[update Dec2019] Sadly, I am withdrawing a star from my rating.

My schedule hasn't allowed me to visit often over the last months. The last time I ate at Princi Italia, the signature dish that had enticed me originally, the chicken piccata, was not up to standard. When I mentioned this, I was advised the chef had erred on the recipe and my meal was comped.

More recently, I found that experience unfortunately seems to BE the new standard for that dish. The chicken itself is simply not as savory and firm as it had been. The heirloom tomatoes have been replaced with bland chunks of more common tomato. The tartness is not as distinct. What had impressed me as the best piccata is now very ordinary.

There are other dishes on the menu I really like, the Orrechietti is one, and I will next time try one of those to compare where the menu might now be. In the meantime, my previously unqualified recommendation has been lowered a bit.

[original 2016] When the Plano location opened very close to my residence, I was looking to add an Italian restaurant to my circle of favorites and this one has met the need. The Chicken Piccata that was my first option was a delight, much better than expected and, after repeated orders, a consistent highlight. It includes broccolini, which was my first exposure to this now favored vegetable. The "fingerling" potatoes are also superb; my 10-yr-old granddaughter always asks for extras (but also opts out of the broccolini). The Orecchiette is also very tasty and the portion size is ideal for me - it might seem small to some accustomed to oversized U.S. offerings. The housemade sausage has nice spice. A tart lemonade is a hit with all of us. The wine list is quite good but starts a bit higher than I'd expected for some of the options. I have found a number of quite good surprises in the $9-10/glass reds and the list is consistently updated. The staff have been more exceptionally welcoming and have indulged my grandkids when I brought them with me. (The fettuccine alfredo they provided my grandson was off-menu and very, very good. He wound up with sauce-face from getting too eager in his eating.) I try to visit once a week which for me is a hearty endorsement.