Italian

Il Valletto Cafe and Restaurant 4626 Forbes Ave. (412) 621-3550 $$$ No Panther… Il Valletto Cafe and Restaurant 4626 Forbes Ave. (412) 621-3550 $$$ No Panther Funds

For large helpings of garlic-heavy Northern Italian cuisine, the intrepid Pitt student need travel no farther than the Panther Hollow Bridge.

Right before the chasm separating Pitt from Carnegie Mellon University, Il Valletto is nestled in the auspicious setting of an old rowhouse. But don’t let the decor fool you; the food at Il Valletto is some of the best that Italian-lovers can find. Pastas that cover all of the plate and crisp, refreshing insalate are two of Il Valletto’s trademark dishes.

With a lunch menu with most items less than $11 and a dinner menu with most less than $20, Il Valletto is also a great place to take a date, especially on a warm night when you can dine beneath the patio set up on Forbes Avenue. The leisurely service and careful preparation will give you ample time to discuss classes or gaze into your date’s eyes, and the food will be sure to put love in both of your hearts. — Greg Heller-LaBelle

Joe Mama’s 3716 Forbes Ave. (412) 621-7282 $$ Panther Funds

Marilyn Monroe loved it; Clint Eastwood raved about it — or at least they did according to the signed pictures around Joe Mama’s rooms. You, too, can sit among their faces and see exactly what they were raving about.

With the yellow-and-red lighting, complete with small, cozy booths and red-checkered tablecloths, there is a certain “amore” running through the rooms. The theme is complemented by the lively Italian music or jazz that constantly echoes throughout the restaurant. Because of the way the rooms are split into many different compartments, every part of the ground floor and upstairs dining rooms feels intimate and inviting.

Enjoy a crispy slice of fried mozzarella that is a step above the typical cheese stick or try one of the homemade pizzas, which are big enough for sharing and feature dough that is made fresh daily.

Or, if you are tired of the typical breakfast locations, try Joe Mama’s style of brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Lauren Unger

Lucca 317 S. Craig St. (412) 682-3310 $$$$ No Panther Funds

This upscale restaurant may be a bit pricey but offers full meals, including specialties such as seasonal seafood, Black Angus beef and authentic, pan-tossed pastas. Lucca also has one of Pittsburgh’s largest and most extensive wine cellars.

Outdoor seating is available, but plan ahead — the hours of operation are somewhat unusual — the restaurant closes in the middle of the day, between lunch and dinner, from 2:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Lucca is also a place for jazz performers to showcase their talents on Fridays at 7 p.m. — Karen Bielak

Pronto 4611 Centre Avenue (412) 621-7700 $ No Panther Funds

Formerly a pizzeria, this pizza-less, Italian-fare restaurant has an affordable full menu filled with specialty pastas, calzones, wedgies and hoagies. Check out the burgers, like the Pronto Buffalo burger, complete with their homemade spicy Buffalo sauce, Buffalo fries ‘ provolone cheese on a Cellone’s bun. There are more than a dozen hoagies on the menu, and they come in 8-inch halves or 16-inch wholes. The menu also offers regular and chicken gyros, a large assortment of appetizers, salads and wings, and even cheesecake for dessert.

Pronto is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and open till 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Don’t miss Pronto’s daily specials, like any two 16-inch hoagies for $13.99, or any two gyros with two sides of fries for $8.99. With good, cheap eats, Pronto will satisfy any appetite and prove that you can be a pizzeria without pizza. — Nick Kratsas