7th December 2017 6pm
I was invited to a blogger/press event at Piccolino. I made a rookie error in not asking if it was a plus one event, expecting it to be one of those mingling and tasting evenings but it wasn’t, so I ended up having dinner on my own. There are worse things in the world! Anyway, Piccolino is a cosy, intimate environment situated in Tollcross serving Italian food. I had a chat with the owner, Luigi. He advised me that they use fresh ingredients, which means it might take a few minutes longer from order to eating but tastes like ‘your mother in Italy used to make’. With that introduction, I was keen to ensure I had some pasta during the evening. In the end I chose calamari for my starter, followed by gnocchetti broccoli salsiccia e grana.
Calamari – Piccolino
The calamari came out with no discernible difference in time to any other restaurant, which was great. Served on some brown paper (on a plate I hasten to add), this dish aimed to have a rustic feel. The calamari was not rubbery and was seasoned well. The coating could have been a little crispier but a minor detail in what was a decent dish. The accompanying mayo was lovely and finished off the dish nicely.
Gnocchetti – Piccolino
Onwards to the main course. This was a gnocchi dish with broccoli and Italian sausage. This is what I would call a simple, rustic Italian dish. There’s no flash, just a plate full of wholesome food. The gnocchi was soft and the broccoli still had a bit of firmness to it. The sausage was crumbled through the dish rather than sliced up, which was a nice surprise. There was a fantastic addition of a couple of Parmesan crisps on the side. These had the most incredibly intense cheese flavour.
I was too full for dessert, which was a shame. I think Piccolino offers a reliable Italian experience in a intimate setting. Worth a visit.
Food – 7.5/10
Service – 8/10
Atmosphere – 8/10
Value – 8/10
Overall – 31.5/40
Would I eat here again? Yes.
Cost – this meal was complimentary but would have cost around £18 for the starter and main course
Whilst this meal was complimentary, all views are my own. Thanks to Simone for organising.
