I came here a few times for lunch and overall had good experiences. I recommend making a reservation if you're coming right at lunch time during the week, I've used Open Table a few times to do this because they get packed pretty quickly. For food, I highly recommend the house made stracciatella! I've had it a few times and it's wonderfully delicious! I've also tried the crab cake sandwich and their famous meatballs that are stuffed with cheese on the inside. Overall the food was good.
(4)
My B.
4.0 star rating 8/11/2015 Meatballs!!! This was recommended by a local at our hotel. The fried pickle appetizer was delicious. So yummy. No complaints. I ordered the meatball slider. I got two which ended up costing 7 bucks. A bit overpriced if you ask me. The menu allows you to select a meatball consisting of different flavors and then let's you add a sauce or gravy. I got the spicy meatball with mushroom gravy. You can then turn it into a slider, sandwich, or eat the meatballs with the sauce/gravy. The flavors were there and the meatballs were good. My only complaint with the sliders is that is was not hot. Not even lukewarm! Disappointing for the price your paying. We also ordered tater tots. They cooked them too long. My daughter had the mac and cheese. Cute little noodles but not a lot of flavor. Overall one of the better meals on this trip. I would recommend it if you don't want to stuff yourself.
(4)
Whitley S.
So many good reviews... My boyfriend and I wandered in on a Saturday during lunch to try a new restaurant. The atmosphere is very nice, the service was okay, but the food was disappointing. The food wasn't horrible, but it wasn't good either. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich with chips. The chips were good (maybe a little over seasoned), but the grilled chicken was bad. The chicken tasted like the grill (not in a good way). It had an odd taste and smell to it. My boyfriend had the crab cake sandwich with pasta salad. I had a bite of his pasta salad and it was good. He said his crab cake was full of filler and not a whole lot of crab. Meh- I would give it another shot since fellow yelpers have rated this an average of four stars...
(3)
Terry B.
The likes: the service was good, the chicken parm was decent, and the prices were reasonable. Nothing too memorable though. It was easy to get a seat at the bar at lunchtime. Portions were just right! The dislikes: it's very dim even in the middle of the day... It made me feel like it was 7pm at noon. The pasta salad was sour and the bread of my sandwich was bland.
(4)
Chip R.
I've been here twice before, once with a friend for happy hour drinks and another time to meet up with my son and daughter-in-law for dinner before a show. I had excellent experiences both times. Today I stopped in for a bite for lunch and the excellence continues. The ambience at Sienna is contemporary with low lighting and Caribbean infused jazz playing just loud enough in the background to create a cozy, inviting and, dare I say, romantic atmosphere. The bar is fully stocked and they carry a modest selection of craft beers. It's finally getting warm enough now outside that they were able to open the front wall (garage door style) of the restaurant exposing the place to the sights and sounds of Market Square. They even offer sidewalk seating for those early enough to snatch up a table there. I, however, wasn't so fortunate and took a seat at the bar. After taking a stool I was promptly and cheerfully greeted by the bar keep with a glass of ice water. I glanced at the menu and hesitantly decided on the Open Face Chicken Parmesan Sandwich with a side of pasta salad. I say hesitantly because I haven't had a good chix parm in the Downtown-CBD yet. It took less than ten minutes for my meal to come out and I was oh so pleasantly surprised. In front of me was a juicy plump chicken breast covered in delicious Italian inspired marinara sauce (that was obviously in-house made) topped with a generous coating of provonello all sitting on top of a lone slice of focaccia. A pinch of basil sat capped off to the side on the provonello as if to say, "we believe in attention to detail". It's been a long time since I had chix parm that simply looked this good. If the presentation gets an "A", the taste of this here dish gets an "A++"! The side pasta salad was a nice touch. It was dressed lightly and paired perfectly with the parmesan. My total bill came to $11.77 plus tip. If you've dined enough in the Downtown-CBD you know you can spend a lot more for a meal of this quality. I really can't say enough good things about Sienna Sulla Piazza.... Excellent service, comfortable atmosphere, delicious meal all for a more than reasonable price. Five stars just doesn't seem enough.
(5)
Joy C.
Great atmosphere but not so great food. My husband and I were down in Market Square for dinner and figured we give Sienna a try. We sat outside with our 2 dogs and they were very accommodating. The waitress was great, she even brought over a bowl of water for our dogs. We started with the bread salad appetizer which was the best dish we had that night. Quite different than a normal house salad. It was very good. For our entrees we split the mushroom flatbread and the mushroom ravioli. Both dishes were ok. Nothing bad however just felt they were both missing something. Can't quite put my finger on it but I've had better. A couple complaints would be; the menu is pretty small and their vegetarian selection is even smaller, their food portions are very small as well, and their prices are high much too high for the quality and amount of food you get. Our bill came to almost $50 and all we ordered was 1 appetizer, 1 flatbread & 1 vegetarian pasta (no drinks, no alcohol). That's much to pricey for the food we got. I don't mind paying higher prices for food but I expect high quality and to maybe even leave the restaurant with some left overs. I wouldn't worry about checking out Sienna, there's other Italian pizza/pasta restaurants around Pittsburgh that are much better.
(2)
Nicole T.
I am completely sold on Sienna! I dined late on a Friday night with the significant other. The atmosphere is very intimate and romantic, perfect for our little date night! We were promptly greeted and had our drink orders taken. Service was fantastic throughout our meal. The real star of the show was the food though, oh the food!! I am beyond particular about Italian food in Pittsburgh. If I'm going to order pasta, I was it to blow me away. The food at Sienna knocked my socks off! We started with the Octopus, and it was prepared deliciously. The sauce that accompanied it was just as delicious. The only thing that threw us was the beans that it was served with. Neither of us particularly liked them, but at the rest of the dish emphatically. Next we had our entrees, we both had pasta. I had the bolognese and my partner had the rustic gemelli. Both were out of this world! I loooooved the sauce in the gemelli, and the bolognese had the perfect portion of meat and sauce. The noodles were fresh and cooked to perfection. All in all, I cannot wait to come back! I'm already dreaming of the day!
(5)
Theresa W.
Walked in around 6 with no reservation and was able to be seated immediately. After about 30 minutes, the restaurant was just about fully seated. The table started off with mozzarella stuffed veal meatballs which was recommended and they are definitely worth a try! The Caesar salad was a bit salty for my liking and the bucatini with mozzarella stuffed veal meatballs was very tasty.
(3)
Bobbie W.
Excellent atmosphere in market square. Food was absolutely Devine. I had the octopus to start and I must say that it was the perfect way to start. The swordfish entree was both visually appealing and an absolute delight. A precise mix of saltiness with the slight acidity of the lemon, combined with the wine reduction sauce was perfectly married together. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting from out of town.
(5)
Alberta H.
Lovely little restaurant with outdoor tables so you can check out the goings on at market square. I ordered the shaved artichoke salad to start but they were out of artichokes. I was so sad as it sounded delicious! So we had the ceasar salads, I had the scallop risotto, and Chris had the mushroom flatbread. The ceasar salads were good but be prepared to really like anchovies as the dressing is loaded with them. The scallop risotto was fantastic. Creamy, decadent, scallops were perfectly cooked as was the risotto. I would hands down order this dish again. But the flatbread was best described as interesting, and not in a particularly great way. To start it was loaded with truffle oil so all you could smell was the truffle oil. I could smell it from across the table. It was a bit too much. The flatbread was described as kalamata olives, mushrooms, and an egg on top. I was disappointed that the olives were a paste as opposed to slices of olive and either the truffle oil was too over powering or this paste had no flavor. Either way there were no briney, yummy, olivey goodness. If I had closed my eyes, I would never have even known they were present. And as far as the runny egg on top, it created a texture that just wasn't pleasant. I think if the egg had been slightly more cooked, the truffle oil reduced, and whole kalamata olives been used then this would have been a fantastic flat bread. All in all I think we would go back. Service was great, the setting on a beautiful summer afternoon was wonderful, and I'd like to try their dinner menu!
(3)
Kevin M.
Pluses are a nice area of outdoor seating facing Market Square. The Caesar salad was tasty and light: recommend skipping the prosciutto and anchovies. The four cheese flatbread is thin crust and oven fired. It tasted fairly bland and had too much ricotta. The unfortunate thing that disappointed me about this experience was the excruciating slow service after I was seated: thus, a three star rating.
(3)
Rachel S.
FANTASTIC! My best friend was planning to take me there before we went to a show, instead we took a couple friends of ours and made a party of it! A little pricey but WELL WORTH IT! I had the gnocchi and it was incredibly filling, the portions were reasonably sized. I also ordered a meatball (everything is a-la-carte) which was easily the greatest meatball I have ever eaten and ever will eat haha. It was made with multiple types of meat and stuffed with cheese with a tomato sauce, cheese and garnish on top. Service was good also, she was a little slow about getting our check but we were also in a hurry to get to the show. I will be coming back for sure.
(5)
Bryan J.
Food tasted good but not sure how it looked. Atmosphere is nice and comfortable but the lighting is awful. The place is very dimly lit, and during lunch the front of the restaurant was open to direct sunlight. So, it's dark with a glare at the same time. Very annoying. The food and service however was very good. Open-faced eggplant sandwich was tasty (not bitter) and substantial. Pasta salad was good and s nice size portion. I will definitely go back. Just need a small flashlight and polarized sun glasses.
(4)
Angela F.
This is another one of those palce3 I'd give 3.5 stars to if I could, but because I can't I think 3 is more fitting. There wasn't anything horrible about the place, at least not for us, but it certainly didn't leave me wanting more. Some of the other reviews complain about the price of the food for what you get; and I sort of agree. The greens and beans appetizer is 9 for what the waitress called "a very small bowl", and she was not kidding. On the other hand I got a grilled chicken sandwich that came with pasta salad (or chips) for $11 and I felt I got what I paid for. I was a decent sized chicken sandwich, with a nice sized bowl of pasta salad. The taste of the food is the same way. Once again, my chicken sandwich was pretty good. It came on a nice focaccia bread with a fancy aioli and (I think) provolone cheese. I was not a fan of the pasta salad though; it had a funny spice that I was not fond of. Erin loved it though, so.... And if you are a beans and greens lover, these are not the usual. There was sausage and chunks of tomato, which as an Italian I had never seen before, and very little actual greens. It wasn't bad, just not what one expects ordering beans and greens. A large part of the menu looks like wine and cocktails, but I don't drink so I'm no help there. I don't know, it was just kind of eh.
(3)
Laura P.
I don't get it. This place gets write-ups and great reviews, and I cannot for the life of me see why. The food is mediocre. Some of the combinations on the menu look innovative, but in practice, there is a lot of stuff on the plate that doesn't really add to the flavor of the dishes. My agnolotti didn't need 7 kinds of vegetables accompanying it when they were all mushy and flavorless. The service is worse. Our waiter was astoundingly condescending and unfriendly, explaining what tapas are and what bolognese sauce is - I guess we look like we think our idea of great Italian food is Pizza Hut - and slow...it took on average 15 minutes to get each drink, not because the bar was busy but because he was standing at the end of it BS'ing. The price of the meal was not in line with the amount or quality of the food we received. In sum, this place is thriving in a downtown area with otherwise great restaurants, when it is on the level of a pretty good place in a far suburb. For exceptional Italian food, walk 150 feet across Market Square and go to Il Pizzaiolo.
Me and the hubby went today for lunch. It was alright . I am glad we tried it but we are in no hurry to go back. I have to say there is a cool , hip, chic vibe but the food was just okay. The hubby got the crispy BLT which is crispy pork belly, tomato, truffle aioli, and arugala. The pork belly was not really crispy and it was a little dry. The flat breads, we tried two. I got the caprese. It had mozarella , cherry tomatoes, basil and roasted garlic. The crust was crispy and good and it was tasty. I say there was a tad too much garlic (& I love garlic). The hubby chose the prosciutto and arugala flat bread. The hubby was not keen on the tomato sauce. I did not mind it. The prosciutto was good. The crust, the very edges were crispy but the inner crust was soggy. It was just all right. We are not in a hurry to go back.
(3)
Bradley D.
Exactly what we were looking for. Large, tasty portions. Nikki provided exceptional service. And, very reasonable with the pricing. My family and I really enjoyed ourselves.
(5)
Tom M.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh. Nice ambiance and great food.. I would recommend the Risotto which changes seasonally, The braised Short Rib is to die for and the Pork Bologanese are among my favorites. For a beginning try the Greens and Beans or a Meatball. Now personally I am not a fan of the flat breads so I don't order them, but the pastas and the secondi's are delicious. And bottles of wine are reasonably priced.
(5)
Mia G.
Although the lights in this place are so dim that I'm never sure if its open, Sienna is a delightful and incredibly underrated dining spot! Each item i have tried is fragrant with so many textures and tastes that it makes my tastes buds dance. I came here for dinner and started with the octopus antipasti, which had just the right balance of lightness of arugula and richness of its sauce. I am a born and bred New Englander and know my seafoods, so i was skeptical to try their Seafood Gemelli. However, it exceeded my expectations! Sienna's homemade pasta, cooked perfectly aldente, adds a new texture that you don't get from regular pasta. The lobster sauce it came in was aromatic with so many flavors and was balanced perfectly by the other vegetables in it. The only negative I can think of is that the restaurant seemed very dark and the music didn't fit the mood i wanted for a nice dinner. Overall, I left Sienna with a happy stomach and an empty wallet. I would do it all again.
(5)
Peri R.
One word - WOW!!! This place was a great find! Perfect day and wonderful atmosphere! Food was perfect and service was exceptional. I had the Chicken Parm Sandwich and my family had the pizza (sausage). All were amazing. The beer and wine were great too! Eat here!
(5)
Waz W.
On my recent trip to Pittsburgh, I visited Sienna Sulla Piazza in Market Square for dinner with friends. I can't remember the last time I visited Market Square. It's changed quite a bit. Unfortunately, I had partied a little too hard at a bachelorette party the night before. Sienna had an excellent wine menu, but I had to pass on that. I wasn't sure if I could handle real food, especially rich Italian food, but Sienna's Housemade Ricotta Wild Mushroom Gnocchi ($19), surprisingly, helped cure my hangover. I asked them not to include the pancetta. Fantastic gnocchi dish with gorgeous mushrooms. John got his haircut earlier in the day, and the stylist told him that Sienna's food is great, but the portions are small. He ordered one of the vegetarian flatbreads and a side of brussel sprouts. Uhh, these portions are definitely NOT small at all. He ended up with way too much food! (Perhaps we're used to NYC portions?) Great service, great food. Next time I'm in the 'burgh, I'd love to stop by to try more dishes and explore their extensive wine menu. Until next time, Sienna!
(4)
Kim M.
In town for dinner with friends and we decided on this place. The waiter was more than accommodating. It was the food. . My friends ordered Confit Chicken Piccata. (The key word is "confit"....Confit (French, pronounced [kfi] or in English "con-fee") is a generic term for various kinds of food that have been cooked in oil or sugar water (syrup). Sealed and stored in a cool, dark place, confit can last for several months. Confit ("prepared") is one of the oldest ways to preserve food,[citation needed] and is a speciality of southwestern France.) My friends received two greasy chicken legs with a slice of lemon in top. When my friends explained that they didn't realize it would be a "chicken leg piccata", and after back and forth with the manager, he finally removed the uneaten greasy chicken legs from their bills. He also stated that he would be changing the wording of the menu that evening, but said "Confit is a word used in fine dining establishments!" Fine dining? Your waiters are wearing t-shirts and jeans and one of the most expensive items on the menu was the Swordfish special for 23.00! Not fine dining. Casual. Just like the attitude.
(2)
Joy S.
Stopped in for a drink and a snack with my husband at thr bar. The mule was gingery and good. We got the orzo mac and cheese and also the mushroom bruschetta. Both good. However with the bruschetta could use some more mushrooms. Felt it was a little skimpy. Overall a decent place for a bite and drink. Only suggestion I'd have is to have the bartenders speed up the pace a little. For not being busy taking 4+ minutes to make a cocktail is a little excessive. Would return!
(4)
Lisa G.
Was looking for a place that had a tasting menu and found this place. The atmosphere was nice. We sat at a little table to the bar. Wasn't the most comfortable seating but the staff was friendly and the food was really good. We had a salad plate that had 2 different types one with beets which I loved because I LOVE beats and the other had fresh mozzarella which was good as well. The risotto we had was also very good. The texture saw perfect. We also had a pork dish that was cook to perfection. The drinks were ok. Honestly none of the drinks were stand outs. This place would have gotten 5 stars if not for the uncomfortable seats and small table. I would definitely go hear again but would ask for a different seat.
(4)
Marissa K.
So I've absolutely been dying to try this place. And I will definitely give it an A+ for service. However, I wasn't SO thrilled with the food.... It was good, don't get me wrong - it's not that I was...unhappy with my meal...but I wasn't so happy with it either. It could have, however, been the dish that I chose. I ordered a special that the waitress so kindly told us about...it was some sort of fish (and shame on me for not remembering the name of it), which sounded SO appealing - served over a bed of sweet potato and fennel hash...but the fish itself was a bit too...fishy. It was a white, meaty fish, and the hash that it was served over was delicious...but ultimately the fishiness just, wasn't appealing. My arugula salad was awesome though - mixed with fennel and a light vinaigrette - such a tasty starter - I never thought to put fennel in my salads and will definitely be making that for myself. The roasted red pepper spread that was served with the bread at the table was also great. Though ultimately a little bummed with my main course, the service was excellent and the atmosphere was relaxing. Exposed brick walls always seduce me, and the friendly attentive staff was refreshing. I sat at the bar for my first glass of wine - made it just in time for happy hour the bartender informed me, 5-7 on weekdays - half off wine - always a selling point for me :-) I wouldn't be opposed to going back and giving this joint another shot.
(4)
Kim P.
It was a warm sunny early April day & we enjoyed sitting in the outdoor space. The mushroom pizza was the delicious. Try it if you like mushrooms!
(5)
Brian K.
Had dinner here for first time before a concert. The setting was very nice. Set in Market Square, this establishment had the feel of an upscale restaurant, but with a reasonably priced menu. I ordered the mozzarella stuffed meatballs, the tomato soup, and the pork. I was disappointed when the meatballs arrived cold, like they had been sitting on counter for a longtime. NOT worth the money. The tomato soup was a different story. Arrived steamy and was tasty. Main course took a long time to get served and arrived cold. I would have told my server this, but he wasn't attentive. Seriously: I would have enjoyed a better experience at the sub shop across the square. At least their food is suppose to be cold.
(1)
Robert S.
Intimate, but great for meeting people. I wish I had taken my girlfriend there on our first date. Very good drinks and delicious flatbreads make for a perfect meal after work! Service was attentive and engaging. Outdoor seating is a must, though they will close it off if there is even a 1% chance of rain. Highly recommended!
(4)
Steve H.
Stopped in here for lunch and found the food to be okay. The bar and eenvironment are nice and the staff seemed ample. Something just didn't seem right throughout the meal . Sorry I cannot give it a raving review.
(3)
Elizabeth B.
When needing an escape from the office yesterday, I asked a friend if she was up for lunch. Neither of us had been to Sienna Sulla Piazza yet, and since we're always seeking out new dining experiences, we decided to check it out. She made a reservation via Open Table for 12:15. We arrived promptly and were seated very quickly. The restaurant is smaller than I had anticipated but well decorated. I particularly loved the bar that has a beautifully lit wall highlighting the attached shelves filled with bottles. Though I really wanted to try some of the pastas listed on the menu (the Ricotta Gnocchi and Beef Ravioli looked delightful), I thought that the prices were a bit steep for lunch. I really didn't want to spend $18 on an entree. Instead, I ordered the Classic Caesar Salad, and my friend and I split the Prosciutto & Arugula Flatbread. I am very picky about salads but enjoyed the Caesar. However, I do agree with Rachel C's review that the salad was a bit salty... even without the optional Anchovies. The pizza was descent but didn't blow me away. I felt like something was "off" when eating the pizza but couldn't quite put my finger on it. After having thought about it, I think that the classy prosciutto and arugula toppings did not match the more dive-pizza-joint style cheese, sauce, and crust. I would definitely be open to checking out Sienna Sulla Piazza again to try some additional menu items. However, I think competitor Il Pizzaiolo right across Market Square - though more expensive for lunch - delivers better value for the money overall.
(3)
Shreyas M.
Brilliant ambience! The layout of the restaurant allows for either a quiet meal or socializing with a group, since there are 2 distinct sections. Servings are quite large. Well crafted meals, good wine selection too.
(4)
Jen D.
The food was great, atmo was awesome and the staff was super nice but... I'm not much of a meat eater and there weren't many options for me. All the pasta had some form or pork or red meat and most all the vegetarian dishes were really carbie. It's a great spot but not vegetarian or gluten free friendly
(4)
M R.
One the basis of one visit - great service, fabulous gemelli. As with a true Italian restaurant, there are a lot of dishes with pork products. Unlike true italian, the dishes are "fusion" creative. I had the gemelli with lobster cream and was still thinking about it the next morning. What is the thing in Pittsburgh about Shisito peppers though? I can't deny that the flavor was a tasty addition, but they seem to be on 98% of restaurants in downtown Pittsburgh. Attentive, friendly service. Very well stocked bar. Why not five stars?? I don't know - I think that's reserved for the very special, like Tony's Trattoria in Bologna before his mom turned over the sauce making to the daughter-in-law. Sigh.
(4)
Rachel B.
Very nice ambiance. It's especially nice in the summer when the garage doors are opened into market square. I had the gnocchi which was a very small portion. My friend had the 4 cheese flatbread which was very good.
(4)
Jeremia F.
Decided to come here on a Saturday night, we had reservations but on this particular evening it didn't appear that they would've been needed. I wish that I would have asked to be seated at a "regular" table but there was a large group of folks dining in the front of the place so we were seated at a "high top" table close to the bar area. The "high top" was certainly high and it wasn't the most comfortable place to have dinner. Moving on we tried a bunch of items and really went all out and were very satisfied with our choices. The Rabbit Rillette was on the menu and a rillette is something that I can almost never pass up. It was rich and flavorful and the serving size was quite substantial for the price. We then tried a caprese flat bread which was very fresh tasting and a nice change of pace after the Rillette. I then had the Chianit Braised short rib entree, this meat was cooked almost beyond perfection if that is possible. The flavor was so savory and the meat was so incredibly tender I felt almost as if I had ordered a roast. I'm not sure if it wa a normal butchered short rib as the meat was actually boneless and that surprised me a bit nevertheless what's good is good, Right? The service was nothing short of perfect, the server was very friendly and knew what he was talking about when it came to the menu items. I would certainly come back here again but would hope to sit at a more comfortable table if I have made a reservation in advance.
(4)
Philip S.
I love this restaurant. For certain one of my favorites in PGH particularly for a date night. Enjoyed a late date night meal with a reservation @ 8:45pm, which was as early as possible to lock down early on the morning of the same Friday. They are a must here I would say. Our server was a cool dude, and suggested we try a really awesome Zinfandel by the glass, which I think were maybe $8 per. This visit split the Octopus Antipasti which was a star, and the Meatball and Ricotta flatbread which may be the best of the two or three others that I've tried on different visits. The meatball on this one is far supreme to any pepperoni I have ever had on a slice of za'.
(5)
Andy W.
Good location and interesting menu but service was weird with waiter who changed his fake French accent everytime he came out. Food was ok not stellar but still a good lunch spot. Hostess attitude about reservations vs walk-ins was ridiculous given the low traffic in the door lol
(3)
Hiba B.
This is a great place in a very nice location! We had the wrapped Atlantic salmon and it tasted great, but expect the eggplant to be slightly undercooked, and hence, crunchy. So if you're like me and prefer soft well done eggplant make sure you mention it to the waiter! The staff is very nice and friendly and the service was great.
(5)
Rachel C.
Love the atmosphere. Unfortunately didn't really love the food as much... We went during Pittsburgh Restaurant Week so we were able to sample a little taste of everything. Add in a couple flatbreads and apps and we seriously did some damage to the menu! Hearing that the flatbreads were the way to go, we choose the tomato and basil and prosciutto and arugula. The winner was absolutely the prosciutto. The tomato one fell very flat against the flavorful prosciutto. We also ordered the stuffed hot banana peppers. They also fell flat and didn't offer half as much flavor as this usually flavorful dish should. Plus, they were uber tiny. Literally two tiny peppers that were barely able to be split between two people. I had the Caesar salad for the first course, which was way too salty. I realize that it was probably "authentic" in the way they used anchovy, but it was overkill. If you're ever looking for a killer Caesar head to Lidia's in the Strip, they know how to do it! Second course was the Rigatoni and Shrimp. The rigatoni was al dente, which I like. The sauce was okay, but nothing special. The shrimp was the standout of the meal. It had three jumbo shrimp and all of them were fresh and delicious! If those shrimp weren't included the dish would have been a letdown. The third course I chose the cannoli duo. I was really not impressed. It was a grainy filling and I wasn't too into the lemon/chocolate chip combo. It left me craving a real dessert somewhere... hence drinking more afterwards:) My dinning buddies all agreed it just wasn't a memorable food experience. There's dishes I still think of because they were so good. This joint is new, so hopefully they have a bit to work on some things... hopefully!
(3)
Misty L.
Fantastic! Hip, forward-looking without pretentiousness. Service was spot-on...friendly without being overbearing. Flatbread was hubby's fav. I loved the chicken liver pate...great idea to combine with honey but there was just a tiny bit too much of it. (So I'll give them an A++ instead of an A+++). Bolognese was the best EVR. Considering breaking in the back door to steal the recipe. Seriously that good. And really, what's a little breaking and entering for a perfect bolognese?
(5)
Nathaniel S.
Atmosphere was nice, food was good, portions were extremely small and all items were high priced for what you were actually getting. Do not plan on going back.
(2)
John C.
I stopped in for lunch on a Saturday around 12:30. My girlfriend and I were seated right away by a very welcoming host. There is seating available outside with a nice view of Market Square, so that's where we decided to sit. The service was very fast and the waiter was also very friendly. We started out with the Wild Mushroom Bruschetta as an appetizer, which was delicious and ended up being a fine choice. I ordered the open faced Eggplant Parmesan sandwich which was served with your choice of homemade chips or pasta salad, I chose the chips. My girlfriend went with the Chicken Parmesan sandwich. We were both very satisfied with our meals. Neither one of us could finish due to the large portions. But I will come hungrier next time and clear my plate, it's that good. The flatbread also looked great so will most likely order that next time I visit. Overall, I think Sienna Sulla Piazza is a great addition to Market Square and definitely worth visiting!
(5)
Tanya B.
We stopped for an early dinner on a family getaway to Pittsburgh. First, the location is great of course. Dining outdoors at the Market Square on a warm summer afternoon - it's great as it is. I like the menu, it's not too lengthy but offers a nice variety to choose from. Great service; they bring you free bread. (the one reason I didn't give them all 5 stars is that they don't have butter. Instead it's bean paste that comes with the bread and it wasn't all that great. I want my bread to come with butter, please!) The rest of the menu items we ordered were great! The flat breads are delicious; salads all look good. The raspberry tiramisu on the desert menu is a must! Overall, good food, great service and great atmosphere.
(4)
AJA J.
The last time I ordered a flatbread outside of Papa John's was nineteen ninety never. It's not usually my thing. I was feeling fiesty tonight, so I decided to "start" with a Caprese flatbread. When it arrived, it was clear this bread would be my starter and finisher. It was BIG. I believe the juicy grape tomatoes were marinated in some sort of balsamic perfection incarnate. Shreds of basil complemented this flat piece of masterpiece and I'm still full just thinking about it. Jonathan D. ordered the Beef Ravioli + a mozzarella-stuffed meatball. Both two thumbs up. The only thumbs done portion of the evening was the bread selection. Straight outta Shur Save I suspect; and a warm loaf of Breadworks would be just the ticket to a five-star review IMO. BUT, extra points given that Mario Lemieux was seated at the table next to us. Truth. It was incredible. So, Sienna - thanks for that!
(4)
Jason F.
One of the best cocktails (Dulce De Leche) and dessert (Rustic Tuscan Apple Cake) I have had. Definitely on my top three list Also had the chef's meat and cheese tray as an appetizer. Bartender was friendly and knowledgable.when my friend ordered a "coffee with a surprise". The bartender made an amazing drink up on the fly.
(5)
Carly K.
I am giving this restaurant 4 starts based on a salad alone. Crazy, right? Well, the chopped salad was delicious. The cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions are marinated, and then tossed into the chopped romaine. The gorgonzola adds a nice bite that complements the red wine viniagrette. Because I shared a flatbread with a friend, I didn't order meat on my sald, and to be honest, I think the salad stands alone. It really was that good. I am very picky about salads, and when I find a restaurant with delicious salads, the place quickly becomes a staple for me. I shared a prosciutto/arugula flatbread with a friend, and I enjoyed the crispy crunch of the crust. The prosciutto didn't stay in place very well, so my hands got a little messy, but it was very good nonetheless. It was a bit dark inside the restaurant at lunchtime, and I almost forgot that the sun was shining outside. But, the decor is tasteful, and though it is smaller side, I think the restaurant's size adds to the intimate, quiet feel of the place. I was able to get a quick reservation for lunch, and I look forward to trying Sienna for dinner. There were quite a few items on the menu that I would like to try next time.
We had gone to Sienna previously-just for drinks- and had looked at their menu then and had wanted to come back so this was the perfect opportunity. We grabbed two seats at the bar and perused the menu. My boyfriend ordered a Sangria (he was not impressed) however I drank the Rosemary Lemon Drop (he loved that though) and the first one I had was good but the second one (made by a different bartender) was hands-down 100% the best cocktail I have had in a very long time! My boyfriend ordered the braised rabbit,which is actually what I wanted, however I decided upon the prosciutto &arugula flatbread. That way I could taste his rabbit and he could try the flat bread.The braised rabbit was one of the best tasting entrees I have ever had at a restaurant! It was cooked very tender and was not "gamey", the sauce tasted as if it had wine in it, was creamy but not overly so-it was just amazing! The flatbread was surprisingly very good as well. It was a little overly salted, however, not so much so that it distracted from the other flavors.And it was very evident that all ingredients in both dishes were very fresh and authentic. The bill was a little higher than we would have liked. In particular the Rosemary Lemon Drops were $10 each which is steep, however, the second one I drank (and I don't believe I have said this in a long time) truly was worth $10 based on taste and presentation. Overall, I am excited to go back and try another entree besides the flatbread.I think next time I will order a rabbit entree for myself, even if my boyfriend gets it again, because it was just.that.good.
(4)
Shawn O.
Never ventured here for dinner, but I've used Sienna Sulla several times for business lunches. The fact that its a smaller venue, takes reservations, and has a simple menu for quick choices makes this a great joint to have a conversation at (barring the around average noise levels for a lunch rush establishment). The chicken parm sandwich is great, but definitely a stomach bomb (it'll require coffee afterwards to not need rolled into work afterwards) and the flatbreads a decent as well. Judging by other's reviews, I wouldn't mind checking out their dinner service, but I doubt I'll get to that soon.
(4)
Samantha C.
This place is terrible. For real will never come here again. Even the staff suck! Food is nasty nothing normal people would eat.
(1)
Jim A.
Went here for my girlfriends birthday on a blistering cold day in Jan. Unlike some other restaurants, where it might be cold inside when it's 7 outside, it was nice and cozy. Very good service from a very short server (sorry I forget her name). So onto the food, we decided to order one thing from each section of the menu and share. First course-Greens & Beans- I loved, gf did not. I think she was expecting more of southern style, even though she is Italian. Second course- Mesculin salad- all the flavors went very well together, the pear & goat cheese, and red onion vin. Third course-Braised Rabbit Pasta, absolutely the star of the night, I could eat this everyday. Last course- Prosciutto wrapped Salmon. Salmon was done correctly, but I don't believe there was any prosciutto wrapped around the salmon. I could not see or taste it. Also, I really didn't enjoy the eggplant caponata paired up with the salmon. Personally I thought it was a strange pairing with the salmon. Overall good experience, one of the better dinners I've had in Pittsburgh, will return.
(4)
Michele W.
I love this little place right in Market Square. I had the eggplant pram which was a whopping portion if delish. Friendly service and a feast little patio made for a lovely, if very filling, lunch
(4)
Tiffany Y.
My husband took me on a date to this restaurant. The meatballs that we ordered for the appetizer were "very good" in my husband's words. We both enjoyed his gnocchi with rabbit. I ordered the special of cod, which ended up being too mild in taste. For dessert the cannoli could have used yummier chocolate chip and lemon filling. The zeppole tasted dry and could have used more chocolate on top. Our waiter was nice. Our dishes came out at a good speed, but we had to wait a little while for our bill to arrive.
(3)
Mark F.
I'm assuming my experience here was atypical, but my lunch was terrible. I walk in at 11:15, there are no other customers. I say "one for lunch," the hostess says "all I can do right now is a table outside." I really don't understand why I was forced to sit outside at a wobbly table on a slanted sidewalk when there were literally no other customers. I order the eggplant parm, then sit at my table outside in the chilly air for 25 minutes. As I'm about to leave, the waiter brings my eggplant parm, which is gigantic, but overcooked, greasy, and tough. How do you make eggplant tough? I complained, the waiter got the manager, he asked me if there was something wrong with my chicken parm. I said it was eggplant, I waited for it for a long time, it's tough and chewy, he apologized profusely and asked if he could package anything up for me, but I was really turned off at that point and just left. Walking back I thought that maybe it had been overcooked chicken parm, and that's why it was so tough; I called the restaurant and asked the manager, and he said no, it was eggplant, but I really can't help but think they served chicken to someone who ordered a vegetarian dish. Maybe I just got a poorly-cooked plate. But please don't make me sit outside when there are plenty of tables. It felt like shame seating for people eating alone. And if food is taking long (25 minutes for lunch?), some acknowledgment or reassurance would be nice.
(1)
Benjamin M.
Decided to stop here for lunch while walking around Market Square. It's not the biggest restaurant you'll find around here, but it's certainly the coziest. It looks like a former street level garage, with all brick walls/floors and low ceiling, which was wisely converted into the upscale, Italian spot. I liked the vibe and feel of it almost immediately. After looking over the various menu options, I decided on the Homemade Sausage sandwich with a side of pasta salad. Sometimes this can be a risky order in some places, not knowing the consistency or spiciness of the meat. Neither was an issue as the sausage was tender, not fatty, and seasoned perfectly, not too bland or too hot. I just wished there was more of it or a smaller accompanying bun. The pasta salad was also good compliment side dish, pretty standard. The bartender was somewhat apathetic, maybe battling a case of The Mondays, but this was a pretty solid place otherwise.
(4)
Jenny B.
I have to agree with Rachel--the atmosphere is fantastic, and the food (and in my experience, service)--not so much. This place is beautiful--exposed brick, modern styling, dark woods, candlelit. Picture-perfect date night material. My husband and I walked in spontaneously and sat down at the bar five minutes before the end of happy hour, and the bartender gave us MAJOR attitude when we ordered off the HH menu. (Chill, dude! Five minutes is five minutes! The next round will be full price!) We also split a flatbread and an appetizer, and there was really nothing special about it at all. The chef was watching us eat from the kitchen door and he made me feel guilty for not enjoying the food. I also had to ask for them to turn their one television to the Pens game, and got attitude for that request as well. (It's a hockey night!! This is Pittsburgh!!) I don't think I would come back unless I wanted to chat over drinks with the husband or a friend.
(3)
Adam L.
This is a really strong 4 out of 5 more, not quite 5 but essential a 4.5. For appetizer I had the Chicken Liver Mousse. Im a big chopped liver fan and this was fantastic. They give you these large texas toast like pieces of tuscan bread and a large servings of their chicken liver mousse which is finished with honey and pistachios. It was such a nice light texture, not grainy or chunky in the slightest. Great unusual start to the meal. For an entree I had the chinati braised short rib. This was a venture to me because i never had tried short rib but am a big Osso Buco fan so i figured it was worth a try with the waiters recommendation. He was so right, extremely tender, pot roast like taste but chianti braising was phenomonal. Portion size was a little small and I felt the orzo mac and cheese had a very light taste that didnt do much for the dish. The short rib itself was something I would come back for alone. Very nice atmosphere and beautiful restaurant to dine in during the summer as the entire seating area benefits from their garage style lifted entrance. Will definitely be back.
(4)
JIM B.
Went here yesterday. Attentive service, drinks were great, nice bar scene. The greens and beans are excellent. I also had the meatball and Ricotta flatbread, superb. The meatballs are awesome, make sure you try a few. I will be back.
(4)
Elizabeth R.
I am definitely a fan of Sienna in Market Square. My husband and I went here for the 4th time yesterday. We arrived around 6:30 and were happy to find they had open tables outside. We ordered the stracciatella on a recommendation from a friend. The cheese was fresh and gooey and delicious with the fresh, toasted bread. We were similarly not disappointed by the arugula salad. We were eating light, so we both got flatbreads, which we enjoyed: the meatball and ricotta and the arugula and prosciutto. In the past we've had the shortribs, sea bass and a seafood risotto special and have enjoyed it all (with the exception of one misstep: my husband ordered the quail once and found it tasty, but too small for an entree). The atmosphere is relaxed, the service is always good and the food is always delicious. We will definitely come back!
(4)
Don H.
Exquisite Italian fare done by a master chef. Everything is done to order and the flavor profiles are dead on for every dish. I recommend the Octopus appetizer, Chicken Liver Mousse, Carbonara... and you have to get the meatballs! Prices are amazing for portions. I highly recommend leaving yourself in the chef's hands for the Chef Tasting Menu. You won't be disappointed. Sienna won Pittsburgh Magazine's Best New Restaurant in 2013, and it is an honor well-deserevd. TRUST YOUR LOCAL, PROFESSIONAL FOOD REVIEWERS OVER UNTRAINED YELPERS WHO HAVE A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER! Please!!! This place is a gem and a cornerstone of the Market Square resurgence. P.S. If you order 3 courses the food actually takes time to cook when it's being prepared to order. If you want to eat in half an hour, there's a McDonalds right around the corner. Good luck to you.
(5)
Steve G.
Awful. Service poor. Beef short ribs tasted sour. Risotto very salty. Many better places ti eat. Avoid
(1)
Keith M.
Located near NOLA and the Nicholas Coffee Co, Sienna is small enough to miss if you aren't careful. I had the Antipasto Flatbread and tomato bisque for a quick lunch on a brisk November afternoon. The flatbread was flavorful, spicy, bordering on overdone, but tasty. The cheese and ingredients had separated from the bread, and given that it wasn't fully cut was sort of a pain in the butt to eat. The tomato bisque was good, served lightning hot(even when taken back to my desk), and definitely did the trick of warming me up. While I think execution was slightly off on the flatbread, I definitely see promise in the overall menu and the freshness of the ingredients, like the herbs on top of the flatbread. The flavor was definitely there. If you're sharp, you'll notice that they chose the English spelling of Siena over the Italian. I was lucky enough to be there years ago, visiting the Piazza del Campo and the famous Siena Cathedral, amongst other sites.
(4)
John S.
I had high hopes for a wonderful evening at Sienna Sulla Piazza but those expectations were dashed on the rocks by uninspired food, fair to poor service and a sound system that blared inappropriate music for an upscale restaurant. I had read a lot of good reviews of Sienna which had my mouth watering. Unfortunately I had a below average experience. The restaurant itself is small, with tables both indoors and outside. We had made a reservation for a table inside and were unfortunately seated under one of the many speakers from the restaurants sound system. The ceilings were quite high but the loud rock music which rang out from their system was very annoying and made it difficult to have a normal conversation with my dinner companion. I don't mind loud music but I prefer to experience it at a club or concert where I have paid, knowing that my ears will be ringing by the time I leave. In my opinion, Pink Floyd and The Doors are totally inappropriate music for what I was expecting in a fine dining atmosphere. (By the way, I love those bands, just not when I'm shelling out $$$$ for dinner) I asked the waiter if he could have them turn down the music but was told, (for some reason) that the spotify system that it was playing from, could not be adjusted. Okay, I was a waiter for ten years and know all the tricks of the trade and I know when I'm getting a load of BS . The menu is small and although it has definite variety as far as Italian specialties, (pizza to pasta to an octopus salad), it felt as if the chef was handicapping himself with such limited variations under those themes The wine, cocktail and wine by the bottle listings are also small but with good character and moderate pricing for a downtown Pittsburgh restaurant. My dinner companion went for a glass of wine (11$) house salad and one of the homemade pasta specialties, which was suppossed to have a variety of seafood. I chose the octopus salad app and the short rib entree. The house salad was uninspired with lots of iceberg lettuce, mixed with a few field greens and tomatoes, all chopped up to a pulp and drenched with some type of bland dressing.(7$) The octopus salad was served warn with white beans, a red pepper puree and some arugula (11$) a good size portion, with a hint of spice and actually, very good flavor, despite the over infusion of mustard seeds. The seafood pasta entree, which was served, tossed in a lobster cream sauce was dull, with nondescript flavoring and not a lot of seafood. I will say that the homemade pasta was quite good but for the price, there wasn't much of it (24$) Important to note that chef Matt Porco must have gotten a good deal on a ton of shishito peppers (found mostly in east asian cooking) because too many of the dishes on the current menu feature them. The braised short rib(also 24$) had my mouth watering and even though my ear drums were being assaulted with blue oyster cult and leonard skinnard, I was ready to dig in. Once again, portion size for the beef rib was small. It lay in a large cloud of mashed potatoes which were in need of salt and pepper and flavor. Around the potato was a ring of pickled jardiniere (cooked vegetables, sometimes pickled) The meat itself was dry and there was no sauce whatsoever to help with flavor. The pickled garnish was over empowered with vinegar that its pungent aroma overwhelmed the meek flavoring of the rest of the dish. Desert menu is skimpy with only three deserts, one of which incorporated balsamic vinegar into it's pastry cream. The menu also features flat breads which we did not have but looked interesting. However I always say that if i want good pizza, I will just order it from my favorite pizza shop in my neighborhood, where I know won't be disappointed. I think it's safe to say that mediocrity reins supreme at Sienna Sulla,
(2)
Lacey B.
This place was phenomenal! The food had so much flavor, but it also was different! We went on a Saturday night and sat outside the weather was perfect and the atmosphere was great! The hostess was SUPER friendly, we made our reservation online(i do not recommend this) and it did not show in the computer as the time that was originally reserved. I made the reservation for 8:30 and it showed in their computer as 9, but I thankfully kept the conformation email. The hostess seated us immediately with much apologies for the mix-up and she continued to check up on us throughout our meal! I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you try this place! We will definitely be going back! CALL TO SCHEDULE YOUR RESERVATION, do not book it online!
(4)
Satya V.
I had loved this place (read my earlier review). However, they have been trying too hard to the point of being pretentious. I have tried taking my colleagues to this place for a happy hour at 5pm and despite having an empty restaurant at that time, they were playing hard to fit a group of 6 people (we were flexible to split into two groups as well). Leaving that incident aside, I met up with a friend last evening at the bar area and again had a bad experience. Also, they were the first restaurant I have seen in Pittsburgh to charge me two bucks for ice to go along with my whiskey! Thanks but no thanks!
(1)
Suzanne H.
Wow, I am surprised by some of the reviews. We just got into town, went walking around without yelping. Went to market square and walked around. Tuesday night about 6:30. We wanted some vino, saw people outside Sienna drinking vino, said let's try it.... Ordered glasses of wine at happy hour prices--$6 each!!! from CA, that is a bargain. Looked around, liked the vibe, liked the bartender, said what the hey? Ordered three things--the mussels, the roasted beets, and a flatbread pizza. They were ALL wonderful. My fav was the mussels--oh my gosh. The sauce...make sure and get bread to sop up. Yeah, don't be a Miss Manners--sop up the sauce.... The beets were different. But I liked them. They were surrounded by ricotta and went well with bread. The flatbread was good, had an entire arugula salad on top. And the service was great. We sat at the bar, the bartender was great--sorry, didn't catch your name!--and gave us great tips for things to do. My first impression of Pittsburgh is very good.....
(5)
Tony J.
WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD. I am not exaggerating in the least bit. The series of events that occurred in the hour and 20 minutes we were here completely put a negative damper on the rest of my family's night Let me preface this by saying that as a higher-end restaurant in a downtown area, located near the all the theaters, a place like this should check to show schedules and plan and staff accordingly. Obviously the place was understaffed because we were not the only ones getting up from their tables to complain to the manager. Because I took into account that it would be a busy night in the area, I scheduled far ahead and made a nice reservation. We got there promptly at 6 and were all delighted by the beautiful decor. I knew we may run into a problem when we all knew what we wanted before anyone even greeted us at our table because we sat there for a little under 10 minutes without anyone acknowledging us at the table. Regardless, quarter after 6 rolls around, and we place our orders completely: appetizers, salad, and main entrees. It took a while for the appetizers to come out, but I thought maybe that was just this place's take on the classic "take your time" Italian setting, which I am not opposed to. So, I was fine waiting a little bit so our table actually had the time to talk. Once the appetizers did arrive, I was a little shocked at the portion. There were just about 3 bites of greens and beans to go around for $8 and the beans weren't even cooked enough... I mean what I had was delicious, but since we all shared a couple appetizers, I only had one bite. Same with the octopus: served atop of the most beautiful plate. It looked elegant, but it was pretty measly. However, I understand the smaller portion of octopus because it's obviously a more expensive ingredient than the greens that go into making greens and beans. I digress... Another 15 mins goes by, then finally the wedge salad that my parents ordered arrived. Now this wedge salad was the best part of our meal. In fact, it was damn near delectable. But it was soon easily overshadowed by my hunger and the look around the dining area to see many people waiting for their meals. At this point I started to get nervous: it was getting close to show time, and I could feel that our food was no where near ready to arrive to our table. No less, I felt optimistic when we asked our waiter after another 10 mins when our meals would be coming. He responded, "well, it won't be 20 minutes, maybe more like 5 or a few." He gave the excuse that the cook is bringing the food out in the order it came into the kitchen. Well, bullshit because the gentlemen who came in 20 mins after we ordered complained about their meals running late, and soon after their plates arrived. **FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE NIGHT: At this point the manager came over, saw our empty table, and stack of appetizer plates, and asked how our meals were! You kidding, I almost killed over. This is when he then told us the "there's a show, and we are running behind" excuse. I am sorry, but when I plan ahead and make a reservation because I am so excited to eat at this place and start my night off right, the last thing I want to hear are these dumb excuses and being told to just wait a little longer is even worse. It was 15 minutes to show time. We had officially been sitting there at this restaurant for an hour and fifteen minutes. It was time to throw in the towel, and hurry and make our way to the show. My father asked our waiter for the check for everything we had eaten and told him we were leaving. Well, he brought the check, and GUESS WHAT, it had all the entrees on it! Instantly, my mother jumped up, and I never let my mother get mad in public, especially at a restaurant in the restaurant setting. I never think its cool to yell at a staff member or a manager, but this time was different. This was easily the worst restaurant experience I had ever had. What's worse is that I was so excited to eat here. I had spent time looking at the menu the week before and getting excited about what dish I was going to eat. When my mom went and talked to the manager, he had his face planted on the kitchen computer screen. She told him our series of events and how it was ridiculous, and then she said we were leaving and she asked how much we owed for what we had eaten so far, and he said he didn't want anything. At least at this point I left with some respect for the guy that he didn't fire back or state that he wanted the $25 for the food we ate. As we left, I was so upset. Like I said, I had been looking forward to this night for the past 6 months, and I was extremely excited about trying this place after I had read all the reviews. I was very upset with the way the night ended. Sadly I will probably never be back, and every time I am near Market Square or think of that night and show, this poor experience will be in the back of my mind.
(1)
T L.
Excellent experience. Wonderful food. The outside seating was great. Perfect weather and there was music in the square. This is not a restaurant for children. But they were very kind and my little ones enjoyed the experience. The bolognese had adult flavors but was hearty enough to get 2 thumbs up from the pre-schooler. Sausage rissotto was quite good. The grilled calamari was delicious. The fish special was just excellent. My foodie friend from out of town was well pleased! Staff and Chef were absolutely superior in attention to detail and knowledge about nut allergies. We will definitely be back!!
(4)
Nadine G.
I had the prosciutto wrapped Atlantic salmon and it was perfection. The poached pear martini was delicious. The bread was served with a bean dip that was pretty dull and the place was extremely dark, but the service was awesome. Definitely worth a second trip.
(4)
Greg L.
Stopped in here while in town and since I didn't have a reservation, I had to sit at the bar. It's a cute little restaurant in Market Square with both indoor and outdoor seating. It was restaurant week in Pittsburgh, so I went with the $20 3-course meal which included a choice of salad, entree, and a dessert. The arugula salad was good with roasted peppers and fresh shavings of parmesan cheese in it. The Rigatoni & Shrimp pasta was in a basil pesto creme sauce and was OK, but I wished it had a few more shrimps other than three of them. I went with the tirimisu and was quite disappointed. First off, it was served in a glass cup, which I've never seen before and it had a distinct citrusy taste to it. I love tirimisu so I've had a lot of them over the years, and this was by far my least favorite. Service was just OK and a bit slow for my liking. Portion sizes tend to be on the smaller size here, but I'm OK with that as I don't want all the calories. Between the 3-courses, I left full. The price was good for what I got, but this was a reduced price for restaurant week, so had this been any other week and I paid normal prices (around $26 for what I had), I would say the place is a little over-priced.
(3)
Lucretiz C.
The chef of Sienna Sulla Piazza has not once but twice sent my taste buds on an Italian vacation. On my first visit the entire restaurant was reserved for lunch including three seats at the bar. Impressive me thinks yes. Sienna Sulla Piazza is a small 14 seater restaurant but obviously it's beloved by many for it to be booked solid for lunch! From the first sip of my prosecco I knew that I was in good hands. The chef even brought the food out to me himself. The greens and beans were so flavorful and cooked with stewed fresh tomatoes and were served with grilled bread. I also ordered a Ceasar salad. To my surprise the anchovies in the salad where actually fresh not canned! After realizing this I knew things were done way differently at Sienna Sulla Piazza. Even though I was stuffed to the gills I just had to taste a dessert. I got the raspberry tiramisu. It was so good I felt, gluttonously naughty eating it. On my second visit I had the Mediterranean olives and gilled octopus. The octopus was topped with roasted red peppers and oh so tender. Sienna is apparently chef owned, which the bartender explained makes a world of difference in how the food is prepared. Bonus the bartenders are super friendly!
(5)
David B.
Marvelous food and excellent service. Sienna is mostly a small plates restaurant with delicious Italian cuisine. We shared a Beans & Greens appetizer that came with a Chianti reduction sauce that was delicious. I had the homemade Gnocchi, which I am generally picky about, but these were fabulous. My date had the Chicken Picatta, which was prepared with crimini mushroom, fried red skin potato, caper, lemon, and parsley. Excellent. Also, I got a mozzarella stuffed meatball that was very tasty. Lovely outdoor dining that spills out into historic Market Square, I am recommending this restaurant very highly.
(5)
Shelley R.
Amazing. This was the best meal I have had in Pittsburgh. I had the rabbit confit gnocchi and it blew my mind. Every bite was heaven on earth. Save some bread to mop up the sauce. Hubby had the Chianti braised beef and it was so tender and incredible... fell apart on his fork. Superb. Excellent. Marvelous. Very hip, intimate, sexy. Will be back!
(5)
Dean J.
2.5 stars, leaning towards a 2 based on the price. Went on a Wednesday night at 7, with reservations. Got there fifteen early, got seated on time. The front of the restaurant is *loud*; with a waiter talking to the table next to us and a somewhat unpleasant pair on the other side of us, the noise was a factor here. Got much better when the waiter wasn't dealing with anyone. Anyways, it's a loud restaurant. That's by no means a dealbreaker, and really common for Downtown. Crowd was mixed, the most represented group there when we were in were 50-something guys wearing polo shirts, half tucked into khakis. The food: - I had the pork, which was decent, my wife had the gnocchi, which was good, but more doughy instead of melt-in-your-mouth. - We had the bruschetta, which we were told took 12 minutes. (Weird to be that precise, but OK). Some other waiter/waitress apparently swiped ours... so it took nearly half an hour, as our waiter thought someone had already brought it to us. - Salads were good; aces. - My wife asked for a meatball with her gnocchi, which they forgot; it came about ten minutes late, and warm, but not hot, which left us wondering if they finished cooking it. The meatball? Not all that. - Portions were fine dining, and not red-sauce-stuff-your-gullet; I liked the portions, and left pleasantly full. Service: - good, but with us having a very quick set of orders when we sat down, it took 45 minutes to get the first of our food... which was an hour after we first showed up. Ouch. So, the food was decent, but not as good as some other places around town at the same (or lower!) price points. Either the service or the kitchen botched this one, and for "restaurant of the year" and at a premium price... yeah, that sinks it. (We spent $100 after tip; two entrees, two salads, one appetizer, no booze.) For better red sauce Italian, I'd try Lydia's in the Strip, and save a bit of money. For better Italian, especially gnocchi, I'd go to Dish Osteria in the South Side, and still save a bit of money. If I hear good things, I'd be glad to check back here, but we left disappointed on our first trip.
(2)
Lauren C.
So I called to make reservations for lunch at Bella Serra in Market Square and discovered upon my arrival that they were now Sienna. The good news: great location, some nice outside seating, and a fairly small indoor area that has a nice, rustic Italian feel. The bad news: service was a little slow during lunch and it took forever for someone to take our order. Also, I ordered the margherita flat bread. It was piled high with finely chopped basil, which I love, but the edges of the crust were way overcooked and impossible to cut through let alone bite through while the center of the flat bread was way too soggy. They seemed to use canned or at least marinated tomatoes. As a result, there was a ton of sauce/liquid, which made the bread so soggy in the middle. I think they would have been way better off with thinly sliced fresh tomatoes. Having said this, I'd like to go back and try something else off the menu to see if that is any better. The styling on the plates of the other guests looked appealing and it looked like a good wine list. I'm thinking I may just have ordered the wrong thing.
(3)
Tim H.
So darn good and seriously the best meatball I have ever had! Get one or two with your entree. They are delicious and stuffed with mozzarella. Not only was the food A+, but the service was stellar. Our server, Ryan did an amazing job of recommending food as well as pairing drinks with our choices. It was clear he was a foodie and gave us some other great recommendations of places to go around town. Thanks Ryan and Sienna! We'll be back!
(4)
Laura S.
Went on a Wed. evening and of 4 items, the 4 of us would only re-try the beans and greens appetizer. Didn't enjoy struggling to see food because of poor lighting design for our table in between the bar and patio opening.
(3)
Jessica I.
I travel to Pittsburgh a fair amount for business, so I'm always in search of good lunch spots. I can safely say that this will earn a high spot in my stable. My coworkers steered us here on a recent visit, and it was a lovely experience. Service was efficient but not rushed, and all of us were quite enthusiastic about our food. I had a delightfully rich carbonara that had the perfect balance of peas and pancetta in a sinful egg sauce. Aside from nearly falling asleep in a meeting after that, I couldn't have been happier with lunch.
(4)
Sheryl T.
Dear Sienna Sulla Piazza, you are delicious. Thank you for making my mouth water. Okay so maybe that's not quite how this review is gonna go but its pretty damn close. Anyway, I've been to Sienna twice already for lunch and I can say both experiences have been great. My server/bartender the first time was amazing. I can't remember what her name was but all the suggestions she gave were spot on. Plus, she let me try some fun wines that she thought I might like. That visit I had their meatball and ricotta flatbread, greens and beans, and their cheese plate. Id highly recommend their Greens & Bean. It's not a large portion but what you get is extremely delicious. Their meatball & ricotta flatbread pizza wasn't half bad either. Not my favorite but definitely worth a try if you want to get a little craaaazy pizza wise. My second visit I went with Tessa M. We decided to sit at the bar for lunch and snack on yet again for me but for Tessa her first time the meat plate (i can't help it if I like meat and cheese), the two fist sized meatball stuffed with a little sliver of cheese (i wish there was more), and both the pulled pork BBQ sandwich and tuna melt. Personally I don't like tuna and I don't think I ever will so I wasn't a fan of said melt. But the pulled pork on the other hand was delicious full of flavour and a bit of tang. Tessa might say the reverse but I can't help what I like. We could've opted for dessert but alas we're tiny women so we can only stuff our faces so much. At the end of the day it was definitely a satisfying visit. I'm looking forward to trying more scrumptious bites here!
(5)
Jessica D.
The hubby and I went here before the opera on a Friday night after not being able to get into Nola and we were really happy that we did. I started out with a glass of reisling which was definitely on the sweet side. Since I love sweet wine, I was in heaven. WE then ordered two apps - the mushroom bruschetta and the crab cake. We order crab cakes almost everywhere we go, so there is a lot of comparisons that happen. This one lone crab cake was definitely not high on the list of the best - it was too small, not that fantastic of a flavor. However, it was served with an awesome lemon and basil sauce that complimented it well. The mushroom brushetta had fresh tomatoes, a pile of arugula and interesting mushrooms covering the grilled bread. It was amazing! A great combination of flavors and the grilled bread really added to the flavor. For the main course, I had the butternut squash ravioli and a veal meatball. J had the pork chop. When my plates came, the meatball was about the size of my head and was covered in marinara. All of it was delicious. The meatball was perfectly cooked, had just the right amount of mozzarella inside and the tomato sauce was sweet, but not too sweet. The butternut squash was interesting. I think that for such a delicate flavor, you need a thin, not strongly flavored dough. Unfortunately, this one was very al dente and too thick. Also, there wasn't really enough butternut squash in the ravioli for my taste. What I did taste was fantastic, but there wasn't really enough filling. The sauce was a thin sauce, not really sure what it was, but it was really good with the ravioli. It was topped with tomatoes and braised short ribs that were awesome. J's pork chop was moist and flavorful. It was served on a bed of pulled pork. It was interesting and different and he loved it. Sadly, we didn't have enough time for dessert. But we will definitely be back.
(4)
Michelle T.
The food was fantastic! The meatball, the fish, and the dessert all exceeded expectations! We were very pleased with our waiter's knowledge regarding wine and food pairings. Most certainly need a reservation, but we very much look forward to coming back. It was a true food experience!
(5)
Allyson D.
Stumbled upon this little gem on yelp when my mother and I flew into Pittsburgh to see family and wanted a bite to eat before heading out to the burbs...anyway, I can't say enough good things. Service was friendly, decor was tasteful and warm, and the food was delicious! We were so happy that we decided to take a chance on this place. I hope it continues to do well:)
(5)
Tracy K.
Terrible service. Server acted like infant when asked if he could ask the kitchen for alternative dish. Do not ask the chef to deviate from menu. Will cause server to have meltdown. Never been to so called fine italian where you could not change pasta. Manager not much better. Server had no idea about wine list. Complete idiot. Would not recommend when visiting pittsburgh.
(1)
Jason F.
I ate here for dinner late this past Thursday night with my girlfriend. We were downtown already and decided to see what was open in Market Square at a later time on a weeknight. I actually was unaware that this restaurant was even there since the last time I had walked by it had been Bella Serra, but boy am I glad that it is. The inside of the restaurant is not too much different from the previous restaurants here with the brick walls showing and some art. They did add a rolling door to the front that allows it to be open to Market Square. For dinner I decided to have the strazzopreti & wild mushrooms with a side of orzo mac & cheese while my girlfriend went with the tomato bisque and a poached pear salad. We asked that it all be brought out together and within a reasonable time period it was. My strazzopreti and mushrooms consisted of the pasta, an assortment of mushrooms, spinach and onions in a cream sauce while my mac and cheese looked pretty non descript. At first I was unsure of how I would like my pasta, but wow, was it good. The pasta seemed fresh and was cooked al dente giving it just a slightly different texture than the large number of mushrooms that it was paired with. Overall it had a nice earthy flavor that I thoroughly enjoyed. After finishing my pasta I moved onto my mac & cheese. It might very well have been the best mac and cheese that I have ever eaten at a restaurant. It was very rich and creamy and you could actually taste the mixture of different cheeses. I only wished that there would have been pepper on the table to cut into some of the richness of it. While I was eating all of this my girlfriend was also enjoying her meal. I was able to taste her poached pear salad, specifically the roasted garlic mascarpone port vinaigrette and it was extremely tasty. The bottom line for me is that I would definitely head back here in the future. I went in without any expectations and it and it totally blew me away and so I am looking forward to trying some more of the chefs creations.
(5)
Mike H.
Quite the Italian gem in downtown Pittsburgh, Sienna is an excellent experience with wonderful ambiance at a fair price. My party was promptly seated and served on a Wednesday night by a pleasant french man. Each of our dishes were quite flavorful, however my roasted quail was clearly the showstopper. Succulent, tender and incredibly tasty, the saucy combination of brussel sprouts with walnuts and bacon with just a touch of rosemary was quite impressive. Other winners at the table were the enormous veal meatballs and the butternut squash ravioli (although the portion size was small). The papperdelle bolognese stood out as bland in comparison to the other entrees I tried. Although small inside, Sienna has a beautifully dark atmosphere and is absolutely a great restaurant for a night out on the town or after a show. One of the better eateries in market square if one is willing to fork over a few extra dollars for a memorable experience.
(4)
Matthew W.
My second visit and I'm so glad i came back. First of all, they serve my favorite wine, Nero d'Avola. I can vouch for the Greens and Beans appetizer - it has escarole, white beans, sausage and a marvelous Chianti gravy. The parmesan-stuffed meatballs oozing deliciousness, and the buccatini (tube-shaped spaghetti) were perfectly al dente. Homemade gnocchi were flavorful little pillows accompanied with wild boar (!), zucchini, beans and bacon in a tomato sauce. I will definitely be back to try some of the other items.
(5)
Jordana M.
I had another tasty meal last night. I did deduct a star this time since our server was not the best and the plating of our entrees was sloppy. I ordered the Octopus again. I could not resist. It was just as delicious, juicy, and sweet as it was last time. Yum. My husband ordered the veal meatballs. I never would have ordered the meatballs. I'm not a big meatball fan. Nonetheless, I am NOW. Loved the veal meatballs, gooey cheese, pignoli nuts served with a bright, fragrant, fresh, and sassy tomato sauce. Double yum. I was tempted to order meatballs to go. Sadly, my sweet corn lobster risotto was not on the menu. In its place is lobster risotto made with zucchini. I like the menu evolving with fresh seasonal ingredients although disappointed that their website menu states they still have the sweet corn risotto which is why my disappointment lingered. I was also disappointed to see cheese thrown on my plate and hanging off the side. Really? Is the expeditor sick today? Nevertheless, the dish tasted great. Another perfect al dente risotto coupled with grilled tomatoes and cubed zucchini. Everything tasted delicious but I will confess I am unsure the zucchini did anything for the dish. The sweet corn on the previous preparation added an undeniable sweet profile- the zucchini..not so much. Nevertheless, I practically licked my plate clean as I love the remaining flavors. My husband had the papperdelle bolognese. Another dish served with food seeping down the side of the plates. Aesthetics aside- Wow! Another delicious and flavorful dish. I loved this. The noodles were fresh and soft bathed in a rich and complex tasting bolognese. Every ingredient was present and required. Lovely dish I would recommend highly. Lastly- the chef's tasting menu. I asked our waiter what today's tasting was and he said whatever the chef decides. Yes, I get that hence the name. But what has chef decided today? Still fumbling by the waiter. Hmm. Not sure if this is the impression that the restaurant is seeking to make but I never do blind tastings. The only chef's tastings I have seen and partaking in were able to tell me before ordering what I would be receiving today. It's a shame they lost out on making more money from me and who knows how many others if they would just explain it daily.
(4)
Meg F.
We go here often for happy hour and it's always great. The food is delicious (especially the pizzas) and they have a decent wine list that's reasonably priced. I like the atmosphere too, very cozy. Never sat at a table though, so can't speak to that, but the bartenders are really nice and knowledgeable, especially Hillary.
(5)
Annie W.
Every so often I stumble upon a gem of a restaurant that deserves mention! Sienna Salla Piazza on Market Square in Pittsburgh is one of those places. Executive Chef Matt Porco's rendition of a superb Mesclun Salad is a true tribute to his culinary experience and high standards. Sauces were prepared to perfection and presentation was impeccable. From appetizers to main courses, it was evident only the finest ingredients are used at this establishment.
(5)
Lauren R.
The food was delicious. The braised rabbit was a fun meal to try. I definitely recommend it. If you are looking for a good Italian restaurant in downtown Pittsburgh this is the place to go! The only thing that was a little weird was you could see where the staff stood when they weren't busy.
(4)
Colleen C.
I can truly say with out a doubt that I've NEVER had a bad experience at Sienna. Last week on Valentine's Day was the best. It was my fifth experience at Sienna fourth for dinner. We were greeted with smiles from hostess and manager, Mike. Seated immediately and greeted again by, Matthew. First, I'd like to thank Chef Porco for hiring such an attentive, knowledgeable staff. Particularly, Matthew. His attention to detail of the menu was very impressive (and we love the French accent!). Our first order was an Italian Montepulciano for $40. We decided on three courses...the anchovy crostini and the mussels arrabiata. Both very flavorful and yummy. I almost forgot about the homemade bread with white bean spread flavored with truffle and olive oil. Yummy! The mesculan salad may seem simple but the kalamata olives, whipped goat cheese and red pepper vinaigrette just made it a much greater experience for the taste buds. It was difficult to choose the last course. I'm a big fan of their meatballs and I knew I couldn't resist. So the Bucatini with their signature mozzarella stuff meatballs (size of baseballs) won! My sweetheart ordered my second choice, the Lamb Osso Buco...a large delectable portion of meat with mashed potatoes and carrots. As decent and fair minded Americans, we, of course, shared plates (thanks sweetie!). All courses were delicious and unique. The lamb tender, falling off bone. The meatballs melt in your mouth. We did not leave with a doggie bag. Kudos to Sienna for your efforts to ensure that the service, food, and atmosphere is unique, fun, and delicious. I hope more restaurants can use you as a benchmark, particularly with service and knowledge of food and wine.
(5)
Jules M.
Awful. Terrible staff very rude. Food was meeeeh ok I guess but over priced for mediocrity. Never again
(1)
Stacie M.
Everything we tried was delicious, the service was good too. We can't wait to go back.
(5)
Rotem G.
Their flatbread appetizers were my favorite part of the meal. The prosciutto and arugula one was my favorite. For the rest of the meal I tried their restaurant week offering (Salad, Pasta, and Dessert). The salad was simple and fresh, but not memorable. The pasta was well made, in a very traditional execution. I guess I was hoping for something a little more unique and with a little flair (like their flatbread). For desert I chose the zeppoli. Sadly they were somewhat small, so they lacked the moist inside I expect from a zeppoli. This was a Yelp get together, so of course we discussed the meal. Out of seven diners the consensus around the table seemed to be that the meal would best be rated a 3.25, but until Yelp lets us do fractions of a star, it'll have to be a 3.
(3)
Melissa W.
After reading the reviews, my mom and I made a reservation for before a show and had no problem getting in for a before show dinner. The waitress was very nice and offered us suggestions from the menu. I decided on the Bucatini with the Mozerella Stuffed meatballs and the entire dish was to DIE for. I did not have a problem with the portion sizes - in fact, I had leftovers! The tomato sauce was perfectly chunky and not at all from a can/jar and my taste buds were just in heaven. I would highly recommend this restaurant for any special occasion. It is a little pricey, but well worth it.
(5)
Tessa M.
i really liked sienna. i didn't know what to expect going in, but i certainly wasn't disappointed. we ordered the parmesan stuffed meatballs and the meat and cheese tray for appetizers. the meatballs were good as were the fancy meats and cheeses. for entrees, i split a tuna melt and a bbq sandwich with Sheryl T. the bbq was good, very interesting with the veggies in it, but the bun was a little soggy. the tuna melt was delicious, and a lot more filling than i expected. we got a side of pasta salad with one and chips with the other. the pasta salad was good but nothing super special. the chips on the other hand were quite possibly the best i've ever had.. the rosemary-herb topping made them irresistible. our bartender was also super nice and helpful. they gave us the wrong bill by accident but he quickly fixed that for us, and the price turned out to be quite reasonable.
(5)
Shari S.
I had a great dinner last night at Sienna Sulla with a colleague while visiting my company's Pittsburgh office. I had the Caprese (tomato mozzarella) salad to start which was fresh and delicious. For my entree, I really enjoyed the grilled swordfish which was poached in olive oil and served atop rounds of fried zucchini and succulent oven roasted tomatoes. My dining companion's tomato risotto was an outstanding melange of creamy Arborio rice studded with sundried tomatoes and basil. The decor at Sienna Sulla was a cozy mix of exposed brick walls, swirly glazed glass tabletops and low lighting, all of which made for a pleasant dinner ambiance. There were a few tables outside but the interior seemed more inviting so we sat inside by the large bay window looking towards Market Square. Our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly but not intrusive. I would happily return to Sienna Sulla when I'm back in Pittsburgh!
(5)
Shweta N.
There's some great things about Sienna: (1) Great location, nestled right next to Nola in the heart of the square (2) Heavy Pours! (I'll be back for a happy hour in the not too distant future) (3) Atmosphere. One thing I wished it had, but didn't find, was food so good it would keep me coming back! We started with the tomato bisque and the sausage, potato, and kale soup- for me this was the highlight of the meal. The tomato bisque had just the right balance of acid and cream, and was served with a grilled crostini. The sausage and kale soup was also very tasty and full of their homemade sausage, which we later ordered as a side- it was so good! We thought this was a lead up to some phenomenal mains, but we were a little disappointed. We tried the beef ravioli, which unfortunately had a creamy tomato sauce very similar to the bisque, and the prosciutto and arugula flatbread. I LOVE prosciutto and arugula, but in my opinion it's best served simple with a little bit of olive oil, a couple of shaves of spicy parmesan, and cracked black pepper. The flatbread had a tomato and melted mozzarella base. Together, with the prosciutto and parmesan, this was just too salty for me. The service is top notch and the bartender was incredibly attentive (try the lost at sea, you won't regret it!); these 2 factors certainly contributed to their "Best New Restaurant of Pittsburgh 2013" title. Overall and all things considered, I will be back to try more from the menu- this place has too much going for it for me not to give it another shot! Hopefully you'll see this review upgraded in a month or two!
(3)
Brandon T.
I have been to Sienna several times for lunch, but I decided to take an out of town friend there for dinner last week. I ordered the salmon entree, and it was excellent. The salmon was done a little more than I would have considered medium-rare, but it was very good, and the arugula and tomato/eggplant dish were unbelievably flavorful, so I did not mind at all. I enjoyed my meal so much that I went the next day with a client even though we did not have a reservation. I ordered a 'side arugula salad' with a side of a mozzarella-stuffed meatball. I also ordered the tomato/eggplant that accompanied the salmon the day before because it was that good. The meal was great, and we were very glad to be seated even though the restaurant was packed. The service was pretty good each time. I do not think I have ever been dissatisfied with the service. BTW, the Malbec Nieto wine from Mendoza, Argentina was excellent as well. It went really well with the tomato-based dishes that we ordered.
(4)
Sally O.
Food - 5 stars Hostess - 1 star. Awful. The food at Sienna is fantastic (the only reason why I have been back more than once). I live in NYC and am pretty picky about my Italian restaurants. I'm currently in Pittsburgh on a long term work assignment- staying downtown, and therefore I eat dinner out every night alone. I have gone to Sienna both for dinner and lunch. The meal both times has been fantastic BUT the hostess (same one both times) was rude, condescending, and inappropriate. I hope management reads this and has a talk with her. I understand that I am one person and would NEVER take up a big table on a busy night at a restaurant. I'm happy sitting at the bar. That being said-- on a Monday night in an empty restaurant, I expect to be welcomed kindly. No looking me up and down, and quesitoning "on, ONE person? Dining ALONE? Well... I guess we have space for you at the bar." No kidding, in the empty restaurant- thanks. Then I went there again at lunch (WANTING to eat at the bar) when it was early and there were tons of tables open and the bar was full and again-- the look, the grimace. It is a SHAME that a restaurant with such fantastic food (meatballs, octopus appetizer, flatbread, and wine selection are AMAZING) chooses to put such an ugly face forward. I would love to have Sienna on my weekly restaurant rotation but instead am opting for Meat & Potatoes (MUCH busier but still recognize me with a warm welcome) and Penn Avenue Fish Company (same thing-- busy but welcoming).
(3)
X Q.
The food is fantastic, but the service is not. Had a salad and pasta with meatballs and it was all very delicious. The service was terrible. The AC was dripping water on us at our table and the host refused to move us to a new table and expected us to just get water dripped on our heads and food all night. We insisted that we move to our server and eventually were moved to a large family style table with another family that we did not know...awkward. Our server also semi-neglected us because she was trying to give speedy service to another table who had to catch a show at 7:30. Well, we were going to the same show and her focus on them and lack of attention to us made us late for the show. Sienna needs to step up their customer service. They want to be an upscale restaurant, but they're providing diner-style service.
(2)
Gabby M.
My aunt and uncle came into town and from Atlanta and they heard from locals they should try Sienna for dinner. I live on the south side and had never heard of it so I was excited to go there. My boyfriend and I met them there and the atmosphere was very cool. We had reservations and were seated straight away. The server was very attentive the whole night and he suggested delicious drinks! I had an agave tequila cocktail and it was so uniquely delicious! We ordered a few appetizers, four main courses and two deserts. All of them were delicious and they came out at what seemed like perfect timing. My favorite of all that I tried was the pork chop. It was juicy and perfectly cooked. I would reccomend this place for anyone- from a romantic night with your significant other to a relaxed night with family! The prices are higher because the restaurant is more upscale, but I will definitely be back for a special night!
(5)
Event L.
Best waiter encountered in the Pittsburgh restaurant scene in recent years. Food was tasty and has great potential. Slightly over-cooked bass buried under too many potato strings but with an absolutely delicious sauce. Grisly yet still delish veal meatball sloppily presented on too small of a plate in a truly authentic red sauce. The tuna, bolognese, and salmon were also ordered and fellow diners enjoyed it but didn't rave. Will definitely return to try other dishes.
(3)
Justin H.
Perfect environment for a date night! Staff was very knowledgable and helpful when selecting dishes. Indoor/outdoor dining was a huge plus! Also, it wouldn't hurt to call ahead for reservations.
(5)
JBaby S.
i am a food critic of critics and i have not one negative thing to write about except that i am stuffed. The red skinned potatoes are perfection, the goat cheese salad perfection. bread and red pepper hummus dip superb. Nikki was a perfect waitress, tending to my every need The 4 drinks i had were handcrafted and marvelous and I am very very picky about drinks. The ginger beer drink was perfectly presented in a copper mug. They infuse their own syrups or ginger beer. The lemon drop rosemary martini was next to my favorite. The cucumber lavender was as drinkable as kool aid the exotic tequila and carrot drink was very nice and pretty FLatbreads are very crispy and will not dissapoint. I hope they keep up the good work. This is about the only 5 star I ever gave a pittsburgh establishment. I cant wait to go back This is serious eating. NO weekend chefs working here. THis is fine dining. Portions are high quality and small so dont be expecting huge piles of garbage like other places serve you get what you pay for!!! OH, the chocolate lava cake was bar none.
(5)
Elizabeth D.
The octopus toast was to die for, but the food was to die from, sadly. Ok, it wasn't that bad, but it was SO over salted, and when you are dropping big bucks on a romantic dinner, you don't want to leave with a lip puckering salty taste in your mouth. The ambiance was lovely, the waitstaff was accomadating, the area is cute and good for out of town visitors (and parking, if it's a weeknight after 6 p.m.). Still, when you drop $100 on a dinner for two, you expect a bit less salt.
(3)
Andrea C.
An unexpected treat. Small and intimate restaurant in the middle of market square. Make reservations if you don't want to sit at the bar...but it is worth the wait. Meatballs were fabulous and the the butternut squash ravioli was savory and delicious. We will definitely return next time we're in Pittsburgh.
(4)
Marcus A.
Pittsburgh has recently become a point of call for me, and one of the first things I do when entering a new area is consult with the Yelp universe. Once again I've been the beneficiary of our community's generous input, as Sienna is an exceptional find. Fantastic Italian inspired food, affable associates, and a contemporary decor will keep me coming back. Had the Osso Bucco the first time around, and had to force myself to stop eating well after I was full. Tonight I'm having the Chicken Picatta, and it's a delectable treat. Kudos Sienna...you have yourself a fan!
(5)
Chris H.
Hands down one of the best Italian Restaurants in my hometown of Pittsburgh. The restaurant is small and quaint. The atmosphere reminded my of a NYC restaurant. Staff is wonderful. Bartender made my wife a great dirty martini. I ate the Bolognese dish with an added meatball stuffed with cheese and my wife had the gnocchi. All pastas are homemade. Dessert topped off the night perfectly.
(5)
Nancy S.
Here with 5 friends recently. The food was fabulous-- can't say enough about the lobster risotto which was so full of lobster flavor it was amazing. The calimari was perfect-- crunchy and crisp and not at all greasy. The desserts--we shared 3 different ones--were wonderful. Our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly. Overall a super meal.
(5)
Andrew S.
Best restaurant in market square. I have been here several times and never had a bad experience! Highly recommended.
(5)
Danielle D.
Love it for lunch! This is by far my favorite lunchtime spot. Their flatbreads are great. The arugula and prosciutto flatbread is like a pizza and salad in one. Anything with the meatballs is tasty. I haven't ever had anything here I didn't like. The service is usually efficient, but never knocks my socks off. The ambiance would be great for a romantic dinner.
(5)
Mary W.
The hostess is anything but inviting, so don't let that put a damper on your evening. We had dinner reservations for 9:30, so we arrived at 8:30 for pre dinner cocktails. I highly recommend reservations as this is a small place. We had stopped in here a few weeks ago for drinks and were back for dinner. We ordered French martini's and they were very tasty. I stopped at one as I had not eaten and was beginning to feel quite shaky. Our table was ready and we were seated. Our waiter was knowledgeable about the food and gave his recommendations. We both decided on the bucatini with mozzarella stuffed veal meatballs for dinner, I ordered the orzo Mac n cheese as an appetizer as I was starving, and my boyfriend had the tomato bisque. The tomato bisque was very tasty, and my orzo Mac n cheese was very creamy and delicious. I must note that there was not salt n pepper on the table, and that must be because you don't have a need for it. All dishes are seasoned well. Our dinners arrive and again, everything is extremely tasty. The meatball was seasoned perfectly and the mozzarella oozed out when you cut it in half. I will definitely be back again. This is a great place for drinks, celebrations, or anything in between.
(5)
Rhonda H.
Wonderful atmosphere and great service. First time at Market Square and this was a great restaurant to experience the the evening. I had the duck with blueberries and it was great ! Would definitely return!
(5)
Elana B.
This is my first-ever review on Yelp! I went to Sienna Sulla Piazza last night for the first time and loooved it! We had made a reservation and were seated immediately. Our waiter was very nice - it did take a little bit for our order to be taken (we had waited about 15 min. after initially being greeted, where we then asked another server to get ours for us). That was the only "downside" to the evening. After our server came to us, he apologized for the wait and was super attentive the remainder of the evening. My date ordered a flatbread and I ordered the tomato bisque and the sienna chopped salad. The portions were perfect and the pricing was definitely reasonable. We kept saying over dinner how good everything was and how nice everyone (the hostess, servers, etc.) was to us. We will be back there for sure!! :)
(4)
Mark P.
Great addition to Market Square, but typical Italian food. We had a great time and the drinks came quick, but the food came a little slow. We waited for 35 minutes between salad and entree. Not horrible, but we were four guys and hungry. The salad was the best part of my meal. I had the Sienna Chopped. The short ribs off the bone... Not that special. You would also think a Mac&Cheese Risotto would be awesome, but it was not. Good pricing and a nice venue, but maybe do a progressive night in Market Square, starting with salad or apps at Sienna and then dinner somewhere else.
(2)
Dana H.
I don't usually bother to write reviews but my experience at Sienna was so great that I felt compelled. I was seated at a perfect hightop overlooking bustling Market Square. My server Mathew had a European accent and was extremely attentive. The atmosphere was warm and wonderful. MOST OF ALL THE FOOD IS AWESOME!! Chopped salad with a wonderful homemade dressing topped with grilled shrimp and a cup of tomato bisque took me from my Steeltown to Tuscany!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Garage, Street, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Sarah L.
I came here a few times for lunch and overall had good experiences. I recommend making a reservation if you're coming right at lunch time during the week, I've used Open Table a few times to do this because they get packed pretty quickly. For food, I highly recommend the house made stracciatella! I've had it a few times and it's wonderfully delicious! I've also tried the crab cake sandwich and their famous meatballs that are stuffed with cheese on the inside. Overall the food was good.
(4)My B.
4.0 star rating 8/11/2015 Meatballs!!! This was recommended by a local at our hotel. The fried pickle appetizer was delicious. So yummy. No complaints. I ordered the meatball slider. I got two which ended up costing 7 bucks. A bit overpriced if you ask me. The menu allows you to select a meatball consisting of different flavors and then let's you add a sauce or gravy. I got the spicy meatball with mushroom gravy. You can then turn it into a slider, sandwich, or eat the meatballs with the sauce/gravy. The flavors were there and the meatballs were good. My only complaint with the sliders is that is was not hot. Not even lukewarm! Disappointing for the price your paying. We also ordered tater tots. They cooked them too long. My daughter had the mac and cheese. Cute little noodles but not a lot of flavor. Overall one of the better meals on this trip. I would recommend it if you don't want to stuff yourself.
(4)Whitley S.
So many good reviews... My boyfriend and I wandered in on a Saturday during lunch to try a new restaurant. The atmosphere is very nice, the service was okay, but the food was disappointing. The food wasn't horrible, but it wasn't good either. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich with chips. The chips were good (maybe a little over seasoned), but the grilled chicken was bad. The chicken tasted like the grill (not in a good way). It had an odd taste and smell to it. My boyfriend had the crab cake sandwich with pasta salad. I had a bite of his pasta salad and it was good. He said his crab cake was full of filler and not a whole lot of crab. Meh- I would give it another shot since fellow yelpers have rated this an average of four stars...
(3)Terry B.
The likes: the service was good, the chicken parm was decent, and the prices were reasonable. Nothing too memorable though. It was easy to get a seat at the bar at lunchtime. Portions were just right! The dislikes: it's very dim even in the middle of the day... It made me feel like it was 7pm at noon. The pasta salad was sour and the bread of my sandwich was bland.
(4)Chip R.
I've been here twice before, once with a friend for happy hour drinks and another time to meet up with my son and daughter-in-law for dinner before a show. I had excellent experiences both times. Today I stopped in for a bite for lunch and the excellence continues. The ambience at Sienna is contemporary with low lighting and Caribbean infused jazz playing just loud enough in the background to create a cozy, inviting and, dare I say, romantic atmosphere. The bar is fully stocked and they carry a modest selection of craft beers. It's finally getting warm enough now outside that they were able to open the front wall (garage door style) of the restaurant exposing the place to the sights and sounds of Market Square. They even offer sidewalk seating for those early enough to snatch up a table there. I, however, wasn't so fortunate and took a seat at the bar. After taking a stool I was promptly and cheerfully greeted by the bar keep with a glass of ice water. I glanced at the menu and hesitantly decided on the Open Face Chicken Parmesan Sandwich with a side of pasta salad. I say hesitantly because I haven't had a good chix parm in the Downtown-CBD yet. It took less than ten minutes for my meal to come out and I was oh so pleasantly surprised. In front of me was a juicy plump chicken breast covered in delicious Italian inspired marinara sauce (that was obviously in-house made) topped with a generous coating of provonello all sitting on top of a lone slice of focaccia. A pinch of basil sat capped off to the side on the provonello as if to say, "we believe in attention to detail". It's been a long time since I had chix parm that simply looked this good. If the presentation gets an "A", the taste of this here dish gets an "A++"! The side pasta salad was a nice touch. It was dressed lightly and paired perfectly with the parmesan. My total bill came to $11.77 plus tip. If you've dined enough in the Downtown-CBD you know you can spend a lot more for a meal of this quality. I really can't say enough good things about Sienna Sulla Piazza.... Excellent service, comfortable atmosphere, delicious meal all for a more than reasonable price. Five stars just doesn't seem enough.
(5)Joy C.
Great atmosphere but not so great food. My husband and I were down in Market Square for dinner and figured we give Sienna a try. We sat outside with our 2 dogs and they were very accommodating. The waitress was great, she even brought over a bowl of water for our dogs. We started with the bread salad appetizer which was the best dish we had that night. Quite different than a normal house salad. It was very good. For our entrees we split the mushroom flatbread and the mushroom ravioli. Both dishes were ok. Nothing bad however just felt they were both missing something. Can't quite put my finger on it but I've had better. A couple complaints would be; the menu is pretty small and their vegetarian selection is even smaller, their food portions are very small as well, and their prices are high much too high for the quality and amount of food you get. Our bill came to almost $50 and all we ordered was 1 appetizer, 1 flatbread & 1 vegetarian pasta (no drinks, no alcohol). That's much to pricey for the food we got. I don't mind paying higher prices for food but I expect high quality and to maybe even leave the restaurant with some left overs. I wouldn't worry about checking out Sienna, there's other Italian pizza/pasta restaurants around Pittsburgh that are much better.
(2)Nicole T.
I am completely sold on Sienna! I dined late on a Friday night with the significant other. The atmosphere is very intimate and romantic, perfect for our little date night! We were promptly greeted and had our drink orders taken. Service was fantastic throughout our meal. The real star of the show was the food though, oh the food!! I am beyond particular about Italian food in Pittsburgh. If I'm going to order pasta, I was it to blow me away. The food at Sienna knocked my socks off! We started with the Octopus, and it was prepared deliciously. The sauce that accompanied it was just as delicious. The only thing that threw us was the beans that it was served with. Neither of us particularly liked them, but at the rest of the dish emphatically. Next we had our entrees, we both had pasta. I had the bolognese and my partner had the rustic gemelli. Both were out of this world! I loooooved the sauce in the gemelli, and the bolognese had the perfect portion of meat and sauce. The noodles were fresh and cooked to perfection. All in all, I cannot wait to come back! I'm already dreaming of the day!
(5)Theresa W.
Walked in around 6 with no reservation and was able to be seated immediately. After about 30 minutes, the restaurant was just about fully seated. The table started off with mozzarella stuffed veal meatballs which was recommended and they are definitely worth a try! The Caesar salad was a bit salty for my liking and the bucatini with mozzarella stuffed veal meatballs was very tasty.
(3)Bobbie W.
Excellent atmosphere in market square. Food was absolutely Devine. I had the octopus to start and I must say that it was the perfect way to start. The swordfish entree was both visually appealing and an absolute delight. A precise mix of saltiness with the slight acidity of the lemon, combined with the wine reduction sauce was perfectly married together. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting from out of town.
(5)Alberta H.
Lovely little restaurant with outdoor tables so you can check out the goings on at market square. I ordered the shaved artichoke salad to start but they were out of artichokes. I was so sad as it sounded delicious! So we had the ceasar salads, I had the scallop risotto, and Chris had the mushroom flatbread. The ceasar salads were good but be prepared to really like anchovies as the dressing is loaded with them. The scallop risotto was fantastic. Creamy, decadent, scallops were perfectly cooked as was the risotto. I would hands down order this dish again. But the flatbread was best described as interesting, and not in a particularly great way. To start it was loaded with truffle oil so all you could smell was the truffle oil. I could smell it from across the table. It was a bit too much. The flatbread was described as kalamata olives, mushrooms, and an egg on top. I was disappointed that the olives were a paste as opposed to slices of olive and either the truffle oil was too over powering or this paste had no flavor. Either way there were no briney, yummy, olivey goodness. If I had closed my eyes, I would never have even known they were present. And as far as the runny egg on top, it created a texture that just wasn't pleasant. I think if the egg had been slightly more cooked, the truffle oil reduced, and whole kalamata olives been used then this would have been a fantastic flat bread. All in all I think we would go back. Service was great, the setting on a beautiful summer afternoon was wonderful, and I'd like to try their dinner menu!
(3)Kevin M.
Pluses are a nice area of outdoor seating facing Market Square. The Caesar salad was tasty and light: recommend skipping the prosciutto and anchovies. The four cheese flatbread is thin crust and oven fired. It tasted fairly bland and had too much ricotta. The unfortunate thing that disappointed me about this experience was the excruciating slow service after I was seated: thus, a three star rating.
(3)Rachel S.
FANTASTIC! My best friend was planning to take me there before we went to a show, instead we took a couple friends of ours and made a party of it! A little pricey but WELL WORTH IT! I had the gnocchi and it was incredibly filling, the portions were reasonably sized. I also ordered a meatball (everything is a-la-carte) which was easily the greatest meatball I have ever eaten and ever will eat haha. It was made with multiple types of meat and stuffed with cheese with a tomato sauce, cheese and garnish on top. Service was good also, she was a little slow about getting our check but we were also in a hurry to get to the show. I will be coming back for sure.
(5)Bryan J.
Food tasted good but not sure how it looked. Atmosphere is nice and comfortable but the lighting is awful. The place is very dimly lit, and during lunch the front of the restaurant was open to direct sunlight. So, it's dark with a glare at the same time. Very annoying. The food and service however was very good. Open-faced eggplant sandwich was tasty (not bitter) and substantial. Pasta salad was good and s nice size portion. I will definitely go back. Just need a small flashlight and polarized sun glasses.
(4)Angela F.
This is another one of those palce3 I'd give 3.5 stars to if I could, but because I can't I think 3 is more fitting. There wasn't anything horrible about the place, at least not for us, but it certainly didn't leave me wanting more. Some of the other reviews complain about the price of the food for what you get; and I sort of agree. The greens and beans appetizer is 9 for what the waitress called "a very small bowl", and she was not kidding. On the other hand I got a grilled chicken sandwich that came with pasta salad (or chips) for $11 and I felt I got what I paid for. I was a decent sized chicken sandwich, with a nice sized bowl of pasta salad. The taste of the food is the same way. Once again, my chicken sandwich was pretty good. It came on a nice focaccia bread with a fancy aioli and (I think) provolone cheese. I was not a fan of the pasta salad though; it had a funny spice that I was not fond of. Erin loved it though, so.... And if you are a beans and greens lover, these are not the usual. There was sausage and chunks of tomato, which as an Italian I had never seen before, and very little actual greens. It wasn't bad, just not what one expects ordering beans and greens. A large part of the menu looks like wine and cocktails, but I don't drink so I'm no help there. I don't know, it was just kind of eh.
(3)Laura P.
I don't get it. This place gets write-ups and great reviews, and I cannot for the life of me see why. The food is mediocre. Some of the combinations on the menu look innovative, but in practice, there is a lot of stuff on the plate that doesn't really add to the flavor of the dishes. My agnolotti didn't need 7 kinds of vegetables accompanying it when they were all mushy and flavorless. The service is worse. Our waiter was astoundingly condescending and unfriendly, explaining what tapas are and what bolognese sauce is - I guess we look like we think our idea of great Italian food is Pizza Hut - and slow...it took on average 15 minutes to get each drink, not because the bar was busy but because he was standing at the end of it BS'ing. The price of the meal was not in line with the amount or quality of the food we received. In sum, this place is thriving in a downtown area with otherwise great restaurants, when it is on the level of a pretty good place in a far suburb. For exceptional Italian food, walk 150 feet across Market Square and go to Il Pizzaiolo.
(2)Deanna M.
My fiancé and I had our anniversary dinner here and unfortunately we were very unhappy with everything we tried. We ordered the octopus for our appetizer which had very bitter vegetables and sauce. My sangria tasted very fresh but there was a strong mint tone to it that I did not enjoy. They serve their bread with a creamy spread that reminded me a little of refried beans. It was unusual, but had a nice taste (fiancé hated it). I would prefer dipping oil. This is not the place to come if you want simple, classic Italian food. Their entrees are all ruined by the bitter veggies and sauces, and the vegetarian options are sparse. I ended up getting the four cheese flatbread which was very greasy and had a nice crisp to the crust...if you only ate the edges. Fiancé's prosciutto wrapped salmon was undercooked in the middle and sitting in a pool of disgusting red sauce that he said ruined the entire dish. Not to mention tables are so close together that you can hear everyone's conversation! Was a disappointing choice for our anniversary dinner, but the one plus is that the service was great and our server knew the menu extensively.
(2)Amy C.
Me and the hubby went today for lunch. It was alright . I am glad we tried it but we are in no hurry to go back. I have to say there is a cool , hip, chic vibe but the food was just okay. The hubby got the crispy BLT which is crispy pork belly, tomato, truffle aioli, and arugala. The pork belly was not really crispy and it was a little dry. The flat breads, we tried two. I got the caprese. It had mozarella , cherry tomatoes, basil and roasted garlic. The crust was crispy and good and it was tasty. I say there was a tad too much garlic (& I love garlic). The hubby chose the prosciutto and arugala flat bread. The hubby was not keen on the tomato sauce. I did not mind it. The prosciutto was good. The crust, the very edges were crispy but the inner crust was soggy. It was just all right. We are not in a hurry to go back.
(3)Bradley D.
Exactly what we were looking for. Large, tasty portions. Nikki provided exceptional service. And, very reasonable with the pricing. My family and I really enjoyed ourselves.
(5)Tom M.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh. Nice ambiance and great food.. I would recommend the Risotto which changes seasonally, The braised Short Rib is to die for and the Pork Bologanese are among my favorites. For a beginning try the Greens and Beans or a Meatball. Now personally I am not a fan of the flat breads so I don't order them, but the pastas and the secondi's are delicious. And bottles of wine are reasonably priced.
(5)Mia G.
Although the lights in this place are so dim that I'm never sure if its open, Sienna is a delightful and incredibly underrated dining spot! Each item i have tried is fragrant with so many textures and tastes that it makes my tastes buds dance. I came here for dinner and started with the octopus antipasti, which had just the right balance of lightness of arugula and richness of its sauce. I am a born and bred New Englander and know my seafoods, so i was skeptical to try their Seafood Gemelli. However, it exceeded my expectations! Sienna's homemade pasta, cooked perfectly aldente, adds a new texture that you don't get from regular pasta. The lobster sauce it came in was aromatic with so many flavors and was balanced perfectly by the other vegetables in it. The only negative I can think of is that the restaurant seemed very dark and the music didn't fit the mood i wanted for a nice dinner. Overall, I left Sienna with a happy stomach and an empty wallet. I would do it all again.
(5)Peri R.
One word - WOW!!! This place was a great find! Perfect day and wonderful atmosphere! Food was perfect and service was exceptional. I had the Chicken Parm Sandwich and my family had the pizza (sausage). All were amazing. The beer and wine were great too! Eat here!
(5)Waz W.
On my recent trip to Pittsburgh, I visited Sienna Sulla Piazza in Market Square for dinner with friends. I can't remember the last time I visited Market Square. It's changed quite a bit. Unfortunately, I had partied a little too hard at a bachelorette party the night before. Sienna had an excellent wine menu, but I had to pass on that. I wasn't sure if I could handle real food, especially rich Italian food, but Sienna's Housemade Ricotta Wild Mushroom Gnocchi ($19), surprisingly, helped cure my hangover. I asked them not to include the pancetta. Fantastic gnocchi dish with gorgeous mushrooms. John got his haircut earlier in the day, and the stylist told him that Sienna's food is great, but the portions are small. He ordered one of the vegetarian flatbreads and a side of brussel sprouts. Uhh, these portions are definitely NOT small at all. He ended up with way too much food! (Perhaps we're used to NYC portions?) Great service, great food. Next time I'm in the 'burgh, I'd love to stop by to try more dishes and explore their extensive wine menu. Until next time, Sienna!
(4)Kim M.
In town for dinner with friends and we decided on this place. The waiter was more than accommodating. It was the food. . My friends ordered Confit Chicken Piccata. (The key word is "confit"....Confit (French, pronounced [kfi] or in English "con-fee") is a generic term for various kinds of food that have been cooked in oil or sugar water (syrup). Sealed and stored in a cool, dark place, confit can last for several months. Confit ("prepared") is one of the oldest ways to preserve food,[citation needed] and is a speciality of southwestern France.) My friends received two greasy chicken legs with a slice of lemon in top. When my friends explained that they didn't realize it would be a "chicken leg piccata", and after back and forth with the manager, he finally removed the uneaten greasy chicken legs from their bills. He also stated that he would be changing the wording of the menu that evening, but said "Confit is a word used in fine dining establishments!" Fine dining? Your waiters are wearing t-shirts and jeans and one of the most expensive items on the menu was the Swordfish special for 23.00! Not fine dining. Casual. Just like the attitude.
(2)Joy S.
Stopped in for a drink and a snack with my husband at thr bar. The mule was gingery and good. We got the orzo mac and cheese and also the mushroom bruschetta. Both good. However with the bruschetta could use some more mushrooms. Felt it was a little skimpy. Overall a decent place for a bite and drink. Only suggestion I'd have is to have the bartenders speed up the pace a little. For not being busy taking 4+ minutes to make a cocktail is a little excessive. Would return!
(4)Lisa G.
Was looking for a place that had a tasting menu and found this place. The atmosphere was nice. We sat at a little table to the bar. Wasn't the most comfortable seating but the staff was friendly and the food was really good. We had a salad plate that had 2 different types one with beets which I loved because I LOVE beats and the other had fresh mozzarella which was good as well. The risotto we had was also very good. The texture saw perfect. We also had a pork dish that was cook to perfection. The drinks were ok. Honestly none of the drinks were stand outs. This place would have gotten 5 stars if not for the uncomfortable seats and small table. I would definitely go hear again but would ask for a different seat.
(4)Marissa K.
So I've absolutely been dying to try this place. And I will definitely give it an A+ for service. However, I wasn't SO thrilled with the food.... It was good, don't get me wrong - it's not that I was...unhappy with my meal...but I wasn't so happy with it either. It could have, however, been the dish that I chose. I ordered a special that the waitress so kindly told us about...it was some sort of fish (and shame on me for not remembering the name of it), which sounded SO appealing - served over a bed of sweet potato and fennel hash...but the fish itself was a bit too...fishy. It was a white, meaty fish, and the hash that it was served over was delicious...but ultimately the fishiness just, wasn't appealing. My arugula salad was awesome though - mixed with fennel and a light vinaigrette - such a tasty starter - I never thought to put fennel in my salads and will definitely be making that for myself. The roasted red pepper spread that was served with the bread at the table was also great. Though ultimately a little bummed with my main course, the service was excellent and the atmosphere was relaxing. Exposed brick walls always seduce me, and the friendly attentive staff was refreshing. I sat at the bar for my first glass of wine - made it just in time for happy hour the bartender informed me, 5-7 on weekdays - half off wine - always a selling point for me :-) I wouldn't be opposed to going back and giving this joint another shot.
(4)Kim P.
It was a warm sunny early April day & we enjoyed sitting in the outdoor space. The mushroom pizza was the delicious. Try it if you like mushrooms!
(5)Brian K.
Had dinner here for first time before a concert. The setting was very nice. Set in Market Square, this establishment had the feel of an upscale restaurant, but with a reasonably priced menu. I ordered the mozzarella stuffed meatballs, the tomato soup, and the pork. I was disappointed when the meatballs arrived cold, like they had been sitting on counter for a longtime. NOT worth the money. The tomato soup was a different story. Arrived steamy and was tasty. Main course took a long time to get served and arrived cold. I would have told my server this, but he wasn't attentive. Seriously: I would have enjoyed a better experience at the sub shop across the square. At least their food is suppose to be cold.
(1)Robert S.
Intimate, but great for meeting people. I wish I had taken my girlfriend there on our first date. Very good drinks and delicious flatbreads make for a perfect meal after work! Service was attentive and engaging. Outdoor seating is a must, though they will close it off if there is even a 1% chance of rain. Highly recommended!
(4)Steve H.
Stopped in here for lunch and found the food to be okay. The bar and eenvironment are nice and the staff seemed ample. Something just didn't seem right throughout the meal . Sorry I cannot give it a raving review.
(3)Elizabeth B.
When needing an escape from the office yesterday, I asked a friend if she was up for lunch. Neither of us had been to Sienna Sulla Piazza yet, and since we're always seeking out new dining experiences, we decided to check it out. She made a reservation via Open Table for 12:15. We arrived promptly and were seated very quickly. The restaurant is smaller than I had anticipated but well decorated. I particularly loved the bar that has a beautifully lit wall highlighting the attached shelves filled with bottles. Though I really wanted to try some of the pastas listed on the menu (the Ricotta Gnocchi and Beef Ravioli looked delightful), I thought that the prices were a bit steep for lunch. I really didn't want to spend $18 on an entree. Instead, I ordered the Classic Caesar Salad, and my friend and I split the Prosciutto & Arugula Flatbread. I am very picky about salads but enjoyed the Caesar. However, I do agree with Rachel C's review that the salad was a bit salty... even without the optional Anchovies. The pizza was descent but didn't blow me away. I felt like something was "off" when eating the pizza but couldn't quite put my finger on it. After having thought about it, I think that the classy prosciutto and arugula toppings did not match the more dive-pizza-joint style cheese, sauce, and crust. I would definitely be open to checking out Sienna Sulla Piazza again to try some additional menu items. However, I think competitor Il Pizzaiolo right across Market Square - though more expensive for lunch - delivers better value for the money overall.
(3)Shreyas M.
Brilliant ambience! The layout of the restaurant allows for either a quiet meal or socializing with a group, since there are 2 distinct sections. Servings are quite large. Well crafted meals, good wine selection too.
(4)Jen D.
The food was great, atmo was awesome and the staff was super nice but... I'm not much of a meat eater and there weren't many options for me. All the pasta had some form or pork or red meat and most all the vegetarian dishes were really carbie. It's a great spot but not vegetarian or gluten free friendly
(4)M R.
One the basis of one visit - great service, fabulous gemelli. As with a true Italian restaurant, there are a lot of dishes with pork products. Unlike true italian, the dishes are "fusion" creative. I had the gemelli with lobster cream and was still thinking about it the next morning. What is the thing in Pittsburgh about Shisito peppers though? I can't deny that the flavor was a tasty addition, but they seem to be on 98% of restaurants in downtown Pittsburgh. Attentive, friendly service. Very well stocked bar. Why not five stars?? I don't know - I think that's reserved for the very special, like Tony's Trattoria in Bologna before his mom turned over the sauce making to the daughter-in-law. Sigh.
(4)Rachel B.
Very nice ambiance. It's especially nice in the summer when the garage doors are opened into market square. I had the gnocchi which was a very small portion. My friend had the 4 cheese flatbread which was very good.
(4)Jeremia F.
Decided to come here on a Saturday night, we had reservations but on this particular evening it didn't appear that they would've been needed. I wish that I would have asked to be seated at a "regular" table but there was a large group of folks dining in the front of the place so we were seated at a "high top" table close to the bar area. The "high top" was certainly high and it wasn't the most comfortable place to have dinner. Moving on we tried a bunch of items and really went all out and were very satisfied with our choices. The Rabbit Rillette was on the menu and a rillette is something that I can almost never pass up. It was rich and flavorful and the serving size was quite substantial for the price. We then tried a caprese flat bread which was very fresh tasting and a nice change of pace after the Rillette. I then had the Chianit Braised short rib entree, this meat was cooked almost beyond perfection if that is possible. The flavor was so savory and the meat was so incredibly tender I felt almost as if I had ordered a roast. I'm not sure if it wa a normal butchered short rib as the meat was actually boneless and that surprised me a bit nevertheless what's good is good, Right? The service was nothing short of perfect, the server was very friendly and knew what he was talking about when it came to the menu items. I would certainly come back here again but would hope to sit at a more comfortable table if I have made a reservation in advance.
(4)Philip S.
I love this restaurant. For certain one of my favorites in PGH particularly for a date night. Enjoyed a late date night meal with a reservation @ 8:45pm, which was as early as possible to lock down early on the morning of the same Friday. They are a must here I would say. Our server was a cool dude, and suggested we try a really awesome Zinfandel by the glass, which I think were maybe $8 per. This visit split the Octopus Antipasti which was a star, and the Meatball and Ricotta flatbread which may be the best of the two or three others that I've tried on different visits. The meatball on this one is far supreme to any pepperoni I have ever had on a slice of za'.
(5)Andy W.
Good location and interesting menu but service was weird with waiter who changed his fake French accent everytime he came out. Food was ok not stellar but still a good lunch spot. Hostess attitude about reservations vs walk-ins was ridiculous given the low traffic in the door lol
(3)Hiba B.
This is a great place in a very nice location! We had the wrapped Atlantic salmon and it tasted great, but expect the eggplant to be slightly undercooked, and hence, crunchy. So if you're like me and prefer soft well done eggplant make sure you mention it to the waiter! The staff is very nice and friendly and the service was great.
(5)Rachel C.
Love the atmosphere. Unfortunately didn't really love the food as much... We went during Pittsburgh Restaurant Week so we were able to sample a little taste of everything. Add in a couple flatbreads and apps and we seriously did some damage to the menu! Hearing that the flatbreads were the way to go, we choose the tomato and basil and prosciutto and arugula. The winner was absolutely the prosciutto. The tomato one fell very flat against the flavorful prosciutto. We also ordered the stuffed hot banana peppers. They also fell flat and didn't offer half as much flavor as this usually flavorful dish should. Plus, they were uber tiny. Literally two tiny peppers that were barely able to be split between two people. I had the Caesar salad for the first course, which was way too salty. I realize that it was probably "authentic" in the way they used anchovy, but it was overkill. If you're ever looking for a killer Caesar head to Lidia's in the Strip, they know how to do it! Second course was the Rigatoni and Shrimp. The rigatoni was al dente, which I like. The sauce was okay, but nothing special. The shrimp was the standout of the meal. It had three jumbo shrimp and all of them were fresh and delicious! If those shrimp weren't included the dish would have been a letdown. The third course I chose the cannoli duo. I was really not impressed. It was a grainy filling and I wasn't too into the lemon/chocolate chip combo. It left me craving a real dessert somewhere... hence drinking more afterwards:) My dinning buddies all agreed it just wasn't a memorable food experience. There's dishes I still think of because they were so good. This joint is new, so hopefully they have a bit to work on some things... hopefully!
(3)Misty L.
Fantastic! Hip, forward-looking without pretentiousness. Service was spot-on...friendly without being overbearing. Flatbread was hubby's fav. I loved the chicken liver pate...great idea to combine with honey but there was just a tiny bit too much of it. (So I'll give them an A++ instead of an A+++). Bolognese was the best EVR. Considering breaking in the back door to steal the recipe. Seriously that good. And really, what's a little breaking and entering for a perfect bolognese?
(5)Nathaniel S.
Atmosphere was nice, food was good, portions were extremely small and all items were high priced for what you were actually getting. Do not plan on going back.
(2)John C.
I stopped in for lunch on a Saturday around 12:30. My girlfriend and I were seated right away by a very welcoming host. There is seating available outside with a nice view of Market Square, so that's where we decided to sit. The service was very fast and the waiter was also very friendly. We started out with the Wild Mushroom Bruschetta as an appetizer, which was delicious and ended up being a fine choice. I ordered the open faced Eggplant Parmesan sandwich which was served with your choice of homemade chips or pasta salad, I chose the chips. My girlfriend went with the Chicken Parmesan sandwich. We were both very satisfied with our meals. Neither one of us could finish due to the large portions. But I will come hungrier next time and clear my plate, it's that good. The flatbread also looked great so will most likely order that next time I visit. Overall, I think Sienna Sulla Piazza is a great addition to Market Square and definitely worth visiting!
(5)Tanya B.
We stopped for an early dinner on a family getaway to Pittsburgh. First, the location is great of course. Dining outdoors at the Market Square on a warm summer afternoon - it's great as it is. I like the menu, it's not too lengthy but offers a nice variety to choose from. Great service; they bring you free bread. (the one reason I didn't give them all 5 stars is that they don't have butter. Instead it's bean paste that comes with the bread and it wasn't all that great. I want my bread to come with butter, please!) The rest of the menu items we ordered were great! The flat breads are delicious; salads all look good. The raspberry tiramisu on the desert menu is a must! Overall, good food, great service and great atmosphere.
(4)AJA J.
The last time I ordered a flatbread outside of Papa John's was nineteen ninety never. It's not usually my thing. I was feeling fiesty tonight, so I decided to "start" with a Caprese flatbread. When it arrived, it was clear this bread would be my starter and finisher. It was BIG. I believe the juicy grape tomatoes were marinated in some sort of balsamic perfection incarnate. Shreds of basil complemented this flat piece of masterpiece and I'm still full just thinking about it. Jonathan D. ordered the Beef Ravioli + a mozzarella-stuffed meatball. Both two thumbs up. The only thumbs done portion of the evening was the bread selection. Straight outta Shur Save I suspect; and a warm loaf of Breadworks would be just the ticket to a five-star review IMO. BUT, extra points given that Mario Lemieux was seated at the table next to us. Truth. It was incredible. So, Sienna - thanks for that!
(4)Jason F.
One of the best cocktails (Dulce De Leche) and dessert (Rustic Tuscan Apple Cake) I have had. Definitely on my top three list Also had the chef's meat and cheese tray as an appetizer. Bartender was friendly and knowledgable.when my friend ordered a "coffee with a surprise". The bartender made an amazing drink up on the fly.
(5)Carly K.
I am giving this restaurant 4 starts based on a salad alone. Crazy, right? Well, the chopped salad was delicious. The cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions are marinated, and then tossed into the chopped romaine. The gorgonzola adds a nice bite that complements the red wine viniagrette. Because I shared a flatbread with a friend, I didn't order meat on my sald, and to be honest, I think the salad stands alone. It really was that good. I am very picky about salads, and when I find a restaurant with delicious salads, the place quickly becomes a staple for me. I shared a prosciutto/arugula flatbread with a friend, and I enjoyed the crispy crunch of the crust. The prosciutto didn't stay in place very well, so my hands got a little messy, but it was very good nonetheless. It was a bit dark inside the restaurant at lunchtime, and I almost forgot that the sun was shining outside. But, the decor is tasteful, and though it is smaller side, I think the restaurant's size adds to the intimate, quiet feel of the place. I was able to get a quick reservation for lunch, and I look forward to trying Sienna for dinner. There were quite a few items on the menu that I would like to try next time.
(4)Kristin P.
We ended up here due to convenience. Since I work in the PPG building, I've grown a little tired of the other Market Square options. I wasn't super hungry, so I just ordered a salad with the marinated olives as an appetizer. I've been back three times since, and here's why - The salads are the perfect portion, and they are AMAZINGLY priced. They also offer interesting flavor combinations in the different salads. The olives are just too yummy. I've ordered them every time, and they are always different. Love that. The white bean paste with garlic and truffle oil they serve with the bread is out of this world. I could eat just that for my meal and be totally satisfied. Sienna is a great addition to Market Square. Eventually I'll be back to try an entrée, but I'm so in love with the salads, I haven't got past them yet!
(4)Laura H.
We had gone to Sienna previously-just for drinks- and had looked at their menu then and had wanted to come back so this was the perfect opportunity. We grabbed two seats at the bar and perused the menu. My boyfriend ordered a Sangria (he was not impressed) however I drank the Rosemary Lemon Drop (he loved that though) and the first one I had was good but the second one (made by a different bartender) was hands-down 100% the best cocktail I have had in a very long time! My boyfriend ordered the braised rabbit,which is actually what I wanted, however I decided upon the prosciutto &arugula flatbread. That way I could taste his rabbit and he could try the flat bread.The braised rabbit was one of the best tasting entrees I have ever had at a restaurant! It was cooked very tender and was not "gamey", the sauce tasted as if it had wine in it, was creamy but not overly so-it was just amazing! The flatbread was surprisingly very good as well. It was a little overly salted, however, not so much so that it distracted from the other flavors.And it was very evident that all ingredients in both dishes were very fresh and authentic. The bill was a little higher than we would have liked. In particular the Rosemary Lemon Drops were $10 each which is steep, however, the second one I drank (and I don't believe I have said this in a long time) truly was worth $10 based on taste and presentation. Overall, I am excited to go back and try another entree besides the flatbread.I think next time I will order a rabbit entree for myself, even if my boyfriend gets it again, because it was just.that.good.
(4)Shawn O.
Never ventured here for dinner, but I've used Sienna Sulla several times for business lunches. The fact that its a smaller venue, takes reservations, and has a simple menu for quick choices makes this a great joint to have a conversation at (barring the around average noise levels for a lunch rush establishment). The chicken parm sandwich is great, but definitely a stomach bomb (it'll require coffee afterwards to not need rolled into work afterwards) and the flatbreads a decent as well. Judging by other's reviews, I wouldn't mind checking out their dinner service, but I doubt I'll get to that soon.
(4)Samantha C.
This place is terrible. For real will never come here again. Even the staff suck! Food is nasty nothing normal people would eat.
(1)Jim A.
Went here for my girlfriends birthday on a blistering cold day in Jan. Unlike some other restaurants, where it might be cold inside when it's 7 outside, it was nice and cozy. Very good service from a very short server (sorry I forget her name). So onto the food, we decided to order one thing from each section of the menu and share. First course-Greens & Beans- I loved, gf did not. I think she was expecting more of southern style, even though she is Italian. Second course- Mesculin salad- all the flavors went very well together, the pear & goat cheese, and red onion vin. Third course-Braised Rabbit Pasta, absolutely the star of the night, I could eat this everyday. Last course- Prosciutto wrapped Salmon. Salmon was done correctly, but I don't believe there was any prosciutto wrapped around the salmon. I could not see or taste it. Also, I really didn't enjoy the eggplant caponata paired up with the salmon. Personally I thought it was a strange pairing with the salmon. Overall good experience, one of the better dinners I've had in Pittsburgh, will return.
(4)Michele W.
I love this little place right in Market Square. I had the eggplant pram which was a whopping portion if delish. Friendly service and a feast little patio made for a lovely, if very filling, lunch
(4)Tiffany Y.
My husband took me on a date to this restaurant. The meatballs that we ordered for the appetizer were "very good" in my husband's words. We both enjoyed his gnocchi with rabbit. I ordered the special of cod, which ended up being too mild in taste. For dessert the cannoli could have used yummier chocolate chip and lemon filling. The zeppole tasted dry and could have used more chocolate on top. Our waiter was nice. Our dishes came out at a good speed, but we had to wait a little while for our bill to arrive.
(3)Mark F.
I'm assuming my experience here was atypical, but my lunch was terrible. I walk in at 11:15, there are no other customers. I say "one for lunch," the hostess says "all I can do right now is a table outside." I really don't understand why I was forced to sit outside at a wobbly table on a slanted sidewalk when there were literally no other customers. I order the eggplant parm, then sit at my table outside in the chilly air for 25 minutes. As I'm about to leave, the waiter brings my eggplant parm, which is gigantic, but overcooked, greasy, and tough. How do you make eggplant tough? I complained, the waiter got the manager, he asked me if there was something wrong with my chicken parm. I said it was eggplant, I waited for it for a long time, it's tough and chewy, he apologized profusely and asked if he could package anything up for me, but I was really turned off at that point and just left. Walking back I thought that maybe it had been overcooked chicken parm, and that's why it was so tough; I called the restaurant and asked the manager, and he said no, it was eggplant, but I really can't help but think they served chicken to someone who ordered a vegetarian dish. Maybe I just got a poorly-cooked plate. But please don't make me sit outside when there are plenty of tables. It felt like shame seating for people eating alone. And if food is taking long (25 minutes for lunch?), some acknowledgment or reassurance would be nice.
(1)Benjamin M.
Decided to stop here for lunch while walking around Market Square. It's not the biggest restaurant you'll find around here, but it's certainly the coziest. It looks like a former street level garage, with all brick walls/floors and low ceiling, which was wisely converted into the upscale, Italian spot. I liked the vibe and feel of it almost immediately. After looking over the various menu options, I decided on the Homemade Sausage sandwich with a side of pasta salad. Sometimes this can be a risky order in some places, not knowing the consistency or spiciness of the meat. Neither was an issue as the sausage was tender, not fatty, and seasoned perfectly, not too bland or too hot. I just wished there was more of it or a smaller accompanying bun. The pasta salad was also good compliment side dish, pretty standard. The bartender was somewhat apathetic, maybe battling a case of The Mondays, but this was a pretty solid place otherwise.
(4)Jenny B.
I have to agree with Rachel--the atmosphere is fantastic, and the food (and in my experience, service)--not so much. This place is beautiful--exposed brick, modern styling, dark woods, candlelit. Picture-perfect date night material. My husband and I walked in spontaneously and sat down at the bar five minutes before the end of happy hour, and the bartender gave us MAJOR attitude when we ordered off the HH menu. (Chill, dude! Five minutes is five minutes! The next round will be full price!) We also split a flatbread and an appetizer, and there was really nothing special about it at all. The chef was watching us eat from the kitchen door and he made me feel guilty for not enjoying the food. I also had to ask for them to turn their one television to the Pens game, and got attitude for that request as well. (It's a hockey night!! This is Pittsburgh!!) I don't think I would come back unless I wanted to chat over drinks with the husband or a friend.
(3)Adam L.
This is a really strong 4 out of 5 more, not quite 5 but essential a 4.5. For appetizer I had the Chicken Liver Mousse. Im a big chopped liver fan and this was fantastic. They give you these large texas toast like pieces of tuscan bread and a large servings of their chicken liver mousse which is finished with honey and pistachios. It was such a nice light texture, not grainy or chunky in the slightest. Great unusual start to the meal. For an entree I had the chinati braised short rib. This was a venture to me because i never had tried short rib but am a big Osso Buco fan so i figured it was worth a try with the waiters recommendation. He was so right, extremely tender, pot roast like taste but chianti braising was phenomonal. Portion size was a little small and I felt the orzo mac and cheese had a very light taste that didnt do much for the dish. The short rib itself was something I would come back for alone. Very nice atmosphere and beautiful restaurant to dine in during the summer as the entire seating area benefits from their garage style lifted entrance. Will definitely be back.
(4)JIM B.
Went here yesterday. Attentive service, drinks were great, nice bar scene. The greens and beans are excellent. I also had the meatball and Ricotta flatbread, superb. The meatballs are awesome, make sure you try a few. I will be back.
(4)Elizabeth R.
I am definitely a fan of Sienna in Market Square. My husband and I went here for the 4th time yesterday. We arrived around 6:30 and were happy to find they had open tables outside. We ordered the stracciatella on a recommendation from a friend. The cheese was fresh and gooey and delicious with the fresh, toasted bread. We were similarly not disappointed by the arugula salad. We were eating light, so we both got flatbreads, which we enjoyed: the meatball and ricotta and the arugula and prosciutto. In the past we've had the shortribs, sea bass and a seafood risotto special and have enjoyed it all (with the exception of one misstep: my husband ordered the quail once and found it tasty, but too small for an entree). The atmosphere is relaxed, the service is always good and the food is always delicious. We will definitely come back!
(4)Don H.
Exquisite Italian fare done by a master chef. Everything is done to order and the flavor profiles are dead on for every dish. I recommend the Octopus appetizer, Chicken Liver Mousse, Carbonara... and you have to get the meatballs! Prices are amazing for portions. I highly recommend leaving yourself in the chef's hands for the Chef Tasting Menu. You won't be disappointed. Sienna won Pittsburgh Magazine's Best New Restaurant in 2013, and it is an honor well-deserevd. TRUST YOUR LOCAL, PROFESSIONAL FOOD REVIEWERS OVER UNTRAINED YELPERS WHO HAVE A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER! Please!!! This place is a gem and a cornerstone of the Market Square resurgence. P.S. If you order 3 courses the food actually takes time to cook when it's being prepared to order. If you want to eat in half an hour, there's a McDonalds right around the corner. Good luck to you.
(5)Steve G.
Awful. Service poor. Beef short ribs tasted sour. Risotto very salty. Many better places ti eat. Avoid
(1)Keith M.
Located near NOLA and the Nicholas Coffee Co, Sienna is small enough to miss if you aren't careful. I had the Antipasto Flatbread and tomato bisque for a quick lunch on a brisk November afternoon. The flatbread was flavorful, spicy, bordering on overdone, but tasty. The cheese and ingredients had separated from the bread, and given that it wasn't fully cut was sort of a pain in the butt to eat. The tomato bisque was good, served lightning hot(even when taken back to my desk), and definitely did the trick of warming me up. While I think execution was slightly off on the flatbread, I definitely see promise in the overall menu and the freshness of the ingredients, like the herbs on top of the flatbread. The flavor was definitely there. If you're sharp, you'll notice that they chose the English spelling of Siena over the Italian. I was lucky enough to be there years ago, visiting the Piazza del Campo and the famous Siena Cathedral, amongst other sites.
(4)John S.
I had high hopes for a wonderful evening at Sienna Sulla Piazza but those expectations were dashed on the rocks by uninspired food, fair to poor service and a sound system that blared inappropriate music for an upscale restaurant. I had read a lot of good reviews of Sienna which had my mouth watering. Unfortunately I had a below average experience. The restaurant itself is small, with tables both indoors and outside. We had made a reservation for a table inside and were unfortunately seated under one of the many speakers from the restaurants sound system. The ceilings were quite high but the loud rock music which rang out from their system was very annoying and made it difficult to have a normal conversation with my dinner companion. I don't mind loud music but I prefer to experience it at a club or concert where I have paid, knowing that my ears will be ringing by the time I leave. In my opinion, Pink Floyd and The Doors are totally inappropriate music for what I was expecting in a fine dining atmosphere. (By the way, I love those bands, just not when I'm shelling out $$$$ for dinner) I asked the waiter if he could have them turn down the music but was told, (for some reason) that the spotify system that it was playing from, could not be adjusted. Okay, I was a waiter for ten years and know all the tricks of the trade and I know when I'm getting a load of BS . The menu is small and although it has definite variety as far as Italian specialties, (pizza to pasta to an octopus salad), it felt as if the chef was handicapping himself with such limited variations under those themes The wine, cocktail and wine by the bottle listings are also small but with good character and moderate pricing for a downtown Pittsburgh restaurant. My dinner companion went for a glass of wine (11$) house salad and one of the homemade pasta specialties, which was suppossed to have a variety of seafood. I chose the octopus salad app and the short rib entree. The house salad was uninspired with lots of iceberg lettuce, mixed with a few field greens and tomatoes, all chopped up to a pulp and drenched with some type of bland dressing.(7$) The octopus salad was served warn with white beans, a red pepper puree and some arugula (11$) a good size portion, with a hint of spice and actually, very good flavor, despite the over infusion of mustard seeds. The seafood pasta entree, which was served, tossed in a lobster cream sauce was dull, with nondescript flavoring and not a lot of seafood. I will say that the homemade pasta was quite good but for the price, there wasn't much of it (24$) Important to note that chef Matt Porco must have gotten a good deal on a ton of shishito peppers (found mostly in east asian cooking) because too many of the dishes on the current menu feature them. The braised short rib(also 24$) had my mouth watering and even though my ear drums were being assaulted with blue oyster cult and leonard skinnard, I was ready to dig in. Once again, portion size for the beef rib was small. It lay in a large cloud of mashed potatoes which were in need of salt and pepper and flavor. Around the potato was a ring of pickled jardiniere (cooked vegetables, sometimes pickled) The meat itself was dry and there was no sauce whatsoever to help with flavor. The pickled garnish was over empowered with vinegar that its pungent aroma overwhelmed the meek flavoring of the rest of the dish. Desert menu is skimpy with only three deserts, one of which incorporated balsamic vinegar into it's pastry cream. The menu also features flat breads which we did not have but looked interesting. However I always say that if i want good pizza, I will just order it from my favorite pizza shop in my neighborhood, where I know won't be disappointed. I think it's safe to say that mediocrity reins supreme at Sienna Sulla,
(2)Lacey B.
This place was phenomenal! The food had so much flavor, but it also was different! We went on a Saturday night and sat outside the weather was perfect and the atmosphere was great! The hostess was SUPER friendly, we made our reservation online(i do not recommend this) and it did not show in the computer as the time that was originally reserved. I made the reservation for 8:30 and it showed in their computer as 9, but I thankfully kept the conformation email. The hostess seated us immediately with much apologies for the mix-up and she continued to check up on us throughout our meal! I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you try this place! We will definitely be going back! CALL TO SCHEDULE YOUR RESERVATION, do not book it online!
(4)Satya V.
I had loved this place (read my earlier review). However, they have been trying too hard to the point of being pretentious. I have tried taking my colleagues to this place for a happy hour at 5pm and despite having an empty restaurant at that time, they were playing hard to fit a group of 6 people (we were flexible to split into two groups as well). Leaving that incident aside, I met up with a friend last evening at the bar area and again had a bad experience. Also, they were the first restaurant I have seen in Pittsburgh to charge me two bucks for ice to go along with my whiskey! Thanks but no thanks!
(1)Suzanne H.
Wow, I am surprised by some of the reviews. We just got into town, went walking around without yelping. Went to market square and walked around. Tuesday night about 6:30. We wanted some vino, saw people outside Sienna drinking vino, said let's try it.... Ordered glasses of wine at happy hour prices--$6 each!!! from CA, that is a bargain. Looked around, liked the vibe, liked the bartender, said what the hey? Ordered three things--the mussels, the roasted beets, and a flatbread pizza. They were ALL wonderful. My fav was the mussels--oh my gosh. The sauce...make sure and get bread to sop up. Yeah, don't be a Miss Manners--sop up the sauce.... The beets were different. But I liked them. They were surrounded by ricotta and went well with bread. The flatbread was good, had an entire arugula salad on top. And the service was great. We sat at the bar, the bartender was great--sorry, didn't catch your name!--and gave us great tips for things to do. My first impression of Pittsburgh is very good.....
(5)Tony J.
WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD. I am not exaggerating in the least bit. The series of events that occurred in the hour and 20 minutes we were here completely put a negative damper on the rest of my family's night Let me preface this by saying that as a higher-end restaurant in a downtown area, located near the all the theaters, a place like this should check to show schedules and plan and staff accordingly. Obviously the place was understaffed because we were not the only ones getting up from their tables to complain to the manager. Because I took into account that it would be a busy night in the area, I scheduled far ahead and made a nice reservation. We got there promptly at 6 and were all delighted by the beautiful decor. I knew we may run into a problem when we all knew what we wanted before anyone even greeted us at our table because we sat there for a little under 10 minutes without anyone acknowledging us at the table. Regardless, quarter after 6 rolls around, and we place our orders completely: appetizers, salad, and main entrees. It took a while for the appetizers to come out, but I thought maybe that was just this place's take on the classic "take your time" Italian setting, which I am not opposed to. So, I was fine waiting a little bit so our table actually had the time to talk. Once the appetizers did arrive, I was a little shocked at the portion. There were just about 3 bites of greens and beans to go around for $8 and the beans weren't even cooked enough... I mean what I had was delicious, but since we all shared a couple appetizers, I only had one bite. Same with the octopus: served atop of the most beautiful plate. It looked elegant, but it was pretty measly. However, I understand the smaller portion of octopus because it's obviously a more expensive ingredient than the greens that go into making greens and beans. I digress... Another 15 mins goes by, then finally the wedge salad that my parents ordered arrived. Now this wedge salad was the best part of our meal. In fact, it was damn near delectable. But it was soon easily overshadowed by my hunger and the look around the dining area to see many people waiting for their meals. At this point I started to get nervous: it was getting close to show time, and I could feel that our food was no where near ready to arrive to our table. No less, I felt optimistic when we asked our waiter after another 10 mins when our meals would be coming. He responded, "well, it won't be 20 minutes, maybe more like 5 or a few." He gave the excuse that the cook is bringing the food out in the order it came into the kitchen. Well, bullshit because the gentlemen who came in 20 mins after we ordered complained about their meals running late, and soon after their plates arrived. **FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE NIGHT: At this point the manager came over, saw our empty table, and stack of appetizer plates, and asked how our meals were! You kidding, I almost killed over. This is when he then told us the "there's a show, and we are running behind" excuse. I am sorry, but when I plan ahead and make a reservation because I am so excited to eat at this place and start my night off right, the last thing I want to hear are these dumb excuses and being told to just wait a little longer is even worse. It was 15 minutes to show time. We had officially been sitting there at this restaurant for an hour and fifteen minutes. It was time to throw in the towel, and hurry and make our way to the show. My father asked our waiter for the check for everything we had eaten and told him we were leaving. Well, he brought the check, and GUESS WHAT, it had all the entrees on it! Instantly, my mother jumped up, and I never let my mother get mad in public, especially at a restaurant in the restaurant setting. I never think its cool to yell at a staff member or a manager, but this time was different. This was easily the worst restaurant experience I had ever had. What's worse is that I was so excited to eat here. I had spent time looking at the menu the week before and getting excited about what dish I was going to eat. When my mom went and talked to the manager, he had his face planted on the kitchen computer screen. She told him our series of events and how it was ridiculous, and then she said we were leaving and she asked how much we owed for what we had eaten so far, and he said he didn't want anything. At least at this point I left with some respect for the guy that he didn't fire back or state that he wanted the $25 for the food we ate. As we left, I was so upset. Like I said, I had been looking forward to this night for the past 6 months, and I was extremely excited about trying this place after I had read all the reviews. I was very upset with the way the night ended. Sadly I will probably never be back, and every time I am near Market Square or think of that night and show, this poor experience will be in the back of my mind.
(1)T L.
Excellent experience. Wonderful food. The outside seating was great. Perfect weather and there was music in the square. This is not a restaurant for children. But they were very kind and my little ones enjoyed the experience. The bolognese had adult flavors but was hearty enough to get 2 thumbs up from the pre-schooler. Sausage rissotto was quite good. The grilled calamari was delicious. The fish special was just excellent. My foodie friend from out of town was well pleased! Staff and Chef were absolutely superior in attention to detail and knowledge about nut allergies. We will definitely be back!!
(4)Nadine G.
I had the prosciutto wrapped Atlantic salmon and it was perfection. The poached pear martini was delicious. The bread was served with a bean dip that was pretty dull and the place was extremely dark, but the service was awesome. Definitely worth a second trip.
(4)Greg L.
Stopped in here while in town and since I didn't have a reservation, I had to sit at the bar. It's a cute little restaurant in Market Square with both indoor and outdoor seating. It was restaurant week in Pittsburgh, so I went with the $20 3-course meal which included a choice of salad, entree, and a dessert. The arugula salad was good with roasted peppers and fresh shavings of parmesan cheese in it. The Rigatoni & Shrimp pasta was in a basil pesto creme sauce and was OK, but I wished it had a few more shrimps other than three of them. I went with the tirimisu and was quite disappointed. First off, it was served in a glass cup, which I've never seen before and it had a distinct citrusy taste to it. I love tirimisu so I've had a lot of them over the years, and this was by far my least favorite. Service was just OK and a bit slow for my liking. Portion sizes tend to be on the smaller size here, but I'm OK with that as I don't want all the calories. Between the 3-courses, I left full. The price was good for what I got, but this was a reduced price for restaurant week, so had this been any other week and I paid normal prices (around $26 for what I had), I would say the place is a little over-priced.
(3)Lucretiz C.
The chef of Sienna Sulla Piazza has not once but twice sent my taste buds on an Italian vacation. On my first visit the entire restaurant was reserved for lunch including three seats at the bar. Impressive me thinks yes. Sienna Sulla Piazza is a small 14 seater restaurant but obviously it's beloved by many for it to be booked solid for lunch! From the first sip of my prosecco I knew that I was in good hands. The chef even brought the food out to me himself. The greens and beans were so flavorful and cooked with stewed fresh tomatoes and were served with grilled bread. I also ordered a Ceasar salad. To my surprise the anchovies in the salad where actually fresh not canned! After realizing this I knew things were done way differently at Sienna Sulla Piazza. Even though I was stuffed to the gills I just had to taste a dessert. I got the raspberry tiramisu. It was so good I felt, gluttonously naughty eating it. On my second visit I had the Mediterranean olives and gilled octopus. The octopus was topped with roasted red peppers and oh so tender. Sienna is apparently chef owned, which the bartender explained makes a world of difference in how the food is prepared. Bonus the bartenders are super friendly!
(5)David B.
Marvelous food and excellent service. Sienna is mostly a small plates restaurant with delicious Italian cuisine. We shared a Beans & Greens appetizer that came with a Chianti reduction sauce that was delicious. I had the homemade Gnocchi, which I am generally picky about, but these were fabulous. My date had the Chicken Picatta, which was prepared with crimini mushroom, fried red skin potato, caper, lemon, and parsley. Excellent. Also, I got a mozzarella stuffed meatball that was very tasty. Lovely outdoor dining that spills out into historic Market Square, I am recommending this restaurant very highly.
(5)Shelley R.
Amazing. This was the best meal I have had in Pittsburgh. I had the rabbit confit gnocchi and it blew my mind. Every bite was heaven on earth. Save some bread to mop up the sauce. Hubby had the Chianti braised beef and it was so tender and incredible... fell apart on his fork. Superb. Excellent. Marvelous. Very hip, intimate, sexy. Will be back!
(5)Dean J.
2.5 stars, leaning towards a 2 based on the price. Went on a Wednesday night at 7, with reservations. Got there fifteen early, got seated on time. The front of the restaurant is *loud*; with a waiter talking to the table next to us and a somewhat unpleasant pair on the other side of us, the noise was a factor here. Got much better when the waiter wasn't dealing with anyone. Anyways, it's a loud restaurant. That's by no means a dealbreaker, and really common for Downtown. Crowd was mixed, the most represented group there when we were in were 50-something guys wearing polo shirts, half tucked into khakis. The food: - I had the pork, which was decent, my wife had the gnocchi, which was good, but more doughy instead of melt-in-your-mouth. - We had the bruschetta, which we were told took 12 minutes. (Weird to be that precise, but OK). Some other waiter/waitress apparently swiped ours... so it took nearly half an hour, as our waiter thought someone had already brought it to us. - Salads were good; aces. - My wife asked for a meatball with her gnocchi, which they forgot; it came about ten minutes late, and warm, but not hot, which left us wondering if they finished cooking it. The meatball? Not all that. - Portions were fine dining, and not red-sauce-stuff-your-gullet; I liked the portions, and left pleasantly full. Service: - good, but with us having a very quick set of orders when we sat down, it took 45 minutes to get the first of our food... which was an hour after we first showed up. Ouch. So, the food was decent, but not as good as some other places around town at the same (or lower!) price points. Either the service or the kitchen botched this one, and for "restaurant of the year" and at a premium price... yeah, that sinks it. (We spent $100 after tip; two entrees, two salads, one appetizer, no booze.) For better red sauce Italian, I'd try Lydia's in the Strip, and save a bit of money. For better Italian, especially gnocchi, I'd go to Dish Osteria in the South Side, and still save a bit of money. If I hear good things, I'd be glad to check back here, but we left disappointed on our first trip.
(2)Lauren C.
So I called to make reservations for lunch at Bella Serra in Market Square and discovered upon my arrival that they were now Sienna. The good news: great location, some nice outside seating, and a fairly small indoor area that has a nice, rustic Italian feel. The bad news: service was a little slow during lunch and it took forever for someone to take our order. Also, I ordered the margherita flat bread. It was piled high with finely chopped basil, which I love, but the edges of the crust were way overcooked and impossible to cut through let alone bite through while the center of the flat bread was way too soggy. They seemed to use canned or at least marinated tomatoes. As a result, there was a ton of sauce/liquid, which made the bread so soggy in the middle. I think they would have been way better off with thinly sliced fresh tomatoes. Having said this, I'd like to go back and try something else off the menu to see if that is any better. The styling on the plates of the other guests looked appealing and it looked like a good wine list. I'm thinking I may just have ordered the wrong thing.
(3)Tim H.
So darn good and seriously the best meatball I have ever had! Get one or two with your entree. They are delicious and stuffed with mozzarella. Not only was the food A+, but the service was stellar. Our server, Ryan did an amazing job of recommending food as well as pairing drinks with our choices. It was clear he was a foodie and gave us some other great recommendations of places to go around town. Thanks Ryan and Sienna! We'll be back!
(4)Laura S.
Went on a Wed. evening and of 4 items, the 4 of us would only re-try the beans and greens appetizer. Didn't enjoy struggling to see food because of poor lighting design for our table in between the bar and patio opening.
(3)Jessica I.
I travel to Pittsburgh a fair amount for business, so I'm always in search of good lunch spots. I can safely say that this will earn a high spot in my stable. My coworkers steered us here on a recent visit, and it was a lovely experience. Service was efficient but not rushed, and all of us were quite enthusiastic about our food. I had a delightfully rich carbonara that had the perfect balance of peas and pancetta in a sinful egg sauce. Aside from nearly falling asleep in a meeting after that, I couldn't have been happier with lunch.
(4)Sheryl T.
Dear Sienna Sulla Piazza, you are delicious. Thank you for making my mouth water. Okay so maybe that's not quite how this review is gonna go but its pretty damn close. Anyway, I've been to Sienna twice already for lunch and I can say both experiences have been great. My server/bartender the first time was amazing. I can't remember what her name was but all the suggestions she gave were spot on. Plus, she let me try some fun wines that she thought I might like. That visit I had their meatball and ricotta flatbread, greens and beans, and their cheese plate. Id highly recommend their Greens & Bean. It's not a large portion but what you get is extremely delicious. Their meatball & ricotta flatbread pizza wasn't half bad either. Not my favorite but definitely worth a try if you want to get a little craaaazy pizza wise. My second visit I went with Tessa M. We decided to sit at the bar for lunch and snack on yet again for me but for Tessa her first time the meat plate (i can't help it if I like meat and cheese), the two fist sized meatball stuffed with a little sliver of cheese (i wish there was more), and both the pulled pork BBQ sandwich and tuna melt. Personally I don't like tuna and I don't think I ever will so I wasn't a fan of said melt. But the pulled pork on the other hand was delicious full of flavour and a bit of tang. Tessa might say the reverse but I can't help what I like. We could've opted for dessert but alas we're tiny women so we can only stuff our faces so much. At the end of the day it was definitely a satisfying visit. I'm looking forward to trying more scrumptious bites here!
(5)Jessica D.
The hubby and I went here before the opera on a Friday night after not being able to get into Nola and we were really happy that we did. I started out with a glass of reisling which was definitely on the sweet side. Since I love sweet wine, I was in heaven. WE then ordered two apps - the mushroom bruschetta and the crab cake. We order crab cakes almost everywhere we go, so there is a lot of comparisons that happen. This one lone crab cake was definitely not high on the list of the best - it was too small, not that fantastic of a flavor. However, it was served with an awesome lemon and basil sauce that complimented it well. The mushroom brushetta had fresh tomatoes, a pile of arugula and interesting mushrooms covering the grilled bread. It was amazing! A great combination of flavors and the grilled bread really added to the flavor. For the main course, I had the butternut squash ravioli and a veal meatball. J had the pork chop. When my plates came, the meatball was about the size of my head and was covered in marinara. All of it was delicious. The meatball was perfectly cooked, had just the right amount of mozzarella inside and the tomato sauce was sweet, but not too sweet. The butternut squash was interesting. I think that for such a delicate flavor, you need a thin, not strongly flavored dough. Unfortunately, this one was very al dente and too thick. Also, there wasn't really enough butternut squash in the ravioli for my taste. What I did taste was fantastic, but there wasn't really enough filling. The sauce was a thin sauce, not really sure what it was, but it was really good with the ravioli. It was topped with tomatoes and braised short ribs that were awesome. J's pork chop was moist and flavorful. It was served on a bed of pulled pork. It was interesting and different and he loved it. Sadly, we didn't have enough time for dessert. But we will definitely be back.
(4)Michelle T.
The food was fantastic! The meatball, the fish, and the dessert all exceeded expectations! We were very pleased with our waiter's knowledge regarding wine and food pairings. Most certainly need a reservation, but we very much look forward to coming back. It was a true food experience!
(5)Allyson D.
Stumbled upon this little gem on yelp when my mother and I flew into Pittsburgh to see family and wanted a bite to eat before heading out to the burbs...anyway, I can't say enough good things. Service was friendly, decor was tasteful and warm, and the food was delicious! We were so happy that we decided to take a chance on this place. I hope it continues to do well:)
(5)Tracy K.
Terrible service. Server acted like infant when asked if he could ask the kitchen for alternative dish. Do not ask the chef to deviate from menu. Will cause server to have meltdown. Never been to so called fine italian where you could not change pasta. Manager not much better. Server had no idea about wine list. Complete idiot. Would not recommend when visiting pittsburgh.
(1)Jason F.
I ate here for dinner late this past Thursday night with my girlfriend. We were downtown already and decided to see what was open in Market Square at a later time on a weeknight. I actually was unaware that this restaurant was even there since the last time I had walked by it had been Bella Serra, but boy am I glad that it is. The inside of the restaurant is not too much different from the previous restaurants here with the brick walls showing and some art. They did add a rolling door to the front that allows it to be open to Market Square. For dinner I decided to have the strazzopreti & wild mushrooms with a side of orzo mac & cheese while my girlfriend went with the tomato bisque and a poached pear salad. We asked that it all be brought out together and within a reasonable time period it was. My strazzopreti and mushrooms consisted of the pasta, an assortment of mushrooms, spinach and onions in a cream sauce while my mac and cheese looked pretty non descript. At first I was unsure of how I would like my pasta, but wow, was it good. The pasta seemed fresh and was cooked al dente giving it just a slightly different texture than the large number of mushrooms that it was paired with. Overall it had a nice earthy flavor that I thoroughly enjoyed. After finishing my pasta I moved onto my mac & cheese. It might very well have been the best mac and cheese that I have ever eaten at a restaurant. It was very rich and creamy and you could actually taste the mixture of different cheeses. I only wished that there would have been pepper on the table to cut into some of the richness of it. While I was eating all of this my girlfriend was also enjoying her meal. I was able to taste her poached pear salad, specifically the roasted garlic mascarpone port vinaigrette and it was extremely tasty. The bottom line for me is that I would definitely head back here in the future. I went in without any expectations and it and it totally blew me away and so I am looking forward to trying some more of the chefs creations.
(5)Mike H.
Quite the Italian gem in downtown Pittsburgh, Sienna is an excellent experience with wonderful ambiance at a fair price. My party was promptly seated and served on a Wednesday night by a pleasant french man. Each of our dishes were quite flavorful, however my roasted quail was clearly the showstopper. Succulent, tender and incredibly tasty, the saucy combination of brussel sprouts with walnuts and bacon with just a touch of rosemary was quite impressive. Other winners at the table were the enormous veal meatballs and the butternut squash ravioli (although the portion size was small). The papperdelle bolognese stood out as bland in comparison to the other entrees I tried. Although small inside, Sienna has a beautifully dark atmosphere and is absolutely a great restaurant for a night out on the town or after a show. One of the better eateries in market square if one is willing to fork over a few extra dollars for a memorable experience.
(4)Matthew W.
My second visit and I'm so glad i came back. First of all, they serve my favorite wine, Nero d'Avola. I can vouch for the Greens and Beans appetizer - it has escarole, white beans, sausage and a marvelous Chianti gravy. The parmesan-stuffed meatballs oozing deliciousness, and the buccatini (tube-shaped spaghetti) were perfectly al dente. Homemade gnocchi were flavorful little pillows accompanied with wild boar (!), zucchini, beans and bacon in a tomato sauce. I will definitely be back to try some of the other items.
(5)Jordana M.
I had another tasty meal last night. I did deduct a star this time since our server was not the best and the plating of our entrees was sloppy. I ordered the Octopus again. I could not resist. It was just as delicious, juicy, and sweet as it was last time. Yum. My husband ordered the veal meatballs. I never would have ordered the meatballs. I'm not a big meatball fan. Nonetheless, I am NOW. Loved the veal meatballs, gooey cheese, pignoli nuts served with a bright, fragrant, fresh, and sassy tomato sauce. Double yum. I was tempted to order meatballs to go. Sadly, my sweet corn lobster risotto was not on the menu. In its place is lobster risotto made with zucchini. I like the menu evolving with fresh seasonal ingredients although disappointed that their website menu states they still have the sweet corn risotto which is why my disappointment lingered. I was also disappointed to see cheese thrown on my plate and hanging off the side. Really? Is the expeditor sick today? Nevertheless, the dish tasted great. Another perfect al dente risotto coupled with grilled tomatoes and cubed zucchini. Everything tasted delicious but I will confess I am unsure the zucchini did anything for the dish. The sweet corn on the previous preparation added an undeniable sweet profile- the zucchini..not so much. Nevertheless, I practically licked my plate clean as I love the remaining flavors. My husband had the papperdelle bolognese. Another dish served with food seeping down the side of the plates. Aesthetics aside- Wow! Another delicious and flavorful dish. I loved this. The noodles were fresh and soft bathed in a rich and complex tasting bolognese. Every ingredient was present and required. Lovely dish I would recommend highly. Lastly- the chef's tasting menu. I asked our waiter what today's tasting was and he said whatever the chef decides. Yes, I get that hence the name. But what has chef decided today? Still fumbling by the waiter. Hmm. Not sure if this is the impression that the restaurant is seeking to make but I never do blind tastings. The only chef's tastings I have seen and partaking in were able to tell me before ordering what I would be receiving today. It's a shame they lost out on making more money from me and who knows how many others if they would just explain it daily.
(4)Meg F.
We go here often for happy hour and it's always great. The food is delicious (especially the pizzas) and they have a decent wine list that's reasonably priced. I like the atmosphere too, very cozy. Never sat at a table though, so can't speak to that, but the bartenders are really nice and knowledgeable, especially Hillary.
(5)Annie W.
Every so often I stumble upon a gem of a restaurant that deserves mention! Sienna Salla Piazza on Market Square in Pittsburgh is one of those places. Executive Chef Matt Porco's rendition of a superb Mesclun Salad is a true tribute to his culinary experience and high standards. Sauces were prepared to perfection and presentation was impeccable. From appetizers to main courses, it was evident only the finest ingredients are used at this establishment.
(5)Lauren R.
The food was delicious. The braised rabbit was a fun meal to try. I definitely recommend it. If you are looking for a good Italian restaurant in downtown Pittsburgh this is the place to go! The only thing that was a little weird was you could see where the staff stood when they weren't busy.
(4)Colleen C.
I can truly say with out a doubt that I've NEVER had a bad experience at Sienna. Last week on Valentine's Day was the best. It was my fifth experience at Sienna fourth for dinner. We were greeted with smiles from hostess and manager, Mike. Seated immediately and greeted again by, Matthew. First, I'd like to thank Chef Porco for hiring such an attentive, knowledgeable staff. Particularly, Matthew. His attention to detail of the menu was very impressive (and we love the French accent!). Our first order was an Italian Montepulciano for $40. We decided on three courses...the anchovy crostini and the mussels arrabiata. Both very flavorful and yummy. I almost forgot about the homemade bread with white bean spread flavored with truffle and olive oil. Yummy! The mesculan salad may seem simple but the kalamata olives, whipped goat cheese and red pepper vinaigrette just made it a much greater experience for the taste buds. It was difficult to choose the last course. I'm a big fan of their meatballs and I knew I couldn't resist. So the Bucatini with their signature mozzarella stuff meatballs (size of baseballs) won! My sweetheart ordered my second choice, the Lamb Osso Buco...a large delectable portion of meat with mashed potatoes and carrots. As decent and fair minded Americans, we, of course, shared plates (thanks sweetie!). All courses were delicious and unique. The lamb tender, falling off bone. The meatballs melt in your mouth. We did not leave with a doggie bag. Kudos to Sienna for your efforts to ensure that the service, food, and atmosphere is unique, fun, and delicious. I hope more restaurants can use you as a benchmark, particularly with service and knowledge of food and wine.
(5)Jules M.
Awful. Terrible staff very rude. Food was meeeeh ok I guess but over priced for mediocrity. Never again
(1)Stacie M.
Everything we tried was delicious, the service was good too. We can't wait to go back.
(5)Rotem G.
Their flatbread appetizers were my favorite part of the meal. The prosciutto and arugula one was my favorite. For the rest of the meal I tried their restaurant week offering (Salad, Pasta, and Dessert). The salad was simple and fresh, but not memorable. The pasta was well made, in a very traditional execution. I guess I was hoping for something a little more unique and with a little flair (like their flatbread). For desert I chose the zeppoli. Sadly they were somewhat small, so they lacked the moist inside I expect from a zeppoli. This was a Yelp get together, so of course we discussed the meal. Out of seven diners the consensus around the table seemed to be that the meal would best be rated a 3.25, but until Yelp lets us do fractions of a star, it'll have to be a 3.
(3)Melissa W.
After reading the reviews, my mom and I made a reservation for before a show and had no problem getting in for a before show dinner. The waitress was very nice and offered us suggestions from the menu. I decided on the Bucatini with the Mozerella Stuffed meatballs and the entire dish was to DIE for. I did not have a problem with the portion sizes - in fact, I had leftovers! The tomato sauce was perfectly chunky and not at all from a can/jar and my taste buds were just in heaven. I would highly recommend this restaurant for any special occasion. It is a little pricey, but well worth it.
(5)Tessa M.
i really liked sienna. i didn't know what to expect going in, but i certainly wasn't disappointed. we ordered the parmesan stuffed meatballs and the meat and cheese tray for appetizers. the meatballs were good as were the fancy meats and cheeses. for entrees, i split a tuna melt and a bbq sandwich with Sheryl T. the bbq was good, very interesting with the veggies in it, but the bun was a little soggy. the tuna melt was delicious, and a lot more filling than i expected. we got a side of pasta salad with one and chips with the other. the pasta salad was good but nothing super special. the chips on the other hand were quite possibly the best i've ever had.. the rosemary-herb topping made them irresistible. our bartender was also super nice and helpful. they gave us the wrong bill by accident but he quickly fixed that for us, and the price turned out to be quite reasonable.
(5)Shari S.
I had a great dinner last night at Sienna Sulla with a colleague while visiting my company's Pittsburgh office. I had the Caprese (tomato mozzarella) salad to start which was fresh and delicious. For my entree, I really enjoyed the grilled swordfish which was poached in olive oil and served atop rounds of fried zucchini and succulent oven roasted tomatoes. My dining companion's tomato risotto was an outstanding melange of creamy Arborio rice studded with sundried tomatoes and basil. The decor at Sienna Sulla was a cozy mix of exposed brick walls, swirly glazed glass tabletops and low lighting, all of which made for a pleasant dinner ambiance. There were a few tables outside but the interior seemed more inviting so we sat inside by the large bay window looking towards Market Square. Our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly but not intrusive. I would happily return to Sienna Sulla when I'm back in Pittsburgh!
(5)Shweta N.
There's some great things about Sienna: (1) Great location, nestled right next to Nola in the heart of the square (2) Heavy Pours! (I'll be back for a happy hour in the not too distant future) (3) Atmosphere. One thing I wished it had, but didn't find, was food so good it would keep me coming back! We started with the tomato bisque and the sausage, potato, and kale soup- for me this was the highlight of the meal. The tomato bisque had just the right balance of acid and cream, and was served with a grilled crostini. The sausage and kale soup was also very tasty and full of their homemade sausage, which we later ordered as a side- it was so good! We thought this was a lead up to some phenomenal mains, but we were a little disappointed. We tried the beef ravioli, which unfortunately had a creamy tomato sauce very similar to the bisque, and the prosciutto and arugula flatbread. I LOVE prosciutto and arugula, but in my opinion it's best served simple with a little bit of olive oil, a couple of shaves of spicy parmesan, and cracked black pepper. The flatbread had a tomato and melted mozzarella base. Together, with the prosciutto and parmesan, this was just too salty for me. The service is top notch and the bartender was incredibly attentive (try the lost at sea, you won't regret it!); these 2 factors certainly contributed to their "Best New Restaurant of Pittsburgh 2013" title. Overall and all things considered, I will be back to try more from the menu- this place has too much going for it for me not to give it another shot! Hopefully you'll see this review upgraded in a month or two!
(3)Brandon T.
I have been to Sienna several times for lunch, but I decided to take an out of town friend there for dinner last week. I ordered the salmon entree, and it was excellent. The salmon was done a little more than I would have considered medium-rare, but it was very good, and the arugula and tomato/eggplant dish were unbelievably flavorful, so I did not mind at all. I enjoyed my meal so much that I went the next day with a client even though we did not have a reservation. I ordered a 'side arugula salad' with a side of a mozzarella-stuffed meatball. I also ordered the tomato/eggplant that accompanied the salmon the day before because it was that good. The meal was great, and we were very glad to be seated even though the restaurant was packed. The service was pretty good each time. I do not think I have ever been dissatisfied with the service. BTW, the Malbec Nieto wine from Mendoza, Argentina was excellent as well. It went really well with the tomato-based dishes that we ordered.
(4)Sally O.
Food - 5 stars Hostess - 1 star. Awful. The food at Sienna is fantastic (the only reason why I have been back more than once). I live in NYC and am pretty picky about my Italian restaurants. I'm currently in Pittsburgh on a long term work assignment- staying downtown, and therefore I eat dinner out every night alone. I have gone to Sienna both for dinner and lunch. The meal both times has been fantastic BUT the hostess (same one both times) was rude, condescending, and inappropriate. I hope management reads this and has a talk with her. I understand that I am one person and would NEVER take up a big table on a busy night at a restaurant. I'm happy sitting at the bar. That being said-- on a Monday night in an empty restaurant, I expect to be welcomed kindly. No looking me up and down, and quesitoning "on, ONE person? Dining ALONE? Well... I guess we have space for you at the bar." No kidding, in the empty restaurant- thanks. Then I went there again at lunch (WANTING to eat at the bar) when it was early and there were tons of tables open and the bar was full and again-- the look, the grimace. It is a SHAME that a restaurant with such fantastic food (meatballs, octopus appetizer, flatbread, and wine selection are AMAZING) chooses to put such an ugly face forward. I would love to have Sienna on my weekly restaurant rotation but instead am opting for Meat & Potatoes (MUCH busier but still recognize me with a warm welcome) and Penn Avenue Fish Company (same thing-- busy but welcoming).
(3)X Q.
The food is fantastic, but the service is not. Had a salad and pasta with meatballs and it was all very delicious. The service was terrible. The AC was dripping water on us at our table and the host refused to move us to a new table and expected us to just get water dripped on our heads and food all night. We insisted that we move to our server and eventually were moved to a large family style table with another family that we did not know...awkward. Our server also semi-neglected us because she was trying to give speedy service to another table who had to catch a show at 7:30. Well, we were going to the same show and her focus on them and lack of attention to us made us late for the show. Sienna needs to step up their customer service. They want to be an upscale restaurant, but they're providing diner-style service.
(2)Gabby M.
My aunt and uncle came into town and from Atlanta and they heard from locals they should try Sienna for dinner. I live on the south side and had never heard of it so I was excited to go there. My boyfriend and I met them there and the atmosphere was very cool. We had reservations and were seated straight away. The server was very attentive the whole night and he suggested delicious drinks! I had an agave tequila cocktail and it was so uniquely delicious! We ordered a few appetizers, four main courses and two deserts. All of them were delicious and they came out at what seemed like perfect timing. My favorite of all that I tried was the pork chop. It was juicy and perfectly cooked. I would reccomend this place for anyone- from a romantic night with your significant other to a relaxed night with family! The prices are higher because the restaurant is more upscale, but I will definitely be back for a special night!
(5)Event L.
Best waiter encountered in the Pittsburgh restaurant scene in recent years. Food was tasty and has great potential. Slightly over-cooked bass buried under too many potato strings but with an absolutely delicious sauce. Grisly yet still delish veal meatball sloppily presented on too small of a plate in a truly authentic red sauce. The tuna, bolognese, and salmon were also ordered and fellow diners enjoyed it but didn't rave. Will definitely return to try other dishes.
(3)Justin H.
Perfect environment for a date night! Staff was very knowledgable and helpful when selecting dishes. Indoor/outdoor dining was a huge plus! Also, it wouldn't hurt to call ahead for reservations.
(5)JBaby S.
i am a food critic of critics and i have not one negative thing to write about except that i am stuffed. The red skinned potatoes are perfection, the goat cheese salad perfection. bread and red pepper hummus dip superb. Nikki was a perfect waitress, tending to my every need The 4 drinks i had were handcrafted and marvelous and I am very very picky about drinks. The ginger beer drink was perfectly presented in a copper mug. They infuse their own syrups or ginger beer. The lemon drop rosemary martini was next to my favorite. The cucumber lavender was as drinkable as kool aid the exotic tequila and carrot drink was very nice and pretty FLatbreads are very crispy and will not dissapoint. I hope they keep up the good work. This is about the only 5 star I ever gave a pittsburgh establishment. I cant wait to go back This is serious eating. NO weekend chefs working here. THis is fine dining. Portions are high quality and small so dont be expecting huge piles of garbage like other places serve you get what you pay for!!! OH, the chocolate lava cake was bar none.
(5)Elizabeth D.
The octopus toast was to die for, but the food was to die from, sadly. Ok, it wasn't that bad, but it was SO over salted, and when you are dropping big bucks on a romantic dinner, you don't want to leave with a lip puckering salty taste in your mouth. The ambiance was lovely, the waitstaff was accomadating, the area is cute and good for out of town visitors (and parking, if it's a weeknight after 6 p.m.). Still, when you drop $100 on a dinner for two, you expect a bit less salt.
(3)Andrea C.
An unexpected treat. Small and intimate restaurant in the middle of market square. Make reservations if you don't want to sit at the bar...but it is worth the wait. Meatballs were fabulous and the the butternut squash ravioli was savory and delicious. We will definitely return next time we're in Pittsburgh.
(4)Marcus A.
Pittsburgh has recently become a point of call for me, and one of the first things I do when entering a new area is consult with the Yelp universe. Once again I've been the beneficiary of our community's generous input, as Sienna is an exceptional find. Fantastic Italian inspired food, affable associates, and a contemporary decor will keep me coming back. Had the Osso Bucco the first time around, and had to force myself to stop eating well after I was full. Tonight I'm having the Chicken Picatta, and it's a delectable treat. Kudos Sienna...you have yourself a fan!
(5)Chris H.
Hands down one of the best Italian Restaurants in my hometown of Pittsburgh. The restaurant is small and quaint. The atmosphere reminded my of a NYC restaurant. Staff is wonderful. Bartender made my wife a great dirty martini. I ate the Bolognese dish with an added meatball stuffed with cheese and my wife had the gnocchi. All pastas are homemade. Dessert topped off the night perfectly.
(5)Nancy S.
Here with 5 friends recently. The food was fabulous-- can't say enough about the lobster risotto which was so full of lobster flavor it was amazing. The calimari was perfect-- crunchy and crisp and not at all greasy. The desserts--we shared 3 different ones--were wonderful. Our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly. Overall a super meal.
(5)Andrew S.
Best restaurant in market square. I have been here several times and never had a bad experience! Highly recommended.
(5)Danielle D.
Love it for lunch! This is by far my favorite lunchtime spot. Their flatbreads are great. The arugula and prosciutto flatbread is like a pizza and salad in one. Anything with the meatballs is tasty. I haven't ever had anything here I didn't like. The service is usually efficient, but never knocks my socks off. The ambiance would be great for a romantic dinner.
(5)Mary W.
The hostess is anything but inviting, so don't let that put a damper on your evening. We had dinner reservations for 9:30, so we arrived at 8:30 for pre dinner cocktails. I highly recommend reservations as this is a small place. We had stopped in here a few weeks ago for drinks and were back for dinner. We ordered French martini's and they were very tasty. I stopped at one as I had not eaten and was beginning to feel quite shaky. Our table was ready and we were seated. Our waiter was knowledgeable about the food and gave his recommendations. We both decided on the bucatini with mozzarella stuffed veal meatballs for dinner, I ordered the orzo Mac n cheese as an appetizer as I was starving, and my boyfriend had the tomato bisque. The tomato bisque was very tasty, and my orzo Mac n cheese was very creamy and delicious. I must note that there was not salt n pepper on the table, and that must be because you don't have a need for it. All dishes are seasoned well. Our dinners arrive and again, everything is extremely tasty. The meatball was seasoned perfectly and the mozzarella oozed out when you cut it in half. I will definitely be back again. This is a great place for drinks, celebrations, or anything in between.
(5)Rhonda H.
Wonderful atmosphere and great service. First time at Market Square and this was a great restaurant to experience the the evening. I had the duck with blueberries and it was great ! Would definitely return!
(5)Elana B.
This is my first-ever review on Yelp! I went to Sienna Sulla Piazza last night for the first time and loooved it! We had made a reservation and were seated immediately. Our waiter was very nice - it did take a little bit for our order to be taken (we had waited about 15 min. after initially being greeted, where we then asked another server to get ours for us). That was the only "downside" to the evening. After our server came to us, he apologized for the wait and was super attentive the remainder of the evening. My date ordered a flatbread and I ordered the tomato bisque and the sienna chopped salad. The portions were perfect and the pricing was definitely reasonable. We kept saying over dinner how good everything was and how nice everyone (the hostess, servers, etc.) was to us. We will be back there for sure!! :)
(4)Mark P.
Great addition to Market Square, but typical Italian food. We had a great time and the drinks came quick, but the food came a little slow. We waited for 35 minutes between salad and entree. Not horrible, but we were four guys and hungry. The salad was the best part of my meal. I had the Sienna Chopped. The short ribs off the bone... Not that special. You would also think a Mac&Cheese Risotto would be awesome, but it was not. Good pricing and a nice venue, but maybe do a progressive night in Market Square, starting with salad or apps at Sienna and then dinner somewhere else.
(2)Dana H.
I don't usually bother to write reviews but my experience at Sienna was so great that I felt compelled. I was seated at a perfect hightop overlooking bustling Market Square. My server Mathew had a European accent and was extremely attentive. The atmosphere was warm and wonderful. MOST OF ALL THE FOOD IS AWESOME!! Chopped salad with a wonderful homemade dressing topped with grilled shrimp and a cup of tomato bisque took me from my Steeltown to Tuscany!
(5)