Inspired by recent reviews (and looking for something new & good) my husband and I recently visited Girasole, a new Italian restaurant on Copeland street in Shadyside. We were quite favorably impressed: The setting is very pleasant, with a small, sunken (i.e., below sidewalk level) courtyard in front, and interior with exposed stone walls, which have been left unadorned to very nice effect. We ate outside. The menu is farily small -- 5 or 6 appetizers, 6 or 7 entrees, and 6 or 7 desserts (gotta like that ratio!). Appetizers included the typical bruchetta, antipasto, etc., plus more unusual items like brie with a berry sauce and a cheese special for the day (these last two were quite pricy). Entrees were mostly pasta. I don't recall anything specifically vegetarian, but at least half the entrees were seafood pastas. Desserts included sorbets as well as heavier fare. We had the antipasto verde, which had sundried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, "drunken" goat cheese slices, assorted black olives, and a hummus-like bean spread. The presentation was lovely, and everything on the plate was delicious. Bread and a saucer of olive oil accompanied the appetizer. My husband had an entree of farfalle with sausage and vegetables in a light white wine sauce; his only complaint was that it was less flavorful (spicy?) than he has expected. I opted to get the polenta appetizer as an entree (a big bowl, as it turned out, with polenta topped with provolone, swimming in beans, greent, and a light tomato broth -- yum). Both were quite good. The tiramisu we split for dessert had a fine flavor but a little soggy texture (I guess the ladyfingers were over-soaked). The service was attentive but fairly unobtrusive, and we did not suffer lack of attention for being outside. The place is BYOB, but as we did not B a B, I do not know what the corkage/glass fee might be. We will definitely be back. The food was good, and the overall atmosphere made for a very relaxing friday evening supper. With the small menu they had, I wouldn't be surprised if the items change somewhat from time to time -- which makes it all the more interesting. Jen
Pittsburgh, PA