PIZZA EXTRAORDINAIRE! We've never had a bad meal here, and the transition in ownership from Anthony, my great friend and the restaurant founder, to Rocco, aka Rocky, has gone seamlessly. I believe I have praised their wonderful ambiance, service and menu in a previous review, but today I would simply like to praise their fabulous PIZZA! First of all, the crust is ultra-thin and tasty. Second their offerings for toppings include a wonderfully tender, perfectly sliced steak -- and our favorite, WILD MUSHROOMS! When they run out of these, you can specify thinly sliced portobello mushrooms and excellent quality, homemade red sauce with just the right amount of fabulous-quality provolone. The drinks are terrific, and I only wish they would offer B.Y.O. with whatever corkage charge they feel appropriate. Nevertheless they get my vote for making the best pizza in Delaware County. Thank you, Rocky! read more

The food here was amazing. The rice balls were great tasting and just the right temperature. Service was ok, got sat in a corner like a step child when there was plenty of room available. The look and feel of the restaurant was great. Clean all around even in the bathroom. Would love to experience this place in the season when they open the balcony windows. read more

Food was delicious and the service excellent. We had a pizza and the seafood risotto. The pizza dough was fluffy and the bottom crispy with plenty of toppings. The risotto was creamy, with plenty of seafood and some sausage which gave it a slight spicy flavor. Well done! We were seated in the upstairs area which has a great ambiance. We definitely will be back. read more

Had a great dinner last Friday, everything we ordered was delicious. I could finish the whole pizza by myself. read more

Ariano - Pizza Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

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Ariana has a special place in my heart. My family celebrates big occasions here and my workplace often goes to lunch with clients here. Their pizza reminds me of the summer I spent in Northern Italy. The waiters are hot and friendly. read more

Ariano - Cappuccino - Pizza Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

Cute unexpected place with local drafts. Small space but everyone in town was there today! Flavorful risotto and great fresh foods. I'm not sure if this place has another side, it was a small section where we sat but many people came from the other side! Craft beers on tap and helpful waitstaff. They are known for pizza but we didn't have. The fresh fish sold me easily. You may drive past it if you didn't know they were there... don't! Go in and eat, you will be impressed. read more

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Sit upstairs if you can--lovely vaulted ceilings with murals and open doors if the weather's right. Portions are generous and flavorful (loved the lentil soup and the arugula salad). Prices are excellent. Service is kind, even if a little on the slow side. Overall I recommend! read more

The pizza is so yummy. Tastes like it's made with love! Prices are pretty accurate for the food quality you get. Always friendly staff. It's nice you can get gelato down stairs! I have dinned indoors and outside both are good choices. read more

They have rooftop seating. It was a really nice setting, kinda reminded me of Europe. The food was absolutely delicious! Note that they don't serve pasta because they have an affiliate restaurant next door that does. read more

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We had a wonderful experience with a private party for 13 people in one of their semi-private spaces. Planning the event was very easy, the staff was very responsive, they presented their standard options and then was very flexible in allowing us to customize it. The choices were all appealing, making it very hard to choose. They were prepared for us when the group arrived, and everything was nicely set up. The food was delicious, and the portions were generous. Everyone raved about the meal, and many people took home leftovers. Service was outstanding - friendly, responsive and super accommodating. The restaurant provided wine and beer, charging us just for what was used. In addition to being a really nice venue, great food, wonderful service, it was also an excellent value for what we received. I would be very happy to have another important event dinner here! read more

To continue my chronicles of, "making my way through restaurants in Media" we happened to land here. It was early Friday night and when we were first seated (at around 530) there were few in the restaurant, but the dining room began to fill up quickly. Our server (Laura) seemed to be the only one on the floor in the front where we were seated and she did a great job. She gave enough space but enough attention. I had decided before-hand that I was going to get pizza, but when my daughter announced that she was going with the chicken Milanese I almost changed my mind. However, I remained with my conviction and ordered the pera calda pizza with goat cheese crumble, caramelized onion, roasted garlic, pickled pears with a hot honey glaze. I really enjoyed the crust. It was charred in the right places, sturdy and great tasting dough. In my humble critique, I would have liked more of the caramelized onions and was hoping for a richer taste of the hot honey glaze. One of my favorite pizzas at a popular pizza place in West Philly serves a pie with hot honey and it fills the mouth and senses with the sweet and spicy kick for which I was hoping. Had I not had this experience with my favorite pizza in west, maybe this would have sufficed. However, the combination of flavors on this pizza was good. I was not disappointed. My kid's order was visually, really appealing. Lots of colors and fresh greens. Again, the combination of flavors was really delightful. The chicken was lightly fried and not dry at all. The citrus salad served on top had great flavor and the primavera couscous added additional flavor and texture. We both agreed that the chicken could use a bit more seasoning. We somewhat remedied that with a salt shaker. I ordered a pre-dinner cocktail that was delicious in flavor and really wonderful in presentation called "Punched". It included cinnamon, apple brandy, rum, all spice, apple cider and additional fall ingredients. I really enjoyed it. This restaurant has a nice menu with great choices. If you're looking in Media you should stop in. read more

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I wanted to love this place but, like is all you get out of me! Beautiful exterior and interior it's a good investment on the part of the ownership. This place is modern, money well spent on bar and window/folding doors. I was promptly greeted by possibly the manager or owner. The server at the bar was inviting and friendly. I love this bar granite top and the rich earth tones of the place. Since I'm here for Happy Hour I sat at the bar to place my drink and food order. They have a serious Happy Hour Menu, Five stars for that alone and the only 5 star part of the experience!!! I somewhat enjoyed the short rib pizza it was meaty and full of its ingredients but almost tasteless. The Wood fire Baby Back Ribs were a generous portion and tender but they were served cold not room temperature, cold!! I refrain from sending back food. I'll warm it at home. The server at the bar kept cleaning the area but would not take away a nasty napkin that has been in front of the empty seat near but not next to me. Even after people sat down. I finally acquiesced and asked him to take it away. The friendly conversation about movies with the Manager/Host/Owner (one or all of the titles, I didn't ask) was the better part of my experience. read more

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Met a friend who lives in Media and she enjoys it here. Great location literally across from the parking garage. I liked their cocktail list a lot- many options as well as decent wine offerings. We both got pizza- crust had nice char- they came out quickly so they must have a nice, high temp oven. We dined upstairs which was a bit noisy, but probably good for those TMI girl chats read more

Good food and service. I'm surprised this place isn't always crowded. I've visited a few times and the food and customer service is consistently good. I recommend trying their pizzas. read more

Super cute, great atmosphere, and friendly staff. Lots of interesting dishes to choose from. The Crocchetta di Granchio appetizer was very yummy. We also got the Pesto Pettine, Zio Nicola and Mama Francesca. The Pettine and Nicola were extremely good, but found the Francesca lacked flavor (which was surprising for a pizza that has sausage). For dessert we got the Limoncello Mascarpone cake and the Tiramisu, and both were absolutely delicious. My only complaint and reason I don't do 5 stars is that both the appetizer and the scallop dish could have come out a lot warmer...it was just kind of lukewarm. Not sure if they had been sitting a while before getting to our table, but it was a bit distracting for what otherwise would have been absolutely perfect selections. Overall it was a delicious experience, and made me wish I didn't live 5 hours away. read more

Ariano - Pesto Pettine - Pizza Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

Excellent lunch place and very friendly service. Pizza, and cocktails were excellent also. Dinner is always excellent there too. read more

Want amazing artisan pizza and delicious salads? Go here! The arancini is lovely too. No pasta (go to their Fellini's for that). Plus it's such a pretty dining experience. The upstairs feels like you are dining on vacation somewhere with its pretty decor and ironwork. They have gelato next door too. read more

Here for the first time during one of the dining under the stars Wednesday nights. I did not have a reservation, but I got there early, around 5:30 and was able to be seated in an outdoor table as they were empty. That did not last long though, so if you want to take part in the outdoor seating, make a reservation. Interesting thing is I believe this is the first Italian restaurant I have been to in the US that did not have pasta on the menu, or at least focus heavy on it. It seemed more meats and seafood. For an appetizer, we split the zia rosa which was fried Roman artichokes, wrapped in prosciutto, basil pesto cream, topped with sun dried tomato bruschetta. You get 4 pieces, which is perfect to split between two. The basil pesto cream MAKES this dish. It's so good. For our main meals, my dinner partner got the Quattro Melanzane - lightly fried eggplant, stuffed with ricotta, stracciatella, parmesan, mozzarella, vodka sauce. It was good and very interesting as I never had fried eggplant with vodka sauce. Honestly, vodka sauce is my fav and everything tastes better when pared with vodka sauce. I got Pesto Pettine - seared scallops, creamy risotto, sun dried tomato bruschetta, basil lemon pesto cream. 10 out of 10. The scallops were cooked perfectly, the risotto was chefs kiss. Really good. This was the first Italian meal that I walked away from knowing that I ate a delicious meal but I was not grossly full. Amazing what not having all the bread and pasta will do! read more

Food was amazing! The Zia Rosa appetizer was so delicious, I wanted to order another but wouldnt have been able to eat my entree if I did. And the Baselice as well, the flavors in the bread bowl were so good! Entrees were just as delicious. We had the Otino Cioppino & Agnello di Matteo. Service was excellent. The only problem was how loud it was. So loud that at a two person table, we had trouble hearing each other. read more

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We came here for the Dining under the stars. However, we didn't have reservations and managed to get a seat inside! Lol. We are not Celiac but have gluten sensitivities. It was wonderful to be able to have mussels in red sauce with GF bread. We are so used to asking for no bread bowl. They will essentially work with you on what they can with the menu. The pizza was tasty. The crust is thin and not heavy. Wood fired oven just added to the flavor! Fresh ingredients. We will definitely be coming back. read more

Ariano - Gluten free margherita pizza and special brisket pizza. - Pizza Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

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I had dinner with four colleagues at Ariano in December, and it was an extremely pleasant experience from beginning to end! Food: Excellent! We shared a bunch of the starters (the artichokes in particular were excellent), and 4/5 of us ordered the scallops (pesto pettine) - SO. GOOD. Huge portion. The last ordered the branzino, which I think he enjoyed BUT... think he was a little jealous of our scallops. Service: BEYOND excellent. This was a work dinner, and an interview dinner, and the job candidate (plus 1 other in our party) were nervous about eating indoors. I called ahead to make sure they could seat us outdoors, and although I think that was an unusual request, they did a great job! We had a roomy table on the sidewalk with a dedicated heater. It was chilly, but we appreciated the staff accommodating this request! Our server(s) were also informative and extremely attentive and kind. The service really made Ariano stand out! Thank you, Ariano, for a great dinner! read more

A group of 6 of us just met here for dinner/drinks and it was fantastic. From the hostess seating us to our waiter Rocko and of course the incredible drinks and food. We are all from the area originally and love to visit Media when we can and Ariano is definitely a must visit spot again. read more

Ariano was the scene of a fabulous date night for my husband and I last weekend and we are already planning our next visit. We were both pleasantly surprised with the menu, quality of the food, and ambiance. For starters, this is a very beautiful building. We sat upstairs and although it is super loud (on account of the high ceilings I assume) it was a great vibe. I appreciate the decor and the painted ceilings were lovely. Their cocktail menu is out of this world. My husband got a lemon basil drink and the presentation was perfect and it tasted great as well. I was happy to throw back a few glasses of red with my delicious pizza. Speaking of which, the pizza is delicious! We opted to share a pizza, salad, and an appetizer and it was a great choice. Every once in a while basic bitch pizza just won't do so I'm very grateful to have found this delicious thin crust speciality pizza so close to home. The Caesar salad we split was also fantastic...the grilled lettuce was an interesting touch. Now if you're looking for standard Italian food you'll be hard pressed to find it here. After perusing their entrees I noticed there's not a shred of pasta to be found. I actually think this is Ariano's strength as their menu is more inventive and diverse than most other Italian restaurants. I can't recommend this spot enough and I'm very much looking forward to our next visit! read more

Great wood fire pizza for a reasonable price, and if you really value atmosphere and setting this place is great! But you may need a reservation during busy times. Order: Two Pizzas (Quattro Fromaggio; Fig & Goat Cheese) and two scoops of gelato About: $40 Review: My wife had a training in Media so we decided to grab food afterwards and a friend of our recommended Ariano. We both LOVE pizza so it was a pretty easy choice. We got asked almost right away if we had reservations and even though we didn't, we were still seated right away. That being said, my 5:45 this place was totally packed. If you don't get there early you'll probably need a reservation. The atmosphere was super cool even though seating was pretty tight. If felt very much like a modern Italian restaurant and the staff definitely did everything they could to make you feel taken care of. While it's not super fancy (there isn't a dress coat) it's definitely upscale dining. The pizza was quite good, though nothing earth shattering. I would say that if you're hungry you're probably going to want your own (or at least one per person and then split them). They crust was nice and semi-crispy and the toppings were all delicious. The goat cheese was particularly exceptional, though I think the four cheese was actually our favorite. My wife is also a sucker for gelato and they had a flavor we've never had before; chestnut, so clearly we had to try some. It was really good and had a very unique flavor somewhere between hazelnut and cinnamon. Ariano is definitely a dining experience, not a place to run in and grab pizza, but the food is delicious and the staff is fantastic. You might need a reservation if it's busy but I think it's worth it for a nice dinner. read more

Had a wedding in Swarthmore and came over here for lunch and the food was incredible. Family owned business who makes everything fresh. We got the branzino and multiple appetizers . Every one was better then the other. Our bartender was amazing and gave us good recs on what to get. read more

Hosted a bridal shower here in June 2024, and a baby shower in August 2024. The coordinator of the event, Nicolette, was a pleasure to work with -- put me at ease about the event, and was just so easy to accommodate. The events themselves were handled so well by the staff, from the very beginning to the end and ever aspect in between. The food was all the right temperature, and it was delicious; our hostess was very accommodating in every way and the waiters and waitresses served the needs of all guests in a timely, friendly manner. You just can't beat having an event here! read more

We have consistently good meals at Ariano. We usually get the Melazzo Pizza, meatballs and caprese. It has a European rustic feel inside and great wines. read more

so good! I can't wait to go back. authentic italian, beautiful / clean restuarant and friendly staff! food was amazing!

Great place. We have been here to celebrate our anniversary and also with friends. The upstairs near the outdoors during more pleasant weather is great. read more

Good pizza nice atmosphere. Small fruit flies were very annoying though. This was upstairs. read more

This is one of my favorite places to go to dinner. The drinks are creative and the food is amazing. The pizzas are so fresh and have awesome flavor combinations. The service has always been wonderful even when it's busy. My favorite table is on the 2nd floor by the windows. I can't recommend this place enough. read more

Had a really nice lunch here with my three daughters - it was a treat from my oldest daughter for my belated Mother's Day present. We had the Arancini for an appetizer and it was really good - I especially loved the chunky/slightly spicy tomato sauce that accompanied it. My youngest daughter had the Special Salad of the day which had some kind of crusted shrimp, gorgonzola, strawberries, etc. - she enjoyed it. My oldest had the Rengepe salad, which looked like it was mostly spinach - it also had some strawberries, almonds, feta and red onion - just not very much of it. My middle daughter and I had the Rustichella Panini sandwiches - they were good but we both agreed they needed a flavor punch, like a special garlic/herb sauce or spread. I had a nice Caesar salad along with mine, and it was perfect. The restaurant itself was pretty cute - although as cute as that little third floor loft was, I don't think I would have wanted to sit up there (nor would I want to be the waiter that has to go all the way up there - the kitchen is on the first floor!). We sat on the second floor and it was nice - the windows were open so it felt like we were outside. It was a little windy that day, but it worked out. Overall, I really enjoyed it and was glad I finally got the chance to try it (it's been on my list of restaurants to try for years). Checked that one off the list, and I plan to try to get my hubby there soon! read more

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we went here for dining under the stars and i cannot say enough good things about everything we ordered, the waitress suggested the focaccia bread for an app and it was delicious, all of our cocktails were really good and very aesthetic, i ordered the pistachio crusted salmon and honestly it was probably one of the best entrees i've ever ordered. my husband ordered the pizza that was on the specials menu and we were all very impressed, will absolutely be back! read more

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Best of the best in Media. Had an incredible birthday dinner with friends, and everything we ordered was delicious.

Came to Ariano for dinner with my friend on a Saturday night around 6pm. The bar area was crowded due to happy hour that runs until 630, so we opted to sit outside. We were seated right away, but the restaurant started to fill up as it neared 7pm. Despite being seated right away, it took our server more than 10 minutes to greet us, and that is why I deducted 1 star. When we were finally greeted, we put in our drinks and food right away since we were starving. We ordered the Crocchetta di Granchio as an appetizer and shared a Melazzo pizza for dinner. The food came out quickly, which was nice since it took forever for our server to notice us in the beginning. The Crocchetta di Granchio was AMAZING. They were essentially fried risotto crab balls that are served over vodka sauce. I will visit this restaurant again solely to order these! The Melazzo was just a pizza with mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil. The pizza was cooked perfectly and the crust has great flavor; however, the tomato marinara was just thrown onto the pizza in clumps and wasn't spread around. This resulted in some bites just being crust with no cheese or sauce on it. Besides the minor issue with the pizza sauce and not being promptly greeted, everything was great and I would visit again! read more

Ariano - Pinot Grigio - Pizza Near Me - Media, Pennsylvania

Absolute five star experience here at Arianos! We used yelp to decide where to go for a happy hour on a Thursday ! Gosh we were so glad we did! Got here around 3:30 but happy hour didn't start until 4:30. So we had one regular priced drink for that first hour. We had the whole place to ourselves! But little did we know (or I should say we should have known) that it would get PACKED by 5! HH is only at the bar. So it was definitely crowded! But a group of pleasant people were shifting seats around so everyone could have a "space at the watering hole" next to their friends. Bartender George was so sweet and mixed our drinks to perfection. Crab aranchini was absolutely delicious! And mamas meatballs had a kick that my palate was surprised by but still pleased by. Chicken tacos are $3 and they're delicious!!!! What a deal. But perhaps the REAL MVP were those mussels in white sauce in that BREAD BOWL. Worth every carb. Every, single, carb. You will not regret this. This is the place to be for HH - get there by five for sure!!! read more

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Food was amazing, I am gluten free and the pizza and Paella were amazing. It's also the closest I've had to Gelato in Italy since I've been there. Will definitely be returning, maybe my favorite authentic Italian restaurant in the area. read more

I was visiting from out of state, and my co-worker thought I might enjoy dinner at Ariano. It's a cozy little spot, and the menu had several items that looked interesting. While we were checking out the menu, some food was delivered to the table next to us. The aroma was intoxicating. I was told the pizzas were outstanding, but I just wasn't in the mood for that, so I ordered the Otino Cioppino, which came with spicy sausage but no crab. Since I'm a big wimp when it comes to spicy foods, I asked if they could make it non-spicy, and they gladly obliged. My friend ordered the filet, but asked to get the sauce and accruements that were being served from the filet tips that evening. The waiter said that was easily done. Our waters were refreshed throughout the meal, but I was surprised that they never brought us any bread. When I think of Italian food, I usually receive bread. Perhaps that's a California thing? We were a bit surprised that my friend's filet didn't have the fried onions and mushrooms that were described per the menu, but we figured that was just a miscommunication. My cioppino was okay, but I was surprised to get lots of little bay scallops, not large sea scallops. I didn't ask which scallops were included, so that was just an assumption on my part. So our entrees weren't quite what we expected, but that was no fault of the restaurant or our server. They were fine, but nothing spectacular. Perhaps we should've ordered the pizza as recommended. I topped off my dinner with some gelato. I tried their vanilla & triple chocolate, which was a perfect ending to my meal. That gelato with the super thin shavings of chocolate helped my stomach end on a happy note. read more

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Best Cioppino I have EVER tasted! Flavored perfectly and the risotto was just right - not an easy feat. The grilled romaine salad never disappoints. Ariano is becoming my favorite Italian restaurant in Media. read more

Just make a reservation and GO!! Hands down, the best restaurant in Media. Always perfect, wonderful menu options, fantastic staff and awesome atmosphere with fantastic music for the setting. If there are specials - get them and be sure to check out Mexican Mondays. Beyond reasonable for high quality food that never disappoints. read more

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