Ritual House opens in Downtown Pittsburgh's Union Trust Building
Rituals mark special moments in life that are worth celebrating — a birthday or anniversary dinner, retirement, a new baby, a business deal.
Being able to gather for such happy times for a drink or meal in a place that feels like home is the inspiration behind the name of the newest restaurant in Downtown Pittsburgh – Ritual House.
“We definitely thought about the name,” Michelle Kirsop said at a media event on Friday. “It’s about savoring life’s rituals, whatever your life’s rituals are. When you dine here we want to take you somewhere else, while still giving you an experience with a Pittsburgh connection. We want you to feel at home.”
Kirsop is joined in ownership by husband (and chef) Ricky, and friends Herky and Lisa Pollock. The restaurant opened on Sunday.
Located inside the former Union Standard establishment, which closed during the pandemic at the historic Union Trust Building built by Henry Clay Frick in 1915-16, the restaurant spans three levels. The décor includes custom-made furniture from Turkey, where each piece of fabric was hand selected.
Herky Pollock said it took about 18 months to prepare the space — supply chain issues caused delays. The location is prime because it’s close to several hotels, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, and not far from sports venues and the Cultural District. It also complements many other quality dining options in the area, he said, adding with some employees returning to the office they will have another option to grab lunch, dinner or a drink.
Tourism is also coming back, Pollock said.
“It’s been a labor of love,” said Pollock, who refers to the cuisine as “elevated American with a global feel.” “This building is iconic. There is nothing else like this space in Pittsburgh.”
Michelle Kirsop said it was important to pay attention to every detail when designing the restaurant and the menu. The goal was to entice all of the senses while creating a welcoming atmosphere, she said.
That starts with the visual scene when you enter. At one entrance there is a secret garden bursting with wisteria and comfy chairs hanging from the ceiling, created by artist Mia Tarducci, whose large colorful painting is displayed on a back wall.
Owners also collaborated with the design team of Tracy Delisio and Taylor Schaffron from Next Architecture and Bill Krowinski of Bootstrap Design, both local companies.
Through the open kitchen design, guests will see several Pittsburgh-inspired menu items being prepared.
“These Pittsburgh favorites will be re-imagined,” Michelle Kirsop said.
A few of the dishes might be familiar to diners as they are from Coast & Main Seafood & Chophouse in Monroeville, which the couples also own. There are plans for a second location of Coast & Main coming to East Liberty.
Desserts will be homemade, including the seven layer birthday cake.
The space currently seats 170. An addition of a private dining room is in the works.
At the full-service bar, hand crafted, hand shaken cocktails using all with fresh ingredients are served. The “Pittsburgh shines again” cocktail has Tito’s vodka, muddled grapes, fresh basil, fresh lemon and ginger ale. The “main ritual” features Jim Beam bourbon, fresh lemon and northwest berry syrup.
Drink and food ideas have come from places the couples have traveled. The endeavor is the couples’ “love letter to Pittsburgh” Ricky Kirsop said in a statement.
Executive chef Jeff Maag will lead the team.
The menu will feature salads such as a Waldorf chicken salad with bib lettuce, honey candied walnuts, plumped cranberries, honey lime crème fraiche, and candied frozen champagne grapes.
Entrees include the Turkey Devonshire on sourdough, roast turkey breast, beefsteak tomatoes, mornay sauce, and candied pepper bacon.
A chip chopped ham sandwich is topped with barbecue pineapple juice, Myers dark rum, brown sugar, and fried shallots.
Grilled lamb chops will be served with rosemary thyme honey and mint chimichurri and a double cut pork chop topped with cherry bacon relish. The Chilean sea bass has smoky bacon miso, stir fry vegetables and pickled cucumber.
The yellow fin tuna is seared and accompanied with poblano street corn, charred pepper cream and avocado. There is a lobster pot pie as well as grilled lamb chops and filet mignon.
The all-American burger is a double stacked burger with white American cheese, shredded lettuce and house made Thousand Island dressing. The chicken pot pie has homemade pastry dough. Pasta dishes include linguini and clams with white wine and lemon thyme butter and gnocchi with peas and roasted garlic cream.
Soups include deconstructed clam chowder, Coast & Main five onion gratin and tomato bisque.
The weekend brunch menu features items such as lemon meringue pancakes, cinnamon sugar French toast sticks and crème brulee waffles. Omelets will be served with breakfast potatoes and choice of toast.
“It’s a feast for the senses in every way,” Lisa Pollock said in a statement. “Through our travels, we kept being drawn to these lush, gorgeous and delicious places and knew we wanted to add something similar and special like this to our home town that offered the same experiences. It’s important to us to have a concept of this caliber in Pittsburgh that is locally owned and operated. Ritual House is a sophisticated funhouse.”
Ritual House is located at 524 William Penn Place, Downtown Pittsburgh. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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