Really good food. Quiet atmosphere not to loud or noisy. A hidden gem. Family owned and maintained. read more

My new favorite Italian restaurant in the Pittsburgh area. Chicken parmigiana, chicken Marsala were fantastic. Along with the salad,bread and pasta. The service was excellent Tracey was attentive and very pleasant. Also there was a lot great teamwork and everyone is very friendly.Love the ambiance. I believe this Will be our new go to place. Thanks for the great dinner experience. read more

Food is absolutely delicious ! Kudos to Michael he never puts out a bad meal ! Portion sizes are terrific also

When you find a restaurant that's been open for 70 years, you know they are doing something right. And they did not disappoint! I had the Veal Parmesan with Italian wedding soup and penne marinara. Laurie had the chicken Romano with a salad and mixed veggies. It was a wonderful meal in a restaurant with old world ambiance and style. We loved it! read more

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We were very pleased with the food. The service was excellent along with the decor. I had the veal marsala and my wife had linguine with white clam sauce. The bread was delicious. It was a wonderful 45th anniversary meal, too bad we had the whole place to ourselves. read more

Esta Esta Restaurant - Veal Marsala - Italian Near Me - Monroeville, Pennsylvania

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This place is weird.. They let you smoke at the bar. My cat has 100X the personality of the miserable bartender. I gave them a 2 because my beer is cold. I am NOT eating here!! All the floors are carpet.. read more

Great food. Nostalgia all over. Takes you back to the 60's. Fast service going back Saturday night cannot wait

The best Lasagna and chicken romano in town ! Fantastic ! The service was excellent too !

Been a long time, kind of dreary inside, food was ok but not great. I would consider retrying it again to see if it improved.

Update- we have been regulars since my last review with our latest visit tonight with two of our friends. What a wonderful evening. Esta Esta does not disappoint. The restaurant was almost completely full and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Our server "B" was great and the food was fantastic as usual. If you are a fan of Chicken Romano, you must try Michael's.It is the BEST I have ever had and Iwill have it no where else but there. Fried zucchini, gnocchi, stuffed banana peppers, linguini with clam sauce, cake, cheesecake, pecan balls, Irish Coffee, wine... all delicious! Try their espresso martini.. to die for! read more

Came in to get takeout. I was always confused as to whether this place was closed or not, and I'm glad to say they are not. The food was pretty decent overall. I tried out their eggplant parmigiana, wedding soup, and cannoli. The eggplant park was a bit on the expensive side for the portion. However, it was pretty tasty. They do add a ton of cheese on top, so it's kind of overpowering. The eggplant itself wasn't too soggy and had a pretty good texture. Overall, not a bad dish, but nothing crazy. They also included free complimentary bread with it which is always nice. The wedding soup was also pretty good. It came as a side to the eggplant parm. Good amount of meat, and quite flavorful. This would be nice on a winter day. The cannoli was probably my favorite part of the meal. It was one large cannoli, which makes it hard to share (and it's a bit expensive to be just for one person, so eating it is a bit awkward). But, the creamy inside is very tasty, and they made sure the outside stays crispy. All in all, I enjoyed this place. It was good, but nothing outstanding. Pretty solid Italian food for the area. read more

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Awesome food and service we are never disappointed with a visit to the Esta Esta. Some favorites are the banana peppers, linguine with meatball and chicken Marsala. Plenty of space in a comfortable environment adds to a great fine dining experience. read more

My parents had their rehearsal dinner here 3 decades ago so when they were in town I decided to take them for their anniversary. They said it was as good as they remembered and for my first experience I couldn't have been happier. We had a bottle of wine, an appetizer, two entrees and two cannolis between the three of us. The fried zucchini was thinly sliced and fried perfectly and complemented by the marinara. The chicken Marsala and chicken Parmesan were both tender and beautifully seasoned. The sauce on the Marsala was particularly delicious! My dad enjoyed the cannoli and pretty much crushed them by himself! To top it off everyone on the staff was lovely, personable and helpful! It was a nice, quiet intimate environment to have a family dinner! This will become a staple for us when they're visiting! read more

The Esta Esta's food is second to none. Everything I have ever eaten there is outstanding. My particular favorite is the Chicken Marsala, which is the best I have ever eaten, and I eat out a lot! The prices are fair, and the portions are generous with extras like soup or salad, bread and side dish included in the price. The service is always excellent. The decor is old, but I like that it takes me back in time. I eat at a lot of restaurants in all price ranges, but this is definitely my favorite! read more

If you want authentic Italian cuisine this is the place. Our appetizer was a large Bruschetta. For the main course my wife had fettuccine Alfredo with chicken & I had the veal parm. Delicious meals with very large portions provided leftovers for lunch or dinner tomorrow. Our desserts were a Hot Fudge Pecan Ball & a Cannoli. We did eat all of the desserts and were comfortably full. The service was excellent with no hovering and the staff very friendly. The interior is dated but complemented the ambiance. We had an excellent date with plenty of conversation and no distractions. If you want to enjoy an excellent meal with your family & friends, without the intrusion & noise of cellphones & TV's, we highly recommend Esta Esta. read more

The lasagna was a little salty but the fried cheese was just right. The chicken Marsala was a great choice with a wonderful presentation and tasted equally delicious. The salads were so fresh with a great honey mustard dressing. The service was excellent with friendly and attentive server. Always a smile and wasn't intrusive. The restaurant is dated but clean and inviting. Be aware that there is a 4% up charge for using your credit card. The prices are reasonable and the drinks are good. Overall our first experience was good. read more

Way over priced for what you get. They took a chicken breast cut it horizontally in three and gave you two of the slices at an outrageous price. So thin you could almost see through it. The bread was stale and the Italian soup was NOT good at all...way to much salt. I will never recommend this "restaurant" because it is not one. read more

Place was great ambiance was very retro def seems like ur stepping back into the 70/80s... food was excellent had the chicken parm and the chicken was juicy and moist and most excellent and there was something about it it wasn't overly breaded where it was too dry or super crunchy and it had a nice garlic-y taste to it. Pasta was good and the chicken and cheesy tortellini soup was excellent... have seen this restaraunt since i was a child and I've passed it since i was a teenager... never went till today and i enjoyed myself can't wait to go again read more

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Food was about $25 per person, entree comes with a sad salad and small bowl of pasta. I got the chicken romano, it was soggy and it was the thinnest chicken breast i've ever seen, especially for the price. I know it's a small business, but the quality of the food cannot justify the expensive bill. The ambiance was also very strange like I was at a funeral viewing. You can get a better meal for the money at so many other places. read more

This is certainly an interesting place. It is caught in a time warp. When you walk in, you are definitely transported back about 40 years. Aside from the dated decor, there is definitely a smell of stale cigarette smoke Covid has reduced their menu offerings, but the staple old school Italian favorites are there. We decided against an appetizer because entrees came with either soup or salad. I was really disappointed with the soup. It felt greasy and heavy. The entrees were typical old school Italian. Big portions and standard flavor. Definitely enough for leftovers the next day. The hi light of the meal was the meatballs. I typically don't even like meatballs but these were incredible. Full of flavor and juicy. I'd go back just for the meatballs. Overall an ok experience read more

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We had takeout last weekend and the food was amazing! I had the special Virginia Spots they were amazing! My other family members had the chicken parmigiana and loved it! The sides were also very good. Normally we would go to the restaurant but decided to get takeout and we were very happy!! read more

Excellent service and food. The place is a bit dated but very clean and comfortable . I would highly recommend

Servers very knowledgeable. Met the hubby there 30 years ago when I worked there. Had the shrimp barsac and Michael makes the best!!

Ate here for Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey and ham were the consistency of warm lunch meat. The stuffing was extremely salty and the deserts appeared to be bought from a grocery store (ie cookies & cupcakes from Walmart). My husband got a severe stomach ache after eating (and I hardly ate the food b/c it looked and tasted like a frozen microwaveable meal). They included 20% gratuity for a buffet - our waitress removed our plates and that was her only service (water was in a bottle on the table prior to our seating). This was the worst meal Ive ever eaten, and the cost was insane. McDonald's has better food! read more

Having a nice conversation with the owner while watching football. He said I'm a chiefs fan. I said I'm a Taylor Swift fan. We had a good conversation about her bringing in new fans and her accomplishment from her tour. The bartender felt the need to run over to him and whisper that she endorsed Kamala Harris. Mispronouncing her name on purpose of course. He said oh yeah. But let's not talk politics. The thing is, we weren't. It was just an innocent conversation yet she felt the need to bring the hate. Such a shame. My husband tipped her because I certainly wasn't going to. She ruined our meal instead of letting it go. Never once did we talk politics. I never even mentioned her fake ass spider eyelashes . Even tho they were terrible. The food was great, and the owner is very nice. Spider lady, learn what a whisper really is. read more

Wonderful food. Old school atmosphere. Sat in the lounge had a cocktail, chicken marasala for dinner, and topped it off with a delicious canoli. The lounge allows smoking but no one was during my stay. Great food, great service--highly recommend read more

Dined this evening at Esta Esta with two friends and had a very good friendly waitress and the food was excellent. Don't let the outside fool you. The lot was empty but food is authentic and very good. We had chicken parm, lasagna and veal parm. Try the green goddess dressing on your salad. Very tasty read more

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Living here drive by this place daily pretty much. Looking over restaurants we finally after 6+ years decided to go there. Place looked empty but what on Halloween didn't look empty last night. Upon entering the smell of fresh cooking tomato sauce and garlic greeted us. Greeted immediately when walking in with no wait for a table. I'd say while we were there we saw maybe 4 different groups or couples come in. Everything was super fast outside of the main food coming. That is not a bad thing. You could tell that everything that was being brought out was very freshly made. I got the veal parm which was very well made. I am not a wedding soup fan and I have to say I even enjoyed that soup here. All of the portions were very generous. It's not the cheapest place but it's not the most expensive Italian restaurant I've been to. Italian food here is hit or miss. How that is possible amazes me in a city area that has a lot of people who claim to be Italian. The desert was one of my favorite things. The portion was insane to the cue of they need to mark it is for two people. I never get desert. Like pretty much ever. This I was glad I did here. The gelato portion to me was the cost of the desert. One thing about this place that to me set it out from other Italian restaurants in the area. It feels like something Tony Soprano would be eating at. It has that old world 70's charm to it. Everyone in there eating seemed to have that feel to. The chef coming out added to that mix. This isn't one of those places that young people will flock to. It's not different enough. For people who want good classic Italian food.... this is the spot. Don't Fo'get about it! read more

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If I could give this place a 0 I would have. Absolutely disgusting. You walk in and it smells like cigarettes. Extremely outdated thick red carpeting everywhere. I got the chicken fettuccine alfredo, and the whole dish smelled like raw chicken that had been microwaved. I couldn't even eat it. It came with wedding soup which was literally just spinach in an extremely salty broth. Was there with 4 other people and no one enjoyed their food even the slightest. We also got drinks that tasted like the bartender just mixed every kind of alcohol they had together. I have no idea how this place has 4 stars. Save your money, go somewhere else. read more

Esta Esta Restaurant - Alfredo with chicken - Italian Near Me - Monroeville, Pennsylvania

Old Italian ambience with really good food. I e never been disappointed. The staff are friendly and we have always had good service there.

I shall begin with the simple statement, I'll be eating there again. Sure, you step back into time with the decor and you're thinking, this is either going to be delicious or it once was delicious and here's hoping it doesn't majorly disappoint. To give you some background on my taste testing skills, I am from North Jersey where even if you're not Italian you know how to eat and critique like you're from the old country. This food was delicious! We had the zucchini, which seems to be a staple in western PA, and by that I mean you can get it everywhere and of the numerous places I've had it, this was one of the BEST. The breading isn't too much and remains crispy. There were no photos taken as we at it so fast and I simply forgot, truthfully, we debated ordering another but held back... as someone in the our party said dessert! Okay, back to the food. We ordered the veal parm, gnocchi, & the Surf and Turf, each one of us was happy and couldn't believe we hadn't eaten here before. Let's talk about my meal, as it's the only one I can speak of intelligently. The veal that still was crispy underneath the flavorful red sauce (or gravy as some say...). Even the baked potato was done to perfection. Honestly writing this less than 12 hours later, I'm hungry and want some more right now. Don't let the outside or decor fool you or deter you. The food is on point. Oh, let us not forget the coconut cake, it was tasty, moist and just enough coconut flavor for our liking (also no pictures as we ate it within seconds. Clearly we need to work on these issues, but that's for another day). In summary, try this place. read more

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Looks can be deceiving! This place looks like a dive but this place has always been a relaxing place for my husband and I. It's "our" spot. Whenever we need a nicer than normal dinner or just want a quiet ambience, this is where we come. We had our engagement dinner with our families and enjoy celebratingour personal successes here. The food in the dining room is wonderful. I can't say we have ever been in the bar part. The gnocchi is my favorite. I enjoyed it so much that I forgot to photograph it. Will update on next vist. read more

Esta Esta Restaurant - Looks can be deceiving! Quiet and intimate evening experience. - Italian Near Me - Monroeville, Pennsylvania

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This is a wonderful restaurant and a true treasure if you love Italian food lovingly made and respectfully served. Two generations of the Marie family stand behind every dish, and owner/chef Mike is superb. I've eaten at restaurants all over the world and this is one of my absolute favorites. 50s Vegas vibe and music. Friendly service and a great time are givens. Just a superb place to eat. read more

I was searching for an " old world" Italian place that wasn't just pizza and pasta. This place fills the bill. I ordered a dirty martini on the rocks... 3 standard pimento olives... chicken marsala with the house salad and veg da jour and was not disappointed. The interior is a bit tired and dated, but otherwise, I'd highly recommend it. My server, Kat, was friendly and knowledgeable. read more

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All I could smell was the dirty rug! The food was terrible, can't even remember what we had, that's how bad it was!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!! I am very impressed with Esta Esta. Definitely one of a kind type of place. The only reason I found this place is because I met a police officer at sheets gas station at 2AM lol. He said that this is his favorite place and he couldn't stop bragging about it. A few days later... and here I am. They have 2 separate rooms/areas. The first room is a full bar with chairs and tables all around. It is a smoking section with multiple TVs around it and the lights are dimmed and had a great relaxing vibe. The second section is a big room with a bunch of tables with it's a very romantic setting. I sat at the bar to eat just to be entertained. This place is very authentic Italian restaurant and the customers are mostly Italian themselves. Now time for the food! The food was very good (especially the clam chowder,wings, and eggplant parmesan) . The pizza wasn't too bad but I've definitely had better. Overall the food was great. Another thing I really appreciate was the customer service. The lady at the bar was very nice and helpful. They open at 4 PM and we got here at 4:30 but by the time we left at around 6 it was pretty busy, especially for a Thursday night. Thank you guys very much I appreciate the food and service :) read more

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From start to finish, everything about this experience was terrible. If you're considering this restaurant, do yourself a massive favor and drive up the hill to The Wooden Nickel instead. You'll pay the same amount of money and get great food and great service. You'll get neither at Esta Esta. It was shockingly bad. I truly don't understand how they're still in business. read more

I asked for the most expensive item on the menu to be Gluten Free, no bread, no wheat... And ordered accordingly. I asked for the surf and turf gluten free, came with a side salad (gluten free) asked for no croutons. No crouton were present. It came with a garlic bread under the entire steak. Our server came to check on our meal after we've had our food, for a considerable amount of time. But I was still working on the surf before I got to the turf. When I cut into the steak, I realized there was a large piece of garlic bread undea the filet steak. I had to cut the bottom of my filet off to avoid cross contamination. I offered my bread to others in my family and refused to eat the steak. When I confronted the server about the bread and asked if it was fair to be charged full price ($60.00) for a menu item that was prepared incorrectly, she talked to the manager that agreed to take off $4.00 dollars!!!for an allergy!! Are you kidding me??? Then the manager never came to our table. I 10/10 do NOT recommend this restaurant! read more

This was a first-time take-out visit. I had never had the food at this place before but had passed it many times as I live in the neighborhood. Somebody I know had recently given it rave reviews and I decided to try something new tonight. I had the veal parm. with wedding soup and a side of penne marinara. The portion size for the entree was generous, as was the side of pasta. I wish there had been a slightly bigger portion size on the wedding soup. My only criticism was that the veal was pounded extremely thin, even for a cutlet. There was also something a little "not my style" with the red sauce on both the veal and the pasta. When I took the containers out of the take-out bag, I immediately smelled green pepper and was curious about that aroma. But the sauce to me tasted either over-cooked (if it was fresh tomatoes) or under-cooked (if canned). It could've benefitted from the pop of some fresh herbs, a splash of wine, or something to brighten it up. I thought the sauce (same sauce as the veal) on the pasta maybe had a little too much onion and was a touch on the greasy side. The sauce by no means was offensive, I ate the entire entree in one sitting, but I just wish there was more freshness and brightness to it. I am saving the pasta and the wedding soup for later. I did try the broth of the wedding soup - there was definitely something distinctive in a pleasant way about the broth, and I am looking forward to the soup later. I think I would've appreciated a second side such as the opportunity for a fresh vegetable, rice, risotto, etc. Typically in places that I have frequented of this type, a soup/salad, entree, and two sides are the norm. But again, not a deal killer. I would have liked butter to have been included since I did receive about a quarter of a loaf of sliced bread. I found the staff on the telephone and the individual who greeted me at the restaurant itself were pleasant and helpful. I do agree with others that the decor is a little iffy, so not sure if I would be a dine-in person or not. I do wish that the menu was a little more descriptive. Even though it seems from reading other reviews that the menu has been trimmed due to Covid, there were some menu items that I did not recognize which would have benefitted from a description (Shrimp Barsac). But short, brief descriptions of the dishes I think are essential. Overall, it was a nice take-out meal. I don't know how frequently I will return, but I am sure I will be back so long as I live in the neighborhood. read more

I was a little hesitant upon eating here from the way it looked on the outside. But inside was beautiful. The staff was friendly. The food was superb. Definitely coming back here. read more