James “Big Jim” Bochicchio opened Big Jim’s in 1977 in the lower Greenfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh — the area locals call “The Run” — with his mother’s recipes for Italian wedding soup, meatballs, and spaghetti sauce, and a conviction that portions should never leave anyone wondering if they got enough. Big Jim passed away in 1991, leaving the business to his nephew Vito and longtime manager Blane Volovich, who kept the neighborhood institution exactly as it was. It appeared in Season 5, Episode 5 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Long Time Legends,” which aired January 5, 2009. Guy Fieri said the veal parmesan sandwich nearly matched the width of his head and called it “ridiculous.” The calzone took 45 minutes to make and arrived large enough to be its own episode. The restaurant has been serving the Run’s regulars for nearly 50 years without meaningful change, which is the kind of consistency that earns loyalty across generations.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Big Jim’s
City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cuisine: Italian-American / Sandwiches
DDD Season: 5
DDD Episode: 5
Episode Title: Long Time Legends
Original Air Date: January 5, 2009
Address: 201 Saline St., Pittsburgh, PA 15207
Phone: 412-421-0532
Website: https://www.bigjimsrestaurant.com
Status: Open
About Big Jim’s
The Run is physically separated from the rest of Pittsburgh by the Monongahela River, a towering nearby highway, and a steep ravine wall, which has kept it one of the city’s most genuinely neighborhood-feeling communities. Big Jim’s fits the setting: low-key, locally focused, loaded with photos of youth sports teams the restaurant has sponsored over decades. The dining room is small and tables are packed in tight. The unofficial slogan is “Good food and drink since 1977,” which is accurate in every particular. Weekend breakfast is served Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
What to Eat at Big Jim’s
The Veal Parmesan Sandwich is the signature — a crispy veal cutlet on Italian bread with house marinara and melted cheese, nearly the width of Guy’s head. The Italian Wedding Soup is what most regulars order alongside any sandwich, rich with tender meatballs, greens, and pasta. The Calzone stuffed with ham, salami, capicola, pepperoni, provolone, and vegetables is the 45-minute commitment that rewards the patient. The Lasagna and Oven-Baked Hoagies round out the Italian-American canon with the same oversized portions throughout.
After a Big Jim’s veal parm, bring that Italian energy home with Guy Fieri Cookware for serious stovetop work and Guy Fieri Food: Cookin’ It, Livin’ It, Lovin’ It for 150 recipes with the same bold Italian-American spirit.
Plan Your Visit
Big Jim’s is open Monday through Sunday 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Weekend breakfast Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. GPS is recommended to navigate The Run. Find a Pittsburgh hotel on Booking.com.
Address: 201 Saline St., Pittsburgh, PA 15207
Phone: 412-421-0532
Website: https://www.bigjimsrestaurant.com
Status: Open
Flavortown Approved
Stream the Long Time Legends episode on Amazon. Pittsburgh has one of the deepest Triple D catalogs of any city outside New York — More Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives helps map it all out.
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Big Jim’s appeared in Season 5, Episode 5 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Long Time Legends,” originally aired January 5, 2009. The restaurant has been open since 1977.