The Story
Justin Severino and Hilary Prescott Severino opened Morcilla in 2016 on Butler Street in Lawrenceville, right next door to their acclaimed Italian restaurant Cure. Where Cure is all about cured meats and pasta, Morcilla turns to the traditions of Spain: pintxos, conservas, wood-fired vegetables, and an exceptional sherry list.
The name itself is a nod to Spanish blood sausage, and that kind of bold, unapologetic culinary identity runs through everything Morcilla does. The menu changes constantly, driven by what is seasonal and what Severino is excited about, but the quality never wavers. James Beard Foundation nominations followed naturally.
The restaurant's Lawrenceville location is intimate and buzzing, with a bar program that matches the food in ambition. It is the kind of place that reminds you Pittsburgh's dining scene has arrived at a national level.
What Makes It Pittsburgh
Morcilla is part of the Lawrenceville restaurant renaissance that turned Butler Street into one of the most exciting dining corridors in the Northeast. Severino chose Pittsburgh over larger markets because the city gave him room to take risks and build something personal.
That bet paid off. Morcilla is not just a great restaurant in Pittsburgh; it is a great restaurant, full stop. And it is proof that world-class dining can thrive in a city where the cost of living still lets independent operators dream big.