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| - I must start my review with a disclaimer: I am a former employee of GiannaVia's. I started as a dishwasher and worked my way up to line cook. I don't know how things have changed since I left to take a full-time job in 2013, but I know my experience there was great, and I have been back many times since to keep in touch, and to eat the food of course!
I grew up in Whitehall Borough; it's a tiny, tiny little place with not much in the way of unique eateries. You have to travel to neighboring boroughs to find much worth your time. Armstrong's is in the same shopping center as GiannaVia's, and I was never a fan of it, so I was happy that with GiannaVia's renovation and addition of a bar, Armstrong's finally had some decent competition. GiannaVia's is a highlight in Whitehall because of its focus on quality ingredients and diverse menu.
GiannaVia's has a menu that has expanded much over the past few years, offering a range of Italian dishes, from the simple, rustic (and very popular) pasta d'angelo, to more 'luxurious' fare like pesto gnocchi and salmon with risotto and mixed vegetables. They also offer more standard food like personal pizzas, panini, fried appetizers of all kinds, and a great bunch of salads.
I know from firsthand experience that a large percentage of the dressings, sauces, and entree components are made from scratch, in-house. The ingredients are quality. The head chef there is a very passionate, driven young guy who takes food service and culinary creativity very seriously. I think he's a wonderful fit for the restaurant; he is always coming up with new ideas for specials, and does his best to maintain quality. Rest assured that if you have an issue with your food at GiannaVia's, it will be taken care of.
Even before I was an employee here, I would come in often with my family to get the soup of the day (usually one broth-based soup and another cream-based) with a panini. The panini are just the right size, with a toasty 'crunch' when you bite into the bread. The classic Italian panini was always my favorite - the perfect combo of capicola, salami, ham, and the like. I also love their pizzas, which are all baked to-order in a wood-fire oven. I'd recommend the buffalo chicken pizza if you like the conglomeration of salty, creamy (blue cheese!), smoky, and spicy. You honestly can't go wrong with a pizza here if you don't want to stray too far from 'normal.'
For some reason I think GiannaVia's salads stand out. They can get a bit pricy (I'm looking at you, salmon salad), but I love the combinations of ingredients. Try the beet salad, with roasted beets, pears, and goat cheese, or opt for my favorite, the heirloom tomato tower, a non-traditional "salad" that puts thick, juicy heirloom tomato slices in the spotlight, accompanied by fresh mozzarella, capers, and a balsamic glaze that I swear I could guzzle right out of the container.
GiannaVia's has a pleasant atmosphere, with lots of seating, a modest but beautiful bar that's out of the way of the regular dining room (without feeling like the bar and restaurant are separate entities), and an additional, spacious party room with some nice fixins' like a flat-screen TV and a fireplace. I have personally come back after my employment there for a party for my grandfather and can say that having a party catered at GV's is generally hassle-free. Servers are friendly and knowledgeable. Food comes out quickly, and I know from working in the kitchen that the flow of things is organized and quality-oriented.
The restaurant also has a breakfast menu, which is pretty good, though it's not the best breakfast in the 'Burgh. Expect to wait a while if you come for breakfast on a Sunday morning. Churchgoers from across the street seem to overflow right into the waiting area.
I can't say much else other than I really enjoy the food here. It can get a little expensive if you add appetizers, sides, and entrees together - it's very easy to spend $20 here - but I think it's well worth it for the portions and quality.
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