After 40 years, popular Mt. Lebanon restaurant to close doors

MOUNT LEBANON, Pa. — “A cut and a coke for a buck” — that’s what Bado’s Pizza Grill and Ale House was known for when it opened almost 40 years ago.

In 1984, Frank Badolato took his family’s bread recipe and turned it into some serious dough, turning a prime space on Beverly Road into four decades of pizza, ‘cheers,’ and memories for the Mt. Lebanon community and beyond.

But now the owners say it’s closing time. This week, Bado’s announced the restaurant was closing its doors for good, leaving many customers feeling nostalgic.

“My kids are 36 to 42…and so when they went to Lincoln Elementary School, the big deal was at lunchtime, when you were old enough, you went to Bado’s for pizza,” said Susan Dunn of Mt. Lebanon. “We had lots and lots of soccer parties and football parties...they have a party room on the second floor...they were always really welcoming to the kids.”

“We’ve had a lot of happy memories here, we’ve had weddings here,” Badolato said.

But the small business owner who survived the pandemic said it was time and decided to sell the building, thanking everyone for their support. Badolato said he can’t disclose just yet what will take its place, but hopes the community will embrace the next occupant as much as they’ve embraced his family business, saying it’s the people walking through these doors he’ll miss the most.

“…Probably the camaraderie that I’ve gotten over the years with all the people all around here, both employees and the people in Mt. Lebanon I’ve grown up with. We’ve done a lot with all of the sports teams up here, so I’ll miss that,” Badolato said.

Bado’s still plans to operate its food truck and serve customers at community and private events. The restaurant will close for good on Nov. 22.

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