Pizzaiolo Primo in Market Square was absolutely amazingggggg. My boyfriend first brought me here when he moved to Pittsburgh and we recently came back during Valentine's Day weekend. Every time we come, we have such a good experience. The service and drinks were amazing. Our server was super attentive and made sure we were taken care of the whole night. The pasta was absolutely delectable hahaha. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and comforting. The ambience here is really nice too. It can get a little loud, especially on busy weekends, but honestly that is only because the place stays packed and people are enjoying themselves. We personally did not mind the noise level at all because it added to the energy of the restaurant. Overall, this is such a great spot for a date night, but I could also see it being perfect for dinner with family or friends. Definitely one of my favorite places in Market Square. read more

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Really cool place in a prime location. Our waitress was extremely nice and the atmosphere here was very comfortable. Our table shared apps like the arancini, zucchini fritti, and calamari. All very good except the calamari, it was just OK. Not much flavor and there were several tough pieces. I ordered the calabrese pizza which had really good flavor. However, the dough was pretty thick and chewy. I confirmed with the waitress if it was neopolitan style and she said yes - but it was poorly executed. I tried someone else's ravioli, and it was pretty blah. Texture could've improved. The flavor of the sauces were lacking. The wine we shared at the table was excellent though. I believe it was the Chianti. read more

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Food was Amazing!! I had the Cheese Pizza with a sprite (and water) I didn't even ask for basil and they gave it to me. You can LITERALLY watch your food get cooked. This place is so cool and the waiters are SO NICE. The place was clean read more

I finally got the opportunity to eat at Pizzaiolo in Market Square for a business dinner. Pleasantly surprised. I didn't get standard Italian fare here, but crab cakes with remoulade sauce. Well cooked, soft melt-in-you-mouth texture. The green beans that came with it were well seasoned and crisp. And lots of appetizers went around (meatballs, calamari, bread) that I don't remember well enough to write about (there was red wine too), but everything was delicious. Our server was great too. I think we shared tiramisù cakes for dessert. But I really enjoyed this place and would come again on my own sometime. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo Market Square - Crab cakes with roasted vegetables - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Tried to get lunch at Pizzaiola Primo Market Square's bar on Friday afternoon. The bar had only one other patron and the bartenders were too busy talking to get me a drink. Walked out. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo Market Square - Entrance - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

UPDATE: The food & service here have always been great, though the restaurant is loud and cramped (and either really cold if you're close to the window and it's freezing outside or way too warm). That being said, we had reservations for dinner for weeks and just one week before the date of our reservation, we were contacted and told that our reservation had been canceled (leaving us just a week to get a reservation elsewhere, though we'd planned well). If there had been a good reason for this change, I'd have never mentioned it in a review. However, I was told that they were closing early that day due to their employee holiday party. This might be an acceptable oversight for a new restaurant, but they've been there for years and the holidays come EVERY year at the same time. I'm very disappointed. It's going to be quite a while before I go back. I'm sure I will at some point (never in December or January, of course, since they might cancel), but this dissapointing customer service situation will take me a bit to move past. read more

I sometimes feel that Downtown PGH is a bit spotty, and always come here with a purpose - generally to go to one of the theaters or the symphony. This is a spot that is worth putting on your list though. It is a small restaurant in Market Square that I have easily walked by on many occasions. The food is beautifully and deliciously served, and it is classy, even though it is next to a Starbucks and a Subway. :) Get a drink, an appetizer, and one of their spins on classic Italian and you and your belly will leave happily. read more

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Saturday dinner reservations for 2 at 7:30pm. We were in between here and another place within the area and settled on Primo due to the motley options. However, that can also be a curse in decision making. Took an uber and got dropped off, checking in with the staff inside the front door. Small area for seating on the first floor with an open kitchen and a pizza oven visible. We were sat upstairs that has a large bar and traditional seating. Place reminds me of the Italian style shops that restaurants really lean on - tile floor, dark hardware and white light shades. We started with sharing fried mozzarella and a caprese salad. The cheese was pretty standard, hard to mess that up. The caprese was good and executed nicely. Would have liked to have more balsamic glaze or a side of it - but the flavor was very good. For my meal, I went with the chicken parm and subbed in rigatoni rather than spaghetti. The rigatoni was al dente and really good. Sauce is very smooth and thin, not much chunkiness to it which isn't a bad thing. The chicken was good - also coming out PIPING hot. Overall a solid meal. We skipped dessert and headed nearby for dessert elsewhere. Service was good and the staff taking care of us were attentive and took care of us quickly. Would recommend to try. read more

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The Marketplace Square is undergoing a huge renovation, but luckily most of the restaurants are able to remain open during construction. We wanted some Italian and this was a good choice for that. Beautifully simple old world building with a bit of a modern day flair. We ordered the Burrata salad which was excellent, and the Stracciatella pizza, both to share between us. We enjoyed both of these dishes immensely. Service was good and the meal was sufficient without breaking the bank. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo Market Square - Burrata salad - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The food/wine here isn't terrible. But for the price, it is not worth it in my opinion. The pizzas were okay, the margarita and the calabrese without sausage, but they weren't that flavorful. The wine options were fine, but nothing unique for the price point. The tiramisu and cheesecake were the highlights of the entire meal. Don't think I'd come back, but I do like how many vegetarian options are available and how you are able to customize the dishes to suit your dietary needs. I would come back to try the pastas. The staff here were really nice though! read more

Pizzaiolo Primo Market Square - Tiramisu & cheesecake - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Greens and beans were incredible here. Chicken parm was good too! And server was attentive and really good with our large group. It was just so cold inside though. Our server said whenever it gets below a certain temperature the heating just can't keep up because it's an old building. If you're good to wear your jacket you'll be in for a nice meal. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo Market Square - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Came here for lunch during the week and split a pizza with my coworker. Wedding soup was awesome. We sat at the bar & had great service! Was relatively fast. If you're a pizza and ranch kind of person, heads up they do not have any ranch. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo Market Square - Burrata pizza - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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This restaurant is clearly very popular and highly-rated. The ambiance is classy but modern. They seem to get lots of customers, so reservations may be recommended. Got the Burrata Salad and Wood-Fired Margherita Pizza, as well as the Spaghetti Pomodoro, which I forgot to take a photo of. The ingredients are very fresh and the dishes are well-executed. The Tiramisu (which doesn't have eggs) was delicious. Since the food is meant to be more fresh and natural tasting, the flavor is on the mild side. But they provide seasoning options on the side, if needed. The waiting staff is all very positive energy, accommodating about food preferences and alternatives, and good at what they do. read more

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This place has been pretty consistent over the few years I've been eating at the restaurant. Service is pretty good, and food comes out quick even if they are busy. Their pasta is always cooked al dente (the way it should be) and their sauces are light and savory. Their stuffed pepper dish is superb, with lots of melted cheese on top. Every time I've been here, I've been sat outside, but the interior has two floors of seating with the bar on the second floor and is relatively small but relaxing. read more

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This is an excellent Italian restaurant whose pasta dishes are crisply al dente and usually have the chicken or seafood over on the side instead of mixed in. The soup offered is wedding soup, typical of Pittsburgh though unknown where I come from. Waitress took our soup/appetizer orders first, then came back later to take our entree orders. In the men's room, the toilet handle is disconnected from the flush mechanism, and the soap dispensers don't work. read more

Pricey but delicious. I love the margarita pizza! Their happy hour deals are pretty good! 5 dollar house wines and 10 dollar pizza?! The bar is always clean and cozy and the service is always great! No complaints, just feel like you can get similar quality for less money at other spots, but it depends on the vibe! read more

Ordered bread pudding for desert and it was incredible. I will be back just for it! The portion was big, so I even had leftovers. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo Market Square - Bread Pudding - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Two tables around us were very loud, on top of the blasting music. The food and service was good, but the atmosphere ruined our dinner.

I loved this spot!! We already can't wait to come back Great food! I took my dad here for dinner because he was spending 1 night in Pittsburgh during a bike ride from Pittsburgh to Maryland. He loves italian food and places with outdoor dining The ambience is nice, the outside seating is nice, with fake greenery blocking some of the downtown view. You truly don't feel like you're downtown. The inside is nice as well, it's not a huge spot so it can get crowded The food was great! My dad loved the ravioli. I loved the pizza. It's definitely authentic and Italian style, very very thin, but I prefer that. My fiancé had the Cacio e Pepe and had chicken added to it (you can pick a protein for $ extra) he also really enjoyed it and practically licked the plate clean! We didn't get any drinks because it was so hot outside, nobody wanted alcohol. But they do have a pretty extensive drink menu, as well as a $25 corkage fee - steep- (but still probably cheaper than buying 3-4 glasses of wine in a restaurant!) read more

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Came here for lunch on Mother's Day and absolutely loved it. Our server was amazing and had the best bubbly personality. Love the seating and layout of this place. My son absolutely loved his pizza, I grabbed a small bite and indeed it was good. I like that there's a separate private seating area upstairs that you can rent out for special occasions. Location was great at the Market square. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo Market Square - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We had reservations on Feb. 25 at 6:15 for dinner prior to an 8 pm show. We arrived early and wanted to sit at the bar for a cocktail. The hostess told us our table would be on the first floor, so we sat at the bar on the first floor. At 6:15 we were told our table would be a bit late so by 6:30 we started to become a bit anxious since our venue opens up all reserved seating (ours) at 7:50 to the general admissions ticket holders. We were finally seated at 6:45 upstairs, and by the time our order was taking it was 7. We have a 10 minute walk to the venue. We only ordered appetizers to expedite our leaving. We did not get one apology for the delay in our seating and will not be returning. read more

My 18 year old daughter and I sat at the bar. Servers were rude. Food was better than average but nothing special. I gave them more than 20% tip but in hindsight I should have given them way less. read more

A fun little spot to stop on a cold day in market square after visiting all the shops, the food was exquisite. While there is not a lot of room to sit the restaurant offers a second floor with additional space! We will gladly revisit when in the mood for some Italian comfort food! read more

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Stopped for lunch before our annual holiday tradition. We made reservations and were unfortunately seated next to a window on the second floor. I say unfortunately only because the window leaked cold air in the entire time we sat there. My left side was frozen. We started with an app of arancini (rice balls), and they were the best thing we had that day. We then ordered penne vodka which o thought was decent, not quite your normal vodka sauce but okay. Then we shared three pizzas. A Margherita, a spicy meatball and the prosciutto e arugula. The margherita was decent, the prosciutto was the best and surprisingly the spicy meatball was the most bland and least appealing. Our service was decent, the price point for what you get isn't the best. All in all it was an okay experience, nothing that stands out. read more

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Cute, rustic two story Italian restaurant in market square. There is a bar on both floors. It is very small we had a party of six and it was hard for them to fit us all. I suggest making reservations ahead of time. Food was 10/10. I highly recommend a pasta or pizza dish. The best appetizer is the fried zucchini. The service was 6/10. A few of our orders were messed up and it took long to correct. But I think it might have been the kitchens fault because our waitress was lovely. I would come back! read more

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The food was so good. Service was top notch as well. We had the entire second floor for our family reunion so we could talk with each other comfortably and didn't have competing noise. Parking was a breeze around the corner. read more

14th pizza passport stop and first time here. Arrived right at open in a Sunday. Very nice staff but can feel a bit unwelcoming when there's a look of concern if you didn't make a reservation even though only 3 tables were in use and all but 1 spot at bar was empty. Nevertheless, the margarita pizza came 6 cut with an aggressive fire char on the bottom...which I like but even for me hovered burnt. Sauce and cheese very simple and very low on the basil. Overall a good pie but there were a few more standouts especially in terms of sauce read more

Pizzaiolo Primo Market Square - Margarita Pizza Margherita - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

First time in Pittsburgh! We were trying to find a place that was outdoors since we are traveling with small dogs. They were so accomodating and sat us in the patio. We ordered the arancini, funghi pasta and cacio e pepe. The pasta could use a bit more salt/seasoning but the arancini was perfect! The service was A++ and they treated our doggies so amazingly! read more

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This place was recommended to our group so we decided to give it a try. The pizza was good but a little soggy. The flavor was there but was hoping for a little more "well done" crust. I was excited to try the wedding soup but after tasting it, I wish I would have passed. It needed more flavor. The staff was super friendly but the reason for the 3 stars is the bathroom. I understand it was both men/women that does not bother me at all. It's a small place. What bothered me is you could see the pee from the urinal piling up on the floor and smelled awful. Like literally a pile of pee. I'm sorry it was bad and management should probably check on that. read more

Would have been a 5 as the food is great. Nice ambiance. However had reservations for 6:15. Checked in at 6:10. Asked twice about a table around 6:30. We had tickets for a performance. The hostess said there was nothing she could do.. There was a party upstairs so no option. There was no apology, acknowledgement or reassurance they were working on it. Basically ignored. Requested the manager who asked a table to leave. There were 4 at a table that seated 8. Clearly they do not plan for reservations Disappointing. read more

Best word to describe the service: Excellent. Best word to describe the atmosphere: Decent. Best word to describe the food: Mediocre. We made reservations here for a Saturday night. The table was ready to go, and our server was Johnny on the spot -- from the beginning to the end. Atmosphere here is darkish, which is a good thing. Napkins are linen, and the table is clutch. My problem is the communal seating. We heard all about our neighbors' issues, and they heard about ours. I get this in NYC, but Pittsburgh? This place is supposed to be the smallest large city in the country! The food here was served lukewarm, which was not a deal-breaker in itself. Except it was also bland. Perhaps it's a Pittsburgh thing, but I tasted nary a hint of garlic or basil in the tomato sauce. The eggplant was nicely tender and fried crispy; the pasta was al dente. Because these folks know how to cook, they get three stars. But their ability to add Italian flavor isn't exactly on the expert scale. Bottom line: If service is your thing, this is your place. If atmosphere is your thing (privacy notwithstanding), you might enjoy it here. If you're looking for really good Italian food that tastes as good as it looks, go elsewhere. read more

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Was craving pizza and decided to give this place a try. There were a lot of great reviews. We lucked out and were able to get in without a reservation. I will say if you are in the area I highly recommend a reservation and for you to give this place a try. The service was fantastic and the pizza was some of the best I have ever had. Everything was so fresh and delicious. It's a little pricey but well worth it. read more

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Incredible dining experience in the upstairs dining room. Nicole and Michelle are the dynamic duo and amazing hosts. The bolognese was next level and the Margherita pizza was off the charts. I can't wait to return on my next visit to Pittsburgh. read more

Made reservations for 10 ppl 2 weeks ago, for my 50th birthday dinner. Confirmed yesterday, on the phone for 9 possibly 8 at 6:45pm tonight. Now I've been there before, and loved it hence why I picked them and centrally located. One friend had a drink at the bar before the we all arrived on time. I assume the manager ( polka dot) shirt told me and that friend, she was going to take care of us. Great! Well we sat for almost 25 minutes before I got up and asked for service. Mind you, prior to that my friend at the bar was told there was a mix up and another large party was coming in and they had to make quick adjustments. Umm ok, thought it was weird that she told her that but ok. So that party arrived and they quickly served them with everything and totally forgot about us. Finally we met our waitress Stephanie who was delightful but she was the only person working inside and a few table outside. She was working so hard, and the others literally made no effort or attempt to pay us any attention. They stood around at the front near the bar, or just chatting with themselves, while we needed refills, salt, straws, clean plates, and fresh water. One employee must have asked me 4 times if we needed the drink menus or if he could use for others. The food although delicious, came out at different times, and it really wasn't relaxing because we needed to constantly try to get something or someone's attention. It's only Monday so I sure hope the rest of the week goes better for patrons. Not sure if I'll be back definitely not for a party though. Too much work. I do have to thank Stephanie though. read more

We visited Pizzaiolo Primo on a Friday evening while in town from Miami, FL for a tournament. Our party had a reservation for 15 people, and we called ahead to ask if the restaurant could accommodate a few additional guests. We were told there were no guarantees but that the team would try their best. Upon arrival--well before our reservation time--we were told rather curtly by the hostess that we had to wait outside until our exact reservation time. When we were finally seated upstairs at 7:30 PM, we encountered an extremely rude waitress named Michelle (as we were later informed). As I was passing by, she abruptly stated, "We can only do one check," and then immediately turned to a coworker to say she would not serve our table. Thankfully, another waitress, Nicole, stepped in and was absolutely wonderful--professional, kind, and attentive throughout our meal. Unfortunately, Michelle continued to make the evening uncomfortable. She refused to assist in serving our food and made inappropriate comments about our table to coworkers at the bar. Toward the end of the evening, she even spoke rudely to the children in our group as they were walking by. Overall, this behavior created an unwelcoming and uncomfortable atmosphere for our entire party. We were disappointed, especially given how much we had looked forward to dining there. We hope management addresses this issue so that future guests are treated with more respect and hospitality. read more

Used to visit this place 7yrs ago when I would travel to Pittsburgh. Food & service used to be fantastic but I'm not sure what happened. Service review- Sat at the bar Sunday evening there was only 1 couple at the bar and they were already eating. It took a good 5-6mins for the bartender to come over to me even though she saw me sitting there and decided to clean the espresso machine instead. Was told the kitchen closed at 8 so after eating my app's I had to put in both dinner and dessert. When my dinner came out so did my dessert. I mean really..it's panna cotta it's pre made you couldn't just wait. Also about 3-4 other guests tried to come in a little after 8pm and were denied. Place should stay open until 8:30-9pm IMO.. Food review - Stuffed pepper app was fantastic Ordered the burrata which I usually lovee but the texture of this burrata was like cottage cheese on the inside. Very strange! Ordered chicken piccata for my meal and it was such a thick piece of chicken. I'm used to it being pounded thin which threw me off. Also wasn't dredged in any flour, weird. Also had a ton of seasoning on it, also weird. The lemon butter sauce that it came in wasn't that tasty either. Scale of 1-10 i'd give it a 6. I've lived in nyc and Providence ri and have ate at alot of Italian restaurants so I'm no newby. Panna cotta was ok, it was thicker than I've had in the past. read more

I came to try a new Italian restaurant and wasn't pleased personally. I ordered the Cavatelli Salsiccia but received the Pappardelle Salsiccia instead (I knew something was off but didn't know the proper name). It was very bland, only really tasting like tomato. Maybe other items are yummy but not this one. They also asked my friend how she wanted her salmon cooked. When we gave the waitress a look of confusion, she looked annoyed and asked if we wanted it rare, medium rare or well done. Never heard someone ask for a rare or medium rare salmon read more

Pizzaiolo Primo Market Square - Pappardelle Salsiccia - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This was an absolutely amazing experience! The service was fantastic- they brought family level of engagement with excellent culinary details. Love the pizza - takes you straight to Italy! I recommend the Ravioli with meatballs!!! read more

Pizzaiolo Primo Market Square - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Saturday noon lunch. Two people. Not busy at first, good time to go! What a boring post this is going to be because we both had the eggplant EGGPLANT PARM FANATICS: Felt compelled to post; those of us who like eggplant parm are particular creatures this is just done well! yeah! so good Perfect thickness without being paper thin yet is still hardy but not thick and rubbery; breaded lightly and layered with fresh basil and some parmigiano cheese; not covered in melted mozz like American restaurants... am I going to get in trouble for that? truth be told the only thing missing would've been a nice little side of pasta or a piece of bread because if you're truly Italian you like to make a little eggplant sammich for lunch! We had the artichokes as an appetizer which I thought were delicious ... oh the sun-dried tomato pesto! but four little quarters not worth $17. I know they're like $4 each in the grocery store but still, come on. Total bill: Glass of wine, one cup of coffee with a shot of Bailey's, artichoke appetizer, two eggplant entrées with tip $130 Too steep for lunch in my opinion but it was a nice holiday treat? Then parking was another $15! not their control just a warning! read more

We got there right when it opened. They gave us a wobbly table by the door, which I didn't like but they said all other tables were for reservations. Food was good except my cavetelli wasn't cooked properly and it took way too long to get our food. Also for these prices, I think bread and butter/oil should have been offered. By the time we finished 2 other tables that were supposedly "reserved" were still empty, so bad planning on whoever did the seating. Also, it was freezing cold, even the bartender and hostess was cold but other lady (I assume a manager) propped the door open making the table by the door infinitely worse. Glad another waitress stepped in and closed it. Oh, our waitress did end up fixing the wobbly table before the food came out. Also, it's a pet peeve of mine when I'm the first one seated & ordered, but other folks that came after us get their food before us, not sure what took so long. I get that different items take different times to cook, but I don't think we had anything the other big table didn't also have. read more

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