Piccola Italia Moniaive in Dumfries & Galloway

Travelled for over an hour but it was well worth the journey. Beautiful little Italian restaurant in a lovely village setting. Gorgeous home made Italian food freshly made for you.

We had such a fab meal here. Wonderful authentic food and super efficient, friendly service. There was so much on the menu we wanted to eat, it was a shame we were only in the area for one night!!

Absolutely phenomenal family meal, impeccable service, and a great atmosphere. This little jewel, in the heart of the countryside should be on everyone’s holiday bucket list when visiting Dumfries & Galloway. There was nothing too much trouble for any of the staff, from start to finish; and as a table of 11, with children, and a wheelchair to contend with, we were made to feel like ‘part of the family’ Can’t wait to go back again!

We are locals and have been to Piccola Italia Moniaive several times. We have always had very tasty food, with the added benefit of great service. The owners and staff do a great job. It can be a struggle these days for a small business to keep going, especially when they are "out in the sticks" but Piccola Italia thrives due to simply being great at what they do. Four of us went along last night for my niece's 18th. We were allowed to bring a birthday cake with us, which the staff were happy to bring out with sparkly candles, with our coffee at the end of the meal. Very generous of them to allow us to bring our own cake. Our meal was excellent, and a good time was had by all. Thanks Piccola Italia Moniaive ! Highly recommend.

We are staying in Moniaive and booked a table at Piccolo.We had a fantastic meal. Food was first class and very tasty. Top notch. My wife said her Arrabiatta pasta was really good and my Chicken with Parma ham and Mozzarella was really tasty also. The atmosphere was nice and both the waitresses were very pleasant. Would highly recommend this restaurant if you are in the area

Have just returned from the best restaurant meal EVER!! The food was so tasty, beautifully presented, and perfect portion size. The prices are very reasonable. The service was second to none, extremely prompt, attentive without being bothersome or rushing. Extremely welcoming and friendly, including opening and holding the door whilst wishing us well, thanking us for our custom as we left. Would thoroughly recommend, and will definitely be returning as often as we can. BELLISSIMO, BELLISSIMO, BELLISSIMO!!!

Great food and casual atmosphere. Really enjoyed the specials of scallops and haddock (smoked) One word of advice. Wear warm clothes as the restaurant is freezing cold! Admittedly they were having heating problems. But the conservatory was unpleasantly cold. Pity as otherwise I would have given 5*.

It was ok , pasta was delicious, garlic bread was very dry and flavourless though, owners weren't friendly on arrival one didn't even say hello, felt rushed as they kept asking if we were finished and looking over at us quite alot wouldn't go again.

Overnight visit to Thornhill and booked this restaurant for dinner on a Friday evening. It’s located in Moniaive which is c8miles from Thornhill. It’s a lovely restaurant and the food was first class. There is a varied menu with specials and the service was excellent. Every table was taken and a nice atmosphere about the place. Highly recommended.

My partner and I were lucky to secure a table at short notice and so glad we did, the surroundings, the service and of course the food were all brilliant, we will definitely visit again when we're back in the area.

Best Italian in the region so far! Visited with family and the food was amazing. Had been meaning to try this place out for a while as we are fairly local and we were not disappointed. Food is All freshly made and it is a beautiful traditional old fashioned resteraunt. We had our 4 year old in tow and even he came away saying this is my favourite resteraunt. Staff were friendly and it’s in a beautiful village setting. Look forward to our next visit.

A very well organised and delivered lunch for a party of 34, to celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary. The food was as excellent as ever, the service as impeccable and friendly as usual, and the whole ambience and atmosphere during the afternoon could not be faulted. A very happy occasion, very much enjoyed by all. Our thanks to all the Piccola team for making the celebration so memorable. C&A McIvor, Moniaive

First time visiting, and won't be the last. Service was superb and the food was delicious. It was also extremely reasonable! Wish there was one in dumfries. Its a bit far out of town, so someone needs to drive. My only issue was how warm it was. There was a small Aircon machine in the conservatory, which wasn't working as the door was also open, allowing flys in. It was the height of summer so not the restaurants fault, but I would suggest running the air con an hour before service, or fitting a fly screen to the door. 5* however, and will return soon!

Booked here for our 1st night on our hols and the meal was lovely. Very busy restaurant with people travelling from miles around to eat here as the village its self is very small and quiet. Place was full on a sunday night with loads of takeaways also flying out. We had 4 starters and mains and all 4 where freshly cooked and very tasty.

Friendly attentive staff in a pleasant, cosy restaurant. Good choice of food and a lovely specials menu. We came to celebrate after our wedding earlier in the day and weren’t disappointed.

Was recommended to visit this out of the way Italian restaurant, and very pleased that we were. We could hear the buzz of the restaurant as we were walking up the street, and once seated we could see why everyone was in such good spirit....

We visited this restaurant on Sunday night. The food was just amazing, service first class and the staff were so friendly . Would thoroughly recommend. Will definitely be back next time I stay in Moniaive. Thanks!

Having been recommended by our hosts at Nithbank, we used a local taxi to take us and collect us. This worked out perfectly, as did the meal. Great Italian staples well done.

We booked our first meal on our last day of a week stay at Moniaive and regret not having booked it every night. This was an absolutely outstanding Italian meal and probably the best we have ever had, including meals in Italy. The service was...

We found this amazing restaurant back in 2017 and it’s still remains the whole family’s favourite restaurant. Food never disappoints and the staff are always welcoming, friendly and helpful. We usually sit in (my personal favourite is sea bass and lobster ravioli) but on occasions...

This is the first time we’ve been out for a family dinner since before lockdown and our evening was perfect. The food was even better than we remembered and the service was fantastic. Thank you again 😋

Drove from B&B in New Galloway to find perfect pizzas, tasty and crispy. The restaurant was empty on an October Tuesday evening but somehow the restaurant is set upon to have a lovely atmosphere even when not buzzing with people. A lovely evening

We had a great meal here. Staff were very friendly even behind the masks! We felt very safe. Food was delicious, especially my sea bass and crab ravioli. Highly recommend this restaurant.

the food was lovely and staff very welcoming first night after lockdown what a nice experiance to eat in a restaurant would definitely recommend if you are in the area

Stopped for a takeaway on the way to local holiday accommodation as recommended by the owner. Glad we did. Two really tasty pizzas and the best Calamari we've had for a long time. Good value for money, staff were great, no long wait for our...

There are very few places to eat in Moniaive. This is one of the better ones and provides tasty Italian classics and can seat a reasonably large group. Helpful staff and reasonably priced. It is usually fully booked days in advance during music festivals.

This Italian restaurant isn’t much to look at from the outside but it’s very quaint, authentic and welcoming on the inside. Used it around half a dozen times now since it opened a few years ago and never had a bad meal. The prices have...

Absolutely delicious, fantastic service very professional and the food tastes amazing, really glad that we were lucky enough to come here when they were open, we stayed on holiday for a week and came here three times! The house wine is lovely, the lemon sole...

Brilliant genuine Italian restaurant which my wife and I enjoyed as our first married meal. Superb !

We spent a week close to Moniaive and heard and read several great reviews of this restaurant, and now we know why. It’s immaculate inside and out, the staff are friendly and attentive and the food is wonderful. We ate there twice that week and...

Another lovely evening here. Food and service wonderful. Our 4 and 5 year old grandsons are always very welcome.

We were lucky enough to buy a house in Moniaive this year. The Piccola Italia was an unexpected bonus,The seafood risotto and lemon sole are superb. Pizzas are exceptionally well done and desserts don’t disappoint. My wife is veggie and she has also found plenty of tasty options.Superb service from a beautiful family and their attentive staff makes this a great place to dine.

Excellent, outstanding and any other superlative that confirms this wonderful restaurant I wish it was closer to home

Tried to find a pub to have tea travelled Miles eventually stopped in Monaiave. Pubs had no food so tried this restaurant and we are glad we did.. attentive staff good food quick service. It is a gem in the Ayrshire area.

Have been here several times with different members of my family and the food has always been spot on. The pasta is always cooked al dente and they have a good range of dishes to suit all. Two favourites are the garlic and chilli prawn starter, and the spinach and ricotta cannelloni (gets ordered every time we go)! Nice to have a good restaurant locally to us.

We decide to dine here based on reviews. What a find! Never judge a book by its cover. It’s in what I would call a repurposed weavers or miners cottage. You probably wouldn’t look at it twice, but I cannot find anything negative in our whole experience. Welcoming and attentive staff. Fabulous food. Lovely ambience. We both selected our starter and main from the special board. My husband chose the meatballs and I chose the melon and Parma ham. Then on to the main course. Filleto Rossini. Cooked to perfection and flavoursome to boot. Followed by the homemade cheesecake and Tiramasu. All washed down with a lovely Montepulciano. Please note they have a landline number on their Facebook page.

Never fails to impress me, the quality of food the attention to detail from the staff, outstanding a real hidden gem worth the drive.

Pleasant atmosphere, superb food, friendly and attentive staff, a must try place! Highly recommend to anyone :) booking suggested. The best pizza I had outside Italy.

Excellent meal for 2. Very good pasta and wine. friendly atmosphere and good service. We will come back again

Nice food well presented and attentive staff. Rustic feel to the place. Didn't have to wait long for the food which was as described and full of flavour, worth a visit.

As the restaurant is literally on the road the windows etc looked a bit dirty, etc because of passing traffic but as soon as we stepped inside a little gem is hidden behind those doors. Had the most scrummy three courses and a fab house white. Moniaive is off the beaten track and is a lovely little village in the middle of the Galloway Forest Park. If you're in the area it's a must do restaurant. You wont be disappointed.

We were amazed at the quality of this restaurant in such a small little village as Moniaive. Excellent service from very friendly staff worthy of a high end restaurant and superb quality food from an excellent menu, I can’t recommend this highly enough. The restaurant was very busy so make sure you book in early to avoid disappointment.

This is a really lovely friendly family restaurant. You are served with the most amazing food beautifully plated up. We have been going there for the last 3 years when up there on holiday.

A group of 17 of us had hired an Airbnb for the weekend in Auchenbrack and on the Friday night we had noticed this Italian done takeaway. So we ordered the gentleman told us a time to come back and collect we weren’t disappoint the food was to die for. Personal recommendation is the Bolognese Pizza. While collecting the food we had asked (but of a long shot ) but could he seat 17 of us for dinner on the Saturday. Obviously too short notice however he didn’t say he would open up at 3.30 if we wanted to come down for a dinner before he opened up to the boiled in guests. Food & drink was delicious and served by friendly genuinely nice staff. Reasonable as well for price. Will be back 100%

Didn't expect a restaurant as good as this to be hidden away in such a small village. Friendly staff and lovely food, all freshly made and delicious. It's quite a small restaurant so I would advise booking a table.

Food is outstanding, we went 2 nights in a row with our 5 year old and 8 year old and. I’ve been to a few Italian’s and haven’t had better. Couldn’t fault it, service excellent too. Lot of love and care put into this.

What an absolute gem of a place . From getting shown to our table till leaving a cant fault a single thing we had .. everything is freshly made theyre and then . Out starters were fantastic and huge .. my wife loved her pizza made in the oven right before your eyes .. i had the rib eye with market veg n chips excellent choice . Followed by a cheese board mmm up there with the best . Lovely warm and freindly place cant wait to go back

Every time I visit I am blown away by the level of service the attention to detail and the food is outstanding group of seven friends have had the most enjoyable evening relaxed and well fed again thanks so much see you very soon - your an amazing family

Being a resident in Moniaive, I am sooo pleased to have such a fantastic wee restaurant on my door step. A family visit from Yorkshire saw 6 of us happily land there on Friday evening. A selection of starters, mains and puds were all of a fantastic standard. A real taste of freshness in the ingredients and fab quality. The staff are a family and work so well together. A welcoming gem of a place.. avoid at your own loss..

Another faultless service from this little jewel. A full family booking, on what turned out to be an exceptionally busy night, and not a single problem to report.

Intimate surroundings, excellent food & service and a charming little courtyard garden all combine to make this a great place to spend a prolonged evening of fine dining.

Realising just how late we were going to arrive home after our ferry journey from Cairnryan, we decided to stop in Moniaive where we spotted (by chance!) an Italian restaurant in a seemingly unexpected place. We weren't disappointed! The restaurant had a buzz, even though it was a Sunday evening, but we were lucky enough to get a table straight away. The staff were welcoming and the restaurant itself was attractive and cosy, with the kitchen completely visible. The food did not arrive quickly, but it is all freshly prepared and well worth the wait. I had a calzone pizza which was wonderful, the whole crust being delicious and not dried out and hard as is so often the case. If you're going to/from Cairnryan and/or just happen to be passing close to Moniaive, DO try this restaurant. I wish it was located in my area!

Last minute booking after a long work day, and whilst busy, the staff were extremely attentive. The food was fabulous (I had things from the specials menu) and the place has a lovely cozy atmosphere (helped by the wood fired pizza oven!). I will definitely be back! We had a coeliac person with us and they were super helpful with lots of GF options.

I live quite near to the Piccola Italia and have used it on a number of occasions. On each occasion we have enjoyed a superb meal and excellent service. Not the largest of restaurants but perhaps that is in its favour, as my wife says "it has a lovely cosy atmosphere". Because it is so popular it is best to book. If you are in the area give it a try, you won't be disappointed

One meal inedible, owner wouldn't accept fact and tried to defend the indefensible. Wine poor quality and massively overpriced.

Beautiful food and excellent service. 100% recommended. You won't be disappointed. Located in the beautiful village of Moniaive. Surrounded by gorgeous countryside.

Had a family celebration at this restaurant to celebrate a graduation Wonderful in every way- food service atmosphere 😀😀

Great little restaurant in a small village. great service and excellent food. highly recommended and would visit if in the area again.

Stopped for takeaway pizza one night passing through Moniaive and was so delighted with it that we booked for dinner the following evening.

Our 1st wedding anniversary coincided with our visit to Moniaive. So we had dinner at the only Italian restaurant in town. Although it is Italian, we both had steak as we hadn't eaten steak for at least 2 weeks that we had been on the road. And it didn't disappoint us. The garlic and herb flat bread prior to our main was delicious as were the desserts.

A late decision to go for Dinner on a Sunny Saturday night,

We visited this restaurant on 9th June having read the reviews in Trip Advisor. It was over 20 miles from our hotel though we were glad we made the trip.

Bigger than it looks on inside. Friendly staff, good service and not too pricey. Menu good but not too much variety. All in all a very enjoyable experience

Absolutely loved our meal here! Fresh, authentic Italian food, wine and staff, the decor is lovely and quaint even though it doesn’t look much from outside, come into this little hidden gem. We loved our lunch today! Lovely fresh pasta all tasted like it was made from scratch and fantastic stone baked calzone from the pizza oven. WOW

Great food, relaxed atmosphere, attentive service. Extensive menu but Restaurant still modified dishes to suit individual tastes. Easy access for elderly disabled parent. Whole family had a lovely evening out.

Piccolo Italia in Moniaive can’t be faulted. The meal was fNtastic and the service excellent.

Went for our second visit on Friday night as we were staying in the nearby Glebe Cottage. For such a small place the menu is quite extensive, the atmosphere is warm and friendly and the service excellent. We had the lobster thermidor with gnocchi, which was a first for me and absolutely delicious. Rounded off with a complimentary Limoncello which was a nice surprise.

A warm welcome and some really lovely food. We arrived without a booking and despite being busy we were welcomed in and seated immediately. Staff were really friendly and out food was lovely.

Another lovely visit to this small treasure in the countryside.

Visited here twice now and have not been disappointed. The atmosphere is very warm and friendly, and the food is lovely. I would particularly recommend the calamari for starter. When I visited most recently I had a calzone pizza and it was very tasty. I'm sure I will be back!

We travelled to Moniaive from Somerset recently and had planned in advance to visit this restaurant after reading the great reviews on trip advisor. We were not disappointed and even allowing for the excellent reviews we had read, the Piccola Italia exceeded our expectations! We were a party of 9, so we ate various dishes including the steak (which my husband has not stopped raving about!), seafood risotto and lasagne. The dishes were fantastic, service was very great and the deserts are to die for!

Another superb evening in such a beautiful little hidden gem, outstanding food and service - can’t praise this family run restaurant enough, always warmly welcomed by the family - served the most amazing Italian food, another enjoyable evening thank you so much

A great find in this tiny pretty village. Excellent quality food and friendly staff. The scallops were cooked to perfection...

I adore this gorgeous gem of a restaurant. The staff are lovely, food is always fresh and delicious and the...

A restaurant we have known in various guises! Our party of six had a wonderful meal, where the plates of...

We had a lovely dinner in Piccola on a Sunday night. It's a very unassuming building that houses some very nice food served by some delightful staff. After two very good starters I opted for the special whole fish that was on offer. Served with gnocchi in a tomato sauce it was delicious. My wife had a vegetarian pizza that apparently was as tasty as it was good to look at! Unfortunately we were too full to try the puddings and settled for two excellent coffees instead. Highly recommend.

Visited this restaurant on a Saturday night,was very busy but as the only restaurant in the village it was not a great surprise! Portion size was a bit on the small side, for the price, on both the starters & the mains. Although the meal was nice enough,it`s a bit obvious that the owners/chefs are not Italian,as it seemed a bit generic.

4 visits so far (so we obviously like it), but we did have one 'off' night here. Maybe the chef changed.

We are in all the time for sit in meals and takeaways, the meals are always amazing! Very friendly service, and a large option on the menu - we never come out hungry. Can be very busy so would advise booking in advance!

We just can't see past this fabulous restaurant. Great food, lovely atmosphere. You'll probably need to book - we have never been and the restaurant hasn't been full.

After spending the day exploring rural Scotland on holiday, we started to get hungry and came across a little Italian place and thought we'd give it a go!What can I say? It was absolutely unbelievable!!By far the best Italian I've ever had.Well worth the 10hr drive from Suffolk!

Called here last weekend, had an excellent meal, beautifully cooked and presented. Nice ambience and very friendly and helpful staff. Well recommended if you are in the area.

I was trying to find somewhere to host a family celebration meal and came upon Piccola Italia. I knew nothing about it and had only driven through Moniaive on a couple of occasions and not even its residents would claim the village to be the centre of the gastronomic world. However, we booked a table for seven (and then changed the time, without any problem) and turned up, hoping for the best. And the best is what we got. The restaurant was full (without being over-crowded) and people were being turned away. The menu had a fine mix of known and unknown dishes and we ordered a fine cross section and none of the dishes, from starters to sweets disappointed in any way at all. I'm still drooling over the langoustine tagliatelle which was my main course; a gorgeous sauce over the pasta ribbons (which would have made a very nice meal itself, thank you!) topped with langoustines to complete the feast. Service was attentive, without being over-attentive and the gaps between courses were just right. I have eaten twice recently at a celebrity name Italian restaurant chain and it simply doesn't compare with Piccola Italia. Any complaints? Just the one; why did they open in Moniaive rather that Leeds.

What a find during our week long stay in Moniaive. We had a takeaway the first evening and knew we were on to something good. We booked for our final evening and were not disappointed at all. The food was fresh and delicious and the meals being served to those around us looked just as good. Steak for the hubby was cooked to perfection and prawn spaghetti for me was so tasty that not a mouthful was left. No room for pudding but they did look delicious.

Just rang to ask if they had a table for 3, I had to repeat myself as I'm not sure he could understand or hear me. I was told it was fully booked, I then enquired if we could order take away... the guy then put the phone down on me? Very rude and left me speechless.... won't be eating there whilst on our mini break.

Je dis très bonne pizza. Cependant il faut réserver sinon il n'y a pas de place. Et je n'avais pas réservé. Mais vous pouvez répartir avec vos pizzas en moins de 10 minutes.

Came in for my birthday tea with lovely Wife, 4yo and 18month old. Such friendly service, couldn't be nicer! ordered small portions of bolognaise with penne pasta for the kids, pizza and pasta for the grown ups :) it arrived super quick and to our surprise the kids ate up every bite. Our meals were also delicious! So happy to recommend! Love a place that gets food out fast and is tasty and relaxed! Thanks guys!!

Myself and my husband visited this place after having read all of the wonderful reviews. However on arrival we were met by a very rude front of house who made us feel quite unwelcome. The other staff were pleasant enough but couldn't help but get the feeling they wanted us in and out of there as quickly as possible . My husband ordered a seafood dish which was lovely. I ordered the fillet steak medium rare and it came very well done. Not one member of the staff team came to ask us how our meal was. All together a disappointment.

we dined at this restaurant on the recommendation of local contacts and were not disappointed. the food was good and some dishes were exceptional an example being the scallops on black pudding chorizo on a a bed of carrot puree. we felt some of the dishes were overpriced when compared to the quality of delivery. the risotto was mediocre with reheated seafood and rice that was not meltingly good. some of the starter portions were ungenerous in quantity but tasty and well presented. they clearly feel they have a good business model as it is always busy but we felt the price of dishes did not compare well with others in the area. we felt a more robust tomato sauce on pasta and pizza dishes would raise the quality of some dishes. certainly a good place to eat and better than many in the surrounding area.

Another visit to Piccola Italia in Moniaive, and another faultless example of too quality service and exceptional food. This place has become a firm favourite and we look forward to going, every time we are back in Dumfries & Galloway. Family friendly, welcoming, and food of the highest standard! I would not hesitate in recommending this place to anyone visiting the area!

We were recommended this restaurant by the B&B we were staying at. We were lucky to get a table as there was a music festival that day, but we only had to wait 30 mins for a table. It was worth waiting. The food was delicious and the staff were courteous and friendly.

Went for a birthday meal tonight the staff were so nice the food was excellent 3 courses for three people and drinks for £80 quid will definitely be back soon

Looking for someplace to eat that was local to Sanquhar and not too far a drive, my daughter found this little gem on the internet. We booked a table and were glad we had as it was very busy when we arrived. Beautifully Italian once you step inside the door, from the decor to the food and drinks. Everything is freshly cooked so you do have to wait a while for your chosen dish but it is well worth it. Staff are very attentive, friendly and non intrusive. Food was delicious and the ambience of the evening was just perfect.Do book a table in advance as you may be unlucky if you just drop by.

Went tonight with family and we all had a five star meal with first class friendly service. The restaurant is very homely with a relaxing atmosphere and welcoming prices. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal - delicious starters, excellent mains and very tasty homemade deserts. Can't believe we only live 20 miles away and this was our first visit but it will certainly not be our last....can't wait to return VERY soon. Would recommend booking in advance as it is very busy.

Italian restaurant in Moniaive: well run, authentic food, busy - always a good indication.Simple menu plus specials - all well prepared. Desserts particularly good.Well worth a visit.

My partner and I visited the restaurant whilst on holiday in Moniaive and we were blown away. Where do I start - the staff are wonderful, very friendly, welcoming and attentive throughout our visit. The restaurant itself is spotlessly clean with a warm cosy ambiance. But best of all is the food, it is absolutely amazing, just talking about it makes my mouth water. Cannot fault anything, its one of the best meals we have ever had. Asked our waiter if they could come to our town in England, he said we should move up there. It would be worth it to have this little gem on our doorstep. Bellissimo!!!

A visit during the busy Christmas period, at short notice, was not an issue for this exceptional team at Piccola Italia.Superb service, exceptional food, family friendly, accommodating, clean, friendly.... I could go on for ages!All in all, a little treasure of a place, and we are looking forwards to going back again soon.

Went for an evening meal with family, 6 of us all together. As with my first visit food was excellent and waiter was very helpful and pleasant. I had steak which was cooked exactly as asked and tasted great. Next time however I think I'll have something else as the rest of the families Italian dishes looked and tasted amazing. Lovely wine as well. Only 146 pounds for us all, mains, puddings, beer and also a bottle of wine. Favourite place to eat, hidden gem.

The four of us really like out starts. Mine with prawns in garlic butter was really good. We had heard about the pizza so we all went for one, and they were all really nice. The pasta dishes we saw also looked good.

We have visited this place several times. We particularly love the pizza... thin crust, not too heavily loaded and always served piping hot. The flat breads are also delicious... !We took family for a meal out and the starters, mains and desserts were wonderful. Mains chosen ranged from spaghetti, pizza and chicken... all great. The service is efficient and friendly; the ambience cosy and relaxing. It is always a treat coming here... thank you Piccola Italia for consistently great food and service.