Sammy’s Steak House

Hyman Pascoll (alternately spelled Pascal/Pascale/Pascoll) started Hyman’s Steak House at 1619 Centre Avenue in the Hill District around 1919. Following his death in 1931, his wife Fannie Pascoll took over the restaurant.^[1]Hyman’s Steak House ad, Jewish Criterion March 3, 1933 (online). She sold the business around 1934, and it became Harry’s Steak House.^[2]Harry’s Steak House ad, Jewish Criterion, Oct. 19, 1934 (online). It was sold around 1937 to Sammy Lesker, who had been a long-time waiter at the establishment.^[3]Sammy’s Steak House ad, American Jewish Outlook, July 9, 1937 (online). ^[4]Polk’s Pittsburgh city directory (1927) p. 1277 (online—Historic Pittsburgh). He ran Sammy’s Steak House at the Centre Avenue location until 1950, when he and partner E. Harry Frankel relocated to 23 Graeme St. in downtown Pittsburgh.^[5]Sammy’s Steak House ad, American Jewish Outlook, March 3, 1950 (online). Mercur’s Music Bar had previously occupied the location. Sammy’s Steak House moved in 1955 to 1229 Fifth Avenue in Uptown, a location previously occupied by Caplan’s Restaurant.^[6]Sammy’s Steak House ad, American Jewish Outlook, Sept. 2, 1955 (online).

Advertisements for Hyman’s Steak House promoted steaks “broiled in Roumanian style,” likely referring to marinated skirt steak cooked over a charcoal grill.^[7]Hyman’s Steak & Chop House ad, Jewish Criterion, Nov. 27, 1925 (online). Sammy’s Steak House continued to offer charcoal-cooked steaks but also expanded the menu to include items such as chopped liver, Gefilte fish, and “milchig” dishes, referring to dairy cuisine.^[8]Sammy’s Steak House ad, American Jewish Outlook, Sept. 2, 1955 (online).

Bibliography

• “Steak House Loses ‘Points,'” Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Oct. 17, 1944 (online—Newspapers.com).
• “Local Scrappings,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 4, 1950 (online—Newspapers.com).
• Sammy’s Steak House advertisement, Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, March 18, 1951 (online—Newspapers.com).
• Sammy’s Steak House advertisement, Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, June 26, 1955 (online—Newspapers.com).

Exhibit History

• Author: Eric Lidji
• Original: January 4, 2023
• Current: January 4, 2023