Kassab's Lebanese Cuisine — Restaurant in Pittsburgh

Edit: i posted the initial review 4 years ago and had nothing but high praise for it. I had stopped eating here for a bit, due to pandemic and just not being in south side a lot, but i recently got a few orders past few months. It took a few tries for me to debate if i wanted to update my review, but i def do not think this place deserves 5 stars anymore. I am fully aware that cost of everything has gone up, and that smaller businesses are hit hard. But ive noticed i get less than half a portion of what i used to get (my specific reference is the amount of tabulli and humus i used to get vs now) , and its more expensive. Some stuff even DOUBLED in price (they used to have wraps and some appetizers for $5) . If im paying more money, im not thrilled to be getting even less than before. ... that alone isnt enough to change my review though. I get that prices fluctuate and i get that change happens. What gets me is the whole point of my first review was how i absolutely loved the grape leaves. They were the best i could find! And im glad they still arent that premade canned mush other places serve,but im very disappointed in the lack of consistency anymore. Sometimes the grape leaves are perfect. Other times the rice is completely over cooked and soggy. And still other times, the grape leaves just dont taste like anything at all. .... im a lot more hesitant to eat here now, knowing im spending more money for less food, and not sure what quality ill receive.

Original 5 star review: I come here a LOT. they are the only place ive been to so far, where the (meat) grapeleaves dont taste like they are out of a can. You can tell they are actually made in house. (The veggie ones do taste a bit "pickled" but im pretty sure that's because they use canned/ jarred roasted red peppers in it). I have been going here since i was a kid, back when they were on the corner of E Carson and 10th st, and their food has only gotten better...

To be honest, it was average. Maybe a little disappointing. This place is on the more expensive side when compared to other Mediterranean places, so I expected the quality to be quite high. It was not, sadly. I tried their rice pudding, meat pie, gyro sauce, and meat skewers.

The meat pie was decent. I got delivery, so the condensation from it being hot did detract from the texture. But even with that aside, it wasn't very good. It was oddly sweet. The meat was dry and crumbly. I honestly would not recommend.

The skewers were pretty good. You can't really go wrong with this sort of meat (actually, yes you can, if it's under or over cooked. But it was well cooked here). A bit on the costly side for the portion, but not terrible. Came with some vegetables as well, but not much else.

I had to add the gyro sauce to get anything to dip my meat in. Nothing was included (while most places do include sauce with the meat). It's good quality sauce. Creamy and delicious, in a small container that costs just 75 cents so not too bad.

The rice pudding was really good. It's anything I would want in a rice pudding: creamy, lightly sweet, and a good portion. You can still feel the rice kernels; it's well cooked with a good texture. And the price wasn't bad either. I would say this best menu item that I tried.

All in all, I was somewhat disappointed with Kassabs. I was thinking of bringing guests into the restaurant, but after the experience, I'm probably not going to. It's not bad but just underwhelming. Better places in Pittsburgh for Middle Eastern food. If you do come, get rice pudding as a dessert and load...

I live near Kassab's & have eaten there many times. I love the hummus, the baba ghanoug, the salad too (fresh & good with feta) & often get loobee with grilled lamb for takeout (one order is great for a lunch for four at my place) with tabouli (always excellently fresh & generous serving size) & I especially love their moussaka. I like Middle Eastern restaurants in general, of which I'm happy that there are several fine, inexpensive ones in Pittsburgh. Kassab's is almost my favorite & I especially like that I can walk there. These staple Middle Eastern items — hummus, etc. — are somewhat the same but also quite different in every Middle Eastern place, reflecting regional & national variations on the same food themes. Kassab's hummus is creamy, rich & definitely one of the very best around here, though I have to say I've almost never met a hummus I didn't like. Although Kassab's is Lebanese, I have a friend from Athens who adores Kassab's moussaka & says it is exactly the way his mother made it. Definitely not overpriced. I also much enjoy the Lebanese wine, Ksara. ...