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    Big Jim's Restaurant & Bar

    4.2 (370 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Italian
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Big Jim's Restaurant & Bar Photos

    Business Info

    BIG JIM'S RESTAURANT & BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Big Jim's Restaurant & Bar

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    Whole chic parm
    Denny V.

    08/07/2026 - Came here for lunch after a funeral service and the place was rather full.... Food flying out the kitchen, coming past, so we could get a look... decided on a Reuben & fish sandwich. They were both excellent.

    My turkey Reuben.
    Richard J.

    I've wanted to try this place for a few years now but never seemed to have an opportunity. So yesterday I was heading in a completely different direction when I decided to turn around and drive another hour and finally give it a shot. I'd never make that trip again, but if I happened to be in the neighborhood I might stop by. It's a real dive bar in a shady neighborhood the place was exactly what I expected, our sandwiches were huge and the ingredients were very tasty, I had a Turkey Reuben , and the meat was fresh roasted turkey and lots of it, my friend had a corned beef Reuben. They're were very good and we both had half to take home for dinner. Their staff were very friendly, attentive, and helpful. Food was great and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a unique experience.

    Gnocchi
    Roseanne W.

    If you are super hungry, you are in luck at Big Jim's! The portions are ginormous, especially the calzones! I was with 12 friends and everyone was happy with the food, portion size, and service. We were surprised at how crowded it was at 1:30 in the afternoon...but, with the state of the economy, people are happy to get so much more for their food money. For the restaurant to be so crowded that they could not fit one more person in on a Wednesday afternoon, says a lot about this neighborhood secret. Even the bar area was crowded with locals, and it reminded me of the "Cheers" bar. All patrons that I saw in the restaurant had a to-go box. I don't know how they do it!

    Small lasagna
    Pierina P.

    Stepped back in time ! Very much a hometown favorite, great food laidback Ma-Pops Restaurant for all...

    Dinner salad

    My husband & I stop at Big Jim's when we have Pgh. appointments; look forward to their extensive selections. My gnocchi dinner large enough for 2 people; great salad & husband's open-face roast beef with side great fries. Servers kept checking & refilling coffee. Great atmosphere inside; friendly patrons enjoying food like we did!! Will return!!

    One server wearing an Imaculate Reception T-shirt
    Fellman B.

    I went to Big Jim's with my brother and a friend after running the Pittsburgh Great Race. I was very hungry. We knew the restaurant had hearty dishes. I ordered the cheeseburger with Swiss cheese, with the burger cooked medium rare. It came back perfect, served with tomato, onions and lettuce, with a dill pickle on the side. The server, Toni, was very accommodating. My friend had a strange request for her Reuben sandwich order. She doesn't eat meat, so she asked if she could give her corned beef to me and just have her sandwich include sauerkraut and cheese. "No problem," said Toni. However, when the order was served, the cheese came on top of the corned beef, and my friend's sandwich had no cheese...just sauerkraut. The cook had gotten the special request wrong. The bread was a hearty, thick Russian rye. Toni agreed to have the sandwich sent back for cheese to be added. And there would be no extra charge for the cheese already on the corned beef. My brother requested extra sauce for his eggplant Parmesan. No problem! The restaurant is very sports-oriented. Games in the TV, and the servers were wearing Steelers-related clothes. It's a homey place to go for good bar type food.

    Layers of corned beef in this Reuben
    Peggy H.

    The food here is amazing! Big, delicious portions. We had Reubens, fries with gravy, and open roast beef smothered in gravy and fries. They use Mancini bread- big flavorful slices, large amounts of tender, seasoned corned beef, with dressing on the side. The fries are submerged when cooked in some type of oil which brings every bite more delight to your tastebuds than ever before. The flavorsome bread on the roast beef is toasted, which is a nice touch, and compliments the thinly sliced tasty meat. The gravy is just like your grandma's- full of rich flavor. The staff is friendly, quick and thoughtful. This place has your hometown bar, restaurant appeal. We will be back!

    Pepperoni, extra cheese, and jalapeños, please and Thank you
    Gretchen U.

    Finally came in for an early dinner and had the best service possible. As the folks started coming in there was a great smell of all the delicious options for lunch, dinner and just a lovely time. As always a big thank you.

    Open face Open Faced Roast Beef Sandwich
    Brooke H.

    Always a treat. Food is always amazing no matter what you order. This place is busy so offer grace because those servers are RUNNING! If you want a real Pittsburgh dinning experience, this is it. You are elbow to elbow with your neighbor and everyone is here to have a good time. When one table sings happy birthday, or cheers, you ALL do. It's just a happy experience all around but if you are looking for a quiet meal, this isn't it. You can't get prices for the portions anywhere like Big Jim's.

    Homemade Lasagna
    Sarah G.

    Classic Pittsburgh spot! Portions are generous, food is old school and delicious, and the staff are friendly and make sure you are taken care of. Feels like you are in someone's home! Will absolutely be back.

    Italien sub & Iron draft
    Johnny K.

    Great ole school Pgh bar! Iron City on tap & bottle. Big, delicious italien hogies and fun locals.

    Interior - bar area
    Trish T.

    Great dinner the other night in this hole in the wall in Garfield. We popped in last Friday around 6pm, and the place was packed to the gills! Not even a couple seats at the bar. We didn't have to wait long for a 2-top. The hostess was really welcoming and entertaining while we waited. It was clear the place has a sizable regular crowd. Everyone knew everyone, it seemed. The atmosphere is very "old Pittsburgh" - energetic and almost like being in someone's old, paneled living room. A server took our order pretty quickly. The beer selection was quite varied (happily there was a hazy IPA!). Beer seemed a popular pick judging by all the tables and bar top around us. We waited a long time for our food, but I don't think that's usual. Our extremely apologetic server explained that the kitchen had been overwhelmed by 3 huge, unexpected parties. We were fine. The food was really good. My husband had their Reuben which he said was quite flavorful. He loved the Thousand Island dressing. My Alfredo pasta was crazy rich and dotted with roasted broccoli (you can have it plain, with broccoli &/or chicken). The surprising standout of the meal, though, was our basket of fries! I mean, they were the real deal - fresh, some skin on, and super tasty. The portions are large at this place - so come hungry! I took home 1/2 my meal. A nice evening. We'll definitely be back!

    Hot Sausage Hoagie
    Jack R.

    Saw this place on Diners Drive in and Dives and figured it would be a must go to spot. The staff was definitely very friendly and you definitely get the old bar restaurant vibe the second you walk in. Pretty decent menu. I didn't get anything that was tried in the show, but I got the hot sausage sandwich. I wasn't overly thrilled piece of sausage on a large piece of bread that was toasted and pretty dry a lot more bread than there was sausage.

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    4 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Food is always superb! Great staff and prices not too expensive. Love the vintage style

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    5 months ago

    Great food for decades served with service smiles and more. Cozy environment . If in area stop simple bar approach and dinner room in back.

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    2 years ago

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    3 months ago

    Great staff and excellent calzones. They also had Iron City in bottles. Now i have to add letters to make at least 85 characters

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    DiAnoia's Eatery

    DiAnoia's Eatery

    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    2.5 miStrip District
    $$

    I loveeeee DiAnoia's. I come here a lot for dinner. I've never tried their lunch menu and finally…read moregot to go! We started with the whipped ricotta and potatoes and both of those never miss. We also shared the house salad. Both sandwiches we had were delicious. Everything was so fresh and light. The sandwiches are HUGE, real bang for your buck! DiAnoia's is a Strip District staple and I never leave hungry or disappointed!

    For some reason, I had a feeling that something was amiss regarding this dining experience. I made…read morethe reservation on RESY and we were set. We got to the restaurant, approached the podium, I expressed the reservation and was told that they did not have one for me. We were asked to sit in the penalty box until they were able to find a table. We were fortunate and were seated. Our server was great. Very personable, helpful with the menu, made recommendations, etc. We ordered cocktails, which were very good. We then placed our order for dinner. My spouse had the beans and greens which were found to be quite good. I had the house salad which was also very good. For an entree, Bo ordered CACIO E PEPE and I ordered, BUCATINI all'AMATRICIANA. This is where we started to descend into food limbo. The cacio e pepe was flavorless with as little pepper as possible. So few, in fact that you could accurately count them. The pasta was overcooked and mushy. My entree was another disappointment. In the description, it states: "Bucatini Pasta, Guanciale, San Marzano Tomatoes, Pecorino Romano" Now, can any of you, off the top of your heads, tell me what Guanciale is? Guanciale just happens to be, an Italian cured meat made from pork jowl or cheek. Its name comes from guancia, the Italian word for cheek. It is rubbed with salt, black pepper, and spices, then aged for several weeks, creating a rich meat with a high fat content that is prized for flavoring classic pasta sauces. In my entree they were small cubes, meat-like, and one side of each cube was burnt to a crips, solid black and real crunchy. It gave the whole dish a burnt taste. Not the best. For dessert, Bo ordered the Banana Sundae Cheesecake. I bet you thought it tasted like bananas. Nope. It tasted like cheesecake. I passed on dessert. My choice was determined by the quality of my entry. Atmosphere. There are some restaurants, these days, where you have to raise your voice to talk to one another. Here we had to literally scream but still not be able to hear one another. It's all too common now to forego a suspended tile ceiling and carpet on the floor, which absorbs the sound. This was absolutely the loudest dining establishment I was ever in. Looking around, it seemed that most people have bought into the notion that this is as good as it gets when it comes to dining ambiance. Look, I'm old school and this just didn't cut it for us. There certainly are a lot who love the restaurant and grade it accordingly. I'm just not one of them. Bon appetit!

    Photos
    DiAnoia's Eatery - Seating area

    Seating area

    DiAnoia's Eatery - Margherita Calabrese

    Margherita Calabrese

    DiAnoia's Eatery - House Salad with Mixed Greens, Olives, Chickpeas, Cherry Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Cucumbers, and Oregano Vinaigrette

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    House Salad with Mixed Greens, Olives, Chickpeas, Cherry Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Cucumbers, and Oregano Vinaigrette

    Girasole Restaurant

    Girasole Restaurant

    3.9(759 reviews)
    1.8 miShadyside
    $$

    So this location was only about a 10 minute walk from our hotel and we are so glad that we checked…read moreit out. It is a very cozy Italian restaurant that's serving homemade Italian food like your Nonna would make for you. We showed up on a Tuesday night and it was packed. It was around six or 6:30 in the evening and when we first got there, we were told it would be about a 20 minute wait before a two top was available. But the host came back and asked if we didn't mind sitting by the kitchen they could see us right away. We chose to sit by the kitchen, which honestly was probably the best option because it was actually a little bit quieter because there was a very large party that was celebrating a birthday and they had live music going on so it was hard to hear when you were in the main dining space but back by the kitchen it's a little bit quieter and we could actually hear ourselves talk. My husband got the penne with meatballs and the penny was nicely cooked with a beautiful tomato Bass sauce and the meatballs or some of the best Italian meatball he's ever had. His only complaint was that there were only two in the order and he wished there would've been three. I got the spinach and ricotta, stuffed ravioli, and by far one of the best raviolis I've ever had. The ravioli are large so there's only about five in a dish but they're packed fully and the flavoring and seasoning is absolutely spectacular. It's got a beautiful sauce like accompanies it and the chew you can definitely tell it is handmade pasta/ravioli. Our server, Emma was absolutely spectacular and was so kind. We truly enjoyed our experience here and would highly recommend anybody to check it out if you're in the area. But we also do recommend make your reservations ahead of time. This place gets packed quickly.

    Very, very good Italian spot near Walnut Street, very close by all the top shops. The ambiance is…read morevery nice, both inside and outside. Pretty tight space though. The waitresses are friendly and have great recommendations. I got to try their linguine rustica (essentially the clam pasta dish), a cappuccino, some cherry soda, and soup of the day, as well as complimentary bread. They got that bread out very quickly! Very soft, and served with quite high quality olive oil. The bottle has both olive oil and balsamic! The soup of the day was quite good as well. It was some sort of beef broth, I think may a beef and bean soup. Chickpeas in there as well. Next time, I might try the salad. The salad they have as a side is so good, an amazing portion and seems so fresh and tasty. The mains were excellent. Very good pasta with clam sauce. Lots of clam meat and a flavorful oil based sauce. My friend had some red penne with chicken and enjoyed that as well. Great portions, pretty fair prices. Finally, great drinks as well. Very memorable cherry cola that I believe the company is owned by the owner's son. Real cane sugar, very good. The cappuccino was great as well. Definitely come here!

    Photos
    Girasole Restaurant - Penne with sausage

    Penne with sausage

    Girasole Restaurant - Beef Tenderloin over Risotto & Spinach

    Beef Tenderloin over Risotto & Spinach

    Girasole Restaurant - (Mediocre) spinach and ricotta

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    (Mediocre) spinach and ricotta

    Saint Ravioli

    Saint Ravioli

    5.0(6 reviews)
    2.5 miBloomfield

    Every year my girlfriend and I find a cooking or baking class that is local in Pittsburgh to do…read moretogether. This year we decided to down our robes and become disciples of Saint Ravioli. Getting a spot in a class is very hard since they are limited to 6-8 people, but if you get the chance I absolutely recommend it. The classes are 2 hours long each and are extremely intimate. Bryan and Justin will meet you at the door and will introduce you to their workshop. There is a spread of antipasto to snack on which was curated very well. Each person gets to make 4 (four!!) dozen raviolis each. The class is extremely informative and fun. I personally haven't ordered any of their ravioli drops before, but from eating the batch I personally made, I know I will in the future. Highly recommend ordering their raviolis online or taking the class if it's available.

    Although it takes some planning to order ahead, then pickup your order, the Ravioli is amazing…read more When you pick up your order, it's frozen. To prepare it, simply drop into boiling water, then after it floats to the top, wait a few minutes. I also ordered the Marinara sauce which was delicious. The owner friendly and helpful. He noticed that this was my first order, so he took some time to explain a few things and answer questions. Parking is on the street, and I had no problems finding a spot. It's a fun experience and I will definitely do it again.

    Photos
    Saint Ravioli
    Saint Ravioli - Wedding soup ravioli

    Wedding soup ravioli

    Saint Ravioli

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    Piccolo Forno - Three Cheese Mezzaluna with Wild Mushroom Marsala Cream Sauce

    Piccolo Forno

    4.1(680 reviews)
    2.9 miLawrenceville
    $$

    The pizza at Piccolo Forno is consistently excellent, with thin, perfectly cooked crusts and…read morecreative topping combinations. The Fichi & Formaggi, Mortadella & Pistachio, and Calabrese are among my favorites. On my most recent visit, I also tried the burrata appetizer for takeout. The peppery arugula and sweet peaches worked beautifully with the creamy burrata and made for a great combination. Pickup was a breeze. A friendly staff member greeted me and quickly pointed out my order among the others on the takeout table. The restaurant itself was packed, and for good reason. I've been coming to Piccolo Forno for years, and everything I've ordered has delivered. It remains one of my go-to spots for excellent pizza in Pittsburgh.

    I liked this place! Not all of the dishes and not the attitude of the server at times. I just…read moredidn't like that the server kept reminding us of a time placed on each table before it needed to turnover. I thought that was very rude and off putting. Parking is difficult in this area, so keep that in mind when reserving. However, I had a great time fellowshipping with friends. The place was lovely with laughter and what I ordered, I liked. For appetizers we ordered the peach bruschetta (special), the pistachio and pesto pizza without the pork, and the insalata salad. My favorite was the brussel sprouts and carrotts app. We also ordered the lasagna which was different. It had cinnamon and nutmeg. I was expecting classic lasagna. The seafood spaghetti also was not what I expected. The spice was nice, but I didn't like the texture of the pasta and the seafood was very fishy. The pesto pasta was good but needed salt. For dessert the boomba was the best! Tiramisu was mid. Again, cinnamon and a fresh flavor that didn't provide the traditional flavors I anticipated. The wine from the package store near by can be ordered and brought to your table. Paid for separately and via an app.

    Photos
    Piccolo Forno - Inside

    Inside

    Piccolo Forno - Seasonal Peach Bruschetta

    Seasonal Peach Bruschetta

    Piccolo Forno - Tiramisu

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    Tiramisu

    Big Jim's Restaurant & Bar - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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