Gullifty’s Restaurant

Great food and delicious desserts, all reasonably priced, excellent service — I was surprised and saddened to read that Gullifty’s is closing. I have been coming here with friends since my teens, namely for the ten-​pound apple pie (and waffle fries!), and have years of wonderful memories. Even after I moved, Gullifty’s remained one of those places I make sure to visit when I’m home. It will be missed!

Gullifty’s closed yesterday to make room for an expanding non-​profit organization…
I’ve been reading and hearing that Gullifty’s was middle-​of the pack, but the last time Kay and I went, the food and service were both sterling. I’m sad and surprised over this closure as I’ve been with all the others recently, but at least in this case gentrification wasn’t to blame. Reading between the lines, I’m guessing the owners simply want to retire after having been in business for over 30 years.

***GULLIFTY’S WILL BE CLOSING FOREVER THIS COMING THURSDAY AUGUST 30, 2013.****
With this being said, Gullifty’s is, sadly, pretty great. I’m wondering why the reviews are so all over the place, but I had a great experience. The service was stretched pretty thin, but the prices were reasonable. I am still very full and very happy, and I ate lunch 8 hours ago.
Gullifty’s can accommodate groups of any size, and they have many tables geared to accommodate groups of ten and more, plus some booths and tables.
Free parking in the lot in the back of Sundays!
Fried Mozzarella: These are actually deep fried balls of mozzarella. It’s standard mozzarella cheese, with a nice light breading. The highlight is the basil and diced tomato sauce. It is so delicious and spiced just right.
Breakfast Quesadilla ($ 7): It’s a giant grilled breakfast quesadilla. Stuffed with cheese, egg, and bacon it’s quite delicious. It comes with a chip bowl full of nice spicy salsa, lettuce, and sour cream. It was also served with a fresh side of fruit.
Crusty Reuben: It’s a deep fried reuben, and a deep fried pickle. It’s strange but delicious. Very rich.
Chocolate Impedance Cake ($ 5): Coffee and chocolate mousse in a cake. SO RICH. But so good. Clearly made on site.
Triple Layer Chocolate Cake: The biggest size of cake ever. Also really rich. Chocolate cake and fudge layers with giant chocolate chips.
If Gullifty’s wasn’t closing in four days, I would be back. You should definitely stop in before they do close because the food is great and reasonably priced. The place was mostly clean, though the bathrooms will need to be updated by whoever comes into this building next.

Why can’t Gullifty’s be closer to me?
Seriously, trekking out to Squirrel Hill from the South Hills and then struggling to find parking means that when I think about eating out, Gullifty’s is not the first place I try to go to.
But there’s a reason I find it in me to make the trek sometimes: when I do eat here I am never disappointed. Gullifty’s has one of the most varied menus in the city, as well as an amazing selection of desserts — there’s a reason people keep voting them in as some of the best local dessert, period. I admittedly never have room for dessert here because I always have to order a giant bowl of their amazing French onion soup in addition to a full meal. Thankfully, taking dessert home for later is an option, because for me that option is a necessity!
I’ve been here for breakfast, their Sunday brunch, lunch and dinner and not once have I been disappointed. This is one of those places I have to think carefully about what I want because EVERYTHING is so good! The pasta, the pizza, the salad, their omelets, their sandwiches, that soup I mentioned already… oh my Lord, I’m drooling.
What else can I say? Love the atmosphere, love the décor, and love the great service I always experience here. When can I go back? It won’t be soon enough!

Located out of the heart of the tourist area of Pittsburgh. There is nothing particularly special or wrong with this place. It has an old cafeteria vibe to it. There are plenty of things to choose from on the menu. None stood out. It is also a place where locals get their desserts. Once again it wasn’t anything spectacular. It is a place to bring a large family or a dinner party since there is a lot of room here and a giant projection TV.

I had never heard of this place until a friend suggest we go there for a dessert one night. I can’t really speak for the food here because all we had was some late night drinks and desserts. The desserts here are top notch. They taste homemade and they have something for everyone.
The drinks were just OK. We had some mixed drinks and some beers and the selection was just OK and the mixed drinks really weren’t anything to write home about.
The décor was a little retro with an unusual mix of more modern décor. The tables and chairs were a little cheap and almost dive bar in quality which was a little odd.
Over all the place is known for it’s desserts and they deliver. Give them a go. I would give them another chance for sure.

Low quality food! and as far as drinks, I ordered Ecstasy martini and I couldn’t even drink it. It tasted really weird and I had to send it back. One good point though was they took that out of my bill.

Gullifty’s is a very cute local establishment, with all sorts of specials and gimmicks that change from day to day. On nights when the Penguins are playing, for example, they usually have cheap wings and Yuengs. The fully-​stocked bar is great for meeting up with a friend, or you can go to the much larger (and better-​lit) restaurant area with larger parties.
I wouldn’t say the food is amazing, but it’s pretty decent, and they have such a varied menu that everyone is sure to find something they like. The same thing goes for their desserts – pretty good, but the variety is the main attraction. I do like the drinks, though! The bartender is always accommodating, and will try to make whatever it is you have a fancy for (even if that’s a spiked milkshake).

Maybe it was the fact that I got the burger well done but it was dry. The sweet potato fries were great, however. I was there with a large party, about 15 of us from a meetup I attend. The service was great, I didn’t have a problem with it. I hear their desserts are world class. Next time I visit I will give that a go and hopefully rereview.

The cookie was a really good dessert

We only went for dessert and coffee, but were pleasantly surprised. Diner coffee and HUGE plates of sugary goodness — a great way to end any night.

Dessert and coffee, repeat after me, dessert and coffee.
I have always liked Gullifty’s much like I like an old pair of shoes. They’re comfortable and my friends don’t mind them, but I’d never wear them on a first date or to a job interview. Gullifty’s is the old pair of sneakers of the Pittsburgh dining scene, it’s comfortable almost cafeteria like with a want to be a jazz bar. You look around and wonder if it’s 1988 or 2013. The booths have that glossy cozy yet weird feel and décor is old, but not old enough to be hip. The wait staff is hit and miss and sometimes makes me think I am in Eat’n Park…
Allow me though to recant my latest visit. My wife and I wanted dessert and a cocktail for our anniversary. So we chose the old pair of sneakers. We both love the desserts here and hate making desserts at home. I ordered the apple cake with ice cream walnuts, caramel, and whipped cream. It was very very good. The cake was moist and had good spicy flavor to compliment the sweet caramel and ice cream. The candied walnuts gave it texture and a much need bite. I will admit I didn’t allow my wife to share it much… She got the cookie parfait which is served warm out of the oven with ice cream, bananas, chocolate syrup, and of course whipped cream. The warm cookie is amazing and melts the ice cream making a delicious soupy mess on the hot iron plate. Our cocktails though seemed to made by a fraternity brother and not a bar tender. We both got old fashioned style martini’s. It tasted like I was drinking straight Jack Daniel’s. Not a bad thing, but after downing my own and then 90% of my wife’s she had to drive me home. Next time, I’ll stick with the coffee and let an actual bartender make me a real old fashioned.
It’s been sometime since I’ve eaten actual food here and I don’t remember it being anything to speak of, so repeat after me.
Dessert and Coffee.

Dining at Gullifty’s, I could really tell this restaurant has been open for years bc apparently the décor has never been updated.
You can’t judge a restaurant based on décor, and I can decorate either – I think navy and black look good together so what do I know? Know this– if you are trying to impress your date, take her elsewhere unless you are taking her to Gullifty’s for dinner.
Their food is just ok, with the exception of the sundried tuna steak sandwich which smelled and tasted like bad breath. I think this was from the mixture of the sundried tomatoes and garlic mayo aioli sauce, the food wasn’t spoiled or anything, it just smelled like it.
The other exception — that REUBEN! I freaking love reubens and they have a great one! Just know it’s huge and you’re going to hate yourself if you eat the whole thing.
In fact, the portion sizes here are ridiculous. For me that’s not a selling point, its a waste of food.
The staff could not be any nicer. The service is fantastic. Everything about this place is nice – the pricing, the location, the staff, the beer selection – everything except the food and the décor.
The desserts are fantastic and I believe they are the reason Gullifty’s has remained open. If they could get an interior decorator and a good chef, maybe a refreshed menu – this place would be packed.
As it is, it’s just meh. I’ll probably dine there again bc of the location and I’ll probably have another meh, not great but not awful experience.
It’s just… OK.

Darren has me wanting to watch Seinfeld now. :) I liked this place too for the most part. The pulled pork nachos and the desserts (peanut butter meltaway and 5^th dimension cake) are all amazing. My fish and chips were pretty good too. I loved the fries, but the only thing the fish was missing was a little salt. The server was really nice and efficient. I don’t know why people are bagging on that or the décor, which I found tasteful. It wasn’t dirty in the least either.
Gullifty’s cheered me up after having had to give away our pit bulls at the Animal Rescue League earlier that day. It was a bad week.

I’ve been to Gullifty’s only for one reason, to pick up their deserts! I can’t comment on the dining experiance, but their deserts are great for when you want to relax at home with something sweet. I highly recommend their strawberry pie, if there is any left. (They’ve run out several times when I’ve been there. It is popular!)

I’ll get the bad stuff out of the way: this place smells. Let me make that clear, I am not using smells at a metaphor, the place smells old and moldy. It’s a pity because in a picture the inside wouldn’t be bad. The food is ok but it came on ginormous plates and it seemed they were really keen on adding cheese on everything.

Food=2.5 stars
Desserts=5 stars
Skip the main course and go right to the happy ending.

I’ve been to Gullifty’s many times. And I’m always torn about it. The desserts, yes, are out of this world and even if I go to get a meal and I’m full, I will still leave with a piece of their 5^th Dimension Cake. But the food is hit or miss.
I’ve never been disappointed by their desserts. And if I were to judge Gullifty’s just on the sweets, it would easily be 4 or 5 stars. But I’ve had food that’s been mediocre (the chicken tenders, some of the pasta selections) and food that’s been pretty good (the Gullifty’s Reuben). One plus in my book: waffle fries. I think part of my problem with their food menu is that it just seems all over the place: salads, Mexican, pasta, sandwiches… it lacks focus which could be why no items are real stand outs.
Given a choice, I’d say hit up one of the many other better restaurant selections on Murray or Forbes Avenue for dinner… but then head to Gullifty’s for some of the best desserts in town.

I am astonished at all the 4 and 5 star reviews.
This place is in no way, shape or form extraordinary. In fact I would go so far as to say it’s extraordinary how un-​extraordinary it is.
I’m not sure if this is a Pittsburgh thing or just that I have gotten lucky since I’ve moved here but the service was HORRENDOUS. I have never met anyone who cared less about his job than our server. Everything a server could have done wrong/​poorly he did.
The food was greasy and unremarkable. The portions were unreasonably large. No human should eat that much food in one sitting. I had the pierogies. It was a yawn on a plate. I know this is a neighborhood comfort food place, but I would have preferred eating at a Denny’s than here.
Some would say that I did not have the full experience since I did not have any of the deserts, but there is no desert good enough that would make me want to go back.

The food is so so but, the desserts are outstanding especially the turtle cheesecake. I would rather eat at The Cheesecake Factory. Personally I don’t see what the be deal about this place is.