Papa Joe's is the best!!! What a gem. We have always enjoyed our meals here (the pizza is perfect, the wine is great, and the servers are so friendly). When the weather is nice, eating on the back patio is such a treat. Their pizza making class was an absolute blast. We are sad to hear that they are closing, and are hoping we will still be able to eat the pizza and drink the wine in the future!
Don Sand
Incredible small place the tables for two were very uncomfortable. A 4 table place from what we saw.First the pizza - the crust was really good really crunchy. The sauce was flavorless but overall pizza was goodVery disappointed in the pasta Grandma Sauce. Sauce again flavorless just tasted like a lot of tomato paste and tomato no other flavor or herbs or garlic nothing. The rigatoni was a box rigatoni for a place that has really nothing but pizza and pasta on the menu you would think you were getting homemade. The meatballs were ok and the sausage tasted like breakfast sausageI heard lots about this place wanted to try it but to me there are much better Italian restaurants around. We were disappointed.I appreciate your rude humor but I haven’t had a meal at an Olive Garden in years. I have had meals at Ala familia, Hoffstoffs, serval diners in NYC / little Italy. I was just being honest the sauce wasn’t good. If you have a place that has no chicken, beef or sea food on the menu then you better have the best sauce in the country, it was not. I wish you well as the small family restaurants are usually the best. I’m sure you’ll do well
Shravya Sampath
Pizza was dripping oil and the pasta had egg and some meat that had a weird smell. And the food doesn’t warrant the price at all. Piccolo Forno down the road has amazing food and isn’t even this expensive.
Brianna G.
In college, my friends and I would always participate in trivia during the week. So fun. The margarita pizza was always my go to. And the specials were always very detailed & great. I love the inviting atmosphere and a true family owned and operated business. This was one of my favorite restaurant finds where I have so many fun memories from.
Marc A.
This is such a bitter sweet or mixed emotion review. Let's start with a good or even the great. The service/people, especially Makenzie, the atmosphere and vibe, the wine, and most importantly the food. We had the fried zucchini planks, the 4 meatball appetizer, the Quattro Formaggi pizza and a carafe of the Barbera wine. Let's start with the wine, it's decent. It's house-made, which is awesome, but that also means it's not high-end California, French, or Italian. But much better than I could make in my wine cellar or kitchen. In my opinion, you should always get the carafe, it's the best value and you'll definitely want more than one glass. They also let you try before you buy so you're not gonna go in and be sorry you got a big carafe of some thing you haven't tried.Turning to the food, I don't think it's an overstatement to say it's one of the best red sauces I have had, especially in the Pittsburgh area. You have to try something with the red sauce. Maybe the meatballs, one of the pasta dishes, one of the pizzas, or all of them. The pizzas are perfect crust thickness and baked to the perfect crispiness. Also a big fan of the fried zucchini planks dipped in that great red sauce. That's one of my favorite appetizers and too many people just don't get it right.So why is this review bittersweet? Because March 31 is their last day in that location. They are moving to Cranberry and from what I understand they will just be serving wine. I think that's going to be a mistake. As mentioned the wine is decent, even good but the food is the draw, at least for me. I'll make it a point to get there again before March 31 and you should too
Eileen Collie
Can’t say enough good things about Papa Joe’s. It’s hard to say which is better, the food, the wine, or the staff. They take care of their employees and customers like family. I’ve never had one bad dish or experience.
Jessica Donato
Love this little family owned Italian restaurant. The owners are personable and it feels like you’re hanging out with friends or family. The meatballs, sauce, pizza and salad were great as was the wine. I like that you can take a bottle of wine home. Can’t wait to go back.
Neil Milton
Was in Pittsburgh on business and Aate at Piazza Talarico. The food was very good (I highly recommend the fried Zucchini with Grandma's sauce) as well as their pasta (or Macaroni as they reminded me in a nice way). :)Both Beth and "Papa Joe" visited with us during our meal. I can say they are a really cool family and welcome customers as if the customers are also family.Good food and good wine will be enjoyed here.
Ulyan K
Very good and authentic Italian food. Just a few days ago, I ordered their food off of Uber Eats. I can almost guarantee the food would be far better if I dined in. I tried the meatball appetizer, Nutella zeppole (added on 2 for a total of 5), and complimentary bread.The meatballs were without a doubt absolutely delicious. They were also quite large. You get 4 per order, I believe. The inside is flavorful and the texture is perfect as well. Not too hard, not too soft, just right. Their sauce is delicious as well! I enjoyed it not being too oily, full of tomatoes, and it just went really well with the meatballs. A great filling appetizer that I think is worth the price. Use the bread to soak up the sauce!Speaking of the bread, it's definitely nice that they still included complimentary bread, even for a delivery order. It was a pretty tasty bread, nothing too special. Soft in the middle, somewhat crunchy on the outside. Only used for soaking up sauce.Really, the reason this is not a 5 star review is mostly because of the zeppole. There was supposed to be nutella with them, but I did not get any. So, it was just pieces of fried dough. There wasn't much sugar on them; they really needed the Nutella for flavor. Also, they were somewhat eggy and wet because of the condensation, so...not that great, especially for the price. Portion was alright, though.All in all, I'm sure they typically do serve them with nutella, but my zeppole were served without them. It's probably just them being new to Uber Eats. Definitely get the meatballs!
Tawny Cortese
I just love this place. The food is amazing. Those zeppolis (sp?) just melt in your mouth. And I could drink the Barbera all day.Parking: There is always street parking nearby
Great experience from the fresh food to the super-friendly staff. Outdoor dining was comfortable and felt very private. Went with the special of the day for both app and entree (Burrata salad and Chicken Piccata) and added a side of meatballs. More than enough for two. House wine was authentic- reminded us of our Tuscan experience. Sauce is spot-on, what more needs to be said?
Gloria
One of the best Italian restaurants in the city. ?? Definitely evokes the old vibes of what was once Bloomfield's Little Italy. Eating at Piazza Talarico feels like you're eating at your grandmother's house. ?You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. It is all delicious, especially Grandma's Sauce. And Papa Joe's wine is out of the world. ? Tannat is my favorite and the twisted red and white wine slushie is so fun. I love this place. It's family owned and operated by great people too.
Hannah U.
THE BEST MEAL I'VE EVER HAD!!!!! I cannot express how wonderful this was. My new favorite restaurant. Best in Pittsburgh. Amazing house made wine. Wonderful conversation with the family. The best veal parmigiana I've ever had. Pizza was great. Dessert was out of this world. I never thought that I would like black pepper and olive oil gelato?? Fried zucchini was great. I need to come back here all the time I swear. The atmosphere was just plain wonderful. 10/10 recommend to anyone looking to have a lovely time. The restaurant is slow in that they let you enjoy your meal, so be prepared to spend time here!!! So great!
Francesca F.
MAMMA MIA One of my favorite Italian joints in the city is Piazza Talarico! This authentic Italian restaurant and wine cellar is the perfect place for celebrations, date nights, or just good old fashioned dinner! Their outdoor patio is PERFECT for sipping some wine and enjoying the summer weather. This family-owned business is a must-visit for pizza, pasta, wine, and their fun monthly classes!
Lisa Mcdonald
My husband and I are so happy we came across this little slice of heaven. We stopped in for lunch, we were looking for outdoor seating, the day was beautiful! I had a glass of wine (love a cab and they helped me with one I might like and let me sample 1st) it was so delicious. Had the cantaloupe/prosciutto appetizer, we were pleasantly surprised!! Yum we love both and together was perfect. I had the meatballs and my husband the meatball sandwich it was really good. LOVED the outdoor seating. It was shady and the birds were chirping. This place is a hidden gem and I would recommend it for sure!
Papa Joe's is the best!!! What a gem. We have always enjoyed our meals here (the pizza is perfect, the wine is great, and the servers are so friendly). When the weather is nice, eating on the back patio is such a treat. Their pizza making class was an absolute blast. We are sad to hear that they are closing, and are hoping we will still be able to eat the pizza and drink the wine in the future!
Incredible small place the tables for two were very uncomfortable. A 4 table place from what we saw.First the pizza - the crust was really good really crunchy. The sauce was flavorless but overall pizza was goodVery disappointed in the pasta Grandma Sauce. Sauce again flavorless just tasted like a lot of tomato paste and tomato no other flavor or herbs or garlic nothing. The rigatoni was a box rigatoni for a place that has really nothing but pizza and pasta on the menu you would think you were getting homemade. The meatballs were ok and the sausage tasted like breakfast sausageI heard lots about this place wanted to try it but to me there are much better Italian restaurants around. We were disappointed.I appreciate your rude humor but I haven’t had a meal at an Olive Garden in years. I have had meals at Ala familia, Hoffstoffs, serval diners in NYC / little Italy. I was just being honest the sauce wasn’t good. If you have a place that has no chicken, beef or sea food on the menu then you better have the best sauce in the country, it was not. I wish you well as the small family restaurants are usually the best. I’m sure you’ll do well
Pizza was dripping oil and the pasta had egg and some meat that had a weird smell. And the food doesn’t warrant the price at all. Piccolo Forno down the road has amazing food and isn’t even this expensive.
In college, my friends and I would always participate in trivia during the week. So fun. The margarita pizza was always my go to. And the specials were always very detailed & great. I love the inviting atmosphere and a true family owned and operated business. This was one of my favorite restaurant finds where I have so many fun memories from.
This is such a bitter sweet or mixed emotion review. Let's start with a good or even the great. The service/people, especially Makenzie, the atmosphere and vibe, the wine, and most importantly the food. We had the fried zucchini planks, the 4 meatball appetizer, the Quattro Formaggi pizza and a carafe of the Barbera wine. Let's start with the wine, it's decent. It's house-made, which is awesome, but that also means it's not high-end California, French, or Italian. But much better than I could make in my wine cellar or kitchen. In my opinion, you should always get the carafe, it's the best value and you'll definitely want more than one glass. They also let you try before you buy so you're not gonna go in and be sorry you got a big carafe of some thing you haven't tried.Turning to the food, I don't think it's an overstatement to say it's one of the best red sauces I have had, especially in the Pittsburgh area. You have to try something with the red sauce. Maybe the meatballs, one of the pasta dishes, one of the pizzas, or all of them. The pizzas are perfect crust thickness and baked to the perfect crispiness. Also a big fan of the fried zucchini planks dipped in that great red sauce. That's one of my favorite appetizers and too many people just don't get it right.So why is this review bittersweet? Because March 31 is their last day in that location. They are moving to Cranberry and from what I understand they will just be serving wine. I think that's going to be a mistake. As mentioned the wine is decent, even good but the food is the draw, at least for me. I'll make it a point to get there again before March 31 and you should too
Can’t say enough good things about Papa Joe’s. It’s hard to say which is better, the food, the wine, or the staff. They take care of their employees and customers like family. I’ve never had one bad dish or experience.
Love this little family owned Italian restaurant. The owners are personable and it feels like you’re hanging out with friends or family. The meatballs, sauce, pizza and salad were great as was the wine. I like that you can take a bottle of wine home. Can’t wait to go back.
Was in Pittsburgh on business and Aate at Piazza Talarico. The food was very good (I highly recommend the fried Zucchini with Grandma's sauce) as well as their pasta (or Macaroni as they reminded me in a nice way). :)Both Beth and "Papa Joe" visited with us during our meal. I can say they are a really cool family and welcome customers as if the customers are also family.Good food and good wine will be enjoyed here.
Very good and authentic Italian food. Just a few days ago, I ordered their food off of Uber Eats. I can almost guarantee the food would be far better if I dined in. I tried the meatball appetizer, Nutella zeppole (added on 2 for a total of 5), and complimentary bread.The meatballs were without a doubt absolutely delicious. They were also quite large. You get 4 per order, I believe. The inside is flavorful and the texture is perfect as well. Not too hard, not too soft, just right. Their sauce is delicious as well! I enjoyed it not being too oily, full of tomatoes, and it just went really well with the meatballs. A great filling appetizer that I think is worth the price. Use the bread to soak up the sauce!Speaking of the bread, it's definitely nice that they still included complimentary bread, even for a delivery order. It was a pretty tasty bread, nothing too special. Soft in the middle, somewhat crunchy on the outside. Only used for soaking up sauce.Really, the reason this is not a 5 star review is mostly because of the zeppole. There was supposed to be nutella with them, but I did not get any. So, it was just pieces of fried dough. There wasn't much sugar on them; they really needed the Nutella for flavor. Also, they were somewhat eggy and wet because of the condensation, so...not that great, especially for the price. Portion was alright, though.All in all, I'm sure they typically do serve them with nutella, but my zeppole were served without them. It's probably just them being new to Uber Eats. Definitely get the meatballs!
I just love this place. The food is amazing. Those zeppolis (sp?) just melt in your mouth. And I could drink the Barbera all day.Parking: There is always street parking nearby
Restaurantji Recommends
Great experience from the fresh food to the super-friendly staff. Outdoor dining was comfortable and felt very private. Went with the special of the day for both app and entree (Burrata salad and Chicken Piccata) and added a side of meatballs. More than enough for two. House wine was authentic- reminded us of our Tuscan experience. Sauce is spot-on, what more needs to be said?
One of the best Italian restaurants in the city. ?? Definitely evokes the old vibes of what was once Bloomfield's Little Italy. Eating at Piazza Talarico feels like you're eating at your grandmother's house. ?You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. It is all delicious, especially Grandma's Sauce. And Papa Joe's wine is out of the world. ? Tannat is my favorite and the twisted red and white wine slushie is so fun. I love this place. It's family owned and operated by great people too.
THE BEST MEAL I'VE EVER HAD!!!!! I cannot express how wonderful this was. My new favorite restaurant. Best in Pittsburgh. Amazing house made wine. Wonderful conversation with the family. The best veal parmigiana I've ever had. Pizza was great. Dessert was out of this world. I never thought that I would like black pepper and olive oil gelato?? Fried zucchini was great. I need to come back here all the time I swear. The atmosphere was just plain wonderful. 10/10 recommend to anyone looking to have a lovely time. The restaurant is slow in that they let you enjoy your meal, so be prepared to spend time here!!! So great!
MAMMA MIA One of my favorite Italian joints in the city is Piazza Talarico! This authentic Italian restaurant and wine cellar is the perfect place for celebrations, date nights, or just good old fashioned dinner! Their outdoor patio is PERFECT for sipping some wine and enjoying the summer weather. This family-owned business is a must-visit for pizza, pasta, wine, and their fun monthly classes!
My husband and I are so happy we came across this little slice of heaven. We stopped in for lunch, we were looking for outdoor seating, the day was beautiful! I had a glass of wine (love a cab and they helped me with one I might like and let me sample 1st) it was so delicious. Had the cantaloupe/prosciutto appetizer, we were pleasantly surprised!! Yum we love both and together was perfect. I had the meatballs and my husband the meatball sandwich it was really good. LOVED the outdoor seating. It was shady and the birds were chirping. This place is a hidden gem and I would recommend it for sure!