Il Picchio Caffe in Southampton

Has lovely lunch with hubby and a friend here today. A little longer wait after ordering but that was because the food was freshly cooked to order. Meatballs, Fishcaskes, and sandwich was very tasty and enjoyable. Very reasonably priced. Nice glass of white wine to accompany our choices. Good service but sadly quiet. Hope business picks up soon. Thank you.

Very disappointed in the restaurant owners attitude. Arrived at 2.30 pm to be told they had only had three customers all day and were closing at 3 pm. ( Sign says 5 pm!) Is it our fault for the lack of customers? I'm sorry but if your normal hours are not adhered to, then customers do not know where they are. Feeling unwelcome, we decided to go elsewhere and may not visit there again.

Had a lunch while checking out the local area having just moved in. Nice honest food and good service

Had a lovely lunch with my two boys. Both had freshly made pizza from dough made on the spot and my huge fish cakes were delicious and very filling. Very personal service and even though a fresh batch of dough needed to be made for our order, it only took about 15-20 mins from taking the order to eating. Can’t get fresher than that!

Took my grandson and his friends here. Great choices on the menu which suited all of us. Service was friendly and prompt. Food served quickly. Enjoyable and tasty.

Popped in with a friend for a quick bite to eat. Had paninis which were fantastic as all the ingredients were top notch. The mozzarella was gorgeous. Lovely relaxed atmosphere and service. Will come back for an evening meal soon.

Tried the smoked salmon a d poached eggs on toasted ciabatta and it was excellent. Bit pricey because of the salmon but we had a very good snack lunch.

The best scrambled eggs over smoked salmon on ciabatta I have ever had!! Really lovely staff and a nice relaxed atmosphere. Good sized portions of quality food.

Three generations of our family enjoyed lunch. Il Picchio serves more than just Italian specialities. I enjoyed a tasty cassoulet (no duck but then in Provence you might not either) others had Italian beef stew, a spaghetti with fishy bits (er, I forget the proper name and lasagna with salad. Happy murmurings from everyone. The house Chianti was very pleasant and the coffees were proper.

Popped in one day just for coffee and some cake. Seems to all homemade and portion size is superb. The owner was very welcoming and pleasant

We went to have a lunch. The portions were excellent the taste very nice. We both had the carbonara and then had orange cake which was lovely my husband had the cheesecake , the coffee was delicious and we had 2 cups each. Gorgeous we will return !!!!

I was bought an afternoon tea here for a birthday present. Couldn't have been more friendly or accommodating. A great choice if you fancy a small relaxed comfy place to enjoy yourself at good value for money.

What a gem and well worth a visit to Bitterne Triangle, It is the genuine article run by a local Italian and his family and serving only the finest Italian ingredients. Weather it is a coffee , light snack or a meal you will not be disapointed and also it is good value for money. Just go !

Needed a quick lunch locally for a staff brainstorming. Small but charming cafe where four of us had different dishes. My spaghetti with anchovies was a novelty for me and others had more traditional fare. It was reasonably priced and obviously each dish was made from scratch as we had quite a long wait after ordering. Well worth it and we will definitely return.

Sandro has nurtured this little oasis of calm and it is now a brilliant Italian café during the day and an authentic Italian restaurant at night - Excellent

Me había intentado durante años, para comer en Il Picchio. No es muy difícil, pero tratando todo el mismo. Cada vez que pensamos que "debe ver si podemos conseguir una mesa en la Habitación Woodpecker", que estaba lleno. Lleno de gente feliz visualmente, comer comida...

Nuestra segunda visita aquí y vuelve, llena de elogios para la pequeña cafetería de Sandro. Pedimos bruschetta y pan con aceite para comenzar. Mejor bruschetta que he tenido!

You may have to wait a little while here as everything is cooked from scratch, but boy is it worth it, meatballs to die for, melt in the mouth deserts, cheese and meat platters and a whole range of deli products. If you love italian, you will love this, but allow plenty of time.

Quiet and unassuming is how this place looks. With no more than 10-12 covers you get the sort of personal service that is comforting but not intrusive.My folks had travelled down from Yorkshire and after a long journey were tired and a touch tetchy.. 5 minutes in Il Picchio soon sorted that out.The food was freshly cooked and arrived quickly and was washed down with a nice bottle of Chianti. Straters, mains and vino for three for just over £40 I thought was fantastic value and I particularly enjoyed my gnocchi with gorgonzola.The staff were attentive and the patron Capo, Sandro is a friendly chap for whom nothing is too much trouble.Thoroughly recommended!

Cute little friendly cafe, with excellent gluten free options . cakes sandwiches and pasta.Definatly keep coming back.

Food is very fresh, you can taste it. I had simple pasta with a lovely coffee in the sun. It was an idyllic way to spend an afternoon, well worth a visit.

Visited this place with my boyfriend today after he found it on Trip Adviser.Coffee was very good, lovely and strong. As it was lunch we shared a bruschetta and panini. As fans of bruschetta I have to say it was one of the best I've had, so fresh and lots of garlic. The panini was also very good, high quality fillings and good bread.You really get the feel of being in Italy and the owner makes you feel at home. As it is 5 minutes from my house we will be back lots and will be trying the evening menu on a Friday or Saturday.Grazie mille!!

My sister who is local and I went here for lunch .The menu is simple but the food is great and the coffee is really good so much so I had two . There is some outside seating and we sat outside as it was too hot inside with the warm weather when I come back to Southampton again will definitely go back. My sister says the man who runs is always nice and that is reflected by the nice atmosphere of this small cafe

Very friendly, personal service.The food is freshly prepared and tastes delicious.The large number of locals visiting here regularly says it all!

A fantastic family run coffee shop and restaurant. Such a warm and friendly welcome, fantastic coffee and delicious home made cakes. We've been more than once and will certainly be going back.

We live near Il Pichio and since our first trip we love to go for a nice relaxing meal. Sandro, the owner, is a lovely gentleman who is easy to talk to and always gives a warm welcome. The food is all fresh and original Italian dishes. There is always lovelyusoc playing in the background. Definitely pay a trip here before or after a walk along riverside park to escape amd relax away from the city buzz.

Love the coffee, the cake is all homemade and delicious. Brilliant nice and cosy cafe, the owner is very friendly and warming, highly recommend and will definitely be returning.

Decided to go in the external view is not encouraging but inside it is shabby chic really relaxed atmosphere and the home made biscuits are delicious the coffee was lovely and very hot we will be going back and to try their meals on Friday or Saturday evening

We regularly eat at II Picchio. Good service and genuine Italian food. A real relaxed atmosphere, we always have a great evening - would highly recommend to anyone who wants a restaurant that is all about the food and service.

We live nearby and go to Il Picchio regularly. It's an amazing little place that doesn't look like much from the outside but is fantastic on the inside! During the day it runs like a cafe, it's really relaxed and the food and coffee is fantastic. The hot chocolate is something to behold - you can stand your spoon up in it. Sandro the owner always gives a warm welcome. In the evenings (on Friday and Saturday) it turns into a little restaurant. Again the food is fantastic. Particular favourites are the Beef Stew and Pork with Mozzarella. All the food is made fresh and the cakes are all home made. Whilst the surroundings could be described as a little "shabby" it's a welcome relief from chain restaurants and pretentious gastro-pubs. The whole place ticks over quite slowly but rather than this being a problem we find that we end up unwinding and slowing down ourselves! Probably too small for large groups but fantastic for couples or small groups (2-6 is fine). Booking is advised and they don't take cards. We recommend it everyone!

We have become regulars at Il Picchio - I often pop in with a friend after we have walked the dog Sat mornings and sometimes eat week end evenings with my husband. The atmosphere is so relaxed and friendly. Food is fresh, tasty and genuinely Italian. I feel really lucky to have II Picchio's on our door stop.

We chanced upon this wonderful Cafe/Restaurant at Bitterne Trangle, Southampton, in need of a late morning quick snack as opposed to a full lunch. What a treat. ! . Sandro was not there, but the person serving us could not have been more accomodating, and we had a splendid large plate of Antipasto, with wonderful Olive Oil from Sandro's own olive grove in Italy and superb bread . We sat outside and could have been in Italy, sitting in the sunshine. . We will definitely be returning to try the restaurant one evening soon . The menu looks great and all reasonably priced.

Il Piccio Cafe, Bitterne TriangleOnce you step inside you may feel a little strange... like you have just stepped through the door into a real Italian Cafe in a village in Italy. You may have to look behind you and just check you are still in Southampton before you find a seat. It's not that it is trying to be grand or really try hard, its just very authentic without trying! Sandro the host is Italian and a really friendly and welcoming guy. He always says hello and I think he loves his job: meeting people and serving up good Italian food.There is often some World music playing lightly in the background and you can read a book, write in your journal, catch up with a friend in a really relaxed environment. You may even find you have planned a trip to Italy before you leave!I go there more often now but usually as a treat. I cannot imagine giving my custom to the likes of Starbucks or Cafe Nero when there is an amazing independent cafe with character and a real person who knows my name running it!!! After I discovered it I meet friends and family there for coffee and cake, sometimes head there for lunch (although you need to leave plenty of time as all food is home-cooked). You can go for a lovely walk up the riverside park before or after too which makes it even more inviting in it's location on Bitterne Triangle.So what does Sandro do so well? In my opinion you cannot find a better hot chocolate in Southampton, perhaps even England!!!His coffee is also really high quality and most of his produce is from Italy and homemade. His Cakes are divine, especially the Sunken Chocolate cake and Sicilian Orange which he makes himself. If you are Gluten Free you will love it as many of his cakes are made with almonds instead of flour so GF... I have not found better GF cakes in Southampton.He also makes lovely authentic Italian dishes and you can have GF options, even pasta if you want to. I do as I have a wheat intolerance and it makes a nice change to go out for yummy pasta.I highly recommend you pop in. It will cost the same as Starbucks but for much superior products. You will also be supporting a local business that has lots of character. I haven't yet been for dinner but my neighbors have and said it was really good. This really is a hidden gem and worth going in, even on your own... in fact I sometimes go solo for a bit of me time and its great!K :)Note: There is also a really good Butcher's in the Triangle called Garson's... you won't be disappointed, he knows his stuff and is reasonable for the quality you get. His Lamb sausages are really good and again if you are GF he will sort you out no probs!

This is really one of the best restaurants I've visited in Southampton. It's run by Sandro, who is a lovely Italian gentleman, and the food is truly excellent. It's only just started opening in the evenings on Friday and Saturday night. Going there always feels a bit like going on holiday, because there's wonderful Italian music playing, and it's so laid back and relaxing being there. The food is very well priced, especially for the high quality. They have really boozy puddings. The wines are good too.

We visited this little cafe for an evening meal had starters and main meal which although very tasty, the portions were tiny, I had spezzatino there must have been about four pieces of beef in it and two olives, found it very expensive for what was served up, mine was in a breakfast dish, needs more of an Italian decor and toilet needs decorating, Sandro the host is a very pleasant guy and the chef good, but to warrant the prices need to increase the amount of food. I hope they do well because it is lovely to have independent cafe bars, but either the prices go down or amount of food needs to increase otherwise don't think it will go any further as an eaterie.

We discovered 'Sandro's Il Picchio when we lived in Eastleigh. It was a haven of good food, nice coffee and calmness while my back recovered from a serious operation. We moved away but still drive down from Newbury to visit when we can. Why? Because there is no substitute for someone who cares about what he does, and does it well. He was commended in the Delli of the Year awards for 2011, he has the highest score for hygeine, and we never get food poisoning there. I mention that because we almost always get food poisoning when we eat out! In three years in Cambridge, a year in Oxford, 6 months in Winchester and 6 months in Basingstoke it happened every time.Do go - and try the Sicillian Orange cake. I like the more savory pastas - bigoi in salsa (anchovies, onions and white wine), for example - and the coffee is coffee, not the beige stuff sold in chains.

We have just had a delicious evening meal at Il Picchio's in Bitterne Park Triangle, Southampton. We have been fans of the caffe since it first opened so we were delighted when Sandro said he was opening for two evenings a week as well. The menu included a range of traditional Italian antipasti dishes; pasta and cortorni as well as a choice of mains and desserts. All are prepared and freshly cooked to order. We recommend the Spigola in Padella (Sea bass fillets pan-fried in a lemon, butter and garlic sauce). The Filetto di Maiale Avvolto con Prosciutto e ripieno di Mozzarella (free range pork fillet filled with mozzarella cheese and wrapped in palma ham) also looked delicious. With the choice of fabulous homemade desserts like Tiramisu and Panna Cotta, great wines and very fair prices - we'll be back!

This mediteranean-style cafe is one of our favourite places to hang out. It has a slight 'greasy spoon' feel to it which might put some people off but for us only adds to it's charm. The owners are friendly and the home-baked cakes are amazing. Food includes tasty sweet and savoury gluten-free options (I am gluten intolerant rather than coeliac so I can't comment on 'cross-contamination').

stumbled on this place quite by chance - couldn't believe the blackboards outside an Italian deli said gluten-free options available. Had THE most fabulously tasty ham & mushroom gluten-free pasta...also offered gluten-free pannini and two different flavour gluten-free cakes....I had the Sicilian Orange ...to take away as generous pasta portion !will be back soon to try the other cake :-) Proprietor Sandro couldn't have been more accomodating - heaven

A lovely little cafe in Bitterne Triangle, so not in the main part of town, Il Picchio is always welcoming and does the BEST coffee. The food is prepared and served by the owner, always with a gentle smile. This a unique place and really gives a sense of being in Italy. Genuine.

We visit Il Picchio all the time. I guess we are completely addicted. It is a haven and delight in Bitterne Park Triangle. You can eat traditional Italian snacks, freshly prepared and delight in wonderful cakes and Minghella ice cream. The coffee is to die for! The deli now has a licence to serve beer and wine as well. What more could you want. It's a great place to chat, read the paper and listen to Sandro's eclectic range of music. Il Picchio has its regulars of all ages - children are especially welcome. Newcomers are visibly charmed by the place and by Sandro and Liz the proprietors.

Best coffee this side of Rome! As for the Paninis, yum! Sandro makes you feel welcome and has even given my dog a treat of tasty Italian meat on one of our Saturday morning coffee stops (sitting outside). Try the little chocolates in the basket by the counter too, they are divine!

Very good Italian cafe, small and friendly with great coffee.

I love this place. Sandro does great pasta and paninis.There is the best coffee in Southampton by far and he also has a fantastic gooey chocolate cake.Just remember to allow time as there is a 'mediterranean' attitude to time!

What can I say that I haven't said already. A superb little caffe. New Sardinian lemon torte now available. I'd strongly suggest paying Sandro a visit to try it alongside one of his espresso coffee.

When I really want to eat a good plate of pasta, the traditional Italian way, I go to see Sandro to "Il Picchio". There I also discover the best coffee in Southampton. Hi really do recommend a visit

I just love this little Italian corner. The food is lovely, the coffee is great and the service unique. Well done!!

We ordered panini with focaccia bread, chicken and pasta- all were lovely, fresh ingredients and plenty of flavour. Coffee also excellent

Il Picchio is a little, family run, day time restaurant and coffee shop. They do serve a fantastic espresso coffee and fab hot chocolate. The food is excellent, always freshly prepared!! Nothing of this pre-cooked pasta business, here everything will be done from scratches. If you don't have much time try one of Sandro's panini, well worth.

I'm a huge fan of this little place. The owner Sandro is always very accomodating and is hugely knowledgeable about his products. I try and visit at least once a week and alongside his selection of homemade cakes (the Sicilian orange cake is amazing) he also has various pastries which change regularly. I've tried the Carbonara and it's made the proper way without cream! The only reason I give it 4/5 is that the music is a little loud sometimes, it would be nice to have newspapers on a rack and he closes early (5PM), but these are minor criticisms.I've not even mentioned the espresso which is fantastic and very fresh. Forget the chain cafes, this is the real deal.