Le Mardi Gras — Restaurant in Pittsburgh

A girlfriend and I were looking for a place to hang out on a Monday night and I stumbled across this place online. The reviews were good - so we went to check it out. We loved it! You wouldn't think much of this place just looking at it from the outside. It's right off Walnut Street in Shadyside and the outside is just a modest brick building. But inside was perfect. It was nicely decorated, nice bar area with comfortable seats and booths along the wall. It was a quiet night- being a Monday night- but it was perfect for catching up with a friend. The place was very clean and the bartender was very nice and happy to suggest drinks according to your taste (I was driving and didn't want to drink something too strong. She suggested a cider- which was perfect. Their drinks are strong). People were smoking in the bar, but it was well ventilated and as a non-smoker, it did not bother me at all like some smokey bars do. It was just a very relaxed atmosphere, great drinks, and an overall good time. I recommend it and will...

3.5 Stars

Atmosphere: Smokey, dark, full of people almost twice(?) my age, and sometimes has live music

Cost: Cash-only; $8 for a strong cocktail

Service: A friendly bartender kindly introduced me to a few house specials with a 'we only serve strong drinks' pride

Experience: Probably awesome for the late 40s+ smoker crowd, but still a fun off-beat experience for the adventurous and curious younger patron. A cute older lady may or may not half-heartedly flirt with you if she is drunk enough wink wink

Drink a greyhound. Try to get the highest score on Ms. Pac-man. Flirt with an older woman. Smoke a stogie. If this is what you are looking for you will have an awesome time. This is basically the kind of bar I would hang out at if I was fifteen-to-twenty years older.

If you are looking for a younger, smoke-free crowd, maybe try Shady Grove, but here you at least won't be group-labeled as a millenial...

There aren't too many places like Le Mardi Gras. First of all, it is a historical slice of Pittsburgh. In addition to being historical, the music selection is good, old-school vibes. Mostly leaning towards blues and jazz, there are a lot of gems on the jukebox, you just have to know where to look. The interior is dark and smokey, a great place to relax and be incognito if you want. Second of all, the prices are reasonable and the drinks are heavy no matter what. If your friends are novice drinkers, make sure they know what they're getting into. The only potential downsides are that it is cash only (they have an ATM) and they allow smoking (they sell cigars and cigarettes). If you don't care about smoking or cash only, give this place a try. I don't think this bar is for everyone, but I think anyone can...