Moonlite Cafe

Mamma mia! If you've been in search of a bona fide Italian experience without the hefty price tag, buckle up, foodies, because I've found the place. That's right, we drove cross town to dine at Moonlite Cafe and it was worth every mile. First off, let's talk portions. Moonlite Cafe knows the meaning of generosity. We're talking about mountains of food, literally. Their Zucchini Mountain is a delectable tower, generously portioned to serve four, although in my case, it was a delicious battle for two. The zucchini was tender, stacked sky-high, and accompanied by a sauce that screamed 'mangia'! (Leftovers for 2 meals) SAUCE: Moonlite Cafe's marinara is the real MVP—authentic, zesty, and giving me all the "just like Nonna used to make" vibes. Seriously, can we have a moment of silence for all the other places that mess this up with a marinara that tastes like brown sugar or, even worse, green peppers? Not here!!! When it came to the side salad, we were floored by its sheer size and ridiculously reasonable price—only $4! Compare that to other places where you'd easily drop $8-10. But the crown jewels? Italian roasted peppers and a duo of olives! However, a tiny word of advice: ****The house dressing is on the vinegar-forward side. So, perhaps, drizzle don't drown. But hey, if that's the only hiccup, I'd say we're in pretty great shape.**** Now, if you're hesitating over their slushies, don't. With a dash of alcohol, this drink won me over instantly. I mean, if Moonlite Cafe can make a slushy skeptic say 'Damn, that's good,' they're clearly onto something. Ah, but life isn’t perfect—even in foodie paradise. The absence of Eggplant Parm on the menu left me a tad disheartened, but hey, we can't have it all, right? On the vegetarian front, the menu might leave you wanting for more variety, but their pasta sans meatballs hit the spot for me. Shrimp options are also available for pescatarians out there. My husband opted for the Chicken Parm and let’s just say, the portion was large enough to stretch into a second meal. His verdict? More marinara would've been the cherry on top, but taste-wise? Chef's kiss. Now, for the jaw-dropping grand finale: all this indulgence—two side salads, a Zucchini Mountain, pasta, Chicken Parm, a Stella Artois, and a slushy—came to a shockingly reasonable under $50. Are you kidding me? Oh, and about the dinner pace: 0ur dishes rolled out faster than you can swipe right on a dating app or a Ferrari on an open road, take your pick. The dining area was weirdly chill, but that's a one-off; this place usually pops. Even the regulars were like, "What's the deal? Where's the crowd?" Servers shrugged it off as an oddly slow night. But don't sleep on this—the bar side was straight-up busy. ***So, with two more hours till closing time (restaurant side), the rapid-fire courses seemed more like Moonlite Cafe being super eager to impress us. No biggie, but a little breathing room between dishes would have been the cherry on top.**** If you’re seeking an eatery that marries affordability with authenticity, Moonlite Cafe is your sanctuary. Generous portions, authentic flavors, and prices that won't make you sob into your spaghetti. Bellissimo! Yes we will be going back!

We came on Thursday for the chicken parmesan special. Not only was dinner delicious the portions were generous. For dessert it was tiramisu. This was made from a family recipe, the owner's family. This was delicious, rich cream you could taste the expresso. Service was excellent and it always is.

Moonlite has the best meatball sub I’ve had in ages! Paired that with their zucchini and a cold brew and I was a very happy woman. Cheers.

My favorite place in Pittsburgh! Authentic Italian food, great drinks, and atmosphere. It is a family owned business. I love coming to visit this place when we are in town.

Moonlight is awsome! Fish special, white pizza, and the FAMOUS fried zucchini! Can't go wrong!