So this location was only about a 10 minute walk from our hotel and we are so glad that we checked it 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. read more

See all

Very, very good Italian spot near Walnut Street, very close by all the top shops. The ambiance is very 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! read more

See all

We went here for dinner and they have two pairs of outdoor seatings that are dog friendly. The downside is there are only 2 tables and this place is pretty popular so many times we walked by and they didn't have a table available. The food was delicious. We are very happy with what we ordered. They serve bread with vinegar and oil. Our entry comes with house salad and I have to say their house salad is pretty good. The Linguine Rustic is my favorite. read more

See all

The food was delicious. The staff responded to our every need. The deserts were delicious. It is my happy place for delicious food.

So great! Our server Paul was extremely kind, knowledgeable, and inviting. The owner and his son as well were great, making sure we felt comfortable. The food and drinks were amazing, the mussels and the house salad stood out. Noisy inside, but a little quieter outside. A small establishment, but well worth it. Highly recommend for a date night or for small parties. read more

See all

Fantastic!!! We stopped here for lunch on a Saturday and had no trouble getting a table. The pasta was fantastic of course - but the star of the show was the house salad!! Hugo spritz was great too. Everything was fantastic and I can't wait to go back! read more

Girasole Restaurant - Linguini rustic - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I loved it here so much! I thought of about 6 different people I want to take back. My husbands pumpkin ravioli in creamy sage sauce was soo good!! They were kind to my 7 year old and he loved the little oil dispenser with the bread service. He also loved the chocolate cake which we brought home for dessert. It was a bit pricey so perfect for special occasions. The owners were a table behind us and everyone seemed to know them. They were so kind also. Its a really small space and even late afternoon they were able to sit us with no wait. read more

We went to Girasole for dinner last night and while there was a bit of a wait because the inside is tiny and cozy, it was absolutely worth it! We got the escarole with beans and sausage to share and the flavor was so good that I may have eaten more than my fair share. The house soup (which was cream of broccoli yesterday but it changes) was piping hot and perfect for yesterday's weather. The pasta dishes we got were simple yet very well done. My orecchiette had a bit of a kick to it which I loved. We randomly got live music and being serenaded added to the ambiance. Of course we needed to end the meal with a sweet treat and if you love lemon then the lemon cake here is an absolute must! One thing to note that when you show up, you give your name to an older gentleman (I forgot his name but he's most likely wandering around with a glass of wine) and he coordinates things to get you a table. Your entire party must be there and there's no waitlist. I will emphasize again that it is tiny in there so personally I wouldn't go with a group of bigger than four people unless you go at a very off time and they're empty and not busy. read more

See all

I found the food and the atmosphere to be absolutely phenomenal. I did feel the service was lacking at times and wasn't quite sure why or what was exactly going on. The pasta and the in house made dessert were also terrific. I'd love to try more dishes here. read more

Girasole Restaurant - Street sign - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Girasole is the spot for Italian food in pittsburgh. I had to come for their final week of having the squid ink lobster linguine before they rotate their menu to more fall style dishes. Can't wait for my next visit! read more

See all

A great cozy neighborhood Italian spot that has solid American Italian food. It's a true family joint, and the portions are hearty (prices are moderate). They have rotating seasonal menus. Also, they have a nice BYOB that is $15 per head, but their wine menu is also great. Love this spot! read more

Girasole Restaurant - Antipasto - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

Once again back at this spot and once again good as ever. The love and care the owner puts into this place never goes unnoticed while enjoying live music over homemade pasta! Thanks for existing the same time as my little Italian heart! read more

See all

Was excited to try but not happy that I did. Lobster pasta dish had a fishy taste Pene marinara with chicken tasted just okay. Would not recommend coming here if expecting delicious food, but would recommend if decent service and huge portions are all that you look for. read more

This has been on my list for a while now and so glad I got to go. There's no reservations so I was worried we'd have to wait a while but we were immediately sat down at a seat outside. The vibes take me back to a family run restaurant in Italy. The owner is checking in on everyone with a glass of wine in hand. The burrata was amazing, so fresh and loved the charred corn it came with. Literally ate every morsel off the plate. The linguine rustic was light and simple and the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. The portions are big. The cocktail list was small but the Italian man, Girasole Cosmo and Aperol spritz were delicious. This place is perfect for a warm summer night. read more

See all

This place is fantastic. Their pasta fagioli is the BEST! I loved the mezze rigatoni (bolognese). My Aperol spritz was delicious. Their tiramisu is the best I've ever had! I will have to be back. Such a cute and cozy Italian place. A famous local spot too. Service is excellent, and the owner sometimes sits down with his friends to chat. All great vibes! read more

My wife and I and another couple were lucky enough to snag the last table on a Saturday night at Girasole. This place is old school Italian. Great menu, excellent pasta, top quality ingredients. The owner, Pie, was genially walking around the place. A number of guests seemed to know him. It's a small place, warm and friendly, with a family feel. read more

Girasole is definitely a top 5 in Pittsburgh. The atmosphere, food, and staff is outstanding. The live music just added to the ambiance even more! It was my birthday dinner and I was even sang to:) The space is small but everyone in there was so kind. I felt like I was an Italy for a night! We will definitely be back. read more

See all

What an amazing place! The atmosphere is so authentic and warm - the restaurant owner personally greats you at the entrance. Food was impeccable, true Italian cousine. Italian Wedding soup was the best I have tried in US. Great customer service, really enjoyed this restaurant. Highly recommend!! read more

Service was excellent!! One of the most authentic Italian restaurants in Pittsburgh located right in the heart of Shadyside. Everything was delicious! The Caesar salad had walnuts on it which I thought was a nice twist to a traditional Caesar salad. The mussels in spicy red sauce and ravioli were excellent. The whole atmosphere of the restaurant felt very traditional. The tables are very close together they definitely squeeze you in the there but it adds to the ambiance of the restaurant. They even had a customer do an Acapella performance of My Way and it was excellent. I felt like I was back in Italy! I cannot recommend this place enough. read more

See all

Every now and then, if you're lucky, you have a magical night. Tonight was one of those. We were warmly welcomed into this tiny family restaurant like family. We felt immediately comfortable. The service, cocktails (Hugo spritz) and food were excellent. The salad, pasta ( meatballs, gnocchi and linguine with clams) and dessert ( lemon and coconut cakes) all tastes like they were made from scratch from old family recipes. The restaurant had a singer that night and he was so fun and engaging. Several times, it felt like the entire restaurant was engaging in one big sing a long. So much fun! Plan to go when there is a singer and sit inside so you don't miss out on all the fun. This place is a hidden gem. read more

If you love a perfected small menu, cozy dinner, this place is for you! The owner greats you when you walk in, and for a Tuesday night, it was packed! Highly recommend getting there around 6 before the big dinner crowd comes around, as they currently aren't taking reservations! They have a guitarist Tues-Thurs nights and it was so fun! We ended up staying til close, chatting with the owner and singing along to the music. Food was delicious and vibes are 10/10! read more

Girasole Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Wow. This place was delicious. This is my first time visiting Pittsburgh, and the first restaurant I ate at. What a great culinary introduction to the city. I ordered the spinach ravioli and it was so yummy. The service was very welcoming, and there was live music performances. Would recommend this place for both locals and travelers. read more

Girasole takes Italian hospitality to the nth degree. The staff, the ambiance, the food just feels and tastes like home. We started with the Brachetto wine and it was sooo delish. Sweet, bubbly, fun. Next up was the wedding soup. Oooof I slurped up that soup so fast. It was so yummy. Great for dipping their yummy bread into too. My main was the tortelloni. The cream sauce was soo good. Really creamy and sweet. The prosciutto added the perfect savory touch to the buttery soft noodles. While peas aren't my favorite, I'd eat just about anything in that sauce. Everything was lovely and #GOUDapproved TORTELLONI Light cream, peas. prosciutto $25 (comes with soup or salad) Brachetto Glass $15 read more

See all

Still love this place but please please tell the kitchen staff to turn their music down. I love a good rap or hip hop song but doesn't go with the Italian music they are playing in the restaurant. We were hearing two vibes at once. Especially when you're seated close to the kitchen. The waitress asked them to turn it down and they did, but then they turned it right back up. read more

We've been coming to Girasole's for years. Can't t imagine how I haven't reviewed it. The food is always solid. The pasta fresh and sauces interesting, though right now, I'm not wild about their "summer menu." The burrata with roasted corn is a good app, but the pastas are kind of uninspired. It's a bunch of penne (not my fave) and you add a protein topping with either marinara or meat sauce (not sure how that says "summer"); linguine with clam sauce & spinach (pretty tasty); and a lukewarm spinach spaghetti w/ tomatoes, corn, & mozz (this one actually says "summer"!), and a couple other options, gnocchi & red sauce, lobster & squid ink pasta. The place is tiny - cave-like with stone walls. Nice ambiance most of the time. No reservations anymore - so you really can end up waiting for a bit. But - walk around the Shadyside shops. No biggie! **BUT** - in summer, be warned, the place can be an OVEN inside. I'm talking - sweating while you eat. There are a few outside tables - if the sun has gone down, that's a good option. I used to find the owner, Jimmy, charming. He'd greet you and really make a show of it. But these days, not so much. I recently got takeout, and he was so rude to a young server, I was embarrassed for her and almost said something to defend the poor young woman. Anyway, it's not the best Italian the city has to offer, but we always have a solid meal when we dine here. We'll be back, although with a bit more trepidation & hoping the other night was just a fluke. read more

Girasole is a really fun experience -- if you can get a table. I've gone 3 times (only 2 successfully). The first was in the summer and we sat outside on their patio area. We waited about 20 minutes before getting seated. It was lovely and service was really great. I enjoyed the squid ink pasta (4/5)! The second time I went on a Thursday and sat inside. My friends and I got lucky - we were able to walk right in, no wait!! I didn't know they had live music but it was amazing and I really enjoyed it! People were singing and dancing, the vibes were incredible. I had the ravioli (3.5/5). I will say, I found the tables to be a bit cramped inside so I would have preferred to sit outside like I did the first time. The third time I went, I brought my family for my mom's birthday. After my last visit there, I really wanted her to experience the awesome ambiance to celebrate her birthday. It was a Wednesday night and they don't take reservations. I wasn't overly worried given it was a weekday and assumed maybe there would be a short wait. We were told 20 mins however over an hour later it didn't seem like there would be a table coming up anytime soon. Another group of 4 was waiting for over an hour like us, and they were told a 15 min wait. The restaurant didn't have much of a system for how they took names. It was very haphazard. There was a group that came 30 mins after we did, seemed to know the owner and got seated before the long line of people waiting outside. With a line as long as there was, I understand using connections to get in but it felt pretty unfair to the crowd of us who had been waiting. I noticed that multiple tables would pay their bill and then just sit around at their table for a long time afterwards. I can see how this can be tricky for the restaurant to anticipate how long it would take for a table to get free. After about 80 mins of waiting we decided to go and drive to a different restaurant so that at least we could get my mom's birthday dinner somewhere by the end of the night (it was nearing 8:30pm and Girasole closes at 9pm - it was a long shot to get seated and actually have enough time to eat at that point). read more

Great restaurateur Jimmy has this little gem, a local favorite, dishing out awesome Italian food.

This was such a lovely experience, I try to be a bit discerning with what I give a 5 star rating and Girasole absolutely earned it. This is a cute restaurant in a walkable, fun neighborhood. It's tucked in a lower level and I almost missed it from the street, and parking can be challenging. When we arrived we were warmly greeted and ushered into our seats. This is a small space, it does add to the cozy vibe but the only downside to my dining experience was it was bit overwhelming being seated at a table that was pulled out partially into the walk way to make a 4 top into 2 2 tops. But literally everything else was perfect. The menu is short and sweet, nothing over the top with a long list of ingredients. Basic dishes with simple, high-quality ingredients. You wouldn't expect spinach and ricotta ravioli in a simple cream red sauce to be earth-shattering but it really was. Every flavor was so well-balanced, the texture was perfect. I generally don't care for red sauce but this sauce was so good I ate the leftovers with bread. The bread? Also delicious. They even gave us extra when my kid asked (more like demanded, we're working on it) for more. The soup was delicious, I made sure to finish every drop. My kid got penne marinara, I did note that there wasn't a kids menu listed and just figured I'd eat his leftovers for lunch but I was asked if I wanted a kids portion. So that's good to know for any parents who might be looking to come here with the whole family. The staff was very nice. They were very busy but my iced tea stayed full and service was prompt. I'm not local to Pittsburgh but I will most definitely be back and will recommend Girasole to anyone I know who will be in the area. read more

Girasole Restaurant - Spinach and ricotta ravioli - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

See all

We went for Valentine's Day and boy did they knock it out of the park. Crazy busy as you would expect but we were able to leave our name and number. It was probably a 2 hour wait but well worth it. When we arrived the family and staff made our day by being so friendly and fun. The food and wine were great. Pie gave us Biscotti to take home. read more

Girasole Restaurant - Always fun with Pie - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We've been enjoying Girasole's since its beginning 25 years ago! Its excellence has not faltered one bit! We love the staff and yes Jimmy Pie and Vinny bring the show to you! Sophia Loren lines the walls as their first love! It's trendy noisy close together seating but you won't hear a word the table beside you is saying because of the fun-loving noise level of neighborhood and family vibe and the delish menu from apps to dessert! Resers are smart but as we saw Saturday night the line continues all night for welcome walk-ins! Wedding soup. Salad. Salmon. Pumpkin sage raviolis (fall menu delight). Warm Bread pudding with a birthday candle will not disappoint! Wine and martinis a must! Leftovers for sure as you walk out the door! Special thx to our fabulous server Ashley and Vinny and j. Pie making it so special and fun! See you again soon! Thank you! And thank you to Sophia for being ever-present! read more

Horrible horrible service and conduct. I made a reservation for Mother's Day at 5:30pm. I show up and guess what?.... The old timer who was hosting greets me as I explained to him my name and 5:30pm reservation. He looks at me and goes, this group in front of you and this group and this group and shows me four different families. I said, I have a 5:30pm reservation... do they? He responded with, "what you want a me to do? It's a Mother's Day?" Ohhhh I don't know, maybe honor the reservation I made a week before? Maybe tell me over the phone you aren't doing Mother's Day reservations? We left and went somewhere else that has more integrity and honor in their behavior! read more

Girasole has such a special place in my heart. I lived so close by and I'm upset I only went once because the vibe is fantastic! If you go on the right day they have live music performed by the most adorable Italian family members. Their performances are just incredible and really liven up the whole restaurant -- it's hard not to have a good time. Everyone was clapping along and smiling while they were singing and it's so wholesome! That in itself earns this place 5 stars. The food itself tastes very fresh and homemade. I got the gnocchi with meatballs, which is served in a red sauce. It was really tasty and texture of the gnocchi was on point. Comes with a side salad, and portions are honestly pretty big which is so rare for Italian restaurants these days! There's always a huge wait especially on live music days, so just be prepared for a line out the door. However, once you're inside, you're treated like family :) One of my favorite dining experiences ever. read more

Girasole Restaurant - gnocchi with meatballs - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Wow! What great food and service! I wandered in after shopping one very cold afternoon. I had a bowl of mushroom soup that I will spend the rest of my days trying to recreate. So yummy, and perfect on an icy afternoon. Wonderful bread and wine, too! The list of homemade desserts goes on and on. I finally settled on the coconut cake - heavenly. I am going back tonight! read more

See all

I went to Girasole on a Wednesday night and they were very busy! The do not take reservations, but luckily they had a table for us in the very back right by the kitchen. We were greeted by the famous Jimmy Pi who had his iconic glass of wine in his hand. IYKYK. We ordered the burrata, potato gnocchi, and penne marinara. The burrata was extremely delicious. Some of the best burrata I have ever had! The charred corn & heirloom tomato salad that accompanied it was amazing; I couldn't get enough. My gnocchi was pretty good. My boyfriend got the penne and there was not a bite left. The vibe is definitely old school, casual Italian restaurant, which was cool to see because we really don't go to places like this that often. There was live music, people were dancing, it was just a fun vibe. read more

Met some friends at Girasole on a Saturday evening. You cannot make reservations, so we just had to chance it. We had to wait about 45 minutes (we got there around 6), so the wait wasn't terrible. The place itself is very small and very warm inside (in the summer). We were able to sit right outside the restaurant under a covered porch. We started with the greens and beans, which were delicious. I ordered the spinach spaghetti (which is served at room temp), and my friends each ordered the penne marinara with meatballs and the linguine rustic. All of our food was delicious and you can tell it's made from the heart. I'm glad I had to chance to try this out place! read more

See all

This was such a lovely place. I came here with girlfriend and we both love it here. We started off with cabernet and complimentary bread and there's olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the table for you to create your own dipping sauce. Enreeea come with salad or soup. I got tjw weddimg soup and it was so good. In attition to meatballs, there was shredded chicken breast and egg in it. She got a salad and had shrimp added to it. We both got the rustic clam linguine and it was absolutely delicious. Noodles were al dente. No left overs for me! Finished our meal with house-made tirimisu that came with a side of fresh blueberries and strawberries and whipped cream. Service was on point! We have added this to one of our go-to spots next time I come back to visit Pittsburgh. read more

Being Italian and never eating Italian food out, I give this a 10+ rating. The waiter Paul was fantastic! The food was better than my family makes! The atmosphere was perfect and the music was great. I came up from Florida at the recommendation of my colleague and will definitely come back! Thanks Jimmy for a wonderful lunch. Next time we will share a glass of vino together. read more

See all

BEWARE THE WOMAN IN GLASSES AT THE FRONT DOOR. BEYOND UNACCEPTABLE. I have been going to Girasole for years and am beyond disappointed with our recent attempted dining experience. I arrived with our party last night (Saturday) after calling ahead earlier in the week (Tuesday) to reserve a table. Upon our arrival we were told our table was not ready, not an issue to have to wait since we were a larger party and we are accustomed to a little wait due to their limited capacity and it is always worth the wait. Where you lost me for life is when I checked back in with the woman at the front door 30 minutes later and she proceeded to curse me out in front of several other guest that were also waiting for their table. I was told, and I quote: "What the fuck would you like me to do, you can clearly see we are very busy and I can't just tell people to get the fuck up and leave so I can seat you and your friends". If you can not honor reservations then you should tell people that when they call five days in advance. You should be mortified by the behavior of the woman you had running your door 11/15/2025. Myself and all Other parties waiting instantly turned around and went elsewhere. Appalling disgusting behavior and a shame to lose this as one of our go to places. NEVER AGAIN! read more

I think about this pasta every night when I get hungry. Not only is the food here good, but the environment, energy and ambiance was amazing as well. I went here for my 21st and I picked a good place to celebrate! Not only did I get some good drinks, but their live music performer sang me happy birthday, along with the rest of the restaurant! Would 100% recommend if you're looking for a nice dinner place. read more

Girasole Restaurant - Potato Gnocchi, Penne Marinara - Italian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Wonderfull service and amazing food! You are greeted at the door immediately. Intimate setting, warm friendly atmosphere, food is great from the bread to the salad & simple main courses packed with flavor. read more