Everyone loves pizza, and there is a good reason for it – hot melted mozzarella, spread over delicious dough and tomatoes. A perfect combination. But Italian cuisine has so much more to offer, so just this once I recommend we leave pizza aside and try some new and different Italian dishes at the best Italian restaurants in Pittsburgh.

These five restaurants are the best Italian in Pittsburgh. Check their menus and find your favorite Italian food.

Alla Famiglia

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15210

Traditional Central Italian meals use all kinds of meat, fish, cheese, plenty of tomatoes. They also make delicious, creamy sauces to go with meat or pasta.  And that is exactly what you can read on Alla Famiglia’s menu. Some of the amazing meat meals are Vitello Parmigiana, veal cutlets in tomato sauce and cheese or veal medallions, prepared by your choice – with one of three perfect sauces – pomodoro, marsala, or piccata.  And if you prefer fish over meat, you have even more to enjoy – Tristan Lobster Tail – finest in the sea, or Cioppino – shrimp, mussels and clams in tomato broth with sambuca. The pasta is unavoidable – fine house made maccheroni with any sauce you can think of, tomato basil and cheese, different sorts of wine, meat or fishy, anything you desire. Mmmmm!

Di Anonia's Eatery

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222

Dinner at Di Anonia is just how formal Italian dinner must be. Starting off with antipasto, a great first course meal, you can have tasty and healthy tomato soup, good for both hot and cold days, house salad with cherry tomatoes, or a fine Italian meat and cheese plate. After that, you can also try some of their variations of the most famous pastas, like shrimp and lemon sauce, or octopus in Uni sauce. For those not willing to experiment, you can have traditional Tagliatelle Bolognese or Gnocchi with meatballs. Secondi is next piece of this perfect puzzle that is the perfect Italian dinner, and that is the most important part of it. It consists of meat or fish. Therefore, Di Anonia offers you Florentine Steak or Branzino fish or Lamb. And the ending to a good dinner is a good dessert, so it would be a shame not to have a piece of house made Tiramisu, or some baked good of tempting smell.

Sienna on the Square

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222

Sienna is one of the most beautiful and most frequently visited Italian cities. Entering this restaurant, you will feel a bit closer to this beautiful city, at least in terms of food. Italians are known for their pastries, and their breads are one of the tastiest and softest in the world. So why not take a nice Panini with grilled chicken, arugula and mozzarella or tuna, red pepper, and garlic. And pasta is where you can't go wrong. They have the tastiest Campanella with wild mushrooms, red onions, and chicken, with marsala cream. Or their most famous one and famous for a reason: Bucatini with mozzarella stuffed meatballs, marinara sauce, and parmesan. A good wine is a perfect addition to a fine dinner, and in Sienna, they believe you should be able to enjoy a good quality wine at a reasonable price, so use that benefit, and pair your food with a wine that goes with it the best.

Girasole

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15232  

Girasole means sunflower in Italian, and just as a sunflower turns to sun and keeps rotating, Girasole keeps adding twists to traditional Italian meals and making perfect blend of old and new. You can start your lunch or dinner with warm soup of the day, or fresh and crispy salad, seasoned with famous Italian herb blends to maximize the flavor. Pasta is as tasty as any pasta you can find out there! You can try the pumpkin ravioli, only available in the fall, so it is perfect time for it now, with crispy pancetta and walnuts. It just may become your favorite pumpkin-related thing (sorry all you pumpkin spice latte fans out there.) There is also Linguine rustic, al dente pasta with littleneck clams and baby spinach, a promising combination. And to end your meal, for lunch they serve Marsala chicken, sauteed chicken breasts in best ever mushroom and wine marsala sauce, and salmon with asparagus. And for dinner, they offer fresh meat of the day or fresh fish of the day.

Talia Cucina & Rosticceria

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219

Talia Cucina & Rosticceeria is a connection between American and Italian cultures and foods. They have a great rotisserie and grill menu, but in combination with significant Italian add ons and sauces. Some of those meals are chicken with spinach dumplings and basil pesto, one of the most popular sauces from northern Italy. Another tasteful combination is grilled shrimp with saffron risotto, corn, and green onions. The next delightful menu item is porchetta with caramelized onions and creamed kale. And if you are looking for the most traditional Italian food, you can still eat something like delicious gnocchi with ricotta cheese and chili sauce or risotto with asparagus, zucchini, and tomato.

If you find yourself in need of a delicious Italian meal the next time you’re in Pittsburgh, this list is a great place to start. This list is not in any particular order, and each option certainly can be counted as one of the best Italian restaurants in Pittsburgh. Try them all as soon as you can.