Food Fights Club offers monthly challenges, Pittsburgh dining discounts

Food Fights is cooking up some friendly competition among local restaurants.

The new online subscription club will offer exclusive member discounts and host competitions to determine the best restaurants in Pittsburgh.

The initiative was created by Diana Rua, a 25-year veteran of the service industry and event producer of Pittsburgh Burger Bash, an annual competition to determine “the best burger in the Burgh.” She and her company, Diana Rua Media, wanted to help local restaurants who have been hit hard by ongoing covid-19 restrictions.

“What do we do to help our restaurants and give back to the community during these hard times?” Rua said. “We fight.”

An annual individual membership to FoodFights.Club is $30 or a family plan is $50. Memberships go on sale starting Saturday.

Members will have access to the club’s online portal, which features participating restaurants, monthly food fight challenges and themed promotions.

In addition to the perks of discounts and promotions, members also get to support local restaurants who may be struggling during the pandemic. One hundred percent of subscriptions are donated to the participating restaurants and a portion of the proceeds support community food banks.

Food Fights Club is also asking members to support the community during weekly “Food Round-Ups,” which will be announced on social media. Donations will help local food banks.

The first food fight theme will be the Pittsburgh Burger Bash, a new, online take on the local tradition. During the month of October, Food Fight Club members will get $2 off burgers at participating restaurants. Then, members can vote for their favorite. The restaurant with the best burger will win $1,000.

Participating restaurants include Twelve Whiskey BBQ, Bigham Tavern, 5801 Video Lounge, Archie’s on Carson, Bobby D’s Burgers, Pittsburgh Bottleshop, Coughlin’s Law, Redbeard’s Mount Washington & Downtown, Duke’s Rib House, Elizabeth Express, Ruggers Pub and others.