First time we were there tonight and did takeout - WOW it was sooooo good. We got a variety to share/try and we ate it all which was so much food for two people but we couldn't stop eating it. Can't wait to go back and dine in when we look a bit more presentable to enjoy a night out! Try it if you're looking for a new cute little spot - yummmm read more

Monday night is rib night! You get a half rack of ribs & fries for $11. The ribs are great and I always find myself comparing all ribs to here. One night we stopped down and had some beers outside by the fire pit. There are a few chairs around it, & we sat next to a friendly older couple. We ended up chatting away with them for over an hour. Precious times Their ciabatta bread with dipping sauce is great too! read more

Its nice having a really good restaurant that we can walk to! We generally stop in a couple times a year, and would go more often but it is pricey, we routinely spend $150.00 on dinner/drinks and tip. That said, the food is consistently excellent, but I did like it better when it was more of a tapas place, but I get it that in a city where people expect to get fries on their salad, small plates are a foreign concept (pun intended). I had the boneless short ribs on our most recent visit. They were tender and tasty, served with tortellini and sweet potato. I'm not a fan of sweet potato, but they were quite tasty, and you know a place is doing something right if they can get me to eat sweet potatoes! The waitress suggested I get a Malbec with my meal, but the food was so good I never sipped the wine until I was done! read more

Highly recommend. Very cosy place. Had a small business dinner. 2 of us had Shrimp crusted Trout (excellent) the other steak (also excellent). Nice quiet place. Staff is friendly. Private owner whom was in house the night we dined. Waitress was very friendly and suggested choices. What a great dinning experience. Priced welled for the atmosphere and quality. Nice beer and wine selections read more

Cafe Notte - Bar area - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Cafe Notte, I wanted to love you so much. You're absolutely charming and the service was perfect. The outside patio area was so homey looking as well as the indoor decor. I couldn't have been more happy with every thing. I drove by this restaurant for years and wondered why I never went in. Well... I should have kept driving. The menu was so perfect and I wanted to try so many things. But I figured let's start with the lobster bisque because I read all of the reviews and they were amazing. So I had big expectations. Alas. A huge let down. I did get a bowl of soup which looked beautiful. When I went to eat it. It had a sort of spice that was similar to chicken tortilla. But had the consistency of a combination of quick sand, paper mache, and glue. Which would have been fabulous if I was going to do a school project , but not for consumption. It had barely any lobster in it. Fast forward to today , the morning after I ate there , I woke up ready to die. I had such stomach pains and felt like I had a stomach virus. So I called my friend who ate the same soup and she was feeling equally as wretched. First strike Cafe Notte. I ordered the salmon salad with the homemade balsamic. When I received my salad I was excited to eat it. Then I did eat it. One bite to be exact. It was absolutely tasteless, small, and was the blandest thing I have eaten in a while. The salad dressing was like liquified ketchup. It was supposed to be a balsamic. Key word is supposed to be. Strike 2. Finally last but not least my cocktail was the Neptune. It should have stayed there and not came to earth. What an excuse for a sugary mass of beverage. The highlight of my drink was my lemon wedge on the side. It didn't even taste like anything other than a melted popsicle without alcohol. Strike 3. I really wanted to love this place because of the charming Decor and nice staff. But as they say in baseball. You're out! read more

My friend and I had an event and wanted to eat somewhere close by. I've always looked at this restaurant when driving on 65 to Pittsburgh. The outside reminds me of something in medieval times, the inside is more intimate. Our waitress was really nice, I believe her name was Jessica (I could be wrong on that). We got a gnocchi appetizer, which I thought was kind of weird being an appetizer, but it was pretty good. I read other reviews about this restaurant and they were mixed. One review said the crab cake was not good, but I love crab cakes and decided to try it for myself. I thought it was pretty good as well and the sauce was tasty. For dessert we got the raspberry ricotta cheesecake and that was also delicious. We definitely left with full stomachs. Entrees were a little pricey, but that comes with the atmosphere. I probably will not go back just because it's a bit of a drive, but if I lived closer there were a few more items on the menu I'd like to give a try. Maybe one day! read more

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Had our first dinner at Cafe Notte and we loved it. Ordered the bread appetizer and the scallop appetizer and were very impressed when our bread was refilled 3x without charge. Our waitress was spectacular and our food was on point. Will definitely return! Thank you for the wonderful experience! See u soon! read more

Cafe Notte - Scallops! So delicious and I am expecting so I requested they cook them well done and they turned out perfect :) - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

My daughter and I had a wonderful meal at Cafe Notte! I had the Braised Short Ribs and asked to have them over mashed potatoes. Best meal I have had in quite awhile! Paired with an excellent Malbec. Daughter had a filet that she cut with a butter knife. The service was also excellent. We will definitely be back. read more

Old motorcycle shop that has been transformed into a cozy little restaurant/bar. Atmosphere is a little more upscale than the average locale, but I didn't feel uncomfortable. Going along with that is higher drink prices, but that's to be expected in a nicer place. Visiting at happy hour is probably the way to go. Wait staff was very friendly and helpful during my visit and the stuffed banana peppers were just okay. My only critique would be the parking, which can be an issue. Check it out the next time you're driving down 65. read more

Cafe Notte - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The food was absolutely top notch, I had the bronzino which was done perfectly with a delicious and crispy skin. The cocktail list is inventive and rotates, my honey bourbon martini cocktail was a delicious liquid dessert. The staff is very friendly, engaging and inviting. I even had the pleasure of meeting the owners and was given a tour of their space - which includes ample private dining areas for small or large parties (a huge plus in an area filled with more small capacity restaurant spaces) - and reassured that in the future (as I was dining solo this evening) that my family members' severe and specific food allergies can be accommodated with no issues by their chef and kitchen staff. All in all, an absolutely A+ experience. read more

Horrible food. Tonight was our first night there. The fact that the place was empty should have been our first clue. I got "rigatoni bolognese". It was neither. The pasta was penne and the sauce had so much cream in it, it was pink. The sauce was a cross between cat vomit and dog food. I actually gagged. On top of that, the sauce had no salt so, the vomit tasted was bland. My wife got garlic shrimp with asparagus and risotto. The asparagus was as thick as my thumb, unpeeled, under cooked and woody. The shrimp were nice but there was no hint of garlic and the risotto was a tasteless red mass. Despite the lack of clientele, they managed to pump enough fryer grease odor into the dining room to leave us smelling like a bag of fish crisps. Not worth a second chance. read more

The food was delicious and I loved the atmosphere. The music was fantastic! The wait staff and owner were very friendly. Fantastic food for a good price! I would definitely recommend this to friends and family. I would also return again! read more

Stopped by to check out the need menu, and it did not disappoint point. They kept the classic Notte dishes, and added some new apps and very affordable pasta dIshes. We started with the risotto arancini in marinara, and it was fantastic. Risotto was perfectly cooked and the marinara was spot on. The arugula salad was a great addition, and the sweet onion vinaigrette was a good contrast to the salty pancetta. Entree was the penne arrabiatta, and it was wonderful. Pasta was cooked perfectly, sausage was awesome, and a little Parmesan gave it the extra salt needed. read more

This place is great... food is delicious and is very affordable. Tuesday night spaghetti is the best deal in town. But let's talk about those napkins in the water glasses .... ah, just kidding. I highly recommend this place! read more

So, where to start...walking in the door, the hostess/owner acted like we were interrupting her and coldly asked if we had reservations. This was my first visit and I was immediately not impressed. I was also very surprised to see the owner having a glass of white wine at the hostess stand. Very unprofessional to drink in front of your guests! We were seated and then ordered drinks. The waitress never introduced herself and just asked what we were having to drink. Once again, slightly amiss. We waited for a very long time for the drinks. We ordered an appetizer which was the only highlight of the evening. We were told by the waitress "I'm glad you ordered appetizers because a 7 top party just ordered and I was told to slow down your order a little" Seriously??!!?? Uh, thanks a lot! Once again, slightly amiss. So I ordered foccia bread and dipping oil with my meal and wish someone who have told me that the bread and dipping oil automatically come with your meals! While we were eating, I noticed the owner sitting outside drinking w at a table with what looked to be a waitress. Unprofessional for sure and shocking. Our food was ok, just ok, no seasoning at all and no salt or pepper on the table to use. ‍ For the cost of the meals, they should do so much more! It was disappointing and slightly amiss. A little more professional examples set by the owner would go a far way! ****Updated 10/15/19 after owners response**** Debbie, perhaps drinking wine and working doesn't help you remember your guest list. I WAS part of the 6 top reservation that my friend made for her birthday dinner. So perhaps you're remembering someone else. The warm friendly welcome that I get from places such as Eat N Park was amiss at your establishment! I remember you, you said "you could stand over there if you want while we get your table ready" I am a small business owner myself and have been in the customer service industry since 1997. My staff is trained to take care of their guests and make them feel special. Not what my friends got from you and yours. So not only did you lose my future business but you lost the business of the rest of my party all who were first time guests. I will be happy to spend my well earned $ in other places! There I can spend 1/2 of your food costs and enjoy the food and the ambiance much more!! And p.s. Your staff won't show respect and decency until ownership does. read more

Delicious dinner last night with 6 of my friends from high school. We are planning the Avonworth Class of 1968 50th reunion. We had delicious dinners and will be having it at Cafe Notte. I had the chicken Parmesan and it was delicious. I also had the best Caesar salad I have ever had. The service was excellent. read more

Food was good, waitress was wonderful. Very disturbing to see napkins in water glass and then be served water in that glass....YUCK!!!!!! The owners sat next to us at another table, yet walked around us to talk with other customers, completely ignoring us. It seemed obvious to us that owners were not interested in our experience. We were very excited to eat here for the first time, but now will never return or recommend to others. read more

A recent chef change has caused all portions to be 25% smaller. The food's pretty tasty but things have changed. The cheese tray used to be really nice, now it's underwhelming. Chicken parm is half the size it used to be. Note that the prices haven't changed. The beef burgundy was good but the ceasar salad is pretty blah. Haven't decided if I'll return. read more

If you haven't tried Cafe Notte you are missing out. They have a wonderful menu for drinks and food and a surprisingly nice selection for gluten free. Food never disappoints and is always on point. They offer great happy hour specials and live music to entertain you. Have I mentioned the wonderful and comfortable outdoor sitting and dining space? If you are looking for a nice place for outdoor cocktails or a comfortable indoor dining experience you should enjoy what Notte has to offer. read more

We hit Cafe Notte on Wednesday after a strong recommendation from Annie's sister, Lizzy. Lizzy is an epicurean, so this obviously was a must visit. Prior to visiting it was on my radar because I'm always looking for good spots that are convenient to Annie's home, besides "Monterey Pub" (which I love). There was also a quick note about it from China Millman in the post and a more detailed review in the Trib. The place is relatively busy for a Wednesday night. Upon entering the restaurant I'm struck by the beautiful large wood burning fireplace, just glowing and adding much to the ambiance, quite romantic actually. Then I look above and the ceiling is sparkling with these almost "star" like lights. I ask how they did this and from the explanation seems like a rather time intensive touch. There is not an empty seat at the bar when we arrive (around 7PM) and everyone at the bar seems to be having a good time. The young bartender seems to be keeping the crowd well lubricated and properly entertained. The bar is beautiful, polished and with plenty of wood, obligatory plasma and fully stocked bar. There is also exposed brick and flattering lighting. We end up seating at a "hi top" near the bar. We were greeted initially by one of the owners, Debbie. She walks us to our table and answers a couple quick questions I have about the place and Annie introduces herself as one of the famed "Sweeney sisters". We sit and are quickly greeted by a very warm and professional server, Michael. He gave us top notch, professional and friendly service all night. He even gave me a good tip on ordering my favorite beverage...get to that in a minute. The bread comes out warm and crusty with a great dipping sauce. I believe they bake the bread in house. In fact I'm guessing almost all of the dishes are made from scratch. I start with a dirty martini, ketel one, rocks...Annie's driving so she orders a diet pop. Unfortunately, they don't have ketel one so I settle on goose and then Michael gives me a good tip on ordering this drink. I've been noticing at some places there is a $2 up charge for "ice". He says that has to do with the new hardware, etc. at many restaurants and just to order "kettle" dirty, rocks and this will basically give me the same drink with more alcohol for $2 less. I start with the scungilli salad which can be a disaster if not prepared properly. This one is terrific. It's thin shavings of conch, not tough at all served with the perfect amount of acidity. This is a good start. Annie has the cheese soup, which is good but not noteworthy. This is a tapas style restaurant. I wouldn't call it tapas in the traditional sense, but nevertheless small tasty plates. Each costs $11.99 and you can add sides for around $5. Annie gets the 6 oz filet cooked medium. It's good quality (not prime, but good) and cooked perfectly for a reasonable price. I next have the Shrimp Mozambique. There are four shrimp served over risotto with a beautiful looking reddish sauce. The risotto is good. It's cooked well and seasoned correctly. The shrimp are a bit overcooked. They aren't bad, but not great. The sauce which I was really looking forward too is surprisingly bland. I think if the chef would have let the sauce reduce for a while longer he would have achieved a much more complex flavor. Lastly, I order the Ahi Fan which is tuna crudo served with a wasabi sauce on the side with tomatoes and supposedly a citrus sauce. The tuna is fantastic quality, however because of the lack of acidity the tuna can't quite shine until I ask for some soy sauce to enhance the flavor. Once I got the soy added the dish was much better. Overall, this is a good restaurant and a great new addition to the area. I'm sure I'll be updating this review to four stars eventually once I sample more of the menu. Overall, it's a pretty good value as well. The total for all the food and a couple martinis' was around $60. I'll be back. read more

Cafe Notte - ahi fan - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This is one of the worst places I've been to in the city. We ordered the crab bruschetta as a starter, which tasted like canned tuna on dried toast. It stuck in our throats it was so dry, and completely lacked seasoning. The atmosphere was terrible - it's on a dumpy dirty street and the other patrons were incredibly off-putting. We paid for our drinks and appetizer and left to finish our dinner elsewhere. read more

Cafe Notte is an absolute gem! I live in downtown Chicago and I dine at some of the best restaurants in the city (Publican, NEXT, etc.) and Cafe Notte is right up there! Chef Eric is a culinary genius and his ability to highlight flavor nuances is extremely impressive. Anytime I visit my parents in Pittsburgh, we visit Cafe Notte multiple times. One of the best things I've ever eaten (from any restaurant) was Chef Eric's peanut butter and jelly foie gras. OMG, I still have dreams about that dish! His lemon and artichoke fritto misto is perfectly light and airy and the duck confit melts in your mouth without being overly fatty or heavy. Most of the time I order off the specials menu because the dishes are sophisticated and inventive, so I definitely recommend doing that. In the rare occasion I don't want anything on the specials menu, the tempura green beans and Vietnamese shrimp crepe are stellar apps and the eggplant parmesan is easily the best version I've ever eaten. I could go on and on, but really, there's no need - the food is killer and (bonus!) the portions are real-sized, not fine dining tiny. Score! As for ambiance, don't expect anything stuffy or formal. The relaxed and cozy atmosphere inside (twinkling ceiling lights, high top tables mixed with low tops, old wood bar, and fireplace) add to the charm, in my opinion. It's not overly modern or contemporary, but I love that. Sometimes fine food equates to a stuffy atmosphere, but Cafe Notte does not fall into this trap at all. I've gone in jeans and flip flops and I've gone in a cocktail dress and heels and have been comfortable either way. The service is incredible and everyone is so nice. Derek is usually our server and I continue to be impressed with his knowledge and memory - even though there can be months in between visits, he remembers dishes I ordered and my wine preference. Heck, I don't get that kind of attention at my local Starbucks even though I'm there every day! Angie, another server, is a sweetie and very attentive. It's also fun being there when they have live music - nothing like eating fine food in jeans listening to Bucky play James Taylor on the guitar! They have a big outdoor area too, but since they allow smoking out there, I've never eaten outside. It'd be nice if there were a smoke-free section outside, but I may be in the minority on that one. I think the prices are right on point - you certainly get a lot of amazing food for your money and I never leave hungry or unhappy. Even though I'm surrounded by delicious culinary choices in downtown Chicago, I keep going back to Cafe Notte and I miss it when I return to Chicago. I wonder if I can get on some kind of Cafe Notte peanut butter and jelly foie gras mailing list? read more

Love this place. Nice to have a decent restaurant just a few blocks from the house. The food is great, and the atmosphere surprisingly good considering its located in an old service station/motorcycle dealership. One thing to remember, the food is tapas style, so the portions are smaller than what you get in most eateries, which is fine by me since I think most places give you way too much food. Aside from the specials, all items are al a carte as well. read more

my friend and I decided to try this restaurant for the first time tonight after driving by it many times. i have never dined at a restaurant that treated people differently by the way there where dressed. upon entering my friend was basically yelled at to close the door, which we couldn't since a large party was in front of us. the hostess returned ignoring me standing right in front of her to only handle the couple behind us which thankfully they were part of group that had already been seated. People that came in knowing the owners or staff got so much more attention and received their food in a timely manner. we didn't have a reservation if they were busy and couldn't have seated us they should have told us. if you come to this establishment regularly or a friend of the owners your treated like gold but if not they could care less about your business. we waited a good amount of time just to order our food . we each got chicken parmesan, 2 soups with ice tea and a coke. it ended up costing $90 including tip which is outrageous for mediocre food and subpar service. Please do yourself a favor and steer clear of this place they are clearly not interested in your business unless someone knows you there!!! read more

3.5 stars. Bonus for them fitting us in on a busy Valentine's weekend. Small place, fireplace adds a nice ambiance. Bar seating for about 10 people. Cozy, but loud due to the size of the space. Generous wine list with bottles ranging from $20 and up. By the glass as well for acceptable prices. Tapas-style food. Scallops had 2 to the order. The mango salsa was tasty. Bread and oil (1 buck) was a nice touch as well. My shrimp Mozambique had 4 pieces. Sauce on the shrimp drizzled down to the risotto, and while the shrimp was good, the risotto was soaked. It was just too much liquid and overwhelmed the perfectly cooked base of the dish. Service was ok, but not over the top nice, but it was a holiday-ish evening, so I'll give a pass on that. I liked the place, and would give it a second chance. See facebook for their menu and daily specials. No website up and running yet--- weird. read more

I took a friend here for a birthday dinner recently. It's an interesting place. From the exterior, it doesn't look like there would be excellent food, but there is. The menu is very northern Italian, with apparently some Asian influence. I'm not sure if that's a recent trend with the chef, but this is my second time there and I stayed with the dishes they're known for (Northern Italian) We started off with the crab cake. Decent size and very little filler (I.e. panko or breadcrumbs) Taste was excellent. We also had the artisan cheese plate and the kalamata fillet. I enjoyed this one a lot. It has a red wine reduction drizzled on top of the rolled fillet mignon, goat cheese and kalamata olive. I ordered the Notte Burger for my entree. It was just a well done, very nice burger with quality cuts in there. It's fresh ground in house I was told. Overall, a very decent experience. I would definitely go back. read more

Excellent service and atmosphere. Thursday's with Bucky the music man are so much fun with friends or family. Go say hi to Angie while you're there read more

Last nite, 12/30/17 I attended a wedding anniversary party. This was my second time at this venue. Wether it's dinner for two or a party of 80, they know how to make you feel warm and welcome. The food is out of this world. The chef knows how to make the flavor's pop in every dish. Just an awesome place. read more

Finding a place that has something for everyone in my family isn't easy. When we do, the quality often varies greatly. Notte's menu slants to seafood, but my son had an amazing hamburger and my daughter chose pasta (also excellent). Salads were very good with a nice mix of greens. My diver scallops were cooked perfectly and the squid ink risotto was both intriguing and tasty. The wine list isn't huge, but it covers all tastes and the prices are reasonable. Prices are definitely reasonable for the selection - $144 for 5, with a bottle of wine. The owners and staff are incredibly attentive and friendly and there was a live jazz band. The only knock on Notte is the decor. The area we sat is used for private parties and is equipped to be easily cleared. Makes sense, but it's so at odds with the menu that it's a bit disorienting. I've never commented on decor, but it's very apparent at Notte and it's the only thing holding them back from being one of the area's best. I would still highly recommend Notte. The food, friendliness, prices and music make it well worth a visit read more

I know many people say the food is way to expensive at Cafe Notte, but honestly I cannot attest to that. I went in with the mindset to order the cheapest thing that would give me the most food for my money. And sure enough amidst the $35 seafood dishes there was $12 personal pizzas. The pizza was average, nothing special. But regardless the service was great and my visit proved that you can get plenty of good food at a decent price at Cafe Notte read more

Had dinner her a few weeks ago after driving past a thousand times. 2 words... Not impressed. I had the gnocchi and pork and my wife had the blackened salmon. My dish didn't have much flavor & the salmon was too well done and on the border of burnt vs. blackened. read more

Very welcoming! The second you walk in the owners greet you like they are best friends with you. Our waiter, Angie, was very warm. Gave us a tour of the whole place. I loved the stuffed banana peppers! And my boyfriend said the steak was great (he is a picky eater) Thanks for a great experience! read more

Wednesday night! Half price wine! Hewlett and Anderson entertaining! Our waiter, Michael was personable and efficient. The salmon and risotto was done to perfection. It got chilly, but not to worry, they offered a cozy blanket. Can't wait to go back read more

My husband and I have enjoyed several excellent meals at Café Norte. A great selection of entrées and desserts. Not to mention great atmosphere and excellent service. read more

This place has always had great atmosphere but on our last visit they added the key to restaurant survival- good food! And a friendly staff. It's now a place where we enjoy going more often. The salmon is done perfectly and "wine down Wednesdays" help defray the cost by offering half price bottles of decent wine. Hats off to the owners for making the menu changes. read more

Came in with my parents recently- yum yum yum!!! Instantly greeted by a friendly bartender and what seemed like the owner/manager. The small dining room is cozy and that night, there was a great guitar player. Atmosphere: A++ As far as the meal, I enjoyed my mixed green salad with salmon, although I felt the portion of fish was a bit on the small side, no worries...it was cooked well. My companions, however, had wonderful meals which I got to try. The scallops were awesome-perfectly seasoned. And the Crab cakes were fantastic! Better than the ones I have at the other fine-dining restaurant down the road. Portions are reasonable and presentation was thoughtful. Our server was fantastic! Anticipated our needs and really made our experiance great. Service is beginning to be a forgotten art, but this one got it right! Overall, wonderful meal-I will be back! :) read more

Food is excellent but attention to service leaves much to be desired. Ordered wine, tasted it and did not like but server never offered to take away or bring another bottle. Very awkward situation. Then the kitchen was backed up even with several empty tables.Clearly need to better calibrate the kitchen staff against the demand. Waited more than an hour for food and had to prompt the server to get our dinners. No apology, no offer of service recovery. Spoke to the managers/owners and they offered to deduct the wine (that we didn't drink) but expressed very little empathy or care. This is a nice spot, atmosphere, etc but need to dramatically ratchet up the service to become one of Pitt's top restaurants. Will not return for the foreseeable future. Many more attractive options. read more

I stopped mid week for dinner. Had the Pork Porterhouse, it was very good would order it again. I'll be stopping in again soon. read more

Great place! The owners were so friendly, accommodating and polite along with the waitress. The appetizers, food, drinks and desserts were excellent. Owner explained how they get their own type of coffee beans and their brewing method, GREAT coffee.....might be best in Pittsburgh. Will definitely recommend to others and go back soon. One of the best restaurant experiences we had in a long time with that family friendly experience!! read more

We had the most amazing dinner date last night. We started with the white sangria, such a smooth flavor. Our meal was he sea bass and stuffed chicken. The flavor of the sea bass lived up to my expectations! we finished our meal with lemon cello dessert and coffee, which was fresh, and perfect lemon flavor. Would highly reccomend! read more