Jan 22, 2025 - Food and Drink

Pittsburgh gets 3 James Beard semifinalists

Ryan Deto

Fet-fisk restaurant in Pittsburgh's Bloomfield neighborhood — Fet-Fisk has been named a Best New Restaurant semifinalist by the James Beard Foundation. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios

Three Pittsburgh restaurants were named semifinalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards on Wednesday.

Why it matters: The recognition from the James Beard Foundation, which gives one of the most prestigious awards in the restaurant industry, solidifies the Steel City's place in the national food scene.

Driving the news: Fet-Fisk made the national Best New Restaurant list.

The Scandinavian restaurant in Bloomfield has become the hottest restaurant in town, specializing in seafood dishes inspired by Nordic culture.

State of play: Apteka chefs Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski were named Best Chef semifinalists in the Mid-Atlantic region for their vegan Eastern European joint in Bloomfield. Lasky and Skowronski were also nominees in 2023.

Chengdu Gourmet chef Wei Zhu is also a Best Chef semifinalist in the Mid-Atlantic region for his work at the longtime Chinese staple in Squirrel Hill. Zhu was also a semifinalist in 2020.

The bottom line: Beyond public recognition, these restaurants have some of the best food in town.

What's next: Nominees will be announced in April, and winners will be announced in mid-June.

Add Axios on Google

Pittsburgh gets 3 James Beard semifinalists

More Pittsburgh stories