Cattivo

FREE PIZZA = BEST PIZZA

For a really dark bar with no windows that allows smoking, Cattivo churns out some fantastic pizza. If you have never heard of Cattivo, it is tucked away in the heart of Lawrenceville smack dab in the middle of the neighborhood on 44th street. The unassuming facade might lead you to believe that you were entering a foreign legion or a local VFW, but nope, you've just entered one of Pittsburgh's most friendly gay bars.

To quote one of the diners from Urbanspoon.com, "I don't know why the best pizza in Pittsburgh is at a gay bar in Lawrenceville, but life is full of mysteries. The prices are good too." Now, I wouldn't call it the best pizza in Pittsburgh, but the first time I had pizza at Cattivo I was really amazed. I was sitting in a weird ass basement prepared to eat DiGiorno or worse and BAM, delicious pizza right in my face! Great crust, fantastic sauce, a well proportioned cheese to topping ratio and the perfect crisp. With the exception of the cheese blend (which I think is better at Cattivo) I would compare the pizza to Bella Notte in the strip district.

Even when I'm full I always put slices on the bar to hide from the pizza monsters.

For happy hour the bar is pretty dead. It might be the lack of windows or the clientele, I really can't say. The action at Cattivo gets started a bit later in the night with features such as karaoke, burlesque shows, free pool and dance parties. I can't speak highly enough of the management as they offered our group free pizza and delicious homemade potato chips. Additionally, one time I saw one of Shea's friends get whipped in the basement while affixed to a cross -  and I liked it.