The original Eat 'n Park location in Overbrook, opened on June 5, 1949.

Eat'n Park is a local restaurant chain with locations throughout Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, and Northern West Virginia. The franchise began in Pittsburgh's South Hills in 1949, with the business model that customers could drive their car and park at the restaurant, while being waited on by carhops.

The original restaurant was located at 2209 Saw Mill Run Boulevard in Overbrook and opened on June 5, 1949. Although the original restaurant no longer exists, the franchise itself has grown to nearly 100 locations. It is perhaps the most iconic family restaurant in Pittsburgh.

The Dormont location along West Liberty Avenue, opened in October 1949, is shown here in 1956.
This Eat 'n Park was damaged by a kitchen fire on October 5, 1976. The restaurant
was rebuilt. The larger, modern restaurant opened in July 1977.

Known for years as a reliable place where a family could get a fine meal for a reasonable price, the closest Eat 'n Park restaurant to Brookline is located at 2874 West Liberty Avenue, across from Pioneer Avenue, in Dormont (opened October 1949). Other nearby locations are on Banksville Road at Crane Avenue, and Route 51 at Streets Run Road.

Eat'n Park restaurants were once synonymous with the Big Boy, a double burger sandwich. Eat'n Park actually began as a Bob's Big Boy regional franchisee, using the Big Boy icon. The affiliation with Bob's Big Boy ended in 1975. Today, the Smiley Cookie is the official icon of Eat'n Park. The Smiley Cookie was created by James Broadhurst. The cookie was first introduced to guests in 1986.

Many people often question the origin of the restaurant's name. In the late 1940's, "Park & Eat" was a common phrase and could not be copyrighted. So, the words were reversed and history was made. Approaching their 70th anniversary in 2019, Eat 'n Park is still a well respected restaurant with a loyal following.

Some of the original Eat 'n Park Car Hops at the Overbrook location in 1950.