La Piccolina — Restaurant in New Milford

I have been here 3 times, the first couple times I had a good experience however as of 5/18/19 my experience was mediocre and sub par,and had left a sour taste that will cause me to never return as well never to recommend this establishment for any dining. My waitress however was excellent with her service and attended to every need during my dinner service. The food has become subpar, bland and boring, wet mashed potatoes meat not cooked to the temperature that was ordered, the meal tasted as if no joy or care was put into it, as time came for the bill to be paid I signed where needed to be signed, I gave the waitress her tip in cash and sat to digest and finish the rest of my drink, the owner had come over and said I can take that referring to the already signed bill, she opened it looked at it and said are you sure you are done with this?" I said "yes" she looked at it again and said "are you sure? You should look it over again." I then repeated "no I am done with it." Her immediate assumption that I didn't tip my waitress because I didnt write in an amount to be left on my card because, I gave her cash is the very sourness and disgusted, impression left with me, a person who was not there for my dinner service, did not attend to any of my needs, and who had only arrived in the last 15 mins of my time there, irregardless of who you are, or think you are you should not of pass judgement the way you did, my waitress who was very kind, and pleasent, during my entire dinner serivce earned her tip into which I gave cash, that was between her and I and not of any of your concern seeing as you did nothing of service to me my entire meal. I am a firm believer in tipping in cash, becuase for some maybe not all, but for some what they earn in tips as cash may just be what they have to survive on until their next paycheck, may just be what they needed to get gas to get home or to school and back to work the next day. Seeing as my waitress hard work and pleasantness and professionalism is the only thing good at about La Piccolina I would not reccomend sub par, bland food prepared with no passion at the price it being sold for as justification to dine at such an establishment as La Piccolina. There are more establishments to eat within walking distance such as Tivoli, wonderful atmosphere, fresh salads, great food. Zaragoza, wonderful tappas menu amazing entrees amazing flavor, the Iron Rail, appetizers, delicious as you read it and even more so when in front of you. Just...

I was so disappointed. I dined here once a few years ago and it was a different experience, very positive and the food was good. Having come from an Italian neighborhood in Queens, I really miss great Italian food.

My husband had never been and I really expected that this would be a great place for us to go out to a nice dinner for my birthday.

After we were seated menus were brought and the descriptions seemed pretty great. The first dish, the shrimp and avocado was a little different as the shrimp were hot and the avocado and leafy greens were cold, but it was pretty tasty so not too bad. Sadly then came the main dishes.

It was terrible. My husband's steak had a huge hole in it, and despite asking for medium rare it was well done no pink in the middle at all. The cuts were so gristly that he simply didn't eat it. The sauce for the steak was nearly burnt and the mushrooms were most likely from a can and rubbery.

My veal limone was nearly impossible to cut as it was so full of gristle and very over cooked. In addition, it was covered in sauce that was congealed with almost no lemon flavor at all. It was a bit more like turkey gravy with capers on top.

We both had mashed potatoes but I swear they were instant. Very bland without any desirable texture. Having said this the brussels sprouts were great.

After we left nearly all the food on our plates, the waitress (possibly the owner) came by and looked at our plates and we said we were finished. She seemed a little frustrated / upset, so we asked for to go boxes for the remainder. She did ask if everything was alright, but we were too shy to speak up and she didn't really probe.

As we were waiting for the bill and to go boxes, no one came around for at least 15 maybe 20 minutes, despite the place being nearly empty at that point. We finally stopped one of the waitresses and asked for the bill as we just didn't want to wait any longer. She did come back shortly and after another while the to go boxes came back.

Long and short of this is that the service left a lot to be desired, and the food simply is not worth the trip...

I have eaten here three times. The food has always been excellent. I really appreciate well made pasta and sauces, and the chef/owner knows his art and practices it diligently. The problem is his wife.

She has terrible "bedside manner." She seems to be a nice person, but it is as if she is on a mission to be sure no charge is missed. I took my parents there when they were down. My father is old-school first generation Italian. He loved the food, but then the wife came to the table.

Her first visit was to look at my father's coffee cup and ask how many times it had been refilled. She then answered her own question, "Two...no wait three!". She scribbled it on the ticket and walked away. So many problems here. First, this is our first contact with her. No greeting or hospitality, just a billing question.

Second, Italians are know for their dining hospitality. I grew up in an Italian family, and particularly around the dining table, hospitality abounded. This is the opposite of hospitality. You should feel like a guest at a friends table, not like a trucker at a waffle house.

Third, the idea that a guest would keep track of coffee refills, or that a restaurant would charge to refill a regular coffee, it outrageous. This was not a cappuccino or espresso, just a black coffee. Even if you are going to charge to warm up a coffee, the server can keep track, without interrogating the guests.

Overall, I will be back. She just really takes away from the enjoyment of the dining experience. What a shame because the...