Piccolo Ristorante
Venice, CA 90291
Phone: (310) 314-3222
- Cross Street:
- Speedway Alley
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 5:30pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm, Sun 5pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Piccolo Ristorante – by Lesley Jacobs
The Scene
The 5 Dudley address should be familiar to foodies who once flocked to the eponymous restaurant formerly occupying this beach-adjacent space. With few interior changes--Venetian carnival masks and photographs of the watery city--the room bustles with the energy of co-owner Stafano de Lorenzo, formerly of Il Moro, while well-heeled locals contribute to the cheerful din.
The Food
Delicate flavors of northern Italian cuisine blossom in the hands of Antonio Mure (Locanda Veneta and Valentino in Las Vegas). Fettuccini with black truffles features al dente pasta with earthy truffles, which the chef gleefully shaves tableside. Another must-have is the tortelli di patate e fichi, a meltingly tender potato-fig ravioli dressed lightly in a butter-sage sauce. The tagliata de manzo, a perfectly cooked culotte steak topped with fresh arugula and nutty Parmesan will please carnivores, while the crema di vaniglia rewards the sweet tooth with its gooey Italian spin on creme caramel.
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Insider Tips
When to GoArrive early; reservations aren't accepted and the place is typically packed by 7pm.
What to DrinkThe wine list is a limited, well-chosen collection of mostly Italian wines. If you prefer something else, bring it. Corkage is $20.
Save TimeAny of the dozen varieties of house-baked bread can be ordered to go.
User Reviews for Piccolo Ristorante
09/27/2008 Posted by monijo
A charming, snug and intimate place. So snug that we were party to our neighboring table receiving a lengthy harrangue regarding management's current battle with Zagat. At the time we sympathized with management but by the time we finished the meal our loyalties had moved to "the man" (Zagat). Although artfully described, the menu rarely lives up to the dish as served (this is our 3rd time here - always hoping for improvement). The foie gras stuffed quail seemed absent the foie gras (the reason I ordered it). The "light" anchovy sauce completely dominated the ravioli dish. The squid ink pasta, already salty in itself, suffered from a further drenching of sodium before leaving the kitchen. I couldn't get it down. The last time we ate here I was overwhelmed with the abundance of salt in a salad! What's up with the salt jonesing, chef? For dessert we were desperate for something to cleanse the palate and surprise, surprise, no sorbet. The dessert menu was dominated by chocolate and dairy and banana and something pretentiously called pineapple carpaccio (thin slices of pineapple - gimme a break). A trip to Gelson's for some delightful fruit sorbetto finally vanquished the salty redolence the dinner left behind. Overall there's a firm, guiding hand here with an undertone of arrogance that may leave this restaurant to its devoted followers but few others. It's such a disappointment. I so want to love this local "jewel" (as we live in the neighborhood) but every time we've eaten here for every dish we've loved there's been two that we found bad to uneatable. And for the record, we've eaten all over the world and love Florentine dining..... This ain't that.
Pros: Charming atmosphere.
Cons: Heavy on the salt.
08/01/2008 Posted by paulh2e2r7
If you like to get treated badly by the waitress because you did not take the strongly suggested appetizer, be refused Parmesan cheese on your 5 noodles (very small plates) because the restaurant's chef thinks it would spoil the plate and pay $30 per person for all of this, this place is definitely for you. Pedantic, over priced and the food is not even good. Without kidding this is my worst restaurant experience in 38 years and, believe me, I ate in some great places before.
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