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Big Jim's Restaurant & Bar

4.2 (371 reviews)
ModerateAmerican, Italian
Closed • 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Big Jim's Restaurant & Bar Photos

Business Info

BIG JIM'S RESTAURANT & BAR ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Divey
Casual
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Big Jim's Restaurant & Bar

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Jessica A.

We were at a nearby brewery and decided to see what restaurants were nearby and Big Jim's was #1. We checked out the menu and were on our way to a local gem! Stepping inside felt a little bit like stepping back in time in the best way possible. There's lots of Pittsburgh collectibles around the walls and bar area. We had no idea this place was so famous and consider it a happy accident to have found it. We had excellent service and delicious food. Our server felt badly that we had to wait so long (we didn't feel it'd been too long) and she comped our onion rings and beer. I had the gourmet grilled chicken sandwich which was excellent. And my boyfriend had of the largest Italian hoagies he'd ever seen. Portions are huge. Prices are great and the taste is the best! We can't wait to go back and are already strategizing what we will order there and what we will order to take home! Highly recommend Big Jim's, especially if you are looking for local eats.

Whole chic parm
Denny V.

08/07/2026 - Came here for lunch after a funeral service and the place was rather full.... Food flying out the kitchen, coming past, so we could get a look... decided on a Reuben & fish sandwich. They were both excellent.

My turkey Reuben.
Richard J.

I've wanted to try this place for a few years now but never seemed to have an opportunity. So yesterday I was heading in a completely different direction when I decided to turn around and drive another hour and finally give it a shot. I'd never make that trip again, but if I happened to be in the neighborhood I might stop by. It's a real dive bar in a shady neighborhood the place was exactly what I expected, our sandwiches were huge and the ingredients were very tasty, I had a Turkey Reuben , and the meat was fresh roasted turkey and lots of it, my friend had a corned beef Reuben. They're were very good and we both had half to take home for dinner. Their staff were very friendly, attentive, and helpful. Food was great and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a unique experience.

Gnocchi
Roseanne W.

If you are super hungry, you are in luck at Big Jim's! The portions are ginormous, especially the calzones! I was with 12 friends and everyone was happy with the food, portion size, and service. We were surprised at how crowded it was at 1:30 in the afternoon...but, with the state of the economy, people are happy to get so much more for their food money. For the restaurant to be so crowded that they could not fit one more person in on a Wednesday afternoon, says a lot about this neighborhood secret. Even the bar area was crowded with locals, and it reminded me of the "Cheers" bar. All patrons that I saw in the restaurant had a to-go box. I don't know how they do it!

Small lasagna
Pierina P.

Stepped back in time ! Very much a hometown favorite, great food laidback Ma-Pops Restaurant for all...

One server wearing an Imaculate Reception T-shirt
Fellman B.

I went to Big Jim's with my brother and a friend after running the Pittsburgh Great Race. I was very hungry. We knew the restaurant had hearty dishes. I ordered the cheeseburger with Swiss cheese, with the burger cooked medium rare. It came back perfect, served with tomato, onions and lettuce, with a dill pickle on the side. The server, Toni, was very accommodating. My friend had a strange request for her Reuben sandwich order. She doesn't eat meat, so she asked if she could give her corned beef to me and just have her sandwich include sauerkraut and cheese. "No problem," said Toni. However, when the order was served, the cheese came on top of the corned beef, and my friend's sandwich had no cheese...just sauerkraut. The cook had gotten the special request wrong. The bread was a hearty, thick Russian rye. Toni agreed to have the sandwich sent back for cheese to be added. And there would be no extra charge for the cheese already on the corned beef. My brother requested extra sauce for his eggplant Parmesan. No problem! The restaurant is very sports-oriented. Games in the TV, and the servers were wearing Steelers-related clothes. It's a homey place to go for good bar type food.

Layers of corned beef in this Reuben
Peggy H.

The food here is amazing! Big, delicious portions. We had Reubens, fries with gravy, and open roast beef smothered in gravy and fries. They use Mancini bread- big flavorful slices, large amounts of tender, seasoned corned beef, with dressing on the side. The fries are submerged when cooked in some type of oil which brings every bite more delight to your tastebuds than ever before. The flavorsome bread on the roast beef is toasted, which is a nice touch, and compliments the thinly sliced tasty meat. The gravy is just like your grandma's- full of rich flavor. The staff is friendly, quick and thoughtful. This place has your hometown bar, restaurant appeal. We will be back!

Dinner salad

My husband & I stop at Big Jim's when we have Pgh. appointments; look forward to their extensive selections. My gnocchi dinner large enough for 2 people; great salad & husband's open-face roast beef with side great fries. Servers kept checking & refilling coffee. Great atmosphere inside; friendly patrons enjoying food like we did!! Will return!!

Pepperoni, extra cheese, and jalapeños, please and Thank you
Gretchen U.

Finally came in for an early dinner and had the best service possible. As the folks started coming in there was a great smell of all the delicious options for lunch, dinner and just a lovely time. As always a big thank you.

Open face Open Faced Roast Beef Sandwich
Brooke H.

Always a treat. Food is always amazing no matter what you order. This place is busy so offer grace because those servers are RUNNING! If you want a real Pittsburgh dinning experience, this is it. You are elbow to elbow with your neighbor and everyone is here to have a good time. When one table sings happy birthday, or cheers, you ALL do. It's just a happy experience all around but if you are looking for a quiet meal, this isn't it. You can't get prices for the portions anywhere like Big Jim's.

Homemade Lasagna
Sarah G.

Classic Pittsburgh spot! Portions are generous, food is old school and delicious, and the staff are friendly and make sure you are taken care of. Feels like you are in someone's home! Will absolutely be back.

Italien sub & Iron draft
Johnny K.

Great ole school Pgh bar! Iron City on tap & bottle. Big, delicious italien hogies and fun locals.

Interior - bar area
Trish T.

Great dinner the other night in this hole in the wall in Garfield. We popped in last Friday around 6pm, and the place was packed to the gills! Not even a couple seats at the bar. We didn't have to wait long for a 2-top. The hostess was really welcoming and entertaining while we waited. It was clear the place has a sizable regular crowd. Everyone knew everyone, it seemed. The atmosphere is very "old Pittsburgh" - energetic and almost like being in someone's old, paneled living room. A server took our order pretty quickly. The beer selection was quite varied (happily there was a hazy IPA!). Beer seemed a popular pick judging by all the tables and bar top around us. We waited a long time for our food, but I don't think that's usual. Our extremely apologetic server explained that the kitchen had been overwhelmed by 3 huge, unexpected parties. We were fine. The food was really good. My husband had their Reuben which he said was quite flavorful. He loved the Thousand Island dressing. My Alfredo pasta was crazy rich and dotted with roasted broccoli (you can have it plain, with broccoli &/or chicken). The surprising standout of the meal, though, was our basket of fries! I mean, they were the real deal - fresh, some skin on, and super tasty. The portions are large at this place - so come hungry! I took home 1/2 my meal. A nice evening. We'll definitely be back!

Hot Sausage Hoagie

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5 months ago

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6 months ago

Great food for decades served with service smiles and more. Cozy environment . If in area stop simple bar approach and dinner room in back.

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3 months ago

Food is always superb! Great staff and prices not too expensive. Love the vintage style

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4 months ago

Great staff and excellent calzones. They also had Iron City in bottles. Now i have to add letters to make at least 85 characters

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DiAnoia's Eatery

DiAnoia's Eatery

4.4(1.3k reviews)
2.5 mi•Strip District
•$$

I've been coming to DiAnoia's Eatery about once a month for a while now, and I still haven't found…read morea dish I wouldn't order again. Everything on the menu is fantastic, and the quality is consistent every single visit. My spot is always at the bar, and that's largely because of Nami. She's one of the best bartenders in the city. She's attentive, knows her stuff, and has a way of making every visit feel special. Sitting at the bar here is half the experience. Pro tip: add a veal cutlet to whatever entree you order. Trust me on this one. It takes an already great dish to another level. If you haven't been, go. And if you have a seat at the bar, say hi to Nami.

I've really enjoyed dinner at DiAnoia's, so this was my first time stopping in for lunch and I'm so…read moreglad I did! Lunch has a different setup than dinner. You order at the register and then find your own seat. On a random Friday around noon, the tables were almost completely packed, which is always a good sign. After seeing what everyone else was eating, it seemed like the meatball sandwich was the clear favorite...so of course, I had to order one. It did not disappoint! The meatballs were delicious, served on crusty Italian bread with a mix of cheeses, including blue cheese, which gave the sandwich a unique flavor that really worked. Absolutely delicious! DiAnoia's is already a must-go for dinner, but I'd definitely add lunch to the regular rotation when I'm in the Strip District. Great food, casual lunch vibe, and clearly a popular spot for good reason.

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DiAnoia's Eatery - Seating area

Seating area

DiAnoia's Eatery - Margherita Calabrese

Margherita Calabrese

DiAnoia's Eatery - House Salad with Mixed Greens, Olives, Chickpeas, Cherry Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Cucumbers, and Oregano Vinaigrette

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House Salad with Mixed Greens, Olives, Chickpeas, Cherry Tomatoes, Roasted Red Peppers, Cucumbers, and Oregano Vinaigrette

Girasole Restaurant

Girasole Restaurant

3.9(762 reviews)
1.8 mi•Shadyside
•$$

So this location was only about a 10 minute walk from our hotel and we are so glad that we checked…read moreit out. It is a very cozy Italian restaurant that's serving homemade Italian food like your Nonna would make for you. We showed up on a Tuesday night and it was packed. It was around six or 6:30 in the evening and when we first got there, we were told it would be about a 20 minute wait before a two top was available. But the host came back and asked if we didn't mind sitting by the kitchen they could see us right away. We chose to sit by the kitchen, which honestly was probably the best option because it was actually a little bit quieter because there was a very large party that was celebrating a birthday and they had live music going on so it was hard to hear when you were in the main dining space but back by the kitchen it's a little bit quieter and we could actually hear ourselves talk. My husband got the penne with meatballs and the penny was nicely cooked with a beautiful tomato Bass sauce and the meatballs or some of the best Italian meatball he's ever had. His only complaint was that there were only two in the order and he wished there would've been three. I got the spinach and ricotta, stuffed ravioli, and by far one of the best raviolis I've ever had. The ravioli are large so there's only about five in a dish but they're packed fully and the flavoring and seasoning is absolutely spectacular. It's got a beautiful sauce like accompanies it and the chew you can definitely tell it is handmade pasta/ravioli. Our server, Emma was absolutely spectacular and was so kind. We truly enjoyed our experience here and would highly recommend anybody to check it out if you're in the area. But we also do recommend make your reservations ahead of time. This place gets packed quickly.

Very, very good Italian spot near Walnut Street, very close by all the top shops. The ambiance is…read morevery nice, both inside and outside. Pretty tight space though. The waitresses are friendly and have great recommendations. I got to try their linguine rustica (essentially the clam pasta dish), a cappuccino, some cherry soda, and soup of the day, as well as complimentary bread. They got that bread out very quickly! Very soft, and served with quite high quality olive oil. The bottle has both olive oil and balsamic! The soup of the day was quite good as well. It was some sort of beef broth, I think may a beef and bean soup. Chickpeas in there as well. Next time, I might try the salad. The salad they have as a side is so good, an amazing portion and seems so fresh and tasty. The mains were excellent. Very good pasta with clam sauce. Lots of clam meat and a flavorful oil based sauce. My friend had some red penne with chicken and enjoyed that as well. Great portions, pretty fair prices. Finally, great drinks as well. Very memorable cherry cola that I believe the company is owned by the owner's son. Real cane sugar, very good. The cappuccino was great as well. Definitely come here!

Photos
Girasole Restaurant - Penne with sausage

Penne with sausage

Girasole Restaurant - Beef Tenderloin over Risotto & Spinach

Beef Tenderloin over Risotto & Spinach

Girasole Restaurant - (Mediocre) spinach and ricotta

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(Mediocre) spinach and ricotta

Saint Ravioli

Saint Ravioli

5.0(6 reviews)
2.5 mi•Bloomfield

Every year my girlfriend and I find a cooking or baking class that is local in Pittsburgh to do…read moretogether. This year we decided to down our robes and become disciples of Saint Ravioli. Getting a spot in a class is very hard since they are limited to 6-8 people, but if you get the chance I absolutely recommend it. The classes are 2 hours long each and are extremely intimate. Bryan and Justin will meet you at the door and will introduce you to their workshop. There is a spread of antipasto to snack on which was curated very well. Each person gets to make 4 (four!!) dozen raviolis each. The class is extremely informative and fun. I personally haven't ordered any of their ravioli drops before, but from eating the batch I personally made, I know I will in the future. Highly recommend ordering their raviolis online or taking the class if it's available.

Although it takes some planning to order ahead, then pickup your order, the Ravioli is amazing…read more When you pick up your order, it's frozen. To prepare it, simply drop into boiling water, then after it floats to the top, wait a few minutes. I also ordered the Marinara sauce which was delicious. The owner friendly and helpful. He noticed that this was my first order, so he took some time to explain a few things and answer questions. Parking is on the street, and I had no problems finding a spot. It's a fun experience and I will definitely do it again.

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Saint Ravioli
Saint Ravioli - Wedding soup ravioli

Wedding soup ravioli

Saint Ravioli

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Lucca Ristorante

Lucca Ristorante

3.1(314 reviews)
1.3 mi•Oakland
•$$

Had a wonderful work holiday meal at Lucca! I didn't even know this place existed. Everyone's food…read morelooked great and everyone enjoyed their cocktails as well. The service was good - she was very busy and could have used a hand when there were several parties and we were a bigger party. I had the sausage and mushroom risotto which was delightful! I really enjoyed the sundrjed tomatoes on top and felt like it could have been throughout for a little brightness, just because it was so rich. Also thought it was a little light on the sausage. I enjoyed the hazelnut crunch cake but wasn't wowed by it. I might be back if someone else is paying! A little steep to be a regular!

The food here is really good! I have just two of the dishes shown here. The frutti di mare was…read moreabsolutely amazing. I love the different seafoods mixed in with the vodka sauce...just so good! The restaurant is a bit small, at least in the area we got sat. I did ask to move because of how narrow the walkway was between our table and another party plus the chair behind me was directly up against my head so if somebody sat right behind us it would have been awkward. The only other thing I've noticed was that they were very slow to greet us and get our order...took around 15 minutes for that. No other complaints besides that! I'm only given it 4 stars just because of the slow service and the seating arrangement being very awkward but they were nice to accommodate and move us somewhere else!

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Lucca Ristorante - Shrimp, scallop, tartare and beef

Shrimp, scallop, tartare and beef

Lucca Ristorante
Lucca Ristorante

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Piccolo Forno - Three Cheese Mezzaluna with Wild Mushroom Marsala Cream Sauce

Piccolo Forno

4.1(684 reviews)
2.9 mi•Lawrenceville
•$$

The pizza at Piccolo Forno is consistently excellent, with thin, perfectly cooked crusts and…read morecreative topping combinations. The Fichi & Formaggi, Mortadella & Pistachio, and Calabrese are among my favorites. On my most recent visit, I also tried the burrata appetizer for takeout. The peppery arugula and sweet peaches worked beautifully with the creamy burrata and made for a great combination. Pickup was a breeze. A friendly staff member greeted me and quickly pointed out my order among the others on the takeout table. The restaurant itself was packed, and for good reason. I've been coming to Piccolo Forno for years, and everything I've ordered has delivered. It remains one of my go-to spots for excellent pizza in Pittsburgh.

I liked this place! Not all of the dishes and not the attitude of the server at times. I just…read moredidn't like that the server kept reminding us of a time placed on each table before it needed to turnover. I thought that was very rude and off putting. Parking is difficult in this area, so keep that in mind when reserving. However, I had a great time fellowshipping with friends. The place was lovely with laughter and what I ordered, I liked. For appetizers we ordered the peach bruschetta (special), the pistachio and pesto pizza without the pork, and the insalata salad. My favorite was the brussel sprouts and carrotts app. We also ordered the lasagna which was different. It had cinnamon and nutmeg. I was expecting classic lasagna. The seafood spaghetti also was not what I expected. The spice was nice, but I didn't like the texture of the pasta and the seafood was very fishy. The pesto pasta was good but needed salt. For dessert the boomba was the best! Tiramisu was mid. Again, cinnamon and a fresh flavor that didn't provide the traditional flavors I anticipated. The wine from the package store near by can be ordered and brought to your table. Paid for separately and via an app.

Photos
Piccolo Forno - Inside

Inside

Piccolo Forno - Seasonal Peach Bruschetta

Seasonal Peach Bruschetta

Piccolo Forno - Tiramisu

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Tiramisu

Alla Famiglia - Vodka pasta

Alla Famiglia

4.3(556 reviews)
2.3 mi•Allentown
•$$$$

This deserves a bonus star (or I need to quit giving so many other 5 star ratings). A true diamond…read morein Pittsburgh's Allentown neighborhood on the South Side. First tip: come hungry. They will give you more than you can eat (starts with bread, then a salad, then pasta, and then the entree). There is lot parking nearby that you can pay at a kiosk (if you can find parking) or pay a valet. The meal is structured with bread served along side "holy oil" (olive oil dipping sauce infused with herbs and peppers) and fagioli spread for the bread. Incredible so far and gets better. We skipped appetizers and went to the salad. You get a lot of salad. I got the Tuscan kale salad - delicious, with the heavy bitter taste of the kale balanced with apples, candied walnut, and lemon vinaigrette dressing. The star of the evening was the cacio e pepe pasta which they mix in front of you at your table. The taste of the rich Romano cheese, salty with pepper and silky smooth (yet binding) is almost transcendental. You have to just taste this. I can't do it justice in a written review. The main course was the pollo forno. Chicken with a sauce that was almost like chimmichurri, fingerling potatoes. I was still bedazzled from the pasta, but the main course was still scrumptious. Service is top-notch. The servers know the menu and are ready to help with recommendations. This is worth the splurge. Go already if you haven't.

This is our second time visiting this restaurant and we loved it just as much…read more We started our meal with the smoked provolone. It was very over the top and indulgent. I went with the casa salad, it had so many toppings including a lot of blue cheese. I feel it would have been enough for my meal. For my pasta, we did the cacio e Pepe, which what they are famous for. They don't do it table side for GF pasta since it would be cross contaminated. For our main my husband and I shared the margarita veal medallions and the sea bass. Both were very good and large servings. For dessert, they gave us a complimentary champagne glasses and a little dessert. We also got the crème brûlée. It had cherries on top and a chocolate ganache at the bottom. Once again, very indulgent. I had a lemon drop martini that was very good during my meal and a glass of wine. They have a very good wine list but not very affordable. Overall, it's a great place for special occasions. They have very good waitstaff and it makes the experience even better.

Photos
Alla Famiglia - Upstairs Bar and Dining Area

Upstairs Bar and Dining Area

Alla Famiglia - Chicken alla limon

Chicken alla limon

Alla Famiglia - Exterior of restaurant

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Exterior of restaurant

Big Jim's Restaurant & Bar - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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