I have read the reviews and went to visit the place. The atmosphere is really nice but not all the food is great. I had a putanesca pasta and it was so bad, hard and tasteless. I would not recommend all dishes, my partner had another pasta and his was better. I guess there is not a consistency. Luck? ....
(3)
Amy M.
I went here with 2 friends last night for the first time. The bruschetta was unique and very good. 3 different toppings. Plenty to share for us. I ordered the spinach gnocchi. Wow...loved it. Our bill was $20 a piece. I left very full. I would recommend this restaurant to everybody.
The food was excellent!!! The menu is very simple, not a whole lot of options beside pasta but the pasta was very good, I would say their tomato basil sauce is very, very similar to my homemade sauce, which is a huge compliment!! The ambiance is very romantic, great atmosphere!! Now for my one and only complaint.... we were there at 4;30 on a Saturday for dinner and we were the only ones in the dining room except the waitresses and possibly a manager that were setting up for dinner. We were first given a lunch menu, at 4:30?? They had to check to see if the kitchen was ready for dinner before we could order, again...at 4:30??? The entire time we were there, they were moving chairs, moving tables, setting place settings, moving back and forth.... we couldn't enjoy our quiet little dinner. So my advice is to wait until ATLEAST 5pm to go there.
(4)
Saya K.
My fiance and I have been here several times and we must say we love everything about this place. From the staff and owners who are always very accommodating,friendly and knowledgeable... To the ambiance and finely appointed decor and contemporary casual atmosphere in this hidden treasure it is worth the finding. Each time we have gone we have order something different.they offer daily specials or try something off the menu,you won't be disappointed. Don't see something you like or want to tweak something you see just ask and they will prepare it for you. We enjoy the out experience so much we are planning to hold our small intimate wedding reception there! Yes...they do parties,events and catering. This is a must experience rare gem hidden right off the parkway east and PA turnpike! My goodness I sound like their PR person...hmmm Maybe I will go in for dinner and discuss.lol Enjoy!
(5)
Carol F.
Very disappointed. I was there for lunch but never got to eat After I was taken to my table I sat there for 10 minutes without even getting a glass of water. The server came in several times to give checks to other tables,there were only 2 ,she never even looked my way. When I got up to leave I told her why I was leaving she just said she forgot about me. Never even apologized.
(1)
Eve S.
Skeptical at first because of mixed reviews. But such a nice and quiet ambience, perfect for a date or with a little one like us. I had the risotto which was very good and hubby got the lamb rigatoni, oh so good too. Wouldn't mind coming back for more if ever we're in the area.
(4)
Jason F.
I stopped by here a couple of Saturdays ago with my wife and her parents for lunch. Whenever we walked in we were immediately greeted by the hostess and taken to our seats. That meant that we walked through what I think was a childrens cooking class where it looked like they were making pizzas. How cool is that? I think it is awesome that Gia Visto puts on kids cooking classes once a month for those inspiring kid cooks. After making it through the class and into the main dining room we were seated at a 4 top. The inside of their restaurant is cozy and has pictures from a lot of famous places. After perusing their lunch menu I decided to order the risotto with chicken, parmesan and spinach. It was delivered about 20 minutes later after some other members of my party had finished their soups. Whenever I tried the risotto I thought that it tasted ok. The rice in it was cooked nicely so it was neither hard nor overly mushy. There was an ample amount of spinach and the chicken tasted ok too. Where it missed the mark was that I found it to be pretty bland and singular tasting with no depth of flavor. So while there wasn't anything wrong with my meal I also didn't find anything exciting about it either. The rest of my table ended up ordering shrimp caprese salad and it looked pretty good and they were all happy with it. The bottom line for me is that I would give Gia Visto another chance in the future. While this visit wasn't what I would consider a good meal for me, it is possible that I chose poorly and could have had a better experience with a better entree choice.
Amazing homemade gnocchi with vodka sauce. So good!! Highly recommend. The bread basket was also delish.
(4)
Robin S.
Oh my goodness. I live in Austin, and grew up in PIttsburgh's east side. I never knew just how spoiled I was by PA italian food until I left and moved to the south where...at least in Austin, italian is miserably pale comparison to what I can get at so many places in Pittsburgh. Gias is FABULOUS in my book, one of the best italian places in Pittsburgh IMO... I wish I could bottle all this deliciousness up and take it with me but I can't. So I'll just keep dreaming about the awesome meal I had here until I'm back in PA. Things to know: The interior is warm and charming. Space is very limited so make reservations in evenings and on weekends. You need to bring your own wine. Service is good...our waitress wasn't fawning but she was polite and didn't miss a beat in execution. Oh yea, the FOOD! We got these things and thought this about them: - Eggplant parmesan- very best I've had. Lightly crispy, not too heavily cheesy, and heavenly sauce. - Beet salad- good, light. PICKLED FENNEL!! Why do more places not have this?? So good. Need to learn how to make. Would be an epic hit at gastropubs. - Ceasar salad- we all agreed it was the least impressive. Dressing was heavy and a little too fishy. About 1/3 as much dressing would have improved the salad greatly. Still everything else was awesome so they get a pass here. - Homeade ricotta gnocchiI! If you get nothing else here get the Gnocchi with roasted red pepper sauce. I'd probably honestly make it my last meal on earth. - Homeade Rigatoni with tomato basil sauce. So delicious, just a perfect simple and beautiful bowl of pasta. - Pork Shoulder with puscanetta- didn't have any but it got rave reviews from everyone. - Tiramisu and mini cannoli, and a house coffee. Dessert to die for. I'd easily eat here and die happy.
(5)
Jesse T.
The ambience is fine: friendly service and a cozy atmosphere. The food, unfortunately, is not up to par. The presentation of the dishes was solid, but ultimately the meal was a case of flash over substance as the food was underwhelming. I ordered the hanger steak with side farro salad. The salad could have been good had the ratio of ingredients been more balanced. My salad was 90% farro, 10% everything else combined. I felt like I was eating a bowl of grains rather than an artisan salad. The hanger steak entree was wholly disappointing. For $27, you receive ~5oz of rough quality meat, some spinach and garlic, and roasted potatoes. The advertised goat cheese and pancetta may have made things more interesting if they were anywhere to be found. I really wanted to like this place, but from beginning to end the meal was dissatisfying. I even picked a safe dish (hanger) to avoid disappointment but somehow the rare, tender hanger I was expecting came out tasting like slightly burnt flank. Bottom line: Their attempt to be fancy fell flat in my eyes; food was overpriced and the flavor combinations put together just did not work.
(2)
Chris D.
My first time there I I found it on yelp food was fantastic service was excellent I would highly recommend it to anyone nice and cozy the appetizers were amazing the grilled salmon exceptional! Great place for a first date if you want to impress someone take them there
(4)
Dawn E.
I wanted to find a BYOB restaurant Gia Visto came up in my search and I am so glad it did. This place was amazing. Nice atmosphere, great service and the food! The Beans and Greens were delicious, the Gnocchi with the Roasted Red Pepper sauce was fantastic. The Gnocchi were fresh made in house. Definitely going back.
(5)
Cecilia C.
Wow this was an amazing meal. My customers picked this place for dinner and I had no idea what to expect though you will not be disappointed. Everything we had was wonderful. We started with greens and beans appetizer this was cooked properly and very fresh. The house salad was good and different with a white balsamic and yellow raisins among the many toppings. For dinner we all had different dishes though since I was a newbie they insisted I tried their dishes all 3 dishes were different though all so good. From the huge pork chops, to the Bolognese to my dish with pasta and clams I enjoyed all three. We also had a chocolate cake with ice cream which was also good. If I lived in the area I would be a regular! This is certainly going to be my go to going forward when in this part of Pittsburgh! I am so glad my clients shared this gem with me!
(4)
Stephanie S.
We were very disappointed in our meals here. My family is Italian, so we love to find local, authentic Italian spots- this is not that. We were the only people here at dinner time on a Wednesday night, so I can't help but wander if the reviews are stacked? Or else from previous management? There is no way someone could find this place "charming" or "intimate"... Very odd decor and ambiance, and certainly not my idea of clean. Servers were not friendly. Bread was stale. My husband and I each ordered the chicken Romano- the chicken was thick and rubbery and the texture did not resemble anything close to chicken. The spaghetti that accompanied it was far from special- ragu and boxed noodles. The best thing about the meal were the House made salad dressings. Neither of us finished our entrees. I would not recommend this restaurant.
(1)
Natalie F.
This place is a hidden gem! Super great and flavorful food. The place was getting packed around 5:30 on a Wednesday with what looked to be a middle aged crowd with lots of regulars (and lots of wine, its BYOB!). I minused a star for the menu being a little overpriced for pasta and the waitress was amazing but she was the only one in a packed dining room. Will definitely return with friends and wine!
(4)
Becky Z.
I dine here a few times a year for lunch. I really like their roasted red pepper and vodka sauces on any of the pasta options (but do try the ricotta gnocchi!). Add a meatball or two and you have the makings of an excellent meal. All pastas are between 7-10 dollars and are decently portioned for lunch servings. I also very much enjoy their paninis with the chicken/goat cheese/roasted red pepper being my favorite! I never enjoyed "beans and greens" before I tried it here. I'll admit it is very tasty, with fresh tomatoes and white wine sauce. The dinner menu is larger and slightly more expensive, but lacks the lunch paninis (I'm not sure if they are still available, so ask!) Large plate stars include the flank steak and the pork shank. The place is BYOB and corking fee is a modest $4. Keep in mind, however, that the place is tiny (probably only twenty tables total)! So either make a reservation or go during lunch. They also do several "wine dinners" over the course of the year. One strange thing - it's an Italian restaurant with pictures of Prague everywhere. Not necessarily a bad thing ... just slightly out of place. SamozÅ™ejmÄ› je mi jedno. ÄŒeská Republika se mi lÃbÃ!
(4)
Steph S.
Wow. The best Italian meal I've had in quite some time. I got the spinach gnocchi and farro kale salad. So fresh and flavorful. Will definitely be back. Love how it's BYOB too. You've got to try this place!
(5)
Barbara F.
Had dinner this past Saturday with 2 other couples. The food was good but cold. The service was abominable. The restaurant was full, yet we saw only 2 servers. Had to ask for water twice before we got it and bread twice as well. Most of us got pasta dishes and we were never offered grated Parmesan. It took way too long to be served both salads and entrees and when the entrees finally arrived they were cold. Very disappointing.
(3)
Christine B.
I'm not sure that this restaurant believes in seasoning. The pasta had no salt. The aglio e olio sauce had very little garlic. The wedding soup was way under seasoned. I was anxious to try this place, but think it will unfortunately be my first and last time.
(2)
Ang B.
I read all the reviews that were posted before we made s reservation I felt good and excited to go to dine there. 6of us went there for my daughters birthday. We had a reservation for 730 on Saturday the 13 th We arrived at 720 and was seated by 730 The resturant was crowded. We were given menus and a drink order was taken When the drinks were brought to us is when all the confusion started The menu was long and all mixed up with both sides not very understandable Ok so I figured I would just ask the waitress right? Not really She didn't even understand it and had to run back in the kitchen for answers She brought bread which was homemade and good but in the basket was 6little pieces not enough for 2 people I ordered gnocchi with red roasted pepper sauce after a 5 minute dissertation on which sauces had or did not have onions At 815 roughly 35 min after we ordered I flagged the waitress down and asked her where our soups and said was She told they were coming right out Finally at 830 we got out soups and salads At 850 a young an in a grunge. Tossil cap and and t shirt brought our meals He was dirty looking (very un professional) Now the food was hot and good but the portions were very skimpy. My gnocchi were 19.50 .for that I received 13 small pieces of gnocchi. That is more than 1 dollar for each piece. I not asking for the world for 19.50 but that was ridiculous Every one else had very small portions too. Our waitress did make sure our drinks were refilled but that was all. The service although the food was good not excellent was very very poor and unprofessional. I left there knowing that the food was ok but I could not recommend this resturant to anyone and would never go back there 2 stars only because the food was ok everything else terrible Ang B
(2)
Sally C.
We have enjoyed this restaurant for many years but this evening's experience will be our last. Inedible doesn't begin to describe what we experienced tonight. Bad service, congealed and over-cooked, over-seasoned pasta, substandard ingredients, incorrect orders, and disproportionately high prices. Not sure what happened here, but we won't be back to find out. It's a shame -- this used to be a great little spot. Seems like the prior staff who cared about the product has been taken over by food zombies. Stay away!
(1)
April V.
Very delicious homemade Italian food. The BEST Vodka sauce and Eggplant Parm we have ever had!! Quiet and small so make reservations if its a Thurs, Fri, or Sat. And BYOB.
(5)
Mark D.
Very nice Italian. Everyone in our group of 11 loved their dinner. The Penne Visto chicken is the best chicken pasta dish I have ever had. The chicken is marinated and thinly sliced. Absolutely perfect taste and texture. My sister in law loved the Trenne pasta with veal and sausage. Great veggie selection Kombocha squash risotto satisfied both of the veg people in our group. The farro salad with beets, kale, grapefruit, cranberries was quite delicious. Eggplant Parm is luscious. Service was excellent. Bonus for our group: it's BYOB. Worth passing five Italian joints to come here. Only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is the lack of whole wheat pasta.
(4)
Jim I.
My wife and I were visiting the area to see relatives and came in for dinner. We found the restaurant to be warm and inviting. The pastas were homemade and the quality of the food was excellent. My wife had Romano Chicken and I had Gnocchi. The staff and service was outstanding. They made us feel very welcome.
(5)
Dorothy D.
Restaurant is tucked away in a little strip mall, above a long driveway, not visible from Old William Penn. The food was probably 4 stars. Appetizers: adequate Caesar Salad, but with grated cheese rather than shaved, and no anchovies offered. Beans and Greens was dry (no broth at all), but garlicky and flavorful. Entrees: Romano chicken and pasta desperately needed more red sauce, but we never saw our server again. Roasted Salmon was the best dish of the evening - beautifully prepared with cranberry beans, fingerling potatoes, and pesto - very lovely, very tasty. The problem was the service. We arrived early, and found only a few other diners in the two -room restaurant. We were seated immediately and given water... then were ignored for a very long time. The waitress did finally appear to take our order. Three more LONG gaps ensued... before the appetizers, before the entrees, and (most annoyingly) while we were sitting there, obviously finished, holding a credit card and waiting for the check. (We finally flagged down the hostess and asked for a check.) As noted above, we would have like more red sauce with the meal... but the Absent Server made that impossible. BYOB =- $4 corking fee FIve stars for gluten-free and vegetarian menus. Nicely Done. Four stars for food - also quite nice. One star for service, and we will not be going back.
(3)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :4366 Old William Penn Hwy
Monroeville, PA, 15146
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Ana D.
I have read the reviews and went to visit the place. The atmosphere is really nice but not all the food is great. I had a putanesca pasta and it was so bad, hard and tasteless. I would not recommend all dishes, my partner had another pasta and his was better. I guess there is not a consistency. Luck? ....
(3)Amy M.
I went here with 2 friends last night for the first time. The bruschetta was unique and very good. 3 different toppings. Plenty to share for us. I ordered the spinach gnocchi. Wow...loved it. Our bill was $20 a piece. I left very full. I would recommend this restaurant to everybody.
(5)Joe M.
My wife and I have been waiting anxiously for Gia Visto to open and were excited to visit the restaurant with friends a few days after its opening. We never imagined how tastefully the restaurant would be decorated. The atmosphere is casual yet elegant. The mix of colors and textures is amazing and creates a very comfortable and visually appealing room for dining. We visited Gia Visto at 7:00 on a Friday night and were seated immediately despite the fact that the restaurant was busy. The wait staff was attentive and quickly opened and poured our wine (bring your own). We started with a pizza appetizer that was easily split among our party of four. The pizza was so delicious we contemplated ordering more but ultimately decided that we wanted to try more of the menu items. I ordered the bruco pasta with the spicy lamb ragu and have been thinking about it ever since. It was possibly the best pasta I have ever tasted. The past was obviously fresh and the sauce was flavored with what seemed to be fresh herbs and spices. My wife's entrée - one of the pasta specials - was also excellent. I am not very particular when it comes to demanding fresh food and honestly cannot always discern the freshness of cooked foods, but Gia Visto didn't leave me with any doubt about the quality and freshness of their ingredients. We found our server to be friendly and attentive throughout our dining experience. She was never intrusive but always seemed to know when we needed another bottle of wine opened or our water glasses refilled. The food was delivered in a timely manner - not too slow as to make us wait but not too quickly as to make us feel rushed or unable to enjoy our time together. Our experience at Gia Vista was exceptional from start to finish. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, the service was superb and every bite of the food delicious. We place this restaurant on top of our list of favorite places to dine and cannot wait to return.
(5)Mary D.
The food was excellent!!! The menu is very simple, not a whole lot of options beside pasta but the pasta was very good, I would say their tomato basil sauce is very, very similar to my homemade sauce, which is a huge compliment!! The ambiance is very romantic, great atmosphere!! Now for my one and only complaint.... we were there at 4;30 on a Saturday for dinner and we were the only ones in the dining room except the waitresses and possibly a manager that were setting up for dinner. We were first given a lunch menu, at 4:30?? They had to check to see if the kitchen was ready for dinner before we could order, again...at 4:30??? The entire time we were there, they were moving chairs, moving tables, setting place settings, moving back and forth.... we couldn't enjoy our quiet little dinner. So my advice is to wait until ATLEAST 5pm to go there.
(4)Saya K.
My fiance and I have been here several times and we must say we love everything about this place. From the staff and owners who are always very accommodating,friendly and knowledgeable... To the ambiance and finely appointed decor and contemporary casual atmosphere in this hidden treasure it is worth the finding. Each time we have gone we have order something different.they offer daily specials or try something off the menu,you won't be disappointed. Don't see something you like or want to tweak something you see just ask and they will prepare it for you. We enjoy the out experience so much we are planning to hold our small intimate wedding reception there! Yes...they do parties,events and catering. This is a must experience rare gem hidden right off the parkway east and PA turnpike! My goodness I sound like their PR person...hmmm Maybe I will go in for dinner and discuss.lol Enjoy!
(5)Carol F.
Very disappointed. I was there for lunch but never got to eat After I was taken to my table I sat there for 10 minutes without even getting a glass of water. The server came in several times to give checks to other tables,there were only 2 ,she never even looked my way. When I got up to leave I told her why I was leaving she just said she forgot about me. Never even apologized.
(1)Eve S.
Skeptical at first because of mixed reviews. But such a nice and quiet ambience, perfect for a date or with a little one like us. I had the risotto which was very good and hubby got the lamb rigatoni, oh so good too. Wouldn't mind coming back for more if ever we're in the area.
(4)Jason F.
I stopped by here a couple of Saturdays ago with my wife and her parents for lunch. Whenever we walked in we were immediately greeted by the hostess and taken to our seats. That meant that we walked through what I think was a childrens cooking class where it looked like they were making pizzas. How cool is that? I think it is awesome that Gia Visto puts on kids cooking classes once a month for those inspiring kid cooks. After making it through the class and into the main dining room we were seated at a 4 top. The inside of their restaurant is cozy and has pictures from a lot of famous places. After perusing their lunch menu I decided to order the risotto with chicken, parmesan and spinach. It was delivered about 20 minutes later after some other members of my party had finished their soups. Whenever I tried the risotto I thought that it tasted ok. The rice in it was cooked nicely so it was neither hard nor overly mushy. There was an ample amount of spinach and the chicken tasted ok too. Where it missed the mark was that I found it to be pretty bland and singular tasting with no depth of flavor. So while there wasn't anything wrong with my meal I also didn't find anything exciting about it either. The rest of my table ended up ordering shrimp caprese salad and it looked pretty good and they were all happy with it. The bottom line for me is that I would give Gia Visto another chance in the future. While this visit wasn't what I would consider a good meal for me, it is possible that I chose poorly and could have had a better experience with a better entree choice.
(3)Britney C.
Great Food, absolutely great!! We came here on a whim looking for somewhere new to eat in Monroeville and boy am I happy I stumbled in here. The ambience is very casual and yet elegant. You can bring your own wine although they do have a corkage fee I believe (not completely sure). The menu has plenty of items and since it's an Italian restaurant they give you out of this world portions. I ordered the trout entree with a side farro salad. The salad was huge, literally enough of r2 or 3 people to share. It came with beets, kale and walnuts and a few other touches but the dressing wasn't too appeasing to me. My husbands salad had a tomato balsamic dressing which was great so I asked her to add it to mine instead and it really improved the flavor. He ordered gnocchi in a tomato base sauce that also came with large olives that were very good and tangy. My trout was packed with flavor and tasted very fresh. It was accompanied by braised red cabbage and a sweet potato soufflé. It was like the perfect bite, trout, cabbage and sweet potato all in one. Excellent!! The cabbage I have to rave about because they made it sweet and oh so buttery. I loved each bite. My husband too enjoyed his food and we even shared a dessert together. Apple pie a la mode. The apples weren't cooked as soft as I like them but it was still a decent dessert. This place will definitely be added to my goto list of places to eat. plus the menu changes weekly which is a good thing because I'm all about new dishes :D
(5)Ali L.
Amazing homemade gnocchi with vodka sauce. So good!! Highly recommend. The bread basket was also delish.
(4)Robin S.
Oh my goodness. I live in Austin, and grew up in PIttsburgh's east side. I never knew just how spoiled I was by PA italian food until I left and moved to the south where...at least in Austin, italian is miserably pale comparison to what I can get at so many places in Pittsburgh. Gias is FABULOUS in my book, one of the best italian places in Pittsburgh IMO... I wish I could bottle all this deliciousness up and take it with me but I can't. So I'll just keep dreaming about the awesome meal I had here until I'm back in PA. Things to know: The interior is warm and charming. Space is very limited so make reservations in evenings and on weekends. You need to bring your own wine. Service is good...our waitress wasn't fawning but she was polite and didn't miss a beat in execution. Oh yea, the FOOD! We got these things and thought this about them: - Eggplant parmesan- very best I've had. Lightly crispy, not too heavily cheesy, and heavenly sauce. - Beet salad- good, light. PICKLED FENNEL!! Why do more places not have this?? So good. Need to learn how to make. Would be an epic hit at gastropubs. - Ceasar salad- we all agreed it was the least impressive. Dressing was heavy and a little too fishy. About 1/3 as much dressing would have improved the salad greatly. Still everything else was awesome so they get a pass here. - Homeade ricotta gnocchiI! If you get nothing else here get the Gnocchi with roasted red pepper sauce. I'd probably honestly make it my last meal on earth. - Homeade Rigatoni with tomato basil sauce. So delicious, just a perfect simple and beautiful bowl of pasta. - Pork Shoulder with puscanetta- didn't have any but it got rave reviews from everyone. - Tiramisu and mini cannoli, and a house coffee. Dessert to die for. I'd easily eat here and die happy.
(5)Jesse T.
The ambience is fine: friendly service and a cozy atmosphere. The food, unfortunately, is not up to par. The presentation of the dishes was solid, but ultimately the meal was a case of flash over substance as the food was underwhelming. I ordered the hanger steak with side farro salad. The salad could have been good had the ratio of ingredients been more balanced. My salad was 90% farro, 10% everything else combined. I felt like I was eating a bowl of grains rather than an artisan salad. The hanger steak entree was wholly disappointing. For $27, you receive ~5oz of rough quality meat, some spinach and garlic, and roasted potatoes. The advertised goat cheese and pancetta may have made things more interesting if they were anywhere to be found. I really wanted to like this place, but from beginning to end the meal was dissatisfying. I even picked a safe dish (hanger) to avoid disappointment but somehow the rare, tender hanger I was expecting came out tasting like slightly burnt flank. Bottom line: Their attempt to be fancy fell flat in my eyes; food was overpriced and the flavor combinations put together just did not work.
(2)Chris D.
My first time there I I found it on yelp food was fantastic service was excellent I would highly recommend it to anyone nice and cozy the appetizers were amazing the grilled salmon exceptional! Great place for a first date if you want to impress someone take them there
(4)Dawn E.
I wanted to find a BYOB restaurant Gia Visto came up in my search and I am so glad it did. This place was amazing. Nice atmosphere, great service and the food! The Beans and Greens were delicious, the Gnocchi with the Roasted Red Pepper sauce was fantastic. The Gnocchi were fresh made in house. Definitely going back.
(5)Cecilia C.
Wow this was an amazing meal. My customers picked this place for dinner and I had no idea what to expect though you will not be disappointed. Everything we had was wonderful. We started with greens and beans appetizer this was cooked properly and very fresh. The house salad was good and different with a white balsamic and yellow raisins among the many toppings. For dinner we all had different dishes though since I was a newbie they insisted I tried their dishes all 3 dishes were different though all so good. From the huge pork chops, to the Bolognese to my dish with pasta and clams I enjoyed all three. We also had a chocolate cake with ice cream which was also good. If I lived in the area I would be a regular! This is certainly going to be my go to going forward when in this part of Pittsburgh! I am so glad my clients shared this gem with me!
(4)Stephanie S.
We were very disappointed in our meals here. My family is Italian, so we love to find local, authentic Italian spots- this is not that. We were the only people here at dinner time on a Wednesday night, so I can't help but wander if the reviews are stacked? Or else from previous management? There is no way someone could find this place "charming" or "intimate"... Very odd decor and ambiance, and certainly not my idea of clean. Servers were not friendly. Bread was stale. My husband and I each ordered the chicken Romano- the chicken was thick and rubbery and the texture did not resemble anything close to chicken. The spaghetti that accompanied it was far from special- ragu and boxed noodles. The best thing about the meal were the House made salad dressings. Neither of us finished our entrees. I would not recommend this restaurant.
(1)Natalie F.
This place is a hidden gem! Super great and flavorful food. The place was getting packed around 5:30 on a Wednesday with what looked to be a middle aged crowd with lots of regulars (and lots of wine, its BYOB!). I minused a star for the menu being a little overpriced for pasta and the waitress was amazing but she was the only one in a packed dining room. Will definitely return with friends and wine!
(4)Becky Z.
I dine here a few times a year for lunch. I really like their roasted red pepper and vodka sauces on any of the pasta options (but do try the ricotta gnocchi!). Add a meatball or two and you have the makings of an excellent meal. All pastas are between 7-10 dollars and are decently portioned for lunch servings. I also very much enjoy their paninis with the chicken/goat cheese/roasted red pepper being my favorite! I never enjoyed "beans and greens" before I tried it here. I'll admit it is very tasty, with fresh tomatoes and white wine sauce. The dinner menu is larger and slightly more expensive, but lacks the lunch paninis (I'm not sure if they are still available, so ask!) Large plate stars include the flank steak and the pork shank. The place is BYOB and corking fee is a modest $4. Keep in mind, however, that the place is tiny (probably only twenty tables total)! So either make a reservation or go during lunch. They also do several "wine dinners" over the course of the year. One strange thing - it's an Italian restaurant with pictures of Prague everywhere. Not necessarily a bad thing ... just slightly out of place. SamozÅ™ejmÄ› je mi jedno. ÄŒeská Republika se mi lÃbÃ!
(4)Steph S.
Wow. The best Italian meal I've had in quite some time. I got the spinach gnocchi and farro kale salad. So fresh and flavorful. Will definitely be back. Love how it's BYOB too. You've got to try this place!
(5)Barbara F.
Had dinner this past Saturday with 2 other couples. The food was good but cold. The service was abominable. The restaurant was full, yet we saw only 2 servers. Had to ask for water twice before we got it and bread twice as well. Most of us got pasta dishes and we were never offered grated Parmesan. It took way too long to be served both salads and entrees and when the entrees finally arrived they were cold. Very disappointing.
(3)Christine B.
I'm not sure that this restaurant believes in seasoning. The pasta had no salt. The aglio e olio sauce had very little garlic. The wedding soup was way under seasoned. I was anxious to try this place, but think it will unfortunately be my first and last time.
(2)Ang B.
I read all the reviews that were posted before we made s reservation I felt good and excited to go to dine there. 6of us went there for my daughters birthday. We had a reservation for 730 on Saturday the 13 th We arrived at 720 and was seated by 730 The resturant was crowded. We were given menus and a drink order was taken When the drinks were brought to us is when all the confusion started The menu was long and all mixed up with both sides not very understandable Ok so I figured I would just ask the waitress right? Not really She didn't even understand it and had to run back in the kitchen for answers She brought bread which was homemade and good but in the basket was 6little pieces not enough for 2 people I ordered gnocchi with red roasted pepper sauce after a 5 minute dissertation on which sauces had or did not have onions At 815 roughly 35 min after we ordered I flagged the waitress down and asked her where our soups and said was She told they were coming right out Finally at 830 we got out soups and salads At 850 a young an in a grunge. Tossil cap and and t shirt brought our meals He was dirty looking (very un professional) Now the food was hot and good but the portions were very skimpy. My gnocchi were 19.50 .for that I received 13 small pieces of gnocchi. That is more than 1 dollar for each piece. I not asking for the world for 19.50 but that was ridiculous Every one else had very small portions too. Our waitress did make sure our drinks were refilled but that was all. The service although the food was good not excellent was very very poor and unprofessional. I left there knowing that the food was ok but I could not recommend this resturant to anyone and would never go back there 2 stars only because the food was ok everything else terrible Ang B
(2)Sally C.
We have enjoyed this restaurant for many years but this evening's experience will be our last. Inedible doesn't begin to describe what we experienced tonight. Bad service, congealed and over-cooked, over-seasoned pasta, substandard ingredients, incorrect orders, and disproportionately high prices. Not sure what happened here, but we won't be back to find out. It's a shame -- this used to be a great little spot. Seems like the prior staff who cared about the product has been taken over by food zombies. Stay away!
(1)April V.
Very delicious homemade Italian food. The BEST Vodka sauce and Eggplant Parm we have ever had!! Quiet and small so make reservations if its a Thurs, Fri, or Sat. And BYOB.
(5)Mark D.
Very nice Italian. Everyone in our group of 11 loved their dinner. The Penne Visto chicken is the best chicken pasta dish I have ever had. The chicken is marinated and thinly sliced. Absolutely perfect taste and texture. My sister in law loved the Trenne pasta with veal and sausage. Great veggie selection Kombocha squash risotto satisfied both of the veg people in our group. The farro salad with beets, kale, grapefruit, cranberries was quite delicious. Eggplant Parm is luscious. Service was excellent. Bonus for our group: it's BYOB. Worth passing five Italian joints to come here. Only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is the lack of whole wheat pasta.
(4)Jim I.
My wife and I were visiting the area to see relatives and came in for dinner. We found the restaurant to be warm and inviting. The pastas were homemade and the quality of the food was excellent. My wife had Romano Chicken and I had Gnocchi. The staff and service was outstanding. They made us feel very welcome.
(5)Dorothy D.
Restaurant is tucked away in a little strip mall, above a long driveway, not visible from Old William Penn. The food was probably 4 stars. Appetizers: adequate Caesar Salad, but with grated cheese rather than shaved, and no anchovies offered. Beans and Greens was dry (no broth at all), but garlicky and flavorful. Entrees: Romano chicken and pasta desperately needed more red sauce, but we never saw our server again. Roasted Salmon was the best dish of the evening - beautifully prepared with cranberry beans, fingerling potatoes, and pesto - very lovely, very tasty. The problem was the service. We arrived early, and found only a few other diners in the two -room restaurant. We were seated immediately and given water... then were ignored for a very long time. The waitress did finally appear to take our order. Three more LONG gaps ensued... before the appetizers, before the entrees, and (most annoyingly) while we were sitting there, obviously finished, holding a credit card and waiting for the check. (We finally flagged down the hostess and asked for a check.) As noted above, we would have like more red sauce with the meal... but the Absent Server made that impossible. BYOB =- $4 corking fee FIve stars for gluten-free and vegetarian menus. Nicely Done. Four stars for food - also quite nice. One star for service, and we will not be going back.
(3)