Four dudes from Greensburg opened what they imagined would be a charming, European-style wine bar in an old firehouse in the Strip District on New Year’s Eve 2011. They envisioned a space offering elegant pours, delicious small plates and lean-forward service. The vision was there, but the wine list was — well, they had one — and the food was good but not earth-shattering. This was during the ascent of the craft cocktail era in Pittsburgh, and the crew’s talent for stirring a sturdy Negroni ran significantly deeper than their knowledge of “The World Atlas of Wine” or the nuances of a seasoned kitchen. The staff was enthusiastic but young, and the partners at the time didn’t have the pedigree to back up their original ambition. So they pivoted into something more of-the-moment that reflected their experience. Fourteen years and many iterations later, that spot — Bar Marco (barmarcopgh) — ranks among Pittsburgh’s finest dining destinations. It features a menu of seasonal Italian deli...