Pietro’s Italian Cuisine

Reviews

• Milton H.

  star star star star star 13 June 2026

  Pietro's has new owners.  The old ownership had really let the quality slip, enough so that my family as well as a few other regulars gradually left and stayed away.  
  Recently we started going back a few times and the quality of the food has increased exponentially.  I had spaghetti with oil and garlic tonight.  So crazy good!  My wife had pizza.  It was as beautiful as it was tasty.
  Pietros has always had good waitresses, but under the old owners you could tell they weren't enjoying themselves-friendliness dwindled.
  Tonight we had the privilege to have Cierra as our server.  She is new, she didn't know of the old ownership.  She was a home run as far as service and friendliness.  We came in a little late and she welcomed us like we were her first customers.  Our service was prompt and the food delicious.
  If it's been awhile, come back.  You can tell they are proud of their restaurant.

• Jennifer V.

  star star star star star_border 7 June 2026

  good food
  
  the food i got was good nd drinks 2 but my dad plate the spagetti nd meatballs
  his meatballs taste like water down and my dad girlfriend her soup first time it wasnt hot enough it was still cold nd second time it was but everything else was okay

• Paula E.

  star star star star star 6 June 2026

  First of all, this is a local, family owned business. The ambiance is dated, and the servers are not fine-dining uber servers. More like capable daughters of the owner, perhaps. They probably won't know where the meat was cured, so if you want Mario's or Duane's level, look elsewhere.
  
  If you want delicious Italian comfort food with large portions and very friendly service, this is the place. Pietro's is our "date nite" place. We can linger as long as we want. Servers remember our usual orders. Food is delicious with plenty for lunch the next day. The Bleu Cheese dressing is the DIE FOR!  We buy it by the pints.  Where else can you get 2 entrees, side of garlic bread, half carafe of wine, leave at least a 20% tip and spend less than $30?
  
  If you want a "Cheers" type atmosphere for dinner, this is the place. Not fancy, not speedy, but super friendly and delicious.

• Kristina M.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 21 May 2026

  We usually like this place. Last night's pizza was burnt and the meatball sandwich bread was hard. Disappointing.

• Paul S.

  star star star star_border star_border 18 May 2026

  First review of 2019 starts....... now! Located in one of Riverside's oldest sections of town, this Italian restaurant is fairly close in proximity to other "townie" institutions such as The Sire, Green Onion, and Backstreet Deli. It was the deli that I intended to have a quick lunch at but a sign said that they're closed until January 28th so I turned around and remembered seeing Pietro's a while back when picking up from the dry cleaner located a few doors down. Never been, why not? I wouldn't have to move my car I figured.
  
  Entering: it's like a 1960s time capsule inside. Faux leather booths, standard and curved to seat 4-6 people, in a deep red with large buttons creating a uniform quilted look, surround the exterior walls and also in the middle. I felt the lights should have been 40% dimmer to create the Good Fellas look. Since it was well after lunchtime I couldn't really establish how busy they are although a few tables had couples eating when I arrived. I also noted a slow but steady take-out business that kept the single server busy.
  
  The menu is a two-sided, laminated sheet with Italian basics: Pizza with build your own option, pastas with variables and build your own, sammies, salads, calzones and dessert. Wine and beer options are also available if a little generic, at least there's alcohol! I decided to try the sausage hot sandwich and chose the small size. Six or 12" basically, and a side salad for $1.75, light lunch. It was light.
  
  The sandwich was disappointing, kinda' small on a plate by itself. Additionally, the salad that preceded it was crammed high in a small bowl, all iceberg lettuce, and not well sorted. Brown tips were tangible. I did, however, like the basic red wine vinaigrette dressing. Note to self, go big next time or try a pizza or pasta. For $6.75 I felt the sandwich was a letdown. The sauce was great! The sausage, elusive in there, but a had a nice fennel sweetness. I'd come back to try something else, probably for lunch, but not likely another sandwich.