Pizza Was Still a Novelty in Ohio When This Family Restaurant Says It Served Columbus Its First Pie in 1934

Ohio has plenty of restaurants where dinner comes with a side of nostalgia, but this one serves a story almost as old as the family recipes. I walked in thinking about pizza and quickly realized that nearly a century of local history was sitting at the table too.

Long before pizza became an easy Friday-night order across America, one family was introducing unfamiliar flavors to curious diners here. That claim alone made me want to visit, but the atmosphere sealed it.

Garlic, tomato sauce, old photographs, and generations of family tradition make the dining room feel comfortably removed from modern restaurant trends. Nothing needs to be reinvented when people have been coming back for decades.

I especially liked how ordinary it all feels despite the history attached to it. This is still a neighborhood restaurant first, not a museum pretending to serve dinner.

A Family Story That Began in 1929

Some restaurants have a history page on their website. TAT has a history you can almost taste, and I found myself thinking about that from the moment I sat down.

Back in 1929, Pete and Philomena Corrova opened their doors in Columbus with a simple goal of sharing the Italian food they grew up loving. That was the same year the stock market crashed, which makes their bold start even more impressive.

Opening a new business right as hard times rolled in took real grit. Somehow, the Corrovas made it work, and their neighbors kept coming back for more.

What amazes me most is how long the family has stayed at the heart of it all. Generation after generation has kept the recipes, the kitchen habits, and the welcoming spirit going for close to a hundred years.

That kind of staying power is rare in the restaurant world, where many places close within a few years. Here, the family name is part of the sign, since ‘Di Famiglia’ means ‘of the family’ in Italian.

So when you pull up a chair, you are not just grabbing dinner. You are joining a story that started before your grandparents were probably born, and it still feels warm and alive today.

The 1934 Pie That Changed Columbus Dinners

Picture Columbus in 1934, with no pizza shops on the corners and no delivery cars. Pizza was something most Ohio families had never seen, let alone tasted.

According to the restaurant, that changed when the Corrovas started serving pies to their guests, drawing on the Sicilian and Neapolitan cooking traditions of their roots.

I love imagining those first diners staring at a round, bubbling crust topped with red sauce and melted cheese. To them, it must have seemed like a strange and exciting treat from far away.

Of course, pizza’s early days in America are full of friendly debates, and plenty of cities have their own ‘first’ stories. Still, TAT proudly claims the title for Columbus, and it is a fun piece of local food history to chew on while you wait for your order.

I ordered a pizza partly out of curiosity and partly out of respect. The crust had a nice chew, and the sauce tasted bright and homemade, the kind that makes you reach for one more piece even when you promised yourself you were done.

My advice is simple. Order one for the table and share it, since eating a slice of the city’s pizza story is way more fun with company.

A Dining Room That Kept Its Old Soul

Sliding into a red booth here gave me the same cozy feeling as pulling on a favorite old sweater. Nothing about the room is trying too hard, and that is exactly why it works.

Crisp white tablecloths cover the tables, adding a touch of class without making anyone feel like they need to dress up.

Old photographs line the walls, and each one seems to hold a little piece of the restaurant’s long life. I spent a good part of my wait studying them like a museum exhibit, trying to guess which decade each picture came from.

Many restaurants remodel every few years to chase the latest trend, with shiny metal chairs and bare brick everywhere. TAT went a different direction by keeping its classic look clean, cared for, and full of personality.

The lighting is soft, the booths are comfy, and conversations seem to flow a little easier in a room like this. Kids can giggle, grandparents can tell long stories, and nobody feels rushed.

Here is a tip for your visit. Ask for a booth if you can, because there is something special about tucking into a plate of pasta while surrounded by nearly a century of memories.

A Move That Brought the Memories Along

Here is a fun fact that surprised me. TAT has not always lived on the east side of Columbus.

Longtime Columbus families remember eating at the restaurant back when it sat on Indianola Avenue in the Clintonville neighborhood, many decades ago.

When the restaurant moved to its current home on South James Road, the family did something thoughtful. Instead of starting fresh with brand new decorations, they carried much of the original look and keepsakes with them.

That choice matters more than you might think. For people who grew up eating spaghetti here as kids, finding familiar details in a new building makes the whole place feel like home again.

I find that kind of loyalty to the past really touching, especially in a city that keeps growing and changing so quickly. New apartments and shopping centers pop up every year, yet this dining room still holds onto its roots.

The neighborhood around it is easygoing, and the parking lot has plenty of space, which is a nice bonus if you are bringing a big group. You will not have to circle the block ten times hunting for a spot.

If you have older relatives who lived in Columbus years ago, bring them along. They might just recognize a few things.

Homemade Noodles and a Dressing Worth Bottling

Soft, tender, and wonderfully simple, the homemade spaghetti at TAT won me over on the first twirl.

The kitchen makes its noodles from scratch using a soft egg dough, so they come out gentle and silky instead of firm like boxed pasta. Paired with the hearty red sauce and a couple of meatballs, it is the kind of plate that makes you slow down and actually enjoy every bite.

Then there is the salad. It sounds boring on paper, but the house Italian dressing is a real star here.

The dressing is light, tangy, and packed with flavor, and it is so popular that the restaurant bottles it so fans can enjoy it at home. The same goes for some of their sauces, which means your TAT meal does not have to end when you leave the table.

I would recommend grabbing a bottle on your way out. It makes a great gift for a friend who loves to cook, and it turns an ordinary weeknight salad into something that reminds you of your visit.

One more tip is to save a little bread for the end of your meal. You will want it for wiping up every last bit of that sauce.

Room for Birthdays, Banquets, and Big Families

Big families and loud birthday songs fit right in at TAT. The whole place seems built for gatherings, which makes sense for a restaurant with ‘family’ right in its name.

Tables of three or even four generations are a common sight here, with little kids coloring next to grandparents who have been coming for years.

For bigger celebrations, the restaurant has a large banquet room that can handle parties, showers, anniversaries, and work get-togethers. Having a private space means your group can laugh, share stories, and open presents without worrying about bothering other diners.

The staff here has a warm, easygoing way of treating guests, like old neighbors dropping by for supper. Service felt friendly and quick during my visit, and nobody made me feel hurried.

If you are planning an event, reach out ahead of time by calling the restaurant. Booking early gives the team a chance to help with the menu and the setup, so the day goes smoothly.

Family-style Italian food is perfect for groups anyway. Big platters of pasta, bowls of soup, and plenty of bread make it easy to feed a crowd, and nobody leaves hungry.

Honestly, I cannot think of a better place to celebrate a grandparent’s big birthday.

Planning Your Own Slice of History

Leaving TAT with a to-go box in hand, I felt like I had eaten a chapter of Columbus history.

If you want to plan your own visit, the timing is important. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Friday from 11 in the morning until 8 at night, and on Saturday and Sunday from 3 until 8.

Mondays and Tuesdays are closed, so do not make the mistake of showing up hungry on those days. Hours can change, so a quick call to 614-236-1392 before you head out is always smart.

Arriving on the earlier side is a good idea, especially on weekends when families fill the booths. It also gives you time to look around at the photos and soak up the old-school charm before your food arrives.

Carryout is available too, which is great if you want to enjoy that homemade spaghetti on your own couch. Still, I think eating in the dining room is part of the magic.

Whether you come for the pizza story, the soup, or the cozy booths, this spot delivers a meal with real heart and nearly a hundred years of care behind it.

Address: 1210 South James Road, Columbus, Ohio