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Bitter Ends Food
4770 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. instagram.com/bitterendsfood
Bitter Ends returned for fish fry season with some dinner theater. On Fridays during Lent (March 5-April 17) from 5-8 p.m., enjoy fried cod fish sandwiches, sides like haluski and coleslaw, rotating desserts, and “maybe some surprises.” Food is available for take-out only, along with soup to-go from Brothmonger and Two Frays beer for purchase.
Raising Cane’s
Multiple locations. raisingcanes.com
Green beer? How about green lemonade? Raising Cane’s celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in “true shamrockin’ style” with the return of its Leprechaun Lemonade. Through Mon., March 17, guests can try the chicken tender chain’s fresh-squeezed lemonade with a “magically green twist.” On Wed., March 19, Cane’s will sell a new limited-edition Golden Plush Puppy ($9.99 plus tax), sales from which will benefit local animal organizations. Buy the new plush in-store or online through Tue., April 29.
Brunch With A Black Man x 1Hood Media
instagram.com/brunchwithablackman
The Pittsburgh-based Brunch With A Black Man podcast will return for its second season. Hosted by Miracle Jones of 1Hood Media, the hybrid podcast-TV series features “unfiltered, thought-provoking conversations” with Black men over brunch, each filmed at a local business. Guests include activists, artists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who candidly explore health and wellness topics like depression, second chances, therapy, fatherhood, and more. The first episode drops at 12 p.m. on Sat., March 15.
Listeners can stream Brunch With A Black Man through its Facebook and YouTube accounts on Saturdays at 12 p.m. through May 31. For updates, follow the podcast on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook at @Brunchwithablackman.
Dari-Delite
1990 Monongahela Ave., Swissvale. swissvaledaridelite.com
Pittsburgh’s favorite harbinger of spring — ice cream shops reopening — began with Rita’s return on March 1. Page’s followed on March 7, with Glen’s Frozen Custard set to open the following week on Thu., March 13.
Swissvale’s Dari-Delite announced it will join the pack earlier than planned due to the spring weather, celebrating opening day on Fri., March 14 from 12-9 p.m. The 70-year-old neighborhood staple returns for the season with soft-serve treats, non-dairy options, Smith’s hot dogs, and fish for Lent.
The Vandal x Bar Marco
4306 Butler St., Lawrenceville. thevandalpgh.com
The Vandal, opened in 2015 with some Bob Burger’s costumes, celebrates its 10th anniversary on the spring equinox. On Thu., March 20, the neighborhood cafe will partner with “longtime wine friends” Bar Marco — where The Vandal previewed its first concept — to host a five-course dinner. According to an Instagram post, the menu will be a “nod to Bar Marco’s Italian roots and [The Vandal’s] love of French cooking,” along with a “steady flow of great wines” paired with each course. Book reservations ($85 per person plus $35 for wine pairings) online through The Vandal’s website or OpenTable, or by calling the restaurant.
Jersey Mike’s Subs x Mario Lemieux Foundation
Multiple locations. jerseymikes.com
Jersey Mike’s Subs celebrates its 15th annual Month of Giving by donating to the Mario Lemieux Foundation. Customers at 25 Pittsburgh-area Jersey Mike’s locations can round up their purchase to the nearest dollar or donate $1, $3, or $5 when ordering. This year’s efforts culminate in a Day of Giving on Wed., March 26, when 100% of local sales go to the Foundation, which supports cancer research and patient care. Pittsburghers can find their nearest Jersey Mike’s location online and view a list of local charity partners.
Maxo Vanka Murals
24 Maryland Ave., Millvale. vankamurals.org
Indulge in a feast for the eyes, ears, and stomach while supporting the Vanka Murals. On Fri., March 28 from 4-7 p.m., the Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka, located in the St. Nicholas Church, presents A Feast for the Murals, a special dinner and open house. Choose from a baked fish or vegan dinner and two sides from Sprezzatura. In the sanctuary, multi-instrumentalist Jennifer Baron will spin traditional Croatian music from her grandparents’ historic record collection, while artist Maggie Negrete creates zines for an all-ages scavenger hunt. Volunteer guides will also be on hand throughout the night. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for kids and are available online.
The Parlor Dim Sum
4401 Butler St., Lawrenceville. theparlordimsum.com
If you need a break from fried fish and St. Paddy’s Day fare, The Parlor Dim Sum has relaunched its weekend brunch (a Pittsburgh City Paper staff favorite). The modern Cantonese spot, developed from a pop-up, now offers brunch all weekend long, featuring dim sum cart service, dishes from the wok, a full bar, and DJs every Sunday. The new brunch runs Saturdays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sundays from 12-7 p.m. Reservations are available online.
City of Pittsburgh Food Justice Fund
engage.pittsburghpa.gov/food-justice-fund
The City of Pittsburgh’s Food Justice Fund will accept Grassroots Grant applications through Mon., April 14. Candidates can apply for up to $75,000 in funds, with the program distributing $1.5 million. The city will also host two virtual information sessions for applicants on Tue., March 11 at 1 p.m. and on Tue., March 18 at 6 p.m.
Established in 2023, the Food Justice Fund aims to “increase public investment in a just, equitable, and sustainable food system.” Projects applying for a FJF Grassroots Grant must provide a public service, such as distributing free food, supporting community gardens or urban farms, enrolling city residents in public benefits, operating farmers markets, addressing food waste, offering job or educational programming, and more. View the full selection criteria and guidelines online.
Kung Fu Chicken
709 Bellefonte St., Shadyside. instagram.com/kungfuchicken888
Kung Fu Chicken, a favorite spot at Novo Asian Food Hall, opened a second location in Shadyside. The blog PennsylvAsia reported that the Taiwanese-style chicken restaurant opened in the former I Tea Cafe space.
According to its signage, Kung Fu Chicken specializes in ji pai (éæ) fried chicken cutlets, a popular Taiwanese street food. The chicken is breaded with sweet potato starch, deep-fried, and seasoned with white pepper, Chinese five-spice powder, and chili powder for a “mildly spicy kick.”
This article appears in Mar 5-11, 2025.
