Tucked within the beautiful grounds of The Frick Pittsburgh, the Cafe at The Frick offers a unique dining experience. It feels like a step back into a more graceful and unhurried time.
Enjoy a Gilded Age Dining Experience at the Cafe at The Frick Pittsburgh
There are many spots on the sprawling grounds of The Frick Pittsburgh where you can imagine living the Gilded Age life of Pittsburgh’s erstwhile elite. While touring Clayton — an experience that takes care to provide real insight into the lives of those who worked for the Frick family — you can clearly picture the past, just as you can at the charming greenhouse or the fascinating Car and Carriage Museum.
At the Cafe at the Frick, you can actually live out the fantasy. Sipping a drink, eating something delicious and letting an hour or two slip away while gazing over the beautiful grounds — besides a century or so, what’s separating your experience from that of this property’s famous family?
“No matter what time of year, it’s beautiful,” says Amanda Dunyak Gillen, the Frick’s executive director. “It’s a special place, just in terms of people’s memories. A lot of Pittsburghers have been coming [to the cafe] for years.”
A Beautiful Space with a Surprising History
Though its aesthetic fits perfectly with the grounds and buildings around Clayton, the building wasn’t originally part of the property; in fact, it was a garage. Beautifully restored (with picture windows perfect for people-watching or bird-spotting) and converted into a restaurant, the Cafe at the Frick now offers breakfast and lunch service.
These aren’t the standard snacks and quick sandwiches you’d find at many museums and historical sites; the menu, designed by cafe manager Paul Lauteri, packs a surprising punch. The cinnamon French toast rivals any at your favorite breakfast spot, while the hummus flatbread will have you considering ordering seconds. A chicken cordon bleu sandwich is hug-your-belly filling without feeling indulgent. And every meal should start with the pierogi appetizer — this is Pittsburgh, after all.
Must-Try Dishes
“One of my favorites is always the waffles,” Dunyak Gillen says. “They’re good anytime, but if you’re looking for cozy food, they’re so delicious without being too sweet — and the bacon is that thick-cut bacon that I love.”
A rotating list of cocktails refines classic recipes. Try the garden mojito, with white rum, cucumber, jalapeño, mint and lime — or the comforting Symphony in Grey & Green, a tea-and-citrus creation that tastes especially Frick-appropriate. You can also order a bottle of wine and enjoy it on the grounds.
Strolling the pathways around Clayton and sipping wine, you’ll feel like you own the place.
Open to the Public — No Admission Required
“The idea is that you can just walk on site, come on in and have a great lunch,” Dunyak Gillen says; the cafe is open to the public, with no admission to the museum or Clayton required. “We get a lot of people from the neighborhood — and I would love to see more!”
While it makes for a great lunch stop or leisurely breakfast, tea service is worth scheduling. The cafe’s Afternoon Tea offers a selection of savory treats, scones, fruit and more; with baked goods from the likes of Mediterra Bakehouse and Jak’s Bakery, you’ll eat every crumb. Special-event tea services, like a popular Valentine’s Day service, routinely sell out in hours. (Get on the Frick’s email list for your chance to score a seat.)
“I like to think it’s special,” Dunyak Gillen says. “It’s a nice place to take someone on a special day.”
About the Author
Sean Collier is the editor-in-chief of Shady Ave and the arts and culture editor of TABLE Magazine. Before joining the TABLE Media team, he spent nearly 15 years as a writer, editor and columnist at Pittsburgh Magazine. As the in-house film critic for the top-rated WDVE Morning Show since 2009, he’s been Pittsburgh’s most widely heard voice on movies for nearly two decades. A Pittsburgh native, Sean has since 2020 appeared weekly on KDKA-TV’s popular Pittsburgh Today Live talk show. He’s the co-founder of Vigilance Theater Group and an active stand-up comedian and event host. He can be found on Instagram and Twitter at @seancollierpgh.
About the Photographer
Dave Bryce is TABLE Magazine’s contributing architecture, interiors, and food photographer, based in Pittsburgh. He photographed Fallingwater: Living With and In Art (Rizzoli, 2025) and regularly shoots for Pittsburgh Magazine and American Farmhouse Style, working with architects, interior designers, and hospitality brands. See more at davebrycephotography.com.