Esta Esta Restaurant — Restaurant in Monroeville

So I recently came to this establishment because I was craving Italian and it was between this place and another that had far more reviews the ratings were similar though It was recommended that I go to the other place but when I seen the website and pictures of the food immediately I knew this was the better option I am part Italian however I’m also a woman of color. So excited I came here and the moment I walked in the bartender gave me a look of “what tf are you here for” however she spoke and asked what If I was dining in or ordering to go I said a Togo order when I tell you this woman did not want to talk to me I felt it I seen in her expression but I didn’t pay it any mind she got a different person to take my order that’s fine by me. The person that took my order was very kind and sweet her demeanor was very respectful and different compared to the bartender so I felt somewhat better however I noticed when people started coming inside they must of been regulars because she completely changed her demeanor and aura for them. She was a totally different person to them it was as if I was in the early 30s like oh I just don’t belong ? Yes they were Caucasian customers so my heart felt heavy but I gave benefit of the doubt because I never assume someone’s racist. But when I say she didn’t speak to me she didn’t the entire time I waited I felt like a black sheep. The customers seemed to be nice but because of how she made me feel I stayed quiet. I am the type of person to speak and mingle and get to know everyone and I also tip everyone I interact with when I am out for food well in this case I did not tip her because of how she made me feel and tbh I did the right thing because she didn’t even bother saying have a nice day. If y’all could see the difference in how she handled me versus everyone else you would understand that she is not good to new customers or she doesn’t necessarily like people of color. She has red hair and she’s a little older too she was in the dining area where they smoke. I asked to keep the menu she looked at me like why tf you asking but she finally said yes. People really need to watch their facial expressions and tone because I am very observant and tbh I see why more people might be going to the other establishment and the people down the street at the upmc hospital never even heard of this place so that’s unfortunate that she’s doing that she could potentially be pushing regulars away. I definitely plan on coming back but the next time I do come I will be verbal about how I feel if she treats me that way again. I am very respectful too so I have no problem being professional about it. My overall rating will stay the same until she can prove to have better customer service towards me or at least other people of color. I’m afraid we go through enough and we have every right to speak on it but I made sure to stay quiet because I always observe and assess the situation first. My full Italian grandmother was on her death bed that day and this service was not ok thank goodness the waitress was phenomenal because I most certainly tipped her the bartenders portion ontop of her portion and I have no regrets. I truly hope someone will reach out to the bartender because she made it very obvious she only cares for her regulars and that’s not the way...

After living close to Monroeville since I was a child and having been past this place time and again, I finally decided to take my family to try this place out.

They opened at 4 and we actually planned ahead due in large part to the reviews posted that spoke of how busy this place gets, so we made a reservation the day before.

The ambiance of this place is classic old school Mom and Pop Italian. Mirrors on walls, linen table cloths and even chair covers make dining here a true walk down memory lane. The music playing of Sinatra, Patsy Cline and other greats of a time passed seemed to add to the experience in a very subtle but nostalgic way.

We were seated promptly and ordered an Appetizer of fried provolone cheese. That was the start of an amazing tour for the taste buds! The sauce....from the first taste it took me back to my childhood of classic, all day Sunday kinda sauce! So savory and flavorful and the consistency of it just had me wanting to spoon it directly from sauce dish to my mouth!

The menu here is straightforward. Full of classic Italian dishes with sandwiches also available.

The four of us decided on Eggplant parmesean, lasagna, chicken Alfredo and shrimp Alfredo.

The waitress was very pleasant and attentive and brought a basket of rolls and bread for us as we waited for our salads and entrées to arrive.

The breads here - I could have honestly just made a meal of that and their sauce! Soooo fresh and delicious!

The salads were great as well. The house Italian is a basalmic base and I would recommend that for sure!

The entrées arrived and the portion sizes here hearken me back to the old days where you knew that whatever you ordered would likely serve for a lunch meal the next day!

The Eggplant parmesean was fantastic! Highly recommended for those not much for meat.

The lasagna was my choice - and all I can say is it will definitely be among my go to choices the next time I dine here! I ordered extra sauce and that was probably the sole reason I was only able to finish half my meal because I ultimately had too much bread and sauce that filled me up!

The Alfredo (both shrimp and chicken) were creamy and savory!

They do charge an additional 4% if you're using credit cards to pay but - for the service and the quality of the food here - that is a small...

This evening my friend and I went to enjoy an impromptu, relaxing dinner. To begin with 90% of the restaurant was empty but we were seated next to a table of four that thought the idea of dinner conversation was graphic details about abortions and the comparison between fetuses and prostate tumors...non-stop and obnoxiously loud. Our server seemed pleasant initially and promptly brought us our drinks and appetizer. About 30 minutes after our first course was done, we inquired about our entrees. The server said they'd be up in a few minutes, but 15 minutes passed again. She then explained to us that this was only her second night and she inadvertently failed to put our main orders in. After several more minutes, we asked to speak to a manager and that our food be boxed to go. The owner came over and from the start spoke to us in a very degrading and condescending manner. She questioned us as though we were lying about the amount of time we had waited. We then told the server we would pay for our drinks and appetizer but we didn't want our dinners since it was almost 9:30. She then complained to us that she was going to have to pay for our meals. At this point, the owner came out of the kitchen and began grabbing the bags from the table as if we were going to steal them. So abruptly in fact, she took our leftover appetizers that we paid for. Undoubtedly the worst dining experience, atmosphere and service, I could ever imagine. I would recommend that anyone wanting an enjoyable evening with good food and good service...run as fast as you can away...