A Cincinnatian in a Primanti Bros Bar

Food has always been one of my favorite ways to get to know a city. I grew up in St. Louis and have spent my married life in Cincinnati, so I've developed some pretty strong opinions about regional favorites. Every city has that one iconic dish locals insist every visitor has to try. Sometimes the hype is deserved. Sometimes... well, that's part of the adventure.

Recently, my family was in Pittsburgh while touring colleges for my son. As we spend the next year visiting campuses around the country, I've decided to make it a mission to sample each city's signature food along the way. It seems like the perfect excuse to combine college visits with culinary exploration. Naturally, our Pittsburgh stop meant one thing: Primanti Bros. I ordered the pastrami sandwich, figuring you can't go wrong with a classic.

The first thing that stood out wasn't even the pastrami—it was the bread. The sliced Italian bread at Primanti Bros. is some of the best sandwich bread I've ever eaten. It was soft yet sturdy enough to hold everything together, with just the right amount of chew. Great bread can elevate an entire sandwich, and this bread absolutely did.

The pastrami was excellent—tender, flavorful, and generously stacked. The vinegar-based slaw was another highlight. Its bright, tangy bite cut through the richness of the meat and kept every bite balanced without weighing the sandwich down.

Then there were the fries.

On their own, they're really good. They reminded me of Five Guys fries—fresh-cut, hearty, and satisfying. That's definitely a compliment. But here's where I may lose my Pittsburgh credentials before I ever earn them. I don't think the fries belong on the sandwich.

With the pastrami, fresh bread, slaw, and tomatoes already working together so well, the large potato flavor overwhelmed everything else. Instead of complementing the sandwich, the fries became the dominant taste. I found myself missing the flavors of the meat and slaw that had impressed me so much in the first few bites. Maybe that's just the Cincinnati in me talking.

Every city has its traditions, and I respect that the fries-on-the-sandwich concept is part of Pittsburgh's identity. It simply isn't my preference. The good news? That's an easy fix.

Next time I'm ordering the exact same pastrami sandwich—just without the fries. I'll happily enjoy those on the side instead. After all, I'm from Cincinnati, not Pittsburgh.

RD

RD is the founder and Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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