City Cast Pittsburgh logo
September 17, 2026

Pittsburgh Restaurant Empires, Explained

City Cast Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Restaurant Empires, Explained

00:00:00
View all City Cast Pittsburgh episodes

Did you know a ton of Pittsburgh's most influential dining spots are run by the same six restaurant groups? Some are massive, some are low-key, and some have quietly shaped the city’s food and beverage scene for decades. Host Megan Harris is with Post-Gazette dining critic and City Cast contributor Hal B. Klein to meet the people behind the well-known places — from the legacy of Eat’n Park and big Burrito to Richard DeShantz’s ever-evolving lineup, Independent Restaurant Group’s tiki brilliance, and the splashy new Opal and Legacy groups. We talk about how these restaurant groups work, why size can be both a blessing and a curse, and how chefs and restaurant staff carry ideas from one kitchen to the next. Plus, Titusz made the NYT’s 50 best restaurants list, the Gobblerito is turning 20, and we celebrate the highs and lows of Pittsburgh dining. 

👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893 or email pittsburgh@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram! 

💌 You can get more Pittsburgh news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Pittsburgh morning newsletter. 

🏡 Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members-only events, and more. Join the City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbors program!

🥁 Looking to advertise on City Cast Pittsburgh? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. 

Learn more about the sponsors of this Thursday, September 17th episode:

Carnegie Library

City Theatre

Visit Athens Ohio

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Pittsburgh

Stay connected to City Cast Pittsburgh and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
October 27

Pittsburgh’s Top 10 Restaurants & What Makes Them Great

What makes a restaurant one of Pittsburgh’s best? Is it the food, the service, the atmosphere or something harder to put your finger on?...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
October 26

Mallo Cup Lore, Hot Tamale Goss & More PA Candy Trivia

If you're planning to go trick-or-treating this weekend, a lot of your haul will probably be made right here in Pennsylvania. We have one...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
October 25

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Is Chicago More Prepared for Climate Change Than Every Other City? — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

How prepared is Pittsburgh to deal with the effects of climate change? In a recent report, Chicago was ranked as the most climate resilie...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
October 23

Garrity’s Slopaganda, Paid Leave Passes & How Pgh Humbled Emmanuel Macron

It’s official: Allegheny County council just passed a first of its kind paid parental leave policy. Host Megan Harris, executive producer...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
October 22

Runaway Pelicans, Aging Ambulances & Waterproof Warhol Art

It's been a big week for Pittsburgh: two local innovations landed on Time Magazine's Best Invention list and a pair of animals made a dra...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
October 21

Sports Bars & Specials for Steelers in Paris

The Steelers are heading to Paris to take on the New Orleans Saints this Sunday, but you don’t need to be in the City of Love (and tbh, y...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
October 20

Could Ozempic Treat Addiction? Plus, Cryptid Hunting & Poll Worker Tips

Could GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy help people struggling with addiction? Pittsburgh is about to find out. A new $13.3 million stu...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
October 19

Why Pittsburgh's at the Center of the Grocery Store War

For better or worse, Giant Eagle has long been the main grocery store in town — beloved for its sheetcakes, bemoaned for its high prices....

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
October 18

‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Salt Lakers are Adopting Storm Drains — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of Pittsburgh? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art
October 16

Exploding Tick Bombs, Expensive Office Conversions & How Spooky is Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh's slated to get a lot more housing, from new apartments in the Hill District to converted office buildings Downtown to a decom...

City Cast Pittsburgh podcast episode art