Iron Born’s new location in the Strip combines the best of craveable carbs: their pizza that Pittsburgh has come to love, with new handmade pasta options.
Iron Born, lead by Pete Tolman, is known from its 2017 beginnings in restaurant incubator space Smallman Galley. This new Iron Born is different than what we saw in Smallman, or in their takeout location in Millvale that opened in 2018. The team’s new space has a full bar and an expanded menu with more pizza options, appetizers, handmade pastas, salads, desserts and hot sandwiches during lunch.
And yes for us Instagramers there is a fun pizza themed wall mural.
After enjoying a crisp glass of delicious Lambrusco (red, served chilled), I got to the matter of what drove me here at 6pm on a Friday, 2 weeks after their opening. I was there for the pasta.
Their pasta is created by well-known chef Ryan Peters. Both Peters and Tolman had concepts at Smallman Galley in 2017. I’ve been drooling over the Instagram posts for weeks and had to try it. I was not disappointed. The pasta lived up to the hype, and then some.
I ordered the fettuccine, bolognese, meatballs and ricotta with lemon oil & herbs. It was obviously freshly handmade pasta cooked to perfection, paired with a savory, hearty bolognese sauce. It was incredible! Full of flavor. I loved the addition of the ricotta. All pasta needs extra cheese in my opinion.
I’m headed back ASAP to try the alfredo & orecchiette next.