Craving a dining scene that welcomes everyone at the table? We dive into the moves Pittsburgh restaurants and bars are making to create truly inclusive menus—thoughtful vegetarian mains, standout zero-proof cocktails, and the kind of service that makes every guest feel seen. 

(00:36 ) We kick off with an update from author Maria C. Palmer and the story of her father Joseph Costanzo Jr. and the legendary Primadonna Restaurant. From pre-production to first interviews and a set at Rico’s, it’s a family love letter to the city’s culinary grit and ambition.

(09:12 ) From there, we sit down with hometown journalist and content creator Angie Carducci (AngieLovesPGH) to explore what “welcoming” looks like today. Angie shares the small-business roots of her platform, her lifetime of vegetarian eating, and a recent health shift that led her to embrace the non-alcoholic movement. The insights are practical and personal: why listed NA options matter for inclusion, how Gen Z and wellness are reshaping bar programs, and what real craft looks like when mocktails stand shoulder-to-shoulder with cocktails.

(44:38 ) Plus, a fall comfort pick from DiAnoia’s is back to delight Karen Hoang and their many pumpkin-loving patrons. 

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