While downtown, the only places worth going to eat are south of market Street.
Staying below market Street keeps you still relatively close to the convention center.
Electric rental scooters are everywhere and super handy for getting around.
Food suggestions:
BBQ: sugarfire on Washington Street
Sandwiches: Potbelly's on the circle
Burgers: killroys, loughmiller, five guys, burger study
Steak: Ruth Chris, St elmos, eagles nest, Tony's
Family dinning: tgif, champps,
Then as always the typical fast foods
Chick-fil-A, subway, a&w,taco Bell and a few others can be found at the mall food court just a few blocks away.
If you dontond venturing out away from the convenience and crowds of being near the convention.
You can slide over to Mass Ave, where you can find amazing Scottish/Irish fair (mcnivens/O'Brien's)
Also Mass Ave has a few other random bits for food.
To beat the crowds there pizza and BBQ over at 10th and Dr Martin Luther King Jr St.
If you have never been to one of these conventions, be prepared to be overwhelmed. The last time they were here it was a fantastic event, and this is supposed to be better.
Trying to verify, but I believe there was bus service set up from the airport area to the convention. You might do some googling to verify.
You are a few miles from the convention center, but once you get downtown there is a lot in walking distance. If you're going to the Leadership forum or a concert those will be in Lucas Oil Stadium. It is across the street to the south of the convention center. If you look at a map the north-west corner of the convention center is across the street from Victory Field (home of the Pirates AAA affiliate) and it goes almost clear to Lucas Oil Stadium. It is HUGE.
I second fullmetaljesus on going to St Elmos. Go on Sunday for "devour downtown" pricing. The cocktail sauce with the shrimp will clear your sinuses, but man it is good.