I have a lawsuit pending in Pittsburgh and stumbled upon Palazzo my first trip there after a long day of travel. Upon entering the building, I was treated to the sounds of the Godfather soundtrack playing on the overhead speakers. There were maybe 2-3 other tables filled. It was raining, and I was starving. I sat down.\n\nWhat a great meal. That first night, we started with a stuffed pepper appetizer covered in their homemade marinara, which was out of this world. I had a salad, which was just fine, and ended with pasta topped with sausage and red sauce. The food was everything I want when I travel away from home: it was not overpriced, it was homemade and it was delivered with friendly conversation. The waitress made that first meal. She talked to us about the city, the restaurant, and the people of the community. \n\nOn my next trip, I went back. As I was alone this time, I ate at the bar, which made this restaurant even more popular in my book. Traveling alone for work is a really hard thing. You eat a lot of meals in your hotel room, or sitting alone at bars. I usually take my iPad with me, and read something during the meal. I rarely talk to anyone, much less have conversations about local sports teams, politics, and business. But at Palazzo's bar, I was welcomed in as one of the family.\n\nWithin minutes, I learned I was sitting next to a traveling consultant that flies to Pittsburgh every week of every year for two nights. One of those two nights, he eats the daily special at Palazzo. Now that is a sign of a great restaurant. But besides the foreign loyalty, I was immediately treated to getting to know several others at the bar, including the bartender and front-house manager. I ate the daily special and a Caesar salad (which tasted just fine), but it was far more enjoyable to speak about the Presidential election (and years past), the lack of success of the Pirates baseball team, and the guy who skipped out on his check the night before (and was chased into the street by the bartender).\n\nI will come here whenever I am back in the downtown Pittsburgh area, not only for the food but for the company.
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