Pierogies and stuffed pepper soup are not the first things that come to mind when someone thinks of a bar outside Pittsburgh. But the Starlite Lounge in Blawnox has been drawing locals in with exactly those two dishes for over 50 years. Owner Ron “Moondog” Esser has run the place with a deep commitment to real Pittsburgh food in a real Pittsburgh setting, and the reputation built quietly over decades before Guy Fieri arrived. The Starlite appeared in Season 4, Episode 2 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Bar Food,” which aired July 27, 2008. Guy tried the Chicken Diablo and called it “dynamite,” specifically noting that Esser grows the peppers himself. The pierogies, each about half a pound, have their own page in Pittsburgh food history.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Starlite Lounge
City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cuisine: Pub and Bar Food
DDD Season: 4
DDD Episode: 2
Episode Title: Bar Food
Original Air Date: July 27, 2008
Address: 364 Freeport Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Phone: 412-828-9842
Website: https://www.starlite-lounge.com/
Status: Open
About Starlite Lounge
The Starlite sits in Blawnox, a small borough just northeast of Pittsburgh along the Allegheny River, next door to Moondog’s Pub, which is also owned by Esser. The two establishments share a history and a community that has kept them both going through the difficult pandemic years, including a benefit concert organized by musicians who had performed at Moondog’s when the bar faced permanent closure. The Starlite’s menu slogan, “Real. Pittsburgh. Food.” says everything worth knowing about the kitchen’s philosophy. The pierogies are handmade and enormous. The stuffed green pepper soup is house-made and soul-warming. The fish sandwich uses fresh North Atlantic cod on a Mancini roll. Everything is done the way Pittsburgh has always done it.
What to Eat at Starlite Lounge
The Homemade Pierogies are the signature, each roughly half a pound, filled with potato and cheese or spinach and feta, pan-fried to golden. These are the pierogies that have been making people drive across the city for decades. The Stuffed Green Pepper Soup is the other standout, rich and hearty in the way that Pittsburgh winters demand. The Chicken Diablo is the pasta dish Guy called “dynamite,” a spicy marinara with grilled chicken built from Esser’s own homegrown peppers. The Starlite Famous Fried Fish Sandwich on a Mancini roll is the Friday night regular’s choice. The Polish Platter, which includes pierogies, haluski (buttered egg noodles with cabbage), and kielbasa, is the full Pittsburgh spread in one order.
Bring the Pittsburgh pierogi energy home with Guy Fieri Cookware, which handles cast iron pan-frying beautifully.
Plan Your Visit
Starlite Lounge is open Monday through Wednesday 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Thursday 3:00 PM to midnight, Friday 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM, Saturday 3:00 PM to 2:00 AM, Sunday 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Address: 364 Freeport Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Phone: 412-828-9842
Website: https://www.starlite-lounge.com/
Status: Open
Flavortown Approved
Find a Pittsburgh hotel on Booking.com and stream the Bar Food episode on Amazon before making the drive to Blawnox.
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Starlite Lounge appeared in Season 4, Episode 2 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Bar Food,” originally aired July 27, 2008. The lounge has been a Pittsburgh-area institution for over 50 years.