The Café at the Frick reopened Thursday — and with a new look.
After being closed since March 2020 because of the pandemic, the Point Breeze eatery at The Frick Pittsburgh has been transformed into what spokesman Greg Langel describes as “a café that will serve carryout lunch offerings such as soups, salads, and sandwiches, flatbread, wine, beer, cocktails, hot and cold tea, as well as La Prima espresso-based coffee drinks, pastries, and kid-friendly snacks.”
The Frick plans to expand days of operation as well as introduce an afternoon tea service and pop-up chef’s themed weekend dinners, Langel said.
There is additional indoor counter seating as well as places to sit outdoors.
“The nice outdoor weather in summer and fall are perfect opportunities to enjoy a bite to eat surrounded by the lush gardens,” Langel said. “The goal is to better serve our guests who often spend a few hours at the museum and who may want to grab a salad or sandwich or cup of coffee when they visit.” The café is open to the public without museum admission.
Renovations are underway to better serve more of our members and visitors at The Café at the Frick. Learn more about the team hard at work on The Café on our blog, Frick Stories! https://t.co/cfmCvrrRfR
— The Frick Pittsburgh (@TheFrickPgh) June 22, 2021
The revitalization of the space was led by Demeatria Boccella of Squirrel Hill. She collaborated with a team of local creative people to create a user-friendly experience. Japan native Tadao Arimoto designed new tabletops fashioned in black walnut that one needs to see in person to appreciate, Boccella said.
Such an undertaking needs a qualified architect and Jennifer Lucchino, co-founder of inter*ARCHITECTURE, filled that role perfectly, Boccella said.
Clinton Van Gemert of Printsburgh wallpapers created the décor for the hallway and restrooms. Brendan Wiant of Wiant Design Works handled the signage.
“What I love most is bringing creative people together from different backgrounds to create such a welcoming space,” said Boccella, who owns Demeatria Boccella Productions; she describes her work as a “curator of style, culture and design.”
Boccella credited the Frick’s executive director Elizabeth Barker, director of enterprise and visitor services Beth Muth, and café manager Paul Lauteri with sharing her vision for the space.
“I appreciate that the Frick wanted a diverse pool of talent to collaborate on the cafe,” Boccella said.
Earlier this week, the museum discontinued its required timed ticketing program, though guests can still purchase admission that way if they desire. The museum’s newest exhibit, “Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960,” which runs through Sept. 26, covers athletic pursuits from fencing to motorcycling and offers insight into the cultural, economic, and technical motives behind women’s athletic attire.
Other exhibits can be found here.
Masks are not required. But to serve museum patrons who wish to visit in a fully-masked environment, the Frick has added two hours a week in which masks are obligatory: Fridays and Saturdays from 9 to 10 a.m.
The cafe is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
Here is the menu.
