Piccola Italia Ristorante bar — Restaurant in Manchester

This will be worth the read. I can’t get over how bad this was. Christmas Eve and made reservations a month prior. Wanted to go to church at 9 pm so we made a 6:45 reservation. We arrived to a line out the door. Usually a good sign. Of course everyone there has reservations and everyone was made to wait (an hour). It’s Christmas, we’re patient, but we were starting to get the idea there’s no way we’re making a 9 pm service. After waiting about 30 minutes, we attempted to sit at the bar, and when we asked the bartender if we could sit there and have dinner. “I won’t be with you for quite a while”… Mind you my wife and myself worked in the restaurant industry for many years. My wife was a bartender for about 15 years in NYC. So we get it. And we were extremely nice during this entire experience. After sitting at the bar for about 20 minutes and being told we would have to wait, offered nothing, not even a glass of water, we were moved to a table, but only after asking. So we’re on over 1 hr. to finally sit at our reserved table. Appetizers came out, bread, garlic bread. Both very good. Best part of the meal actually. We ordered three Caesar salads and only got two. Waitress said she forgot, very forgivable. However, after 20 minutes we finally said forget about the third salad, not wanting to hold up the mains, as by now we’d been there a long time. Now, after 8:30, expecting the main courses, the waitress came out and said she didn’t think they had gluten free pasta left- which is what my daughter had ordered over 30 minutes ago. Another waitress overheard her and said, yeah we have it- so then we were confused yet hopeful (again). My daughter had ordered gluten free pasta with garlic and oil and grilled chicken. Very simple. When the mains finally came, they only brought out the pasta which was grainy and overcooked. No chicken. We asked for the chicken and once again waited and waited. We just never got it. You would think after waiting an hour w a reservation to be sat, and all the screwups with our meal along the way, they would be able to expedite the grilled chicken. I got a lobster thing wrapped in veal. Sounds yummy, however it was void of taste and extremely over cooked. It was terrible. My Italian grandmother, God rest her soul, would have walked into the kitchen and thrown the plate at the kitchen staff. The pasta was mush, and asparagus undercooked.

The bill- a plate of plain gluten free pasta for $16 still on it. Waitress took it off when we explained that that’s not the dish that was ordered and that it got cold waiting for the chicken that never came.

Everyone there was really nice though, maybe minus the bartender. And we were nice. Listen, its Christmas Eve and the place is packed and everyone trying to do their best. But boy, add it up- the wait was bad, so much of the order was wrong, some of the food was awful, and some of it (with a near empty restaurant by this time) just never came. Minus the wine we had, the bill was $150. What a hassle. What a shame. One patient kid was very hungry coming in 2.5 hours prior, and very...

Overall: Unparalleled food quality and good service. This is a pricier, but very high quality dining experience. During busy times it can get very very stuffed.

Waiting: /// My girlfriend and I came here for our two year anniversary and had a blast. It wasn't all perfect but it was overall a good experience. We had a reservation for 7pm. Came in 10 minutes early and probably waited about 20 minutes total before being seated. We stood almost back to back with strangers who also had reservations. Being that crowded was uncomfortable especially when expecting to have been seated promptly.

Environment: /// Taking our seats the dining area was nice but just a little crowded. We had a table for two, set up to be romantic (per request, which is super nice of them). We were in elevated seats and were about a foot from another couples table (unoccupied).

Drinks: /// My beverage was nice. I had a non alcoholic Mojito that was delicious, and my girlfriend settled for a root beer because they were out of Dr pepper.

Food quality: /// The food was absolutely incredible. Served with a very nicely seasoned oil, we enjoyed complimentary rolls that tasted so perfect and were without a doubt baked fresh for us. My main course was parmigiana with chicken. This is without a doubt the best chicken I've had in my life. Perfectly cooked and very fresh. The past, garnishing etc was great.

My girlfriend thoroughly enjoyed a flatbread pizza which was also incredible and fresh.

After we ordered a dessert. They were out of the lava cake so we got some lemon cake thing instead. Just like all the other dishes, this was perfect. Quite exactly the best cake I've had in my life. Perfectly cooked and moist and not overpowering in any way.

Portions: /// For the meals we got, the portions were huge and well worth the money given their outstanding quality (never had anything this good before). Some other dishes in the restaurant appeared to have been smaller but we're not sure.

Service: The waitress was very nice.

Price: /// this is an expensive place to eat if you're used to a more casual restaurant. You are paying for really premium food that's cooked to perfection and for me once in a while it is absolutely worth...

I was visiting from NY and unfortunately had a horrible experience when I came with my best friend. We came around 5:30pm and the restaurant was pretty empty. We did not have a reservation but they were happy to seat us. We were greeted by the server and we gave our drink order and we’re told bread would be on the way. Continued to wait for a while before our drinks came. The wine was fine but the Italian Surfer was pure juice. A table came in next to us and got their bread, so I mentioned to the girl we didn’t receive any. They forgot so went and got some. We then waited again until our server came back to take our orders. I ordered a Ceasar salad and pasta and my friend got pasta too. Again, waited….never receiving my Ceasar salad. Finally someone else dropped off our entrees and ran as we asked for cheese…. Did not even ask if we needed anything. So when we saw the hostess we asked for some cheese. Not once did our server come over! Never asked if our food was ok, we needed anything, or more drinks. We ate and finished. I enjoyed my scallop vodka sauce dish but my friends was just ok. There was a server next to us at a table so I asked her if she could get our server because we never saw her one time after she took our order. She said she would get a manager. No one came….I finally got up and went up to hostess desk and asked for a manger. No one came….Our server finally came over with the check and said sorry for the mess. We paid and left and still tipped. But what a horrible experience. No one helped us, no manager or owner in sight. It is such an unorganized restaurant and they really need to do some training. Disappointing.

Reply to owner: So I guess we were the only table forgotten about. Just a piece of advice: when a customer is giving honest feedback about your establishment, it’s best practice to take accountability and try to rectify the situation. Hearing you make excuses that you have great staff and a proficient manager was not my experience, even though I paid to have that. I wouldn’t even have to write a review if I had the chance to talk to a manager while in the restaurant…instead of having instant replies from you on google, maybe you can implement that in...