Best Lunch Restaurants in Shadyside

I took my girlfriend to brunch at Ritual House on our engagement weekend in the city and it was absolutely wonderful. The decorations they had for the holidays were stunning and magical and the overall design of the place, including menus and table settings, was so charming. We were waited on by Bryce (can’t remember if that’s the correct spelling of his name!) and he was energetic, funny, helpful, and made us feel so welcome and comfortable. She got the chicken and waffles with a side of breakfast potatoes and I got the monte cristo sandwich. All of the food was flavorful, fresh, and portions were very generous. We definitely want to go back! Out of three restaurants we dined at over the weekend, this place was our favorite.

This was our second visit in 2 weeks. Food and service are excellent.

This place is fantastic! Everything from the small plates (risotto), to main courses (mushroom pasta & rack of lamb) were excellent. The server steered us in just the right direction for wines that paired perfectly with our dinners. I also noticed that every meal that came out of the kitchen was closely inspected but the manager to make sure they were on the mark (and they were). This was an anniversary dinner for my wife and me, and we could not have chosen better! Highly recommend it!

The fancy crispy chicken sandwich was delicious but very messy to eat as a sandwich. I'm not sure I would change anything but perhaps offer a wet nap to patrons. 😊

The pasta dishes were superb, as was the salad with lump crab meat and avocado. The panini, however, was disappointing. The bread was two slabs of thick, Texas-style bread, and the filling was very thick. Along with the Italian meats and cheese, there was shredded lettuce. If it was cooked on a Panini Press, the chef/cook forgot to close and press it. Obviously, whoever made the Panini has never been to Italy.