Little Hungarian Restaurant matchbook
The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
The Little Hungarian Restaurant opened in the summer of 1940.[1]“The Little Hungarian Restaurant” was the name of at least two other restaurants in Pittsburgh, neither of which appear to be related to the business in Squirrel Hill. It was located at 5800 Bartlett St., on the second floor of the Bartlett Street entrance of the Block Building at 1901-1913 Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill.[2]“New Restaurant Opening in Squirrel Hill,” Jewish Criterion, July 5, 1940 (online). The restaurant was extensively remodeled and redecorated in 1948.[3]“Little Hungarian Restaurant Reopens,” Jewish Criterion, April 30, 1948 (online).
The Little Hungarian Restaurant was founded by Imre and Sarah Ungar, who also lived on the premises. They had been in the restaurant business for 30 years, previously working in a kitchen on Fifth Avenue. They retired in 1951 and passed the business to Imre Ungar’s brother-in-law and sister Alex (or Alec) and Ethel Stark.[4]“A Fond Farewell From the Ungars,” Jewish Criterion, Dec. 7, 1951 (online). The Starks closed the restaurant in 1956, after the Block Building was destroyed in a fire. The Starks subsequently took over the kitchen of Canter’s Restaurant on Atwood Street in Oakland.[5]“Charred Ruins From Fire,” Pittsburgh Press, Jan. 17, 1956 (online—Newspapers.com).
In advertisements, the Little Hungarian Restaurant described its cuisine as “kosher style.” No menus or reviews survive to provide a more detailed description of its cuisine, aside from a recipe for Matzo Ball Soup from 1953.[6]“Matzo Balls,” Best Bet Recipes from Kay’s Kitchen, Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Sept. 8, 1953 (online—Newspapers.com).
References
| ↑1 | “The Little Hungarian Restaurant” was the name of at least two other restaurants in Pittsburgh, neither of which appear to be related to the business in Squirrel Hill. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | “New Restaurant Opening in Squirrel Hill,” Jewish Criterion, July 5, 1940 (online). |
| ↑3 | “Little Hungarian Restaurant Reopens,” Jewish Criterion, April 30, 1948 (online). |
| ↑4 | “A Fond Farewell From the Ungars,” Jewish Criterion, Dec. 7, 1951 (online). |
| ↑5 | “Charred Ruins From Fire,” Pittsburgh Press, Jan. 17, 1956 (online—Newspapers.com). |
| ↑6 | “Matzo Balls,” Best Bet Recipes from Kay’s Kitchen, Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Sept. 8, 1953 (online—Newspapers.com). |
