Pizzaiolo Primo Market Square — Restaurant in Pittsburgh

It was to be a special night out for my son and me. I visited him for the first time since he’s moved away. We arrived and when asked if we wanted inside or outside we said inside. The hostess took a few moments then said she can only seat us outside. It’s was very humid but we acquiesced and reluctantly took a table with the sun uncomfortably in our face then were moved to a shadier outdoor table. All the while we noticed several tables that were free inside, but I figured hey maybe there are reservations that are coming and we didn’t have any reservation.

Super nice waitress. We ordered and halfway Into our delicious meal I started to get eaten alive by mosquitos which was part of the reason why I preferred to be indoors. During this time, I noticed that the tables that were available upon our arrival inside were still available. I was so uncomfortable at this point getting bitten not to mention the aroma of nearby smokers cigarettes and marijuana. I just had to ask the waitress if we could be moved inside because there was no way I could finish my meal at this point. She went back inside and asked the hostess and at that time we were able to move back inside. I was very grateful but I have to wonder why we could not sit inside to begin with. We finished our meal and for some reason, we were given two separate checks, which I couldn’t understand either since nobody requested separate checks. Until the time we arrived and left not one person came in to claim any of the free tables that have been free the entire time we were there.

That being said, the food was amazing. The wait staff was good. The hostess seemed like she just didn’t want to give us a table inside for some reason. It made no sense to ask if we wanted to be seated inside or outside and then be told we can only be seated outside. I made sure to thank her on my way out and she never offered any explanation so I can only say it was personal. I don’t...

Let me start of by saying, that two of the ladies in our group have worked for Pizzaiolo along with our sisters so we understand what they expect. The kitchen closed at 11 but we wanted to make sure so we called to let them know that 3 of would be there by 10pm. When we arrived we were greeted with zero smiles, eye rolls and attitudes but we sat down and moved on from that, ready for a great dining experience. Our server, was very sweet from beginning to end and expressed a “happy birthday” to our friend which we loved and said we will be offered any free dessert except for the bread pudding. We continued to dine and eventually had a few things boxed and our server asked if we’d like another round, at this point it was close to 1135 but there were still two other people dining but we wanted be sure it would be alright if we ordered another drink, our server proceeded to tell us “absolutely, please - I have a lot to do and we’re not going anywhere for at least an hour”. So we ordered another drink. Once the drinks hit the table, the music was turned off and the employees began literally staring at us from the kitchen, huddled up and staring. So uncomfortable, that’s when we noticed the music was off while they stared. It was so awkward. We closed out, without any dessert and just wanted to get out of there. One of our guests then used the bathroom and when she came back to the table she let us know that she heard some man from the kitchen saying “these girls just won’t leave.” At that point, we approached our server and told her how unfortunate the end of our dining experience was. We are all Pittsburgh natives and to see this restaurant’s morale so obviously disturbed has definitely put a bad taste in our mouth. It’s unfortunate, but we will be letting our family and friends know about our experience. Unless you want staring eyes and awkward ambiance - find another restaurant to...

This has been my favorite restaurant the past two years (and so I have been coming occasionally) but the last two experiences has been below satisfactory.

To begin with the compliments: the food almost never fails. If you’re looking for something close to authentic in the Pittsburgh area with a cozy atmosphere, I would most likely recommend Pizzaiolo Primo at Market Square! My usual go-to orders are Aglio E Olio (with Spaghetti instead of Rigatoni) and Cacio E Pepe. The Aglio E Olio, in my opinion, was just right except it may be a little bland for some people — so always ask for some salt and pepper (or pepper flakes) just in case. The Cacio E Pepe is also another great option to order. Their selection of pizzas will always be a safe, delicious bet if you plan on visiting but am not sure of what to order.

Onto the unsatisfactory: the service quality is inconsistent due to varying factors. First, waiters have always been spectacular — of all the times I have visited, I have had only one bad experience with a waiter who worked upstairs on Sunday afternoons (they acted as if our existence was a waste of their time and an inconvenience overall but alas). Following this, in the past two visits, the food has been extraordinarily slow. While I completely understand that the restaurant is busy during lunch or dinner, I believe waiting an hour for pasta is just not fair. I have great sympathy for the hectic waiters running back and forth during those busy times and hope this issue can be resolved soon.

Overall, I still love the food and the atmosphere. I would recommend sitting on the first floor (outside or inside) for the best environment. And if you have the chance to, please visit the restaurant when the Christmas market is up in Market Square during the holiday season! I promise it will be a...