Alta Via restaurant to expand into Pittsburgh's Market Square

The Downtown Pittsburgh hospitality scene is buzzing again and adding another popular restaurant to the neighborhood. Alta Via, an Italian restaurant inspired by California cuisine, is expanding from its original home and into Market Square, according to the big Burrito Restaurant Group.

The group owns the Mad Mex chain and several popular dining establishments throughout Pittsburgh, including Casbah, Soba, Kaya and the original Alta Via location at Fox Chapel Plaza in O’Hara. Company President and Corporate Chef Bill Fuller said he is excited to bring pasta and wood-hearth cooking to Downtown.

“It’s really been exciting to see a longtime dream of ours come to fruition. We had a lot of fun with the first location and look forward to bringing our second Alta Via to downtown Pittsburgh,” Fuller said in a press release.

Alta Via Fox Chapel opened in 2019 with a menu built around homemade pasta, fresh seafood, and seasonal vegetables with an homage to the mountains in Northern Italy. Many dishes are prepared in the restaurant’s open, wood-fired grill.

The new location is scheduled to open in early 2023 at Two PPG Place in Market Square. It will seat more than 140 over its dining room and large bar, as well as up to 75 at a private dining room. Additional outdoor seating will be available during warm weather.

Alta Via Market Square will focus on the same modern Italian dishes as the original location, as well as roast chicken, steaks, and fresh fish and seafood. Alta Via in Market Square will also provide two flavors of soft serve gelato daily. Its drink program will feature classic cocktails, a wine list balanced on Italian and American varieties, and draft and bottled beer with a strong focus on Western Pennsylvania brewers.

The new restaurant will serve lunch and dinner daily, and will eventually be open for brunch as well.