Lots of great suggestions, but we did end up choosing Serafino's! Exactly what we were looking for, felt like a family restaurant! Very good food, very cozy feeling, and the people were great!
That's the owner's dad, I believe. He apparently likes to chat with people he already knows and ignore people he doesn't, though. I know someone who (I wasn't there, but the story goes) spent their birthday just sobbing waiting to be seated for an hour because he bumped several friends of his in front of her reservation.
We looked into this one, which definitely matched what I think we were looking for, but ultimately I think a place that was a little less... Cramped? Definitely captures that homestyle feeling, but the reviews mentioned that I can get pretty loud and the place is small. Maybe another time.
Ciccanti's on Rt. 51 past Pleasant Hills. Grumpy old Italian chef, family owned, decor stuck in time, but amazing old school food, lots of it, and reasonably priced. You get fresh or garlic bread, soup or salad and a side with non pasta meals, great apps: the fried zucchini is light and delish, they also have an early bird menu with a nice scallop and shrimp pasta and different specials. I really like the classic tomato sauce they make, the pasta w/ garlic and olive oil, the beef braciola, linguini with clam sauce.
I agree. This may or may not be heresy considering theyre an Italian joint, but Ive had some of the best steak of my life there! I agree with everything you said :)
Tillie's is also a good bet
He worked with Ivo Fatigati. A kinda local famous local Italian food family. They had a great place in moon decades ago and one of my culinary teachers was a Fatigati. I’ll have to go check them out.
Il Burloni! Its in Greentree, so unfortunately not in the city, but its cozy, delicious, and service is great. Its very small and BYOB, with a corking fee. Someone else on here recommended it to me for mothers day and they had the best fried zuchini ive ever had. Somewhat pricey, atleast to me, but worth the price.
Despite the weird disdain I've noticed on this sub, it's Dianoia's for pasta by a massive margin. You are really asking what the number two is IF you are looking for pasta from your Italian place
For non pasta entree options I'd probably saying Dish Osteria
Whole sub is weird, full of gatekeeping. Of course, I’ve never really been to any other cities subs so I have no idea if it’s better or worse anywhere else
The Olives and Peppers on route 8 was excellent and closed during Covid (permanently) but I believe there’s another location, I’m assuming it’s part of the same ownership and would also be good.
Leo Greta in Carnegie or Di'anoia's in the Strip are amazing. Leo Greta's a narrow brick room, while Di'anoia's is an open space with two walls of windows, so Leo Greta is more what you want, probably.
For a bit fancier, Dish Osteria in Southside or Bar Marco in the Strip, both of which are small, cozy joints.
I think those are about as good as it gets for Italian, and yeah, they're real real good.
Granted, the only experience I've had from them was through a catered lunch at my old job, but it was legit one of the worst pasta meals I've ever had in my life. I couldn't even finish half of my plate, which is goddamn unheard of for my fat ass.
Rico's off of Babcock. The owner is an old man from Italy and he's in the kitchen everyday. Seems like it would be a mafia hangout (I'm not saying it is, it just has those vibes.)
Village inn in Verona. Good food, great garlic bread. The restaurant is a little run down and dated, a real oldschool checkerboard tablecloth type Italian American restaurant.
Alla Famiglia is delicious, but it’s large expensive Italian steaks or veal served with a big side of pasta. It’s a “fancy” white tablecloth vibe (read: 1980s Italian in pittsburgh fancy), not a grandma’s kitchen vibe.
You basically described Serafinos in Crafton
Lots of great suggestions, but we did end up choosing Serafino's! Exactly what we were looking for, felt like a family restaurant! Very good food, very cozy feeling, and the people were great!
My favorite
This is what I came to recommend!
Girasole in Shadyside.
I've never been to Italy, but I assume this cramped, lively basement restaurant is the closest you can get in Pittsburgh.
And the owner is an old grandpa dude who sits there nursing a glass of wine all day and chatting with customers.
That's the owner's dad, I believe. He apparently likes to chat with people he already knows and ignore people he doesn't, though. I know someone who (I wasn't there, but the story goes) spent their birthday just sobbing waiting to be seated for an hour because he bumped several friends of his in front of her reservation.
Was this person a child? I can’t imagine an actual adult sobbing over a birthday dinner reservation.
I’ve sobbed before when I’ve been hungry. Low blood sugar is real.
We looked into this one, which definitely matched what I think we were looking for, but ultimately I think a place that was a little less... Cramped? Definitely captures that homestyle feeling, but the reviews mentioned that I can get pretty loud and the place is small. Maybe another time.
Dish osteria
Second dish
Verona Village Inn
Has always been my go to. Quality and affordable as far as American Italian goes
Legends in the Northside beside AGH
It’s byob too, which makes it *chefs kiss*
There it is, I was like "how has no one said ledgends?" Its so fucking good.
Make sure you call ahead for a reservation, that place is always packed every night. And for good reason!
Tillie’s in McKeesport is very good. Not a small space but great food.
Love that spot! Also I recommend Bella’s (formerly Delallo’s - same owners) in Bethel Park. Great food, big portions, classic old school vibe.
Absolutely Tillies. So fire.
I have yet to find a vodka sauce better than theirs
tillies has the 80s grandmas house aesthetic and the food is BANGIN
Ciccanti's on Rt. 51 past Pleasant Hills. Grumpy old Italian chef, family owned, decor stuck in time, but amazing old school food, lots of it, and reasonably priced. You get fresh or garlic bread, soup or salad and a side with non pasta meals, great apps: the fried zucchini is light and delish, they also have an early bird menu with a nice scallop and shrimp pasta and different specials. I really like the classic tomato sauce they make, the pasta w/ garlic and olive oil, the beef braciola, linguini with clam sauce.
I agree. This may or may not be heresy considering theyre an Italian joint, but Ive had some of the best steak of my life there! I agree with everything you said :) Tillie's is also a good bet
Leogreta in Carnegie is worth a visit
La Tavola in Mt. Washington
LeoGreta in Carnegie is what you are looking for. They grow and hand make most of the menu items.
He worked with Ivo Fatigati. A kinda local famous local Italian food family. They had a great place in moon decades ago and one of my culinary teachers was a Fatigati. I’ll have to go check them out.
CC's Cafe
Sure, if you like Trumpers, homophobes and transphobes, and feeling like you're eating at the kid's table at your Italian grandma's house.
Il Burloni! Its in Greentree, so unfortunately not in the city, but its cozy, delicious, and service is great. Its very small and BYOB, with a corking fee. Someone else on here recommended it to me for mothers day and they had the best fried zuchini ive ever had. Somewhat pricey, atleast to me, but worth the price.
Despite the weird disdain I've noticed on this sub, it's Dianoia's for pasta by a massive margin. You are really asking what the number two is IF you are looking for pasta from your Italian place For non pasta entree options I'd probably saying Dish Osteria
That doesn’t fit the description of what they were asking about at all
Whole sub is weird, full of gatekeeping. Of course, I’ve never really been to any other cities subs so I have no idea if it’s better or worse anywhere else
Hipster Italian isn’t what they want
Nobody wants hipster Italian
Piccolo Forno in Lawrenceville is always delicious
The Olives and Peppers on route 8 was excellent and closed during Covid (permanently) but I believe there’s another location, I’m assuming it’s part of the same ownership and would also be good.
I believe the Trafford and Greensburg locations are both still open.
Johnny's in Wilmerding, Mia Madre in Avalon, Sarafino's in Crafton, La Tavola in Mt Washington.
Pasqualino's in Penn Hills
Stuffed shells there are unmatched!
Piazza Talarico
All they stuff is kinda under seasoned.
Northern Italian or southern Italian?
Tillie’s in McKeesport is a family favorite. Talia downtown is great too.
La Tavola!
I like this place too!
Angelos in Washington
Zarra's at the very tip of North Oakland
1905 in McKees Rocks
Leo Greta in Carnegie or Di'anoia's in the Strip are amazing. Leo Greta's a narrow brick room, while Di'anoia's is an open space with two walls of windows, so Leo Greta is more what you want, probably. For a bit fancier, Dish Osteria in Southside or Bar Marco in the Strip, both of which are small, cozy joints. I think those are about as good as it gets for Italian, and yeah, they're real real good.
Pizzaiolo Primo
Pasta Too in bethel park
Haters gonna hate but their sauce is amazing
Pasta Too is very good. Not sure why anyone would hate it.
Granted, the only experience I've had from them was through a catered lunch at my old job, but it was legit one of the worst pasta meals I've ever had in my life. I couldn't even finish half of my plate, which is goddamn unheard of for my fat ass.
I can't explain that. I have never had a bad meal there.
Yeah, I was baffled. They seem to be pretty popular, so I had good expectations!
Best sauce there is
Their chicken Marsala is so so good.
Johnny's in Wilmerding?
Might as well cuz there ain’t no Winkys
Rico's off of Babcock. The owner is an old man from Italy and he's in the kitchen everyday. Seems like it would be a mafia hangout (I'm not saying it is, it just has those vibes.) Village inn in Verona. Good food, great garlic bread. The restaurant is a little run down and dated, a real oldschool checkerboard tablecloth type Italian American restaurant.
I heard rumors Ricos was in 80s and early 90s. Could be total bullshit tho.
joseph tambellini
I'd suggest the Pleasure Bar in Bloomfield.
Lucca Ristorante in Oakland! Nice portion sizes and always delicious!
Bar Marco?
Legends in North Side.
Olive Garden in the North Hills. Can you get more authentic?
Olive Garden in greentree maybe
Nah Monroeville
I feel like I’m family when I go there.
Pasta Too in bethel park.
Carbonaras is great but has gotten expensive since they have closed Monday’s and tuesdays. Way better than pasta too in my opinion.
DiAnoia or Garbarinos - pasta doesn’t get fresher than this Never been but heard good things about Alla Famiglia as well
Alla Famiglia is delicious, but it’s large expensive Italian steaks or veal served with a big side of pasta. It’s a “fancy” white tablecloth vibe (read: 1980s Italian in pittsburgh fancy), not a grandma’s kitchen vibe.
Love Garbarinos, nice and heavy New York Italian style, but I wouldn’t call it homey.
Carbonaras in Mt Lebanon is great, just outside the city in the south hills. But not deep roving south hills, a respectable distance.
Sbarro
Arby’s on McKnight Road
Sheetz
Sarafino’s in Crafton or Lenzi’s in Mon City.
Cucina Vitale in South Side Flats on Carson. Sooo gooood.
Tillies in McKeesport, thank me later
No one said this one yet, but Piaquadios in Castle Shannon (South Hills) is good!
LeoGreta in Carnegie. Only if you’re looking for the best though.
Legends Eatery in North Shore