The Map Room

The Map RoomThe Map Room
The Map RoomThe Map Room
Bar, Eatery

1126 S Braddock Ave
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15218-1238
United States

(412) 371-1955 | map
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.4
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
11
pDev:
11.76%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by allboutbierge:
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Reviewed by allboutbierge from Austria

2.98/5  rDev -12.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 2.5 | service: 4 | selection: 2.5
The Map Room has become a favorite for those who would like to stay out longer, after D's closes and don't want to go to Murphy's. Recently, they added 3-4 high top tables outside for smoking on the side walkway which gives it a Euro feel. The outside tables are a great addition to the otherwise empty, quiet, trying hard to be down to earth atmosphere but yet remaining a bit pretentious feel one gets when entering the actual establishment.

No tv's anywhere and music is played at a minimal volume. Aside from those would step in after D's, the regulars seem to be men professional men in their 40's who are trying to salvage their youth while hiding from their wives.

Their tap line is largely dedicated to east end beers, by which I have yet to be impressed. Aside from that, they offer a few other respectable choices in bottles. Their selection, if they consider themselves a beer bar, which I dont think they do, is rather skimpy. I think the Map Room fashions itself more as the neighborhood pub. Next door to D's, they can't compete for beer geeks. But with 25 single malt scotches, they have built a niche for themselves in the Regent Square.

Prices, due to the neighborhood, are a tad high.
Sep 10, 2009
More User Ratings:
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Reviewed by Fezfreak from Pennsylvania

2.84/5  rDev -16.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 2.75 | service: 2.25 | selection: 3 | food: 3
When moving to the area in 2012, thank God I didn't choose to live in Regent Square and get stuck having to go here when bored with D's 6 Pax & Dogz. The first time my wife and I dined here was in 2011 and it was excellent. A woman who appeared to be the owner waited on us and we thought to ourselves "hey."

But with each return visit this same woman became less and less friendly, and the food became...well...less good! It started to feel like we were bothering them so we stopped going and will NEVER return.

The only beer I was ever interested in drinking there was East End Big Hop (local) and it is really the only one I ever paid attention to because I love IPA and that brand particularly.
Jan 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by jasonmmccormick from Pennsylvania

Nov 23, 2013
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Reviewed by sonicdescent from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +17.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Atmosphere is a nice change of pace from the sweaty dank (but loveable) neighbor, D's Six Packs. Clean, sort of an upscale feel, and very quiet, in fact I was alone in there at about 4:30 on a Friday.

Quality: Tap lines from the beers I sampled were pristine, although it appears they use a catch all for glassware.

Service: While the bartender didn't appear to know the beer very well she was easily the most friendly and affable bartender I have ever run into. Really, it takes a lot to get me to even mention a bartender when reviewing a place, but she made being friendly seem effortless.

Selection is all about quality over quantity, while not nearly matching up to D's massive selection, their taps consisted of 4-5 macros and 4-5 of my homer favorite, East End. Their beers I want to beers I don't ratio was much better than most.

Food, while I didn't try enough to rate, seemed good. I had a small piece of steak and it was excellent.

Each East End pint was about 5.50, which isn't terrible, and now that I think about it, probably rather reasonable for the area. Note that my first impression was a bit pricey, but further thought lowered this one to the next tier down.
Aug 02, 2009
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Reviewed by JamesS from Indiana

3.68/5  rDev +8.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
The Map Room was nice, although I was really expecting more or bigger maps. Instead, there were a few prints here and there, some of them even general mineral graphs of the Pittsburgh area.

The staff was prompt and polite, I don't think my buddy and I waited on anything.

Decent selection of beer. You'll love this place if you love East End beers, but other than those and a few others (Belhaven!), that's it on tap. They do have a dozen or two bottles to choose from, too.

Tried the wings with Black Strap Stout BBQ. Awesome! The BBQ sauce was great with a nice smoky/darkness coming from East End's stout addition.

A good place to sit back and enjoy a quiet beer, but not the best place to go for a larger selection of beer or food.
May 20, 2009
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Reviewed by OneDropSoup from Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Oh, the Map Room -- the hard luck story of Regent Square. A good bar & restaurant with the misfortune of being smack next to one of the top beer spots in southwestern PA.

The atmosphere's good, sort of semi-hardwood pub vibe. Cozy, nicely lit, intimate. I've always been happy with the food -- the asparagus risotto is a fave of mine, & the bread pudding definitely stands out in my memory. The service is a little unpredictable: a lot of times the only server is the proprietor Margie, & maybe it's because of this that she sometimes seems a little overwhelmed & service can seem a tad slow. On the other hand I was at a birthday dinner for a friend, where two dozen people showed up without prior notice & the server handled us all with aplomb.

The selection is on the meager side, EXCEPT for the fact that they are practically a brewpub for East End Brewing -- there are always a minimum of three taps devoted to EEB offerings, & I think I've seen up to six or seven at a time. I noticed a few years ago that Map Room's unnamed neighbors stopped carrying East End, & have wondered if the Map Room had some kind of special exclusive deal with EEB in this neighborhood. This is definitely a plus & one thing that distinguishes this decent but the otherwise small & unassuming Map Room.
Feb 10, 2009
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Reviewed by TurdFurgison from Ohio

3.8/5  rDev +11.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
I stopped here to get some East End beer on tap, based on advice the East End brewer gave a friend. As promised, the Map room had about 6-7 taps dedicated to East End, including one on cask. There were also maybe 3 other beers on tap, not as good as East End.

The "map" in the name does not affiliate this place with the Chicago legend. It must actually refer to the map of the Shire (from Lord of the Rings) on the wall. The place seats maybe 90 people.

There was some bottled East End available too (Ugly America Tripel IPA). And growlers were very reasonable ($3 for the jug and $12 to fill). East End Big Hop (IPA) and Blackstrap (Russian Imperial Stout) were excellent, both should not be missed if you come here.
Jun 16, 2007
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Reviewed by jcdiflorio from West Virginia

3.4/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 4 | selection: 3
I stopped in with WV beer geek after leaving D's next door.The place was empty it just opened. The atmosphere was remincent a an irish stlye pub. It had a bit of a woody look,very clean and inviting.It had a nice cozy look to it like a nice neighood bar feel.
There was 7 taps,5 of them East End Brewing and Yenguling and Guiness. There was also hand pumped cask beer it was East End Brewing Blackstrap Stout it was awesome.The bottle selection was ok,some Irish beers ,a couple of imports.
The beer here was about East End Brewing,It was like an East End Brewing brew pub.
They have growlers or bring you own growler,but be sure to bring home some East End beer. It's one of the best beers in the Burgh.

I did not get to eat here this time.WV beergeek had the Gazpacho.Said it was real good.I'll have to grab a bite my next visit.
The menu consisted of varied salads,burgers,various sandwiches,chicken,portobella,steak and pasta.
Plus a nice selection of appitiezers.

This place would be a great neighborhood bar,wish I had a place like this close to home.
Oct 08, 2006
Photo of WVbeergeek
Reviewed by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

3.73/5  rDev +9.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
I have stopped in numerous times now to this little pub/restaurant next to D's...did I mention when I have stopped in it has been to either take a leak or drink an East End brew on draft...well that's the case. I have sat here with friends but the atmosphere is slacking a bit...nice folks tending bar no complaints there just a really quite boring joint good thing they support Scotty boy...cause this is the for sure place to grab a limited East End draft along with growlers with East End labels. I have never eaten here nor do I plan to maybe I'll go and chill here for a couple pints of an East End Session Ale and play some Trivial Pursuit until I crack...well, I think the beer would get me through it.

*Update*
I stand by my original review, however after stopping in multiple times I found this place to be quite homegrown...from the beer (East End) to the food (herbs grown outback). For those of us who like to think local and drink local this is a comfortable neighborhood bar with a relaxed atmosphere. No fireworks compared to the beer orgasm that the next door D's can stimulate. If you want to avoid the busy feel D's provides this is a nice option to grab East End seasonals and I can truly say this place was a pioneer in carrying the East End brews and having people drink them. Drafts on the last visit were East End Witte, Big Hop, Big Hop Harvest, Black Strap, Pedal Pale Ale, Yuengling, Guinness, and a Black Strap cask. I really enjoyed our afternoon rondevous with Margie, who really knew how to make us feel like regulars in her bar. This trip I tasted some gazpacho and I thoroughly enjoyed a refreshingly flavorful cold soup. Might not be "the" Map Room in Chicago, but nonetheless it's worth a stop when in the area.
Aug 15, 2006
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Reviewed by santoslhalper from Pennsylvania

2.73/5  rDev -19.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3 | service: 2 | selection: 2.5 | food: 4
This is a tiny little joint right next to D's. We were going to get some Chicago Dogs and D's but it was too busy, and we decided to hit this place up. You walk in and there's about 10 seats at the bar, and seating for about 20 people. The place kinda has a sterile feel to it, kinda boring. The service was sub-par, and I feel like the waitress/hostess wasn't even paying attention to us, simply because we were younger than most people there. That doesn't seem fair. As far as the beer goes, the only craft beers they have are 4 from East End, and the rest (2) are your regular beers. It's nice that they have the East End beers, but it's no the focus of the place. And alas, the food was quite tasty. Very well prepared, large portions, and great appearence.
Sep 11, 2005
Photo of JackTheRipper
Reviewed by JackTheRipper from Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -5.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3
Located right next door to D's in Swissvale.
The atmosphere is ok. It's a bit bigger than D's but still on the small side. About a dozen or so seats at the bar with an area with just table to dine at. Neat maps all over the place, hence the name I guess. The problem I had with this place is the bathroom. Very clean and well maintained, but too small. Yeah, that's important to me. Quality was good. Very clean glasses, comfy bar to rest your arms on while having a pint. Beer tasted very fresh. The service was ok. The staff (two) was friendly and seemed to encourage drinking the locals they had on tap. This place seems to be a showroom for East End Brewing products, which is a good thing. Couldn't get more local without brewing on site. The selection: Six taps, three of which had East End beers, and some "pays the bills" beer. Guinness on tap, which pales in comparison to the Black Strap Stout. There was a small selection of micro bottles, but I didn't delve into them. This was the last stop of a pub crawl so I didn't have much left in me to drive home. Gotta stop back and have the East End Witte, though. The food sounded great, the special tonight was a crab stuffed portobella mushroom dish, didn't try it because crabs are deadly poison to me due to an allergy. Price seemed about in line with the area. They also had a few East End t-shirts for sale. Like I said, this place is an East End hot spot, but considering how good their beer is, I'm really ok with it.
Worth a stop for sure, but if you are skittish, don't sit at the end of the bar, the dartboard is really close.
Jun 19, 2005
The Map Room in Pittsburgh, PA
Place rating: 3.4 out of 5 with 11 ratings