can easily find a cozy sofa seating and relax if you wanted. The place is one of the better places I've been to and far faaaar more interesting than the sterile corporate places that have no personality. It is off the core downtown area but it isnt so hard to get and there is a lot of parking nearby.

We grabbed a few iced things since it was pretty hot that day... an iced Chai Charger and also an Iced Brew to go.

Iced Chai Charger - mildly spiced tea with a shot of espresso to get that caffeine kick going. I do appreciate how they didnt overload it with sugar but still had enough to temper the black the tea. I did find the spices on the light side and could have used more tea flavour too. It's a pretty good drink if you don't want an overwhelming strong flavour. 4/5

Iced Brew - It comes in a pretty cool looking bottle and quite a generous amount too for only $5. Ice brew should be always less bitter and acidic than brewed coffee. This one was more smoother than a normal brewed. I found it a bit light on the coffee flavour though but still a nice refreshing drink. 3.5/5

Overall, great place with really amazing service. A very good spot to hunt out if you're looking for coffee and near the end...

I stopped in from out of state after reading the great reviews. A 4.8 stars catches my attention. I am so glad I decided to take the walk here.

There is such a great vibe here with the decor and layout. It’s clean. You’re not crowed with seating on top of one another and it has a comfy vibe that I think men and women alike will enjoy. Men will like it for the obvious decor but ladies, it’s an industrial feel with feminine touches sprinkled throughout.

Also worth mentioning, the seating is separated into little niches away from the others so you have a sense of being in your own space but still enjoy the presence of others from afar. I truly don’t think there’s a bad seat in the place. It’s not a huge place but it feels more spacious than larger coffee shops I’ve been in somehow. Love it!

The music is nice and not so loud you can’t hear someone across from you in conversation. There is outside seating in the front accessed with open garage doors. A cool little detail. I was tempted to sit outside but honestly I was so drawn to the inside and the little detail’s everywhere I stayed inside.

The young lady at the register this afternoon was so sweet. I didn’t catch her name but she was a doll and has beautiful long curly brown hair. Management please pay forward the compliment from me. It’s so had to find good customer service these days and she was truly a gem. I notice that and it keeps me coming back. Every time I’m in Pittsburgh for a layover from work this will be my coffee spot! Keep doing such...