PHOTOS BY KRISTY GRAVER

The original Alta Via Ristorante opened in Fox Chapel on April Fool’s Day 2019. AVP, the brand’s pizzeria, debuted in Bakery Square a few years later on April 12, the date Pittsburghers celebrate living in the 412 area code. 

On Oct. 26 Alta Via’s new Market Square location opened. Although no holidays fell on that Thursday, the Christmas tree at PPG Place was already up and you can see it from the eatery’s heated patio. Happy Holidays! Buy yourself some bucatini!

The Italian spot at 2 PPG Place, which was most recently occupied by Molinaro Ristorante & Bar, will operate for brunch, lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday,  11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Late-night bites will be offered if there is enough demand for them.

“I’m excited to be part of Downtown right now,” says Bill Fuller, president and corporate chef of big Burrito Restaurant Group. 

The company also runs multiple Mad Mex locations, Casbah, Kaya, Eleven, Soba and Umi. 

Alta Via is named after a footpath through the Dolomites mountain range in northeastern Italy, but you won’t find checkered tablecloths and noodles in heavy, red sauce. Alta Via’s food is inspired by life in both the Italian Alps and California wine country. The approachable, modern menu features fresh seafood, vegetable-forward dishes, homemade pasta and cocktails. (The Dolomite Old Fashioned is dynamite.)

Fuller, who lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for a time, says Alta Via’s menu is finally back to its pre-pandemic size, with more entrees, including Long Island Duck and a pork chop. I went with the latter, which was accompanied by risotto, Lacinato kale and Parmigiano Reggiano in an apple-balsamic jus. I had to stop myself from eating the whole thing to save room for Olive Oil Cake, a light, spongy dessert with marmellata and whipped cream. The restaurant also offers lunchtime sandwiches and makes gelato in-house.

In addition to the large first-floor kitchen, the Market Square site has a dedicated pasta-and-bread room in the basement prep area. Led by Executive Chef Dustin Gardner, a 16-year big Burrito veteran, the staff makes tortelli, ravioli and more. Gluten-free varieties are available upon request.

The Market Square space has seating for approximately 150 and there is a lower-level banquet room with its own bar that can accommodate up to 80 people for private parties and other events. 

The entire restaurant is bright, warm and inviting and seems to glow in the evenings thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap around the building. Opening the location has taken close to two years. During that time, Fuller got a glimpse of Downtown life. 

As big Burrito celebrates 30 years in the restaurant business, Fuller looks forward to feeding everyone from office workers and residents to sports fans, theater-goers and Pittsburgh visitors.

“We’ve been interested in a Downtown spot forever and a day,” he says.