Welcome back, Feasters! I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve had a craving for gnocchi. That’s why I chose to go to PGH City Paper’s 2022 Best Italian Restaurant in Pittsburgh: DiAnoia’s Eatery.
Founded and run by Chef Dave Anoia, DiAnoia’s Eatery is a family-owned business hailing from Pittsburgh’s the Strip District. Because of its location, the building is relatively small, which makes it difficult to get in with a reservation made in advance. Once your nose is hit with the glorious scent of their homemade pasta, though, it’ll become apparent that the effort was worth it.
The space has a modern, pristine vibe to it. Paintings by local artists cover the walls, and information cards are at customers’ disposal if interested in purchasing the piece. The restaurant does a great job of supporting the community and giving local artists an outlet for their creativity. One of my favorite decorations is their famous cerulean wine bottle chandelier. There are also floor to ceiling windows, so while eating dinner, customers get a nice view of the city. It’s impressive how, despite their small space, they’re able to create a classy atmosphere with just enough room for their customers. It can get tight and loud at times, though, so I will give it a 9.5/10.
The staff was attentive and diverse. They checked on us frequently but also gave us space to socialize and eat at a leisurely pace. Unlike most eateries in America, they didn’t rush out the check the second we finished eating. They also didn’t stall, though, and somehow managed to predict the exact time we wanted to pay. Overall, everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming. I loved this staff, so they’ll receive a 10/10.
Our table of four ordered an appetizer and drinks before our meal came out. There are a variety of alcoholic beverages on the menu for those over 21 and plenty of virgin options for those under the age limit, including mocktails. Our wonderful waitress offered me a drink that was not specifically listed on the menu: a virgin shirley temple. All of the ingredients were the same (sprite, cherries, etc.) except for the fact that organic cherries were used rather than your typical maraschinos that you get when ordering from a bar.
The presentation of the drink was clean and vibrant with cherries/cherry juice sitting at the bottom of the glass. I took my first sip, expecting they typical sweetness and carbonation you’d get from a typical shirley temple. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case, and the drink fell flat. I tried to mix it a little, hoping it would improve, but it didn’t. The soda tasted more like carbonated water with a pinch of sugar added in rather than Sprite. The cherries were gross and mushy when I ate them. They went from sour to sweet to bland. While this drink is quote on quote “healthier and sophisticated,” I prefer my sloppy Sprite with a few maraschino cherries thrown in and a pump of cherry juice. This drink gets a 4/10.
Despite my lackluster mocktail, the appetizer made up for any hard feelings. We ordered their fresh bread, oil, and parmigiano reggiano, a.k.a thin crust bread baptized in olive oil with fancy Italian cheese sprinkled on top. This dish may sound simple, but as they say, simple things can bring great pleasure, and this appetizer did. The bread was thin but soft and moist from the olive oil; it was just the right amount of greasy, and the cheese on top was delicious. It had a bitter, salty taste that actually complimented the olive oil really well. I do wish that it was a bit thicker and doughier, though. Some really nice bubbles form because of the oven its baked in, but when you cut inside, it’s completely hollow. Because of these factors, the appetizer will receive an 9/10.
For my main course, I ordered their famous gnocchi and meatballs; it was one of the best dishes I’ve ever tasted. The gnocchi was cooked to perfection and were fluffy and light but filling. It was like eating dense little rain clouds. I’m not a huge potato person, but you couldn’t even tell that they were made partly from potatoes. The sea of marinara sauce engulfing the gnocchi was savory and seasoned to perfection. You could tell that it was homemade with fresh tomatoes. It tasted like one of those sauces that are kept on a low broil all day. Along with the dish came two meatballs that I was unfortunately too full to finish. From the few bites I took, though, I have to say that I wasn’t too impressed with them. They were drier than usual and had a gamey taste. Then again, I’m very particular about my meatballs, so maybe these just weren’t my style, but I’ve eaten their meatballs before, and I’ve always enjoyed them. I would give the main course a 10/10, but because of the meatballs, I will have to give it a 9/10.
Finally, our table ordered dessert. I chose a tart consisting of salted caramel, almond pastry cream, and pine nuts on top. This treat was overly sweet, and the cream had a pudding-adjacent texture, which I did not like. The crust added a nice crunch at least, but overall, this dish just wasn’t my style. Instead, I switched with my dad and ate his chocolate pistachio cream puff. I usually only enjoy pistachio flavored ice cream, but surprisingly, the pistachio nuts were a great addition to the pastry. They added a crispy texture when chewed and contributed to the overall sweetness. The chocolate was rich and heavy but had a hint of sugar that kept it manageable. The tart will receive a 5/10 and the cream puff a 9.5/10.
DiAnoia’s is one of my all time favorite restaurants. Despite some downsides, I love everything about the business. I’d have to give them a 9/10 overall. If you value traditional Italian cuisine with modern twist, I highly recommend this restaurant.
If You Go:
DiAnoia’s Eatery
2549 Penn Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA
(412) 918-1875
Hours: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, Saturday; 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Sunday; kitchen closes at 3 p.m. each day and reopens for dinner at 5 p.m, except on Saturdays, when it opens at 4 p.m.
IG: @dianoiaseatery