Located in the heart of Bristol, British-Italian chain Piccolino is one of the city's best options for a delicious, authentic Italian meal. A great pick for shoppers looking for a midday break, Piccolino’s can be found on Cabot Circus, amongst the hustle and bustle. There’s an open kitchen, three alfresco areas – including terraces with retractable roofs, and a cocktail bar.
Begin your meal with a selection of antipasti, and share them with your friends to get in the Italian spirit. There are truffle and porcini arancini balls with smoked provola and truffle mayonnaise, a deliciously creamy Apulian mozzarella with basil pesto and semi dried tomatoes, and crispy fried squid with chilli and lemon mayonnaise. The pasta section of the menu is where things really spruce up, thanks to the traditionally made pasta with 100% Italian durum wheat from Puglia. You can choose between lasagne with slow cooked beef ragu, spaghetti carbonara done the right way (no cream in sight here), Devonshire crab filled ravioli, porcini and chestnut mushroom risotto, and gnocchi in slow cooked tomato sauce with mozzarella and basil.
Pizza alla Napoletana follows traditional methods with the same techniques used in Naples. The dough is prepared by the master baker and his skilled bakery team, and topped with a variety of delicious meats, veggies and cheeses. The diavola is scattered with tomato, spinata Calabrese spicy salami, nduja, burrata cream, mozzarella, red chilli and flat leaf parsley. If you're feeling particularly indulgent, try the folded calzone with peppered ricotta, salami Napoli, smoked provola and tomato.
When dessert time comes around, try the warm chocolate fondant with chocolate sauce and ice cream, or for something a bit more fruity, the chocolate and amaretto iced parfait with white chocolate, cherry molasses, hazelnut brittle and amarena cherries.