I've been going to Ariano for a couple of years now; started very shortly after they opened up. The restaurant is very attractive, like somebody stated in an earlier post. The pizza is great and there are so many options to choose from. They used to be a BYOB but starting in November 2012 they acquired a liquor license (sad face). The service is typically very friendly, although because I know one of the managers my opinion may be a little biased. They do have plastic plates and glasses, which I was told one time is because they have a very steep spiral staircase that leads to the 3rd level of seating and at one point glasses/plates were dropped and broken (yikes). I have never dealt with my pizza getting soggy because of the plastic plates, but then again that's probably because I eat so quickly haha! Their gelato is also great, which I usually get with an espresso for dessert. If you're looking for pizza/Italian and you're in Media, I'd suggest Ariano for something a little different. read more

Mmmmm delicious pizzas and a nice atmosphere. I went here in the summer and sat on the second floor with the windows all open and it made for a nice lunch date. Like most other places in Media the tables were cramped but it was too busy so it was manageable. The pizzas were very good and they have quite a few to choose from. Hopefully I'll try the bakery downstairs as that also looked very good. This place isn't to die for but it's definitely somewhere to try. read more

You know you found a gem when you start planning what you will try the next time. We went in for a lunch, the place was small and inviting. Food was amazing perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned. Every bite was heavenly. I know it is probably wrong to get cocktails with Italian food but I enjoyed "I can't complain" with my Risotto read more

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Love love love!!!! Did I say Love!!!!??! My first time at Ariano was new years eve 2013 and I fell in love the food is amazing, great atmosphere cozy but very very nice. The owner personally said hello during my dinner. Needless to say Ive gone back again and again and again, I have yet to dislike anything on the menu the food here amazes me over and over again, if I had to pick my favorite dish I'd have to say the entire menu! They always have specials which I highly recommend. Drinks specials are also yummy the sangrias are the best, and BONUS Sun-Tues is BYOB. Staff is very friendly and helpful. And I absolutely must not finish this review without mentioning their homemade gelato! To-die-for the flavors are always different and are sure to leave you wanting more. Enjoy! read more

FLEE! Unhonored reservation. Unremarkable food served way, way too slowly and often at the wrong temperature. We've been married nearly 51 years. Our visit to Ariano today has joined three other restaurant visits as one of our worst ever. We took our daughter and three granddaughters out to a special lunch to celebrate a graduation. Our visit to Ariano will be one we will laugh about long into the future at family gatherings. We made a reservation. When we showed up, they hadn't set up anything for us. A table was assembled and the 6 of us were seated. We ordered. We waited. My daughter and I each ordered something that came with a Caesar salad. The two salads arrived relatively promptly and were adequate. One granddaughter's Nutella pizza arrived after about 45 minutes and was shared by several of us as we were very hungry. After we had been waiting about an hour, I asked a server if the chef had died. She explained they were really busy this day. From then on, 5 additional items were served. Only 2 of those items were served together. My daughter's veal medallions appetizer arrived next. They were cold. My granddaughters shared fried shrimp. They were cold. Rolls were then served at this time rather than at the beginning of the meal. Although they appeared to be hearth-baked, they were cold. My wife's salad arrived next and was unremarkable - it was just a salad with no added protein. We couldn't fathom why it had taken so about an hour and 15 minutes to prepare. A pizza being shared by two granddaughters arrived with my panini. The pizza was burned and otherwise unremarkable. One side of the panini was severely burned, but mysteriously the contents were nearly cool. We were served the last item about an hour and a half after we arrived. I asked for and paid the bill. It was returned without my credit card. After a search by the restaurant staff it was found on the floor behind the bar. Have a good experience? You'll tell a few people. Have a bad experience? You'll tell everyone you encounter. We'll be sharing our experience at Ariano. read more

I'm conflicted..... Let's start by saying it was full but with little to no line when we arrived on a Sunday night to try the place out. We had to wait maybe 10 minutes for a table to be cleared off and then were seated promptly. We had three different people come over right away to get drinks, talk about specials, etc. Then we got our waiter...... The worst part of the whole meal was the service. It was bad in a way that didn't make me angry....it just made me feel bad for the guy. You could tell he was new to the restaurant, maybe new to serving all together. He forgot our soup, was slow with water refills, etc. But was crazy nice and very apologetic. The food was good. My pizza was awesome, the girlfriend's was good, her mom's was ok. Her dad got the fish special which he enjoyed greatly. Gelato was above average, but they were out of a lot of flavors (end of the weekend perhaps?). We'll definitely be back to try it again, it definitely earned a second trip at the bare minimum. read more

Amazing love this place !!! Amazing food . Staff is always friendly and engaging. We come here at least once a month and we are never disappointed. read more

Pizza is good, but I love the mussels! I feel like they skimp a bit on the cheese and toppings. Really nice waiters. Great price for a somewhat fancy place. read more

Ariano - Pizza Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

PART 1 of my Saturday bang-bang. I woke up this past Saturday, made some coffee and sat outside. The sun was shinning, the birds were chirping and there was absolutely no humidity in the air. I could not waste such a perfect day like this by sitting around, it needed to be special. In all of my glutinous glory, I decided that a bang-bang in Media would be perfect. What is a bang-bang? A bang-bang is when you go to a restaurant and eat a full meal. Immediately after you're done, you walk out the door and go to your next destination, followed by.....you guessed it! Another full meal. Bang-bang's are best experienced with 2 totally different types of foods. Italian : Chinese Indian : Sushi The possibilities are endless...I contacted a friend who's appetite is just as ravenous as mine and we were off. As we were doing our menu window shopping throughout media, Ariano's really grabbed my eye. I must have walked by this place a dozen times and never paid it any mind. The menu is classic Italian but also has some dishes that you don't see very often. We agreed that this will be our first destination and we were seated in their outside, upstairs section. What an amazing view! If you decide to give this place a try and the weather permits, get the outside eating. Down to business. For some reason I am unable to find the exact name of the dish I had from their online menu, which leads me to believe that it was fairly new possibly? It was a bed of risotto with their amazing home-made tomato sauce, light oil, accompanied with little neck clams, shrimp, mussels and baby scallops. Wow! I could not believe how fresh the sea-food was. Another great thing was that this meal was fairly affordable and they did not skimp out on the seafood ingredients. The only aspect of the meal I would change is less butter in the risotto. This by no means had a negative effect on the meal, it was more of just a personal preference. This is one of those places where you cannot wait to really explore their menu. I like to think I may have played it a little safe with a dish like this but I am looking forward to trying some of their more authentic Italian dishes. PART 2 of the bang-bang, See "Dominic's Hand Carved Roast Beef and Roast Pork". read more

Great and fresh addition to Media! The service was impeccable but they were out of a lot of ingredients including the whole wheat dough which I wanted to try. The pizza was great, and I topped off the meal with a scoop of chocolate gelato. Even drank Oranciatta Pellegrino to top off the Italian experience. Perfection I tell u! Thank u Ariano! read more

Ariano - Pizza Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

An Italian restaurant where you won't find pasta on the menu. The food is always good. The service is always good. The wine menu by the glass is getting stale. Time for new selections. It's one of our go-to places for dinner. read more

We came here for dinner expecting a BYO (as advertised on their website) but when we arrived it was written that it is only BYO on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays and it was a Saturday. We considered canceling out reservation to go elsewhere and when we notified (who I assume is) the owner that we were canceling and he asked why, we politely explained we were expecting a BYO and would come back another night. He promptly asked us to stay and said he would allow us to bring our wine and that "I don't want to lose a first time costumer." That started me off in a positive direction for sure. Our food was good, we got the artichoke appetizer - which was heavy but amazing. We also got the tuna which was delicious and the filet minion - which was good but not great. For dessert we ordered two of the gelato liqueur pairings which were delicious, although it's probably hard to mess up, they have definitely come up with some great matches. Overall it was a great experience, the service was amazing and the owner was gracious and welcoming. I will definitely be back, in large part for their hospitality! read more

Love this place, the food is amazing and reasonable priced. They also have the best margarita!

I went to Ariano's on a Saturday night around 6 pm. We were promptly greeted and seated by the friendly host. We sat upstairs on the 3rd floor which gave us an incredible view of the paintings on the ceiling; such a pretty sight! The food in this restaurant is devine! We were with a party of 5 and ate lots of heavenly food! I'll start with the appetizers...our group ordered mussels in red sauce. These yummy suckers were served in a delicious bread bowl. The mussels were served hot and they were so tasty. The bread bowl was so good, we started picking at it and wound up eating that, too! We also ordered two salads. The first one was called the Romangulo. It came with pistachio nuts, sliced granny smith apples, gorgonzola cheese spread throughout the salad with a red raspberry dressing, and red onions sliced nice and thin! The other salad was made with a gorgonzola cheese dressing. They were both fresh, crisp, and the portion was plentiful. We shared with our group since the portions were so big! Another person in our party ordered the Zia Ernesta which is mozzarella with fresh tomatoes and olives...the word fresh does not do the tomato quality justice. These tomatoes were so yummy it was like they were just picked from the vine. Oh, dear, don't let me forget the meatballs! These were on special the evening we went and we were told they may go on the late night menu as a permanent food choice. We told our waiter they should be put on the regular menu --- yes, they are that good! These meatballs were seriously the size of softballs. We had ordered two plates of these. They have cheese on the inside of the meatballs, and there is also melted cheese draped on the top of them. The red sauce on top of the meatballs complemented this appetizer. One person at my table made a comment about how he could eat 10 of thee things. He's right! They were incredible! I'm a big carb person, so found the fresh bread they served us to be heaven! The bread was hearty, and fresh from the oven! A carb queen's dream come true! Pass the butter, please! We wound up sharing all of the entrees since there were so many of us. Two people in my party had the filet...out of this world and cooked to perfection! The filets were covered in a glaze with gorgonzola cheese on top. Another person had a seafood medley type of dish which was called Otino Cioppino. This dish had snapper, shrimp, bay scallops, calamari, mussels, clams, and hot sausage served over risotto. The dish was HUGE and delicious, to say the least. It was served with a red sauce that was to die for! Another person had the Pazzo Marco which is Panko Crusted Lobster Risotto balls stuffed with lump crab meat...and lots of it! It was covered in a basil pesto sauce with and fontina cheese. This dish was in my top 2 favorite of the evening. It was amazingly delicious! I ordered the Esperanza entree. This was my other favorite entree of the evening. It's spinach and ricotta cheese layered between lightly breaded eggplant served with a vodka. Again, a huge hit at my table! The bread crumb layers were just the right amount and the eggplant was super delish! The sauce served on top of this entree was a homerun hit! Many of the entrees we ordered came with a baked potato and vegetables. The veggies looked like they were grilled. They were fresh and cooked just right! Now....onto the improtant part...dessert! Our group shared a thin crusted pizza dessert that was covered in nutella. If you're a fan of this hazelnut chocolate spread, this is the dish for you! Each slice had a fresh strawberry on it and a sprinkling of powdered sugar. We ordered a bunch of gelato and athey brought us a bunch of sppons so we could share it. My favorite of the evening was the cinnamon, which tasted like a yummy for your tummy cinnamon cookie! We also tried lemon...the taste was very refreshing! There was also a hazelnut gelato which was decadent, and a vanilla that had chocolate swirled through it. Is there any better way to end your evneing of good food? Yes! With the dessert they served us! It was unreal! Our waiter was funny, kind and most importantly attentive. He met our ever need throughout our dining experience at this restaurant. He made sure we were happy and had everything we needed throughout the evening. What more could a girl want? The owner of the restaurant came around to each table to chat and find out how everyone's meals were. What good customer service! He was friendly, attentive, and made sure our dining experience was the best on possible! We let him know how happy we were with our food and overall dining experience. Really, it doesn't get any better than this restaurant! I highly recommend this Ariano's --- it was a huge hit for everyone at our table. We will definitley be returning back for one of the best dining experiences we ever had ! Cheers to Ariano's! read more

If you like pizza, Italian settings, and a nice place to eat than you'll really like Arianos. Ive eaten there a few times and I haven't had a bad experience yet. The food has always been really great and the service is always on key! Ive always only had the pizzas there, which are almost like gourmet pizzas. These aren't your average pizza hut, local pizza joint pies, no these are almost like beefed up flat breads in a way. A ton of different varieties that you can try something new each time. They used to be BYOB but as of recently they just got their liquor license and now charge for opening your wine and are slowly phasing it out. That was a bummer but I spoke with the bartender and when he told me the different beers they would be bringing in shortly it raised my spirits! Beers from Italy and other great craft beers! The place itself is a really neat building too with two floors and a neat little loft area with seating and windows all around. The ceiling has a great mural as well which I heard was the story of the owners family over in Italy. Definitely a great place to take a night and try it out! read more

Met some friends here for dinner when I was in town for business, and we all took advantage of their $30 on Tuesday deal: Any (non-special) salad or appetizer, plus any entree or pizza, plus gelato. (After I got home, I looked at the menu online, and realized that the combination of items that I ordered totaled $30, so I saved a whole $0 by ordering more food than I wanted! What a deal! That's my own fault, though, and no reflection on the restaurant.) My appetizer, pan fried artichoke hearts rolled in prosciutto and drizzled with a pesto cream sauce, was not only delicious but beautifully plated. My pizza had eggplant, zucchini and peppers sauteed with garlic and pine nuts, drizzled with olive oil, topped with asiago. I would have preferred it with roasted garlic, to be honest; the garlic was minced and barely cooked, so it was a little too pungent. The hazelnut gelato was served in a coffee cup, three decent sized scoops, and tasted divine. They had Crabbies Orange Ginger Beer on their drink specials, which was a nice bonus. We had excellent service, the view from the second floor was quite pleasant, the decor is lovely. I brought half a pizza back to my hotel. I ended up forgetting it in the hotel fridge, which was a little disappointing until I realized there was no way I would be able to eat the undercooked garlic for lunch and remain in polite company. read more

I do love to eat at Ariano's but the last time I was there, the service was really bad. I'm hoping that doesn't happen again because their food is delicious! read more

We went to Ariano last week for our an anniversary date night. Our service was great, the pizza and gelato was delicious and the bottles of wine were well priced. We had a great time and we'll definitely be back. read more

Definitely one of my top five pizzas in Delaware County. Unlike the standard pizzeria, where the customer requests the toppings and sizing, each pizza at Ariano is its own entity, blended with ingredients that work in concert. The difference is not unlike drinking at a dive bar versus a brewpub; if you have expectations on how pizza should be made this isn't the place for you, but if you're willing to try something new and different, you're in for a treat. There are at least 30 different pizzas listed on the menu, and it's constantly changing. However, if you had something you liked that's not on the menu, the staff are happy to prepare it for you. I'm particularly fond of the Regina: hot sausage, grilled portobello, fresh mozzarella, basil pesto, and stewed tomatoes. Each pizza is 12" in diameter and slightly greasy, light on the bread but big on crust. The layering of the toppings is by no means traditional; there's no bed of cheese over the sauce, everything is spread throughout the surface, sometimes making each bite quite literally a different experience. Since I enjoy the pizza so much I rarely get anything else, but the Zia Rosa, which is panko crusted artichoke hearts rolled in prosciutto, is delightful. There's a great selection of beer, wine, and liquor, though I fear the bar is a bit pricey. The only real knock on Ariano stems from its popularity; it's a small restaurant, despite being three floors, so you're likely to rub elbows with nearest table and have difficulty navigating out of your seat. If you go when it's not as busy, though, the ambiance is spectacular. read more

Went last night for dining under the stars. However they stopped seating people outside because of potential rain. Well it rained for 5 minutes and when it stopped they were the only restaurant to still not have outside seating. We only went out last night for duts. Then we had to sit in a room that was so loud you could not have a conversation. And to top it off the pizza was still raw when it came out. We asked them to cook it more and the waiter had to check to see if the kitchen would do that. The kitchen agreed and we got it back 2 minutes later and it was still cold and raw but with a little char on top. Lastly they didnt bring out our drinks until after we had finished our meal. I dont think we will be going back when there are so many other options in media. read more

this place is a true staple of Media PA. Plenty of seating, amazing food, incredible beer and cocktail selection. Wow, idk who Arianio is or if hes a human being, but he's clearly Dat Dude! read more

My favorite dish, are the Mussels!!!! They have white or red sauce to choose from. The best part is, it comes in a bread basket. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff. read more

I'm actually a little bummed to write this, but I feel the need to do so. I'm sad, because for the most part, the place is good. The Gelato was delicious, the pizzas were good (not the best I've had, but for Media, they are well ahead of the curve) and the service is friendly and attentive. However, I feel the need to say that we probably won't be back because I feel very ripped off. The place has a beer list including a selection of Italian craft beers. I got one of these and it was fine, but there were no prices listed and upon getting the bill, it turned out one beer cost $18.00. Yes, one beer, $18.00 with no indication of the price. I think that is a very shady way to squeeze a few more dollars out of customers and I just can't condone it. Go if you want some good pizza and very good gelato, but you have to be aware that they are not shy about gouging you on the beer. read more

It is a pity, but the reservations and seating at this place did not work at all. We've earned a very rude welcome. Our open table reservation was totally ignored and they let us wait for 30 minutes. The food came after additional 30 minutes and was okayish...not overwhelmed at all. Next time maybe just a pizza for takeout ... read more

Good food. Very nice staff. Filet tips on a bed of rosotto!

Just had another great dinner tonight. We sat outside . Our server was professional, friendly, attentive, I can't say enough. Love this place and the staff. read more

This is a really good Italian restaurant. They have good pasta and clams with this AMAZING bread bowl. The only complaint I have is their consistency with pizzas and servers. I get one really attentive nice one and one that acts like I'm a inconvenience if I need something. Other then that the apps are great and the pasta. read more

I saw another reviewer say this place is not vegan friendly because they don't have pasta. They're an Italian restaurant that specializes in pizza. I also follow a vegan diet and the last time I went I got a pizza, no cheese, with a variety of roasted vegetables, garlic, and olive oil. There's no need to get a plain tomato pie here, unless you're a vegan who doesn't eat any vegetables. read more

Great food and lots of gluten free options. Service was fast and very friendly. Great outdoor seating! read more

Ariano - Great gluten free pizza! - Pizza Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

Came in for dinner with two friends 25 mins before closing and they were super nice about it. Waiter and other staff member made great food suggestions. Service was quick and attentive. Food was delicious. Would definitely recommend and will return. Prices for pizza aren't bad. Entrees and appetizers are on the more expensive side but not terrible. read more

Ariano - Pizza Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

Spend every Birthday at Adriano, Media, PA. Love the people and great service. Admire his story painted on the walls and ceiling of their journey. read more

we eat here at least once a week. The staff is always warm, welcoming, and attentive. I can say that we have been wowed by each piiza, entree, and salad we have had, except one...the risotto...but...Not everything can be perfect! My hubby and I eat out quite often, and the laid back atmosphere, the wonderful service and fabulous gelato will keep us coming back! I know the menu can be daunting...you can make up your own toppings! We always go for the specials of the day....can't go wrong!!!! read more

The appetizer was innovative and delicious (see photo) the beef tips and risotto cooked to perfection. Add to a wonderful meal the atmosphere of the Wednesday dining under the stars it made for a perfect date night! read more

Ariano - Delicious appetizer! - Pizza Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

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4 stars. Waitstaff is competent. Food came out slowly but that was ok since we had time to chat. Eggplant dish tasted great with good texture. Upstairs seating was perfect for us. Ground level was packed with patrons and noisy. Not what we were looking for that evening. Upscale pizzeria with a broad menu which happens to include pizza. read more

Ariano - Upstairs at Ariano's enjoy the artful ceilings and sit at a balcony table overlooking the street below. Delightful! - Pizza Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

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Who knew, wall to wall people. ... Unheard of SATURDAY happy hour. Unbelievably GOOD house wine! Pizza was exceptional! I have been here before during the week with friends- always busy and several floors for food service. Mixologists have a real flair! They work round all allergies too! read more

This place is amazing! I've been here many times and gotten the lamb, pizza, and pasta and it's all been 5 star. Super friendly & food is amazing. Also beautiful atmosphere & drinks are super tasty. Would highly recommend :) read more

Food: 4 Decor: 3.5 Ambiance: 3 Service: 4 Value: 3 Very cool atmosphere here, (although they were blasting the AC on a cool day?) Good food and decent prices too. read more

My wife and I went for lunch on a quiet Monday and enjoyed the best Italian dining experience I have had outside of Italy. So many places in DelCo that have quality food do not have wine lists that are up to the food. That's not the case at Ariano. The size of the list is modest, but the selections, both by the glass and by the bottle, are great. They offer well balanced selections that are appropriate to the menu. The Zia Rosa artichoke heart and prosciutto appetizer is amazing -- lightly pan fried in a panko crust. Their risottos are also highly recommended. Save room for dessert as their homemade gelato topped with cordials are superb. Pair the gelato with their outstanding espresso and you are transported to a mini vacation in Italy. We can't wait to return! read more

The restaurant and service was excellent. The dishes and presentation was one of the best in the area.

Brought my daughter for her birthday once. We reserved the private room, was very comfortable, lots of seating, extremely private! She came with around 10 of her friends and we were hanging out in the room waiting for the pizzas to come! The kids found a bowl of spoons sitting on the gelato counter. The spoons looked pretty clean from where we were sitting and the kids decided to bite them and just play around with them. Later, when the waitress came with our pizzas, very yummy by the way, she took notice into the children bending and biting the spoons. She asked us where we found those spoons and we said in the bowl over there. She told us that that was the cup of used spoons and we immediately took them away from the children. It turns out the children had been licking and biting the spoons of former customers. We had fun other than that but it made it an experience I will never forget. read more