Review Detail

We're excited to introduce the newest addition to our community – Dive Bar & Grille (North Hills). This neighborhood bar and grill is the perfect place to catch up with friends over a burger and a beer, watch the latest sporting event, or enjoy a family meal. With its delicious menu, friendly staff, and relaxed atmosphere, Dive Bar & Grille is sure to become a Ross Township favorite. 

I popped in to meet a friend while I was ostensibly out "running errands" on some early holiday shopping. On this damn lying pretext, I met a beer buddy at the large spacious bar that you see soon as you walk into the Dive Bar & Grille. It was crowded and lively, and sports were cranking on all the many TVs that adorned the barroom. Naturally, I felt a distinct sports bar vibe, and family atmosphere, mixed with hipster contingents of urbane white-collar locals. 

After a fresh Yuengling Draft beer served in a proper pint glass, I asked for a menu and figured that while I was out "shopping", this might be a great chance to have a quick bite to eat. Was I right? Yes.

I ordered the Alabama Slammer burger. This monstrous burger featured a brown sugar glaze, crispy succulent bacon, a velvety smoked cheddar, and silky provolone. Piling onto this mix were crispy tasteful onion straws and it was slathered in their 'Bama sauce'. Delicious and filling, this burger was worth every dollar of the $15 this plate comes in at. It was cooked perfectly - just as I ordered (medium); the fries were fresh and hot and tasty. A cold Yuengling to wash it down, made this combo divine. I am more than glad, I picked this burger, but it was a tough decision. So many choices. So many burgers. 

Other burgers that were tempting included the South of the Border burger, featuring cajun rub, pickled jalapenos, avocado, pepper jack cheese, and something they call 'Dynamite sauce'.  Another notable burger appears to be the Homewrecker. This massive pile of pork between two buns features braised short ribs, sunny-side-up eggs, barbecue sauce, smoked cheddar, onion straws, and horseradish aioli. Cost 2 more bucks than my burg at $17, but I am to try that one next wrecking my home be damned. 

When it comes to bar food offerings, the Dive Bar & Grille offers a plentiful array of options to not wreck your home, but perhaps your health plan. However, if you are going to have a cheat day - on food, not your spouse - then this is the place to do it. 

How about the aptly titled Nachooooo!!!! This is a dump truck-sized load of nachos featuring beer cheese, pico sauce, pickled jalapenos roasted black bean dip, shredded cheddar, and sour cream. If you really want to stack this pile higher add some meat, such as chicken, pulled pork or shaved steak, and braised short ribs. 

So the Dive Bar certainly got the burgers and apps down pat. But, for those of you interested in more entree-oriented dining, you have a plentiful variety of options: Jumbo Crab Cakes, seared Ahi Tuna, fried chicken, and what they call Hanger Steak and Fries. These beef slabs come slopped over with roasted garlic butter and scallions. Man, put me down for that next time.  

The menu certainly doesn't end there. A quick glance over it reveals a slew of hoagies, wraps, bowls, and appetizers. There should be something for everyone at Dive Bar & Grille (North Hills). The drink menu features an eclectic array of martinis, whiskeys, and fun cocktails. 

For the record, I had a Negroni. This is a mix of Bluecoat gin, Carpano Antica vermouth, and Select Apertivio and garnished with an orange peel. This impressed me because I think this may be the only bar restaurant in the North Hills that even knows what a negroni is; let alone how to make one. (For those that don't, a negroni is a hip drink that dates back to old world Italy and was rumored to a be Sinatra, Martin rat pack favorite).  To me, having a negroni on the menu means Dive Bar & Grille, knows its cocktails. Moreover, they have a friendly and fast wait staff that delivers them in a timely fashion - making it complete. 

If I have any complaints, they are minor. First, parking at this location can be an issue when it gets busy. As I was seated, I overheard one patron saying she was leaving because the friend she was chatting with could not find a parking spot. Her loss was our gain as we took her seat for a friend. In any case, overflow parking is available across the street, but be careful as cars tend to spend along Babcock Blvd. at this particular stretch.  Cones or slow-down signs might be in order on super busy days. 

Another challenge that still persists from previous venues is that as wonderful as the second floor is it is hard to figure out how to get up there to it. The access to this is tucked away in the back of the first floor and you almost think you are intruding upon the kitchen when you are looking for the steps to go upstairs. This may be a more architectural limitation of the building but it would be nice to provide some guidance to patrons that are new here as to how to access the upper level. 

A few words about why Dive Bar & Grille is a welcome addition to the North Hills food and drink scene. First and foremost, it just always feels like this location needs a hip, fun, lively, yet family-style restaurant and bar; a place fun for all ages, from your 20s to having a beer with the grandparents type of bar. Dive Bar & Grille fills the void that was never placated when the old Rum Runners closed its doors in the late 2010s. 

Speaking of the old Rum Runners, the decor of the Dive Bar is still evocative of that former restaurant. The half-wood barrels and bamboo-like tones and materials were all put in place by Rum Runners on their massive renovation of this building site back in the 2010s. The only thing that is missing is probably the big pirate mannequin Rum Runners used to have out front enticing customers to come into the place.  But, who cares if a lot of the Rum Runners decor is still in place? 

Personally, I thought the decor was done nicely back then and today, Dive Bar & Grille makes great use of what was once good about the old now sunken ship that was Rum Runners saloon. But let's go back further to this location. 

Recall that going further back into the 80s and 90s, this was Jergel's, which back in those halcyon days, was a great live entertainment and food venue. 

Along the way, between Rum Runners and Dive Bar, there was this, ah, I don't even remember the name - some Italian place that came and went - but Dive Bar & Grille, I believe will be here to stay. 

Of course, the competition is stiff. There is a long-standing Sieb's Pub across the street which has seen all those aforementioned places come and go while it keeps folks serving its Shepard's Pie. Moreover, Hal's down the street is a great Ross neighborhood bar too. However, there is enough room along Babock Blvd for a new bar and restaurant to establish itself in the food and drink scene in Ross Township and the greater North Hills. 

The Dive Bar & Grille has a lot going for it. Besides the great food and atmosphere, you have an entire second level that nobody else has. Here is a great place for live entertainment. When that gets rocking and rolling, the Dive Bar & Grille located along Babcock Blvd. in Ross Township stands to be one of the best bars and restaurants in the North Hills. We aim to come back often - hungry and thirsty. 

Dive Bar and Grille North Hills is open all days of the week; 11 AM - 12 AM, Sundays - Thursdays; 11 AM - 2 AM, Fridays, and Saturdays. Online ordering and gift cards are available. They also can host special events and offer a full range of catering services.