A new South Side cafe is combining a passion for cycling and cuisine.
Housed within a historic property at 2518 East Carson St., Over the Bar (OTB) Bicycle Café will debut its lunch and dinner menu on Jan. 12. Avid mountain biker Mike Kotyk— who has 15 years’ restaurant experience—teamed up with John Benzinger and Scott Ambrose to launch the cafe.
“I did serious research developing my business plan,” adds Kotyk, 35, who designs greenways and trails with
Pashek Associates. “It reflects my professional and personal life and connections in the bike community.”
Inspired by Chicago’s
Handlebar and
Quaker Steak & Lube, where he worked in Sharon, PA, Kotyk speaks passionately about Pittsburgh’s sustainable bike and pedestrian developments and hopes to establish an OTB bike club and historic ride.
The first-of-its-kind in western Pennsylvania, the family-friendly café features colorful ceiling murals by Ashley Hodder and “art bikes” constructed by
THICK Bikes owner Chris Beech.
Red Star Ironworks artist Grace Catranis used recycled bike parts to create OTB’s wall sconces. With seating for 60, Kotyk hopes to draw lunch crowds from nearby
South Side Works,
American Eagle and UPMC.
OTB’s creative menu features appetizers, burgers and entrees named for bike terms, trails and organizations, such as the
Dirt Rag Delight (burger with pickles and peanut butter), Tangled Spokes (baked soft pretzels) and Bicycle Advocate, a culinary nod to
Bike Pgh. Its full bar serves craft beers like
East End Brewery’s Pedal Pale Ale.
Chef Taylor Knoebel previously worked at
Nine on Nine and
Stone Mansion, while manager Marty Maloney returned to Pittsburgh after running restaurants in Las Vegas.
OTB’s grand opening is Jan. 30.
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Jennifer BaronSource: Mike Kotyk, Over the Bar (OTB) Bicycle Cafe
Image courtesy Mike Kotyk