Nick's on Hilltop brings flavor and community to Mt. Oliver
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Nick's on Hilltop's aloha burger. Photo: Alexis Johnson/Axios
A new Black- and woman-owned restaurant in Mt. Oliver hopes to not only serve up tasty, creative menu items but serve its community as well.
Why it matters: Nick's on Hilltop opened its doors on May 2 and has already collaborated with locally owned breweries and community groups to ensure its presence on Brownsville Road makes an impact.
What they're saying: Megan Varrenti told Axios she and her co-owners Tom Hazlip and Dwayne Reaves worked together as managers for Primanti Bros. The crew opened the McIntyre Square location and had success but wanted to leave the corporate world and start their own business, hoping to give back to the city in their own way.
- Hazlip and Reaves, both McKees Rocks natives, and Varrenti, of the South Side, decided to source all of their ingredients locally. They also hope to serve 90% locally owned beers in their upstairs bar room.
- Nick's has also partnered with the nonprofit Hilltop Alliance and Mt. Oliver Borough to start a program to feed families in need.
- Varrenti, whose late father is the namesake of the restaurant, came up with the idea to have the books stacked along the walls of the restaurant serve as a free library.
- "Pittsburgh is a city we love, and we want to build something that can give back to the city," she said.
The vibe: The two-story space is bright and open, with the look and feel of a coffee shop.
- The light wooden decor sits below family photos along the walls that tell the stories of the owners.
- The upstairs bar doubles as an event space that can be rented out.
Dig in: We tried the fried pickle chips and loaded chicken pepper fries, followed by the aloha burger and classic wings.
- The aloha burger was juicy and flavorful, stacked with bacon and grilled pineapple.
- The wings were hot and crispy, and went perfectly with the house-made troomy sauce.
If you go: Nick's on Hilltop is open seven days a week from 11am–11pm.
📍 225 Brownsville Road