The Review
In 1933, Primanti Brothers started feeding Pittsburgh truck drivers who couldn't be bothered to use separate plates for their coleslaw and fries. So they put it all on the sandwich: thick-cut Italian bread, your choice of meat, a mountain of hand-cut fries, vinegar-dressed coleslaw, tomatoes, and provolone. The whole thing is pressed together and arrives looking structurally implausible.
The signature sandwich is the kind of thing that sounds like a gimmick until you eat it. The warm fries against the cold slaw, the vinegar cutting through the rich meat — it works in a way that shouldn't make sense. The Italian bread holds together with surprising integrity.
The Strip District original location on 18th Street has the most character, with the old neon, the counter stools, and the sense that something genuinely Pittsburgh is happening. The chain has expanded significantly, and while the satellites are competent, they don't quite replicate the atmosphere of the original.
What to Order
Capicola and cheese if you want the classic deli meat version. Kielbasa if you want the most Pittsburgh experience possible. Order a Coke from the can.
Tips
The Strip District location opens at 11am; get there at 11:30 on a weekend and you'll wait. Cash or card both accepted. The portions are massive — one sandwich is lunch.
Our Rating
★★★★☆
Price Range
$