Piccolo Forno

Italian restaurant · Lower Lawrenceville

Piccolo Forno

Italian restaurant · Lower Lawrenceville

3

3801 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

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Piccolo Forno by Hal B. Klein
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Piccolo Forno by null
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Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
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Piccolo Forno by null
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Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
Piccolo Forno by null
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Piccolo Forno by null
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Highlights

Piccolo Forno is a cozy BYOB haven in Lawrenceville, serving up hand-crafted pasta and crispy wood-fired pizzas, perfect for any Italian craving.  

Featured in Eater
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3801 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 Get directions

piccolo-forno.com
@piccolofornopgh

$$ · Menu

Information

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3801 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 Get directions

+1 412 622 0111
piccolo-forno.com
@piccolofornopgh

$$ · Menu

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dine in
takeout
payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations
outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 8, 2025

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@eater

"Long before Lower Lawrenceville was a mini-restaurant row, Piccolo Forno served Northern Italian cuisine to hungry diners. Domenic Branduzzi followed in his parents’ culinary footsteps when he opened the restaurant in 2005. It’s a destination for thin and crispy wood-fired pizza (try the speck e mascarpone and mortadella e pistachio) and pasta made from scratch by Branduzzi’s mother, Carla. Branduzzi’s fantastic grappa and amari bar Grapperia is just around the corner, a terrific spot for pre- and post-dining drinks." - Melissa McCart, Hal B. Klein

The 38 Essential Pittsburgh Restaurants
View Postcard for Piccolo Forno
@onthegrid

"Piccolo Forno is a BYOB establishment specializing in Tuscan cuisine. Fill your stomach with handmade pastas, wood fired pizzas and more. While you wait for a table be sure to grab a drink at their sister spot, Grapperia. A modern cocktail bar featuring innovative Grappa cocktails." - Ashley Fennell

On the Grid : Piccolo Forno & Grapperia
View Postcard for Piccolo Forno
@eater

"Piccolo Forno is a neighborhood Italian favorite known for its connection to a grappa-focused bar located behind it." - Missy Frederick

A Weekend Travel Guide to Pittsburgh Restaurants - Eater DC
View Postcard for Piccolo Forno

Morgan Rosensteel

Google
Piccolo Forno is the BEST Italian food you can ever ask for and find in Lawrenceville!!! My husband and I had our first date here back in 2019, so we thought it would only be fitting to have our wedding reception here as well. We recently rented their private event space and couldn’t have been happier with the outcome! From the very beginning, the communication with Nealey (the restaurant’s manager) was very thorough and she was always willing to answer any and all questions I had. She was able to accommodate our guests different dietary restrictions in addition to my husband’s celiac disease. Our waiters were Bri and Addison for the night and they were incredibly polite and professional. We were so stunned by how beautifully all of the food and our decorations were displayed! All of our guests (and us!) were more than content and enjoyed ourselves throughout the entire night. Thank you Nealy and Piccolo Forno staff for being a part of our special day and being so welcoming with our son! It’s not often you can find amazing food, wonderful service, and a kid friendly atmosphere at restaurants anymore.. but Piccolo Forno is where you can find all three! :) (photos by Carmen May Photography)

Jon Walters

Google
Fun atmosphere. Delicious food. Service that you can tell they care that you enjoy the food and the experience. I would travel bag to Pittsburgh just for the spaghetti with crab and shrimp.

Jacob Menegon

Google
It is best to make a reservation. We tried multiple apps, pizza, and pasta. Everything was very authentic. Remi was our server, and I had great suggestions and had a lot of fun. It is byob, but they do offer alcohol but for a fee from the bar next door. I would love to go back!

Megan Mac

Google
They weren't kidding when they said this was the best Italian food in Lawrenceville, and we had absolutely phenomenal service with Remy; and we got to sit out on the patio and watch the parade of dogs (seasonal risotto and panna cotta pictured)

Smokin' With A-Aron

Google
Greta service and food was also excellent. This is a BYBO place so you can order wine or beer from next door or bring your own.

Stephen Cherry

Google
Seldom am I disappointed with a restaurant. Seldom am I blown away with a restaurant. Piccolo Forno is spectacular!! Description and images of what I had for lunch below. I added tuna to salad and was a great choice.Remi took care of me as was awesome. The whole place is awesome. I was in the area for work and needed food. Walking through the doors was the best decision I’ve made in days. Sooo good I am actually leaving review before I leave. GO!!!

Sare McCurdy

Google
Just wonderful. It's Italian done well. The plates are artful but not outlandish. They're not trying anything new for the sake of silly novelty. I got the spinach tagliatelle, and the pasta had bite, the dish had zest, and the spicy lamb was satisfying. Even the salad had me reaching for more. We went for my birthday on a Tuesday night, and the ambiance felt like a Friday night, but without the overcrowdness (#introvert). And what's more, there was queer representation and gender neutral bathrooms. I think I just found a new favorite spot.

Alexandra Kane

Google
Came for an early dinner around 4:30 and had no issue getting a table. It’s BYOB so we brought our own wine. We ordered the house made bread with sun dried tomato butter, which was tasty. We shared the farro salad, and it was lovely with just enough Gorgonzola. For mains - I and the lasagna, which was good but a touch too sweet for me. My friend had the black pepper cavatelli with kale and mushroom which was good. We shared the tiramisu, which in my opinion wasn’t that great and had too much citrus zest - otherwise a great meal.

Stacey B.

Yelp
We stopped back for some terrific Italian grub on a Friday night with a group of eight. Our waiter was fabulous and provided solid recommendations. The green salad was fresh and nicely prepared with enough for each of us to have a taste of it. The stuffed banana peppers packed a nice heat but could have used a bit more filling. The pastas were all fresh and served hot. I had the spinach tagliatelle with spicy ground lamb and really enjoyed it. Two others tried the braised rabbit pappardelle and loved and there were great reviews for the lasagna. My wife really loved her spaghetti with crab and shrimp too. We had a few of the peanut butter and chocolate gelato bombas that are always delicious. Such a great meal!

Rob B.

Yelp
I was here a while back on a double date with my gf, my daughter and her bf. I had been wanting to try this place for some time now as I had it bookmarked on Yelp. It's a nice little romantic place with spectacular service and delicious food. It was my daughters and girlfriends first time in Lawrenceville so we walked around and had some drinks before deciding on what we wanted to eat. We were treating my daughter and her bf so we let them decide on which place they wanted to eat and this was the place they picked, which was fine with us because my gf loves Italian food. Ha! The interior is small, warm, and welcoming. The waitress we had was outstanding and did her job very well. She made us feel appreciated and checked on us often. We asked her about wine but she said we would have to go get it as it's BYOB, or they can bring it up from outback. I get it you don't want to pay for a license, but you own a place right outside which accommodates your restaurant. Genius! lol There was a cork fee which was fine with us. We ordered a white wine: - Fecerunt Pecorino 8/10 All of the food we ordered was very good and we were not let down by one dish. We shared everything and I was pleased with it all. We ordered: - House bread and butter 10/10 - Margherita pizza 8/10 - Lasagna 9/10 - Seafood Cannelloni 9/10 - Spaghetti with crab and shrimp 9/10 - Tiramisu 7/10 - Dream Bomba 9/10 Thanks again for the great food and service :)

Julia B.

Yelp
I've walked past this tiny Italian restaurant in Lawrenceville many times & finally popped in for dinner the other night. Definitely make a reservation if you plan to visit as the indoor space is tiny, but that contributes to the cute ambiance. Service was prompt, and the server was really helpful with answering our (many) questions regarding his favorite dishes on the menu. I knew ahead of time that the restaurant was known for their homemade pastas, so we opted to try a couple of those. The lasagna was a huge portion & was the ultimate comfort food. The spaghetti was delicious as well! It came with shrimp, crab, & veggies in a spicy calabrian chile butter sauce - yum! You could immediately tell that both of the pasta dishes were super fresh & they were served piping hot. While the food didn't necessarily blow me away in terms of fanciness, it tasted great. I also love that the restaurant is a BYOB & very reasonably priced. Food: B+ Drinks: N/A Service: A- Ambiance: B

Isabel L.

Yelp
Had a great dinner at piccolo forno over the weekend. Stopped in with a couple friends and we were quickly seated outside. We were seated at a table on the corner of the restaurant with bare tables and with no one around us. It didn't even feel like we were eating at the restaurant and just a random table outside. It would've been nice to have a nicer eating area but this is a small suggestion. Our server Kate was knowledgeable and very kind. We brought 2 bottles of wine and it's $8 charge per bottle for BYOB. My friends enjoyed their ravioli and loved the lasagna. My prosciutto, mushroom pizza was excellent and I was able to take home leftovers as well. Pro tip: there are so many breweries on Butler st. so I recommend checking out one of them before dinner to BYOB here.

Matthew M.

Yelp
Absolutely fantastic! Every time I visit I want to kick myself for waiting so long since the last time. My wife had the lasagna bolognese which was as fabulous as ever; I will say, for those wondering, it does have strong hints of nutmeg/allspice. I love it, but just note, it's a different flavor for some. We also ordered the stuffed banana peppers (excellent) and I tried their Calabrese pizza after going back and forth with other options - it was excellent, I made the right choice. Anyway, visit, enjoy, have fun! Quick takeaway: Reservations are strongly recommended. They will not take reservations same day, they only take reservations by phone during open hours before 3:30. So, if you want a Monday reservation, you need to call on Saturday before 3:30. That is what they told me on the phone.

Gabriel F.

Yelp
Amazing pasta and great pizza. Place was very bust on a Tuesday night. Service was fast. Focaccia bread with citrus sage butter was excellent. My Calabrese pizza with pancetta, chili peppers, and a hot honey drizzle was fantastic. Wife's Bucatini with pancetta, artichokes, asparagus, and spinach In a citrus-sunflower seed pesto, topped with ricotta was also delicious. Highly highly recommend.

Sophia P.

Yelp
Yum. Yum. Yum. Had a girls night here and was seated outside on the side of the building. LOVED IT. so cute and honestly perfect date night spot. The pizza was AMAZING. i would def come back just for that. and omg don't even get me started on the bread!!!! so fresh and a little salty. the pasta was okay, it was my first time having tortelli. would not get again just because i'm picky lol, but it was decent! Remi was our server and he was a king!!!

Jonathan H.

Yelp
Thought Piccolo Forno was pretty great! We got the Prosciutto, Funghi, Rucola pizza. it was definitely lots of arugula, but thought the portions were good and the pizza tasted great. Also got the Bucatini pasta which was DELICIOUS!!! Super creamy and loved the pesto on it. Nice ambiance with a great waitress! To put it simply: great area, great vibes, great pizza--checks all the boxes!

Jennifer Á.

Yelp
Everything was delicious. The ravioli was my favorite. The pizza was good but not great, have had better traditional pizza. Waiter was friendly. I would come back for other dishes, not the pizza.

Carlo V.

Yelp
I came to this place two days ago and went for a quick pizza. I noticed the staff was rude, but I didn't pay much attention because the pizza was good and I blame most of the rudeness to the old lady who appears to be the owner or acting like an owner , I came back again on the Saturday right after at about 5 pm to maybe have their pasta and some more pizza with a bottle of wine , I walked in the place was fairly crowded and it was the same lady plus another shorter lady with black hair at the Desk. I guess she was the hostess so she asked me for how many I said table for two I see there was 4 empty tables. She looked at her list or appeared to be looking at the list and then tell me with a real nasty attitude that is going to be at least an hour and a half to get you a table. I looked at the empty tables and I didn't say anything, I just walked outside in the 98° weather, the least the hostess could do was to offer us to wait a little inside to see if someone was paying the check . People usually don't take one and a half hours to have lunch. Instead, I went to Driftwood pizza down the street which was amazing, in hindsight, I am glad PICOLO rude people basically sent me there.. when I finish eating there in about 45 minutes. I came back to Piccolo and guess what.... those same tables were still empty, i'm new in town, but I'm never coming back to this place, this is the kind of nasty attitude and rude people. We don't need anymore. The world is bad enough to have to put up with nasty people.

Humphrey F.

Yelp
Final visit before leaving PGH, the light paprika fettuccine made with special sauce and protein (I have never had rabbits before). Anyway, you can never go wrong with their lasagna and pesto bucatini.

Jess N.

Yelp
I began going to piccolo forno when it opened & I still try to get there as often as I can. It's a great spot in Lawrenceville with big windows letting natural light in. The service is always on point & the food has just gotten better and better. You can never go wrong with the tortelli & the marg pizza but the seasonal specials are where it's at! If you haven't been, it's a great place for any occasion! Also check the grapparia around back before or after dinner for some cocktails/wine/mocktails!

Jonathan S.

Yelp
One of my favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh! Bonus that it is BYOB, but don't worry if you don't have a bottle to bring, as their partner Graperia is just around the corner and happy to supply a bottle From their impressive list. Now, back to how amazing Piccolo Forno is... it's the best!! Call and make a reservation now and Hank me later.

Tony W.

Yelp
The pizza had the Best Crust! Not to mention the toppings were excellent and unusual for America. We felt like we were in an Authentic Italian Pizzeria! The server was very attentive and the ambience was nice too!! Plenty of on street free parking and the meal was reasonably priced

Brianna G.

Yelp
My long awaited trip to Piccolo Forno! I love that they are BYOB, as I am a picky wine drinker. So it's nice to bring something that I know I will enjoy with dinner. We ordered the insalata mista with balsamic and their garlic citrus dressing on the side to please everyone at the table. I loved the garlic citrus dressing, and the salad was fresh and tasty! For pizza, we picked the calabrese- with crispy pancetta and hot honey! I'm on a big hot honey kick right now, but I found this pizza to be absolutely delicious. I wish it was ever so slightly more crisp along the bottom to better hold the toppings, but the flavors were amazing. We shared the Lasagna, which had such a unique flavor. It tasted like it was made with love and felt like a true comfort food! They were out of the seasonal corn pizza, so we opted for the ricotta cavatelli which has corn, pancetta, and roasted red peppers. I really enjoyed it and thought it was a lovely summer pasta dish! I definitely plan on returning here! Our server was so helpful throughout our meal, I really appreciated her attentiveness and recommendations!

Tracy C.

Yelp
A classic Italian eatery in Lawrenceville. The parking is a complete pain, but the food is sooooo worth it! They have great pizzas, great pastas, and the most wonderful lasagna. I've been on a hunt for the best thin crust pizza in Pittsburgh, and Piccolo Forno is definitely up there. They have a large pizza oven where they fire your pizza fresh. This means that you wait a little, but the crunch and the caramelization is so worth it! If you don't want pizza, there's so many other great options to choose from here! The lasagna will have you feeling like Garfield, and then you'll crave it for days afterwards. The good thing is that the portions are quite large, so I saved some for the next day. Definitely recommend trying Piccolo Forno if you're craving some lasagna or wood fired pizza!

Samantha L.

Yelp
I've wanted to dine here for a long time and was not disappointed! We made a reservation earlier in the day and were seated in the intimate dining room right away. Our waiter, Nick, was great and we got each of our courses very promptly. The house-baked bread is a must to start with. I had the Rotolo as an entree and it was unlike anything I've had before - in a great way! The flavors of the béchamel and pesto drizzle were a perfect pairing. For dessert, my friend and I split the rosemary pound cake and tiramisu which were both delicious and very generous portions. Can't wait to go back and try the pizza!

Lindsay M.

Yelp
Get reservations...you need them...they are worth it! We had reservations for Friday night and we got a great seat by the kitchen. We also had a wonderful and attentive conversation waitress. We got the small bread appetizer, pizza, and a seafood pasta. All things were fresh and had such a unique flavor

Kelli C.

Yelp
I went here for my birthday dinner and it did not disappoint! This is my go to restaurant when I want something delicious and interesting. Their spaghetti with crab and shrimp is insanely good! I always think about it. Its a great BYOB place too!

Haley P.

Yelp
Had a really lovely dinner here last night. We were quoted about a 20 minute wait for a table and were seated much more quickly than that. Once we sat we did wait quite a while to actually order. Not sure if our sever forgot about us or if there was another issue, but it was at least 20 minutes between our server dropping off drinks and taking our food order. The food was really good once it arrived. I liked the ravioli a lot and the orange zest butter that came with the bread was delicious.

Rachael R.

Yelp
Finally got to try here this week for a family member's birthday celebration. I didn't realize it was BYOB which is great. Don't worry though, they also have a system where you can buy a bottle of wine from the bar around the corner and they will even deliver it! It's a small and cozy place so be sure to get reservations. We tried various pasta dishes and they were all very good. I had the special risotto which was lemon and leek and it was delicious! The béchamel sauce in their lasagna has a bit of nutmeg or similar spice which may throw some folks off if you don't like that flavor. You can purchase bread for the table but unfortunately it is not included. The desserts were also very good! I had the peanut butter gelato situation and it was huge! Staff were friendly.

Kaylie W.

Yelp
Great value for the price. Ambiance was welcoming and comfortable. It's a great local business to try out for classic Italian dishes. Service is always great, had my birthday dinner here this year and everyone was very kind. [Burrata] was a good appetizer to start. Nothing that left a special impression, but a nice dish nonetheless. [Pizza] I can't remember which one this is, but I think it was on their special menu at the time in May. Might be the ramp pizza. All of their pizzas are really good. They offer such an extensive variety of traditional Italian food, so that there is always something new to try. [Pasta] We each had a different favorite pasta, which goes to show all of them are delicious in their own way. I personally liked the spinach ravioli the best. The flavor had a bit of zest in it, very refreshing. For something with meat in it, I liked the spaghetti with shrimp and crab, though there wasn't that much crab. I think the other two pastas were a bit heavy for my taste, but perfect if you're looking for savory comfort food. [Dessert] We tried the tiramisu, vanilla panna cotta, and the dream bomba. Everyone loved the dream bomba. Super buttery and smooth. Panna cotta was the least popular, I think because the strawberry sauce is slightly too sour and the panna cotta was a bit bland. Tiramisu was pretty good too, very moist. Wine was byob with a small corkage fee.

Quynh M.

Yelp
It's been several years since I've been here and it was always reliably good. A down to earth and cozy place with delicious food options. On my most recent visit, I have to say that I didn't love it. First, I was a walk-in and the host was able to seat me right away (check). It was a weeknight and I was there later in the evening. Second, the server was very nice and welcoming (check). But then this was where things broke down. I ordered and asked if I could get bread while I waited for my entree. The server said we bring everything to the table all at one time. I was like huh? I certainly hope that doesn't include desserts at the same time as entrees. The space is small and while ok, it's more efficient to do that but then I'm sitting there just waiting and hangry. But it's not the server's fault and it must be the policy because I heard her tell several other parties who were nearby when they also outrageously asked for bread to be brought first. Honestly in the time that it took the server to explain that each time, I would have gladly walked over to the serving counter to grab the basket of bread. Sheesh! Then the entree came. It took prob 10ish minutes so that's reasonable timing. And I got the bread! Sadly it was meh...kind of stale. All would have been forgiven if the entree was good. It wasn't. The dish was barely warm and the pasta had a gummy consistency. Sadly the meal was a fail. Did I mention that the server was super nice?!?!! I'll probably give it try again one of these days. I want family owned restaurants to succeed and truly hope that this was an off night.

Aaron P.

Yelp
Amazing service with a fun spicy waiter. Food was excellent and note: this is a BYBO for booze so you can order from next door or bring your own.

Leandro D.

Yelp
Great food, amazing ambiance and a wide variety of options. I've been meaning to try this place for a while and it did not disappoint. The pizza, and pasta was amazing. There was a bit of confusion around the drinks but they seemed really busy and bit chaotic. I would definitely give this place another try

Trish T.

Yelp
I first went to Piccolo Forno maybe 13 years ago, and I'm thrilled they're still open and doing quite well. So prescient to buy where they did before the Lawrenceville explosion. Anywho - this would be a 4 1/2 star review, if I had that dang 1/2! Went there yesterday for lunch w/ a friend. We love sharing dishes - so started w/ (from the menu): ROASTED CARROTS AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS over an apple-parsnip puree tossed with cumbled pistachios and topped with ricotta salata and hot honey. The parsnip purée provided such a wonderful sweetness to the char of the sprouts. The carrots were so flavorful. GREAT rush. We couldn't resist splitting a pizza after seeing their large pizza oven --- so we ordered: FICHI E FORMAGGI - white pizza with fresh mozzarella, gorgonzola, pecorino, ricotta, figs, arugula, balsamic drizzle. Really amazing flavors -- just really wished they'd had more figs on the pie. The peppery zing of the arugula paired well with the sweetness of the fig and balsamic drizzle - the creamy ricotta and bite of the blue cheese was quite good. All in all a great lunch. Definitely looking forward to a return visit.

Ankita S.

Yelp
One of the finest Italian restaurants in Butler Street! Pizza, pastas and salads are all very good! Make your reservations in advance if you're going there on a weekend. It does get very busy. The servers are good and quick.

Danielle M.

Yelp
I've always heard great reviews about Piccolo Forno and I was happy to know they now took reservations so I was surprisingly able to get a 7PM spot on a Saturday evening for 2! When placing your order, they ask for it all at once so that they can properly provide your appetizers, entrees and desert spaced out which I thought was a good way to ensure all your items are out at once! We ordered the charcuterie board for an appetizer, which our waitress went through and described each item on the display! I had the spinach ravioli for my entree which was very good! It was a large portion, so there were leftovers! The restaurant is BYOB which I love! There is a location next door that you can purchase beer or wine and bring into the restaurant If you came empty handed which is nice and convenient. There is a $5 corkage fee for wine and $3 fee for b 2 people are given a 1.5 hour table time a lot, which keeps the flow of reservations going and able to accommodate. My only complaint was I had a small glass of wine left to finish when the waitress literally said sorry you have to leave the other reservation is here right @ our 1.5 hour mark.

Wallace J.

Yelp
Best pizza in the Burg! They've got a real pro (named Craig Head) making and baking those Neopolitan pizzas in that HOT oven! Give the place a try - you won't be disappointed

Jessica D.

Yelp
File this under "should have known better." Didn't like much about this place, aside from caring service. No ambiance to speak of. Stuffed banana pepper with Romesco sauce - why? Stuffing was tasteless and the Romesco the texture of baby food. Too salty anchovies marred my Bianca pizza, besides which, cherry tomatoes do not belong on pizza unless they are roasted first. My husband complained his spinach tagliatelle was bland. My step daughter's pizza with speck was delicious. But too many misses eclipse a lone hit. A case where the negative reviews on Yelp were correct, sadly.

Tiffany T.

Yelp
The service was super quick- from order to table took maybe 10 minutes for a party of 10 people. Very impressive the pasta all tasted home made and cooked well. Such a simple dish that is elevated by fresh ingredients. Would definitely come back here!

Jacqueline V.

Yelp
Everything is so fresh and delicious. Stopped in last minute. We love the vibe. The service was quick and easy going.

Sarah G.

Yelp
Such a great time at Piccolo Forno! Was able to make reservations the same day for a Saturday night outing. Not a huge amount of space, but all the good vibes of your typical quint Italian restaurant. Started with the bread, served with their rotating house butter, white vinegar apricot. All the flavors were perfectly balanced without the vinegar being overbearing or apricot being too sweet. Had the short rib polenta as an appetizer, absolutely delicious, flavorful and cozy like a short rib should be. For my entree I got the seafood capellini, which was fresh and delicious! Lastly, our server was SO delightful. Gabby was personable, knowledgeable, and accommodating to all our questions and requests. She was an important aspect to why we had such a fantastic experience here! Will be back!

Kaylee B.

Yelp
Such a great vibe! I've been dying to go here & I finally made it. It did not disappoint either, they live up to the hype! Surpassed my expectations..there was quality service from the time we put our name on the waitlist at the host stand, our service during dinner, & even the, "see you again soon!" on the way out.. overall it was fabulous. I recommend reservations if you don't have anything to do in the meanwhile. We didn't mind the wait as we went bar hopping & they text you when your table is ready. They are BYOB & there is a wine/beer store around the corner they own so no big deal there. If you're in the lawrenceville area & are looking for a great authentic Italian- family owned restaurant, this is your place to be :)

Kerri F.

Yelp
Came here with a party of six last night w/o reservations, and were lucky enough to be seated after 15 minutes. I had the lasagna and loved it. As another reviewer mentioned, it does have a slight nutmeg taste to it, so if you're adverse to that flavor I don't recommend. My husband had a picante pizza that was delicious as well. It's BYOB, which I like so I can bring in my weird seltzers. Not only was the food great, but our server was fabulous! Remi (with an "i" - which is a totally different vibe) was attentive and hilarious. Give this place a try, you'll love it.

Gianna W.

Yelp
This place was AMAZING!!! We got the calabrese pizza to start, which was soooo yum! It had a slight kick due to the hot honey, but that made it so good! Thin crust, as well. Our entrees included the tortelli, cannelloni, and lasagna. All were fabulous! I think the cannelloni was the best, but I would not turn anyone away from either of the other two dishes. The tortelli was with a bolognese sauce, which I am a big fan of! And the lasagna is made with a béchamel sauce!! This restaurant is the SOLE reason that my family now makes lasagna with béchamel sauce. Soooo yum! For dessert, we had tiramisu and the peanut butter gelato bomba! The tiramisu was different from others because it has a slight orangey-lemon taste to it. My mom and I enjoyed that a lot! And the peanut butter gelato was to die for! Nick was our server, 10/10! He was so nice and gave us some recommendations about the menu. My water was always full because of him! Restaurant is cute! Great night here at Piccolo Forno!!

Jeff P.

Yelp
One of our favorite Italien restaurants. The salads are unique. The pizza is the best thin crust in Pittsburgh. The pasta dishes are different and delicious. The wait staff is professional and courteous. Overall, a wonderful dining experience in a special place in Pittsburgh.

Mike P.

Yelp
Nice little Italian joint in Lawrenceville. I had the seafood cannelloni which was really tasty. It is definitely very seafood forward so keep that in mind but it has real crab which is nice, especially for the price. The staff was very nice and the service was fast. A special note is that it's BYO alcohol with a modist corking fee so make sure you grab something from one of the many beer/wine distributors in the area if you want that with your meal.

Yiying X.

Yelp
I've walked by this place millions of times and last week, I finally tried it out! I ordered a fig and short rib Tagliatelle to go, for a quick dinner - it's so flavorful and delicious! The portion was generous and the server was very friendly. I will definitely come back and dine in to try more!

Stuart O.

Yelp
I haven't been here in years, and was glad to visit again. This is a small, cute Italian restaurant in Lawrenceville. We got lasagna, a pasta dish and risotto with shrimp. Everything was tasty. The restaurant is byob.

Anokhy D.

Yelp
Always call to make a reservation! Even if it's 30 minutes in advance. They were poppin when we went and I was glad I called right before we left. We ordered the small focaccia basket with the herb garlic butter, the spinach tagliatelle, and the seasonal risotto with hot sausage. It was all delicious and the service was excellent as well.

Nathan M.

Yelp
Grabbed a To Go pizza to eat at Grapperia we order they dropped out the back door to our table which was awesome. the pizza was amazing perfectly cooked and the taste was so full of flavor. Being we was able to have a cocktail and our food worked out perfect for our little group. They have been a staple in Lawrenceville for a long time and for a long to come!!

Becky P.

Yelp
Finally made it to Piccolo Forno! Hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed our lunch outing. Service was great. Meals were delicious and I can't wait to go back for more Risotto!

Ken L.

Yelp
This spot was pretty poppin' on a Friday night. We got there around 7 and had a 1hr 45 min wait but we actually just got drinks at Grapperia next door. They have outdoor and indoor seating. They keep the indoors pretty cold even though they have a woodfire oven in the back of the restaurant. The food is good! You have to get the foccacia with the herb butter since it is sooo good. May be the best foccacia I've ever had. The herb butter is awesome too. Go for that big basket with the 6 pieces. We literally needed 2 for 4 people. I liked their pizza as well! They use the tiny pepperonis that curl up with oil inside them so it's delicious. Our party tried the tagliatelle with the short rib ragu, ravioli, and risotto with shrimp. It was all delicious! Their risotto changes daily too I think. This spot is BYOB and the corkage fee per wine bottle is $6 while it's $3 per beer. The service here is really good and the staff is super nice. They put our wine in the fridge while we waited.

Richard K.

Yelp
Dined here last night on a Monday in July. Full house, lots of fun activity. Ordered a pizza with Prosciutto and Mushrooms, Grana Padano, and a pulsed fresh tomato sauce. Delicious! Another first course was the polenta with Bray, short ribs, and cippoline onions. The polenta was solid, cut into squares and fried, how I love. Unfortunately though full of flavor, the braising of the meat went too far, leaving no texture left to the already soft meat. Full of flavor though. Still enjoyed and would order again. Both pastas, one ravioli with a tart lemon sauce was excellent and a pappardelle with sausage and peppers was good. I would order both again. Food came out perfectly timed and the server, a tall young man with prerequisite tats and piercings was excellent. Knew his food, knew the perfect amount of conversation, and was pround to work there. Hadn't eaten there in years, but now cant wait to go back. Such a breath of fresh air in our world of chain pre-fab restaurants.

Josh S.

Yelp
This place is amazing! Wife and were out with friends and had great time. Intimate setting, great informative and helpful wait staff, pizzas are great and pasta unbelievable. Have to try the chocolate bomba...one of the best deserts I ever had. BYOB, but prefer it as it is way more cost effective. One suggestion would be to use maybe half the amount of arugula on the pizzas, but great either way. Friday night busy and may have time limit, but it's very reasonable. Definitely reserve.

Julianna O.

Yelp
Probably best Italian food in Pittsburgh and we have tried just about all of them. Only reason giving it 4/5 stars is it is challenging to get reservation and if you don't reserve a table, the wait is usually 1-2 hours. It is BYOB which is great, $7 for a wine corking fee. Since the restaurant is so popular, you do have a limited amount of time you are allowed to sit there and the staff is very friendly when they let you know that your reservation time is almost up.

Colin M.

Yelp
I've been coming to Piccolo Forno for over 12 years and to say this review is overdue is an understatement. I've had many life events here from birthday parties, get-togethers and my first date with my wife. They are the model of consistency in a neighborhood that is constantly changing. Great pizza, great staff and a booming location. It does tend to be loud when you eat indoors here but the restaurant is full of character and they never disappoint.

darren l.

Yelp
3.5 stars. Food is generally good (****), ambience is noisy (***), but not food allergy friendly (**).