Trieste Italian Restaurant
641 Chester Pike, Prospect Park, PA, 19076
Trieste Italian Restaurant Menu
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Address :
641 Chester Pike
Prospect Park, PA, 19076 - Phone (610) 534-8191
- Website https://www.triesterestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
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.
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Steve S.
So maybe some of you who have seen my reviews before know one of my biggest laments. That is, I wish we could have great Italian restaurants in my area of Delco. When I say that, I mean the general area south of Baltimore Pike, and east of the Blue Route. I'm fully aware that I could go to Media and land in a far better gastronomical world. I just wish some of that existed in places like Glenolden, Ridley, Morton, etc. At some point I had to get a review of Trieste up here. I hadn't been here in about 6 or 7 years. Maybe that's because I never seem to have had anything that was memorable here in my life. But, I was willing to give them another shot. After all, I don't remember a time in my life when Trieste didn't exist. They've been around since 1960. At some point, you have to think the "They must be doing something right" corollary has to apply, right? Right? Well I'm going to do something mildly unique for this review, at least for me. Trieste is getting the direct comparison treatment from me against another Delco restaurant. And because they have the new found publicity from being on national tv, and I've eaten there recently to have something in my memory to compare it to, Trieste is getting the head to head comparison against the new Italian Village (post Robert Irvine makeover). Let's face it... they're two of the oldest Italian restaurants in our general area. At some point we must draw the comparison. So here we go, course by course... Bread... If any of you saw my review of IV, you know that I killed them on serving stale bread. Trieste served good soft bread on the night I went. So good, that we ordered a second basket. Edge - Trieste. Soup... It's escarole vs escarole, can't get more basic than that. I'd say that flavor-wise it's even. But, Trieste served me a cup that had at least 8 or 9 little meatballs in it. I can't remember getting that many at IV. The meatballs swayed it. Edge - Trieste. Caesar salad... the wife had this. IV upgraded theirs and I am a fan of it. Trieste's salad, as my wife put it, "is what it is". Edge - Italian Village. General entree quality... I've had good and I've had not so good at IV, even in the new atmosphere. Tonight, at Trieste, I ordered a Baked Pasta Anton special. I'd compare to something I might get at a diner. Which is to say, thoroughly average in quality. The wife was OK with her sausage scallopini made to order in rosa sauce without mushroom, but she told me it wasn't the best sauce she's had. So just like every other Italian restaurant in Delco, we will call this even. Gravy quality... had to do this category separately because it is so important. Maybe you know Italian Village's flavor to their sauce. Pretty bold, a bit acidic, I know some people who swear by it, and some who can't stand it. I've always fallen in the category of generally OK with it. But, after tasting the sauce Trieste served me tonight, I must say that I have come away with a new found respect... for Italian Village. Edge - Italian Village Prices... I can't say that I've combed over the menu and compared it price by price. Trieste still has that menu that looks like it has over 100 items to it. But I did pick out a few prices and can compare them to Italian Village's. Spaghetti and meatballs... IV is $14, Trieste is $12.95. Chicken parm... IV is $16, Trieste is $13.95. However... Lasagna is $14 at IV, $14.95 at Trieste. IV has the occasional dish that comes in lower, especially on the appetizer menu, but Trieste with more dishes in the $12 to $14 range in general just has a less expensive feel to it. Edge - Trieste. Service... I won't compare this one. I've never had a problem with service at IV. I will just say that I really appreciated the nice service Trieste gave me tonight. They do have nice ladies doing the serving that seem happy. There they get kudos. I did take advantage of the free cannoli via the check in on the Yelp app. Not bad. The shell could have used a bit more crisp. But I'd eat another one. Perhaps you could call Trieste the winner since they won one more category. But that gravy comparison is a biggie. Sorry, Trieste, but the sauce that came in the pasta dish tonight just didn't measure up flavor or texture-wise. Overall, I call it a draw. Like I said before, they must be doing something right. With that huge menu, I'm sure there are some things that are good. I just am not sure if I want to take the trial and error time in life to find out.
(3)John R.
Great food and atmosphere. Of course the bread served with dinner and Italian beer made it all good.
(5)Tom O.
Food was tasty. Service friendly. I had stuffed mushrooms and lobster ravioli with garlic bread and a Caesar salad. No complaints. Need a better wine selection to compliment the food. Why is it that it is hard to find a good glass of wine at a fair price? Seems anymore all you can get is low end wines that are way over priced. Hard to get into for parking in the rear Nice enough atmosphere, comfortable. Needs a makeover. Worth another try.
(3)Dennis H.
Alright, this one was rough. We came here because of the recommendation of a nearby hotel and also, the Yelp reviews weren't too bad either. However, my experience was just downright terrible. Well, let me rephrase that. The whole experience was not a complete bust. The staff was awesome! Very, very nice and attentive. In fact, they seemed to care so much, that I couldn't bring myself to complain directly to them. I don't doubt for a second the good intentions of the waitstaff and the owners, but I am stunned at the poor quality of the food. How anyone, be it patrons or the staff can eat these dishes and enjoy them is beyond me. The sauce was flavorless. The spaghetti was mushy. The ziti tasted like a cardboard box. The fried mozzarella were just frozen mozzarella sticks with a funky batter. The bread had a stale consistency. The butter was cold and hard and tore the bread up. The chicken cutlet was spongy. The salad was all kinds of bizarre (it had a many odd things in it like a beet, a slice of pepperoni, a small slice of cheese, tiny chick peas and it was drowning in dressing). My baked ziti was not baked at all. It was not lightly brown, bubbly, or crispy as it should have been. Instead it was chewy and sat in a puddle of soupy, oily sauce. Nothing seemed homemade or made with care. I suspect the microwave is heavily used here. In addition to the food, the decor was odd and outdated. There was also a strange bathroom air freshener in the entry way which masked what should have been a welcome scent of food. The front of the restaurant had a fishy oder. Perhaps this is what they were trying to cover-up with the air freshener? It really felt like I was inside of a Kitchen Nightmares' episode. Honestly though, had the food been outstanding, I'd actually have embraced the decor and the quirks. I'd have found it charming. That all said, I think this place survives on nostalgia and amazing customer service. Also, from what I can tell on Yelp, it appears that many have been going here since they were kids and it's pretty much all they know and what they're used to. Others have said on Yelp that the area as a whole does not have many dining options so this place is embraced as a neighborhood mainstay.
(2)Chris S.
Great food, staff is very friendly and best veal parm! I have been going to this place for year. The owner Tony always goes out of his way to say hello and make sure you are taken care of. I
(5)Jess J.
This place is convenient for lunch, I just have to order ahead, but they tell you that on the menu allow 20mins, which I can appreciate, what they don't tell you on the menu is that they are only open for lunch on Thursdays and Fridays. When I finally ordered on a Thursday I opted for a lunch sized gnocchi in rosa sauce with sausage. I also upgraded and got the red crab soup. I got there to pick up my food, it was nice that they have a parking lot, we walked into the dated establishment, it was empty, our food was ready so it was a fairly quick stop in. The customer service was pretty good, so thanks for that. I know I upgraded my soup but my meal ended up costing almost $15 which i thought was excessive for lunch that started out at 9.99. So of course I'm expecting a 5 star meal... so i get back to the office excited, unfortunately my anticipated excitement didn't really happen. The red crab soup was really spicy, I can't do spicy, but it wasn't noted on the menu. The sausage in the gnocchi was spicy, again i cant do spicy, and the gnocchi wasn't great, and the rosa sauce was bland. The star of the lunch was the roll, it was fresh delicious and i ate the entire thing.... however was it worth $15, heck no... My friend had stuffed shells which she said was good, she enjoyed the red crab soup and loved the roll as well. I'll pass on coming back, i guess good things dont always come to those who wait. Oh and I didn't get the cannoli because it was lunch not dinner :(
(3)Beverly J.
Went there to celebrate a birthday. I had egg plant parm which was actually pretty good and prices were not bad. The place is a little dated. The waitress was kind of rough. I was discussing the bill with another person in our party of 7 and the waitress out of no where breaks into our conversation and says "the TIP is not included." I was just shocked by that level of rudeness.
(3)Dave R.
So the owner emailed me on my last review with apologies. I went back tonight and it was even worse than before. My aunt and uncle were visiting from out of town, they used to come here on dates in the 70s and wanted to go and relive old memories. Appetizer was good, roasted peppers with cheese and anchovies, nice portion of roasted peppers. Our entree's came, and they completely flubbed up our orders, especially my aunt's. She got something she didn't even order and we all got different sides. Our initial waitress was very nice and kind, but the second waitress we had ( i think she was the hostess, she seated us) was very smarmy and kind of a bitch, like how dare we complain that you screwed up our order. When we finally figured it out and she walked away, she rolled her eyes, scoffed and shit talked to another waitress while we were in earshot and could see her doing it. That's not good business at all. I think the portions have gotten smaller too. I ordered veal parm, I got one piece of veal. That's $18. For that. I know I'm being fickle and it was tasty and the sauce was good and very homemade, but we won't be back.
(2)Jennifer B.
Very nice people and staff. Popular spot. Prices are reasonable. I was disappointed with the Caesar salad big time, over dressed with store bought dressing and croutons and no cheese. Main course was very good for all 4 of us. Place needs some cleaning and a bit of an update. I would go back again though. I'm on the hunt for the best Italian restaurant in the Delaware Valley. This was place number 1
(3)Diana M.
I LOVE this place! I live in the neighborhood and have been going here for 15 plus years.If I can't make a dine-in visit, I can order out &pick up. The food is just as good.( and it's GOOD)! The prices are very reasonable.The staff are ALL super-friendly and very accomodating. We feel fortunate to have such a quality restaurant right here just a few blocks away.I highly recommend it.(p.s.I'm VERY picky).UPDATE: Just got a take-out order.Ordered my usual stuffed flounder w/white sauce & garlic bread, along w/my favorite (NOT salty) escarole soup. My husband got the veal scallopini. The gravy (sauce-whatever your preference) on scallopini is excellent. You can tell by the aroma as you walk into the room. I haven't been here in a few months. This is my birthday week & this is where I chose to go. I'm NEVER disappointed, I'm picky, & I give 5 stars again.
(5)Jim B.
Only been for lunch. Good, simple menu. Good service and good service. Interior is either classic 50s art deco bar or just tired. Needs some TLC, really. Good location worthy of investing in upgrades.
(4)Christopher H.
It's a nice little place. Not a bad price for lunch. The BBQ chicken pizza was really good.
(4)Amy L.
Amazing food and service!!! Baked ravioli was delicious. Very prompt and friendly staff.
(5)Michele J.
Solid homestyle Italian food and attentive service. There isn't anything exotic or over the top here, just an extensive menu of delicious Italian pasta, sauces, and entrees. My ravioli in rosa sauce was good at dinner, but it! was even better the next day out of the refrigerator!
(3)Cliff T.
I recently learned of Trieste and I'm an instant fan! I'm in the area often, so stopped by and tried the food. The first time I had the Sicilian Meatball appetizer and it was amazing! Great flavor, ingredients, loved the peppers. The second time I had the Sunday gravy and it was very authentic. The portions are plentiful and they give your a huge meatball, sausage, and the sauce has a great natural flavor. The people are super friendly as well. Being from NJ originally, I know good food when I eat it and this is the real deal. I was surprised to find such amazing food in this little gem; you would never know it driving by. I would definitely recommend it if you are used to "real Italian." If you don't like this food, you're either so used to chain food that you don't know what real Italian is supposed to taste like or you just don't have good taste. I'm looking forward to trying various selections from the menu.
(4)Gigi C.
I wanted something other than hotel food. I found this restaurant on yelp. It was close to my hotel but too far to walk. It had a very homey feeling to it. It is a family owned & operated for over 50 years. The menu is extensive. However, everything is made to order & delicious. I had a side order of the lobster ravioli & crab stuffed mushrooms for and appetizer. That was more than enough food. They offer a Tuesday 4 course special for $15.95. Excellent place!
(5)Tory M.
Most of the abysmal reviews I've read for Trieste come from out-of-towners. I guess you have to be a native Southeast Delcoite, as I am, to understand this restaurant best. Yeah, the salad features white lettuce year 'round, even in the summer, and the place smells musty (50+ years' worth of Italian-food aromas are obviously permanently embedded in the walls and carpets), and the food is good but too simple and basic to compete with that of the more elegant restaurants of Philly and the Main Line, but that's why most of the people in Southeast Delco love Trieste. This food tastes closest to the Italian food we've all eaten growing up. You want something fancy? Go to Philly or the Main Line. This is basic Italian for those of us living in the gastronomic wasteland that is Southeast Delco. Trieste is where Southeast Delcoites come for what they call a fancy dinner, so keep that in mind. It isn't a ritzy place, so if that's what you want, look for it elsewhere. This is the place to come to if you want decent Italian food at a price that won't totally kill your wallet.
(5)Robert K.
Out of town business trip, remembered this Place last year on a similar trip, my grandparents and aunts/uncles used to take me when I was a kid visiting from MD and I am 56 now. This place is fabulous. I have never bought sauce to take home before, and so did one of the other guys I took there. My veal was awesome. So were the dishes of the other two. They gave me kudo's for taking them but it's all due to the restaurant. Nice job! Great service, Michele was very nice and very helpful, this place is legit times 5!!!!!
(4)Phil D.
Monday - June 18, 2012 - 6:30PM Who hasn't dined at an Italian restaurant? Everyone has their favorites. I recently sampled the food at Trieste restaurant in Prospect Park, Pa. The interior is dated but, clean and welcoming. The service was good - the servers pleasant. Italian bread was served with the usual "seasoned oil". I had the Italian Trio - Baked Manicotti, Cannelloni Trieste, and a piece of Chicken Parmigiana served with Tomato Sauce for $13.99. If you're looking for decent Italian food with good service and a welcoming atmosphere. I recommend Trieste restaurant.
(3)Rebecca L.
We love this little local place. The menu is large so there is something for everyone. We always order a bottle of wine and the delicious garlic bread. I love their pastas and the salad is delicious. Everything is simple, traditional and not overdone. I think the biggest flaw in most restaurants now are trying to do too much and make simple food "fancy". But Trieste does simple good and that's all they need to do! The service is good - The servers could use a few lessons in wine and pairings but their smiles make up for everything. We'll be back!!
(4)Eric M.
First impressions are that restaurant impossible would have a field day with the decor and the massive menu! Unfortunately, it didn't get better from there. The salad looked like something you'd get at a high school lunch line- frosted glass bowl from the 1990's with bag iceburg lettuce, half a slice of provolone, a random piece of pepperoni and a slice of beet, served with the dressing in a little plastic cup. Not impressive at all. I had the Chicken Rachel, with the Gnocchi on the side- the portion is mammoth, so you certainly won't suffer from a lack of food, but it was unseasoned, and the marinara had obviously been overcooked. Marinara is not meant to be cooked down for hours like a ragu is- it should be red from the tomatos, not brown, and this was served on both the chicken and the Gnocchi. The gnocchi should be soft pillows with a nice flavor on their own, but again, suffering from a lack of any salt or other seasonings made them tasteless dough pillows. I will say the service was really good, the staff was super friendly and checked in several times, but at this point the back of the house and the decor is where they are missing the boat. There were several booths that had been repaired with some metal angle iron- stuck out like a sore thumb, and the bathroom, although clean, hadn't been updated since what appeared to be the 1960's. (Probably the last time the overall restaurant had been updated to be totally honest. I don't leave a lot of bad reviews, but I'm really surprised at the 4 and 5 stars that fellow yelpers are leaving- I'd put these guys in about the same category of Fazoli's (Italian fast food chain). Recommendations for the owner are two 1) Cut back the menu, particularly the last page. You don't need to have an American section in an Italian restaurant- which is mostly what that last page is. You don't come to an italian restaurant for Maryland style crab cakes! 2) Pay attention to seasonings. Flavor is more important than portion size! I know that updating decor is expensive, so I get it on that side, but that can slide with your service being great and the food being awesome. You've got the service side so please work on the food!
(2)Jennifer S.
We found this restaurant by searching on Yelp as we needed to grab a meal while traveling. We also wanted a restaurant to celebrate our son's birthday and Father's day. This place was perfect. The staff was extremely attentive, and made our son feel special by bringing him a piece cake with a candle. We love Italian and this food was great. Highly recommended!
(5)Scott G.
This place reminds me of the old neighborhood places I used to go to as a child. It's has a casual, family style to it. The decor is reminiscent of an old Italian restaurant you might have seen 20 years ago. It was clear that it was a favorite among the locals. This is not the kind of place for a fancy anniversary dinner but it is the place for some very good food and laid back atmosphere. The food was very good but not quite great. Having said that, this place is definitely worth your time and money to check out. I hope nice neighborhood places like this never go away!
(4)Karen M.
We love Trieste! Their homemade pasta is so fresh and delicious and their basic red sauce is amazing. The warm bread and their salads!...I could make a meal just out of those. I have mostly had linguine or Chicken Parm, which I love, but my adult kids get the gnocchi in Rosa sauce which they rave about. Basic Spaghetti and Meatballs is a favorite, too. The service has always been good to excellent, we like the atmosphere and the different rooms. The prices are reasonable, too. Any desserts we're tried have been wonderful and mixed drinks are also tasty...try the Irish Cream coffee after your meal! The only thing I've ever gotten at Trieste that I didn't like was their lemonade, so all in all, I'm very impressed!
(5)Kevin Y.
What a surprise! We brought a large group, not typically the place for groups. The food however was great. Fresh seafood, clams were fantastic and seafood appetizers were to die for. Small place, but from the large selection of food we all ordered to share, they handled us well. As for Italian, it was classic, well made, I did have fish which was fantastic and for a local restaurant pub like atmosphere, I'll be back. Just what I like when coming from out of town. Something the locals come to because it is comfort and inexpensive.
(4)Tony S.
Great homely atmosphere, perfect portion sizes, very friendly service and fantastic home-cooked Italian food. Highly recommended.
(4)Jessica H.
Ate dinner here tonight. Wanted good Italian and hadn't been here in years so gave it a try. Sadly, I was disappointed. Service was excellent and friendly and it wasn't dimly lit like years ago. For an established Italian restaurant it was not authentic. I spent $60 on dinner for two- the oil for bread was too salty, bread was nothing special, the salad came straight from a bag, the gravy was too sweet and the pasta was definitely not homemade. For the money I could have done better at home. I wanted it to be good because like so many others I had eaten here over many years way back when. Italian food should be satisfying in a way only good Italian food can. Sadly, this was not. For the prices, $16-$18 per pasta entree/special, it should have been sooo much better.
(2)Nik K.
Trieste makes no excuses for what it is - an old school family owned restaurant in DelCo with pretty good food. It reminds me of home, which is why I keep going back. The services is usually excellent, especially the raspy-voiced waitresses during the week who say "ya need anything else, hun?" The food is pretty solid. I've had better sauce, but the portions are great and usually cooked well. They are also very fast. You get a salad and bread as well, which is unusual around the Philadelphia area. I'd definitely take people here simply for the experience.
(4)Jill J.
Meals at Trieste make you feel like you've never left home. It is authentic, home made Italian food. The mixed drinks are delicious, and they have so many desserts to choose from. The prices are so cheap for the amount of food you get. I can never finish a whole meal there, so I always have leftovers for the next day! Parking is great for being on Chester pike, and the service is always fast. I love this place!
(5)Tom E.
I am so bummed that there is not a great Italian restaurant in Delco. I so wanted this one to live up to its reputation as a decent Italian spot but it didn't. There were some great things I experienced here: the friendly woman who answered the phone and took my take out order, the nice bartender who served me a drink while I waited, the dynamite special that included a mini cannoli AND an appetizer of tasty fried ravioli at no extra cost. But baked zit that doesn't come with ricotta cheese and just mozzarella melted on top? A way too salty escarole soup that is supposed to be the house specialty? Cesar side salad was ok - not the crispiest lettuce but sufficient. Maybe I didnt order the right thing but come on - any Italian restaurant that has been in business the number of years that this place has ought to know how to do this dish right. Makes me wonder just how low the bar is around Delco for this spot to have survived all these years. I can cook better than this.
(2)Glenn V.
Came here based on our hotel's recommendation. The restaurant smelled musty and old. When we were seated in a mostly empty restaurant, we were given un-warmed, un-toasted bread that tasted like it was from a package. While ordering, the server asked us if we wanted Spicy Crab Soup, or Wisconsin Cheddar Soup, so we ordered one of each in place of salad. While we were told the spicy was spicy, we weren't expecting overly spicy to the point of unable to tolerate. The Cheddar was OK. My wife had the spaghetti with white clam sauce. The pasta was unsalted and flavorless, while the clam sauce was no better than rubber bands which seemed to come from a can. She was only able to choke down a few bites and left it unfinished. My spaghetti in oil and garlic had a vague garlic flavor, but I could not find any bits or pieces of garlic, so they probably only used garlic powder? When we received the check, they had charged extra for the oil and garlic, and also for the soups.... when we pointed out that the menu mentioned soup or salad was included, we were given an argument that only the escarole soup was included, and anything else was an up-charge. (Menu only mentions an up-charge for Red Crap Soup.... nothing else). We were thoroughly disgusted and still hungry, but paid our bill, left an undeserved tip, and left. This place needs Robert Irvine's help!
(1)Marie W.
not sure how this place got a Zagat rating. I think they took the sticker from another restaurant and placed it on their front door. Food is very bland, needs salt...I think. Olive Garden spins circles around this place. If I go to a restaurant and the food is good, I don't care about decor, but here the food and decor is awful. I will have to say I tried this place several times hoping I just got a bad dish the time before. Not so much. I'm sorry. I'm a bit suspicious of the 4 star ratings, either they have paid someone to post them, or people just don't know any better.
(1)Jay M.
Was a good choice for Italian, Big portions, Fair price
(4)Louis C.
Excellent place to get good Italian food. Have been coming here for countless years. Great service. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone who likes Italian food.
(5)Bud J.
I have lived in this area my whole life and have only eaten at the Trieste in the 1970's. I decided to try it again since I am hoping for a really good restaurant in the area. Well... the search continues. I looked at their menu on-line and was very impressed by the selection, HUGE. I was also surprised at the prices; seemed a little steep, especially for spaghetti. Went there with high expectations. Boy, was I wrong. Turns out my review is identical to: Aurora M (10/26/11). First, the beer. Not even a pint glass and was not filled to the top. $5. But okay... Next - the salad. How do you get a salad that is white lettuce IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER!! The Gateway diner on MacDade gives you the best green salad, even in the middle of the WINTER. Also the salad was swimming in dressing with 1 measly piece of pepperoni. Uneatable. My friend got a salad and they had a raspberry vinaigrette. They brought her a pouch of Kraft Dressing... IN A POUCH. The kind you get at WaWa. That was probably the most tacky thing I have ever seen in a restaurant. I ordered the mussels appetizer. They were huge in size but had absolutely no flavor, even though they were in a "white wine sauce". My dinner was the Pasta ?? Casserole. Was supposed to have mushrooms, sausage, pasta and mozzarella cheese melted on top. The mushrooms were RAW, the sausage was plain ground meat (and very little of it), the gravy was watery and the cheese was just a large clump on top. TERRIBLE! And at $15! Won't even go into what my friend had. Just as bad. I really would like to know what these other people ate that they liked so much? This was the worse Italian food I ever had. The prices are high to begin with, but you don't mind paying a lot if it's good. This was robbery! $15 for spaghetti. What are they smoking over there? I wouldn't go back even if it was free. Eat at your own risk.
(1)Don S.
Staff is friendly and service your table throughout the meal. Portions are plentiful. Decor outdated but overall the food is good and prices are affordable.
(4)Lee D.
Great food at very reasonable prices if you hadn't tried lately I think it is time to revisit Great service and the owners are on hand to greet their customers
(5)Ed M.
Try the crab soup - SPICY! One time we were here, my menu had no prices. Turns out that meant my meal was free! What a nice treat!
(4)Sarah N.
Found this by accident when the restaurant we planned on was full, and I'm glad we did. It was less expensive, casual, and comfortable. The music was loud enough to be a presence but not too loud to talk. There are several booths, which I like. The food is basic but generous; we both brought half our dinners home. The staff was very friendly.
(4)Christine S.
I've been going here for years. They have great food and good service without trying too hard. They have the best bruschetta in the area- hands down! Great menu selection
(5)Jonathan L.
I work near the airport, on the Delco side. As anyone who has visited this area knows, it is a gastronomic wasteland... an absolute nightmare for someone who wants a meal consisting of something other than cheesesteaks or chicken wings. As such, I am on the constant lookout for quality lunch venues. Trieste falls firmly into that category. For under $10, one can enjoy a selection of pastas and sandwiches, a choice of meatballs or sausage, and a side of soup or salad. The food is simple South Philly style stuff - not life changing - but solid and enjoyable. Stellar deal! Beyond lunch, they offer every possible variation on every possible South Philly Italian standby. I would avoid the bar though because (beyond being in Delco) it seems like a bit of a cougar den / old man bar. I'm a fan!
(4)Jessica R.
Meh - Trieste is great at the classics (baked ziti!). The atmosphere is very dated and has an odd odor. No doubt it's the carpet. Anyway, service is good, food is either really good or blah, depending on what you order. For my money, I'll go to the newer Italian place 1 block up.
(2)Todd K.
Friendly service, but couldn't make up for the worst chicken Marsala that I've ever had. Simply one and a half? boiled chicken breasts in a gray sauce with mushrooms-very low on taste. My partners food looked good, but what I had would not compel me to return.
(2)Francie T.
It's a great place to eat for a first date, a family or any event! Everything on the menu is made to order and is just delicious! Great and attentive wait staff!
(5)Danielle A.
although the food at this place is awesome. its clear the cater to a family style crowd...not like a couple of foodie kids who want good eats. i have to say, the staff was nice (to everybody else but my little squad). we went on a rainy evening with some coworkers..and i have to say, the portion sizes, the taste and the price was all good...but i just felt like having a seat in the corner rather than the booth we asked for...sitting next to the crying baby with a very inattentive mother..and well the rain..kinda messed up the experience for me....well i never kick a place while its down...but i have to say, maybe a second go round will work...some day!
(4)Julie C.
Found this place via Yelp while visiting Philadelphia. It was great! The service was casual but VERY attentive. Best sauce ever!
(4)Carolyn M.
I have lived in the Interboro area my entire life and drive past Trieste, on average, once a day. It's been a staple in my neighborhood for as long as I can remember, and yet, I had never been there until last night. I have to say, I was less then impressed. Let me start by saying the service was wonderful. Our host greeted us and, since the place was totally empty, asked us which seating we'd prefer. My date and I chose a booth, which I immediately regretted. There was one other table sitting in a booth across from us and I felt like we were all just talking to each other. Maybe it was because there was nobody else there, but my date and I were whispering to each other as to not have our conversation broadcast throughout the restaurant. Secondly, the tables were very narrow. The menu's are huge (a plus) and the two of us sitting across from each other barely had enough room to look through them. (granted, we are both very tall (5'11 and 6'3) so that may have had something to do with it as well. As far as how it looked inside...I guess some people would call it "old Italian charm", but I just thought it looked horribly out-dated and maybe even pushing dingy. The layout did not flow at all, but I'll admit, it did have that "I've been here for over 50 years" feel to it. We started with the bread, which was forgettable, but not bad. The oil it came with, though appearing to be seasoned, just tasted like oil. So I ordered some roasted red peppers to go with the bread, which I will say, were phenomenal. I was sad to have to share them! As for dinner, I ordered the tri-color tortellini in alfredo sauce with grilled chicken. My date ordered the chicken parm. First comes out the salads, which were laughable. I kid you not when I tell you it was a small plate of questionable iceburg lettuce, with 1 thin piece of pepperoni, a 1 inch triangle of...maybe american cheese...?, 2 olives, and a slice of a beet. Now I don't expect much from the pre-meal salad, but this was laughable. I just kept thinking "Man...if Robert Irvine could see this...". Our meals came out, and they both looked great. I'm not a chicken parm person so I'm really none-the-wiser, but my date mentioned that the portion of chicken was pretty small and that most places will give you 2 pieces of chicken or at least a big, thick piece, while his was thin and not all that big. My pasta dish was swimming in alfredo, which is exactly how I like it. :) However, once I tried it, I was really disappointed. It was really, really bland. The pasta was cooked fine, the chicken tasted well enough, but the sauce, bleck. No flavor at all. It wasn't runny or anything...very creamy. Just tasteless. I added some crushed red pepper and parmesan cheese to try and bring out some taste, and it helped a little, but was still less then impressed. From what I hear of the chicken parm., it was "pretty good...I've had better." All in all, I'm giving this a 3 star instead of 2 because the women who work there were very sweet and very upbeat. Our server was as attentive as we needed her to be (not overly since we were obviously on a date, but was there when we needed her for drinks, clean-up, etc.). It took me 29 years to go there this first time so who knows if I'll make it back. If it were suggested to me, I would give it another shot and maybe try something in a different sauce (though I'm not a big tomato or marinara sauce gal...I'm Irish. Give me a break.). But there are better Italian places that are only 10, 15 minutes from this place.
(3)Morgan W.
Considering the lack of restaurants in the area, Trieste is a gem. After eating nothing but diner food for days, I was ready for a good meal of pasta. I placed an order to go from my hotel, then ventured out to find the restaurant. After passing it twice, I finally saw the sign, and was thankful for the 5-minute takeout parking, since the lot was full. When I got back to the hotel, I was shocked by the size of the portion of pasta: it was huge! We're talking enough to feed three people huge. The pasta was really overcooked, and the sauce was just ok. The meatballs, however were fabulous. I agree with the earlier commentary regarding the pepperoni and cheese on the side salad, a little more of both would have been nice. The lemoncello cake was one of the best things I've had in quite a while, which made me sad that the portion was so tiny. To be fair, though, I think I could have eaten an entire pan of the dessert...it was so lemony and fluffy. I gladly would have paid a dollar or two more for a larger piece. If I'm ever in the area again, I would stop by just for dessert!
(3)