I must have missed something the other reviews got about the Squirrel Cafe. Granted, we stopped in for lunch on Saturday so maybe it is more interesting in the evening. It struck me as a diner with a bar in it. The food was mediocre (homemade cheese dip is not cheese you put in salsa and melt in the microwave) and the pepperoni roll, while good, was tiny. Beer selection in bottles was good but the draft selection was limited. The Squirrel Cafe seemed like a little mom and pop place. Character can only get you so far. You need to have a reason to come back and, for me, neither the food or the beer selection was enough.
Review Source:The Squirrel Hill Cafe or as it is locally called, the Cage is a cool place to grab a beer and watch the Pens play. Â The food is incredibly cheap and surprisingly good and the beer is cheap. Â I went with a friend recently and had a bacon cheese burger, a giant basket of cheese fries, and a pitcher of Yuengling and my bill was only $15. Â I almost died when I saw how cheap it was. Â This wasn't my first time there and certainly won't be my last.
Review Source:Best cheeseburger for the money I've had, hands down! Super cheap food and beers, actually a good selection of beers too. The guy that cooks in the evenings always cooks the burger perfectly. I had one during the daytime once and it was a little overcooked but still delicious. Highly recommend this place. The only downfall is the smoking and that I have to immediately wash my clothes after leaving.
Review Source:The Squirrel Hill Cafe was a pleasant surprise of a bar. I usually never ventured into squirrel hill to imbibe, but my friend had a birthday gathering there on a sunday evening.
This place is another Pgh dive-gem. The beer selection is marvelous, and the jukebox is too. Yes, you can smoke in here, which turns away most of the people I would not want to talk to anyways.
Quite an eclectic mixture of folks, as someone else mentioned.
Yes, I was THAT person who had to look around for the Squirrel "Cage" while parked in front of the SHC for a good five minutes.
"The Cage" has cheap, decent food, and reasonably priced drinks -- though for the divey atmosphere, they're probably a little overpriced. It's smoky as Hell, so don't wear your finest outfit (unless, I guess, it includes a smoking jacket). The service is generally lacking if you're not right at the bar, but that is more a staffing issue, as there's usually only one waitress for the whole place. If you like old boardgames and don't mind hipsters, I recommend checking out their Game Night on Tuesdays. I mean, come on; free rounds of 1986 Trivial Pursuit? Can't be beat.
Review Source:I think I figured out why this place is called The Cage. Â There's no concrete evidence that what I observed here is true. Â You walk in and you see a mix of people that would represent different classifications of people you'd see throughout Pittsburgh. Â Each booth and table is a different subset of the population. Â Every booth and table is an exhibit or cage at a zoo, there for you to observe how each group interacts with one another.
Err, what am I saying? Â Maybe I just enjoyed myself so much here that I started spacing out. I mean you do get to see a wide mix of the human race interacting in here, but who cares, they are all there for one thing, to have a good time. Â
Whether you are sitting at the bar or pick a booth along the wall, the staff are there to make sure you have a libation nearby. Â Always able to make a suggestion if you want to try something new.
The music touch has a nice mix of music to fulfill anyone's need to hear tunes. But who needs tunes when you can just sit there and chat the whole night?
I'm still skeptical about going up to the loft area. It looks so small from down below.
Such a nice intimate place to go and grab a beer with friends. Â It's a great place to sit and blow off some steam. Â Beer selection is pretty good. Â They have their fair share of seasonal blends, as well as
If the Squirrel Cage was a human woman, my god, the things I would do......She might be a smoked out slouch with a voice like an alcoholic midget, but she's still beautiful to me. My fondness of this place is rooted in more than a few sinful nights (accompanied by local Squirrel Hillian Marni K) spurred on and exponentiated by the cheapness the strength and the quality of their booze, the quality and friendliness of the patrons and staff, and a jukebox that has a selection that'll make any music lovers wallet a barren wasteland. Everything I've ever taken from this place I've given back to Pittsburgh, usually on a friends bathroom floor near but not in the toilet. Â
I don't care to get into details about this place, you'll either love it or you won't. It's an old gem of a place that is pretty much my first stop in the city every single time I go.
As a New Yorker it had been a LONG time since I had been in a bar where you could smoke. Â Even as a non smoker, it certainly does bring a different vibe with it, and sometimes it's welcome one. Â Certainly brought back memories. Â
Cool crowd, good music, and a great selection of beer that you normally don't find at rando dive bars. Â Like Young's Double Chocolate, or Sierra Nevada Porter, Great Lakes beers, etc.
The only downside, not a great selection on tap. Â One thing I love about my dive bars is the taps. Â This place severely lacked. Â
Other than that, the bottled beer is the only thing that really stuck out, otherwise it's an average to slightly above average dive.
Me likey the hot wings.
I started to frequent this place a few years ago when I was living in the neighborhood and taking the summer to goof off and do very little more than eat and drink my way around Pittsburgh. The Squirrel Hill Cafe helped me do that on the reg. We actually called it the Squirrel Cage-- it throws me off to call it a cafe.
I am reading that this place is becoming quite the hip spot, and I don't know how to feel about that, but I am sure it's integrity is still there.
When it was my spot, it was sometimes dark and a little on the empty side, but I found a lot of entertainment watching the guy come out of the kitchen and smoke while he complained about bunions and whatnot.
Every once in a while the place will go off and there will be mostly standing room, and the vibe was always good. I hope they stay cool.
I love this place, mostly because it means I don't have to deal with the oversaturation of bars in the South Side. Â The "squirrel cage" as some affectionately call it really is my favorite bar in Pittsburgh because it's a little dive-y, but still hip, and has nice booths to sit in where you can just get a cheap pitcher or two and chill with your buds. Â It's also great for people watching!
Review Source:This place is always hopping with hipsters. I mean every single night it's packed with chain smokers, heavy drinkers, people working on their art, or writing in the corners. And that's what makes it cool. That "I don't give an F that it is a Monday night, I'm still staying out until last call" sort of vibe.
The cage has a great beer selection with alright prices. They serve food, but I've never tried it. Everyone around me is always eating though, so it must be good. That, or it is just cheap, and artists got to eat ya know?
There is always good music playing and the bartender (the guy with the long beard) is great. He knows everyone by name and doesn't hesitate to strike up a conversation.
Great place to check out on any night, just expect to smell like a stale cigarette when you leave.
I guess I am not a fan of dive bars. Â They have the pre-requisits: Â cheap beer, smokey room, and loud. Â When I visited it was busy, very busy. Â Lots of jostling and that sort of thing. Â Patrons were in a good mood though. Â I just can't get over how smoky it was. Â Coming from a city that has banned smoking in bars it was a big turn off.
The wait staff was moderately attentive. Â The decor was a bit boring. Â I would come back but I won't make a point of it.
Squirrel Hill Cafe AKA "the Cage" can be a good time. This is primarily a student, hippy, hipster, old regulars, and local randoms who live near here spot. They sell decent priced pitchers and broadcast the games. It does get incredibly packed at times.
A solid neighborhood bar where you can sit at the jukebox and pick the tunes you feel like head bopping to. I always end up putting something on like MGMT or Florence and the Machine, I get weird looks when a soulful jazzy soprano starts belting into the room. I'm usually in my own world at that point but you have to love those "you can find any song you can think of music machines" Â I sure do!
I like pulling up to the bar next to a young college bloke and ordering two fingers of bourbon neat, that's always an eye opener from the Punky Brewster girl with the mouse voice sitting next to you. The bartenders are attentive and so are the servers when you are sitting at the tables.
There is an upstairs room but the ceiling is crazy low, must just be made for the Shawties! I really like that the booths have such high backs so if you are having an intense conversation you can hide in there!
One last thing, this is a smoking bar so if that bothers you don't visit, your clothes will be reeking by the end of the night! Cheers!
After hearing the raves about this place from my friends, I went for it. Not a fan. The service is SO SLOW. I also was very put off when the waitress told a member of our party to ash her cigarettes on the floor because she didn't know or feel like finding us an ashtray. That's just kind of dodgy to me.
Review Source:A great casual bar/eating with cheap food/drinks but even if you have a suit one you can fit.
I guess that's the best thing about this bar. You met all kind of people.
The food is really good (always got on the burgers side), the beer cheap, the waitresses nice.
You clothes smell like an ashtray but who cares? you spent a great night!
a great local bar with a good beer selection and tons of seating.
not quite a dive bar, but has that comfortable feeling that lends itself well to just sitting and hanging out.
would avoid the karaoke nights, but beyond that you can't hate too much on a place with the nickname of the "SQUIRREL CAGE."
The boyfriend and I came here on a Friday night around 9-ish, after getting out of a movie around the corner. I have only been in Pittsburgh for a few weeks, so I thought it was a good opportunity to try a new place out.
When we walked in we went straight to the bar and was greeted by the bartender almost immediately. Â In total we had 5 drinks: 2 red wines, 1 Jack & Coke, & 2 Draft beers and the total was $18. I thought that was a totally reasonable price compared to Atlanta (where I moved from). Â I also looked at the menu and the prices were super cheap.
We will definitely be back!
Ahh, the Squirrel Cage. Many a shameful evening has started here. This used to be my neighborhood bar and thus I have some ingrained loyalty...but beyond that the drinks are cheap, the bartenders are friendly, and it kind of has that Cheers feeling (everyone knows your name). If you want anonymity and live in the Squirrel Hill area, don't come here. You will run into everyone and their mother and its not a place for a quiet drink. The guy at the next bar-stool will talk to you or the table next to you will invite you to join them on a Ritters trip. Not much of a pick-up bar (thankfully) but just a really friendly place. Squirrel Cage is definitely not for the snobby or standoffish, but if you want to meet some locals and are up for joining strangers on an adventure, head over and grab a seat at the bar.
Review Source:I've been here twice now. The first time was on a Friday night for some drinking time. It was pretty fun...cheap drinks...Although I hated our server. My friends go there frequently and say that she's always awful. I LOVE that you can smoke in here. It's a big place too so the smoke never gets unbearable.
I went again a couple days ago INCREDIBLY hung over for lunch. It dun me good. Started off with the spinach and artichoke dip which was really good. Then I got the meatball sandwich which was just eh...The meatballs were a little overcooked. The fries weren't that great, super chewy.
There was a great vegetarian selection and my friend said his veggie burger was awesome.
Everyone enjoyed their food and it was super duper cheap.
Love Bill the bartender - he was awarded "Best Bartender in Pittsburgh" by the City Paper readers a couple years ago and lives up to the reputation. Meet him twice and he knows your name and what you like. The "Squirrel Cage" has a fabulous beer selection full of micro brews and imports and a great jukebox with infinite possibilities.
The only problem I have is that when school is in session it gets super crowded all the time so go early and grab a bite to eat. Large portions, good food, and great prices, you can't ask for much more.
Oddly enough, this place has the best burgers in town. The wait staff and bartenders are excellent and the beer selection is great. One of my favorite bars in Pittsburgh hands down. Get there early enough to grab a seat. Â It can get unbearably smoky later in the evening, but that can be lessened by grabbing a seat near the front.
Review Source:Excellent atmosphere...albeit a bit crowded. Â however, that's merely a testament to the bar's reputation. Â i used to frequent the squirrel cage in the 90's a bit, so stopping in to wet my whistle a couple months ago brought back fond memories of gin and tonic (many, many of them), and a killer juke box (yeah, that's right san francisco i said JUKE BOX).
long live the cage. Â i plan to stop in whenever i visit the 'burgh.
My grad school advisor recently warned me that I should stay away from this place. So when one of his students suggested that I check it out with him at 1AM, my answer was quick and predictable. :)
When we got there, the place had a very nice energy for 1AM. Like someone else said - divey, but not divey in the "I hope that guy doesn't come over here" way. No, more divey in the "Hey, this waitress actually seems kind of cool without being a hipster douche" way. (Yes, I know that's her job, but it's nice to see people doing their job well.)
We came there to have one drink, but wound up having more - and ordering more than you expected is nearly always a good sign. We had something that billed itself as "The Official State Beer of China", which tasted suspiciously like apple juice but at $2 a bottle left us with no complaints. All in all, I approve. It seemed they had very few drinks on tap - so I'll hold off on the the fifth star until I check out their full fridge selection and/or try their food - but for now, it seems like a nice "standby" for a weekday drink.
What an awesome neighborhood joint. As an out of towner I was lucky to get taken here! No frills food, drinks and company. Great jukebox with a wide selection and lovely waitresses that don't ask if you want another drink...they ask if you want another pitcher.
It's set on the main strip in the neighborhood and has a great feel. Even my first time here I felt super comfortable, nice dive bar feel without being super...divey.
Make sure and tag the chalkboard in the womens bathroom, much more civilized than a sharpie!
A pretty big beer selection for guys plus a lot of fruity liquors for girls, a no-frills food menu that includes pretty decent fries, and zero pretentiousness means that this is a fair to good place to catch up with friends. Â The smoke gets annoying after a while, which is really my only gripe. Â But other than that - A-OK.
Review Source:Good bar burgers and very friendly service. Guy at the bar is really good at remembering who you are making this place have a very comfortable hangout atmosphere. Salads are just kind of okay...but it is a smallish and not so expensive bar so that's to be expected. Good selection of beer. Sports games are often on when I've been. The place has a very Pittsburgh "feel". Sometimes seating gets crowded.
Review Source:I love the Cage! Â I didn't go there nearly enough in my Pgh. heyday, but I got a visit in every couple of weeks. Â The grilled cheese sandwich is killer.
Last time I checked, the jukebox was pretty great, too. Â A fun place to crowd into a booth with your friends and b.s. for a while.
What's not to like about the Squirrel Cage? Â It's not a theme bar, you'll not find any cheesy decor or anything fancy that matter. Â It's simply a great neighborhood place. Â As other posters say, it's a place to have good, cheap, greasy food and a beer (okay, so I'm primarily a non-drinker). Â It's a great place to people watch too because here you see people as they really are. Â They come here and they act like themselves and aren't putting on an act like at some lame club.
Review Source:The Cage rules. I'll agree with Zoe P 100% -- screw the cheesy themed clubs and bars, and get down to it at the Cage. The only "frills" it has is an online jukebox and some video poker that looks like it's been there since the 80s.
The food is greasy and cheap and fabulous with a beer. Prices are great on pitchers, and the selection is not too bad. Weeknights are actually better here -- on weekends you better get in and get a table early if you want to sit.
Almost perfect. If you live in Squirrel Hill, there's no excuse for drinking and driving. This bar is easy to walk to, and it's on a great bus-line too.
Squirrel Hill may not have a raging bar scene, but it has the Cage and what more do want, really? Some stupid themed lounge? Brightly colored cocktails? Overpriced bar food that is pretending to be some sort of cuisine? If so, you know where to find them. If not, try the Squirrel Cage.
It's the kind of place where, depending on the day of the week and the time of evening, you can show up with a pack of cards and a group of friends and chill. Â Or you can come a little later and enjoy a slightly louder, more crowded atmosphere.
The beers are good, and cheap. The food is cheap. Period. On second thought, an order of lousy onion rings never hurt anyone. But "Cafe" is maybe a misnomer.
It'd be nice if Uncle Sam's stayed open later and you could bring your sandwich and/or fries here. How brilliant would that be for (oh, rare pleasure!) late night eats in Squirrel Hill?
Affectionatly referred to as 'the squirrel cage', the squirrel hill cafe rules. It's got a relaxed atmosphere, cheap food, cheap beer, and decent surroundings. The crowd is often odd, with some random creepy people at the bar, often gatherings of older folks at the early side of the evening, and as it gets late lots of alternative college-aged kids roll on in. It's good times. Have a few pitchers, stumble home and you'll be back at the squirrel cage.
Review Source:
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