One of the most stylish restaurants in the city, Piccolino in Nottingham is a beautiful – but underrated – option for dates and gatherings.
We were kindly invited to see its new look and try its new menu, going for starters, mains, and desserts, as well as a glass of wine (or two). This was gifted, but these are our honest thoughts.
If you’re looking for Italian restaurants or places to eat in Nottingham, Piccolino is worth a visit. For more reviews and guides, subscribe to The Notts Edit to receive our articles in your inbox for free.
Piccolino Nottingham food review
Words and photos by Eve Smallman
Sitting on the cusp of the Lace Market, Piccolino is one of those restaurants that I have walked past thousands of times, but never been properly into, apart from a quick bite as part of The Restaurant Tour (@thenottsedit). I’m not sure if the previous sharp logo and crisp white tablecloths used to intimidate me slightly – but these have been replaced by a new handwritten font, bright blues, and polished wooden tables.
For the unfamiliar, this is an Italian chain with plenty of restaurants across the country, serving up pizza, pastas, steaks, and more with a refined feel. The menu is very much what you might expect from a chic Italian restaurant – which is good, as if you’re going with a group, it will make it easy to find something you’d like. It also has an excellent drinks menu, with all the spritzes (Aperol, Hugo, Sarti, limoncello), as well as its signatures like hot honey margaritas and sour cherry negronis.
I’m a big believer in Italian food pairing with a good glass of wine, so I go for my beloved pinot grigio – a Trovati, with oak-aged grapes (£12 for a medium. The wine menu is truly extensive, with many of them under sections useful explanations of what the flavours might entail – handy for those who might not know a wine by name, but knows what they like. My partner Sam goes for a beer.
We begin with pitted Gordal olives (£6.50) – gorgeously plump and juicy, and perfect for getting the appetite going. I have been known to eat these out of the tin before, but having them in an white bowl with toothpicks just feels that little bit more elegant.
From here, we split tartare di tonno (£16.50) and bruschetta con gamberoni (£15). Both of these were really gorgeous in different ways. The tartare was fresh, flavoursome, and soft. Meanwhile, the bruschetta with king prawns on top was crunchy and garlicky. A mouthful of the soft middle, with a juicy prawn and butter, was absolute bliss.
Usually when we go out to dinner – especially for the Edit – we try and have two completely different things, to get a broader sense of the menu. However, on a cosy autumn evening, we just couldn’t resist two comforting bowls of pasta,
Mine was the rigatoni alla vodka (£19.75), which is also available as a sharer (£30) – a lovely option if you go for a few small plates and want a main to share, for example. The sauce for this was gorgeous – warm and hearty, with just the right kick of spice. While the rigatoni didn’t taste quite as fresh as I’d have expected, it was cooked al dente to perfection, and was the perfect size and shape vehicle for the sauce.
Sam had the ravioli granchio (£26), with hand-picked Devonshire crab filling and lobster sauce. This was really beautifully presented on a satisfyingly oval plate, and topped with fresh chilli and basil. The rich pockets of ravioli complemented the silky sauce, with the herbs and spice breaking this up for balance. Speaking of balance, we had a small tricolore salad (£11.75) on the side (yes it’s a sin in Italy to have a side salad!). This was like a caprese salad, but with extra flavour thanks to the different tomato colours and the dollops of pesto.
Because the pastas were both saucy, I thought it would be a good idea to order focaccia (£6.75) topped with olive oil and sea salt to have on the side, rather than the starter it is intended to be. This was hot, crunchy, and delicious – but a little too much to go with a main, as the board was piled high with slices. Instead, I would recommend actually having this as the ‘for the table’ it is intended to be, and just having it throughout.
I just don’t go out for dinner without dessert and, as a tiramisu obsessive, I knew I had to try Piccolino’s (£11). While sweet and fluffy, this wasn’t particularly boozy and didn’t have much coffee either – so ideal for those who like cake, but not so much for those who like a stronger tiramisu like me. Sam and I also split some truffles, which were so decadent and delightful alongside a little espresso.
I would say it’s comparable in price to The Ivy Nottingham Brasserie, which is also a chain, and is similar in price point, but offers plated food with a British touch. While The Ivy’s interior and service is a slight step above, I would definitely say Piccolino has a stronger offering in terms of the quality of the food and the value for money it offers.
I came away from Piccolino thinking what a pleasant surprise it was. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t been in for a proper meal, and now it’s firmly on my list as a lovely option for special occasions like dates and family gatherings. For crowd-pleasing food and drink and a chic yet comfortable atmosphere, it’s a fabulous option – and I’ll certainly be back.
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