Braddock’s Superior Motors restaurant has been named one of the 100 World’s Greatest Places in 2018 by Time Magazine.
The restaurant is praised by the magazine for its ability to raise $310,000 via a Kickstarter campaign (the highest Kickstarter campaign, at least at the time) and the idea that the restaurant can reinvigorate the town.
“Already, it’s modern American food is bringing recognition to Braddock,” Time says.
Superior Motors was started by well-known Pittsburgh chef Kevin Sousa, who was also behind the now-closed restuarants Salt of the Earth, Union Pig and Chicken, and Station Street Hot Dogs. Superior Motors opened just more than a year ago and was built in what once was a car dealership – the inspiration for the name.
It features a seasonal menu with locally sourced foods. Prior to the restaurant’s opening last year, Sousa said it would also have a community bread oven and offer free job training to Braddock residents.
The restaurant has received additional praise since opening. In April, it was named one of the 10 best new restaurants by Food & Wine magazine.
While Sousa has brought an innovative concept to the Braddock community, a 2015 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article was critical of his financial past, including a $25,000 lawsuit from a food supplier and “a string of liens and legal filings by creditors.”
According to Time, Sousa is looking to the future, telling the magazine, “Eventually we want to launch a full-on culinary school.”
*This story was updated at 1:01 p.m. to correct the spelling of Kevin Sousa's name.
