Welcome to Tillie's Restaurant
Tillie's Restaurant, located in McKeesport, PA, is a charming eatery known for its outstanding Italian cuisine at moderate prices. Despite its humble ambiance, customers rave about the exceptional food quality and generous portion sizes. Dishes like the homemade pasta and savory ravioli showcase the restaurant's commitment to authentic flavors, crafted by skilled artisans. Diners leave satisfied, often reminiscing about the delightful meat sauce and luscious cannoli, making it a must-visit for both locals and visitors. With attentive service and delicious daily specials, Tillie's captures the essence of an Italian family dining experience that invites you to return again and again.
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308 36th St, McKeesport, PA 15132, United States308 36th St, McKeesport, PA 15132, United States Hotline: +1 412-672-7557
Welcome to Tillie's Restaurant, a culinary gem nestled in the heart of McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Located at 308 36th St, this charming eatery has earned its reputation for delivering exceptional quality food at moderate prices. Tillie's is not just a restaurant; it’s a slice of comfort where every dish tells a story, and each bite evokes a sense of home.
As soon as you step inside, you'll notice the warm and inviting atmosphere, far from the pretentious dining spots that abound. Instead, it’s a quaint establishment where great food reigns supreme. Customers rave about the outstanding dishes—like the sumptuous raviolis and the velvety vodka sauce, expertly crafted from fresh ingredients. According to one enthusiastic diner, the ravioli is a manifestation of culinary excellence, layered with flavorful meats and seasoned to perfection. It’s no wonder many consider Tillie’s the go-to destination for homemade Italian fare.
The pasta, often prepared by two talented women—a skilled artisan with nearly 30 years in the kitchen and a sprightly 90-year-old who visits weekly—draws high praise from patrons. This dedication to quality is palpable in every dish, whether it's a comforting plate of spaghetti or a luscious cannoli to cap off your meal. The emphasis on homemade ingredients ensures that every bite bursts with flavor and authenticity.
Not only does Tillie's serve delicious food, but it also boasts generous portion sizes that leave diners satisfied. Guests like Diana Casturo highlight the attentive staff who provide prompt service, ensuring your dining experience is as enjoyable as it is satisfying. Their quick refills and warm atmosphere make visitors feel well taken care of, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
While some diners have playfully suggested small improvements—like a no-perfume policy for wait staff—these minor details do little to overshadow the resounding impressions of culinary brilliance and customer satisfaction. Many describe Tillie’s as a hidden gem in the greater Pittsburgh area, a place where the essence of traditional dining comes alive in delicious dishes that remind you of family gatherings and cherished memories.
So, if you’re searching for a delightful meal that won’t break the bank, Tillie's Restaurant awaits with open doors, ready to serve you a slice of their Italian heritage. Come hungry, leave happy, and perhaps take home a story or two—just like Cat Benatar did with that unforgettable shrimp!
Small and not fancy with great quality food at a moderate price. Their specials are always delicious. This is my cat. Her name is Cat Benatar. She hasn't been to Tilly's personally, but once I gave her a leftover shrimp and she loved it.
As always, the food at Tillie's is outstanding. The only minor complaint I have is there should be a "no perfume" policy for the waitresses. I have no desire to smell someone wearing "Late night on Liberty Avenue" body spray or whatever it is while I'm trying to enjoy raviolis. It wasn't my waitress who was wearing it and my waitress was actually very good. Lose the cheap perfume and you'll get five stars for sure on everything. The food was awesome though!
I think we can all appreciate the review inflation that goes on these days. Many people give 5 stars to any place that doesn't commit any egregious errors and we all feel some peer pressure to follow along. Then you get to a real place deserving of 5 stars and realize there is nowhere to go. There is not a 6th or 7th star to give and that, in this case, is a disservice to the excellence that is Tillie's We were recommended this place by a gluten free friend of ours who let us know she "makes an exception for Tillie's." She was correct. I don't think I've ever been more satisfied by a pasta meal. According to our server, the fresh pasta is made mostly by a lady who has been doing it for 30 years but also a 90 year-old lady who comes in once per week to make certain pastas. I don't know these individuals, personally, but I hope they know I love them. The meal started with bread and very fresh salads with homemade dressing (at least the blue cheese). They were of a good size and the bread was very fresh. But then-- the pasta. I got two (giant) meat raviolis with meat sauce and a meatball and my wife got the homemade spaghetti with vodka sauce. The giant ravioli were stacked and then there appeared to be a layer of cooked meat/soffritto drenched with red sauce that delivered every element one looks for in a classic red sauce. The stacked ravioli with meat on top almost approximated a lasagna, with layers of amazing pasta, beautifully seasoned meat filling, more pasta, and then the lovingly cooked meat layer I mentioned earlier. Even with the sauce, it was quite evident this was cooked for a long time and got some good color-- very much a Bolognese base. The meatball was delicious in its own right, but was almost superfluous among the embarrassment of riches already present. My wife's fresh spaghetti was cooked to perfection and the vodka sauce nailed the creamy mouth feel and nuanced flavor notes characteristic of the style. This dish is how she judges an Italian restaurant and, having tried dozens, ranked this among the very best. Lastly, my wife finished with a Cannoli which was both beautiful and delicious. Then the bill came and I couldn't believe my eyes as to how reasonable it was. I felt like I went back in time to 2005! We cannot wait to come back and try some of the other fantastic sounding items on the menu. What a hidden gem in the greater Pittsburgh area.
Excellent portion sizes. Could technically take half home if you could manage to stop eating. Very attentive staff even when they are busy. Prompt refills before you even have to ask... but they do to be sure you want a refill. Great fresh bread but I’d prefer the butter to not be cold/ hard.
Had a delicious family meal this evening! 7 of us served quickly and almost everyone cleaned their plate! Looking forward to coming back and trying more items.
Great family owned place and a hidden gem. Went here just over a week ago and got the mini spicy meatballs and a pizza with pepperoni and crumbled sausage. The meatballs were good, definitely tasted, homemade, were not very spicy for me I give them 4.5 out of 5 Pizza was outstanding - I will call this a Pittsburgh style pizza not quite Chicago deep dish and not quite a New York thin. It’s somewhere in between. Crust was light brown on the bottom with a little bit of crunch to it and top was chewy and middle was in-between, if I had to guess tasted like dough was pre-baked. However for my taste, when I had it it was piping hot with plenty of cheese and the right amount of sauce - anyway, you slice it I would enjoy this Pizza, many more times and give it 5 out of 5. Service was excellent and attentive. Definitely want to return sometime and try more menu items.
Four of us at dinner there tonight and Taylor was our waitress. She was very busy when we got there because she had a large table which was not a problem for us because we were not in any hurry. We had an appetizer salads and dinner and I had dessert. Our dinner was delicious as always. Tillies Is my favorite place to eat in McKeesport when I am back in town. My favorite dish is the gnocchi, but I just ate there yesterday and had those so today I had the cheese ravioli, which is just as delicious
Delicious food! Had a large party and they were very accommodating. Our waitress was great as well. The soup and canolis were great. I didn't love the pasta sauce but overall a nice meal.