Il Pizzaiolo

My Favorite Italian Restaurant in Pittsburgh — Worth the Drive Every Time! This is by far — and always has been — my favorite Italian restaurant in the city. Ron, the owner, goes above and beyond for his customers and is truly one of the hardest-working people in the business. His food is the most authentic Italian you’ll find anywhere — every dish feels like it came straight from Italy. We were in the other day and Emily was our server — she was fantastic. The service is always friendly, attentive, and makes the entire dining experience even better. In the spring and summer, the outdoor patio is absolutely beautiful — the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a meal. In the winter, the cozy wine bar in the back, complete with a fireplace, makes for such a romantic and inviting atmosphere. I live all the way out in Murrysville, but I gladly make the 45-minute drive just to eat here. Thank you, Ron, for always going above and beyond for your customers — your hard work shows in every bite.

First, the PROS 👏the service was incredible! Our server Bryce was fantastic and so incredibly patient with us.Rebecca the host was also super helpful and considerate. They both made sure everything was taken care and that our first time there was memorable. 🥗 I had the La Mela salad so so good! Fresh and tasty. 🍰 For dessert we had the Tiramisu! Oh my goodness one of the best I have had and I have had several. 🍷 They gave us a sample of the house made Limoncello!! 🍋 it was really nice! Cons: I had some issues with my meatballs for the appetizer and my meatballs in my wedding soup being somewhat undercooked. I presented concerns to Rebecca the host and she immediately took care of it and made sure that we didn’t have to pay for either of these. Bryce took time out his very busy night to make sure I found something that I would love to eat! 🥹 Another downside was it was very noisy in the restaurant. The way the space is set up made the for an echoing effect that made it very difficult to hear my friend speaking to me across the table. The food overall was good with the exception of the somewhat undercooked meatballs.

Has went downhill significantly. Server was nice but inattentive. There was only one other table on a slow weekday afternoon. Main courses and appetizer were served room temperature, didn’t bother asking if we wanted another round of drinks, didn’t ask if we’d like more bread, didn’t ask if our meals were ok, and dropped off the check before asking if we wanted dessert. Once dessert was served our server disappeared, we sat there waiting until another employee went to find her. The food used to be a 5….. I’d say it’s about a 2 now.

The good: the food. The pasta dishes are authentic and were delicious and prepared well. The portions are generous. The pizza is also terrific if you love wood fired oven baked Neapolitan style. I would opt for a pasta dish next time. The not so great: wait staff was average. The restaurant is very loud and scanty decorated. So if you’re in for great food, this is a great place to eat!

Normally I like this restaurant. I have been there a couple of times. The food is okay but the vibes/apps/drinks are great. But today we went with our three and one year old. First our waitress yelled at us saying to have our kids sit down because they were walking around the table and the servers don’t look down when they are walking with the food and could trip on them. Which is totally understandable but cmon, seriously. You try telling a one and three year old to sit still. A sweet person from the back came to drop off oranges thinking they would help which we appreciated. Second, there was a whole empty seating room next to us, I’m not sure why we weren’t seated there which would have made everyone’s experience better allowing our kids to least get out of their chairs for a little bit.

4.5 Stars would be my rating if I could! Food, service, atmosphere were excellent. Place was surprisingly big. We sat inside (would love to sit at wine bar or patio sometime). We had 2 bottles of red wine, the cheese arancini appetizer, and 5 entrees. One person got pizza and the rest pasta. It was so good I cleaned my plate! Only complaint was the pasta for the chicken parm was *very* Al dente. They also give you bread and dipping oil which is a nice touch! Would definitely go back! Pictures- pasta fierno, can’t remember type of pizza, 2 people had lasagna, and chicken parm.

I recently hosted a private event at Il Pizzaiolo, and I couldn't be more impressed. From start to finish, the customer service was exceptional—attentive, professional, and genuinely warm. The staff went above and beyond to ensure every detail was perfect. The food was equally outstanding, with each dish beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Our guests are still raving about the experience. I highly recommend Il Pizzaiolo for both dining and private events!

We thought this was just a random small pizza joint but boy were we wrong! We found them because we wanted brick oven pizza but were so surprised to see how big this place was! It was luckily a warm day so we ate outside in the most romantic corner. We ordered the pizza bread to start and then got the NY pizza. I also had a Bellini and I can't remember the name of it but the lemon dessert is phenomenal. Everything was so delicious and the staff are super friendly and helpful as well. I definitely want to go back and check out the one bar and eat outside again!

Fantastic! Best Italian in the 'burgh. I almost want to not tell anyone, but they deserve the accolades. Our waitress was excellent, too. She was just cool and calm and friendly--we had had a tricky afternoon before arriving at the restaurant, but she actually put everyone at ease with her incredibly cool demeanor. I didn't catch her name but she had brown hair an a big smile. New favorite Pittsburgh restaurant:)!!

We came without reservations and had to wait maybe 10 minutes, which I found impressive on a busy evening. From the hostess to the server, the service was great. I had a delicious espresso martini and the procuitto pizza. Expensive, however, worth the price for the quality and experience.

IL Pizzaiolo is the most delicious Neapolitan style pizza place in Mnt. Lebo!! I came here a few weeks ago and I can't stop dreaming about it!! I sat on their GORGEOUS outdoor patio. It was giving Euro vibes and not western PA vibes lol. Neapolitan style pizza is my favorite, so I honestly can't believe I have never been here before. For a drink I got the Espresso Martini and it was delish! For food, I got the arancini and the burrata pizza. The burrata pizza was seriously so flavorful and scrumptious. 11/10 I want to eat here every week They also have a cute wine bar/lounge, hidden inside their patio area. It was so cute!! The service was great as well. I can't wait to plan my next visit.

Mt. Lebanon pizzeria and Italian eatery is phenomenal. Prosciutto pizza is amazing every time .

Both the food and bevs were all delicious and beautifully presented. Absolutely loved the back garden area as well, it's so beautiful on a nice night. And our server was lovely! Will be back.

I love Il Pizzaiolo. I truly think they have the best pizza in the city. The sauce is delicious and their mozzarella is homemade. It's SO GOOD. I definitely think you need to order a pizza if you come here. We also got pizza bread and caprese salad - both were delicious!! My only complaint is the mussels. It's one of my favorite foods and i've had sooo many amazing mussels. These were very fishy tasting, and the sauce was super thin and honestly not very flavorful. I don't recommend the mussels. But everything else i've ever had here has been delicious!!

Amazing! Best Italian in the 'Burgh. Authentic & fresh and great, friendly service.

The food is fantastic, some of the best Italian in the city, but, it is entirely too loud in the dining room. I have never been in a restaurant that is that obnoxiously loud. We literally could not have a conversation through the entire meal. We couldn't hear our server and she couldn't hear us to take our order. It's really unfortunate because we will not be back. It's too expensive to not have an enjoyable experience.

Decent Neapolitan style pizza place in Mt. Lebanon. They also have a location in Glenshaw I believe. They have many of the classic Italian pizzas (margherita, Bianca, Quattro formaggio, etc). They also have pasta, salads, and such. I tried out their Bianca pizza and cannoli. The pizza was alright. Okay price wise, but better places for this kind of pizza exist price wise, and flavor wise. Good char on the pie. Nice thin crust. The cheese was decent, not anything too crazy. I like that they had what seemed like ricotta on there as well. They use a decent amount of olive oil (more than I had expected). The cannoli was kind of disappointing. Definitely on the expensive side for a single cannoli, although it is pretty big. The filling was okay but it was kind of stale and I think the extra toppings (chocolate chips, pistachio, cherry) just tasted a bit strange. All in all, an okay pizza shop for Neapolitan pies. It's nice to try this kind of place every once in a while, but I prefer Mercurios. Still decent Bianca pizza though.

Name a better "fried" chicken cutlet. I'd say "I'll wait", but I don't have all day.. Absolute 11/10

My husband and I have been here twice in the last 2 years. We mainly go here for the pizza, so that's the bulk of the food critique. We made a reservation for the wine bar on a Friday evening. That was a mistake. SO flipping loud. Our server was lovely and when she came to give us water, I asked if they put more tables in this space and she said yes. That's just a sure sign of greed IMO. Forsake the experience just to squeeze more tables into an already small room; not a great move. I had the Calabrese and my husband had the New York and added pepperoni. Both were delicious, but the NY got soggy in the middle. Besides that, fantastic. However, the price of a pizza is more like D.C. and not Pittsburgh. For those prices, it should be flawless. We both also had a glass of the Gragnano Cantine; their "pizza wine". Generous pour and delicious! We walked out the door with a bottle of their homemade Limoncello and a couple pieces of lemon cake. I would agree with other reviews that they could really up the ante in the ambiance category. Nothing to really write home about with that.

Food was outstanding, entire staff is so friendly and accommodating. Bryce took great care of us. Can't wait to go back!

Warm, casual, delicious pizzeria located in Mt Lebanon.  Simple menu with high-quality ingredients where nearly everything on the menu is hand-made.  Vibrant gathering space serving Neapolitan pizzas, pastas and Italian wines.  It is a great spot for girls' night, able to relax and enjoy good wine and good company.  Checked out their "hidden" wine bar and it's the cutest little spot- bar seating, comfy seating & a few tables are available. Their outdoor space is so gorgeous and romantic with the twinkle lights and greenery! Inside you can side right in their dining room and actually watch pizzas being maid in their stone oven! We had the Polpette which is meatballs, marinara, pecorino romano which were the most delicious meatballs ever! Then shared the Margherita pizza & the Prosciutto E Arugula pizza. Both were fantastic - Margarita was simple and so fresh and the Prosciutto E Arugula was perfect! They say "simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" and we all agreed!

My son and I are recently! We sat out back and enjoyed the beautiful area! We ordered arancini balls and the stuffed peppers for our appetizer! Both were excellent! I ordered the mushroom pizza and he ordered a pasta dish! Both were very good! The pizza was too big to eat the whole thing myself so he took it home for leftovers! The service was very good!

Came here for a lunch meeting - which I had thought was a bit of a strange choice as it's definitely on the heavier side but the person we met with said he knew the owner. It was heavy because of what we ordered but was absolutely phenomenal. We ordered two pizzas which were great. We ordered the pasta, which I accidentally basically scooped entirely on my plate, which was also good. Would definitely come back if I'm in the area

The food was delicious! The wine topnotch and the service excellent! We'll definitely be back!

As someone who can't do gluten, Italian restaurants can be rough. But Il Pizzaiolo does not disappoint. Specifically the flourless chocolate torte that I would eat daily if I allowed myself. The patio is the perfect spot to sit outside with a glass of wine and relax.

My favorite pizza in the 'burgh. The Quattro Fromaggi and Salsiccia E Rapini are my personal favorites. Additionally, the Ceasar salad is second to none with their housemade dressing. I love a good Manhattan and find theirs to be exceptional. They generally make excellent drinks, however the bartenders in their Wine bar create the best cocktails. Eat in the Wine bar during cooler months and in their beautiful outdoor space during the warmer months. Both of these spaces are great experiences!

Food varies in quality and quantity by chef ! I ordered the branzino each time....not at all the same (( Will not order again and take the chance of getting the interior chef. Other than the inconsistency of item ordered, it has a nice inner courtyard but a very noisy interior !

Dined here with another couple, having eggplant parmesan, bolognese, pizza, caprese salad and stuffed hot peppers. The eggplant was good but very plain, just eggplant and sauce, no breading or other coating. The pizza was mostly good but soggy in the middle. The fresh mozzarella was a highlight along with the olive oil and bread. The stuffed peppers were average, nothing special. The best dish of the night was that tagliatelle bolognese which was perfect. Not a very warm, cozy environment but service was good and we had a nice time. Prices were outrageous. For menu pricing this high I expect a much higher level of execution and a dining environment more fitting of the pricing. You can have this level of Italian at more reasonable pricing with better atmosphere and much better pricing at most other Italian places in the area.

This is one of my go-to restaurants in the South Hills Great drink selection, yummy Italian food focused menu accompanied by an inviting atmosphere. I always enjoy sitting inside & outside during the summer months. Check out the wine bar in the back next time you're there!

This used to be one of my favorite places but it's been a while since I've been. I had a friend in town who I always went here with so we got take out. Honestly disappointed is the word I would use, I tried something new and got the spaghetti nerano. It had very little zucchini and sauce on it. However the aranchini and tagliatelle were good. It could have been that it was take out but it just seems like the quality had gone down.

I've visited this place before, but only at their city location. This new location was a first for us, and we went to celebrate our daughter's 27th birthday. We made reservations in advance. Being a larger person, I found the table quite cramped for my legs. Additionally, the wine list was entirely in Italian, which made it difficult to identify the selections if you're not familiar with the language. Despite these minor issues, our waitress provided excellent service and checked on us regularly. The food was mediocre--not the best Italian cuisine I've had, but not the worst either. Overall, it was an okay visit.

We really enjoyed this quaint pizza place! We enjoyed stuffed long hots for our appetizer and a wood fired margarita pizza for our main which were split. We loved the vibe of the restaurant and thought the staff was very kind. The pizza was hand made in front of us and we were able to see it cook in the wood fired oven!

From the outside this looks like a lovely, quiet Italian restaurant where we'd be able to have a good conversation over a delicious plate of fresh pasta. But inside it's shockingly loud. Painfully loud. I was there on Friday evening (8/1/25) and couldn't physically talk loud enough to be heard. I left with a strained throat. It was also ridiculously cold, despite wearing a sweater I had brought just in case it was a little chilly. My rigatoni (unfortunately NOT made in house) with eggplant (diced too small to stand up to the rigatoni) and basil (one leaf) was disappointingly boring and hard to cut & chew. I really should have sent it back. At that price I expect a lot better. It was blah. My spouse's tortelloni (pasta that IS made in house) was absolutely glorious. Wish I had gotten that. Pillows of deliciousness. A stark difference from my dish. I would go back for that one, but the place is way too loud. Not sure I can face that volume again. It was a relief to leave. We just stood on the sidewalk once outside the door, thawing out, able to breathe once again.

We have been going to Il Pizzaiolo since it opened. This used to be my husband and my favorite restaurant. The atmosphere is still as wonderful but the food has become tasteless. Our server was awful. We had to repetitively ask for bread, water and our order was incorrect. She never returned to the table. We were also charged for a full portion of pasta when we order a side. I will no longer be enjoying dinners at Il Pizzaiolo. I'm so disappointed that my favorite restaurant is no longer the gem it once was.

I had a good experience at Il Pizzaiolo with my boyfriend last night. Although there was a short wait, we were invited to visit the wine bar where we were greeted by an amazing bartender. She invited us to dine at the bar, and we happily accepted. I really wish I had gotten her name because she provided such excellent service to not only us, but to all the other guests at the bar as well. We started with the meatballs which were quite good. I personally ordered the rigatoni siciliana, which was decent but not exceptional. However, my boyfriend's paglia fieno was outstanding - very flavorful and delicious. Overall, it was a lovely evening and we would definitely come back again.

My husband and I came here during our one night in Mt. Lebanon and thought it was a perfect date spot. The food was delicious, the service was attentive and friendly, and I loved the authentic Italian wood oven. I'd say this is a solid 4.5. If I lived in the area, I would definitely return.

Yummy! To start we split the antipasto Napoli , which is a plate of assorted seasonal vegetables. Everything was tasty, and we especially liked the zucchini, mushrooms, and peppers. Next we ordered a margherita pizza and a bianca pizza. Both were great! I thought the crust on the pizza was really good - thin and charred enough. It's nice having a pizza place with quality crust in the South Hills. We'll be back!

Had a birthday dinner here!! The food was amazing as well as the service. The atmosphere is so inviting as well as beautifully decorated. Thanks for a first class experience

Quality of food is great. Prices are a little steep. Best tiramisu in Pittsburgh though and it's a good sharing size.

My family and I came here for dinner to celebrate my sister's birthday. I ordered an aperol spritz and fried zucchini to start. When I say this was the best fried zucchini I've ever had in my life, I am not lying! The pieces of zucchini were large and perfectly fried. We all were obsessed with this appetizer. I also enjoyed my main dish which was the pappardelle funghi. The sauce was super creamy and even better once I added red chili flakes. I would definitely come back again if I'm looking for Italian food in downtown Pittsburgh!

This place is not Italian or Sicilian. The red sauce is terrible, hate to say jar sauce from Giant Eagle would be a better choice. Artichoke appetizer fried and had no taste. Meatball was good but so small it would be perfect for a child. Rating-2 star.

This is our go to restaurant for our family. For most special occasions, we must have food from here. It is one restaurant that everyone is satisfied! They make incredible pasta dishes. The place has a terrific vibe and there is something for everyone. We have been dining for over 20 years and they do NOT disappoint! Love this place.

I got a $30 + chicken dish that was good but no salad before your meal. Then they give you bread w/ plain olive oil. My wife had chicken parm & she said it was very bland. Not saying I would never go back but wasn't impressed. 2 meals, cannoli & 2 comes $89.00

Yum!! The whipped ricotta oh my goodness is so good! Wine selection is nice too! The pizza also great! The outdoor patio is beautiful!!!

The food was delicious! Arancini, polpette, and salad mela. My husband and I shared. Maria was not only a lovely young woman, she was a fabulous wait person. She made the visit very pleasant! We sat near the window. It was like being in a small European cafe. Charming dining area. THEN, the restaurant accepted our COVID era gift card (I'm pretty sure it was expired!) Please go to this restaurant. You won't be disappointed.

On 06/10/23 my husband and I went to IL Pizziolo with the hopes of having dinner on the patio. Unfortunately, we didn't believe a reservation would be necessary for 4:00 in the afternoon. We were wrong. So we were shown to a two top inside and ordered a cocktail while we perused the menu. We decided to have our cocktail and move on to another restaurant. We told our waiter immediately so as not to have him serve bread, oil, etc. What we received in return was the behavior of a petulant child. We've dined here often and haveNEVER been treated so rudely and unprofessional. My husband apologized profusely. The child waiting on us continued to act in a manner that, had he been my son, I'd have turned him over my knee like an obnoxious, ill temper BRAT whom didn't get his ice cream cone. Needless to see, we were offered and very disappointed. We did however have a wonderful dining experience next door at Bistro 19!

Each year, we have 1 nice dinner out to celebrate our anniversary and Valentine's Day. This year, circumstances prevented us from dining out, but in an effort to keep the celebration special, we decided to get take out from a nice restaurant. Unfortunately, we were incredibly disappointed. We placed our order and were given an eta. When we arrived to get the order, the restaurant was empty... but our food wasn't ready. We had asked about table bread for take out orders, we asked for extra, even at a fee we were up sold pizza bread... which was fine. Except they didn't include table bread. We had to ask for it. It was pretty much tossed at my bf in an embarrassing plastic bag. It got worse upon getting home. This restaurant isn't cheap and the serving sizes were incredibly small. We started with the pizza bread which was fine and a margarita pizza. The pizza was undercooked and doughy. We got the tortellini which had good flavor, but definitely didn't include enough pieces to be filling. My bf remarked that it was the kind of meal that would require a stop at McDonalds on the way home to get more food. We got the eggplant which I couldn't even eat. I found the taste and texture incredibly unpleasant. Our meal was expensive, tasteless and really, really disappointing. We won't go back. There are so many Italian options in the South Hills with more reasonable prices, larger quantities and tastier food.

On my wife's 61st birthday, we decided to dine and experience Il Pizzzaiolo for the the first time since before Covid. We sat in the courtyard and it was beautiful. Everything about this restaurant was exceptional; the appetizer (Antipasto Napoli), our entries, the wine, and a special lemoncello dessert. The ambiance just takes one back to a small Italian town in Naples! Our service was fantastic - she even took some amazing pictures for us. We plan to return with our youngest daughter when she visits next from Florida.

I'm rating Il Pizzaiolo 3 stars as an average of 4 stars for the food and 2 stars for the service. I was so excited to try this restaurant and decided to spend my birthday dinner here. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. They don't take reservations, so we had about a 40 minute wait for a table for 2 on a Friday night. The restaurant is pretty small, so there's not really anywhere to wait, so we just went up the street to grab a drink until our table was ready. When we got the call that our table was ready, we were immediately seated by the host, but our server didn't come over for quite some time. When he did come over, he seemed distracted and that he did not want to be there. He never looked us in the eyes and seemed in a rush to take our order and never checked back in on us. Maybe he was having an off night but it made us feel uncomfortable and almost unwelcome there. We did really enjoy the food and the extensive wine selection, though. I highly recommend getting the pizza as an appetizer. We split a white pizza that was so delicious. The pizza was probably the highlight of our meal. I ordered the chicken Parm was my entree. It was a large portion and was okay but nothing too extraordinary. I'm not sure if we would come back again, but if we did, it would only be to grab some pizza.

Absolutely lovely atmosphere! Beet salad was delicious, the roasted vegetables appetizer was very colorful and yummy, and our dinner was very good. I had the home made ravioli and my husband had the eggplant. Staff was very friendly and attentive. We came here because we had a gift card. So glad we did! Wish we lived closer to it!!! Would most definitely come here again!!

I love that you feel as though you're in Italy here. The bar above the restaurant was so cool and perfect for a drink before dinner. Our waitress was so sweet and funny and the food was amazing. The pizza was my favorite. It was gooey and loaded.

I just don't get the hype about this place! My family showed up exactly on time for our reservation and we had to wait another 30 minutes for our table. We waited in the upstairs wine bar, which was cool, and our table was out back in the courtyard, which was also nice. Our waitress was great but the management isn't. None of my family members loved their meals either. I took my pasta home because I couldn't finish it and when I heated it up the next day, you would not believe the amount of oil that had separated! It's a nice atmosphere but I'm not a fan of the pasta (although the caprese salad and veggie platter were yummy!)

Enjoyed this place. The food is delicious and fresh and the decor is nice. Service wasn't bad either, not overbearing but not too attentive. City parking of course so keep that in mind. Overall I would return here as I enjoyed the yummy tortellini quite a bit.

Had a last minute dinner here last evening. Great quick service and good food. Extensive wine list. We had Napoli appetizer, salads Baked Eggplant and Cavatelki Rapini. Very large portions so we can enjoy again another day. Next time we will definitely try the Pizza that looks amazing!

Great food, lovely ambiance. Excellent drinks menu. Dining on the patio was charming.

It's good pizza but 200 for two pies, salad and sparking waters for the 3 of us is just overpriced and crazy. Service is good but unless your made of money you could spend half as much and have the same experience.

We dined at Il Pizzaiolo this evening, and everything was perfection. From the wines to the appetizer and main dishes, the dinner was delicious. The Ricotta al Forno was wonderfully tasty, and we could have made a meal of that! Our entrees, Chicken Parmigiano and Shrimp and Lobster Scampi were full of flavor. Everyone was friendly, and the service was good. The ambience and decor are beautiful. We will definitely be returning, and we highly recommend!