I loved eating here with my family and dog. The restaurant is in a great spot on Market Square, and we could sit outside, which was nice. The service was excellent; our waitress talked to the chef about my dietary needs. The food was really good, especially the caprese appetizer. The only thing I wished for was more choices on the menu. They only had chicken, branzino, and salmon, and no beef or pork. Nonetheless, it's a great place to eat in downtown Pittsburgh. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Calamari and Caprice - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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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

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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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 - 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 - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

One of the best spots for fresh pasta. Last time I was here I had it, but this time I had their penne vodka and it is a 10/10. My friend wanted gnocchi with white sauce & they accommodated it for her. I love the atmosphere as well - very nice comfortable lighting and seating options. I love the upstairs as well - there is a large bar up there to grab a drink before dinner! read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Penne Vodka Gnocchi Sorrentina(altered to white sauce) - 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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If I can give this place 0 stars I most definitely would do so! I'm really shocked of how I was treated in this establishment . Well first off the seating in this place is very terrible .. I was seating right in the middle of the floor when there were clearly better seating options. The waiter said she was new but still no excuse of why the service was so terrible. I order a lemon drop that was claimed to be how "full" but as you can see in the photo listed that it's clearly NOT . the waiter stated that the "that's just the sizing of the glass" well that's hilarious!!! $20 half full lemon drop .. classic ... oh and I ordered something that was on the menu just for the manager to come back 20 minutes and say it's no longer in the menu anymore ... classic .. to sum things up this place actually sucks .. food very mediocre.. bland .. I'm not sure if this is actual Italian cuisine or what .. Olive Garden is were you should go not here . read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - The half full lemon drop.. do not get - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We always love coming here, but our meal the other night was marred by a rude and insulting server, Michelle. We were about 10 minutes late to join the rest of our table, and upon greeting us, she said, "wow, about time you joined us". That was her greeting. Excuse me? I so deeply apologize that the 5pm Pittsburgh traffic delayed our arrival. She then disappeared for 15 minutes before taking any of our orders. And later when clearing our appetizers, I held on to an app and said she could take the marinara sauce, to which she replied, "you must be a psychopath". What? Food was fine, but I wasn't expecting service reflecting Ed Debevic's. Michelle might think she is edgy and cool, but this is not the place for that attitude. Go bartend at a dive bar instead. Probably won't be back again because this was so obnoxious. read more

Stopped by for a drink at the bar (they have two: one at the bottom when you walk in and one upstairs, which is where we sat). Not sure if there's an elevator? (FYI: They also have really great outdoor seating in the summer too.) The dirty martini was exceptional, perfectly balanced with the biggest Spanish olives I've ever seen. The atmosphere was cozy, with low lighting and comfortable seating. The bartender was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, providing excellent service and engaging conversation. I'll definitely be back! read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Martini - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Came here after work for a glass of wine and to order food to go. I sat at the bar upstairs and had a Sauvignon Blanc while I waited. Ordered the meatball appetizer and pomodoro spaghetti go. Once I received my food I headed out. The very nice bartender at the upstairs bar chased me down because I forgot my card after I paid... wish I remembered his name to thank him. Usually I check my orders for everything. I got home after a long day of work to discover my spaghetti pomodoro was missing.... I called them to let them know that half of my order is missing. Of course, they didn't believe me and had to double check. They advised it was still sitting in the kitchen window. They smugly advised I could come back and get it or receive a refund. I opted for the refund... The meatballs were good at least... but I won't be coming back to this location. I would have given one star, but since the bartender chased me down to return my card I will give two. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Sauvignon Blanc - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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My friend and I stopped in before heading to a concert at PPG arena. We split the meatball app, a Caesar salad, and a pizza. Everything was good, but for some reason the Caesar was the real winner! Who knew a salad could be so delicious?! Actually- the REAL winner was our server. I can't remember her name, but she was SO wonderful!! Primo is very small, so if you're going on a weekend you better make a reservation. Also, if you are claustrophobic or don't do well with crowds, this isn't the place for you. You will be crammed. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This was an overall great experience! The calamari and pizza really hit the spot for us and was cooked impeccably. The best part of the experience however was the staff. The bartender was pleasant and helpful. My date was slightly late and the manager and bartender helped me to time our appetizer for just as she walked in. Top notch service we will be back! read more

We found Pizzaiolo Primo while staying in a hotel downtown during a visit with our daughter in college. The food and drinks were so good we went back for a lunch and a dinner before walking to Steelers Game. The food and the drinks have been consistent.. Highly recommend! read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Looking from the patio out to the square. - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Went to Pittsburgh for baseball and this place was around the corner from our hotel. Food was amazing. Brussel sprout appetizer was one of the best I have ever eaten. Wife had a pasta the was excellent, I even tried some, perfect pasta, perfect sauce. I had a pizza, as I usually do, excellent. Service was perfect. Clearly this wait staff was trained in the details of white table cloth service. Ambiance was good, we sat outside, which we like to do, the area on the square was very nice read more

I came here several years ago and remember the pizza being amazing. Tonight we had the fried calamari appetizer (which was a huge portion!), the gnocchi, and the linguine. Everything was delicious. The bartender was our server and she was delightful. I also just love the classic, elegant vibe of the restaurant. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The food was excellent. The front-of-house was a little less than welcoming though. We got there 5 mins early and they told us (party of 5) to come back at our reservation time. So we did and they still didn't have seating ready for us. Just not an awesome way to start the meal. Once we were seated everything turned around. Great server and excellent food. Definitely recommend. I should caveat that we were there Christmas Eve so everyone probably wanted to be elsewhere, except for us. Cannot beat the location that time of year though. read more

Tried this recently for the first time and had a great experience! We had a 5:15pm reservation and we're seated quickly upstairs. We were the only ones there when we arrived but it filled up quickly! We had the fried mozzarella as an appetizer which was very fresh and flavorful. Everyone in my group has a pasta dish for their main course and we all enjoyed them! Not all of the dishes come with homemade pasta but you can upgrade any dish to homemade gnocchi or a few types of noodles. There were also lots of pizza options which I would love to try! Our service was very friendly as well! The service was fairly quick given that the sauces are made to order. read more

This is one of my go-to restaurants downtown when I'm craving some ambiance and a brick oven pizza. It's a great date night spot but also a good choice to bring family and friends as long you make a reservation. The food is always fantastic including the pizza, pasta and salads. I most often walk right in and sit at the upstairs bar, which usually has some open seats. Last week when I was there the service was pretty subpar for only having a few people at the bar. Then again, I know the bartenders were pulling double-duty serving the customers at tables upstairs. I made eye contact with 1-2 bartenders several times before we were greeted and approached about 15 minutes later. It was a busy night so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. The Bianca pizza was melt in your mouth good, with the perfect brick oven char and fresh, salty prosciutto. It was worth the wait. We also love their aperol spritz here. Not everyone can get it right but these are some of the best in town. Despite the slow service you may receive, I will always recommend this spot to anyone craving good Italian & atmosphere downtown. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Bianca Pizza - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We visited here on the evening of Saturday, November 15, 2025, to celebrate our 30th anniversary. We were seated upstairs and our servers were Michelle and Nicole. The food was excellent - some of the best calamari we've ever had, and the Cavatelli Salsiccia blew us away. Michelle and Nicole made the night perfect! They are super attentive and so fun. (We did go back Sunday during the day, when only the downstairs bar is open. My advice is to wait until the evening when the upstairs bar is open, where the service is spectacular.) If we find ourselves in Pittsburgh again, we will be back! read more

I have always had their pizza at Pizzaiolo since it's my favorite pizza in the city. Last night, I changed it up and ordered the Linguini Florentina. The shrimp was fresh and delicious with the lemon, white wine, butter, and garlic sauce. The fresh spinach and lemon zest really sets this dish above any competitors! I began my meal with the Misticanza salad which was huge for a starter. It came with mixed greens, parmigiano and a red wine vinaigrette. I always sit at the bar since I dine alone and the service is always so friendly with a small but good craft beer selection. Last night the first floor bar was full so I was directed upstairs. I had never been upstairs before and the service again was excellent! I really love this place and need to try a few more of their dishes. If the pizza and linguini are any indication, I know whatever I choose will be excellent! read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Closure due to COVID-19. - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I loved this restaurant experience! The service was amazing! The pasta was also great and very filling. We also enjoyed the wine selection. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Fettuccini Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Lovely alfresco dinner. The wedding soup to start, and bolognese were fabulous! The marguerita pizza was very tasty. Great service.

I will say the food was pretty good. I really liked the lower level atmosphere with the open and outside seating. The meatball appetizer was a good portion and the sauce was very nice and balanced. The fried artichokes were ok The chicken parm was good The Alfredo was excellent I will say that for me and this is just me the pasta was very under cooked. But I like a really over cooked pasta. I thought this was still crunchy to chew. The pescatore special was only ok. It was short in sauce although the seafood was cooked very well I would say that you will have a good meal but maybe the staff is a bit overwhelmed. read more

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Awesome Food and service was over the top. Highly recommended. Do not pass the great place up read more

We stopped in for lunch and had an Awesome experience. I would strongly suggest making reservations, as the restaurant is small and intimate. Our service was very attentive. The pizza, salad, and dessert were all excellent. If you get the chance, make sure you stop! They have a few locations. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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By far my favorite italian spot downtown. Excellent espresso martinis and a great happy hour menu! The service was excellent and the vodka sauce was delicious. Chill vibes and outdoor seating available. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Pizza Bianca - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The food and the atmosphere were all amazing. This cozy little restaurant would be easy to overlook when wandering through all the flash and dash of Market Square. We had a party of six and we had several apps and a few picky eaters and a great bottle of Lambrusco. Michelle was our server and handled it all with admirable skill. We were there celebrating my daughter's third birthday and she paid extra attention to her and my daughter laughed and giggled during every interaction with her. It was a wonderful experience made even better by Michelle and her wonderful attention to detail. We will be back. read more

Out of all of the Italian restaurants in Pittsburgh, this one is one of the most mediocre. Although the servers were nice, the service was slow and every interaction was rushed. For a not busy night the rushed service was disappointing. For the price of the food, we expected way more than we should have. The only good aspect of the pasta was the noodles, everything else was bellow average. There was such little sauce on the pasta you could barely taste it and the chicken on both pastas was just alright. The mozzarella sticks carried the dinner and even then they were not good enough for the price. It's wild to have such high pricing for the servers to be wearing joggers and t-shirts. Which honestly wouldn't have mattered if the service or food quality was good, however we left disappointed. read more

We were sat promptly for our reservation and things went south after that. It does have a VERY relaxed, loud atmosphere with somewhat crowded seating. Our waitress took our drink orders and they were tasty. About 15 minutes later she took our appetizer rose and brought our drinks. Luckily we were in good company. Another 15 minutes and she took our food order. We were concerned because there was a lady bringing up the food and her hair was in at least one dish every time. Another 20 minutes goes by and I see our waitress snatch a trey from her that looked like our meals and put them behind the wall. 10 more minutes and our apps come out (fried zucchini, very good, and fried mozzarella, not so good). 1 minute later she comes from behind the wall with our, now cold, meals. The meals were underwhelming to offensive. The young ladies got the 4 cheese pizza not realizing one of those was the very pungent Gorgonzola. The only thing missing from the lump crab pasta was the crab. With all the great places to eat in Pittsburgh, we will not be back. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Zucchini planks - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I was excited to try this place , it's very small and tight in the Inside. Should've waited for outdoor seating ! Staff was rude , manager was accommodating, she seemed overwhelmed which I can understand because it was busy on a weekday, but still. , food was a bit mediocre, there's better Italian food in Pittsburgh. I give the food 6/10 - service 2/10 read more

Nice location. Wait staff is very nice. We started off great with the arancini. Felt for pasta: Chicken parm could have had more flavor and salt. Ravioli caprese could have had fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, and grape tomatoes but was just doused in a basic marinara and ricotta was not flavored in filling. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Chicken Parmigiano and Raviolo Caprese with chicken - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Food was good but their hostess said all their tables were taken. We sat at their small bar to eat and all the "reserved" tables behind us were never filled. Very strange for such a small place. Food was very good though! Bartender/server was also great! read more

SO GOOD. My mom was in town so I always like to try out restaurants I haven't been to and this did not disappoint. All four of us had no complaints and we all got different plates. I chose to get a pizza and wow it was amazing. I can't remember the name, but it was spicy and full of flavor! I tried every pasta they got and they were all equally amazing and a decent serving size for price. Will be back just to have another espresso martini. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I came here for dinner with my boyfriend for the first time after seeing they had prosciutto pizza on their menu. It was alright. Their décor/vibe is very cute I will say, but I think they could've done without a couple tables because some of the people looked pretty smooshed. The wait staff was very nice which is always a big plus. I got a glass of sauvignon and it was a little too chilled for my taste (but that's just me being a wine snob lol!) The pizza wasn't the most flavorful prosciutto pizza ever unfortunately. It definitely could've used some balsamic or some type of sauce/oil drizzled on top. The cheese on the pizza was my favorite thing. The dough was pretty good too; just not a flavorful pizza unfortunately. read more

Pizzaiolo Primo - Prosciutto E Arugula Pizza - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We had a lovely dinner here on a recent visit to Pittsburgh; I would definitely return. Recommended! We met a friend for dinner here, upon his recommendation - he loves Italian food but is highly selective about it, so his opinion set a high bar. That bar was more than met. The ambiance is very inviting: it's a small two-story space, with exposed brick and warm wood beams. Tables are a little closer together than I consider ideal but not so much as to be uncomfortable. Service was prompt and cordial. Entrees were universally excellent! My scallops tagliatelle were on point, with an utterly decadent white wine and cream sauce. The linguini Florentina with shrimp and the bolognese both got raves from the rest of my party. Portions were generous; we didn't order a salad or appetizer and nevertheless couldn't quite finish our meals. Wine list is well curated, and there's good craft beer as well. Well worth a visit if you're in Pittsburgh! read more

This place was absolutely amazing. The service was excellent. The waiter provided great recommendations. Starting with the meatballs, you get 8 of their flavorful meatballs. The texture of the meatballs were consistent throughout. I then ordered the Ceaser salad with shrimp. Legit this was the best Ceaser salad I have ordered in my lifetime. Every piece of lettuce was covered with dressing (mouth watering). I requested the anchovies on the side, what a great decision because they would have impacted the taste of my salads. Great spot to check out, they will not disappoint. read more

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