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There aren't many instances where I would overlook waiting 40 minutes for food or accept sub par food. However, Brillobox is a place where I see the promise, I saw others meals and I spent the night chatting with the crowd of people.
Brillobox is a now 10 week-old bar/restaurant/performance venue. It's along the Penn Avenue stretch between Bloomfield and Lawrenceville - near or in the Penn Avenue Art Initiative area. Named as an homage to Andy Warhol, Billbox is owned by a 20-30 something couple, boomerangs who came back to Pittsburgh from living and working in New York City- Brillobox has the right mix of food, drink and atmosphere to lure the hipsters, beatniks, alternatives and other interesting folks in droves. This place is a gem and probably the seed of much more.
On tap they have only good beer - no macros. Selection includes offerings from East End Brewing and Troegs. 8-12 tap handles total. In bottles they hide and contain the other beer, those nasty macro beers.
Atmosphere at Brillobox is cozy, be it a tad too dark in the bar area. The walls have some art from the owners creative streaks. Upstairs is live performance space that had a singer songwriter and a $5 cover charge. Downstairs was packed so I decided to mingle freely there.
Nice to see both the owners working the whole night. The place was packed in two waves - dinner and the later drinks crowd. So no standing around for either of them. Nice people who were good at serving the drinks and very attentive to note a nearing empty glass.
The food looked marvelous at other tables - so for once I can say the veggie opinion is narrow and I should steer people properly. Try the food, but beware of the veggie food.
I really enjoyed my time here and the crowd it attracts. I will be back as soon as possible to take more in. This is now my favorite place in Pittsburgh to have a drink and talk with others looking to socialize.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a good piece on Brillobox: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05349/622363.stm
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