rev:text
| - Papa J's is one of those places that has been around for ages, and this admittedly shows in the set-up and presentation of the place. The decor feels like an "old school" Italian restaurant's decor, and the menus are the huge, lengthy ones that I remember seeing in Italian restaurants as a kid. The portions here are also very reminiscent of the Italian fare I remember from the '90s, in that they're huuuuuuge. But, old-school is admittedly something that Pittsburgh loves, which is further reflected in the popularity of Papa J's. Reservations are a good thing to have if you plan on dining here.
I've only been here once, and I felt bad for my waitress during that visit, as she was waiting tables AND sometimes helping behind the bar that night. I know a friend who's done this before so my heart went out to her; and if nothing else, the extra time between her visits to our table gave my family and I more time to talk. But given those long wait times, I got the feeling the place could have used an extra hand on deck that night.
As for the food...I ordered gnocchi, and my dining buddy the chicken piccata. The chicken piccata was actually very good - tender, and well-flavored, with fresh vegetables accenting it all. And I enjoyed the gnocchi overall; you can customize your gnocchi order, so I asked for spinach and feta on mine. The gnocchi itself was good, but I don't think I'll be getting that topping combination again; the bottom of my bowl featured a layer of excess oil, and it did not mix into my dish and with the toppings for the best flavor. The dish seemed a tad saltier than necessary as well. Not terrible, perfectly edible, but admittedly not the best gnocchi I've ever eaten.
"A-ok" is a good summary of my visit here; honestly, I'd give the place 3.5 stars if I could. I liked the food for the most part - the drinks were quite delightful (I had a tasty gin and tonic to start my night here off) - and my waitress was clearly doing her best on a busy night. There were enough good things here that I would definitely come back to enjoy another meal - or maybe just an appetizer and one of the giant desserts on display by the entrance! Because those looked gooooooooooood...
|