Insomnia Bar & Restaurante Mexicano — Restaurant in Pittsburgh

Salsa Night at Insomnia Bar and Restaurant

I visited Insomnia Bar and Restaurant at 810 Brookline Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15226, for Latin dance night on Friday, June 14, featuring music by DJs DJ Cumba, Mike David (DJ D’Aço), and Jeff Shirey. This was my first review of the venue, although I have been a regular visitor.

Upon arrival, I was surprised to be searched by armed security at the door, which was a first for me. They also asked to view my identification for entry. While the security personnel were respectful and kind, this new procedure raised some concerns about potential incidents since my last visit. Nonetheless, I appreciate the proactive measures and give 5 stars for their approach to safety.

The venue charges a $10.00 cover per person. Once inside, the dance floor was spacious, and the seating was arranged in a U-shape, which was comfortable and conducive to socializing. We dined on chicken wing dings and tacos, both of which were delicious, earning a solid 4 stars for the food.

However, the lack of fresh air inside the venue was a significant downside. It gets very hot, and the fans only circulated warm air, which didn't help cool the space. This aspect deserves 3 stars.

While the venue is excellent for dancing and socializing, the music by the three DJs was underwhelming. Despite having three different DJs, the music selection felt repetitive and monotonous. I expected more variety and distinct styles, but it was mostly the same sound throughout the night. Therefore, I rate the music selection 3 stars.

Overall, I enjoy visiting Insomnia Bar and Restaurant for its vibrant atmosphere, great dance floor, and mature audience. However, the DJ's music selection could use more diversity, and the venue needs better ventilation to improve comfort. Despite these drawbacks, I still recommend Insomnia for a fun night of Latin dancing.

Section Ratings: Security Measures: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Food: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Venue Comfort (Air Quality): ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Music...

The “NEW “ Insomnia restaurant is very disappointing. My husband and I went a week or two ago. I ordered the whole fried tilapia . I thought it was actually grilled because it was black burnt. But I didn’t complain at first. When I started to eat it, I saw that the inside was still pink and raw. I sent it back. Instead of making me a new one, they decided to refry the already burnt fish .... it was horrible . The best thing about the trip there was the chips and the very nice waitress . While we were there, she was telling us of their lunch buffet . We thought we would give them another chance & try the buffet out We were told from the waitress the previous visit that they open the buffet@ 11am. We got there at 11:10am. The place was still a mess, from an event they had the night before and the buffet wasn’t even set up yet. We were told it would be another hour ! I think it’s absolutely crazy that a business that is suppose to open at 11am would not have their staff come in an hour or two earlier to have the place cleaned up and ready for its customers when they’re suppose to open. It’s sad we were willing to give them another try after the first disaster. If they keep running like this I wouldn’t be surprised if the restaurant part didn’t...

so this is the only true cumbia place in town. it is event only for Discotec, over 21 only, MUST HAVE ID, and you will pay up to $50 cover charge, but that is for the authentic live big bands. This is also a classic bar during the day and Fridays, good food & service, but i only go on Discotec nights. You also should know Spanish, but they do have staff who speaks english, and well, this is Pittsburgh, so everyone knows a bit of english, but its like Little Mexico in there. great place.to.drink and dance. They have a legendary Dia Del Muertos party (their version of halloween, and no cover charge), and check their instagram page for what band is playing whatever night. There can be bachata and Salsa music too, just depends on the band, but rare, and a great DJ until "la Banda Tocan as las media noche". (As in, DJ until Midnight when the band plays) VIP tables along the dance floor, but you gotta pay to play. And totally grab a walking-taco on the way out. Why dont more clubs provide grub at the end...