MenuPages

By far the best Italian in NYC with good value. Can't believe that they receive 5 $-sign here. $14 for one of the best pastas I've ever had. Go there once a week and I've never been disappointed

good wine and pasta! The gnocchi alla bolongese or alla vodka are really good. The dessert (Nutella cheesecake) was a little rich, but overall this is a really quaint and delicious Italian place in the West Village. Slightly overpriced, perhaps, but it's NY. We didn't have to wait long at all- like a few minutes- and had reservations for 3 at 7:00 on a Friday. Will be going back.

I am still speechless when it comes to putting my recent experience here into words... I am also dumbfounded how this establishment manages to boast a week long wait for reservations. Personally, as a WV resident I can certainly think of better ways to invest my $120 on a casual Thursday night meal and festivities, and an overpriced obnoxiously loud "local gem" filled with aging baby boomers on dates is not one of them. The food was not good at all - huge plates filled with over done, over sauced, and dare I say - ugly contents that arrived late and tasted to say the least less than adequate.

Yes, Piccolo has the allure of mysterious local favorite whose best hours are booked at least week in advance. (TIP: going on a special date? Call in reservations a week before if you want a decent dining time) The reason? The food is spectacular at phenomenal prices. The value is simply unmatched. The restaurant with its authentic local feel, coupled with the loving Italian graces of the owners makes this my top choice in the area. The dishes are bona fide Italian classics, and the hearty portions never leave one hungry. In response to Nari kin's post titled "Whats the fuss?", all I have to say is that you made the mistake of ordering "simple pasta dish[es]". This is the type of place to step out of your comfort zone and order the Lobster Cannelloni, Veal Scallopini (alla Marsala is great) or the Shrimp Fra Diavolo. Highly recommended, prices very moderate for the amazing food quality, portion size, and great vibe. Don't listen to the haters, there is a reason why this restaurant gets booked over a week in advance!

When I lived a couple of blocks away, I went here a couple of times a week for years on end. Now that we moved away, we get perhaps once a month, not often enough. Yes, you generally cannot get in without reservations. Yes, it tends to be loud and also crowded. But there are reasons why it's always crowded. Although some posters complain about increased prices, the truth is you can spend twice the price and not get basic Italian fare this consistently good. The place is family-run and feels it. Even the staff that isn't family has been around so long that it's family too. And the clientele typically includes lots of repeat offenders. All of this, plus the fact that there is invariably a birthday in the house, contribute to a vibe of what detractors might call boisterous but what the regulars regard as warm and friendly. Personally, there are few restaurants I'd rather be at any price, because Renato, Maria, and co just make this a fun place to be. But the reasonable prices don't hurt at all.

This is by far the best Italian restaurant in the city. The food is simply amazing. Every dish is delicious - my favorites are the lobster cannelloni with vodka sauce and the bolognese. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone. Only issue with the place is that it can get very loud at times, but the food more than makes up for the noise.

we're local. a block away, and have never been able to get in here for 3 years - our fault for not booking, but they are always so busy that it became a mythological thing, you know like Unicorns. Finally we were walking past last night and tried our luck - presto - a table appears. Hold the front page! Well, sadly its not worth it. Its very old school Italian. heavy sauces, thick pasta, lots of butter slavering everything. and not good prices - $28+ entrees? $18 basic pastas? We split a Rucola salad, half caraffe of cheap fizzy red, and had a simple pasta dish each, total: $80 with tip. ugh.. Really - whats the fuss about?and all these great reviews? we eat out ALL the time right round here. Plenty of excellent modern Italian food, that leaves you feeling happy not heavy. Really, I jut dont get it. Maybe there's a lot of people who like heavy old school pasta, slavered in red or white sauce, extra big portions of it. The staff were great and had a delightful attitude, but other that that - food, price, atmosphere, health... its simply a mystery. This belongs in the East Village in the late 1980's at prices 40% lower. Unicorns are over-rated.