Stagioni

Dinner date with my sister on a Wednesday night. Almost every table was filled, I recommend reservations!
We started with decaf coffee (thrilling, I know) Our waiter brought out a french press pitcher! He left it on the table for us to refill our cups when needed and it was delicious! I’ve never seen coffee served at a restaurant like that so I was impressed.
My sister had been to Stagioni’s before and insisted on the MTO Mozzarella appetizer. My sister knows good cheese, trust me. It’s a good portion of her personal food pyramid. I am not a huuuuge cheese fan but I trusted her opinion and we got the mozz. The dish was served with prosciutto, roasted red peppers and olives. The cheese had course seal salt on top and the whole dish was sprinkled with a balsamic glaze. Well, my sister was stop on. The cheese was incredibly fresh and it had a deep flavor profile, which I find rare with mozzarella cheese. The glaze and additions to the plate complimented the cheese without overpowering the taste. I would get this again… and again… I plan to go back just to order this the next time I’m visiting Pittsburgh!
Since the mozz app is large, we opted to share two small dishes– polenta with shrimp & salsa verde and a side of fingerling potatoes. Both dishes were delicious but the servicing style of the polenta was my favorite part. The shrimp and salsa verde is brought out on a small cutting board. The polenta is brought out separate from a small cooking pot and poured directly onto the cutting board, Unique and fresh! Excellent taste. The shrimp were lightly seasoned and the polenta was moist (I apologize if you hate that word, it’s the only way to describe it!) The fingerling potatoes were roasted and served with a sundried tomato paste. Mhm Mhm Mhm! Excellent pair. For dessert, we opted to share the Nutella Mousse. I know what you’re thinking, «Nutella mousse– have my dreams come true??» My sister and I certainly thought that and we were disappointed to receive pudding inside of a wine glass with whip cream and roasted hazelnuts on top. The hazelnuts had good flavor but the pudding only had a hint of Nutella flavor *cue the tears* We didn’t finish the pudding and know better than to order it again. Dessert is my least favorite part of a meal so I didn’t let the lackluster mousse knock down their rating.
Service was fast, friendly & professional. Ambiance is quiet and romantic but still a good place to go with friends! I will be back for the app and to try a few other entrees!

I can’t figure out why this place isn’t packed! The menu is creative, food delicious and wine list is solid — great wines for good prices. My husband and I and another couple recently attended the Jamison lamb dinner — every course and wine pairing blew us away! Cara is a great host and the service is knowledgeable and attentive.

Nice place. Food was good, but the markup on the wine was absolutely ridiculous. They charged $ 47 for a bottle of red wine that you can buy for $ 14 at the liquor store.

When there for my friends birthday with a large group. They were really accommodating. The pastas were all good and home made, and the polenta was delicious. Overall the food was great, and I’m surprised this place doesn’t have more hype around it.
The Brussels sprout salad was really good, although not aesthetically pleasing. I gave 4 stars not 5 because some pastas were better than others. The chestnut agnolotti was amazing. I didn’t expect to like a sweet pasta but it was very well done. The gnocchi was also really good but quite dense. The pappardelle noodles were good but the sauce was underwhelming. I do also like that they let you order half portions so you can order two pastas instead of one!

Very very good. The food was amazing and the ambiance is cool. I am just too spoiled with all the food joints in Pittsburgh to give it 5 stars. It absolutely deserves a try. Get the roman gnocchi, weird take on it but really good.

Stagioni has managed to stay under the radar and I don’t know how that is possible. Their food, atmosphere and service are all top-​notch. My husband and I have been here for both brunch and dinner and Stagioni has never disappointed. The restaurant has such character and has quite the European look to its décor. It’s intimate, quiet and perfect for a romantic date. For brunch, we’ve tried the spicy hash and pistachio waffle. However, after a quick look at their site, I’m not sure if they offer brunch anymore. At our most recent visit for dinner, we tried the grilled octopus polenta, the cioppino and the roasted chicken breast. The polenta was definitely the star of the show. They pour the polenta on the board right in front of you. The cioppino was in a mild tomato sauce and the grilled bread was perfect for soaking up the broth. The roasted chicken breast was moist, melt in your mouth and perfectly seasoned with garlic and herbs.
With our check, there was a note and we saw that they hold large Sunday dinners on the first Sunday of every month where they have 3 tables of 18 and they serve up dinner family style for $ 40-​$ 50 per person. It’s a great idea to get people, including strangers, to dine and socialize together this way. Can’t wait to try their Sunday dinner!

This was my first time here. Had a party of 5 celebrating my wife’s birthday.
Upon arrival we got lucky and got a spot on Carson right out front. Because this is in the 2100 block it’s away from the nakama madness of parking.
Walked in the front door and was greeted by the hostess and was politely asked if we wanted to her to take our coats. How nice… Right!!!
We had our table upstairs and had plenty of room. It was a Friday and we had made a reservation the night before for 7:30. No open table but a call was easy and had no problem getting a table on such short notice.
Our server was awesome! I don’t say that often but he certainly knows the menu and more.
He was prompt and followed up all the time. Not to mention head had all 4 tables upstairs. Meaning he was regularly running the steps. Kudos to him.
I had a nice glass of Pinot noir. Loved it.
Started with the mozzarella and it was awesome. This was plenty to share for 5 and prob could have easily served 6.
The table shared the polenta and shrimp which was nice. Loved the polenta and table side service. I like the mini butcher clocks that they are served on.
We also had the Brussel sprouts which were awesome with the polenta.
My father had the Cesar salad which was perfectly dressed.
Wife had the butternut squash soup which easily served 2 and our sever was nice enough to split the portion up. Soup was so hot which is the way it should be. I can’t remember the last time I had soup this warm. Loved it!!!
I had the wild braised boar. Which by this time, I was getting full. But I couldn’t let a bite go to waste. Finished it to the last bite and it was perfect.
All other dishes were shared except mine which I wouldn’t give up a bite. Haha
Overall a perfect meal! Def will be back again.
Thanks again to our server! He was magnificent!!!

No more brunch! However, dinner is still exceptional! My husband I checked out the winter menu this past weekend. Wild boar, pork with figs, oh my! Tasty and warm! The food simply great!

Very authentic! This place came recommended as we traveled to Pittsburgh and were a little worried when we first arrived in the South Side as to what we were going to get. Our expectations were exceeded. The mozzarella and prosciutto is must. The dates were top notch. Ricotta gnocchi and Pappardelle were both delicious. Half portions were a great option to leave room for desert. Any one of them would do but I went with the deconstructed cannoli with pistachio. Very good. My only complaint would be to pass on the espresso. Not very strong but outside that, service was great, atmosphere was cozy, and will return to try other items on the menu if ever in town again.

I was impressed in every way by my visit to Stagioni. We were warmly greeted by our waiter, and he informed us of a $ 20 wine special (10 bottles to choose from for $ 20 on Wednesday nights).
For our first course, the Butternut Squash Soup with pomegranate and molasses was well balanced and nuanced. I also highly recommend the Escarole with
Gorgonzola, hazelnuts, and red wine vinaigrette. They used an imported Gorgonzola that was flavorful and the roasted hazelnuts were a distinctive addition.
For my main course, I enjoyed the Cavatelli with eggplant, tomato, basil, and Parmesan. Delicious! My friend had the Fettucini with green tomato sauce, also remarkable. Both used artisan pasta, very fresh and of perfect consistency.
For dessert, we split a Tiramisù, which was very good.
The décor was impressive, and we enjoyed a relaxed conversation. The service was impeccable. Excellent value, especially given the wine special.

Excellent food and service, my husband loves the fish here and I can’t get enough of the duck, great for either special occasions or just a weeknight dinner. Highly recommend; go next door to Acacia for drinks first.

I had read some great reviews of Stagioni before coming, but unfortunately I was a little disappointed. I didn’t think this place was anything special. Went on a Tuesday night with two friends. (I had made a reservation, but you don’t need one; there were lots of empty tables at 7:30pm.)
I ordered the pork chop for my entrée. It was really average, nothing to rave about. Just tasted like pork. The potato wedges that it came with were a bit over-​salted for me. Dessert was much better though. The pistachio semifreddo we shared was great. I love anything to do with pistachios, so this dessert was for me! Would recommend for all pistachio-​lovers.
Stagioni has a warm atmosphere, making it a nice place to enjoy a meal, but I felt like my entrée was just average. The dessert made the experience better, but I would rather spend my money somewhere else where I can enjoy both my entrée and dessert.
Taste | 3
Atmosphere | 3.5
Presentation | 3.5
Service | 3.5
OVERALL | 3.5

Went here on a Thursday to celebrate our anniversary and we were one of only three occupied tables. The food was delicious. We tried the homemade mozzarella as an appetizer — it met our expectations and the the bread was amazing.
We ordered a $ 39 bottle of wine and were disappointed when it was delivered with a $ 12.99 price tag sticker still on it! Boo.
I had the duck breast and it was one of the best I’ve ever had in Pittsburgh.
Nutella mousse as a dessert and French pressed coffee were a fantastic finish to the meal.

Its not a big restaurant or overly fancy but the food
is exceptional. Simple ingredients & authentic preparation are combined with 1^st class service at Stagioni to give even the most worldly diner a pleasant surprise, to say the least. But the best part is when the young owner Cara comes over to your table and chats with you about the meal ! My wife and I just love it there. We will definitely go back.

WOW! We had the tremendous fortune of trying Stagioni for the first time on May 1, one of the 3 days they were featuring their outstanding soup, Le Virtú. This is a traditional soup from the Abruzzo region of Italy and it has 49 ingredients, marking the end of Winter and beginning of Spring. It sounds like it might have too much going on but clearly the chef at Stagioni used a delicate hand because this soup was indescribably delicious. Perhaps you’re thinking the soup was an anomoly because the chef had worked so hard on it and it was featured? NOPE!
We also shared, in this order:
1) house made, hand pulled mozzarella (with olives and prosciutto)
2) speck wrapped dates stuffed with fresh goat cheese
3) caesar salad
4) olive oil poached octopus w/​creamy polenta
5) cavatelli w/​peas, pistachios, mint and pancetta
6) Le Virtú soup
Every single dish was perfectly executed — and had layers upon layers of flavors. After moving to Pittsburgh from Los Angeles we are beyond thrilled to have found such an amazing restaurant. It rivals most Italian places in LA, like Osteria Mozza, which we loved.
Service was superb and the dining room was cozy and romantic. Truly can’t say enough nice things about Stagioni. All hail the South Side!

This was our second visit to Stagioni’s. I must say I am very glad we went back… we had a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was great and the service was top notch. The group decided to sample many of the the appetizers and all were wonderful… Made to Order Mozzarella, Goat Cheese Fritters, and Taleggio Fonduta. Everyone enjoyed their main dishes… all were great. Would highly recommend this restaurant… we’ll definitely be visiting again.

We decided to hit this place up after another restaurant didnt’ honor our reservation. This was quite a find! I had the sausage gnocchi and it was delicious. The minestrone soup was very flavorful as well.
I loved the intimate setting they had and the servers were wonderful! I would recommend this place if you are in the mood for a delicious dinner and casual setting.

Meh… Nothing really to brag about here.
I really wanted to believe the good reviews and ignore the bad ones. This was recommended by a friend who always steers us right. I took my mother and fiancée here for their birthdays that are coincidently in the same week. Both wished they ordered what I had (scallops) which means they were not impressed with what they had, Salt cod and Gnocchi. I have to admit those scallops were delicious but felt the need to pass out some food. Both loved the purée.
The beets were tasty but the purée added nothing special. The grilled shrimp polenta was good but I wanted to like it more than I did. The first bite had a smoky flavor but the rest of the shrimp were cold and did not fulfill the expectation. Nothing too special here either. The stuffed banana peppers were also tasty but my home recipe is comparable if not better (I’m not bragging… just sayin’). The gnocchi came out under cooked and you could taste it. Some of the warm and cold didn’t work for me. For example, warm peppers topped with cold cheese? Hot polenta and cold romesco sauce? Which is what made the shrimp cold.
Overall, most of the food lacked flavor. That’s not something you want to hear when considering Italian cooking. The expectation is usually for your meal to be full of flavor. Even the table bread was served with just olive oil. Usually there’s a nice balsamic vinaigrette or some bread seasoning in the oil.
I don’t think we will come back. There are just too many other places worth going. I’m not afraid to pay a the price for a great meal, but with price comes an expectation. There price of our meals did not match the quality. They seemed like a restaurant trying to stand in a class of cooking they don’t really belong. Sorry… :/​But it’s true.

First off, I had never heard of this restaurant until a friend suggested we have our quarterly double dinner date here. With no hype and limited expectations, I wasn’t sure what I was in for. The good news? What I was in for was a good thing.
First off, our waiter was attentive and fabulous. He was more of a foodie than we were! I ordered the made to order mozzarella app which was a healthy size with very fresh, ripe heirloom tomatoes and the mozzarella was served warm. We followed that up with their signature polenta and opted for the version with marinated roasted red peppers. It wasn’t out of this world but it was tasty. The polenta was hot and was poured on a wooden board with the whole roasted red pepper which was cold. I would have preferred the roasted red peppers warm/​hot. For dinner, I had the seasonal special, a cheese-​filled ravioli type pasta in an apple and brown butter sauce. Fabulous! What I didn’t love was the dessert menu. Not a great selection.
I’ll also note that they have a full wine list but you can bring your own and pay a $ 15 corkage fee. The restaurant is worth a try but it is on the pricier side.

Full disclosure. I adore Stagioni’s, but I’ve never actually eaten in the restaurant. Each time I’ve been there, I’ve eaten at the intimate, granite-​topped, 4-​seater bar as you enter. If you’re lucky enough to snag a barstool at said bar, you’ve hit the jackpot!
The bartenders are skilled, friendly and knowledgeable about the both wares behind them and the menu of fine, very approachable Italian cuisine. Trust their recommendations on both food and drink… they know their stuff.
Our recent visit started with cocktails… a Salty Italian for me, a classic Gibson for my dining companion. Both were perfection. Being New Year’s Eve, instead of a big meal, we made dinner of several appetizers and dessert… and another cocktail each! If you try nothing else at Stagioni’s, do NOT miss the Brussels Sprouts Slaw! Shaved, crisp and lacy sprouts, salty pecorino, bits of sweet dates, crunchy toasted hazelnuts and a dressing of browned butter and damned good sherry vinegar was the delight of the night! I easily could have ordered a second heaping bowl for dessert!
We also shared tender sweet shrimp atop a bed of crushed, olive oil dressed and seasoned chickpeas and a tart, snappy giardinare of fresh fennel, carrots, onion and radishes. The dishes complemented each other beautifully!
To finish the evening, we shared a pistachio semi freddo crowned with a healthy sprinkling of cocoa nibs, nestled in a pool of orange crème… cold and creamy and crunchy… nice ending! Oh, to accompany desert I sipped a classic Manhattan while my companion enjoyed a Smokey Snap… Art In The Age Snap with lemon syrup, a touch of scotch and an orange twist. Yum!
I’m sure my experience would have been just as wonderful seated in the cozy dining room… it always looks so warm and inviting from my perch at the bar… but why buck what is tradition by now?!