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Gooski's
Recent ratings and reviews.
Rated by wheezlelump from Michigan
5/5 rDev +25.3%
5/5 rDev +25.3%
one of america's finest drinking establishments
Oct 28, 2014Reviewed by RblWthACoz from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev +0.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
4/5 rDev +0.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Gooski's is the business. And, they have perogis. What is a perogi, you ask? If you have to ask, then you need to discover for yourself.
Selection here is pretty extensive. But really, you come to Gooski's for the atmosphere. And what kind of atmosphere is it? If the bathrooms at d.b.a in NYC bother you too much to come back, this may not be the place for you. Not that this place is as rank as that at all. But you may not be able to find a space in the bathroom that hasn't been scrawled on.
I'm always down to go to Gooski's.
Jan 03, 2013Selection here is pretty extensive. But really, you come to Gooski's for the atmosphere. And what kind of atmosphere is it? If the bathrooms at d.b.a in NYC bother you too much to come back, this may not be the place for you. Not that this place is as rank as that at all. But you may not be able to find a space in the bathroom that hasn't been scrawled on.
I'm always down to go to Gooski's.
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania
4.26/5 rDev +6.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
4.26/5 rDev +6.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Transcribed from notes dated T, 27 July 2010.
A recent PGH Magazine poll named this as one of the better faux-dive bars in the city. Wrong! This is the real deal with all of the gritty charm of Delilah's in Chicago.
The graffiti-ed front front door opened into a short vestibule, followed by another door which opened onto a series of vinyl-covered booth seats with tables. To the left of the door was a semi-circular seating area directly under three windows that provided the only natural light in the place. The "J"-shaped bar ran along the left-facing side of the space, fronted by swiveling red vinyl Captain's chairs. A two-door, ten-shelf cooler sat at either end of the back bar, filled mostly with bottles but also a few CANs. The bar held the bank of ten (10) CO2 and two (2) N2 taps. Aft of the booths, on the right-hand side, was the CD jukebox that once routinely garnered awards for having the best selection in the city, although with the advent of satellite jukeboxes, it is probably a moot point. An archway in the centerline led back to the entertainment area with a stage all of the way aft, along with a green-felt pool table and a pinball machine.
I had a bottle, a CAN and a draft of beer that afternoon as the bartender and I watched a Day/Dawn of the Dead marathon on a slow summer day.
Overall: This is an institution. NO way would it pass The Mom Test, but if you want vices like drinking and smoking, this is the place to indulge them. The beer selection is still pretty good and anyone should be able to find something that they will like. Just remember, "faux" is NOT an appropriate descriptor. Again, think Bukowski's in BOS or Delilah's in CHI for an idea of what to expect.
Dec 18, 2010A recent PGH Magazine poll named this as one of the better faux-dive bars in the city. Wrong! This is the real deal with all of the gritty charm of Delilah's in Chicago.
The graffiti-ed front front door opened into a short vestibule, followed by another door which opened onto a series of vinyl-covered booth seats with tables. To the left of the door was a semi-circular seating area directly under three windows that provided the only natural light in the place. The "J"-shaped bar ran along the left-facing side of the space, fronted by swiveling red vinyl Captain's chairs. A two-door, ten-shelf cooler sat at either end of the back bar, filled mostly with bottles but also a few CANs. The bar held the bank of ten (10) CO2 and two (2) N2 taps. Aft of the booths, on the right-hand side, was the CD jukebox that once routinely garnered awards for having the best selection in the city, although with the advent of satellite jukeboxes, it is probably a moot point. An archway in the centerline led back to the entertainment area with a stage all of the way aft, along with a green-felt pool table and a pinball machine.
I had a bottle, a CAN and a draft of beer that afternoon as the bartender and I watched a Day/Dawn of the Dead marathon on a slow summer day.
Overall: This is an institution. NO way would it pass The Mom Test, but if you want vices like drinking and smoking, this is the place to indulge them. The beer selection is still pretty good and anyone should be able to find something that they will like. Just remember, "faux" is NOT an appropriate descriptor. Again, think Bukowski's in BOS or Delilah's in CHI for an idea of what to expect.
Reviewed by OneDropSoup from Pennsylvania
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
4.1/5 rDev +2.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I'm not sure that Gooski's deserves a profile on BA, but I love this place so much I'm going to show it. It's hard to articulate my feelings.
Gooski's is possibly the greatest punk/dive hangout around. Dark, yes, smoky, yes, but the ambience is beyond compare. Random, miscellaneous decor, mostly music-related, all interesting. One time I ate there & didn't have cash, so they gave me a flashlight to use the ATM. This was during the day. The jukebox is incredible & well-maintained by the staff (The Monks? The Pogues? Jesus & Mary Chain? Halleluia!). The clientele are a very Pittsburgh mix of hipsters, old dudes, & random townies. On weekends they have great live music: walk in, pay $5, & you will see an awesome band. Played there myself a few times. I've never been disappointed with a visit to Gooski's, definitely take your friends. Friends visiting me from out of town have requested we go back next time.
The food is dead cheap: went there this weekend with a group of 7, got 7 meals for $36. Awesome. The beer selection is not fantastic, but will definitely not disappoint a beer geek. And it's pretty well priced, too. The key is pitchers, which run around $12.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that this is not a destination for beer -- if that's what you seek out of Gooski's, you're there for the wrong reason. First and foremost go for the atmosphere & laid back, eccentric yet unpretentious vibe. Take some friends, and expect to hang out & have a good time.
Nov 15, 2009Gooski's is possibly the greatest punk/dive hangout around. Dark, yes, smoky, yes, but the ambience is beyond compare. Random, miscellaneous decor, mostly music-related, all interesting. One time I ate there & didn't have cash, so they gave me a flashlight to use the ATM. This was during the day. The jukebox is incredible & well-maintained by the staff (The Monks? The Pogues? Jesus & Mary Chain? Halleluia!). The clientele are a very Pittsburgh mix of hipsters, old dudes, & random townies. On weekends they have great live music: walk in, pay $5, & you will see an awesome band. Played there myself a few times. I've never been disappointed with a visit to Gooski's, definitely take your friends. Friends visiting me from out of town have requested we go back next time.
The food is dead cheap: went there this weekend with a group of 7, got 7 meals for $36. Awesome. The beer selection is not fantastic, but will definitely not disappoint a beer geek. And it's pretty well priced, too. The key is pitchers, which run around $12.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that this is not a destination for beer -- if that's what you seek out of Gooski's, you're there for the wrong reason. First and foremost go for the atmosphere & laid back, eccentric yet unpretentious vibe. Take some friends, and expect to hang out & have a good time.
Reviewed by Beerkbeck from Pennsylvania
3.63/5 rDev -9%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
3.63/5 rDev -9%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
This is one of my favorite places to go. Its on Polish Hill, a stones throw from the bustle of Pittsburgh's strip district. Here the punk rockers and steel workers drink elbow to elbow. the menu consists of bar food and good Polish food if you want to get a real taste of Pittsburgh's polish hill area.
There are numerous beers on tap & excellent selection of bottled beers. Everything from Past Blue Ribbon to Chimay can be ordred up. As well as local beer from Penn Brewery & Iron City.
The bar area has booths and ample bar space. There is a back room with pool tables and a stage. A cover charge on live music Saturday nights generally runs $5, other nights the Juke box plays an eclectic collection suited to all most any taste.
Mar 24, 2005There are numerous beers on tap & excellent selection of bottled beers. Everything from Past Blue Ribbon to Chimay can be ordred up. As well as local beer from Penn Brewery & Iron City.
The bar area has booths and ample bar space. There is a back room with pool tables and a stage. A cover charge on live music Saturday nights generally runs $5, other nights the Juke box plays an eclectic collection suited to all most any taste.
Gooski's in Pittsburgh, PA
Place rating:
3.99 out of
5 with
9 ratings
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