Piccolino — Restaurant in Nottingham

Absolutely appalling night. We have visited this restaurant many times in the past and although not always been 100% happy, have let things go. But on 12th April we had booked a table for 6 after a Graduation ceremony. It was obvious as soon as we had arrived, that as a restaurant they had taken far to much in the way of evening covers. The staff were obviously under pressure and there were quite a few customers complaining. We were shown to the table by Danielle who was very pleasant, but again extremely rushed. After about 15 minutes a waiter came to take our order, after saying that we just wanted drinks and a starter and we would all decide on our main course a little later. This obviously wasn’t what he wanted to hear and he decided that he wasn’t going to serve us, and called someone else over and in Italian (which he presumed we didn’t understand) told him, he wasn’t serving us because he had better things to do and was busy! Our order was eventually taken and we were asked to decide on the mains at the same time! The starter arrived with the drinks and was very nice. Within approximately 20 mins the mains arrived and what can only be described what looked and tasted like Heinz spaghetti out of a tin with a piece of breaded chicken and a very meagre portion at that! The food was barely warm and tasteless. The Gnocchi was overcooked. All in all extremely disappointed. The original waiter that obviously did not want to serve our table for whatever reason, was told to come and clear the table and give out the dessert menus. Bearing in mind that whilst conversations were happening in Italian and the presumption that no one could understand what was being said, he came to clear the table, gave us the dessert menus and said ‘just hurry up’. He was asked by a member of our party if there was a chance of just a bowl of vanilla ice cream and was promptly told NO. Then in Italian he proceeded to mutter ‘just hurry up and choose, I’m busy! In the end a few ordered Tiramisu, which was ok. All in all so disappointed We asked for the Bill and the Manager brought it over, we paid and left immediately. Whilst waiting outside for our Taxi there was a Deliveroo driver that was waiting outside in the rain and was called inside by the manager to collect the order. The deliveroo driver asked politely why he had been made to wait over 20 minutes when he was originally told 5-10 minutes. We actually heard the Manager tell him to F off out of his restaurant!!!? Appalling behaviour! The Deliveroo driver could not apologise to us enough that we had to have heard and seen the Managers behaviour towards him. It definitely was not his fault, it was uncalled for. The driver was only doing his job! All in all, I would never ever recommend this restaurant in Nottingham to anyone. Very disappointed. If it was possible to give a minus...

Visiting family in the area and they highly recommended this restaurant. Authentically Italian and they had a really great menu selection and were accommodating for children.

We were a larger group (8ppl). I’ll start off saying that all of the food was delicious! However, our service started off absolutely horrendously. We waited around 10 minutes before we had to ask the host for menus. It was another 10-15 minutes before we had to flag someone down to get some water. That individual did not seem happy to have to attend to us and was quite dismissive. That requested water didn’t arrive until we had been sat for 50 minutes, needed a follow-up request with a reminder for it and it wasn’t even enough for the whole table when it did eventually arrive. Our server, who showed up after 30-35 minutes of us having been sat, didn’t greet or acknowledge us, just straight to asking us what we wanted. This server had been hanging around our table area during the entire time we were there, slowly setting up an adjacent table and conversing with other workers.

We ordered some appetizers and when they arrived, one was incorrect but when we politely noted the error, our server said that’s what we ordered as that is what she had entered on her screen. A couple other members of our party mentioned they heard the correct order but she stood firm saying we were wrong. Another server came to assist and asked us if we wanted the correct item. We didn’t want any further delays so we kept what they delivered as we wanted to get some food into us, yet asked to have the correct item brought. We were charged for both.

After having our mains arrive, another server, Daniel, took over and the service went very well from there. We were able to order more beverages and water and he checked in to ensure the food was to our liking. He was very professional, polite and competent and rescued our dining experience.

Our family who lives in the area go here regularly and noted that this was a not a common service experience however it was very disappointing for all seeing as 2/3 of our time there was spent dealing with that...

From the moment we stepped into Piccolino, we were greeted with a warm Italian welcome that set the tone for an unforgettable evening. The elegant yet relaxed atmosphere, with its soft lighting and inviting décor, made it the perfect backdrop for a truly authentic dining experience. We began with the carpaccio, delicately sliced and beautifully plated. Each bite melted in the mouth — fresh, vibrant, and perfectly balanced with just the right drizzle of olive oil and a hint of lemon. For mains, the spaghetti frutti di mare was an absolute triumph. The pasta was cooked al dente, generously adorned with fresh mussels, clams, prawns, and tender calamari, all bathed in a light, aromatic tomato and white wine sauce that tasted like a summer evening by the Amalfi Coast. The risotto was just as impressive — creamy, rich, and bursting with flavor, every spoonful a testament to the kitchen’s mastery of authentic Italian technique. And then came dessert — the sweet finale to an exceptional meal. Decadent, perfectly portioned, and artfully presented, it was the kind of dessert that makes you pause after the first bite, savoring the moment. However, the best part of any restaurant is the service. At Piccolino, it's top-notch, with incredibly friendly, smiling, professional young people with a great sense of humour. A huge thank you to Petya,Matteo, Sebastian,and the others whose names I don't know. You're ALL wonderful. We felt like Princesses. Piccolino is more than just a restaurant; it’s a slice of Italy right here in Nottingham. Whether you’re celebrating something special or simply indulging in the joy of good food, this gem never disappoints. Highly recommended — a must-visit for anyone who loves authentic Italian cuisine served with...