Rico's Restaurant — Restaurant in Ross Township

We were very disappointed with our first (and certainly only) experience at Rico’s. My boyfriend called a few days before to schedule a reservation, they said we didn’t need to make one for a party under six people. We valeted the car (their only parking option) and walked in, the hostess said there would be a 30-45 minute wait. No problem, we could wait; we appreciated the upfront honesty. We were seated after about 45 minutes. We were sitting without a menu or drink orders taken for approximately five minutes, then the owner came over and took care of those for us. Our server came over a moment later and asked us again, we expressed that the man had just taken our drink order, she notified us that was the owner. We waited about 15 more minutes before placing our orders.

My boyfriend was given the complete wrong meal, he notified the server and she apologized, she took his plate back. That is always inconvenient, but we could be understanding of a human error. I sat there, letting my meal get cold, for about 10 minutes while we waited for his correct meal to come out, nothing was comped on our bill for the inconvenience. We can look past all of this though, still willing to just chalk it up as one bad experience. What I could not look past, however, was the absolutely class-less party next to us. There was a verbal dispute between a couple and their parents. Very vocal argument that lasted about 15 minutes (before we left). The whole party was cursing at each other, very inappropriate statements including, “fk you, bch,” and “your mom’s a “f*ing ct.” Half of the party left, clearly embarrassed at the altercation, but the remaining three that were there continued for another 10 minutes with the cursing and very aggressive language that made everyone in our seating area completely uncomfortable. You would think a “PROFESSIONAL” fancy restaurant would have tried to alleviate the issue! I felt so uncomfortable and so unsafe, those patrons should have been removed from the restaurant immediately, but the business did nothing. We were finished with our meals, just waiting to get a check so we could escape the unsettling environment, but we had to tell the server ourselves to please give us the checks, we just wanted to leave.

On top of the bad patrons, the food was very mediocre for the price. Small portions, very expensive, their bread was way too salty and cold. Not a good experience, will never go back. Sad to say, but I could have had better food and time at...

We went for my husband's 50th birthday dinner. He ordered the Veal Parmesan and I ordered the Roquefort Filet Mignon. We ended up sharing our meals because both were AMAZING! The meat on both meals was was so tender we could cut them with a fork. Stellar service and spectacular food. It was our first time there and we will definitely be back.

On a side note; For the customers complaining about the automatic 20% gratituity added to the separate checks, obviously you were never in the service industry. You may think "What's the big deal separating checks?", IT IS A BIG DEAL! Especially for the "difficult" customers (and if you think that you are not difficult, hate to break it to you, YOU ARE for asking for separate checks!). Let's say you have 8 people in your party, there is ALWAYS 1-3 guest at that table who look around the table and think to themselves that all they need to do is leave a "just couple of dollars will be enough because everyone will be enough tips" No, IT WILL NOT BE ENOUGH!

Let me break it down for you;

Let's say the party of 8 spends the average $50 per person that will equal out to $400. Then they are automatically charged the 20% gratituity. 400.00 × .20 = $80

So from that $80 tip the server has to pay 8% taxes on thier FOOD SALES NOT THEIR TIPS.

That means 8% of $400 is $32 So now that $80 tip turns into $48.

Still not a bad tip, right?

Now that the server as to "tip out" the busser, the food runners and the bartender. (Usually the average tip out is 3% of your FOOD SALES).

3% of $400 is $12. Now that $48 decent tip becomes $36.

So if you take the $36 tip after taxes and tip out, divided by number of customers (8) 36÷8=4.5.

So this means the server is only getting a $4.50 per person gratituity instead of the $10 per person (Automatic 20%) gratituity the table thinks they're getting.

DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC 20% added to the check because if it wasn't I assure you that $36 tip would be a lot less.

*A servers pay rate is $2.83 per hour

If you disagree about this post then PLEASE let me know. As a person who spent 20+ years as a server and bartender all over the city of Pittsburgh, I would LOVE to discuss your...

5 Stars – All Around Awesome!

I recently had the pleasure of enjoying lunch for the very first time at Rico’s Restaurant, and I can confidently say it deserves a solid 5 stars across the board. This beloved establishment has been a Pittsburgh staple since the 1970s, with a rich history and loyal following. It’s a favorite among locals and has long attracted notable guests including Steelers legend Franco Harris and wrestling icon Bruno Sammartino, both of whom considered Rico’s their favorite go to restaurant.

From the moment we walked in, the ambiance struck the perfect balance between upscale and relaxed. I’d describe it as casual to fine dining, with spacious, elegant rooms that can easily accommodate everything from intimate meals to wedding receptions and large private events. Everything about the interior from the dining areas to the modern, spotless restrooms, was impeccably clean and thoughtfully maintained.

The service was absolutely top notch. Our server Jay, who was also handling the bar, was prompt, personable, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. He made our dining experience seamless and enjoyable.

Now for the real highlight: the food. Every dish we tried was excellent. Our entrées included:

• Walleye Pike Belle Meunière topped with crab meat and served with a lemon leek sauce, a side of green beans and marinara and a cup of their asparagus and fontinella cheese soup

• Broiled Salmon Piccata with lemon caper sauce and sautéed spinach

• Broiled Virginia Spots, a simple but perfectly prepared classic

Each entrée was flavorful, well executed, and beautifully presented. We also had fresh salads with their house made Italian dressing, which was so good I genuinely wish I could have taken a bottle home.

To finish off the meal, I had a slice of their coconut cream pie, which was the perfect sweet ending, light, creamy, and delicious.

Everything from start to finish was outstanding, and I honestly just wish I lived closer because I’d be a regular here. If you’re in the Pittsburgh area and looking for excellent Italian cuisine or simply an exceptional dining experience, Rico’s Restaurant is an absolute must.

5 stars, without hesitation. Truly all...