First time customer. Ordered delivery. Penne Bolognese, Tortalinni Alfredo with classic American meatballs. A breaded chicken breast on the side and cheese sticks. Cheese sticks seemed home made , marinara sauce that came with cheese sticks had no lid so sauce was all over the cheese sticks and bottom of container which caused the cheese sticks to get soggy. Penne was overcooked. Not al-dente. Bolognese sauce was ok, but needed salt. Alfredo sauce looked like sausage gravy you get when u order gravy and biscuits. It was thick and greasy with butter pools rising to the surface when u let it sit for a bit. Tortalinni was soggy as well.. BUT had a nice cheese filling to pasta ratio. The classic meatballs were ok also, just lacking salt. I wanted to give the most honest review possible. I won't order from here again though. For close to $100 I was dissatisfied read more

Drove nearly an hour specifically to try this place. When we arrived, we were turned away because someone had bought the entire restaurant out. We were so sad and then had to scramble to find a new place to eat, in 30 degree weather. I know that it!s not their fault that someone bought it out, but I was really upset that we didnt find out until going inside. There was no post online to notify people until an hour after we had already been turned away. If I'm able to visit again, ill update my review. read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Good service but average food. For a place that specializes in meatballs, it wasn't anything to write home about (or to... Italy!). The meatball hoagie needed more flavor and seasoning. I wish they had toasted the bread better, as it wasn't worth eating, and the sandwich really should come with a side at the price it is at. Oh well! This restaurant does have a good location for anyone at the convention center, taking in a downtown cultural event, or staying at one of the nearby hotels. read more

We came here on a Friday night, wasn't too busy so we were able to get a spot right away. Very fun to be decorated for Halloween and I like the overall look of the space, industrial/brick/wood. The service was very good, even when he made a mistake, it was corrected. I got the meatball bowl with vodka sauce and angel hair pasta. Overall, it was a good portion. The meatballs were moist and decent, but needed a little more flavor in my opinion. The vodka sauce was good. I will be trying something else next time just because I wouldn't say this was my favorite pasta dish out there and they have a lot of other things on the menu to try! And their tapwater tasted almost like it had lemon or mint in it, very interesting. I also got a tiramisu, which I would say had zero coffee flavor, but the cream was very delicious. I would get it again but wouldn't call it tiramisu! read more

Unfortunately the quality has gone down in recent years. The last time couple times here the slider buns were either different or just stale. They took the Parmesan sauce off the menu, which was one of their best. They now go super light on the sauces as well. The buffalo chicken meatball app is still one of their best options and they are only 50 cents during happy hour. read more

HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED!!! Since the menu has changed, there were no gluten-free options available other than gluten-free penne pasta. Unfortunately, there wasn't a suitable gluten-free sauce or topping to pair with it, making it in an impractical option. What was more frustrating was the lack of accommodation from our server. Rather than trying to find a solution or asking the kitchen if any modifications could be made, he seemed much more focused on encouraging us to order additional alcoholic drinks than ensuring we had an enjoyable meal. As someone with gluten intolerance, I wasn't looking for anything extraordinary - just a willingness to help find something I could safely eat. In the end, the only thing I was able to order was a side of french fries (which undoubtedly was cross contaminated). I understand that not every restaurant can offer an extensive gluten-free menu, but I do expect attentive service and at least an effort to accommodate dietary restrictions. Unfortunately, that effort was missing, and it left me disappointed and hungry. I will not be returning! read more

Upon arrival we were sat immediately and our server was PHENOMENAL. She was so cheerful, helpful and patient with us as it was a gurls night so lots to catch up on. For drinks the table got Blitzens Cranberry Mule, Dasher's Sugar Cookie martini and a non alcoholic cranberry mule. None of us in fact got meatballs lol I got the muffuletta. It's an Italian meats sandwich with cheese and an olive salad on focaccia. With a side of fries. The sandwich was HUGE. I did also get a side of the crack sauce and it in deed was crack. I had no shame in asking for a second cup of it. Loved their holiday decor and it felt so welcoming. read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - drinks - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Great happy hour spot with food and drink specials! We loved the customizable meatball sliders and the price ($1) was unbeatable for happy hour. The buffalo chicken balls were also tasty! Their $5 wine pours included the whole list, which was great! Our server was very friendly and attentive and also gave us great recommendations. The atmosphere was lively, but we sat near the patio where it wasn't too loud even as the place started filling up. I'd definitely come back next time I'm in town! read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Rather disappointing! I was kind of excited to try this place, I mean how can you go wrong with a "meatball joint" right? Wrong! The approach is pretty cool, which is what grabbed our attention while walking around downtown. We love an open garage vibe and to be able to enjoy the fresh air and watch people go by. But that's really the best part about this "mercato". It wasn't crowded on our visit yet it took the host at least 10 minutes to acknowledge us and seat us. She must have had some very important Coke vs Pepsi debate to attend, at least that's what part of her conversation with another server was overheard as we stood there waiting to be acknowledged. If there are two things that are my favorite to eat - it's Italian wedding soup and good meatballs. Growing up the child of a native Italian Yinzer, I've had the best in the Burgh and am always looking for new and different venues to get both. This is definitely not the place. Let's start with the wedding soup. It's very bitter and lacks flavor. At first glance, it looks really good but it is really just meh with its one sad meatball, way too much spinach (or possibly kale) when it should be Swiss chard and the lack of any kind of pasta (it should have acini de Pepe). I didn't finish the soup and no one else at the table wanted it either. Next, the classic Italian meatball slider is anything but classic Italian. It's just average. However, the meatball is better than the meat sauce that I ordered on my slider. Meat sauce - hold the sauce! More like crumbled meat with a smidge of tomato flavor. Luckily, my husband ordered vodka sauce with his average spicy pork meatball that I could share. Otherwise it would have been a dry meatball with crumbled meat on a stale slider bun. Our server was great - attentive and quick with drinks and follow up. Not his fault our food was subpar. Needless to say, this restaurant will not be on our list of places to return to when visiting downtown again. read more

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I was so kindly invited here to sample a few menu items off of the new menu they released this October! They are cooking up so much more than just meatballs at this meatball joint! My favorite dishes were the crab fries and the chicken pesto sandwich on focaccia! The Ball of the Month was Octoberfest inspired with spatzel, beer cheese, and a pork & sauerkraut meatball! It was delicious and gave all the fall vibes. If you're craving dessert, order the ricotta doughnuts. Served steaming hot with chocolate drizzle. These were DIVINE, and I don't typically reach for a doughnut. I love the 3 level concept of sienna mercato. Emporio is the place for a casual meal. If you want something a little more elevated go up to Mezzo and see their new cocktail lounge! And lastly stop up on the gorgeous rooftop Il Tetto for an espresso martini and amazing city skyline views and city lights! read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Two stars for the incredibly lovely bartender, the STELLAR playlist, and a serviceable and reasonably priced glass of Pinot Grigio. I'm in Pittsburgh for work and accidentally came here looking for the associated pizza restaurant (I probably needed to go upstairs but I was tired from traveling and lazy so once I sat down I was staying.) the bartender was super nice and speedy and I enjoyed my glass of Pinot Grigio while I was waiting for the order I placed to go. I had been hankering for pizza so took awhile to decide but wound up ordering the cheesy bread appetizer and a salad. I ordered the Caesar salad with fried chicken and asked for to balsamic for the Caesar dressing. As I mentioned, the bartender was a pro (and deftly handling the service bar, all of the patrons seated at the bar, and several tables) so I'm sure she put the order, which she repeated back to me perfectly, in right... So imagine my dismay when I unboxed my dinner in the hotel room across the street and saw my sad, small, totally undressed salad with grilled chicken :(. My $17 dollar sad, undressed, salad which was note even remotely what I ordered. The cheesy bread is also hard and unappetizing, although the marinara they served on the side is tasty. The food was packaged well but they didn't include napkins or utensils. Very disappointing. I would have been better off eating at the hotel restaurant. read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - This tiny Caesar Salad was $17. I ordered fried chicken and got grilled and asked for balsamic dressing instead of Caesar and got none. - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Found this gem near the convention center in Pittsburgh. The meatballs were as delicious as I've ever had! The place is airy and comfortable. Our server made sure we had everything we needed and full drink glasses in a timely and efficient manner! We enjoyed our visit! Wish you had a place in L.A.! read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - Traditional spaghetti & Meatballs bowl - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We visited Emporio for lunch. We got there when the restaurant just opened, so there wasn't a wait. The service was quick and the food was pretty good. I ended up getting a side salad with wedding soup and I added a chicken meatball to the soup. It was very tasty, just wish I had ordered another meatball. The meatball was a good size and it was well seasoned. Soup could've been a little warmer, but not bad overall. The restaurant itself was nice and clean. You can tell the restaurant seems like it has a groovy type of atmosphere based on the decor. Definitely will have to visit again! read more

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A random stop while look for a quick meal with the family discovered this place. Not crowed so we were able to get a seat fairly quickly. We all decided to get the pasta bowels. A short wait for our food, all arrived hot, with good portions. Glad we came across this restaurant, and now we have a new spot while in the city!! read more

It was nice and clean, we were seated quickly. Server was nice and pleasant. Food was awful. Meatball sandwiches were $18, nothing served with it. Served on a cold hoagie roll with no cheese or anything on it. Completely overpriced for what you are getting. Parm ailoi Fries appetizer was not served with the ailoi as mentioned on the menu, (also cold) and the fries were mediocre. Jacked Mac Bowl was supposed to be served on mac and cheese but there was no cheese present in the mac. There was a little bit of bleu cheese but it was overall disappointing. I'm usually pretty positive with restaurants and give them multiple chances, but we won't be back. read more

If this had been our first trip there, we'd never have gone a second time. We hadn't been back much since the pandemic and I'm not sure if we hit it on a bad night, or if their food is always horrible now. The vibe is still good. Service was friendly, but bad (almost nothing we got the first time around matched what we ordered. The food tasted like it had been made hours and hours ago and sitting around getting cold. The restaurant was more empty than I'd ever seen it, so them being too busy wasn't the issue. I'm definitely not in a rush to return unless I hear that they're going back to the old restaurant standards. Very disappointing dinner for the same prices. read more

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Was excited to try Emporio, but was met with unfortunate service and food. Coming in at 2:30pm on a Tuesday, the place was pretty empty. It's a classic "garage" type feel with steel chairs and wobbly tables. The kind hostess allowed us to sit anywhere, in which was chose the tables next to the outdoor patio. It took about 10 minutes before anyone came to take our orders. I realize it's a slow time and crossover, but it was pretty unacceptable. Especially since I saw the manager and waiters all walking near our table cleaning the other tables but not servicing us first. The bartender finally came over, with no apology, and took our orders. Not having the bread for the panini and hoagie was disappointing, but he didn't suggest another option for us so we just went with the sliders. Once they came, they were without the cheese and the bread was not soft. The meatball and sauce were great though. The meatball sample was fine. We decided we didn't really love the chicken meatball (dry, firm, too much breading) but the beef one was great! I would hope this isn't the way it always is, but it didn't make me want to return. read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - Sampler - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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A group of us wanted to grab a drink after an event in the theater district. We popped in to Emporio because it wasn't terribly busy and the hostess said we had a spot. It took a half an hour to get our table and another half an hour to get one drink and pretty much abandoned. Our waiter was super friendly, but it appeared he joined the multiple staff members who were partaking in some wacky tobaccy in the little shack behind the hostess stand. No judgment, but the waters we asked for would have been cool. We would have ordered another round of drinks, but we sat there with empty drinks for a while and couldn't even catch the eye of any of the wait staff. We finally paid and left. At the end of the day, we just wanted to caution them that they'd be high forever and everyone knows read more

In Pittsburgh for the first time, and this looked appetizing. Waitress was "in training", which sometimes can be dicey, but you couldn't tell she was inexperienced, since she was attentive, energetic, let me ask questions, and if she didn't know, she was quick to go get an answer. She'll do well. Got the wedge salad, which was good-sized, fresh and delicious. Then ordered the Mac and cheese after debating between that and the pesto pasta. It was pretty good. The portion was a little small for the price, but the cheese was very flavorful - as was the jalapeños on top. Their meatballs are their signature, but while they're seasoned very well, they're a touch dense and a little dry. Overall, worth the trip and maybe another try for the pesto. read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - Front counter - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A meatball joint!  Right on Penn Avenue, on the First Floor of Sienna Mercato.  Local cuisine, Italian/American with a full-service bar and table seating available.  They offer a variety of salads, snacks and different styles of meatball dishes- from sliders to bowls, paired with pastas or just on their own.  Lots of variations of meatballs and sauces- chicken, pork, beef and veggie as well as over eight different sauces!  Had Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and Poutine! Featuring a monthly meatball each month which is a super fun flavorful ball that is constantly changing- this month it is: Tuscan Chicken .  Friendly staff and quick service makes this a great spot to grab lunch or dinner.  Great location to grab a bite before a show, concert or game! read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Horrible food! Cold mozzarella sticks served with a couple of fries that we didn't order. Nasty! Pesto pasta was undercooked and chicken meatballs had a weird taste. My husband ordered a chicken parm that was served at room temperature. Just nasty food all around. Stay away! read more

It's a fun concept, you build your custom meatball entree. You can order spicy, vegetarian, meaty, just whatever suits your taste. The service is fast, which is great if you are heading to a concert or play. The second level features more gourmet options, but sometimes it's good to keep things simple and quick. read more

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I ordered delivery and got their meatball of the month, it was delicious and I would defiantly order from here again.

Food was good. Glad they brought back the meatball hoagie. Staff is still Great. Bartender Brett - Warm and friendly Ambiance bar area is the best area to eat and hang. read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - The Meatball Hoagie is Back!!!! Economized w the side salad. - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Not bad, not necessary good. Got one of their signature loaded baked potato bowls. Basically a few scoops of mashed potatoes, tater tots, nacho cheese, bacon, and 2 beef meatballs. It wasn't bad, just tasted kind of "cheap" if that's the right word. Guess this is a good place if you're looking for a quick inexpensive meal. Overall, not a bad experience. Good service. Good vibes. Mediocre food. read more

The meatball was dry and the vodka sauce was too salty. The risotto was so cheesy that it was too rich so we only ate 1/3 of it. After paying, we immediately went out to get pizza around the corner read more

Edit: Three days later and no one has called to apologize or explain the "no show." WOW! I'm writing this review to express my deep disappointment with my experience with the meatball truck. We scheduled the truck on Oct. 14th for the opening concert of our township's Summer Concert Series. I confirmed everything with their events coordinator on May 27. He assured us at that time that the truck would be there and everything was set. On the day of the event, which was yesterday, June 14th, we waited--and no one showed up. I called the restaurant and was shocked to be told that we were not on the schedule, and the truck was not coming. No one at the restaurant even had a phone number for the coordinator or truck driver. There was no prior notice or communication It was not only frustrating but also incredibly unprofessional, especially considering we had hundreds of people counting on them to be part of the day. We had to hurry and order pizzas to ensure enough food was there for people to eat. Events like this take time and planning, and to be left in the lurch without even a courtesy call is unacceptable. Furthermore, I wished that I had looked at the reviews prior to booking because this seems to be their MO. Unfortunately, I cannot and will not recommend them for any event where reliability matters. read more

No AC !!!!!!! Worst dinner because it had to be 85 in there! My chicken Marsala was FRIED and I couldn't even find the chicken. It was all batter. No Marsala sauce. Just tons of batter, mashed potatoes and broccolini. Thought we'd go up to the rooftop bar for a cold beer and it was just as hot because the roof was CLOSED. read more

Good food options good service, friendly staff, nice atmosphere They had a good selection of food, options and beverages as well read more

Such a unique, and yummy restaurant! I've never been anywhere quite like Emporio. When you arrive, you will notice the sign says something different. This confused us too, just know you've found the right place. My husband and I both got the chicken meatballs, which were pretty dry. But honestly, it's chicken and we should have known better. However, we loved the buffalo and the crazy sauce and I highly recommend anything over the tater tots. We don't live in Pittsburg, but we might just have to take another trip to try more meatballs. Great service and classic sports bar theme. It looked like they had a killer outdoor area, but we visited in the winter. read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - Crazy chicken balls over tater tots - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Wanted something new and I'm so glad I stopped in. I loved the food and the service. I'll try more menu items because I'm certainly going to make this a regular lunch stop. I had a meatball panini with provolone and marinara sauce with a side of mashed potatoes. I highly recommend this place and look forward to the other levels. There's a rooftop bar and an Italian Restaurant in the same building. read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - Meatball panini with marinara and mashed potatoes - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Derive wasn't anything great. Good tastes microwave or from a bag. Won't be returning.

I stopped by here earlier today with my wife for dinner. Our neighborhood has food trucks come every other Thursday and on this day it happened to be the Emporio Meatball Truck. Since it's a food truck, there's not much to say about it other than it was being worked by two employees and it let me know that Emporio is the "official meatball of the Pittsburgh Penguins". For dinner on this day, both my wife and I decided to go with the crack Mac attack. The menu described it as 5 fried Buffalo chicken balls, gov't Mac and cheese with crack sauce. We waited maybe 5 minutes for our order to be ready and once we received it we headed back home. Once there I opened it up and dug in. The first thing that I noticed was how spicy the crack sauce was. It was good though as it also had a sweet component to it and so I could understand the name. The Buffalo chicken balls had a nice exterior and a warm and juicy interior to them. Last but not least was the Mac and cheese which was the most disappointing part. The pasta was cooked correctly, I just wish that there had been more sauce on it and that it was a bit creamier. Oh well. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. I was actually surprised by how much I liked my dish and would also like to try their "angry birds". read more

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This restaurant is so so cute. It's actually pretty easy to miss because the restaurant is actually housed with two other restaurants - a charcuterie place and a rooftop bar - and so the name out the outside is actually not Emporio. Got takeout on a weekday night and the place was packed, definitely recommend reserving a table ahead of time if you want to eat in. The food was very okay. Got the Saucy Balls with 4 different kinds of meatballs (chicken, beef, pork, and a spicy meatball of the week) with Basil Pesto Cream and Mac 'n Cheese. The meatballs were pretty dry, would recommend getting the spicy ones as it cuts through the meatiness a lot better. The sauce definitely helps a lot to give it a little bit more moisture. The mac 'n cheese was a little bit underwhelming, there wasn't a lot of cheese in ours but I like the pasta shape. Overall, beautiful place but the food was just okay. Also its a kind of pricey for the amount you get but I guess that's dinner prices right? read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - Meatballs - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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This was my second visit to Emporio, however I do like to patronize the Emporio Food Truck when it is nearby to my home. We were promptly seated on the main floor and our waitress was attentive. I had the regular beef meatballs with crack sauce and tots. I love the crack sauce. They were VERY sparse with the sauce. My wife had the marinara sauce and tots. We each had two drinks. Our bill was $70.00. I like it but it is definitely advantageous to visit during happy hour, especially if you are going to imbibe. Next time I hope they put more crack sauce on my meatballs. read more

Called in to place an order for pickup around 6:30pm on a Saturday night. Food was ready about 15 minutes later which was great because when I showed up the wait to be seated for those who wanted to eat in was about 30 minutes. While takeout was speedier, I think it made for a poorer food experience. Unfortunately, by the time I got home the fries were cold and stale. They were beyond saving and were thrown right in the bin. The few bites I did have weren't particularly memorable and rather bland. The atomic chicken meatballs were very dry as well, but because they were in a sauce and served with macaroni and cheese they were salvageable and it wasn't difficult to reheat. Finally, the spicy pork slider with tomato/basil sauce had a good flavor but the slider bun had turned to a crouton during the drive home. Yet another casualty. I can imagine the experience could've been much better if we'd decided to eat in, but convenience won out today and the meal quality paid dearly for that. read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - Atomic balls, spicy beef slider, fries - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Who doesn't love meatballs? Now make those meatballs out of chicken, toss them in hot sauce, top them with blue cheese and jalapeños, and serve them over mac n cheese. I was in love. They saw me and my palette coming from a looong ways away. They also offer many other meatball options. Even a create your own where you choose your meatball protein, sauce, and what it's over. And they have salads, fries, and even more. It was very busy when I was there. And I definitely got lost in the bar crush shuffle. But it was also a bartender all on their own. So completely understandable, just not the best experience. But would totally come back. Fab flavors happening here! read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - Atomic Balls Bowl - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We had attempted to go to another restaurant for my Birthday dinner but they were completely booked. We decided to walk up a few blocks and try out Sienna Mercato. I'm so glad we did! For my drink I got a mule. It was delicious and well mixed. My appetizer- the crack fries. I quickly understood the name because I could not stop eating them! My boyfriend got the crab and shrimp Buffalo dip. He was taken aback that it was cold but enjoyed it. He did say he couldn't taste much crab or shrimp. For our entrees, I got the saucy balls with 2 chicken meatballs and 2 beef ones over tomato risotto and covered in tomato basil sauce. It was out of this world! The beef meatballs were perfectly seasoned and just magnificent. The chicken balls were slightly salty but also very good. The risotto was cooked to perfection and the sauce complimented it all perfectly. My boyfriend also did the saucy balls with chicken balls, pesto sauce, and tortellinis. I loved the pesto but the rest was too heavy for me. He however loved it. We left full, satisfied, and with leftovers. Can't wait to come back! read more

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This is one of the coolest spots in Pittsburgh. Sienna Mercato is three floors of different style restaurants and Emporio is the one on the ground floor. Yes, it's a "meatball joint", but it's so much more. The menu has quite a few fun appetizers (try the parmesan fries!) and lots of choices for meatball sandwiches/paninis/sliders. The beer list is quite long but I'm not a beer drinker so I didn't partake. My husband tried Platform Strawberry Cheesecake Porter that he loved. We were blessed with great hospitality from the hostess to the bartender to the waitress. Everyone was energetic. We didn't feel like we had to rush out either which is unusual for a downtown spot as they usually love to turn tables over quickly. We will definitely be back. read more

You guys, seriously what is happening to my reviews???? I've posted one about this place when the first opened. Ugh, Yelp, why?!? Balls, Balls, Balls...that's how my last review started. Maybe that was the problem? Lol. Anyway haven't been here in a few months and I'm not disappointed at all. Me and the boyfriend ordered and shared our faves: Fugetta Bowl Mac and cheese (creamy parm) This is a great spot for locals and out of towners. Love the whole vibe/combo of Emporio, IL Tetto and Mezzo. Three joints in one. read more

Emporio: A Meatball Joint - New American Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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