Sarafino’s Pasta and Pizza
40 E Crafton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15205
Sarafino’s Pasta and Pizza Menu
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Antipasto
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Insalata
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Zuppa
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Pastas - Homemade Sauces
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Pasta Specials
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Panini
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Bevands
Healthy Meal suggestions for Sarafino’s Pasta and Pizza
-
Antipasto
-
Insalata
-
Zuppa
-
Pastas - Homemade Sauces
-
Pasta Specials
-
Panini
-
Bevands
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Address :
40 E Crafton Ave
Pittsburgh, PA, 15205 - Phone (412) 922-8911
- Website https://www.sarafinos.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Erin L.
The best greens and beans in town. This place is cozy and friendly. The food is always amazing and it is BYOB!
(5)Mia F.
Sarafinos is consistently delicious! Greens and beans, Joey pie, polenta, gnocchi, Pasquale's, ducks special panini, red or white clam sauce-- you name it, it's delicious! Great little byob restaurant I highly recommend.
(5)Ligaya S.
First off, some pretty good eats here. Tasty pizza and soups. That said, they really need to get their customer service in gear. The staff always looks stressed and annoyed. First time I went, no one acknowledged us and after a good 5 minutes without even so much as a "hello" or "one moment please", we decided to leave. I gave this place one more chance. Despite the fact that it was empty at lunch, we were again coldly received. There's an ever present "how dare you want a table" attitude here. After waiting a good 15 minutes to even ask us for our order, we had to succumb to the constant banging and slamming from a cook who seemed to let out her aggression with a mallet. Kinda intimidating to say the least.
(3)Mika W.
Stopped for dinner and had an excellent meal. Was very good all the way around, food and service was excellent. We will be back for sure The only bad thing was we sat near the front windows and they need washed really bad..
(5)Darren W.
The other day, a marvelous surprise awaited us plebs at the Lawrenceville Asylum For The Criminally Inane. A sales conference took place and a catered lunch from Sarafino's was provided for those who participated. Whoever ordered the food overdid it a bit, resulting in...leftovers! All it took was a page over the intercom for the unclean to stampede towards the break room, with me acting as pacesetter, leading the charge with fists shooting upward. *beep* "Hey, we got pasta 'n salad dahn here. I repeat. We got pasta 'n salad dahn here." *beep* To which I replied, roaring into the cold, dusty air like a Nordic warrior from ages ago, "And we shall eat well on this day!" On the table sat two large aluminum pans. One was steaming and full of gooey, cheesy, crimson, meatless rotini. The other was chilled and contained an orgy of a salad that included spinach, Garbanzo beans, onions, potent banana peppers, onions, hot sausage medallions, and copious, preposterous amounts of minced garlic. Everything about the rotini was adequate from the soft pasta itself to the somewhat pasty sauce, but the salad--called Greens & Beans on the menu--was fiery, fragrant, and flagrantly in love with spices. Agog with this astoundingly appetizing antipasto, I simply could not stop eating it. Luckily we have a trio of refridgerators and not everyone could finish all of the food, which meant more for us the next day and the day after that.
(4)Sue B.
Love this place. The owner, cooks are nice, some waitresses are nice, some are not. The chicken panini or sausage panini with pasta salad is awesome. Portions have gotten smaller but price is the same. Almond cake, evil good. Open 11a - 930pm (fri/sat 1030pm) CLOSED SUNDAY. Saturday opens at 4pm. I hate crowds and long waits, so if your like me, here are some tips. I go on Mon,Tue,Wed nights anytime or Thurs, Fri/Sat night i go super early like 4-5pm. Lunch i go at 11am or wait until 2pm. I avoid lunchtime between 12noon -130pm because sometimes there are no tables at all or get your food to go. In the summer they have outdoor seating, but its blazing hot. The owners Dad (RIP) gave me alot of good tips about where to buy a house on the west end, because some areas only had volunteer FD, and brookline/beechview old sewer lines, etc...LONG STORY, LOL.
(5)Lyn R.
Great, little hole in the wall. Yes, it is so small. The waitresses are a little stressed, one forgot to bring out my food while everyone at my table ate. That's the only reason I gave it four stars. It could have been a five. Food was fantastic. Great alfredo and red sauces. The crab cakes were suggested over and over but we found them to be dry. The HUGE Portobello mushroom that came with the crab cakes was pretty spectacular. We all basically licked the herb oil plate clean that came with our bread. I think we got three of those. I had Sarafino's Pasta and I couldn't get enough in my stomach. My youngest son ordered Gnocchi with Alfredo and chicken, which I frowned upon. Then loved it. What a great combination - who knew? Couldn't eat another bite, so I took Tiramisu home with me. It didn't make it. It wasn't the best that I ever had but it was slightly sweet and a great end to my meal. I really can't wait to go back. I have a feeling it will be a little better. Owner was present and greeted everyone. He walked around, talked to patrons, laughed and had genuine concern about the food. NICE!!
(4)Maura U.
For one, I liked the cozy atmosphere of this little Italian family-owned restaurant, but it is in need of some major renovation work. The ceiling is bowed from what looks like water damage, and it looks like they attempted to paint it, but didn't like the color, so they stopped after one row. Maybe that has some history or cute story, but as a first time customer, I wouldn't know. The service was ok...not too timely, but not neglectful. We ordered the special muscles appetizer - good. Too much salt, but good. No comparison to Il Pizzaiolo. The main dishes were also specials; I had the homemade cheese ravioli and my husband had the pasta svoglio with red clam sauce. The ravioli wasn't much to write home about. The pasta they use is really thick for ravioli. The sauce was ok. The pasta svoglio was better. Lots of seafood used in this dish, and I enjoyed the taste I stole. I don't think we'll return here before we try another Italian bistro, but it was worth a try.
(3)Jennifer B.
Beans and greens are some of the best in the city. I always get the Rita's and request gnocchi instead of the ziti and I always add meatballs - my favorite - get it - you'll love it. The Sarafino's with chicken and switching out to gnocchi instead of the linguine is soo good!
(4)Amanda B.
After reading other Yelp reviews, I knew this was a must try spot. I went in with little expectation for the wait staff, but we were pleasantly surprised! Our names were taken down, we were showed where we could wait and only waited about ten minutes for a table. Our server was as sweet as could be and got our drinks and bread right away. If I had to leave after the bread and dipping oil I would have been ridiculously happy. The bread came out piping hot and the dipping oil was better than anything I've ever had. We ordered soup which came out right away and was tasty. Our meals came out only a few minutes after we finished our soup and we were not disappointed! I got the Rita pasta and my husband had the Sarafino pasta, both of which were incredible! We felt out of place because we were the only table in the restaurant without a bottle (or two) of wine! So we will definitely be taking a bottle next time we go!
(4)Carley D.
The food was just very typical Pittsburgh Italian food. Same sauces with regular pastas. Huge portions of overly garlic-y food. Nothing truly to write home about. I just wasn't impressed. The restaurant was an old pharmacy. So, it is tiny. I think there were 15 tables. I felt crammed in and there were only two other tables with customers. The waitstaff kept going into a curtained off area just beside our table to get supplies. The coffee was in a huge carafe. The atmosphere just wasn't pretty and cozy as it should have been with such a tiny place. The food wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great. I'm not sure if go specifically to Crafton for this place.
(2)Susan T.
Told Friends: We're coming your way, pick a dinner spot. And they chose Sarafino's in Crafton. So glad they did! It's a nice corner restaurant that used to be a pharmacy (so I'm told). Not a spacious dining area, but good for 6 or less at a table. The smell from the kitchen is strong... garlicky and wonderful. The bread was fresh, crusty and disappeared fast. I had the wedding soup which was pretty different, as I believe it had basil as the greens and no chicken. Delicious and unique. Two of us ordered the special which was an alfredo and roasted brussel sprout pasta dish. Mind you, I was excited to see an Italian steak salad that DID NOT include the typlical 'Burgh French fries - but the brussel sprout pasta changed my mind and it was so good. So WAY good. Hubs, being the traditionalist that he is, ordered the red Bolognese with a meatball and a sausage - he was pretty happy, also. Friend #2 ordered the house crab cakes, which she knew from previous visits were fabulous and they were pretty lovely, gotta say. We split the almond dessert - yummy and we should've got it TO GO as we were TOO FULL! The place is noisy and it doesn't take much for it to be crowded, but dang... the menu has some items that definitely need to be explored further! Be hungry when you get there--
(4)Linda O.
Sarafino's is a lively but cozy place with a pleasant ambiance and good food. I appreciate that the offerings are purposely prepared in a straight-forward manner, and not made with 11,000 ingredients--just old world Italian cooking is all. I had the special for the evening--two crab cakes with a house salad and a healthy-sized portobello mushroom. Those crab cakes were so much better than anything I have gotten in the Chesapeake Bay area in quite some time; they were light and lovely and delectable. My hub had the linguine and white clam sauce; I tried it--it was to die for. A highly-pleasing cappuccino for an after-dinner treat was only $2.95? Say what?! As if it couldn't get any better, when owner Joe Caliguire was making the rounds in the dining room and found out that we hailed from the nation's capital, he comped us free dessert. We got the tiramisu cake and almond creme horn, and were they smooth, smooth, smooth, baby! This is a peach of restaurant. I should have bussed Mr. Caliguire on the cheek, but demurred. I coulda given the wrong impression and then got the local people gossipin' and all that, since I never met the man before. No wonder he got restaurateur of the year awhile back. He understands both food and people, and how to treat them very well. Pittsburgh--you are lucky and I am jealous.
(5)Henry F.
Limited menu, but very good food. I guess they on cook what they make best, and it works. Everything we ordered was tasty, hot and seasoned perfectly. We would definitely go back again. We had the Beans and Greens,, veal braciola, and two pasta dishes all great. This is a byob place, with reasonable priced and easy parking. 2 thumbs up.
(4)Mark H.
I have heard so much about the place and finally had the opportunity to visit for lunch. I loved the atmosphere as it was nostalgic and having Joe cooking our food only a short distance away made me hungrier by the moment. The food didn't disappoint me at all. We were served a fresh out of the oven loaf of bread, delicious! My wife had a vegetarian sandwich with a side salad and after the hot bread and salad, well let's just say the sandwich had to be taken home! I had a veal over pasta and it was delicious! I would definitely suggest the paying a visit and don't forget your wine as it is a BYOB. The atmosphere is nothing fancy but is very cozy and exactly what you want when eating authentic Italian cuisine!
(5)Halee V.
My grandma and I went for dinner here recently and the food was delicious. I ordered the crab cakes; they were delightful. The dessert - moscato berry cake, was divine! The waitress couldn't describe it but I took a leap of faith and ordered it anyway. So glad I did. Huge chunks of berries baked into a vanilla cake with layers of wine flavored cream in between. I moaned with joy the entire time I ate it. The service was iffy, our waitress seemed stressed as soon as she had more than two tables. She rubbed me the wrong way when she refused to let me pack up my own leftovers. She didn't seem to have enough knowledge of the menu items. We will definitely be back though!
(4)Derek R.
I really like this place. The food is good as well as the service. The warm homemade bread is delicious. It is served with a very tasty sundried tomato dipping oil. The menu is quite limited and salads are not included with the entrees. I enjoy the cozy atmosphere, but there may be long waits as the seating is limited. The restrooms are located upstairs and are on the dumpy side. Tonight there were several things that made my dining experience rather frustrating. The air was stuffy, it seemed like the AIr conditioning was not working well. There was also an issue with the power. The light would dim and the bright, thus happened every minute or so. Very irritating. The last issue was a ceiling fan that was out of balance and kept making a constant "ticking" noise as it wobbled. I think some much needed building repairs would make a huge improvement.
(4)Courtney B.
I ate here with a couple friends for dinner on a Thursday night. It was small but nice inside and our waitress was ok but not great. The food was good but all 6 of us felt it lacked real flavor. Everything needed salt. We got the greens and beans that everyone raves about and none of us felt that they deserved the praise they had received. It was a fun meal but more bc the company and not so much the food. Not sure that I would go back and I literally could walk there.
(3)Larry B.
A go to restaurant in Crafton? Yes! You have to know where it is and how to get there, but once you do, it is definitely worth it!! You know something is going to be good when you walk in and you are only about 5 feet from the kitchen where the chef is pounding and pounding away on fresh veal!! My wife and I love good Italian food and after Francos in Dormont closed, we were depressed. But alas, we found a replacement... Its a small place, but so are most of the great Italian restaurants on Mulberry St in New York City, so get over it. The food is great, except the soup, I ordered the Pasta Fagioli, it was loaded with beans and pasta, but the broth was watery and bland, not my first choice, (that is the only reason I gave 4 stars vs 5). BUUUUT, everything else was absolutely excellent!! The Bruschetta was excellent which included an Italian salad in the center, Pasta with red clam sauce, Fettuccine with Oglio and grilled chicken, Veal Parmesan over linguine, and fresh bread hot out of a very, very old pizza oven with a classic oil dipping sauce... For the quality of food and large portions, the pricing is reasonable... If they had tables outside on the sidewalk, it would be just like Little Italy in New York!!
(4)Rhonda D.
Small quant restaurant which used to have great food. We were their last week and had less than average service and the same type food. We took our own wine only to find out that they now have ONLY small juice glasses to drink your wine from. So there we were with a 25.00 bottle of wine we brought back from Napa Valley only to have it stifled in a tiny glass. The waitstaff said they did it to save money.. unfortunately they lost money on us because we probably won't be back . My boyfriend ask the question. . What's next red solo cups? Average food, average service and now no stemware.. nothing special anymore..
(2)Scott A.
Excellent, genuine Italian restaurant. I love the intimate atmosphere. The fresh bread always comes directly out of the oven to your table. The prices are extremely reasonable for nicely sized portions. It also means a lot to me when the owner takes the time to talk to his customers. On our last visit he asked where we were from, if we were satisfied, etc. I will absolutely be back.
(5)Sue Z.
Stopped in to get take out. Ordered a pasta dish & a salad. Got home (2 min. Away) & salad was wilted & nasty!! The pasta barely had any sauce on it & was tasteless!!! For a lunch that cost nearly $20 - are you kidding me???!!!! Don't waste your money - I never will again!!!!!!
(1)John H.
Love this place. The food is excellent, the wait staff has always been attentive, and it's just a great little place that is fun and funky.
(4)Shon T.
This place was awesome. I loved the fetuccini Alfredo, it was so light and creamy and made from delicious cheese. The pizza was warm, fresh, and the fresh basil made it all amazing. Will be coming back most definitely!!!!
(5)Jason T.
Ah, back in Pittsburgh after seven years. Actually, I've been back for a few months, but hey, I had to hit all my fave spots again before I could start cranking out the reviews. You understand. Anyway, what I really want you to know is that Sarafino's is my favorite Italian restaurant, period. They're just as excellent now as they were before I moved. Not that I was worried they'd change, but it's good to know that this place has stuck to its menu and terrific daily specials. Sarafino's is small and cozy, and as cliched as it might sound, it feels like family. The staff are always friendly and inviting, the owner a great guy who cares about his establishment. It's always seemed like a hidden gem tucked away in Crafton, and maybe that's the best thing about it. There are a ton of Italian restaurants around Pittsburgh, and Sarafino's is in a league of its own, off the beaten path. So what's great here? Everything I've tried. The bread that is brought to the table has the best dipping oil I've ever had. It's sweeter than other places, and one could be forgiven for filling himself up on the bread alone. But that's just for starters. The famous greens and beans are just the thing if you're looking for something on the spicier side, and the wedding soup and pasta fagioli are fantastic. My favorite thing on the menu, though, is the gnocchi. I've never had better. It literally melts in your mouth, which is what a great gnocchi should do. It's never chewy, never tough. I always get mine in the roasted red pepper sauce (there are plenty of other sauces to choose from; they're all tasty) with meatballs. And man, I love Sarafino's meatballs. They're one of a kind, milder than others, but perfectly complement the dish, while also soaking up the flavor of the main entree. The seared steak panini and grilled steak salad are also must-haves. And the pizza? My fave in the 'burgh! A nice, thin crispy crust with a sweet sauce base and delicious toppings of your choice. Then there are the daily specials. The crab cakes with portobella mushroom on the side are amazing. Nothing but crab meat, no filler! And if they have the lasagna, you cannot miss out on that. It will split your mind open in a revelatory fashion, I kid you not. Then there's the veal parm, the ravioli...you get the idea. So for those of you who actually favor joints like The Olive Garden or Bucca di Beppo, knock it off. This is the real deal. Of course, those of us in the know don't mind keeping Sarafino's all to ourselves. But you'd be missing out on one of the best if you didn't stop by.
(5)Mike H.
Food was exceptional... Went there a couple weeks ago. The place is small but has great ambiance. It is pricey but worth it. Only issue is when you get there you walk right through the dining area and must wait for a seat by the bar. My only complaint was that the waitress was overwhelmed and forgot to offer drinks of any kind. Other than that I would highly recommend the restaurant.
(5)Booger M.
great greens and beans. Solid Italian food but not nothing outstanding. Large portions, BYOB, with jelly jar wine glasses. Either bring your own stemware or a modest bottle of wine. A good place to go with friends.
(3)Eric Z.
This is our second time here and it is really good. Great pasta dishes. Small menu and small dining area, but pasta sauces have BIG flavor. A very relaxed, small town Italian place with the atmosphere of a New York City hole in the wall,...and that is meant in a good way.
(4)BG M.
The Greens and Beans are pretty good. The have a hot sausage inside the dish that kicks it out of the park. I love the crab cake salad. It is a large crab cake that has no breading inside, you are getting all crab meat. It is breath of fresh air! The restaurant is intimate and relaxing. The tables are close, but everyone minds their own business. They offer corking fees if you want to bring your favorite wine, or a first date. If you ask them for a recipe, they give it to you. I asked them for their greens and beans recipe. They gave it to me!! I think they felt bad for me because I live out of state.
(4)Patrick R.
This place reminds me of something out of the Godfather - "A place with good food where people mind their own business". Unlike the restaurant in the movie, however, you can expect a good deal of loud talking... which to me is very Italian. The restauarnt is small and the tables are right on top of each other, which makes you part of the conversation from your fellow diners. Couple that with the BYOB policy, and you're in for some loud talking (table next to us had at least a dozen bottles of wine of the table for a party of eight!). You have to shout a bit to be heard by your fellow diners, but that's part of the ambiance. Aside from the noise, the food is fantastic. I went with a party of four around 9 p.m. on a Friday and we still had to wait for a table, which is a testament to how good the food is in this place. They have a pretty basic menu with a decent sized list of daily specials, which provides more than enough choice without being overwhelming. Everything we tried was delicious - mussels marianara, cheese pizza and gnocchi with the gorganzola cream sauce were the standouts. Sarafino's represents an outstanding value. The food is well priced and the BYOB policy helps keep the cost of the meal down as well. This is one of my new favorites in Pittsburgh - I'll definitely be back.
(4)Breyden H.
The food here is EXCELLENT. If you love independent neighborhood joints that stress deliciousness over decor, this is a great place for you. It has maybe 10 tables jammed into a small dining area that creates a bit of a family feel between you and other diners. Though it is BYOB, they are happy to provide glasses and open wine bottles. There is a listing on the menu for a $5 cork fee, though my table wasn't charged for it. So if you're taking wine, put a cork screw in your pocket or purse. As for the food, it really was quite good starting with the bread and dipping sauce. Our party of four had the signature greens and beans, a meatball panini, a linguini with red clam sauce (which my wife said was the best she's ever had), a linguini with white clam sauce, and a gluten free pasta with pomodoro sauce and everyone reported their enjoyment of their respective dishes. Sarafino's loses stars for a situation we encountered at the end of our meal. With several parties waiting to be seated, it was clear that the head waitress was encouraging our server to get rid of us. We were never offered a desert menu, had to ask for coffees, and suffer through a clearly exasperated head waitress verbally berate our server for allowing us to order it. While the food was out of this world, the servers must be made to realize that they are every bit as important to patrons enjoying a meal as the quality of food they serve. I will return to Sarafino's because the food was that good, but if the servers bicker openly and make me feel unwelcome again, it won't matter how good the food is, I won't be back for a third time.
(3)Rebecca W.
The location is great. The atmosphere is charming. The food is outstanding. The service is beyond horrible. Three waitresses congregated in the back area and had a conversation about Facebook and weddings and alien looking grandnephews at a volume that was so loud they should have just pulled up a chair and sat with us because I felt like I was part if the intended audience. The best part was the discussion about the one woman's first trimester and then her labor. And drink refills and seconds on bread were non-existent. It's really too bad the help ruins the entire experience. A little service management would make this a great experience instead of a real loser.
(2)Kimberly R.
Love this place! Things I love: BYOB. You bring your own wine for a 5$ cork fee. Margarita pizza is yum yum yummy! I get it as an appetizer for the table. The Rita's pasta is outstanding and I have tried the Gorgonzola gnocchi with is also amazing. The prices were great for the portions you get as well! The restaurant does not take reservations, which is a pain bc it is so popular. Try to get there before 6 or there will be a wait. Last time I was there we stood in the back and the waitress opened our wine for us and we had some of our wine while waiting.
(5)Leisa A.
Have you been to Sarafino's lately! Why not?? This is the most authentic Italian restaurant in the 'burgh reminding us of a back street in New York City stolen from a scene from The Godfather! The staff is hard working and always make us feel at home. Being that this location is BYOB, the atmosphere is alive with locals chatting about their week and lives, etc., over their personal wine selections. The beans & greens are the best around and their pastas are outstanding! Our daughter just returned from Rome and stated that the food at Sarafino's is as close as it gets in Pittsburgh for authentic Italian cuisine. You won't leave hungry! (There is a fight in our house to ensure that the coveted left-overs aren't eaten without permission!) We always look forward to returning! I highly recommend!
(5)DJ J.
Seated promptly and received bread and olive oil sun dried dip (promptly)..nice but the bread was nothing special, seemed day old. Since this is an old long time place stuck to the basics and had the penne with marinara sauce..it was good. Was able to have a few bits of the Fettuccine Alfredo which was nothing special. BYOB was popular at many tables.
(3)chris m.
This place is great. I just dined there and had the RITA - a garlic/vodka cream sauce with penne pasta and a bowl of wedding soup. BYOB! The bar next store has basic beer stock so bring your own wine. This is excellent Italian cuisine and inexpensive. It's intimate seating with butcher paper lining the tables. The staff was fun - this includes the owner. There are 4 small cafe tables outside in front of the place. Tonight there were 2 tables outside with diners - this brick road had very little traffic. The place was nearly empty when I got there at 7 PM but began to fill by 8.
(4)susan b.
SAN FRANCISCO VISITOR ate here 3 times in one week.
(5)Keri K.
BYOB with a $5 corkage fee. this is a hole in the wall italian joint with food to die for. the warm bread served with olive oil was delicious. the greens and bean appetizer comes with spinach, garlic, onions, banana peppers, hot sausage and is simply amazing. i ordered the mushroom ravioli special and was very pleased. the price is reasonable and the BYOB is a win. i will come back and i don't mind driving out of downtown pittsburgh to get here because the quality, the taste, the price, the BYOB, the atmosphere it's all worth it!
(5)Scott M.
Excellent food, loved the bread and the olive oil / sun dried tomatoes dip was superb! Now I am not a big salads person but the house salad with balsamic dressing was one of best I've had. I had the 'blt chicken pasta with spinach that was also very good yet the chicken was a little dry. The waitress was friendly but it was very, very busy, so service got slow which I understand. I just hate waiting 15 minutes for our server to realize we need our check.
(4)Bill J.
Had dinner here last night and was curious what the food would be like since the old Chef left to open his own restaurant. Joe, the owner, has come back to cook and the food is wonderful. He plans on doing more creative dishes and making the choices more interesting. Very good for his loyal customers. The place was packed and my wife had a veal chop the was huge and delicious. I had one of the regular dishes that I like and was also delicious. Even better things ahead for Sarafino's.
(5)DJ K.
Sort of a surprise New Year's dinner pick but what a pick! It's a very small place (holds about 30 - 40 total) but will accommodate larger groups. We had a group of 18 and they made it work for us. The staff was great, very attentive and pleasant. And the food...fantastic. I had one of the specials, chicken marsala which was served over pasta. Melt in your mouth good. My chick had a seafood pasta thing that looked great - clams, scallops, shrimp in a spicy red sauce over pasta. Others had crab cakes which looked good too. This is one of those "hole in the wall" places that you'd never think would be great but I certainly recommend it.
(4)Helen B.
Love the menu. Some of my favorites are beans and greens. The Crabcakes are fabulous.
(5)Douglas R.
Food is still good but the service has gone downhill in recent years. I sat there tonight for a full twenty minutes with an empty water glass. So did my wife. Hard to understand early on a Thursday night.
(2)