Piccolino — Restaurant in London

Recently, I had the pleasure of experiencing what I can only describe as the best lunch ever at Picolino, all in celebration of my friend’s birthday. From the moment we stepped into the charming eatery, we knew we were in for a treat. Ambiance and Atmosphere: Picolino boasts a cozy and inviting atmosphere, perfect for a leisurely afternoon meal. The decor is tasteful, blending modern chic with a touch of rustic charm. The soft lighting and comfortable seating made us feel right at home, setting the perfect stage for our celebration. Service: The service was impeccable. Our server was attentive without being intrusive, always ready with a smile and knowledgeable recommendations. The staff made sure our experience was seamless, from accommodating special requests to ensuring that our glasses were never empty. Food: Now, onto the highlight—the food! Every dish we ordered was a masterpiece. We started with the antipasto platter, which featured a delightful selection of cured meats, cheeses, and marinated vegetables. Each bite was a tantalizing preview of what was to come. For the main course, I opted for the seafood risotto, while my friend chose the grilled cod. The risotto was creamy and perfectly cooked, with generous portions of fresh seafood. The lamb chops were tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. Each dish was beautifully presented and tasted even better than it looked. To top off the meal, we indulged in the dessert selection. The tiramisu was light and decadent, and the chocolate fondant was one of the best Both desserts were a delightful end to our culinary journey. Final Thoughts: Our lunch at Picolino was nothing short of extraordinary. The combination of excellent food, stellar service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere made it an unforgettable experience. Celebrating my friend's birthday there was a fantastic decision, and it's safe to say that Picolino has set a new standard for our dining experiences. If you're looking for a place to enjoy a special meal, Picolino should be at the top...

AVOID! Shocked to see the reviews are positive for this place. Perhaps for Christmas they decided to capitalise without caring about the quality.

As you will see from the photos the presentation is disgusting - I had Turkey myself and it was literally a few slices of turkey thrown onto the plate with no sides or veg(very unappetising looking too!). I asked the waiter for veg, he said yes and never came back. Steak for a guy next to me was dry and he left most of it untouched - same with his started of dry bread and a few prawns - no sauce, no dressing, not even pan fried bread, just a dry slice.

Had to chase the waiting staff multiple times for a pint I've waited for about 30min. And a pint that cost me a shocking £8.20

The staff were also DEMANDING service charge (they chose a generous 12.5%) even when we asked the waiter to remove it when he added a £5 charge for bringing one wine bottle from the bar to the table. We told him we already paid gratuities on our overall booking package and this was too much. After arguing for a little while he allowed it saying "you'll need to pay on the next one though" - note to employees - you cannot demand tips especially upfront when your service sucks.

We were a big group and I doubt we will be back (at least I'm certainly not going to).

The only reason the review is not 1* was because the dessert was decent (looked like a giant profiterole), should probably mention someone with nut allergy just got served a regular dessert (not what he ordered) - luckily it did not contain nuts, but clearly customers safety is also...

A bit hit and miss - my swordfish alla puttanesca (a tomato and chilli sauce) was excellent though sadly did not come with any potatoes or vegetables (£23 for a piece of swordfish) and the tagliatelle ragu looked more like a dish of watery, grey minestrone, with tagliatelle floating around in the sauce - very disappointing.

For starters we had the calamari fritti, which was a very small portion and included slithers of battered courgette - suggesting perhaps they had had a calamari shortage.

The service was the biggest letdown - in short, too many diners and woefully short-staffed. We were left waiting almost an hour for our starters and had to chase up several times. The wait for our mains was more acceptable, though again, one person on our table was left waiting a further 10 minutes (for the tagliatelle ragù) after everyone else had been served.

Our lunch which should have been 60-90 minutes tops turned into a 3 hour sitting, thanks to the horrendously slow service. We didn’t even bother trying to order pudding.

The restaurant has outdoor seating, and plenty of indoor seating on the ground floor and downstairs. However it was very noisy due to all the hard furnishings (and no sound dampeners) making it hard to hear people over the table.

There are various set menus (we visited over Christmas) which are good value - £37.50 or £50 options for a three...