But general manager and head chef Alex Peightal won't allow the South Side restaurant to be categorized as a sport bar.
"Nah," he says. "We are a pub with a European football problem. That's what people know to come here to watch."
For their convenience, a schedule of upcoming matches is posted on the pub's Web site and doors open 15 minutes before the matches starts.
Depending on who's playing, time difference and how important the match is, patrons may begin filling up booths and bar stools as early as 7:30 a.m. to watch their teams. Given soccer's worldwide popularity, some come to root for the team while others come out of national pride.
"We get a great cross-section of Pittsburgh," Peightal says.
While they're cheering goals and lamenting missed opportunities, the patrons also chow down on an extensive menu of comfort foods, with many items familiar to anyone who has ever lifted a pint in a pub within the United Kingdom.
Service is swift and accommodating if you need to dine and dash. But the waitstaff doesn't rush you if your game plan involves nursing a 20-ounce Smithwicks Irish Ale ($4.75) and a plate of Smoked Salmon Pate ($7.95) through to the final goal.
As befits a pub, there are a wide choice of imported beers, ales, lagers and stouts from Britain and Europe -- two dozen on tap and even more in bottles.
Owner Drew Topping also indulges his clients -- and his hobby -- with an impressive collection of single-malt scotches that vary in price from $7 to $21 a shot. There's generally a rotating selection of 72 labels which vary as bottles empty and are replaced by new finds. A list of available brews, scotches, Irish whiskeys and bourbons can be found on the Web site.
There's a full menu of 11 dinner entrees available. Stilton Stuffed Chicken ($14.95), Grilled Pork Chops with onion gravy ($15.95) and Apricot Grilled Salmon ($15.95) sound particularly tempting.
But, time after time, we find ourselves opting instead for one of the 16 dishes affectionately known as pub grub. "It's all comfort food, done honest," Peightal says
Portions are ample enough to satisfy even the hungriest customer.
For those missing the baked beans, toast, fried eggs, tomatoes and mushrooms that form the traditional English Breakfast ($6.95) or sausage and mashed potato combo known as Bangers and Mash ($8.95), Piper's Pub serves them all day long.
Guinness Stew ($8.95) and Lamb and Chestnut Stew ($8.95) are two of the most popular dishes, Peightal says.
We can vouch for the Lamb and Chestnut stew, a humongous serving of ground lamb and meaty nuts sharing space with big chunks of well-cooked but firm vegetables hidden under a mattress of flaky pastry. All three stews and pies we tried are held together by an abundance of thick, bland gravy. But there were actual chunks of chicken and whole button mushrooms as well as a generous sprinkling of other vegetables in the Chicken and Mushroom Pie ($8.95) and thin chunks of tender beef and vegetables swimming in Irish stout gravy in the Shepherd's Pie ($8.95)
We also liked the Dublin Coddle ($8.95), a big plate of fried potatoes and onions combined with chunks of crispy, meaty bacon and bangers or sausages that could be mistaken for hot dogs.
The Fresh Grilled Salmon Club ($8.95) was too alluring to pass up. We weren't disappointed, beginning with the waitress asking how much we wanted the salmon grilled and delivering it just the way we asked. Smoky from the grill and flaky, it was served between two thick slices of chewy bread, lettuce, tomato, two slices of thick, crunchy bacon and a little cup of dill-flavored mayonnaise and had an order of fries on the side.
The one disappointment is the dessert list. Last time we were there only two options were available, both commercial products made elsewhere. The Chocolate Volcano Cake ($4.75) was adequate -- warm, chocolatey and properly oozy -- but not special enough to get excited about.
Better to invest your money and calories on the appetizers.
In keeping with its pub identity, this informal, friendly restaurant maintains a good list of starters that the menu calls "drinking partners."
You could easily make a meal -- or wile away an afternoon of soccer -- with a succession of choices from the list.
Some are standard fare -- that omnipresent Pittsburgh option Zucchini Strips served with horseradish sauce ($7.95) or deep-fried Onion Petals with mustard sauce ($5.95).
But that would mean passing up items you won't find elsewhere.
We loved the Curry and Chips ($3.95), a big platter of French fries surrounding a mound of zingy curry sauce that can be spiced mild, medium or hot. We went for the burn and were not disappointed.
We also enjoyed that quintessential British appetizer Scotch Eggs ($7.95) -- two hard boiled eggs encased in sausage and deep-fried dark brown and crunchy. Sounds weird. Tastes wonderful, especially when dipped in hot sauce.
If you're looking for something on the milder side, go for the Ploughman's Platter ($8.95), a snacking platter with two fat slabs of cheese -- a flavorful chocolate brown and ivory marbled Guinness cheddar and a red-speckled elderberry wine cheddar -- served with chewy bread wedges, apple slices, sweet and tangy tiny gherkins and a mound of sweet and spicy apple chutney.
The welcoming, informal, solicitous and upbeat staff makes Piper's Pub a good choice for a diner in search of casual comfort food or a soccer enthusiast's afternoon of indulgence.
After all, as Peightal points out, you can watch the Steelers anywhere.
