In a hunt for someplace casual to grab a bite to eat and hang out on a Friday night, we discovered The Yard. Overall, I would say it offers reasonably priced, Pittsburgh-esqe food but with a bit more flair. People coming here should expect a cozy ambience and comfort food best served on a cold winter evening.
Ambience:
The restaurant is located, more or less, in the basement of a building just off of Walnut. The large chalkboards covered with specials and beers on tap along with incandescent lighting make it an approachable place. The only downside I imagine is during the day, where being below street level offers little lighting. On a Friday evening, the place was busy- great for a group of friends, less so for a romantic date.
Food:
I went for one of their grilled cheeses (Smack Yo Mama) and was by no means disappointed. The Texas toast was thick cut and butter generously. The cheese oozed out. As I said before, this place offers meals for the gluttonous not healthy. I was a big fan of the sweet potato fries (although a bit more seasoning or salt would have been nice) and the side of cinnamon butter (or cream?) was perfect. The tomato soup on the side was an added bonus. Overall I was pleased as were my friends, but again, expect to feel the impending coma. And of course, the added flair of the food led to a slightly higher price than you would expect from a grilled cheese ($11-14), although after eating it, I wouldn't complain.
Drinks:
Like many establishments, The Yard offered a wide selection of beers including some fantastic stouts. I would say the selection was above average but pricing a bit on the high side for Pittsburgh. Somewhere around $6-8/beer unless you went for the less appealing domestics.
Service:
A bit slow on a busy Friday night and things were crammed by the bar. But once we were seated, we had quick and friendly service. The waiter offered his recommendations which were spot on.