Penn Avenue Fish Co — Restaurant in Pittsburgh

I’ve traveled worldwide and been to many places that serve Sushi. This place has one of the best tasting fish, freshness and quality that I’ve had in the last 40 years. It was absolutely superb, delicious, fabulous and affordable Sushi, very good! I didn’t try anything else but will when I go back. I did want to get the happy hour $1 Oysters but I like to have Saki or a Martini with them. So, I thought I’d try the Sushi. The only issue and I realized it after I went home and ate (because I was irritated when I was there but didn’t care much after eating) related to the staff at the registers. They were more concerned about talking to each other than helping the customers. They paid no attention to me and was disinterested in taking my order although they took it but both people at the Cash Registers were into talking to each other more than anything else. The person who took my order and money never said hello, may I help you, may I take your order, nothing. I just started telling her what I wanted and she wrote it half while writing, other half taking to the other cashier. When she rang it up, the amount came up on the register but I couldn’t read it. She never said, that will be $16.95 please. Instead, she was talking to the other girl. I had to say excuse me 2 times to get her attention and ask twice what my total was. She wasn’t happy that I interrupted her conversation. There was no Thank you, she didn’t say approximately how long it would take (my order was to go) or where I could sit while waiting. It was very slow in the restaurant, only 5 customers, including me. Both cashiers appeared bored and maybe that’s why they got into heavy conversations with each other. I sat near the register and about 10 minutes later, she came back with 2 plastic containers and said “here’s your order”. Just see through plastic containers, no bag, soy sauce, napkins, etc.. I saw the soy and napkins on the cashier desk and asked them if they had bags. She just handed me one and went back to her conversation with the other employee. I have to say I’ve never patronized a business where I felt less wanted or if anyone cared if I ever came back. It was fortunate that your Sushi was SO great or my rating would have been much lower than 4, it could have been an easy 5 if The cashiers cared about being polite, professional, had basic manners such as “Please, Thank You, excuse me” and not conversating with someone else, then no problem, I would have just had a 5 star experience. Their attention should be on customers if you want people to return. They’re the first people your customers see and interact with and then the last. This is a huge issue for your business if you care about being the best or if you just want a customer self serv Business model where your people just do what the customer can’t such as ordering and taking money. They weren’t interested in providing service to any customer , lacked manners and could care less. I also put a $2 tip on the credit card even though it was take out and I pointed out that I put it on there rather than in the money vase so they would know it was there in case they didn’t see it. All she said was, ok... again, no manners like “thank you, kiss my butt, nothing”. Anyway, great Sushi and I look forward to trying the Oysters with Saki. Then go through the rest of...

A foodie’s very satisfactory, Bona Fide exclusively fish/shellfish eatery in Pittsburgh 😎.

NO MAMMALIAN NOR AVIAN foods here… None of those highly processed plant-based foods either 👍👍👍👍👍.

+++ A draw to this place is also a market of a SELECT variety of fish and shellfish, which are cleaned/cut according to instructions of the customer👏👏👏… YES fish is fresh.. the very transparent fish eyes👀 prove it.

The eatery itself is SELF-SERVICE, food ordered at the counter by the entrance. The ambience is quite pleasant 😎.

The menu, printed on chalk boards, is mainly sandwich and “raw fish”, with a few cooked fish/shellfish.—- They are on pricey side!

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 The fish soup counter is quite surprising. The MOST NOVEL is the Chili with a pescatarian twist.

🤩 The “sashimi” plate is very good… —— EXCEPT for that fake crab that should NEVER EVER be served calling it sashimi😡😡😡😡😡.

—- This, quite frankly, is a culinary slur whether it’s American or Japanese raw fish eatery.

🫤😡🫤😡🫤 Seeing the “sushi rolls” served to the adjoining table, I can say, it’s not what I would order here: Too thick layers of rice and they are drowned in sauces.

— Real sushi is simple, clean and fresh! None of those sauces that hide the flavor of fish. … I for one want my palate distinguish between tuna, salmon, eel or whatever!

— BTW there is no such thing as vegan or vegetable sushi. It is ALWAYS fish.

😊 The Salad Bowl is very good, fresh cuts of vegetables, not from bag like so many other places.

The option of adding cooked fish or shellfish is a good touch BUT the sizes of it, is NOT worth $15 extra.

Because it is a self-serve eatery, the wait staff simply bring the food and take away...

This is a market (only Tuna and Salmon) review - not the restaurant review.

I would not assume the quality of seafoods with just a few visits. Make sure to aware the seasonality of fish / check the freshness of items every time you visit.

Tuna: Price - sold $32.99 / pound - which is quite expensive for the quality - for example: Tokyo mart at Shadyside has $29.99 / pound of Akami and Jutoro to make similar quality of sushi) Condition - The tuna was already chopped in pieces, maybe a remnant after selling - disappointing. Again they might have better tuna (in a larger chunk) at some point, and I may have visited at the wrong time - but still it was already in small piece. No discount offered for small pieces and potential lower range of freshness with longer shelf time (value depreciation not applied). I bought anyway to test it before larger purchase. Sushi making - medium to lower quality. The defrosted texture was obvious - began to destroy structure of the flesh, with relatively thick fascia plane observed. No bad odor. No parasites observed. You can make your own sushi out of this, but not enough quality to treat guests. Unless quality improves, I would not buy again.

Salmon: Price - sold $19.99 / pound - which is good for the quality - given Pittsburgh is inland. Condition - Chunk out of a large fresh (Oroshi already done but skin not removed) piece. No bad odor. Sushi making - good quality. Nice fresh texture without translucency. Again, depends on the quality but I would age this for approx 4-6 of hours in wrapper in the fridge before using. I made the sushi right away anyway, because again this was a testing. Good quality of Salmon -...