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| - A mid-sized pizzeria located on the second level of the shopping center at the corner of Penn Circle South and Highland Ave. Let me reiterate, it's on the second level as is the entry. Just in case I have not been explicit enough, Dinette is on the second level! Now that I've clarified the location let's talk about the food and the experience.
There was only a 20 minute wait for a table for two on a Saturday night. The host is able to text you when you're table is ready, so you have a chance to walk around the East Liberty / Shadyside area.
The menu is limited for food yet intriguing; (there is an extensive selection of wines and four craft beers as well as cans of Yuengling). There were about five appetizers, four non-pizza items, and about a dozen pizza combinations. All the items seemed while thought-out and uncommon which made choosing amongst the select items a challenge. For appetizer, we opted for the Fritto Misto which included fried shrimp, chickpeas, lemon slices, and I believe onion slices (though I'm not entirely sure of the last item). The dish was sour and salty. It was a bit strong for me as I sparingly cook with lemon and salt. I really liked the crunch of the dish.
For dinner, we opted for the Ricotta pizza. It's a basic margherita brick oven pie with chunks of ricotta cheese. I thought it was excellent. The freshness and purity of the ingredients really show through. I was especially impressed with the crust which was thin, crispy, yet strong enough to support the toppings.
The service was excellent too. Our waiter offered to clarify anything on the menu. He was also quite attentive without being invasive. Generally, all of the waiters and waitresses seemed to have this approach (which was noticeable because the tables are close together). The entire staff appeared to enjoy being there which translate to a very positive atmosphere for customers.
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