On Moss Lane in Bramhall, Piccolino is a fine, stylishly decorated Italian restaurant that has ingrained itself firmly into the local dining scene. Inside, you'll stumble across an impressive open kitchen, chic cocktail bar, and a beautiful terrace that's open year round, thanks to its retractable roof.
The menu begins in true Italian style, with sharing plates for the table. There are marinated nocellara olives in garlic, parsley and chilli, and hand stretched garlic breads with topping options such as tomato and fresh basil, and mozzarella and smoked provola cheese. The antipasti selection includes classics like fried calamari with a chilli and lemon mayonnaise, and crispy arancini stuffed with saffron and pea risotto with spicy ve-duja, mozzarella and marinara sauce. The restaurant sources their pasta from Ligouri Pastificio, who create their pasta using 100% Italian durum wheat from Puglia and with added spring waters of Gragnano.
There are so many fantastic pasta options on the menu, including a linguine with king prawns, vine ripened tomatoes, chilli and garlic butter, and a rich tagliatelle bolognese with slow cooked beef ragu. Similar to the traditional pasta methods, the pizzas are created using techniques sourced from Naples, with a dough pioneered by the in-house master baker. The hearty calzone is stuffed with Neapolitan sausage, tomato, nduja, mozzarella and roasted peppers, while cheesy lovers will love the white base pizza topped with truffle cream, mozzarella, DOP parma ham, rocket and pecorino romano. Truly amazing seafood has found its way onto the menu at Piccolino, with succulent Atlantic cod with spicy Calabrian salami and tenderstem broccoli, and seared yellowfin tuna with a pistachio crust, slow-cooked peppers, capers, olives and pine nuts.