Best Dish: Vallozzi's

Written by Briana Bindus

The Vallozzi’s family restaurant legacy started in 1955 when their relative, Helen Vallozzi, started making gnocchi in her basement. She wanted to share her love for food with the world, eventually opening three restaurants – one of which is (luckily) located in downtown Pittsburgh.

Vallozzi’s Pittsburgh restaurant offers a range of fine dining options, from burrata antipasti to risotto with lobster, while also maintaining aspects of a friendly family restaurant. There’s pizza options on the menu, as well as classic chicken parmesan for those who like to stick with what they know.

With something for all flavor palettes, our staff decided to try the rigatoni alla vodka, which is featured on both the lunch and dinner menus. The dish includes simmered cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, greens as well as handmade rigatoni pasta and a vodka sauce. The classic combination of flavors is upscaled at Vallozzi’s, making it a dish to never forget. 

Executive Chef Robert Nettleship curated the lunch and dinner menus. There are some slight differences, with the dinner menu being more antipasti options (including octopus) and a larger selection of “carne e pesce” options. The lunch menu offers classic sandwiches, such as an italian panini, as well as a few more salad options. 

You can join Vallozzi’s for lunch and midday menus from 11:30 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday-Friday. Dinner begins at 5:00 PM Tuesday-Friday, ending at 9:00 PM during the week and 10:00 PM during the weekends. On Saturdays, the family restaurant is open from 4:00 - 10:00 PM. They are closed Sundays and Mondays. 

This upscale Italian cuisine is sure to have something for everyone. Try the rigatoni alla vodka, and share some dishes with friends, too!