Eating Places at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh

It wasn't too long ago that your dining options at NFL or college football games were limited to hot dogs, nachos, soft pretzels and popcorn. With the advent of modern stadiums such as Pittsburgh's Heinz Field, teams have found new revenue streams by licensing concessions space to popular restaurant franchises. Heinz Field, home of the NFL's Steelers and college football's Pitt Panthers, tempts fans with iconic sandwiches, hot wings, barbecued ribs and fish sandwiches from some of the Steel City's most prominent dining establishments.

  1. Primanti Brothers

    • Primanti Brothers bills its sandwiches as "almost famous" in a bit of an understatement. The sandwiches, which toss the sides of fries and cole slaw on bread with meat and cheese, were meant to be a quick lunch for on-the-go truck drivers who patronized the company's original store in Pittsburgh's Strip District, which opened in 1933. Now it's hard to find a travel guide to Pittsburgh without mention of the signature sandwiches. The two Primanti Brothers stands in Heinz Field are on the far west and east ends of the lower level. The stadium locations offer a limited menu, which in 2010 included just the cheesesteak and cappicola sandwiches.

    Benkovitz Seafood

    • A few blocks from the original Primanti Brothers restaurant in the Strip District is Benkovitz Seafood, where lunchgoers squeeze along the weathered old counters to gobble down enormous fried cod sandwiches or fish and chips. On gamedays, those same plates are available at Benkovitz's Heinz Field location on the lower level, near the southern end of the Great Hall. As of 2010, the three-fillet fish sandwiches or fish-and-chips baskets could be had for less than $10.

    Quaker Steak and Lube

    • It's odd that a place whose name references steak has instead become a go-to place for chicken wings in Pittsburgh. But that's the case with Quaker Steak and Lube, which offers its signature wings in plates, half-buckets and buckets in hot, barbecue and Louisiana Licker sauces. Its concession spots are on the east and west ends of Heinz Field's lower level.

    Steel Pit BBQ

    • Folks who have watched a football game at Heinz Field on TV may notice the south end zone seems to be eternally engulfed in a cloud of smoke. There is no three-alarm fire, but there is the Steel Pit BBQ, which eats up a large chunk of space in the endzone plaza, firing up freshly grilled half-pound burgers, rib sandwiches and barbecued chicken. For the more traditional, there are hot dogs grilling among the hickory-scented smoke.

    The Classics

    • Heinz Field doesn't offer much for the health nut, but does cater to more traditional tastes. The 14 Goal Line Stand locations offer the traditional hot dogs, pretzels and pizza. Seven Nacho Zone kiosks offer chips with cheese sauce. The four Grid Iron Grill stands offer kielbasa, hot sausage, smoked sausage and bratwurst for the pork-loving crowd. Papa Duke Gyro in the Great Hall offers that aromatic blend of pita, lamb and tzatziki sauce. Tambellini Italian Grill sells classic meatball subs on the lower level near the Great Hall.