Gianna Via’s Restaurant and Bar is a locally owned casual Italian restaurant. It has a closed-off area where people can dine quietly and peacefully with their families, and the other side has a bar for people to watch sports events on TVs with their friends and family members. The restaurant has a large variety of great-tasting Italian options on the menu. The pasta tastes homemade, with strong hints of garlic and spices. To top it off, the sauce is covered in cheese and basil to give the meal extra flavor. The only downsides are that for the quantity given, the prices are a little high, and wait times can be long. But the great-tasting entrees and the warm, tasty bread make the wait a lot more tolerable. Overall, for diners who are looking for a place to enjoy great Italian food with friends and family regardless of the wait, Gianna Via’s is a strong choice. It has a great atmosphere and allows friends and family to enjoy each other’s company while tasting their traditional and great tasting pasta.

While there are many different restaurants in Pittsburgh that serve pasta, Carbonara’s in Mt. Lebanon is definitely worth a try. This small, family-owned restaurant not only has a wide variety of dishes but also hospitable service, making it stand out from chains like Olive Garden and Bravo. The menu contains all of the staple pasta dishes, like alfredo and spaghetti and meatballs, but also some unique seafood, chicken, and veal entrees. Their baked ziti and lasagna are delicious options as well. The food tastes authentic, comes in manageable portion sizes, and is moderately priced. Most pasta dishes cost around $13 to $18 and come with a side of garlic bread and soup or salad. Those who visit around peak dinner time should be aware of the potential for a long wait before they are seated. However, after diners are seated, the service is fast. The food comes out before customers even finish their appetizers. Overall, Carbonara’s is a great option for people looking for an enjoyable, authentic Italian experience.

Pasta Too has been one of Pittsburgh’s most popular family Italian restaurants for the past few decades. Not only does it serve some of the best Italian dishes around, but it is well known for its famous homemade sauces and, as hinted in the restaurant’s name, its pasta. Pasta Too serves most of its main dishes with a side of pasta, covered in the restaurant’s signature sauce, which is arguably the best part of the meals. The pasta is full of the traditional tomato-basil flavor, but also has unexpected hints of sweetness, which is not normally found in typical, homestyle Bolognese sauce. All of the main course meals are also affordable, when taking the large proportions and side dishes into consideration. Although the closest Pasta Too location is a decent drive away from Baldwin and isn’t the most popular place for high school students, it is worth the outing solely for the unique sauce tasting experience and because it is a great restaurant with options for the whole family.