Fat Heads South Side Saloon

1805 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA - (412) 431-7433

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Posted By Jim Ellison on March 8, 2008 1:25 PM

In 2004, a national men’s magazine selected the ten best sandwiches in the country. One of these was the South Side Slopes Headwich at Fat Heads. I am sure the competition on the national level was impressive, but in Pittsburgh, it has to be overwhelming. The Iron City is home to several famous sandwiches: Islay's chipped ham, The Devonshire, and any sandwich at Primanti Brothers.

A headwich is a sandwich that is as big as a very large person’s head. Big as in scaring small children and people with weak constitutions. Fat Heads has 19 headwiches as well as highly-rated burgers, award-winning wings, sandwiches, and bar food. Pittsburgh loves Fat Heads; the saloon is frequently voted as among the best in the city.

Getting back to the nationally recognized sandwich... the headwich. The Southside Slopes Headwich consists of fried pierogies, kielbasa, American cheese, grilled onions, and horsey sauce on a giant, fresh bun that is specially made at a local bakery. The sandwich is barely held together by two of the biggest toothpicks I have seen in my life that spear an olive before they impale the headwich. Filling the rest of the plate is a large pile of freshly made potato chips with a wing sauce for dipping. All of this for a very reasonable $8.25.

And this headwich is not a fluke; the others are just as good. Fat Heads does not believe in false advertising. As an example, another headwich is called the Artery Clogger. No kidding here; this has two fried eggs, ham, bacon, and American cheese. All of the non-headwiches are equally appealing and can be washed down with an Iron City beer or any of the other 39 beers on tap. Fat Heads is a Pittsburgh destination and is worth the inevitable wait. There is plenty to do while you wait for a table. Whether tasting a new beer at the large bar or looking at all of the Fat Heads related merchandise and memorabilia in this two story monument to gluttony, you know that you have found a real Roadfood place.

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Posted By Mandy Steinhardt on January 27, 2008 11:39 PM

Fat Heads is probably a must-see on anyone's Pittsburgh visit. While the wait can be long, my group didn't mind because it gave us a chance to sample some of the 100 or so reasonably-priced beers on tap and sidle in at the crowded bar. My friends mentioned that this is one of those bars that gets crowded earlier in the evening and not so much late-night.

Table management is brisk so we were seated after about 30-45 minutes (who keeps track after a few brews?). The fried mushrooms, coated in an herbed batter, are served with a mild horseradish sauce on the side. The pierogies, with a side of sour cream, are my favorite; total comfort. They are fried crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The boys loved the wings and we all devoured the mushrooms.

We were full by the time the sandwiches arrived but that couldn't stop us from digging in. The sandwiches come speared with toothpicks and olives, making them look like a huge smiling face. We had to cut them in half just to get a bite to fit in our mouths. I could only finish half of my sandwich, a ham and Swiss topped with chicken spinach artichoke dip and tomato, then fried on the grill. Even the ham inside is fried on the grill! The sandwiches come with a side of chips, and the burgers are sided by fries (as if you'd have room for them). Children receive portions bigger than their heads. This place truly lives up to the name; with a sandwich called the Artery Clogger (although that name could apply to all of them) you know what you're getting into. Even the salads have cheese, bacon, and potatoes in them.

While we meant this place to be a starting point for our night, after our indulgences we needed to rest and digest. A place not to miss! See the website for brews and menu.

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