The Common Plea and The Plea Bar, a gathering place for Downtown lawyers, judges and other professionals since 1971, will serve its last meal on Friday.

The fate of the restaurant at 310 Ross St. was no secret, although regulars had anticipated a late-June closing. Owners John and Donna Barsotti informed them yesterday of the earlier closing.

"Many of the regulars feel a void with this loss," said Common Plea regular Mary Sue Ramsden, a Downtown attorney.

Mr. Barsotti declined Wednesday to comment on the closing.

In April, the Barsottis listed the restaurant, equipment and license with Sanford L. Pollock Real Estate.

"There has been a lot of serious interest but nothing has been determined yet," Mr. Pollock said. He confirmed that the Barsottis will remain owners as they seek a tenant for the restaurant space, which is located near the courts and government offices, but far from a changing Downtown restaurant scene that is now concentrated in Market Square and the Cultural District.

As they transition from the restaurant business, the Barsottis have been focusing on catering. The caterers for The Mozart Room at Heinz Hall, they have also bought smaller catering businesses around the area. In one of their more high-profile events, the Common Plea catered the wedding reception of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Ashley Harlan at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in July 2011.

"They needed the restaurant for branding and name recognition when they first started catering," Mr. Pollock said. "This is no longer the case."

The name of the restaurant comes from the reference to the common law court and the name given in old English law to suits filed by one subject against another that did not involve the King, the communia placita.

Fittingly, Common Plea restaurant and The Plea Bar has been a hangout for the legal community, "but it's not exclusively that," Ms. Ramsden said.

"This was the place where you could go any night of the week," Ms. Ramsden said. "There are always people there who would welcome you. It is such a warm, friendly place."

She cited the clams maison as a special treat, part of the antipasti that includes roasted Brussels sprouts, beans and greens, caprese salad and artichokes. Pizza, salad, panini and pastas also seed the menu.

In its heyday, diners welcomed "something extra" when they arrived, complimentary marinated mushrooms, minced clams with butter, shallots and wine as well as melon with prosciutto.

In a review garnering 3-of-4-stars by The Pittsburgh Press in 1988, the menu reads more formally, with soft shell crab ($22.95) and bouillabaise ($22.50) while New York Strip, tenderloin, and mixed grill are market price.

"The focus is seafood and veal," observed another reporter in March of '85, in an article with a headline that sums up its long run: "Formal but friendly, Common Plea is just plain 'nice.' "

First Published: May 30, 2013, 8:00 a.m.