Girasole
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Phone: (412) 682-2130
- Hours:
- Tue-Thu 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm, Sun 4pm-9pm
Editorial Review for Girasole – by Sam Edelmann
The Scene
Walk down a few steps into a softly-lit cavern where the walls are stone and the feel is naturally warm. The crowd is mixed with Shadyside regulars next to groups of area food-lovers and happy couples sharing bottles of wine over a leisurely repast.
The Food
The menu is small, which allows the kitchen to focus on the dishes it puts out. The appetizer of escarole and beans is quite popular and can be enjoyed atop the wonderful polenta with tomato sauce. Their bruschetta is rich and unusually sweet from the ricotta in the topping. Girasole is best known for its pasta dishes. From simple rigatoni in Bolognese sauce with Parmesan Reggiano to the complex chestnut linguine in a light cream sauce with roasted chicken and radicchio, ingredients are correctly blended to not overpower each other. Try the cavatelli in oil and garlic sauce with sausage and winter greens.
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Insider Tips
The ExtrasAfter the hearty meal, try the homemade vanilla gelato with semi-sweet chocolate chips.
User Reviews for Girasole
05/10/2008 Posted by Sunflower08
I live in Indiana, PA and make the hour-plus drive to Shadyside at least monthly to enjoy the fabulous Italian eatery that is Girasole. I've been dining there, and taking friends both local and from out of town, since the place opened, and the response from everyone is always the same--"What a fine restaurant!" We love Girasole not only for the impeccable service, the divine salad, the delicious and original menu items, which are always served searingly hot, and the incredible consistency in all these factors. It may be a bit crowded and too loud on the busier nights, but the food is worth it. It's definitely one of the finest restaurants in Pittsburgh. The city is very fortunate to have a restaurant like Girasole.
Pros: the food, the service
Cons: sometimes a bit loud on weekend nights
04/02/2008 Posted by ducpilot
My wife and I were celebrating with some collegues of hers from out of town and decided to have dinner at Girasole. The dinner we had was a little overpriced, and rather bland to be honest (Carne). We also ordered wine, some tiramisu for dessert and espresso. We hadn't been finished with our dessert for 15 minutes and were having a nice conversation with our guests when the owner started tapping on my shoulder and said, "Sir it's been two hours, other people are waiting." I felt it was a bit rude after we had just spent $160, but we got up to leave anyways. I happened to notice that there were two vacant tables right next to ours, and another by the door, making a total of 8 open seats, but whatever, he can run his restaurant any way he wants. On the way out the door my wife told the owner that he was being rude, and he repeated "It's been two hours", and she replied, "Well it's still rude", to which he said, "Well too bad" I went back in and told the owner I did not appreciate him talking my wife in that manner and he denied saying anything wrong, and again told me that we had "Been there for two hours, and he had other people to seat." So I informed him that it's too bad we were there for two hours, we just spent $160 in his place, and it took at least 45 minutes before we even got our dinner. He vehemently denied it took that long for us to get our food, but said, "If that's the way you feel, here I'll pay for half your dinner." As he took out a rather large role of money from his pocket. I told him to keep his money, we're just never coming back. It was embarrassing inviting people from out of town for dinner and then get hustled out like that. Wine, dinner, dessert, and then espresso, that is about two hours right there. I guess Girasole prefers their customers to go talk at Starbucks across the street. Just eat and then pay, that should be their motto.
Pros: The salad was very good
Cons: Service, price, owner has no manners
