One of the best authentic Italian restaurants in the Greater Pittsburgh area isn’t in the trendy Strip District or other fashionable city destination points, but in the Lebanon Shops, a typical suburban strip mall located on the Mount Lebanon and Castle Shannon border. Owner & Chef John Piacquadio, offer up traditional Italian cuisine with old world charm, style and flavors close to home.
Since opening their doors in November 2008, John Piacquadio and his staff, graciously strive to serve their clientele generous portions of authentic old-fashioned style food or what John very proudly refers to as “Italian comfort food.”
The extensive Italian menu of this casual neighborhood favorite, illustrates their deep devotion to a much simpler time and a homage to the Italian Sunday family dinner. There are always homemade daily soups, lunch and dinner specials added to the lineup of their notable signature dishes; which he calls “inventa dishes.”
An array of classic Italian entrees are all prepared with a sense of elegant simplicity. They feature foods from all regions of Italy, boasting a vast selection of pasta, chicken, and veal dishes, Piacquadio’s also puts an old world spin on their high quality seafood and beef dishes. The family friendly restaurant serves oven baked hoagies, pizza, sandwiches and a variety of scrumptious salads.
The warm and welcoming dining room is often filled with many of their loyal regulars. John attributes much of this success to everything is made to order and from scratch, using only the freshest and most authentic products available. John explains, “Some of the chain restaurants can’t cook from scratch because everything has to always taste the same from store to store so a lot of their stuff has to be pre–made.” First time diners, perhaps accustomed to the usual chain fare, are impressed by the huge portions of Piacquadio’s Italian comfort foods. He emphasizes, “If you’re Italian and had the opportunity to be at a Sunday Italian dinner, our food brings back those memories from your childhood. That is why I always say taste what you’ve been missing!”
Steeped in a strong family tradition, generations of the Piacquadio family have owned and still have popular and successful restaurants throughout the Pittsburgh area. John, who is now a grandfather of three, first learned to cook, at an early age, by standing next to his own grandmother in her kitchen and at his grandparents’ restaurant, The Gallery which was located in Bridgeville. During high school, the Bishop Canevin graduate worked at Pasta Too Pizza & Pasta in the North Side, owned by his uncle, Dan Piacquadio. There he continued to appreciate the artistry of Italian cooking, embrace his family traditions and sharpen his own talent. “My Uncle Dan calls it a gift.” says John. Dan also owned the original Piacquadio’s that was located at the Virginia Manor Shops in Mt. Lebanon over 37 years ago.
Early in his career, John learned all aspects of the restaurant industry, working at Fountain Products, a restaurant equipment and supply distributor located on Industrial Blvd. in Bethel Park. He started in the warehouse, then on to delivery, became an outside sales rep, before moving to purchasing.
They buy most everything for the restaurant from local vendors. Italian ingredients are from Pennsylvania Macaroni and Nappies, produce from Paragon, high quality beef from Jo-Mar Provisions, and fresh bread and rolls from both Cibrone’s Bakery in Castle Shannon and Breadworks in the Northside.
John, and his staff take great pride in providing a quality driven and service oriented traditional restaurant which you can bring the whole family for an outstanding dining experience. John joyfully states, “We want this to be the place you take your parents, your grandparents, aunts, uncles and your children and make memories of your own like I have.”
All menu items are available for take-out and they offer family style orders, serving six to eight, perfect for those with no time to cook, but who want the taste and feel of an old fashioned home cooked meal.
Piacquadio’s Italian Restaurant and Lounge is located in the LebanonShops, 300 Mt. Lebanon Blvd. and is open Monday through Thursday 11am- 9pm, Friday 11am-10pm, Saturday 4pm-10pm, and closed Sundays.
