Pici brings relaxed, modern Italian dining to the heart of Hockley, Nottingham, offering an inviting spot for dates, birthday dinners and laid-back family meals. Open for lunch and dinner, this contemporary restaurant takes inspiration from casual European eateries, combining seasonal cooking with a lively neighbourhood atmosphere.
From the street, Pici is understated and stylish, with a dark facade and alfresco seating that spills out onto the pavement, making it a popular choice on warmer days. Step inside, and the mood shifts to something lighter and calmer. The interior is simple, modern and bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows at one end allowing natural light to flood the space. Clean lines, booth seating and subtle wall lighting create a relaxed backdrop where the focus stays firmly on the food.
The menu is designed for sharing and built around fresh, seasonal produce. Snacks might include olives or Parma ham with melon, while small plates range from braised fennel and borlotti beans to pumpkin fritti with ricotta, mint and hot honey. Pizzettes are a highlight, topped with combinations such as garlic butter and 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano, or caponata with stracciatella, anchovies and pickled chillies.
Fresh pasta takes centre stage, with dishes like paccheri with confit garlic and wild mushrooms, pappardelle with slow-cooked mutton ragu and crispy capers, or tagliolini with prawn, courgette and pangrattato. Larger plates include a 20 ounce dry-aged T-bone steak with café de Paris butter, designed to share, or barbecue chicken with leek vinaigrette and aioli.
Desserts keep things classic with tiramisu, creme caramel and blood orange sorbet, while the drinks list champions low-intervention wines, good beers and easy-drinking spritzes. Altogether, Pici delivers unfussy Italian cooking in a bright, welcoming setting that feels right at home in Nottingham’s most vibrant neighbourhood.