In Pittsburgh, Comedy and Food Make the Perfect Combo

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DERBY

It’s risky business writing about comedy and food.

When I sat down to a meal with stand-up comic Chrissy Costa, who was voted top comedian in our 2024 Best of the ’Burgh Readers’ Poll, I laughed so hard I nearly inhaled a burrito into my lungs instead of my belly. Thankfully, 20 years of food writing has made me an expert at “interchewing” — asking questions while simultaneously eating, drinking and ordering another round of chips and queso.

Costa and I met for Sunday brunch at TacOcat, a Taqueria Acosta pop-up that fires up the North Side’s former Fat Cat kitchen every Thursday through Sunday. Chef Chris Acosta — no relation to Chrissy Costa — can’t wait to see comedy acts return to the building’s second-floor performance space.

Over tequila cocktails and huevos rancheros, Costa slayed me with not-suitable-for-print stories from her recent gig at a nudist colony. I was barely breathing when she pointed out a typo on the menu that advertised “boobon” instead of “bourbon.” Of course two lesbian smart alecks got a kick outta that one!

My sides were close to splitting from New Mexican food intake and guffaws when the East Liberty native mentioned her appearance on “Chews Me,” a blind-dating series that throws three single contestants in a kitchen together to see which amateur chef can win the heart (and whet the appetite) of a potential love.

Season 2 is available for free on the Roku Channel. I plan to order takeout from a local Italian joint and watch Costa’s episode, “A Tale of Two Pastas,” alone on my couch. If there’s a Season 3, I’m certain my to-die-for Buffalo chicken dip could woo anyone.

INSIDE THE BURGH BUS | PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BURGH BUS

In addition to performing at bars, clubs, the occasional Elks Lodge and on reality TV, Costa co-hosts highway hilarity with fellow comedian Samantha Bentley on The Burgh Bus. Billed as Pittsburgh’s “Transportainment” authority, the converted school bus offers sightseeing excursions, shuttle services, themed rides and a stage for local performers who want to tell dirty jokes in Downtown traffic.

Nick and Kat Walker — owners of The Burgh Bus and its new, slightly smaller sibling-on-wheels — plan to offer Pittsburgh pizzeria tours in 2025. If I can manage to “interchew” yinzers on the Parkway West during evening rush hour while eating a slice of Rockaway, I just might win a Pulitzer!

After I had safely consumed my burrito, Costa and I discussed Butler Street Derby, a newer performance space with old bones.

Hambone’s, to be exact.

The beloved pub occupied the Lawrenceville storefront for three decades. It’s where Costa and legions of other local comedians earn their chops. Hambone’s closed in 2020, shortly after the death of Owner Jeff Holt.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARA RAGO

There hasn’t been much laughter in the building since.

That changed on Jan. 31, when Butler Street Derby hosted the first in a series of comedy showcases. During the inaugural event, held in partnership with WDVE, Mike Zydel, Joey Welsh, Jeff Konkle and Bill Crawford yukked it up with a sell-out crowd of about 130 yinzers for 2 hours.

After such a prolonged and sad silence, it was a lovely sound to hear.

The Derby opened in October 2024 after two years of renovations. Several apartments were removed to create a performance space with cathedral ceilings and a full-service bar above the main floor dining room, where customers can pig out on pub fare before watching stand-up comedy. Out back, there’s a walled-in patio with its own full-service bar. Let’s give a tip of the hat to Derby’s designers for their dedication to liquid refreshment.

Last summer, when Co-owner Jack Welsh gave me a sneak peek of the place, I noticed a dusty pig statue in the corner of the basement. It’s the only relic from the Hambone’s era — unless, of course, you count the laughter.