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| - This is one of those times that I really wish I could give half stars. I've been to Arpino close to ten times. This review is based off of two recent visits following a 4 or 5 month hiatus. My husband and I joined another couple for dinner at Arpino during Pittsburgh winter restaurant week. I was excited to try the 3 course fixed price menu. No one else at the table decided to try the fixed menu and I wish I had not. The meal started with an appetizer which consisted of what I would describe as a thick cheese sticks with prosciutto. The prosciutto added a slight salty flavor to the dish which took basic cheese sticks to another level. The entree consisted of a chicken thigh/leg over rissotto with a rosemary cream sauce. The chicken was juicy and tender. The rissotto was the perfect texture but definitely lacked flavor. I missed the rosemary in the rosemary cream sauce. Overall, I was a little disappointed. I ended up stealing several of my husbands penne vodka off his plate to satisfy my desire for flavor. The 3 course meal ended with a cranberry walnut torta. This was the biggest disappointment of the meal. It honestly tasted like it was bought at the local giant eagle. Overall, I did not feel that this meal was worth the $30. My dining companions seemed to enjoy their meals much more. Despite my disappointing experience, I decided to give Arpino another chance when the recent snow storm prevented me from traveling across the city to where I had made reservations. So, I called Arpino and was able to get a reservation for 6 the day of, probably due to the snow. This time, I thought I would stick with what I know. I ordered the sicilian grilled strip steak. I found it odd that the steak does not come with a side. Just a thin 6oz steak and a small salad as an appetizer for $20. Seems a little steep to me. So, I added a side of penne vodka (my favorite menu item). The steak was a bit dry and small. Out of 6 ounces, I could eat maybe 4. The rest was pure fat. If my steak is only 6 ozs, I expect to be able to eat all of it. The penne vodka was delicious as always. The pasta is tender and cooked perfectly. Although, I can't confirm this, I imagine that the pasta is homemade seeing the penne is in the shape of a triangle not a tube. The table also ordered the cookies for dessert. We were presented with a nice selection of fresh, tasty Italian cookies. The perfect amount for a small treat to satisfy your sweet tooth at the end of the meal. Overall, Arpino is a nice place. The service is good, the owner always walks around and introduces himself, there are casual tables outside in nice weather. But, the food is inconsistent. Some things are incredible while others are meh. If you're looking for good pasta and awesome vodka sauce, Arpino is the way to go. Otherwise it's hit or miss.
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