Sarafino's Homestyle Italian

I read the reviews looked at photos on Google and I've always wanted to give this restaurant a try. My Wife and I took our daughter here for her 24th birthday. Overall we enjoyed our visit but there were some cons for us. If you like an extremely small environment that doesn't get much air circulation then I guess this would be good for you. It wasn't for us. It's very small inside. To be honest the food was just average. Nothing special stood out. I had veal parm, my wife had Alfredo, and my daughter had chicken parm. We all shared antipasto salad. The salad was warm which was not pleasant. The other dishes had overcooked pasta and my wife's Alfredo was flavorless. Maybe my expectations were too high for the food?? As for the service...the staff were friendly for sure but we never were asked how our meal was nor did we get asked if we wanted a refill on drinks...not even water and it was hot and stuffy in there. I was actually sweating! It was our 1st time there and We most likely won't return. I'm sure it's not loss to them because they're extremely busy and probably will always be busy but it's a no for me.

If you’re looking for the perfect Mom-N-Pop hole-in-the-wall joint in a cool urban neighborhood then this is your place! Wonderful service, dishes made from the heart and reasonable prices. They are a BYOB establishment So bring your own bottle and they will cork it and bring you the glasses. There’s a place next door to buy wine. The interior of the restaurant seats about 50 people and during warm Months there is a patio that seats about 15 or so. Personally, I found the close quarters rather charming which elicited conversation amongst fellow diners. To that point, the couple sitting next to us, Who were celebrating their anniversary, offered us the remainder of their bottle of red wine as they were departing. Think of an episode of Goodfellas (without the gangster activity,of course). I was a transient passing through Pittsburgh, but will definitely return when my travels bring me back.

This is a local Italian restaurant in a small town. While the food is very good and there are varied menu choices at a reasonable cost, it is just too small and congested. The staff is polite but they are too busy to handle the flow of customers and takeout orders. EDIT: I ordered the Linguine White Sauce no where did it say it was spicy, it arrived covered in red pepper. The waitress said it was not problem to return they didn't want someone to eat something they were not happy with, fair enough. I noticed the food was returned very quickly and seemed more liquidity than before but didn't really think more about it. When I ate the leftover at home I noticed red pepper still in the food ( sorry but I am spice adverse). The kitchen just rinsed the original dish off with water and sent it back.

Things you want to know: 1. There are plenty of delicious appetizers if you’re just in the mood for small bites.(but don’t stop at the small bites. Move on. The food is so good.) 2. It’s BYOB, so don’t forget to bring your favorite bottle or 2— 3. They offer a variety of options, from pizza and sandwiches to really nice entrées like crab cakes and pasta—something for everyone. The portions are large. It’s not a large place, so make sure to have a backup plan in case there’s a really long wait. We wish they took reservations, but honestly, if you do have to wait, it’s worth it. We’ve waited a few times, and we love it here and keep going back —- honestly it’s good for pizza if you are looking for a good pie with your own fave wine —- Plus, the servers are all amazing!

I LOVE this place. Small. Old school. Great service. And the foods fantastic. My very favorite is the gnocchi + bolognese sauce. …and the bread is soft with a crunchy exterior.

I had one of the BEST Veal Parmigiana meals I have ever had! Our servers Natalia and Kerry were both very attentive. Reservations aren't taken so get there early or you may have to wait.

Fun visit with large family group. Seating is limited inside and out. Food was wonderful and the bread seems endless. There appeared to be just one server who was hustling. This isn't fast food, prepare to enjoy a dining experience. Plentiful portions. Parking might be a challenge but we were able to find it without too much trouble. Restroom is upstairs and navigation in the small dining area May be a challenge for those with mobility issues.

Super legit Italian food. I've had 3-4 of their pasta dishes over the last 3 months and each one was absolutely delicious. This is the Pasquale's pasta that has feta, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, spinach, and mushrooms over penne. Very nice atmosphere as well! Update! I had lunch there today (4/16) and it's STILL amazing. Rita's pasta for the W.

Fun visit with large family group. Seating is limited inside and out. Food was wonderful and the bread seems endless. There appeared to be just one server who was hustling. This isn't fast food, prepare to enjoy a dining experience. Plentiful portions. Parking might be a challenge but we were able to find it without too much trouble. Restroom is upstairs and navigation in the small dining area May be a challenge for those with mobility issues.

Went here for lunch with a coworker / friend and it was such a classic, old school Italian vibe, which I loved. Good service - very attentive and welcoming. They "prefer" cash they tell you but they do accept card (just an fyi!). The food was good and reminded me of traditional classic Italian food, the only thing I would say negatively is there really was not as much flavor on anything as I'd like. We had two house salads to start and the dressing was not overly flavorful. Then we ordered meatballs and the sauce was fine but nothing outstanding. The beans and greens were solid, but again, lacking in flavor - good and filling, large portions, just not overwhelming with flavor. My favorite was definitely the sarafino pasta which I tried a few bites of and the sauce was def the best of all the food we had. Just be prepared to salt and pepper or maybe just even ask for extra sauce on the side and see if it has more flavor when it's separate.

I have not been to Sarafino's in over a year and I am not sure why. We loved everything we had! We were there on a super hot Friday, and the only downside was that we had to sit outside. There was a very long wait for the inside, and getting there at 7:00, we wanted to eat dinner. We loved the bread and dipping oil. But my dinner was the best chicken parmigiana I have ever had. It was gigantic...enough to bring home and share with my husband the next day for lunch. He had clams with pasta, and he said it was the best he has ever had too! My parents had spaghetti bolognese and the crab cakes and enjoyed both! We can't wait to go back...and get the same exact things!

Although the food and service here are both excellent, it pains me to have to drop them from a 5 star to a 3 star. That's because my gnocchi with red pepper sauce and sausage came out on a severely chipped dish. It is actually a violation of the Food Safety Act because pathogens can be harbored in the part of the plate that is no longer glazed. If I'd been a health inspector, they would have been in big trouble I'm sure. See this below: 55 Pa. Code § 5320.91 - Food service h) Utensils used to prepare and serve food and beverages shall be free from chips and cracks The server was very nice. I told her to throw it away and don't bother to wash it. She said she'd tell the owner but that he was "old School" and may not listen. Everyone loved their food, including me. The linguine with clam sauce and the butternut raviolis were delicious according to my friends. Just be cautious and keep an eye out for those chipped plates.

Excellent food and friendly service. I believe they have the BEST Greens & Beans in the city! BYOB and a very comfortable old school setting. LOVE this place! Just be sure that you're prepared for a wait for table on most nights. If you have a larger group, definitely call ahead.

I always love an Italian restaurant, but a BYOB makes it even better! If you don't want to pay a corkage fee, bring a screw top bottle or open it before you enter (wish I had known that). The inside is fairly small, but it has a really nice homey feel. The A/C wasn't working well when we were there and we were uncomfortably warm. The menu is perfect for me as too many choices make me over think things. There were also numerous specials which all sounded good. Our server was super friendly and helpful. She brought warm bread with a dipping sauce which we enjoyed while waiting for our appetizers. I shared an Arancini ball with family, which was a special. It was huge! It was not my favorite as it didn't have the right consistency that I am used to with smaller sized ones. For my entree, I chose a rotini pasta with a bolognese sauce. Good arrived quickly and it was piping hot which I love. The flavor of mine was very good, but was it really bolognese when it had very little protein. The pasta was cooked well. We had a nice experience and I would return and try something different.

My wife and I weren't really that hungry after the evening appetizers at our hotel. We still kind of needed dinner. So, a quick search on Yelp told me to go to Sarafino's. It takes a car to get here as it is located in the hills of Pittsburgh. Without my phone's GPS, I don't think I would've ever found this place. They looked a nice and inviting place as I arrived. I had already ordered takeout before arriving. After paying, I got my food and was able to quickly drive back to the hotel. The linguine with clams that I ordered was more than enough for my wife and I. It had a nice clammy and garlicky flavor. It had the most clams that I've seen in a long while. It was good. I think the only thing that would've made it better was if we decided to eat there. Sarafino's did look like a great and happening spot.

We had to wait, as we had a party of 13 and they really don't take reservations. Fast and fun service by Pam and Alexis. Everyone loved what they ordered, but some highlights were the greens and beans, polenta, veal Parm, and Arancini. Oh and the bread. The bonus was that dinner came with a show, as several people/prospective customers came in and gave the staff a super aggressive time about the wait. The staff and owner don't take kindly to that. Many folks seated at their tables joined in , ala Jerry Springer. Seriously, management should consider a 90 minute limit on tables during busy times. Once seated, service and food were fast. As our party waited in the Circle Bar next door, we'd have to send a scout over for table status. it was frustrating to watch as 1 table opened only to have to wait on the other 2 tables as guests were clearly done and lingering. Serafino's is small and there is no real place to wait without invading someone else's space. BYOB is a bonus, too. After the wait, the food (and entertainment) was worth it. Great evening, thank you, Serafino!

Sarafino's is a hidden gem of Pittsburgh! We went during the week of Thanksgiving and it was busy! We waited for over an hour for our table because they wrote my phone number down wrong, but that's okay. We also waited another 10-15 min after being seated for someone to come to our table a there were 2 servers and they have like 10 total tables. Regardless, I've been here before so I knew what to expect! this is a real homestyle Italian place. Large, delicious potions. BYOB. We got the Spring Diavola and the Sarafino's pasta dishes. Cozy, no frills, homey vibes.

The food was amazing. I cannot recommend it more. The bread and olive oil to start and the pumpkin ravioli was perfect. They were very very busy. We went on a Saturday night and waited almost two hours (food was worth it though). I think they could benefit from updating their system, lots of people in and out asking when their name would be called. Lots of tables and the place is small, but again, food was well worth it. And it was byob which was fun! Everyone in there had great attitudes, even though they were busy. Parking was ok, street parking. The block over had some open spaces and they do have a small lot.

Food was good, ambience below average, cleanliness terrible. Service was average. There are too many very good Italian restaurants, that are hungry for your business. This restaurant caters to the locals.

It's been pre-pandemic since I've been here and left with a positive experience. Server was friendly and had about 4 daily specials (no prices told unless I asked). Ordered the seared steak panini which came with a house salad for a reasonable price. The steak was cooked nicely and the bread had a great buttery crunch. It came with "sarafino's sauce" though which was essentially house Italian. I asked for ranch and they didn't have it. Ended up getting a side of Mayo as the Italian didn't totally gel for my preference...otherwise a great sandwich.

Visited Serafino's for the first time the other night. We had to wait about 45 minutes to get a table, as it is first come first serve and they were completely packed on a Tuesday around 7pm. We ordered the arancini special, the antipasto salad, and I ordered the Rita's pasta. The salad and pasta were the stars of the meal. The dressing on the salad perfectly compliments the ingredients and it was a huge salad that did not skimp out on the antipasto. The pasta was very creamy and had good flavor. I would recommend this restaurant but you may want to call ahead to see if there is a wait time.

We have been long time customers of Sarafino's. We normally have top level entrees, but tonight both me and my wife had penne pasta each with different sauces. The pasta was overcooked, which is unforgivable. We gently passed this along to the server when she asked about our dinner. I had to throw away my leftovers. Never before did I need to request my pasta "al dente", but if we do patronize again, I guess I will need to do so. One thing we have noticed. If the owner is not cooking in the kitchen (he was there tonight but not working in the kitchen), the food level is average. Tonight it was below average. When the owner cooks, everything is outstanding. Better quality control could easily catch these faux pas.

Homestyle, old-fashion Italian- American restaurant, located in Crafton.  They are BYOB and do not offer reservations.  They have indoor and outdoor seating available.  There is pretty much always a wait. Super small vestibule area to stand in, they ask for your name, phone number and how many and ask that you wait outside, in your car or the bar across the street. Open for weekday lunch, and dinner Monday through Saturday.  Friendly staff serving amazing food.  Great portion sizes and fair pricing.  Everything we had was absolutely delicious.  For an antipasto, tried the bruschetta and it was delicious, four crostini's paired with tomatoes, peppers, garlic and lettuce. For the mains, we got the Sarafino's which is grilled chicken, sautéed field mushrooms and garlic, tossed with roasted red pepper sauce, herb butter, parmigiano cheese with fettuccine pasta. Then got one of their daily specials- the Chicken Parmesan which was a huge piece of chicken, covered in mozzarella on top of a bed of delicious pasta and red sauce. We did have to ask for bread and then it came without oil, they were busy, but that was a tad disappointing considering the tables around us all had theirs.

We made a recent trip to Sarafino's for a family celebration. There were 9 of us in total. All of the food was incredible. We started with the famous beans and greens and arancini, which was a special for that day. The arancini was big enough to split and just as good as any I've had in Italy. For our main course, I had the Sarafino's pasta and my husband had the veal parm. Both were very good! The food came out piping hot. My husband had enough pasta left over for lunch the next day. Sarafino's never disappoints

We went to Sarafino's for my 40th birthday yesterday because I watched a TikTok from Ana Eats Pgh & the food looked incredible! All I have to say is the food was better than I even imagined. The restaurant is very small & doesn't take reservations, but they were able to accommodate our group of 12. The servers were so kind and made the evening special! The crusty Italian bread and dipping oil is perfect! We ordered the greens & beans & Margherita pizza as starters and both were delicious! My friends tried several selections that they all enjoyed - Sarafino's pasta, chicken and veal parm, etc. I had the crab cakes - a recommendation from the server and it was a 10/10! This unassuming restaurant is one of the best in the Pittsburgh area! I recommend 1000%

EXCELLENT salad, beans and greens, bread and oil, and our dinners were perfect! We had the Sarafino's and the Rita's. Both were good , but recommend the Sarafino's!

Amazing! Great service & food. I haven't patronized in years & still excellent food just like I remembered. The sausage, beans & greens was definitely my favorite dish (appetizer). My mother used to make this dish for me all the time, but I never had it with sliced banana peppers. Bravo. We also tried the special which was homemade cavatelli which was superb!! Also, we sampled the Pasquale pasta (penne) which was equally as good. That dish had me at "pine nuts". My boyfriend had the pizza (sausage) which was the best he's had in a while (his words). Our server was amazing, courteous & fast. She was busy but never missed a beat. Excellent service we received. It was a treat. We arrived early for dinner & in about an hours time the restaurant was packed. I can understand why. We cant wait to return. Thank you sarafinos.

Sarafino's is nice little spot in Crafton that offers some pretty delicious pasta dishes at great prices. This was our first visit and overall it went pretty good. They don't take reservations so be prepared to wait. We had an hour wait so decided to grab pre-dinner drinks at a bar across the street until our table was ready. The service started out quite slow but eventually they caught up. They were friendly and cheerful so that helped. We ordered the Greens & Beans and the Roasted Portobello Mushrooms. Awesome. We all had a different pasta dish for our main and each was delicious. It's BYOB so we brought a few bottles of wine. There were no desserts available which was a bit disappointing but we probably didn't need the extras calories anyway. It's a nice spot but I do think they could upgrade the floor and a few other areas. Regardless, we'll be back again soon. I can't wait to try their pizza.

They don't take reservations so when we got there it was a short wait, but it was definitely worth it. The food was delicious. My wife and I shared a fried risotto ball, she had pasta and I had a steak salad. We both really liked our choices. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive despite how busy it was. It is a bit small inside so on a busy night I can see it getting very crowded and tight, but overall we really enjoyed our dinner and will be making a trip back!

We got takeout from them last week. We got a pizza and a salad. The dough does not appear to be homemade in any way. The pizza was good; we got meatballs and mushrooms. The salad-not great at all. The dressing was WAY too vinegar-y. When we called, they actually asked us to hold and then TOTALLY forgot about us. We went in and ordered since we were so close. The owner was not happy when he found the phone off the hook. All-in-all, not bad and definitely a lively place. But, we may definitely try others before going back.

Love the Food and price. Love the family photos. Didn't love the waitress yelling at the cooking staff multiple times.. the whole feel of the restaurant changed and got quiet for the evening after that. This needs to be a learning experience for Her or my group won't be back. Thanks

My friend and I came here on a Tuesday evening around 6;30. She got there before me and she was told that she couldn't seat her without the whole party there. I arrived about 5 min after she did. The place is small and has some outdoor seating. When I got there, we were told that it would be about a 10 min wait because a table was finishing up. The people at that table ended up taking more than 10 min (more like 30) to leave, which isn't the staff's fault. However, a table outside opened up before hand and they gave that table to a couple who had a dog (who arrived well after we did). When we were finally able to be seated, we placed our drink order. The waitress came back and said she was waiting on glasses to be washed but that she'd bring our drinks shortly. Meanwhile a table near us was seated after us and given drinks and bread before we did. A member of their party also arrived about 15 min after they were seated... so... their whole party didn't have to be there before they were seated? The other waitress came over and asked for our drink order and then she brought them over shortly after. We had to ask for bread 3 times before they finally brought it out. When it was time to order, I asked for a small pizza. I was told they don't have a small. I showed her the menu which says "small pizza" and she said they only have a large pizza. I ended up ordering a large pizza with green peppers and a side salad. My friend ordered a meatball panini. When our food came out, everything was as described mostly. The panini did not look like a panini but rather a meatball sandwich. My pizza and salad were fine, but not good enough for me to return unfortunately. Between the service and food, I was disappointed. I'd heard great things about this place, but that was not my experience.

I was expecting the red sauce on the pasta dish I ordered to have an excellent flavor after reading many reviews. But the sauce was very paste like and thick with not much flavor at all. A good tomatoe sauce is how I judge the quality of an Italian restaurant. So that is why I give it a low rating. Also the appearance of the dining area seemed dirty. And the waitress charged us a double corking fee (on 2 separate checks) for 1 bottle of wine that had a twist-off lid. We had a small party of 4 and it was a slow night, only 2 other tables, because there was the air conditioning was not working on a very hot night. Did she think we wouldn't notice the extra charge, or was it a mistake? hmmm

Great family restaurant. Food I so good Bring your own bottle Parking can be as problem

A cozy and charming Italian eatery located in Crafton, Sarafino's was a little bit out of my way but I'm glad I had the chance to try it. It's a pretty small menu that's only one page but they did it well. We went on a Monday at 6:30 and were able to be seated right away at the table closest to the door. That was the only free table at the time so keep that in mind when deciding what time to stop by. The place is fairly small with not that many tables and only one table looked like it could seat around eight people so not the best place for large groups. Overall, a good experience and I would come back if I was in the area.

Solidly good, old world Italian here - with a seriously loyal following. Have been to Sarafino's twice now with fam, and we're all hooked. First tip - go early! There will be a crowd - even on a Monday (& hurrah, they're open Monday!). 2nd tip: this place is BYOB. 3rd tip: make sure your ENTIRE party is there at the same time, cuz they will NOT seat you if not. Ok - the food! What a joy. These are mostly gigantasaurus portions, so come hungry or know that you're gonna have leftovers! Nothing is expensive, either. A welcome change to the average experience these days. We've tried the following food: APPS: Greens & Beans (YUMMO! They dice banana peppers & a bit of sun dried tomatoes in their version & use spinach instead of escarole. SO good & a bit of heat from the peppers & spicy Italian sausage); Polenta (massive portion topped w/ flavorful red sauce -- but eat this tasty dish quickly, cuz it gets cold & hard FAST); Arancini (always on the specials list apparently & a favorite - so moist, flavorful, & topped w/ yummy red sauce -- don't miss this one!!). ENTREES: Rita's (fave! Garlic, pancetta, vodka cream - what's not to !? I got it on linguine - which they happily substituted; it's normally on penne); Spring Diavola (not a fan - again, garlic, pancetta, w/ peas & pomodoro sauce - but it just lacked flavor & the rawness of the sage leaves just compounded the 'urg' factor for several of us); seafood pasta w/ white sauce (YUM - this one also seems to be a regular special & u can choose white or red sauce: super flavorful white wine sauce); & the special pork cheek on house-made cavatelli (another special - and pretty good - can't remember a lot of detail). Special shout-out for pizza --- we didn't have it but it was all around us and looked FABULOUS (thin crust). DESSERT --- no real choice, but the Vanilla Latte Cheesecake was excellent (the other choice was plain cheesecake). Cinnamon is a powerful flavor in this dessert - and the creamy texture of the cheesecake really works. This place has a ton of character --- it's small, chock full of tables, w/ the open kitchen right on top of you. It's ***noisy**** - but in an energetic way. It would be really nice if the wait staff didn't SHOUT across the room at each other. Yowza - it can be ear-piercing. The service is great, though. Kind of a Mel's Diner - "whatcha havin" (these are very busy women waiting tables!!) - meets family style ristorante (it seems as if everyone has been there since this place opened in 2014! Very charming, fun place - if a little hard to hear if you have a big party. When the weather isn't sweltering, it would be nice to sit outside. We'll be back - no question!

Had Pasta e fagioli soup, was served cold. Ordered chicken parmigiana, chicken was hot served on what tasted like yesterday's spaghetti and noodles were soggy and cold, along with sauce. Asked for food to be brought out whenever cooked, not all at once. Pizza was very good. Place looks nothing like pics on web site. Just in case your fooled by web site pic with glass of wine, it's BYOB restaurant. Yes has it listed in small print but thought they served wine by pic of glass of wine on table. Ambiance is very old.

Sarafino's has recently reopened for lunch which is a great option if you live or work nearby. The menu remains the same, however, the 10 inch pizza has been removed from the menu. They offer daily lunch and dinner specials on the chalkboard. The place is very small but the service is outstanding. I decided to still order a pizza and take some home for leftovers. Along with that I wanted to try their wedding soup. The wedding soup was served fresh and piping hot. You can taste the homemade goodness in it. You are also served with your meal warm bread along with dipping sauce. My pizza had mushroom and green peppers on it. Toppings are extra but to be expected. It is a generous 8 cut pizza and can easily go a long way. One of the men checked on me to see how I was enjoying my meal and I told how happy I was with it but missed the smaller version of the pizza. He explained that due to heavy crowd volume and Co-Vid they stopped making the small pizza. The crust was thin so I was able to eat more. Again it tasted fresh and everything was delicious! My waitress prepared my take home box for leftovers and I headed out. Sarafino's is Crafton's "hidden gem" of an Italian restaurant. Since it is small it will get crowded. Lunch is a better option if you don't wish to wait. Located on E Crafton Ave there is free street parking in the area.

We were looking for someplace different to try between Carnegie and downtown and Sarafino's came up in my search results. I need to note we arrived around 4:45 so that definitely made a difference in our experience. We were seated immediately and there were still two or three other tables. By 5:15 or so they were telling people anything from 20 minutes to one hour plus wait times. They don't take reservations, so either go early or expect a lengthy wait. Some things to note. Their parking lot is tiny but there is street parking around. The bathroom is upstairs so if you visit with someone with mobility issues it could be a problem. They also don't have a kids menu or half portions, so if you have kids or people with small appetites, expect to need boxes. We ordered soups, beans and greens and three different types of pasta. They were willing to split the order of gnocchi into two different plates right out of the kitchen which was helpful. The soups were delicious. I like that it was traditional pasta fagioli, not the Olive Garden variety. It was simple but packed with flavor. A little bit of a kick to it. My kids and husband had the wedding soup and all enjoyed it. It had plenty of "stuff" and just the right amount of broth. With the soups we had the basket of warm bread which was served with an oil with tomato and other flavoring. The beans and greens were my favorite part of the meal. The portion is huge and could be an entree. It was delicious. I do wish the sausage had more flavor. My kids split an order of gnocchi with the Pomodoro sauce and added a meatball. I had cappellini with the garlic/olive oil sauce and my husband had the Rita's pasta. Again, portions were large and tasty. Our servers were attentive and very friendly (especially of kid mishaps like spilling a drink). They were quick with drink refills and offered great suggestions when asked. Overall a great dining experience and someplace we'll go back to when we're in the area. Overall we

Really good food. Large portions Byob. Gets busy. Enjoy Pam as our server. Highly recommended.

I rarely write reviews and tend to believe those that do so, have either a very good or very bad experience. I have been coming here for over two years, and I currently live a block away, so it is "convenient". I think the food is good, and above average, so I continue to come back, however, there are issues with the way the place is ran/the way they do business, that make me not want to come back. In reading the other reviews, I see this sentiment is shared. Two weeks ago, I came here after a viewing (death of a family member). Our party was six and I knew it would be more difficult to get a table due to how small the place is, however, we did arrive at 4:30 p.m. At the time, there was only one party on the list, of five. So, I provided my number and we went back to my house. I got a call about 15 minutes later, which I quickly returned. They said that they did call me and I asked if I should come back down. I was hung up on. So, we went back down (sidenote that it was very cold outside and I had family in town, who could have remained at the house). Upon arrival, there was still the same party of 5 ahead of us, and there was a table being held in the back, which we could have taken, or the party ahead of us. Well, we waited over an hour and a half longer after they called me to come back. Not only that, but the table that they held was for a Judge and his party, clearly showing preferential treatment, when we could have eaten and left in that amount of time. We asked why they called us when there was no ability to be sat, and they had no response, and we practically walked out. The waitress, we had many times, and she is quick and a hustler, which I appreciate, but she should not be in charge of running the waitlist on top of bussing and doing everything else. It is completely mismanaged and chaotic. Now, to the food, it is always great, but this time I had the crabcake special. The crabcakes, while full of plenty lump crab meat, was overwhelmed by large stuffing sized pieces of bread. The best part of the dish was the portabella mushroom and accompanying sauce. I know there are different style crabcakes, but the large amount of bread was not my preference. The greens and beans do not have enough broth. The rest of the food was excellent. It is hard to say if we will be back any time soon, but please consider taking reservations, or at least having an electronic waitlist. It is 2025 and a paper waitlist is absurd.

Came here on a Tuesday night and there was a short wait. Great service, food came very quickly. Best chicken parm I've had at a restaurant in a long time!

Food ok was, typical Italian. Service was poor. Had to flag our waitress down to place our order after waiting an extended period of time."Friends Or frequent fliers" were seated near us and had gotten there food before we could even place our order. Won't be back

A bit outside of the city, Sarafino's is an Italian BYOB that serves huge portions of Italian-American comfort food favorites. I tried the veal parmesan over spaghetti, and the sauce was flavorful and the veal was cooked well. Given the service, however, I can't believe that the place was as crowded as it was. Our table wasn't given enough waters, and our waitress forgot to come back and bring more until we were close to halfway done our meal. Further, she got my order wrong and instead of apologizing, told ME that I messed up my order (she walked away in a huff saying "that's NOT what you said to me") and that the restaurant was now out of what I had tried to order. They ended up comping the incorrect meal, but the damage of rude service had kind of already been done. The food also was served at quite different times, so luckily at least with the big portions we could share food with those waiting a while for their orders. The staff shouts at each other and yells problems they're having right in front of the diners...I've truly never experienced that kind of crazy bustle before! Further, I've never been to a BYOB with such a high corkage fee ($7!)...if I had known that, I probably wouldn't have brought wine with me. Overall, I likely won't be back as the food was the best part of the experience, and the menu didn't contain anything I didn't feel I could cook just as well at home. Food: B Drinks: N/A Service: D Ambiance: C-

Great food , great service just come early to get a table. Very cozy and warm feeling of the staff.

Food is always worth the $$$ here. Large portions, reasonably priced, quality ingredients, and the oil & bread alone make the visit worth it. The ambiance of the old school Italian scene makes it feel so cozy and romantic. Its small inside so be prepared to wait for dinner/evening time. It's BYOB so I highly suggest grabbing a red and heading to crafton for some quality Italian. Daisy is also the sweetest server there!

I Just returned from dinner with friends at Sarafino's excellent food huge portions and it is a BYOB restaurant. Service was friendly and excellent. We had an early dinner at 5:45 tonight ( Saturday) the restaurant was already filled but we were able to get the last available table . The owner is one of the two chefs working the kitchen and has owned Sarafinos and the bar on the next corner for over 30 years . The restaurant is family friendly and has outdoor seating . We split an order of beans and greens as an appetizer spicy and excellent and one order was more than needed for 4 people . My friend ordered veal parmesan with a side of pasta. I had a seafood dish - pasta with clams shrimp and scallops. Our wives had a chicken dish with pasta. All the entrées were huge. However the food was so good that we finished everything ! A great family restaurant! I would not recommend it on weekends as a quiet, romantic getaway. It's busy and animated but lots of fun. I am sure it's quieter on the weekdays . I recommend this restaurant!

This was a really nice experience! A great local joint that is clearly family owned and operated and offering interesting, excellently executed Italian food. The service I received was friendly and efficient... The menu is loaded with nice options, but I opted for that night's special entrée, veal parmesan and it was EXCELLENT! Best I've ever had!! Perfectly lightly breaded and not over-fried, nor hard, it was tender and flavorful and their sauce is excellent too. Their Wedding Soup was also excellent and loaded with fresh baby spinach. This is a very small, neighborhood style restaurant that has lots of seating, considering the size of the dining room, but I'd call to make reservations before showing up. Not sure how long they've been in business, but it's clear that the family recipes they make have been handed down over generations! Highly recommend stopping in here!!

The BEST beans and greens. Cute BYOB spot in Crafton - small but the food is really good with nice portions and fair prices.

Was so excited to finally try Sarafinos. Have been talking about going for awhile. We got a table right away. The server came right away & asked us what we wanted to drink. she got us waters. Then the server never came back for 30 min even just to put in an appetizer. We didn't get bread or nothing. Tables around us were getting orders taken, bread, and served. We didn't. Sat there for 30 min and finally my boyfriend went up to ask for service and she shooed him away. The she preceded to not come over to our table at all and did other things. Their servers need trained or they just need new servers all together. Probably won't ever get to try it because I don't want to go back and sit and wait for another 30 minutes to be addressed.

4.5 stars. Great steak salad, Sarafino had good taste but not enough topping. Chicken parm panini stole the show! Fair prices

Everyone NEEDS to come here!! The perfect, tiny & "homey" restaurant. The food was phenomenal, the atmosphere is like you're eating at your Italian grandma's house. 10/10 experience! The portions are also huge!!

Do yourself a favor and get dinner at Sarafino's. You won't regret it. One of the best Italian restaurants in Pittsburgh. They serve amazing food for a great price and make you feel like a part of their family!

Very good food. Inside is insanely crowded and about as loud as a boiler factory. The owner came by several times to make sure we were being taken care of and that our food was good.

Location is a little bit random. and dining area is small- but it is some of the best, authentic italian food i've ever had. It's byob which i love- I don't believe there was even a corking fee. we started with their bread & dipping sauce (i could've drank it) and then had the beans n greens. i'm not a huge bean fan, but it was delish. I had the sarafinos pasta which is just amazing- and then there was a seafood pasta special with mussels, clams, shrimps & scallops. both entrees were massive & we both left very full & happy. would highly recommend. but go early- we got there at 5 and it was half full- by the time we left around 6-630, there was a line out the door. it's worth the wait though, i promise. staff was so kind too- always need to mention that.

THIS PLACE IS HELL ON EARTH. DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO GO HERE. They take zero accountability for their absolute awful service. They have no hostesses which is a huge red flag on the owner. The servers gaslit us for telling them we were waiting for 4 hours. They kicked us out of the restaurant for asking them why we had to wait this long. My mom ACCIDENTALLY bumped into someone because tiny inside and the kitchen staff chanted LEAVE at us and kicked us out. 0/10 do not go here. It was so weird and random. I had to give it 1 star to post. AWFUL!

Small place. Very very loud. Food good. Service was good. Just a normal small Italian restaurant.