Alberta’s Pizza first started as a pop-up and food truck in 2015 where they served up traditional Neapolitan pizzas at events and breweries across Pittsburgh. In 2023, Owner Beau Mitall decided it was time for a permanent home in the Allegheny-West neighborhood. The brick-and-mortar location opened up in July of this year with a well-rounded, Italian menu in a cozy storefront on Western Avenue.
When you walk into the space, you feel like you’re in an Italian trattoria with the dark wood and white marble bar stretching across the majority of the restaurant. The brick walls and intimate booths and bistro tables add to the warm vibe of the restaurant.
I went on a Thursday night with two friends around 6:30 p.m. without a reservation, and we did have to wait about an hour for a table, but we were prepared for this. We grabbed a drink at Four Points Brewing, right next door to the restaurant. If you hate waiting around or want a specific table, I would suggest a reservation, especially at prime dinner time. We ended up sitting at the bar, which was lively, and gave us a great view of the restaurant and their kitchen, complete with a massive teal pizza oven.
We started off with some glasses of wine, because there is no better pairing for pizza. Then our appetizers started to arrive. We started with the fennel and cucumber salad for a moment of freshness before the pizza. The entire salad had a delightful crunch. The shaved ribbons of fennel added a sweetness to the salad, and the dill on top added further brightness. The simple lemon vinaigrette was the perfect dressing as it only enhanced the vegetables and flavors in the salad. Next time, I’d love to try the Caesar salad or the burrata with tomatoes and arugula.
We were in a vegetable mood, as we also opted for the charred broccolini. It was everything you wanted broccoli to be as a little kid. It was bursting with flavor from being charred, and the grilled lemon on the side added a hit of acidity. We had no trouble finishing the entire plate. Our moms would be proud.
Our other small plate was not as healthy as our first two. The fritto misto was the perfect contrast to the other dishes we ordered. The fried calamari and artichokes were seasoned well, but the artichokes were not as crispy as I would’ve liked. Next time, I would opt for the zucchini frites or tostones (fried plantains) instead.
Now for the main event: the pizza. We were debating between a classic Margherita pizza or Alberta’s take on a white pizza. We ended up ordering the White Boy pizza, so we could try something a little less traditional. The White Boy pizza was absolutely the right decision. This pizza was made with homemade mozzarella, garlic, pecorino romano, oregano, and rosemary. You can add arugula, mushrooms, or prosciutto, but we opted to try it as is. Needless to say this pizza’s cheese stretch was insane. My mouth was watering when the pizza was delivered to our spot at the bar. Typically, many white pizzas I have had are super rich, and I can only eat one piece. Despite the cheesiness, this wasn’t the case with the White Boy pie. The aromatic herbs and garlic rounded out the pizza and added a lovely subtle savoriness. My friends and I devoured the entire pie. My only regret was that I wish I had ordered something from the menu’s “For the Crust” section, such as the za’atar and olive oil, for dipping. Some of the other notable pies that I’d love to order next time are the tomato pie or the Jabroni pizza with pepperoni and chili flakes.
Alberta’s Pizza was the ideal spot for a relaxed, weeknight meal. Their menu was filled with all of the pizzeria classics, plus some other fresh, inventive dishes. It isn’t so large that you get overwhelmed by choices, and everything is excellent for sharing. If you’re a pizza lover, then Alberta’s Pizza should be on your must-try list.
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