Vallozzis is the underdog of the Pittsburgh bar scene. You rarely see it get mentioned in the 'best bars' lists, but it definitely earns its place among those other spots.
Wine list = excellent. Even better if you're going by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selections are terrific as well. (They get a great selection of Californian wines, including PEACHY CANYON!!! Paso Robles wine in PA!!) If wine's not your thing, they have an awesome cocktail menu with classics and originals, and specials on some of those as well.
Added bonus - the bartenders are just fabulous. Knowledgeable, quick, and friendly as can be.
As for the food: you really can't go wrong with a place that has a mozzarella bar. A mozzarella bar! Their entire charcuterie selection is delicious, and they serve their bread with a fluffy herb butter.
This is one of the restaurants in Pittsburgh that does octopus and does it well - perfectly grilled and tender.
But the star of the menu is the arancini. Whatever else you order, make room in you belly for that. TO DIE FOR. Crispy fried outside, creamy cheesy inside. I could eat three servings, and a single serving is a sizeable portion.
The bar area can certainly fill up, especially on a night when there's excitement downtown. So yes, sometimes you will walk past Vallozzis and be turned off by the sheer force of the crowd inside. But be strong and wait it out - you will not be disappointed with food, drink, or service. And that's why this underdog will always have a place in my bar-going heart.