Hot Spot: Pizza Milano
Restaurant feeds sports fans Italian favorites
Katie Sansonetti
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Features
Pizza Milano Bar and Restaurant has been proudly serving the Pittsburgh community for over 10 years.
Its prime location at 1304 Fifth Ave., within walking distance from the Mellon Arena and Consol Energy Center, makes it Pittsburgh's unofficial tailgating spot for Pittsburgh Penguins fans and people looking for a great time in a lively atmosphere.
Opened in September 1998, Pizza Milano serves fine Italian cuisine and specializes in 16 signature gourmet pizzas. The restaurant was formerly known as Pizza Corleones and the bar was in the adjacent building known as Duke's. It was not until 1998 that owner Sianan Ucargonul bought both buildings, knocking out the wall between the restaurant and bar and renaming it Pizza Milano.
There are five other locations of the Milano restaurant chain in the Pittsburgh region, and all are owned by the Turkish community of Pittsburgh. However, Pizza Milano on Fifth Avenue is the first of the five locations.
When the Penguins are home at Mellon Arena playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it may be a hockey night in Pittsburgh, but, for many fans, their hockey night does not begin until they stop in to eat Milano's original pizza and other Italian specialties.
"On hockey nights before the game, the atmosphere here is exhilarating," Terrie Rhin, a server at Pizza Milano since its beginning, said. "The music is playing, the flat screen TVs are on with sports and the customers are pumped. It's fun!"
Rhin moved to Pittsburgh in December of 1998 and was in need of a job. Her daughter, Katie, who was already a server, encouraged her to start working at Pizza Milano. Rhin immediately fell in love with her boss, co-workers and the people of Pittsburgh. She is excited to be part of a tight-knit, loyal business.
"We're one, big family," Rhin said.
On a normal game day, around 5 to 7 p.m., there are swarms of people with Penguins jerseys, black and gold and tons of smiles to go around. The restaurant and bar's capacity is approximately 500, but because of its popularity, many customers order take-out. If customers cannot make it out to the restaurant, they also have the option of delivery.
Its prime location at 1304 Fifth Ave., within walking distance from the Mellon Arena and Consol Energy Center, makes it Pittsburgh's unofficial tailgating spot for Pittsburgh Penguins fans and people looking for a great time in a lively atmosphere.
Opened in September 1998, Pizza Milano serves fine Italian cuisine and specializes in 16 signature gourmet pizzas. The restaurant was formerly known as Pizza Corleones and the bar was in the adjacent building known as Duke's. It was not until 1998 that owner Sianan Ucargonul bought both buildings, knocking out the wall between the restaurant and bar and renaming it Pizza Milano.
There are five other locations of the Milano restaurant chain in the Pittsburgh region, and all are owned by the Turkish community of Pittsburgh. However, Pizza Milano on Fifth Avenue is the first of the five locations.
When the Penguins are home at Mellon Arena playing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it may be a hockey night in Pittsburgh, but, for many fans, their hockey night does not begin until they stop in to eat Milano's original pizza and other Italian specialties.
"On hockey nights before the game, the atmosphere here is exhilarating," Terrie Rhin, a server at Pizza Milano since its beginning, said. "The music is playing, the flat screen TVs are on with sports and the customers are pumped. It's fun!"
Rhin moved to Pittsburgh in December of 1998 and was in need of a job. Her daughter, Katie, who was already a server, encouraged her to start working at Pizza Milano. Rhin immediately fell in love with her boss, co-workers and the people of Pittsburgh. She is excited to be part of a tight-knit, loyal business.
"We're one, big family," Rhin said.
On a normal game day, around 5 to 7 p.m., there are swarms of people with Penguins jerseys, black and gold and tons of smiles to go around. The restaurant and bar's capacity is approximately 500, but because of its popularity, many customers order take-out. If customers cannot make it out to the restaurant, they also have the option of delivery.
Be the first to comment on this story