Pinetta’s European Restaurant
3056 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808
Pinetta’s European Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Baton Rouge for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Baton Rouge for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Baton Rouge for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
3056 Perkins Rd
Baton Rouge, LA, 70808 - Phone (225) 387-9134
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Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Jennifer R.
I love this restaurant! It is not fancy. Its simplicity and food is what I love most about this restaurant. For starters, the menu itself is very small; I like small menus. It really highlights what they do best! It is also a beer and wine only place. My favorite entree is the beef lasagna. It's beef, cheese and a kicked-up (a little "peppery") red sauce served and plated table-side from a small cast iron! Its piping hot when it is delivered to the table! It is full of flavor and spices and leaves you wanting to come back for more, each bite! I also enjoy the sensation salad and the delicately fried calamari. This is also a great spot for a date. It's quite and romantic, BUT do not let this keep you away, if you're dining with family or friends. It's a treat!
(5)Mary C.
The absolute worst restaurant experience I have had, not just in Baton Rouge, but arguably anywhere. We got there and with maybe 20% of the tables filled, the host placed us at the very back next to an air conditioner that sounded like we were sitting next to a jet engine. The restaurant itself was so dark we had to use a cell phone for light to read the menus. The menu was stained with God knows what, and there were no descriptions of anything. The food was disgusting . The hummus was completely over-powered by lemon - couldn't taste anything else. I ordered Shrimp au gratin and ended up with an over-salted, over-cooked mystery dish I can only describe as a shrimp chili. I ate two of the shrimp and sent it away. The restaurant still charged us for my dish with no sort of apology and instead an argument with the owner saying that I ate all the shrimp. The owner, by the way, was rude, argumentative, and I had spotted her earlier sitting squarely across the room from us at a table rubbing her bare feet. GROSS. Needless to say it would be a cold day in hell before I ever recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Daniel H.
The main reason why this is a 3 star review is that we waited for over an hour for our food to arrive, and then it was good but not great. A local that we were talking to while we were waiting to be seated told us to be prepared for a wait but we didn't know it would be an hour. The lasagna was 5 star but the chicken caccatore (sp??) was only ok. We waited for over an hour and spent ten minutes eating. Not an overall great experience. But if you go get the lasagna it was amazing.
(3)Christopher J.
I stopped here on my way home from Western Louisiana for work for dinner. I knew this was one of SO's absolute favorites when she used to live in Baton Rouge, so I made it a point to have dinner and get some takeout for her. I had a beer with my pre-meal bread and got the Schnitzel Holstein. It took a little while for my dish to come out, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they were meticulously preparing my food. When it did come out, I have to say it was pretty good. The veal was tender, well breaded/seasoned, and cooked nicely. The egg on top was perfectly runny when I cut into it, and the accompanying potatoes (made almost like hashbrowns), and pickled purple cabbage were pretty good too. The combination of those 4 items in one bite was a great one. The dish all seemed to go together. I have to admit, I pushed the anchovies off to the side after including them on a couple bites. They were just too salty for me. But that's a personal preference. I also got chicken parm to take home to my SO, and the waiter brought that out with my bill - perfect timing. And by the time I paid and left, the terrible Baton Rouge traffic had subsided and it was smooth sailing into the waiting (and hungry) arms of my SO. And her eyes got wide when I presented her with the chicken parm surprise!
(4)David L.
Ambience: Cramped, dark, pungent with hints of musky marinara and some unidentified herb. The Godfather theme is played on indefinite repeat for your dining chagrin. Service (or lack thereof): No host/hostess to seat you immediately. The server/waiter did not give us menus or waters for 10 minutes after seating us. Let's call him "Jack". He said "Your server will be with you shortly." Two ladies were seated after us and were treated more promptly. Jack proceeded to take our order after 30 minutes. Cheeky. When food was brought out (Godfather theme still going strong), he slammed the plates on the table with a gruff THUD. Jack never really checked back on us the rest of the evening. We had to flag down the other waitress (let's call her Jill) to attend to us. The fastest item that they brought out to us was the check. Food: Calamari - very hot and crisp, but otherwise bland and oily. The sauce was hearty, but overpowering after a few bites. Mushroom Ravioli with Pesto - they brought out the regular ravioli drenched in pesto sauce. 6 measly pieces of regular ravioli soaked in an over saturated sauce that would clog my arteries worse than the Mc double at a nearby Mcdonalds. Way too much olive oil in the pesto. Schnitzel - The thickness of the meat that they used for this was at best 1/8" thick. The batter that they used to fry this dish was of similar thickness to the actual cut of meat. The only good thing about this dish was the mashed potatoes. If I wanted the mashed potatoes to be the highlight of my dinner, I would rather grab some instant potatoes at the grocery store. Truly a disappointment. You know that I laughed at that episode of Kitchen Nightmare where Gordon Ramsey washed his hands clean of Amy 's Baking Company. I didn't think that such a place would exist. Until I walked into Pinetta's.
(1)Dakota K.
Although I really like this place a lot, I have to say this first. I have never been to a restaurant that refuses to NOT remove something that comes with the plate you order. In this case I ordered a German dish that is topped with an anchovy and I asked for them to not include the anchovy. They politely said (in so many words) tough, the anchovy comes with the dish and we cant not include it. :) Kinda confused on why they wouldnt just make that small adjustment for me but ok. That being said, it is so hard to find German food around town anymore which bums me out, its one of my favorites. (I used to frequent Black Forest Cafe downtown and the Taste of Bavaria in Ponchotoula before they both closed). In any event, Pinetta's has a unique feel to it, its neat 'hole in the wall' type of environment is a plus for me. I also like their theme of European food from different countries. One of these days I will have to try something other than German but thats just kinda hard to pass on! The people I went with complained about their rice but I loved it. It was very different, it tasted like rice but it was almost in the texture of a powder. Not sure if they grind it or what they do but I really like it. Ive heard that the place almost closed several years back. Very glad they didn't!
(5)Leo P.
This is probably the best little known gem in town. It's a tiny, very dark European style tavern. And when I mean dark I mean it's hard to even read the menu. There can be a wait and service is slow (by design) so expect to be here a while. I say "by design" because that's how European restaurants are. You have to get the lasagna here. The sauce is incredible and not sweet at all. I like that because its more authentically Italian. The wiener schnitzel is great too. They have a nice selection of European beers as well. The prices are extremely reasonable -I believe the lasagna dinner is something like $12! Highly recommend this place for a date as it is cozy and romantic. I don't know anyone who has been here and hasn't loved it!
(5)Randy L.
Not your modern-day looking restaurant---instead, thought I was walking through EPCOTs Europe with the interior decor ---and that's a positive thing---went for lunch on a Wednesday and they were not very busy. Server was polite, food came out quickly and with flavor. They have fay specials and wednesday is chicken cacciatore---over spaghetti. Taste was good--not spicy---and fresh . I want to back and try other daily specials
(4)Marcy S.
My most recent visit to Pinetta's deserves an update to my previous review. While this place has not changed much, I have to bump them up slightly based on the Lentil Soup I received. This was not your momma's lentil soup (if your mom actually makes lentil soup...since my mom could pick a lentil out of a bean line up). The lentils were still slightly firm, which I prefer but the flavor of the soup was earthly with some celery and just enough spice to really warm you up. In hindsight, I wish I had simply eaten two bowls of this soup instead of my ravioli. Side note...do NOT order the pesto...huge mistake. The wine list is short but the prices are very friendly to the bank account. And remember no one will see you here because you can barely see anything but we all have those nights when we're looking for good food and not to be bothered.
(4)Tatiana C.
My absolute favorite restaurant in br. So quint and away from the college seen. Quaint and intimate atmosphere. Tastefully decorated. And really good food !
(5)Chuck W.
Had to rate on memory alone as this is the second time our favorite BR restaurant was closed with a sign saying "Well be open at 5:30 today." Big disappointment as this was our "date place" 40 years ago when we were students at LSU. The Pinettas wouldn't be happy with this. Oh well, maybe next trip.
(3)Darla N.
Pinettas is like no other restaurant in town and that may be the reason I so enjoy every time I eat there. From the moment you walk through the doors you know you are not a kitschy chain restaurant. There are very few tables and I would not recommend more than a party of 6 or families with small children (no high chairs). Quaint does not even begin to describe this hole in the wall. Depending on time and day you may have a wait, but it is so worth it. The same with the service. On our most recent visits we have had some of the best service we've ever had, but we have had our share of slow, unattentive wait staff, but this is not the place you want to go if you are in a hurry. It is designed as a dining experience, so sit back, order a glass of wine and enjoy. And bad service will not deter me from eating the best, yes I said it, best lasagna in Baton Rouge. The Bella Lasagna is my favorite but the traditional is phenomenal as well. They serve it in the black iron skillets and the sauce is amazing. Portions are large and very filling and oh so delicious and extremely reasonable. They offer warm complimentary French bread and we always order another with the meal. The menu selections vary from Italian, Morrocan and German and I am told very authentic. The tiramisu is delicious and large enough to share.
(5)Amy D.
A friend who went to LSU a few years back took me here. Ignore the appearance and pretend you are there to meet up with the Godfather. We had the mushroom ravioli! Excellent!
(5)Bob L.
Although the interior is so dimly lit that you need night vision goggles to read the menu and see your food, this place is really great. I have to admit, that I've only tried the Italian items on the menu. Every time I go, I psyche myself up to order something different, but I break down, loose control, and order an Italian staple -- because everything I've had off of the Italian menu has been exceptional. The red sauce in particular is so good -- dark, rich, and full of flavor. It is the type of sauce that makes you feel compelled to take your bread and sop it up so that none is wasted. All menu items are ala carte and you have the choice between 3 types of salad. They are all good, but I especially recommend the Sensation Salad -- it lives up to its name as it is sensational! My only complaint is that they do not offer cannoli on the desert menu. After a zesty Sensation Salad and then a rich flavorful lasagna, one needs a basic, plain ole cannoli to top off the meal, but sadly they do not offer this dessert -- which I find odd for an Italian restaurant. But then again, Pinetta's is a little odd. If you haven't been, Pinetta's is great food. I just encourage you to bring a flashlight.
(5)Mandy V.
Musty smell when you walk in. Long wait for food. Absolutely amazing lasagna! The sauce is to die for...
(3)Jessica C.
In summers when I was a child my mother would give my brother and I $8 and we would ride our bikes 5 miles one-way to have a "Businessman's Lunch" of Wienerschnitzel, salad, fried potatoes and iced tea. It used to be a fun, "grown up" thing for two 12 year olds to do. The food was GREAT - beyond compare - back then this was arguably one of the best restaurants in town. Skip over 30+ years of life - Mr. and Mrs. Pinetta are long gone... the only thing that remains of them is their huge collection of cast iron pans that are so well cured not even glue would stick to them. Pinetta's today still has the cast iron pans, and the food is similar but not the same. The prices, well let's just say that the years have taken their toll. This is a GOOD restaurant, just no longer a great one. If you're looking for dark and romantic then it's a good place to go. Be prepared to wait though; the service has always been and still remains somewhat sketchy. I still prefer the Wienerschnitzel to the dishes involving sauce and cheese - like lasagna or anything "Pamesan." The sauce and cheese cover the taste of whatever they touch. Might as well order a bowl of cheesy tomato soup or something. Casual, very small, very noisy, and very dark. As another reviewer said, "bring your night vision goggles" or a flashlight if you want to read the menu.
(3)Steven S.
Pinetta's has a great atmosphere. I had the pesto ravioli. It was great. My friend had the schnitzel. It was okay, but kind of greasy. The ones in Germany are better, but this was still very good all in all.
(4)C W.
My partner and I have gone to Pinetta's a few times for special occasions (Valentine's Day, anniversaries, etc...), and the food has always been excellent. However, the service has always been sub-par. Not only are the waitstaff impersonal, we once heard our waitress explaining "daily specials" and menu items to the table next us when she walked up to our tables, sat two glasses of water in front of us, and walked away without so much as asking our drink preference. Furthermore, the owner came to us and explained that we couldn't order the Filet Special with gorgonzola butter on the side because the chef was "particular" and did not do "special" orders--never mind the fact that every other time I had dined at the restaurant, I ordered the butter on the side. It's unfortunate that the waitstaff and manager/owner are not customer service oriented because the food is great, but if I had to recommend this place to family or friends, I would do so with reservations or not at all.
(2)David F.
Good (but no longer great) food, but the customer service is severely deficient, so much so that this place is best avoided altogether. It's a shame, too, because Pinetta's used to be one of Baton Rouge's best dining experiences, many years ago. I think most people, myself included, just go back for nostalgic reasons now, hoping to catch a glimpse of what Pinetta's used to be. After my unpleasant experience there tonight, however, I'm done. I can be treated rudely and served average food for a LOT less money elsewhere.
(1)Jonathon R.
My roommate really loves German food, and this seems to be the only place to get authentic German in BR. They also offer Italian and Turkish dishes as well. They are a cramped little restaurant, with tons of Old World decorations. I had the Involtini, which is veal wrapped around Mozzarella and then sautéed, It comes with an awesome marinara sauce that has just a little kick to it. Not only is it delicious, these are truly generous portions. I was only able to eat about 2/3 of my meal. How I managed to eat dessert is beyond me, though it could just be the quality of the dessert. I also got the tiramisu for dessert, and it was quite delicious. It was definitely made with real cream. It was also a rather generous helping. Overall, go and enjoy something truly special with this ancient hole-in-the-wall. I know I will be back to try even more of the menu.
(5)Sweet O.
No, you are not in a Fellini movie! This is a really weird place. I always feel like I am in the middle of a hoarder's episode eating here. The food is good, though I think my opinion might change if the lights were on and I saw the kitchen. Ignorance is bliss. Enjoy your meal!
(3)Claire C.
Pinetta's is a hidden treasure! This place has great staff, an extensive menu and fair pricing. It's always packed with BTR diners in the know. Steak with Gorgonzola special is fantastic. The eggplant parm can't be beat. Fried calamari is always fresh. Interior is small, dark and old school. Perfect for date night! Add the European wine list and you're in business.
(5)Larr G.
Okay, please do not consider this as a real review. I have not been in Pinetta's in a couple of years, BUT I was a regular there from about 1966 to 1976 and then in the 80's. It says something about a place that has been in business for 48 + years. I still go there when back in Baton Rouge, but again it has not been recent enough for my review to be valid.
(5)Matt R.
Pinetta's is the epitome of a quaint, romantic little Italian restaurant. Its been around forever and it's located in the corner of an old strip mall. There's no natural light in the building, setting the mood for a dark and very cozy, yet romantic, environment... and the food is always top notch. They have a red gravy that they use on just about everything, and it's the best i've ever had. They use a lot of butter and onions in the sauce and achieve a really unique taste... I absolutely love it! Tonight, I ordered my favorite... Veal Parmesan. They serve the veal with ham and melted cheese covered in the red gravy... and of course with a side of pasta. The server prepares the dish table-side, adding some flair. Its my favorite dish! BOTTOM LINE: Baton Rouge's #1 Italian restaurant.
(5)Brad P.
I ordered a veal dish that sounded great. I LOVE veal. Something was CLEARLY wrong with it after I took one bite. Then I let my wife try it and the same result. So I politely told our waitress so I could order something else. They can't take it off the check for me. I could understand if I had eaten five bites or half the dish. HORRIBLE FOOD AND SERVICE!!
(1)Jim G.
I don't want to age myself but I've been coming here for forty years (we started in college). There are no longer the long lines waiting for a table because there a lot more places to eat in Baton Rouge than forty years ago. To my pleasant surprise the menu has not changed (except they no longer offer turkish coffee or rum cake). I had the weiner schnitzel which came with riced potatoes and an excellent sauerkraut made with cabbage, apples, and bacon. My business partner had the veal parmagiana which he kept saying was delicious and demonstrated his pleasure by mopping up the last of the sauce with bread. The atmosphere may not be to everyone's liking (also hasn't changed in forty years) but it's typical European look. Worth a visit!
(4)Chris Y.
Some nights it's hard to get a table, but it's worth the wait. Definitely enjoy everything about the place. Highly recommend due to a great atmosphere & authentic cuisine. Rare find in Baton Rouge
(5)Tim R.
My wife and I love this place. Spaghetti and meatballs from here call to us occasionally. In our opinion, there is no better in the BR area. Keep in mind, this is a small, quaint place and there is usually a wait - and there's a reason for the wait - it's good. When we go to Pinetta's, we expect to be there a while and relax and enjoy the experience. This is definitely not a place you want to go if you're in a hurry. The price is very very reasonable here too. The two of us can usually each have an entre, split a bottle of wine, and have dessert for around $50-60. We highly recommend this historic BR landmark. The only reason for not giving it 5 stars is that the service is a bit hit and miss from time to time - but we still go expecting and knowing that that is a possibility.
(4)Lainey A.
They get 5 stars for having the best red sauce ever... but the service is usually preeeeetty slow. I guess it's not that big of a deal as long as you aren't starving when you get there..lol. This is where my husband and I went on our first date, so I guess they're doing something right ;-)
(5)Tom R.
I was blown away. Walking up to Pinetta's after walking across the street at 5:45, I was a little worried. The book store next door was closing but the dark little corner called to us. After going thru the very loud squeaky door and looking in, I wondered why the place was half full on a Wednesday late afternoon. Then, the room filled my senses with scents and sights that totally eased all my fears. The room had laughter and looking around there were six other tables that all seemed to be enjoying themselves. A very pleasant waitress got us water,bread and a smile within seconds. A nice wine-list helped us get a very robust bottle of Cab. Read the menu to get a glimpse of the past Penetta's. Started with the delightful Panzerotti and were suggested the Chese Raviovi with chicken in an amazing red sauce as well as the Shrimp Au Grautin. Both were served hot and Delicious. The sauce made the meals with a nice mild spice that went so well with the wine.
(4)Courtney C.
I've been to Germany before, and wanted to go somewhere that might could pass off a decent schnitzel. This place was beyond my expectations. The food was good, not fantastic. But I had the best time in here, and will go back. The food is European themed, but the atmosphere is pretty spot-on for European village.
(4)Ally L.
My favorite place in BR, hands down. But WHY OH WHY wont they answer the phone?!?!?!?!?!? They will close randomly for various reasons (mom and pop restaurant - mom and pop hours) and when I'm in town , I just wannna know they are OPEN before I drive over!!! So frustrating. But the ceaser salad, bread, chianti and lasagna are totally worth it. When I can get it.
(4)Ashley K.
Dear Friends and Family, I've fed many of you at Pinetta's over the years. I've recommended it because of the great red sauce only, never the service. My recommendations always came with that caveat - the service sucks and the owner has an awful attitude. I am sorry to say that's not the worst of it. I guess we just got lucky not to have gotten sick. I treated another friend to dinner at Pinetta's Saturday and her meat tasted rotten. The owner was condescending to us and refused to remove the item from our bill. After much "discussion" she finally reduced the item by half. This was still not good enough for me. After reading other reviews and realizing that this was one of many such experiences of rotten-tasting food, I researched on the Dept. of Health website to see if there were documented problems. Yes, apparently there are: inspections.eatsafe.la.g… EUROPEAN RESTAURANT This is gross. I wouldn't feed my dog at this place after reading their citations by the Dept. of Health. Sincerely, Mary
(1)Kim G.
The service is slow. The restaurant is dark and looks like some of the decor hasn't been dusted in years. You get served drinks in tiny glasses an no one comes by for a refill more often than every 20 minutes. So what?? THE SAUCE IS AMAZING! So amazing that people either love it or hate it. But fair enough. I love it. So I plan ahead. I don't go in if I only have an hour to spare. I know it's gonna be at least a 2 hour event even on a slow mid-afternoon visit. But it is worth it because I have not tasted another red sauce that even comes close to the aweomeness that is Pinetta's red sauce. Eggplant parmesan is the best dish on the menu.
(5)Amanda D.
Great Italian food, but service was not so good. Being a first-time diner, I was unaware that you had to seat yourself. Then when our server came, he was pretty abrupt, not at all friendly (we never got his name). We requested garlic bread (for an extra $3), and he answered "I'm already bringing you rolls." Then, as we were finishing our meals, he reached over for our plates while one of us was still eating. I would go there again, but I'd sit in a different section.
(3)Joseph C.
he service isn't always the best, but the red sauce is the best I've had. I recommend the Shrimp Au Gratin (it's served with a red sauce) and the Involtini. The atmosphere is also quite unique. It's dimly lit and is the definition of a hole in the wall.
(5)William S.
I've weighed writing this review, but after my last visit , it's time. I'd rather jump up and down on a bed of nails or roll around in a fire ant pile than allow the owner of Pinetta's to treat me and my guest to a meal in her establishment. My first visit to Pinetta's could have started out like a joke - a Jew and a Muslim walk into an Italian/Central European restaurant. Our party being very careful to avoid pork, conscientiously asked if there was any ground pork, Italian sausage, or pork fat used to prepare the red sauce. We had ham held on the salads and asked about the ingredients that went into a handful of entrees. It was pretty clear that there were no hogivores at the table up to that moment. My company that evening ordered the veal parmesan. When it came out, nothing appeared amiss - until after taking a few bites, my company asked me to take a look at her dish. In the veal cutlet, with cheese, was a thin piece of ham. We quickly called over our waitress, and with my guest distraught, we explained the situation. Our waitress quickly realized how - following the grilling about porcine ingredients in other dishes - sending out a ham-laced veal parmesan was bone-headed. Rather than allowing us to send it back and ordering something else, we were told that we could order something else after paying full price for the ham-laden dish. Making a bad situation worse, the manager, who turned out being the owner, stomped over snippily told my guest that they've always made their veal parmesan with ham and it was our fault for not asking. The manager's table-side manner was so bad that my guest was left bawling. We paid in full and left. It was literally the worst dining experience I've ever had anywhere in the United States. At the time, I swore I'd never eat there again. ------ During my last visit to town, a friend was dining at Pinetta's and asked me to at least join come him for a glass of wine. After being reassured over and over by my friend that things couldn't be as bad as my last visit as five years had elapsed, I consented. So much for things improving over time. I ordered a nice safe bottle of chianti. The first glass was poured, and the wine was corked. I called it to the attention of the waiter. He in turn called over the manager. I honestly can't say the woman introduced as the manager was the same woman who was manager last time, but the level of customer service was consistent. Rather than asking what the trouble was, she started by literally yelling at me about not knowing what "corked" meant. Calmly, I asked her to try a glass - our table of four all having agreed the bottle was corked. She then went on a tizzy about me being an alcoholic since I knew so much about wine. At this point, flabbergasted, I'd had enough, said good night to my party, and politely left. If you're thinking about having Italian for dinner, I highly recommend the nearby DiGiulio Brothers instead. However, if you're a fan of Ed Debevic's in Chicago, Pinetta's might still have something to offer you.
(1)Ashley L. V.
LOVE! Can't say enough about this European dream! Food is Amazing and so are the prices. The service is great and it's romantic too!
(5)Olve E.
Great ambiance. Incredible food. Friendly staff. I strongly recommend Pinetta's.
(5)Bob W.
ok, let me start out by saying,"this is my first review". i have worked in the bar and restaurant industry for over 25 years and my girlfriend has been in the business for around 20yrs.she heard about pinettas from a guest at another local eatery. we were told that we should try it out if we wanted the best red sauce around. we decided to go for lunch and on our way we checked out some reviews on yelp as well as some other sites. many of these reviews were not complimentary, most of them speaking of slow service, rude management, and a dirty establishment. we almost decided not to go. i however have worked in the french quarter for many years and in my experience, some of the best food has come from some of the dirtiest holes in the wall around. so we decided to venture on and try the place out. we are both very happy that we did. yes it is a very small quaint eatery. yes there is a bit of dust on the abundant decorations, photos, and even a very ancient deer head. yes it was dark. yes the drinks came in small glasses. and yes i could say the service was a little slow compared to some of the new chains and corporate places. so what!!!!!!! the service was not terrible. our erver was a long time patron of the restaurant. her parents took her there often when she was a girl and she was quite hospitable and knowlegeable about the menu. we had callimari, the fried eggplant, and veal parm. everything was excellent. the presentation of our entres was impressive lending a personal touch to our meal and as we were told, "the red sauce was incredible". this is not a place to go if you only have a half hour for lunch or if you plan to rush through a meal to get to the 7 pm showing of harry potter. this place is old school. picture the godfather. this is a place to take a date or some friends, enjoy a bottle of wine, or two. enjoy some good company, hold your ladys hand, forget you have a cell phone or anywhere else to be. savor some tasty foods and celebrate a few excellent hours with people you love. if i had anything derogatory to say it would be about the dessert. tirramissu is one of our favorites even though i obviously dont know how to spell it. we took ours to go because we were both too full to have it right after the meal. it was a bit disappointing. although it was probably the creamiest i have ever had, it lacked that good espresso flavor . we had no contact with the management so i cannot comment on their customer service skills. all in all a wonderful meal at a very quaint establishment that we shall certainly return to. did i mention the killer sauce?????????? mangiare bene dal vivo bene morire felice !!!!!
(4)Jack X.
I agree with most of the reviews already posted here. I, too, went to Pinetta's in the early afternoon, around 1:30-ish. Like most, it took a few minutes to be acknowledged by a server, even though there were a few around and only one or two other customers present. I ordered the chicken parmesean, and after close to an hour, requested to have it take-out. Service was rather mediocre, and the food was nothing to write home about. The atmosphere is nice and romantic, and the restaurant has been around, with some interruption, for close to 50 years. Other than that, there plenty of better eateries in Baton Rouge; more specifically, there are several good ones within spitting distance of Pinetta's--Chelsea's, Schlitz and Giggles, Acme Oyster House, to name a few.
(2)Katie Q.
I must say that I went in to Pinetta's EXPECTING to be disappointed. I had heard a lot of not so nice things about the service however the description of the red sauce drew me in like those cartoon fingers that lure the hungry to the delicious. Pinetta's is a seat-yourself kind of place on slower nights so sat ourselves we did...at a dirty table because every open table was dirty. This I did not mind as it was our choice to plop ourselves down in hopes of snagging the wine list for perusal. It took a few minutes for anyone to approach us which always makes me anxious but when our waitress did arrive she was pleasant, knew the menu, and offered suggestions when asked (I always go with staff recommendations). As boring as it sounds I got the spaghetti and meatballs...something I flat out NEVER do as it is so easy to prepare at home but I really wanted to taste this 18 hour slow cooked, sweet, red sauce. My husband ordered the lasagna which was recommended by the couple at the next table who were still blown away as they finished their wine and dessert. We also ordered a modest bottle of red wine and settled into the charming, old man, setting. I have to say I quite liked it. The red sauce was indeed sweet..maybe even a little too sweet but I LOVED my leftovers the next day. I favored the lasagna (don't you hate when you don't get the best order at your table?) and my husband must have dug it too as I went in for one more bite and it was already gone. It was goopy, and cheesy, and the other ingredients managed to curb the sweetness in the sauce- which was delicious. One eensey complaint I would have is that both of these items could not have taken long to prepare but we waited quite some time for them and the restaurant was not full, the waitstaff did not seem too hurried about anything, and heck...it's spaghetti and lasagna...I can't imagine it's being prepared dish by dish. All tolled I'd say I'd definitely return to give a few of the other items a whirl and when I'm slightly less ravenous. If you are not super picky about a couple crumbs on your table and a bit of waiting then sit back and enjoy this sweet little restaurant. ***Oh...and by the by, we had a $50 gift certificate for which we got $6 change (we tipped in cash)! Two entrees and a bottle of wine for under $50 bucks is a bargain if you ask me.
(3)Morgan M.
We had a lovely time at Pinetta's. I hate to hear about all those bad experiences. The menu has a small but wide variety of European cuisine. That being said, the menu is hit or miss. I ordered this Eastern European braised steak thing which came on a plate of brownish, blandish, other things. My boyfriend, however, ordered wiener schnitzel and loved it. Even though I've heard a lot about the Italian dishes I plan to try something else (likely German) the next time we go back. The most impressive aspect of Pinetta's is the romantic atmosphere. Somehow, being crowded into this dimly lit and overly decorated restaurant and sharing a bottle of table wine really transports you away from Baton Rouge. We went on a Saturday and waited around 30 minutes. The other couples waiting with us were friendly, as was our server. The reasonable pricing and nice atmosphere really affected my opinion of this place.
(4)Scott W.
Got terrible service to the point that the 6 of us got up and left. At 9 PM with several open tables the manager refused us the opportunity to sit at a table set for 8 since there were 6 of us. She then tried to force us into a 4 topper. We told her it was not acceptable and suggested that we'd move the two topper next to us into the mix and she also refuesed that. But a couple of the wives conviced us just to try and squeeze into the 4 topper since they were hunger. Fatal error on the managers part was to come back again and insult us by going on about how "surely we could understand why she wouldn't accomodate us..." Nope...we couldn't and left. She missed a big tab...serious spenders that group. Nice atmosphere, but don't go if you want to be treated like a customer.
(1)Jason B.
I arrived before my friends and sat down. Waited for at least 10 minutes and received no service. Finally grabbed a wine list from the next table and asked to be waited on. My friends arrive, the bread arrives, but there are no butter knives on the table. We order an app, and waited a while for that too. Our meals were OK, nothing special. The grenache-based wine was a plus. Your basic meh experience.
(3)