Looking for a local Italian restaurant

Submitted by dburnsii t3_10nk31o in pittsburgh

I'm new to the area, and I see there is a good selection of Italian food here, but I'm looking for something that may not easily come up in a Google search. Somewhere small, homey feeling, that Italian grandma in the kitchen sort of feel. What are some of yinz favorite places to go?

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lifes_nether_regions t1_j69uwrs wrote

You basically described Serafinos in Crafton

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dburnsii OP t1_j6dmdzf wrote

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!

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tarsier_jungle1485 t1_j69aisf wrote

Girasole in Shadyside.

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leadfoot9 t1_j69is9l wrote

I've never been to Italy, but I assume this cramped, lively basement restaurant is the closest you can get in Pittsburgh.

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tarsier_jungle1485 t1_j69pd8c wrote

And the owner is an old grandpa dude who sits there nursing a glass of wine all day and chatting with customers.

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mikeyHustle t1_j6amixm wrote

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.

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TheTunnelMonster t1_j6crz6a wrote

Was this person a child? I can’t imagine an actual adult sobbing over a birthday dinner reservation.

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pere-jane t1_j6d8jle wrote

I’ve sobbed before when I’ve been hungry. Low blood sugar is real.

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dburnsii OP t1_j6dmurc wrote

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.

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TheAtaraxia t1_j69esmc wrote

Legends in the Northside beside AGH

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wisperino345 t1_j6dkdqf wrote

Make sure you call ahead for a reservation, that place is always packed every night. And for good reason!

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mynamemightbealan t1_j6a15nu wrote

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

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enraged_hbo_max_user t1_j6afk16 wrote

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

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tmcg712 t1_j69pja8 wrote

Tillie’s in McKeesport is very good. Not a small space but great food.

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RiffRockFan t1_j6am2y0 wrote

Love that spot!

Also I recommend Bella’s (formerly Delallo’s - same owners) in Bethel Park. Great food, big portions, classic old school vibe.

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Old_Science4946 t1_j6lakla wrote

tillies has the 80s grandmas house aesthetic and the food is BANGIN

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twistedevil t1_j6a5bde wrote

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.

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Redemption357 t1_j6f80tv wrote

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

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pmp412 t1_j696e3o wrote

LeoGreta in Carnegie is what you are looking for. They grow and hand make most of the menu items.

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MissMurderpants t1_j69rygu wrote

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.

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moratapinella76 t1_j6a0c08 wrote

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.

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AhPshaw t1_j6b3ua6 wrote

Leogreta in Carnegie is worth a visit

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XavierRex83 t1_j697k2g wrote

Pasta Too in bethel park

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skumps814 t1_j69jouo wrote

Haters gonna hate but their sauce is amazing

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XavierRex83 t1_j6a4cic wrote

Pasta Too is very good. Not sure why anyone would hate it.

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Jupichan t1_j6c5qet wrote

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.

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XavierRex83 t1_j6dletq wrote

I can't explain that. I have never had a bad meal there.

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Jupichan t1_j6eccw7 wrote

Yeah, I was baffled. They seem to be pretty popular, so I had good expectations!

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ddesigns t1_j69cwi4 wrote

CC's Cafe

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felonlover t1_j6mjztr wrote

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.

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imbushyy t1_j6b6kmf wrote

La Tavola in Mt. Washington

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PghPat t1_j69xra9 wrote

Pasqualino's in Penn Hills

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ginbear t1_j6b3szz wrote

Johnny's in Wilmerding, Mia Madre in Avalon, Sarafino's in Crafton, La Tavola in Mt Washington.

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tupperwhat t1_j6bfkov wrote

Zarra's at the very tip of North Oakland

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JustYourNeighbor t1_j69d884 wrote

Mia Madre Trattoria in Avalon might fit the bill.

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PlinyCapybara t1_j6am4fi wrote

I'd suggest the Pleasure Bar in Bloomfield.

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jxrst9 t1_j69926t wrote

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.

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MrChichibadman t1_j6bkck3 wrote

I heard rumors Ricos was in 80s and early 90s. Could be total bullshit tho.

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fortheloveofbettas t1_j6ahh9o wrote

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.

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PonerBenis6 t1_j6cue3s wrote

Tillie’s in McKeesport is a family favorite. Talia downtown is great too.

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cooleymahn t1_j6asi74 wrote

Legends in North Side.

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kaitb1103 t1_j6bkggt wrote

Lucca Ristorante in Oakland! Nice portion sizes and always delicious!

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talldean t1_j6fzbnm wrote

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.

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Fresh-Problem-3237 t1_j69gve8 wrote

Olive Garden in the North Hills. Can you get more authentic?

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--jawnday-- t1_j6anz7n wrote

When you’re here, you’re family.

Damn straight.

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gwhh t1_j6b9q32 wrote

Pasta Too in bethel park.

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Pitlkj t1_j6crfzw wrote

Carbonaras is great but has gotten expensive since they have closed Monday’s and tuesdays. Way better than pasta too in my opinion.

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412201 t1_j6djb0q wrote

Cucina Vitale in South Side Flats on Carson. Sooo gooood.

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glotti t1_j6dwusf wrote

Tillies in McKeesport, thank me later

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just_a_reddit_hater t1_j6eup5f wrote

No one said this one yet, but Piaquadios in Castle Shannon (South Hills) is good!

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damndinosaurs t1_j6g7h2r wrote

LeoGreta in Carnegie. Only if you’re looking for the best though.

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clp0216 t1_j6gu6yf wrote

Legends Eatery in North Shore

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BmoresFnst t1_j6a3gos wrote

DiAnoia or Garbarinos - pasta doesn’t get fresher than this

Never been but heard good things about Alla Famiglia as well

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Slopey1884 t1_j6ac2us wrote

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.

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rockurpwnium t1_j6ahper wrote

Love Garbarinos, nice and heavy New York Italian style, but I wouldn’t call it homey.

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Cutter70 t1_j6ami06 wrote

Carbonaras in Mt Lebanon is great, just outside the city in the south hills. But not deep roving south hills, a respectable distance.

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davebmf17 t1_j6ho1lt wrote

Arby’s on McKnight Road

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cfowen t1_j6a3jil wrote

Sbarro

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