Isabela On Grandview

Closed! Not disappointed, either. Was there for a birthday dinner two years ago (memorable only for the company!). Food was unremarkable. «Owner» came by mid meal to introduce himself as the «proprietor.» I’m a friendly person, but I found his particular greeting to be a bit strange. I don’t mean to be harsh — I appreciate the chef asking how we we like his/​her creations, the manager checking to make sure service is good, but this was on the creepy end of the scale. But the piece de resistance, was that the dessert was awful. And this from a person who has admittedly never met a dessert she didn’t like! (And what a horrible impression to leave your diner with!). Regardless, not sad to bid Isabella adieu, and hoping another fine dining establishment joins the neighborhood, now that the space is available. (I’m new here — can I give a half star?)

Don’t come hungry. We took the incline and looked for a place to dine near by for a nice dinner with a view. The waitress was lovely and explained the $ 75 course tasting menu and I swear she said the portions were smaller (4 oz protein) as you got 4 entrees so my assumption was the other side of the menu where you could order what you wanted would be a normal dinner size… I was hungry so ordered the duck for $ 27, which is a splurge for me. When my plate arrived I had a piece of duck the size of an egg roll (and I am being generous). I looked at the waitress and said ‘Is that it? I didn’t order the tasting menu’ She said yes… the tasting menu and ala carte were smaller portion sizes… so where was my DINNER? smaller than what? what you USUALLY get at a restaurant for $ 27? I think it was tasty… I really didn’t have enough to tell… the waitress offered me more bread… I didn’t want bread… I wanted duck! I came home and snacked on everything I could get my hands on as did my husband who had a 2 ½ inch square piece of fish. I know there is a markup, but duck doesn’t cost close to $ 100 a lb! Nouvelle cuisine??? How about FEED your patrons. I shouldn’t have to spend $ 75 to feel satisfied.

My husband and I are fairly new to Pittsburgh. His parents were in town, so we thought a nice dinner on Mt. Washington was the ticket. I had made reservations only a few days before and had asked for good seating since you come to these places for the view. When we got there, we ended up being seated at one of the inside tables, rather than a window seat. Maybe you have to reserve way in advance to get a window seat? Oh well.
Our service was a little strange for the price point. Our server explained the portions were a bit smaller, so we might want to order extra food. That seemed a little unnecessary– almost apologetic?- as I found the portions to be about what you’d expect from a fine dining restaurant. We did follow her advice and get a few appetizers. We also had to ask our server for a wine list, get her attention to order said bottle of wine, ask her if we could order dessert. Again– I think for the price point, your server should know that you want wine or cocktails. Maybe it’s just me, but it makes me feel awkward– almost asking permission to order something «extra»?
I think the general consensus in town is that Mt. Washington is no longer the neighborhood for cutting-​edge cuisine. The food at Isabela was good, but nothing too memorable. I got salmon with couscous and brussel sprouts– something you could get just about anywhere. My father in law did get a fantastic pork roast that we all sampled. It was juicy and falling-​apart-​tender, but again– nothing I couldn’t make at home in my crockpot.
I did enjoy the kitchen being on view in the second-​floor dining area, but it added to the noise level. This dining room is fairly small (8 tables, maybe?) and the sound really filled the room. That’s not necessarily something I mind, but it can be tough if you’re dining with anyone hard of hearing (as we were.)

Now let me first state that I enjoyed the food, and it was overall a pleasant experience. I made reservations for around 6 pm on a Saturday, and got a very nice table with an outstanding view of the Point in Pittsburgh on a clear night. My waiter was affable, and we had the tasting menu (as I recall, there was no other option) and we both got the wine pairing for $ 40 a person. My problem with this place is that, whether you are ‘gourmet’ or not, if I am dishing out $ 300 for a 2 person meal, I really shouldn’t leave hungry AT ALL. The portions were very small for almost every dish that they brought out, and it is a very disappointing experience when you spend that much money and are still a bit hungry. For that reason alone, I would not go back.

We totally lucked out, choosing Isabella’s for our first dinner on our first-​ever trip to Pittsburgh. Lucky for us, it was a quiet Monday night and there were plenty of tables open, affording us a prime spot at the window. Yes the view is spectacular, in fact it’s hard to imagine a better view of the three mighty rivers and the vibrant city that surrounds them. But even more impressive was the food.
Chef Jacqueline has created an amazing tasting menu, with inventive and sensitive dishes to delight the palate. Dainty, crusty shrimp, delicately seasoned and cooked salmon and swordfish, delectable duck breast and lamb… We both had the tasting menu with the wine pairing, well worth the price. The wines were perfection, carefully selected and consistently excellent. Even the coffee was exceptional, as it comes from Building New Hope coffee roasters. Server Paul was informed, attentive, genuinely pleasant, and always on the spot.
Portion sizes were certainly generous for tasting, and frankly if they had been larger, it would’ve almost been too much. At one point, I felt that I could just spend the rest of my life right there, looking over the Ohio River, with Paul bringing dish after dish to our table. Bravo, Isabella’s.

Isabela is a unique restaurant. We were staying in south side and we took the incline up to isabelas. Was an unusual way to climb a mountain to get to dinner! The views from isabelas can’t be beat! You feel like you are sitting on top of the world. The pittsburgh skyline was beautiful! Seeing all the lighted bridges and buildings made you feel like you were on an airplane looking down on a magical city!
You had a choice of a $ 75 prix fix or you could order a la carte. We did the a la carte. My husband had the duck and it was tender and lean… well prepared. I had the sword fish. It was good but slightly overcooked. Salads were delicious as was the crispy shrimp appy. Our server was personable and attentive without being on top of us.
They did have a wine pairing if ou chose the prix fix for $ 40 which was very reasonable.
Isabelas is a small intimate restaurant. Perfect for a special occasion. Definitely a place that foodies would enjoy!

We were exploring the city for the first time and as we were walking by, we dicided to stop in. turns out, we were the only people there… and I have no idea why… it has a fantastic view of the city and the point… the food was exceptional and the service was very personable and friendly! We loved it.

I consider myself quite easy to please, especially with food. Now, this restaurant was a completely disappointing experience. Part of it was probably my fault — I saw $$$$ signs and automatically assumed it would offer upscale dining experience.
The view is good, probably the best in Pittsburgh, but I’ve lived in bigger cities, so the view itself wasn’t too impressive. Now wine. My husband ordered a 2010 vintage red from the wine list. What our server brought was a 2011. She did not mention this until my husband pointed it out — from the looks of her face, I doubt she even knew about it. She said they did not have 2010 vintage, and could not offer lower price on 2011. No one came for an explanation. I thought it was unacceptable, but I did not want to disturb other customers eating in peace, so I didn’t ask her further. Then the food. Scallops were ok but the broccoli was too burnt. I am aware of ‘burnt broccoli’ recipes, usually at home, but the menu didn’t say I would be getting burnt broccoli. I honestly thought they were cauliflowers because it was too black. Then my steak… I ordered medium rare and my four pieces of ny strip sure looked like medium rare (red in the middle, pink in the outskirts)…but tasted like well done. Far from tender. My grill does a better job. Then the owner/​general manager came to each table and offered to take a picture of dining guests… then he printed it out and gave it to us. it was a nice gesture, but definitely wasn’t enough the make up for the less-​than-​impressive food. The best way to enjoy this place is to visit after dinner and have a cocktail, while enjoying the views.

I understand that you are paying for the beautiful view and that it is but the food was good but nothing more. It was quite an experience but we will not be going back. The service was great and our favorite part was the wine pairing. Great choices.
I am generally easy to please but when you are paying $ 75 for a seven course meal, I expect fantastic not good.

As a restaurant manager from San Francisco I can be very difficult to please. I actually looked for something to complain about and failed miserably.
I really wanted to dine somewhere with a view and this is it. It has breathtaking views of downtown Pittsburgh from every table.
Our server was Carly. She was wonderful and answered all of my questions with confidence and in detail. My date and I decided to go with the Chef’s tasting menu and were not disappointed. Every course melted in my mouth and each flavor profile was paired perfectly with another.
Little things I really appreciate like the clearing after each course, and explanation of dishes when they are dropped, refilling of water without asking… all added to the experience as a whole.
To top off this amazing experience, George the owner came by to chat with us and take our photo. Owner/​manager presence is so important and it also adds a VIP quality to the tasting adventure.
I highly recommend this gem.
What a refreshing, class act!

ExThe place is very nice with a beautiful view. Had a great table. Service was very good. Did not feel rushed at all.
Appetizer and salad were delicious. I ordered the salmon and my husband ordered the NY strip steak. My salmon was beautifully cooked. However, my husband received 3 small slices. It felt more of an appetizer than an entrée.
I wish restaurants would state on the menu that the customer will receive slices, not an actual steak. It is misleading. I understand they need to maximize profit, but 3 small slices? They can’t throw in another slice?
I prefer delicious quality meals over large portions. When I saw my husband’s plate, I knew he would be leaving hungry and we wouldn’t be coming back.

Magnificent view. Friendly and helpful service

One of the best spots in the city. View is phenomenal and even caught Friday night fireworks.
Overall, food was fantastic (although we ordered a la carte).
Started with a cheese platter that was very mild with strong crackers — would not recommend.
But, then came the good stuff. Swordfish was steaky yet tender and not too fishy. The duck was some of the best I’ve ever had. Tasted the strip steak and that was cooked to perfection as well. Cheesecake for desert was perfect.
Wine was reasonably priced and the selection, while small, was diverse. Also, we were started with a complementary glass of champagne.
Came in assuming that we would be paying for the view with ok food. Was very pleasantly surprised that the food stole the show.

Great experience! The food was very tasty and the portions are not too small or big for a multiple course dinner. The best part was the meat course, absolutely delicious, and then the dessert. We got a sorbet as pallet cleanser between the fish and meat course which was very refreshing.

No one would probably blame Isabela if they kind of skimped on an aspect or two of their restaurant. After all, their view overlooking Pittsburgh has to be one of the most incredible restaurant views in the world. But thankfully they’re top notch from beginning to end.
Having arrived in the area at around 6pm with no reservation, I decided to poke my head in to see if I could get a table. To my surprise, no one was there (guess I was early). I was greeted by a very friendly and engaging hostess who got a table ready for me despite no reservation. I was seated right next to the window with the previously mentioned amazing view. This alone was worth the visit. But the food was equally worth the stop too.
My halibut was perfectly cooked in a kaffir lime sauce that was almost like green curry. Since I was doing the a-​la-​carte, I also ordered roasted broccolini that was perfectly roasted to a crispiness with the right amount of seasoning, and the chanterelle risotto which was absolutely divine. Service was just as friendly as the hostess, and was perfectly attentive. And prices were very reasonable given the quality of the food, level of service, and that view.
Whether you’re just visiting Pittsburgh or you live there and want a nice place for a special night, Isabela on Grandview is certainly a spot to go to. I’ve heard that the view on the 4^th of July is absolutely amazing with fireworks being shot from the river. I’ll definitely return should I make my way back to Pittsburgh.

Fantastic 6 course meal. We enjoyed duck, quail, halibut, elk and some fantastic desserts. The view was fantastic on the second floor. The owner George was wonderful. Overall, a real dining experience.

Let’s be honest, in a place like this, you are paying for the view — and Isabella’s delivers.
Food was good, but nothing out of this world for such high prices (75 per person). My biggest complaint was the inconsistency in, well — everything. I went here with my girlfriend while we were strolling by. Again the view is amazing, and the owner was friendly, but the salmon was on par with the frozen stuff from the grocery store while the steak was very good (received rare instead of medium rare). Cheese plate with delicious cheese had seemingly random accompaniments, and the waitress forgot my beer.
All these things can be overlooked for a 20 – 30 dollar meal but not at 70 – 80 dollars per person. I recommend saving your money and going to Le Mont down the street for a better value.

The view is great, like the other restaurants in Grandview but the exterior of the building is very deceiving. You wouldn’t know how great this place is, even though small, from the inside if you just see it from the outside.
We went here for the first time for my boyfriend’s 30^th birthday to try the chef’s tasting. The staff was nice and they even gave us champagne to celebrate the occasion. I can’t give enough praise about the food.
We ordered different things off the 7 course meal so we ended up trying 2 out of the 3 options. It was like a journey, the menu was planned well. My favorite would be the scallop for the appetizer, the halibut for the fish course, and I can’t praise the duck enough! The papaya sorbet after the fish course was a good palate cleanser before the meat entrée. Even the NY strip steak was unbelievable. For desserts, i recommend the blueberry and white chocolate, I didn’t like the chocolate one as much since the chocolate tart pastry that holds the ganache is a bit hard.
The meal is well worth it, proportion is about right not to make you too full for the next course. We will definitely come back here!

Came back here for our anniversary three years after our first visit. Food was just as amazing as we remembered it, but the room was much more lively. One large party and a few other couples. The meal takes a long time — there are many courses — but it’s worth it to savor it. We went in the summer this time instead of winter and the menu reflected the season. Tasty greens and vegetables that I had never heard of made for a very unique meal but still very accessible. The wild mushrooms were mind blowing.
The owner came out near the end of the meal and took a picture of us and gave it to us with his card in a nice folder. My wife was pregnant at the time– they had complimentary champagne for our anniversary but they kindly swapped it out for sparkling cider when they learned that she was DD.
I love this place. Expensive but the food is so memorable.

This restaurant will find no shortage of rave reviews. They know most people come here to celebrate a special occasion. The beautiful Pittsburgh skyline at night, is an amazing backdrop for dinner. And the staff is excellent in complementing the evening with friendly service.
The $ 70/​per chef’s tasting was pretty good. Each selection, apps, fish, meat, and desert have 3 choices, so if you’re with another person, you’ll likely get 2 out of 3 dishes offered. Some of the flavor profiles were pretty great, but a tad salty for our tastes. One of our fish dishes was the Cobia, and we sent it back because we thought it was still frozen. We’re not sure — we were told it was cooked to medium-​rare, but we couldn’t even cut through the fish — and it was ice cold in the middle. So I still don’t know if it wasn’t cooked right, or we just don’t know how to eat Cobia.
Some other hiccups in the service, included the wrong glass of wine, and actually the wrong meat course. I had ordered the lamb but got the short rib. I didn’t say anything about the short rib, because, c’mon, who doesn’t love short rib? Regardless, that many mistakes from such a high-​end restaurant is surprising and disappointing.
We still had a very pleasant experience, but I think felt a little wanting for more of a wow factor from the food.
— — — —
Appetizer — Choice of One
Scallops — Nantucket Bay Scallops, Diver Sea Scallop, Cauliflower, Breadcrumbs
Parsnip, Leek & Ginger Soup — Toasted Pepitas, Pumpkin Oil
Ricotta Ravioli — Hedgehog mushrooms, Black Truffle, Hickory Smoked Chanterelle Purée
Fish Course — Choice of One
North Atlantic Lobster — Melted Leeks, Red Beets, Mascarpone Risotto
Cobia — Kale, Shiso, Pickled Ginger, White Soy & Yuzu Ponzu
Bass — Roasted Brussels sprouts, Golden Beet, Agro Dulche Buerre Blanc
Intermezzo — Chef’s Daily Sorbet Selection
Meat Course — Choice of One
Venison Rack Chop — Black Pepper Crust, Spelt Berries, Persimmon, Roasted Fennel
NY Strip Steak — Salsify, Celeriac Purée, Malbec Reduction, Demi
Smoked Duck Breast — Pumpkin Cavatelli, Confit of Leg, Celebration Squash, Sage, Huckleberry
Salad
Organic Arugula Salad — Pears, Candied Pecans, Meadow Belle Goat Cheese, Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Dessert — Choice of one
Meyer Lemon Bar — Poppy Seed Crème Brulee, Raspberry, White Chocolate, White Corn Shortbread
Olive Oil Cake — Petite Rhubarb, Blood Orange Ice Cream, Chocolate Balsamic
Chocolate Ganache — Organic Chocolate, Campfire Marshmallow, Graham Cracker Ice Cream