Original Fish Market - Westin Pittsburgh

An anniversary dinner gone very bad! What I thought would be a seafood treat from a 'fish market' was worse than Red Lobster or your nearby church lenten dinners. My husband ordered the seafood variety plate ($25) that came with 3 shrimp, 2 clams, & 1 piece of fish over a big plate of french fries. This was the better of the two dinners & he did not enjoy it! I had chicken breast w/mashed potatoes & green beans. ($25) I asked where the potatoes were & were told 'under the chicken'. In other words, there was about 1/4 cup of them! The chicken was so thin & tough I did not eat it. The chef really knew how to ruin any kind of food. I was so surprised at the small amount of food we both got for a $50 nite out. Neither of us complained, trying not to ruin what was to be a pleasant evening but I am glad to have this forum to warn others to stay away. Go anywhere else for a good fish dinner. Do not be deceived by the restaurant title. PS: The bright spot was the server-very competent & pleasant. more

The food here is pretty good, which is why it's such a shame.\r \r Unfortunately, the staff/service is so terrible, it's not worth it. I've had enough mediocre experiences here, and just had an especially terrible experience tonight -- I'll simply never go back. \r \r They just lost me as a customer over ridiculous failure to validate parking (which would have been fine had it been clear from the beginning -- I would have happily parked elsewhere)... but this place considers validation to be another ""discount"" or ""offer"" that cannot be ""combined"" with another offer. Seriously? I'll spend my money elsewhere. more

The Original Fish Market is one of the greatest late night spots to eat in the Burgh! If you're looking for class, great service, friendly staff and AWESOME food...then this is the place you want to go! My boyfriend and I eat at the fish market at least 2-3 times a month. It is a little pricey, but it is all worth it! One thing we always get is the sushi. It is so fresh and appealing. I've never eaten sushi like it. I love sushi and I've tried so many places but The Original Fish market has the best!! And their fillet mignon just melts in your mouth like butter. They have some of the most biggest king crab legs I have ever eaten. They were so big when i got the meat out of the shell I literally had to cut it with a knife. But great food, great atmosphere, great service. You have to go! Pros: Food, service, atmosphere Cons: Pricey more

For a restaurant that charges incredibly high prices for good (not outstanding) sushi and fish, they surely do not know how to treat their customers. The service is awful. It's a shame, because I love the food there, but have had a couple of really poor and upsetting experiences there, enough to make me not want to ever go back. \r There's always Umi and Monterey Bay, you fellow sushi and fish lovers out there... Pros: good sushi Cons: unaccommodating management and poor service, prices more

My friend and I were, until tonight, frequent customers of the Original Fish Market. We always drive in and use the complimentary valet service, have a wonderful meal, and then get our parking validated and leave. Tonight, when we tried to get our parking validated, we were told that tickets are only validated if we spend $50 or more. (Our meal was $44, but was $54 after tax + tip). We were surprised because no one had ever told us about this rule, nor was it posted by the valet stand or in the restaurant. The Fish Market staff informed us it is the valet's job to inform people of this rule when they park -- however the valet staff adamantly denied this is their job, and refused to go get our car. We went back to the restaurant and pleaded for them to just validate our parking, as we were only $6 shy of $50, and neither of us had enough cash on us to pay the valet the $12 + tip parking fee. The fish market REFUSED to validate the parking, stating ""Its our policy"" over and over again. \r \r I feel it is inappropriate for the Fish Market to penalize customers for being unaware of a policy that is not posted anywhere in the building. The valet company and the Fish Market clearly have not communicated their parking policy well, and who is blamed? The customer. \r \r We ended up just having them charge a few more dollars to our credit card so that the total came up to $50, and the car was finally retrieved. Needless to say, we will NEVER return to the Fish Market again. I hope they are happy that they have lost 2 excellent customers. more

Stayed at the hotel on buisness and suprised to find that the restaurant off of the lobby is by far the best sushi and seafood I've had in years!\r Great fresh simple preparations, very traditional sushi bar with Fresh items, Great staff and very attentive service, wish we had a place like this back home!\r Not your typical americanized sushi bar menu, Nice to see a restaurant that has this level of food outside NYC or LA.\r Thank you and I WILL be back!!!!!\r \r Pros: great sushi and fresh seafood, great service and friendly staff. Cons: prices relect the quality of the ingredients - more than average but well worth it. more

Awesome Spot for Impecable Seafood\r First of all I'd like to say that we stumbled upon this place when we were staying in the burgh after a game. \r We had great service for starters, I thought that the waitress was very well versed about the items offered that night. We have been back twice and it has been just as good as the first time if not better.\r The Ahi tuna was to die for, fresh great color and flavor, The sushi was the best we've ever had and the Desserts beyond what we could have expected.\r Great oysters and a nice wine list. We highly reccomend this place if you want great seafood at fair prices and great service!!!!!\r Pros: Really fresh seafood, sushi and GREAT service Cons: outdated decor and poor choice of background music. more

I will have to say that ""The Original Fish Market"" has to be the worst restaurant that I have ever visited...the unfortunate part about it is that I have to work in the building connected to where it is located...I have attempted to try to re-visit but each time is progressively worse. Upon my last visit the weather had taken a turn for the worse so I stayed in the building, being one of three place to choose (each of them ranking in the poor catagory) I chose ""The Original Fish Market"" what a mistake that was. I figured that choosing soup and salad I couldn't go wrong...well I was mistaken. I chose the lobster bisque, I was the worst soup I have ever tasted,it had that metalic taste like it had been left all night in the soup jar, and promtly reheated the next day to get rid of, not to mention it was ice cold. When I attempted to inform my waitress it was clear upon her delayed return that she had stepped out to have a cigarette (as she reeked upon return) leaving me fuming over the horrific liquid staring me in the face. For my next course I chose a spinach salad thinking there is no way that you could mess that up...again assuming for the best left me with the worst, not only did the items I asked to be left off come on it anyways, but there was so much dressing (I asked for on the side) drowning the spinach, it might as well have been a soup. That was it for me, I wanted the check....and again the waitress vanished like dew of the grass on a sunny morning. I waited twenty minutes before my frustration drove me to have the manager retrieve my check, a whoping $22 for garbage. If you're in the mood to be irritated and have no appetite, this is the place for you. It doesen't help either that the ambiance is that of a lions den...so if you like a nice atmoshere my recomendation is to stear clear!!! Pros: I can't say they have one other than a liquor licence Cons: The whole organization more

My wife and I went to the fish market for the first time last friday before a concert. To say that we\r were disappoint would be an understatement. The service was below average. The waiter seemed to spend more time at a table where he thought he was going to get a larger tip, this was a mistake on his part. The price of the food was about what I expected but the quality was below average. The dinner my wife got for $23 looked and tasted like they ran to Long John Silvers to get it. I got the trout which was tasty but rather bland. The 3 pieces of squash I got with were the best part of the meal. I even had to order rice as a side for extra money. I will have to say that the dinner was not a total loss. I had the lobster bisque as a starter and it was excellent. \r \r Overall I wouldnt recommend the Fish Market to anyone unless I really didnt like them. Pros: lobster bisque, atmosphere Cons: everything else more

I travel with my job to large cities and I often dine at fine restaurants. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to find world class dining in Pittsburgh. The menu was quite extensive and amazing to me. I had a hard time choosing an entree and the wine list was the best I have found at any restaurant. The number of wines by the glass was remarkable. The service was above average but not on par with the quality of the food and the atmosphere of the restaurant. Each time a course of my meal arrived I was really impressed, the presentation was great and it didn't end there. The fish was fresh and beautifully prepared, it melted in my mouth and the mashed potatoes oh my goodness, they were fabulous. Every detail in food auality preparation was considered, great bread, quality salad, terrific entree, perfect side dishes, great wine list, incredible desert and coffee. Atomosphere was first class. Pros: Seafood, Ambience, Value Cons: Parking more

Superb seafood & sushi!!! I am in town for a month for business, and I not staying at the Westin but I have made the trip over to eat here 4 times, each time ordering different items. The sushi is the freshest I have ever had, try the Sea Bass! They have a wide selection of oysters that make a great appetizer. The wine list is very large and the waiters make great suggestions, even letting you sample one if you are having a tough time deciding. You will want to return! Pros: Great sushi, Great wine selection, Great service more

my experience was wonderful!!!! Service was great food was great. 10+++ to the chef. We had the chef's tasting. He came out and asked what we liked and didn't liked and prepared excellent choices on each course. Huge wine selection to choose from but didn't have to worry because our server made a great selection that complimented our meal. o top it off being that we spent over $50.00 our parking was free. Pros: open late, fresh seafood, excellent staff more

This was our first time to Pittsburgh, and tried the restaurant at the recommendation of a brochure about Pittsburgh in our hotel (not the same hotel it is located in). Our service started off great, then declined dramatically during dinner. The appetizer and soup were horrible, we didnt even finish them. The tastes of our fish is something we could have gotten anywhere, for much less cost. We had to ask for bread with our meals, never to recieve it or even have the server appologize for forgetting. We went the last half of our meal without any more wine or water, having to eventually grab one of the other servers passing by. We would not revisit, nor recommend this restaurant. Cons: food, service, price more

I've gone to the Fish Market three times in the last two years, each time either before or after a performance at the Benedum. I thought the service left a lot to be desired (long wait, spotty service at best) and while the food was good, it was overpriced. I enjoyed the sushi selection - the chef should be commended. Overall, if you're going to cocktails and an appetizer, this is a good restaurant to check out. Otherwise, the seafood was on par with Red Lobster. Pros: Convenient location, Plentiful Cocktails, Good Sushi Cons: Costly, Service, Average Seafood more

We travel to Pittsburgh often. We wre lookng for a ""casual dress "" restaurant. The ""Original fish Market"" was recommended. The atmosphere was less than the ""casual business dress""we were told to adhere to when we made reservations. The wine list was incredible, 150% more if purchased in a wine store. But the worst was that the entree's were unbelievably poor. Our main courses were on the par of something that I would buy frozen at a wholesale grocery store. The prices were high and the atmosphere was poor. Just to let the management know , tablecloths are nice, paper or cloth, when you are harging inflated prices. The service was professional but inpersonal, which is not a big deal when the food is good-obviousely I thought it wasn't. I have only one other comment, if anyone suggests this restaurant for dinner-be afraid, be very afraid. more

Tried this place once while waiting for a train. Was pretty underwhelmed given the hefty price ($50 for one drink, one appetizer, and a basic grilled fish.) The oyster sampler plate was nice, and the fish was fine but I've had a lot more interesting preparations for the price tag. Entrees come with NO sides or vegetables unless you're willing to spend extra. Spotty service--my entree was brought within minutes of having just brought me my appetizer, no apology or offer to bright it back when I was finished (instead I was asked if I was done with my oysters, when I'd barely eaten half of them!) Then no one wanted to clear my oyster plate once I *was* finished. Not likely to return. Pros: convenient to train Cons: expensive, poor service, unimaginative more

What a pleasant surprise for a hotel restaurant. The food was original and well prepared. Service was excellent and dessert was incredible. Will definitely be back. more

We were staying in the hotel where this restaurant is located. The management suggested we try it - no need to leave the premises for a good lunch he advised - he's right. We enjoyed drinks and a solid fish lunch at PFM - we samples sushi as well as cooked items. The prices seemed OK for the quality delivered, and the service was pretty good also. The drinks from the bar were fairly potent as well, which helped the afternoon (and evening) flow by. Even dessert was acceptable - a bonus. We recommend readers try this place at least once. Pros: Food, Service, Drinks more