I think I may have found my favorite Italian restaurant in Westmoreland County. On New Year’s Eve, my cousin K. and I started a new tradition: celebrating with dinner “together” from Olives & Peppers. Though socially distant, we still dined together talking by phone after I dropped off a meal at her doorstep. I picked up our order from the new downtown Greensburg location, which opened in December. The other location is in Trafford.
So let’s begin with something that truly blew me away: their wedding soup. K. and I both agree that this is the best wedding soup we’ve ever had. I never thought I could love a broth as much as I did in this soup. The chicken was the focus in the soup base. Salt was used to enhance the flavor without overtaking the other flavors (which, sadly, seems to be a common practice in other kitchens). It had the just right proportions of ingredients, including fresh spinach, fluffy eggs, and tender meatballs. One day I hope to master meatballs like these: soft and yet stick together without falling apart. (Reader-cooks, I welcome your suggestions!) The soup was the comfort food that I needed on a cold, wintry Western Pennsylvania night. Pro tip: you can order a quart to take home with your order.
Oh, and the bread. I had the impression that it was just a regular slab of bread you get with takeout. Was I ever wrong. It was Pittsburgh Italian Bread. As anyone who has ever lived outside of Western PA knows, you just can’t find Pittsburgh Italian Bread: the thin layer of crunchy crust, the fluffy, soft texture inside, and the slightest hint of saltiness. It’s a regional bread, not unlike San Francisco sourdough or Appalachian salt-rising bread. In my family, “Pittsburgh Italian Bread” is something separate and distinct from your average grocery store bread or artisan sourdough: it recalls memories of special trips to local bakeries or Mancini’s. Bringing it home meant that it would need to be eaten quickly before it went stale, and it made the best french toast. I can attest to finishing my bread from Olives & Peppers well before it went stale. It was just the right complement for the wedding soup and gave me that “I’m just so glad to be Home in Western PA” moment. (Oh, and K., I am so sorry that I did not share the bread! I had no idea I was keeping you from this deliciousness. Next time, I’ll order extra.)
K. warned me that the entree portions would be large, and this assessment was right on. My gnocchi was a three-meal dish for me, filling potato dumplings in a tomato sauce with fresh basil that had just the right level of acidity. The meatball I ordered on the side was every bit as excellent as the smaller versions found in the wedding soup. K. ordered the Chicken Romano, another multi-meal dish with three pieces and came with risotto as a side. K. shared that the risotto was the perfect texture and that one of the flavor highlights was the fresh parmesan. We each also enjoyed a dessert of tiramisu where each layer kept its own distinctive flavor and was not overly sweet or heavy.
As we laughed about how nice it was to “dine together,” it really was just that: an enjoyable “night out at home” which we spent together apart. Olives & Peppers is at the top of the list of restaurants I look forward to enjoying in person when COVID passes. I also am excited to continue to patronize a woman-owned business. When life gets busier again, I can’t wait to sit in the beautiful old train station and drink a glass of red wine while surrounded by good food and conversation.
101 Ehalt Street, Greensburg
833 Harrison City Road, Trafford
Westmoreland Foodie 
This will be my number one stop when I come back to the area
LikeLike