Did someone just say Italian? 100%, we are in! Italian restaurant chain ‘Piccolino’, maybe you’ve dined at one of the many restaurants, but have you dined at the recently relaunched Harrogate restaurant? If not, you should.
Having first opened its doors in Harrogate back in February 2022, Piccolino Harrogate has recently undergone a ‘glow-up’, just in time for the warmer summer months. In April this year, Piccolino Harrogate relaunched, with the addition of a brand-new cocktail bar, private dining room, roof terrace and resident DJ, whilst at the same time retaining its sumptuous surroundings and relaxed dining atmosphere, not least, the launch of their new summer menu full of delicious Italian food.
At Coxy’s Kitchen we love Italian food, in fact it’s a fave, but would Piccolino have been our Italian restaurant of choice? No. Having dined at a few other Piccolino restaurants some years back, our experience has always been ok, but never wow – this on the other hand was wow!
Our visit to Piccolino Harrogate was on a very rainy Sunday afternoon and the restaurant was a little quiet. Impacted by the weather I’m sure, but maybe a chain restaurant like Piccolino isn’t everyone’s first choice for lunch or dinner on a Sunday? Admittedly, we would usually venture to an independent gastro pub for a traditional roast, however… now that we’ve experienced how good the food is AND having discovered that they do actually serve Sunday roasts alongside delicious Italian food, we won’t be hesitating for too long to give it a go.
Stepping in from the rain, the warm welcome and friendly faces were just what we needed to lift our spirits. We were given the option of where to sit and we chose one of the comfy booths. Of course, my aperitif was a Negroni [isn’t it always?] and my partner chose the same.
It didn’t take us too long to decide what to order. For me, if there is rose veal on the menu, I will 9/10 order that, as long as it can be served Italian-style, with spaghetti Pomodoro on the side. The veal was to come with chips, but my request to change the side was no problem at all for the chef, which was greatly appreciated. Here’s what we ordered from the new summer menu:
To nibble:
- Olives Piccante – delicious! But we wished they’d have arrived before the starters so that we could have enjoyed with our Negroni’s
To start:
- Carpaccio di Manzo – seared sliced beef fillet, Venetian dressing, rocket and parmesan salad
- Granchio Piccantino – dressed Devonshire crab, chilli mayonnaise, lemon and Sardinian flatbread
For Mains:
- Vitello al Limone – veal escalopes, lemon butter sauce with spaghetti Pomodoro
- Angus & Hereford Filet steak – served with fries and peppercorn sauce
On the side:
- Rocket and Parmesan Salad
- Peas and Pancetta
- Tenderstem Broccoli, chilli and garlic
- Garlic Spinach
To wash it down:
- Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Dega
Every single one of these dishes was delicious – we were expecting ok-good food [based on our previous experiences of dining at Piccolino outlets], but certainly nothing like this… compliments to the chef!
Understandably, due to the disappointing weather and it being a quieter Sunday, the upstairs bar and terrace were closed, but we did get a sneaky peak and already we can’t wait for a sun-drenched Saturday evening, sipping cocktails on the terrace, accompanied by their resident DJ.
The private dining room, which also acts as a function room, would be perfect for birthday’s, maybe a smaller wedding function or even a christening.
It was clear to see that the soggy weather hadn’t dampened the day of any diner – nor that of the friendly staff. We’re sure the delicious and surprisingly traditional Italian cuisine had something to do with it too, so bring on the summer sun, so we can hurry back to soak up those terrace vibes.
About Coxy’s Kitchen
Coxy’s Kitchen provides a dinner party and private dining service throughout Yorkshire. If you love having dinner parties but don’t fancy the cooking, contact Coxy’s Kitchen to cook your next dinner party. To make an enquiry or for an initial consultation, please email [email protected]
Review and images by Sarah Cox @coxys_kitchen
Feature image supplied
